On my way back from the track one day last week (much less impressive than it sounds), I cut through behind the elementary school where the playgrounds are. I’ve done this many times, but for some reason the set of empty swings caught my eye, hanging there all forlorn. (If you don’t think swings can look forlorn you weren’t there.) I remembered how much I loved swinging as a little girl. How I would often just swing and swing to my heart’s content.

I felt a nostalgic itch coming on. It’s been forever since I’ve been on a swing.

A thought about seizing the moments and enjoying life popped into my head.

Hey, why not.

Checking first to make sure no human being was within viewing distance, I ran over and plopped myself into the smooth black belt. My running shoes grated in the oval chasm worn in the mulch beneath. Grasping the chains (they felt familiar already) I pushed off and stuck my feet into the air, soaring up into the breeze.

Wow, I thought, pumping my legs, this is great! Now I really did remember why I had loved swinging so much. It felt so carefree. So happy. So alive.

The sky was blue and clear and the trees waved at me with their cool green leaves. The world was mine. And the troubles….well, what troubles?

I tried to think something lofty and spiritual to blog about the experience as I swung a little higher (laugh at me, would you), but all I could come up with was the silly grin on my face. I sheepishly tried to smother it and hoped earnestly that no one came around the corner just then. Imagine the mortification of a nearly twenty-one-year-old swinging on the playground? Savoring a few more to and fros, the very thought had me hopping back off the swing much sooner than I wanted, ridiculously invigorated all the same.

One of these days I’m going to find an empty swing all alone somewhere (alone – in the city) and just swing away into the blue sky and laugh to my heart’s content. Simple, but magical.

Life weighing you down? Find yourself a swing. Hop on. Soar away. Refresh.

You probably won’t have any profound revelations. You might even feel silly. But oh-so-delightful.

Here’s the HanCam view to conclude my conference coverage.

Includes special messages from Alex & Brett Harris to YOU, the readers of my blog!

Dial-up users [download here]

P.S. I really didn’t mean to leave Alex out of the session clips – apparently I was riveted to my seat. (Or conserving battery power. Sorry, Alex!)

One incredibly cool experience I had to share….

As a closing action to The Rebelution conference, Alex announced that we were going to make it rain. While I was having visions of sprinklers above and soaked people running everywhere, he continued on to explain what exactly we were to do, keeping firm that we must not do so until specified. Divided into four sections according to where we were sitting, Brett then took over. Working his way from one side of the stage across to the other, he began passing along the first motion to each section in turn.

The gentle rubbing “sprinkle” of our hands spread lightly across the room. This became the backdrop to snapping finger raindrops as Brett returned to the first section and started over. My skeptical jaw hit the floor and I tried not to laugh in wonder. I kid you not, it sounded exactly like raindrops splashing on leaves and bouncing on the roof.

The pitter-patter of snapping finger raindrops soon gave way to the harder pour of patting our hands on our legs. All across the room it grew, until you just knew water had to be rolling off the cars in the parking lot. And then, the sky let loose as we began clapping; it was a thunderous, pounding downpour of a storm from corner to corner.

As quickly as it came, the downpour began to subside as Brett worked us back down through the motions, until we were left with the gentle rubbing sprinkle of our hands. One dramatic slicing motion and all action ceased. Silence held for maybe two seconds before the entire attendance roared alive with cheering and went absolutely crazy! And for good reason.

We had made it rain.

Here’s the point – each of us by ourselves (doing hard things) is just a few raindrops, but together we are a downpour. And that is the power of The Rebelution.

Wow. I’ll never forget that.

Yeah, I think I hear it raining.

[ View Complete Photo Album Here ]

“We shouldn’t be afraid of hard things just because they’re hard.”

It was an amazing event. Organized and put on primarily by young people, it was definitely unlike any conference I’ve attended before. How do you put into words a giant room filled with 2,000 teenagers and parents (and the rest of us in neither category), all gathered together to hear the challenging and inspiring – and yes, life changing – message of rebelling against the low expectations of our culture and instead living your best life for God?

Being there made everything I’d ever read on the Rebelution blog come alive. Hearing Alex & Brett articulate and expound upon “Do Hard Things” in their own voices, listening to their stories, laughing along with their jokes, and sensing their deep passion and Godly spirits, it seemed like I was hearing everything for the first time all over again. The entire day served as an encouragement and time of new resolve in my own heart.

“We will become the men and women we strive to be. Is what we are doing right now preparing us for what we want to be doing in the future?” – Alex Harris, speaking on The Myth Of Adolescence

“If you fail at something it’s not because you aren’t able, or even that you didn’t try your best – you haven’t built up the strength to succeed.” – Brett Harris, speaking on Do Hard Things

There was also the momentarily weird, but neat happenstance of being recognized by three different fellow rebelutionaries who I knew only from blogging/writing – Kristin Braun of Beauty from the Heart (along with proofreader Bethany) Sarah Greek of Regenerate Our Culture, and David Boskovic of Oneway Purpose. Meeting them definitely brought the blogsphere to life!

I met Brett & Alex during the first morning break, and they are just wonderful. It was exciting to actually have it “be real” after feeling like I already knew them. There is a humble graciousness about them, and while they’ll be the first to give God credit (which He is due), I know their commitment and hard work planted the seed that has grown so big. We were able catch a little more time to talk afterwards, and it was a blessing all around. Please remember to pray for them as their book deadline nears.

One of the most moving events of the day came during Mr. Harris’s session. After talking about how many people just go through the motions of being a Christian (so easy for all of us) he extended an invitation to those who realized they didn’t truly know Christ. A number of young people courageously stood to make their choice known, and it was incredible to know lives were being changed in that very moment. As more of us stood to renew our own commitment to living a life boldly and openly for Christ, there was such a sense of God’s spirit and awesomeness. It brought the purpose of everything full circle and Joel Harris led us in a precious time of song worship.

After one final session, we put away our notebooks, snapped more blog pictures, and gave last goodbyes. One thing is for certain, we left different than we came. I for one was reminded why hard things make a difference, how to go about getting them done, and the importance of trying again and again and again…and again. And this most of all : Knowing and loving God IS what matters above all else we may ever do.

“Cut something out, put something in, rearrange the furniture of your life, and you might find yourself living differently.”

My advice – next time The Rebelution Tour comes around, make sure YOU are there!

Still To Come :: Photos, Video, & “Rebelution Rain”

Tomorrow’s the big day! The Rebelution Tour ’07 is making its last stop in Indianapolis, IN. Lord willing and so long as nothing earth-shattering happens, I plan to be there.

Alex & Brett Harris are two amazing and incredibly inspirational young men who live what they talk about. (Read more about them in this issue of BreakAway Magazine) They have a passion for our generation, and I’ve been challenged by their blog and message of “Do Hard Things” many times over the past couple years. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to finally meet the two of them in person!

(Yes, yes…I’m taking my camera. *smile*)

Fudge is setting in the fridge (shhh…not a word) and 4 am comes early, so I’m off to put a few things in order and attempt a few hours of sleep. Wouldn’t want to doze off in the middle of a session, now would I?

Stay tuned for a full report!

The first time I saw this video, I was simply amazed. I still get chills and goosebumps whenever I watch it.

You know, we are so quick to judge by outward appearance. This guy is going to sing what? You have to be kidding.

Then he opens his mouth, and suddenly you’re speechless. All your assumptions about him vanish as the crowd cheers in equal wonderment. Wow. Now there’s unexpected beauty.

God is the master of beauty in unexpected places. Oh, all of us expect a rose to be beautiful. But sometimes we look at people, who, like Paul Potts, don’t appear especially attractive or talented, and because we can’t “see” any beauty, we assume it’s not there. How shallow of us.

I believe every person created by God has something beautiful about them; half the time we don’t stick around long enough to find out what it is. We make our judgment in one glance. We see the imperfections and not the possibilities. If we were to look hard enough, perhaps we would see the beauty. Or in this case, hear it.

With an incredible voice, and a sincere, unassuming humbleness in his eyes, Mr. Potts shatters stereotypes. And somehow his “imperfections” as they were, only make him more beautiful. While to my knowledge he isn’t a Christian, I know that God delights in using ALL of us as we are – imperfect, yet beautiful.

Paul Potts makes me want to be more careful about how I view the people around me. Looks are deceiving – you could just be surprised.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalms 139:13 & 14

You may remember that I mentioned meeting Lew Sterret during CHEO earlier this summer. Last month he was nearby giving a live horse demonstration, so my brother and I drove over to watch. It was pretty neat to see him work with the horses – one well trained and one never ridden – all the while talking about issues relating to our lives and our relationship to The Trainer, God. What a unique ministry.

:: HannahCam [watch video]

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your strength.”
-Deaut. 6:5

To love God above all else. Above all people. Above all possessions. Above all pursuits. Above your desires. Above your dreams. Your preferences.

To love God with passion unrivaled, devotion unmeasured, and service undying.

To love Him with all your heart. Not just part or some. Not just 99.99% – but 100%.

To love Him with all your soul, to the very depths.

To love Him with all your strength. With every breath, with all your effort. Giving all that you have within you to serve Him.

At the very root of it all, this is my life purpose. To love God above all else.

I’m not there yet. I know myself too well to say that I really love God above all else. I try to. I want to. I want to be able to say that, and know it. That I love God with all my heart and soul and strength.

I’m not sure if that can be fully accomplished on earth or not. Yet through history I believe there are a few men and women who have. Maybe I just expect too little of myself.

It’s radical, it’s bold, it has a cost. It means living for an audience of One…and finding that’s the only way to really live at all.

“He loves us. And love does not mean making much of us or making life easy. It means making us able to enjoy making much of Him forever – no matter what it costs.”

-John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life