John left a comment a couple days ago when we were talking about canceling adventures.

“I think people just want to be swept away in the romance of something else, some place else, maybe even someone else.

“I’ve felt all of these notions cut through me. I know that sounds a bit extreme but I think it best describes the yearning that comes with these fantasies. They are so pretty the way I paint them in my head. But I won’t be there, what I’m not here.

“I guess the point is, I’d never find that romance out there, or wherever. But He’d paint this whole house in it if I’d just close my eyes. In His love is the only place I’ve found it. It humbles me in an instant; it brings beauty to all things.

“Maybe it’s not that simple. Maybe my eyes for Him are too new, being just born again not too long ago. I hope I never get complacent.”

Well said, I thought.

And challenging the way only a new believer can be challenging. Because it is that simple, and it is easy to get complacent.

Where are you this morning? Is your life’s breath the presence of the Eternal in you? When was the last time you sat for an hour and read through one of the gospels just because you wanted to be near Him? Can you still be moved to tears at the idea that a perfect, all-powerful God would allow himself to be humiliated and tortured just because He loves you – the mess that you are?

It’s easy to get complacent. It’s easy to get busy, get distracted, but it’s just as easy to go home.

August is over. First impression of August ’09: weak sauce. Where was the hot, sticky Chicago summer? I want my money back.

August was definitely for hanging out. Mitch was around a lot. Mattchoo continued to be around a lot. Jen met me over coffee a bunch. John Clark was around a lot despite being a criminal and not having a valid license, and Ben is in two of these. We even got to Skype-see the Krauss family, which was hanging out for them – talking over only a two hour time difference and with the ability to freely use words like “church” and “prayer” was crazy.

August saw the birth of the Ginga Snaps – our ginger gang/fictitious rock band. We’ve also started developing a sub-culture. So far we’ve determined that it’s okay to call one another “ginga,” but if a non-ginger tries to use the term it’s highly offensive. That’s actually a tough one, ’cause we’re all used to being called that exclusively by non-gingers, so it usually takes a minute to remember we’re offended.

The above also pointed out the obvious need for some return-slang. “Non-ginger” doesn’t sound mean at all, so we came up with “no glow” (or “no gloz” for the plural) for the rest of you. That was Ben’s stroke of genius right there. So far Husband is bearing the brunt of that ’cause he’s usually the no glow minority when we all get together.

Finally, as this last picture shows. I managed to grow a pretty sweet beard in August as well.

So how about it? How did August treat you? Are you doing any kind of picture-a-day project? Share a link in the comments!

Other good 365-type projects you might enjoy: Matchoo. Chad. Ashley.