Reflections on the past week/end

1. Small town mentality. Something that can be looked on in several different lights. Going down to see a friend in Missouri also from a small town opened my eyes to small towns in a beautiful light. Lots of people from small towns will complain that everyone knows everything about everybody...that there's nothing kept private for long. That certainly is true, but...isn't that how it's supposed to be anyways? I mean, in Heaven, we'll know everybody perfectly, we'd all always be together adoring God. What is it about privacy that we value so much? Certainly we're not to Heaven, so privacy will remain as long as we are on earth. Privacy...being guarded...will remain. I can't wait for the day when we won't be guarded...we'll want everyone to know everything about us, because we'll be praising God anyways! Another small town beautiful reflection: the community/support system one suddenly finds when one is in distress. If someone passes away, suddenly the whole entire town knows and is on your front door step asking what they can do for you. I can't imagine not being in a town where that doesn't happen. Another of many reasons I prefer my small town...

2. Missouri is gorgeous. Kansas is blessed with flat, fertile land and the Flint Hills...but Missouri, with its rolling hills, gorgeous trees and wonderful rivers is a gem. I'll always love my flat land and spacious skies, but I certainly don't mind my get-aways to the beauty of Missouri.

3. Lack of communication with no service in S-E MO was a true blessing. Being on God's time, for once, wasn't hard this weekend. I was actually excited to not have texting abilities. Mom will survive if she can't get a hold of me...she has my other friends' numbers! Such-and-such can wait...it won't kill them to not hear from me. This weekend, it was me, God, and a couple of friends, and a wonderful river to laze around by. I really do like completely being out of contact sometimes...

4. How often do I take my weaknesses and turn them into crosses when they needn't be? So what if I'm *insert weakness*? That shouldn't keep me from *some activity/goal that I've been staying away from because I keep reminding myself of that weakness*. Life has enough crosses without me adding to them...simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!