Investments

There is no doubt that financial investments are important for one's livelihood. Investments provide fiscal security and advancement. These investments can last a lifetime if wisely implemented and sustained. At the end of a lifetime, these investments also end, although they may theoretically be invested for another's investments.

Greater than financial investments are those investments in others. Most prominently, the investment of a relationship with Christ has the most riches and satisfaction to last eternity. Investments in relatives, friends, and acquaintances alike are immensely important and reap more benefits than any financial investment.

I am eternally grateful for my relationship with Christ. There is no greater joy in my life. There is no greater security, something FDIC and Wall Street cannot provide. There is no greater reward, salvation. I am also equally grateful for my relationships with others. Friends and acquaintances from all aspects of my life, at home, at school, and even my summer work life have richly invested in me and I have been blessed.

The paychecks, the bonds, and CDs have provided me no eternal joy, only the joy sustained by the world. My joy today is that from the great investment of my relationship with Christ and the investments made and received through the many blessings He has given me along this path of life.

The investments in others and Christ are scary; perhaps more scary than financial investments because they have eternal consequences. Nonetheless, the investments must be made daily, by the minute, so that those investments are not for personal gain but for the worshipful investment for the Almighty. May the investments I make and receive never be about me, but only about His grace, love, and power so that He is glorified.

Tomorrow I leave behind a summer in Minnesota and a week at home as I return to Taylor University. I am so excited about the investments during the year ahead to worshipfully praise the One who deserves all glory.

The Alley

There is an alley near my home that is not particularly interesting or artistically intriguing. In fact, this alley is very small. Only a half a dozen homes border its path. Nonetheless, I recently have had a desire to drive down this alley rather than the typical route to my home.

The alley is the way less traveled. It doesn't fit the mold of assumption and habit. I think that I prefer the alleyway because of the change in pace and the slight excitement of traveling along a path less chosen.

I am typically stuck in my ways and instinctively take the same roads time and again. In doing so, I nearly forget that the other roads exist. I pass by much of what exists simply because I do the things that I do time and again along the same path.

What alleys do we pass by each day? Who do we neglect? What opportunities do we pass? Whatever your alley may be...

The alley is nearly threatened to be forgotten by traditionalism, habitualness, and comfortability. There is always more to be explored than that which has been the traditional way of traveling, living, learning, and loving.

The alley near my home has nice bird houses.

Summer

الصيف
夏天
sommer
summer
kesä
été
Sommer
estate
夏
여름
sommer
verão
лето
verano
sommar

That explains "summer." Well, at least thirteen weeks of it. As I embarked to write this, I thought philosophical reflections would surely be included. Alas, I include 15 languages to describe my summer working at an international language camp.