Two Weeks in England- Day One.

So I won't update you on everyday. I might not update you again at
all. We'll just have to see how things go. Nevertheless, here are
some thoughts from today that made it into the Daily Update. If you
read that, then I'm sorry. You'll have to go and check Facebook again
or something.

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Oh, the sweet and enduring joys of jet lag. Yesterday afternoon I
passed out on a couch for about an hour and a half. That gave me
enough to get through open mic night without falling asleep on top of
the piano. I slept solid for abut 7 hours and then woke up. I laid
there in the bed for about an hour, you know, thinking about the way
things are or the way that they should be, and hoping against all hope
that I would fall back asleep. I finally reached a point where I
said, "Okay. 5 more minutes and then I'll get up and read." Mind you,
it was about 6AM, Britain time, so I was not enthusiastic over rising
at such an hour. As fate would have it, I was back asleep immediately
after making my resolution. I did not wake up again until about
12:15. Incredibly, though, I have had two cups of coffee and the
sunny presence of Kevin Miller, and yet I still find myself tired. I
could fall over and sleep right now.

Last night was Open Mic Night, as previously stated. They host it
once a fortnight, and it was fantastic. The standard of music is so
high that I decided that I would shy away from performing any of my
old favorites, but that is mostly just because I don't have any old
favorites. Or musical ability that I know of.

Even still in that jet lagged fog, I soaked up the beauty of the
night. Everyone was pretty much incredible, but even when someone
would mess up or forget the words or maybe find themselves just a
slight bit off key, the crowd would whoop and cheer and clap as if it
were Mozart descending from on high.

I would step outside from time to time to breath the cold air that can
only be appreciated on a tiny island situated just a shade or two
south of the north pole. It is an odd thing to come and see
something, to be apart of something like this. It's interesting and
chilling to know that in many ways, I'm looking into my own future
right now.

When I was here last, back in July, there was nothing like this. A
community was forming, there was no doubt about that, but there was no
true home, there was no bible study. There was no sense of risking
everything for the sake of the Gospel. Everything was looming. It
was imminent. But it was not here yet. But now. So much has changed
in these few months and so much more will change between now and when
I arrive here permanently.

Permanent. That is such a frightening word. Of course, nothing is
permanent, even if it feels that way. We are different than we were
yesterday, like continents drifting around the sea, we're all headed
somewhere.

But even still, it is amazing to think of what is going to happen
soon. As I looked into my future last night, as I watched the singers
shout and the guitarists strum, I imagined the feeling of ripping my
old life off of me like an appendage, and this new and unknown
adventure lying down like leaves of grass under my bare feet.

I am caught in a very strange time in my life. Sometimes it feels
like I am not fully anywhere. But we're all going somewhere, just not
everyone gets the chance to peer into the distance like I did last
night. But don't you worry- you're going to have to risk it at some
point. We all do. That's the only way to live.