my sin, oh the bliss

Elaina & JD

Pops & Mom at Amy’s

I watched one of my best friends here get baptized yesterday morning. I felt like I was standing with family as we walked back to support JD. In that moment, I was assured that God brought me to Manhattan to be right there. Can you imagine a scene more beautiful? A man God sought out for His glory sat chest-high—humbled by sin and covered by love—ready. “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…”

I watched a life begin again, and I felt the water wash over me just the same.

At the beginning of the summer I said that God meets us where we are, but what an understatement. God pursues. He fights for us. Christ faced abandonment on the cross so we would never have to. Unfathomable love. Surrender every second and every thought, and we owe Him still more. So, that’s it… I lose daily battles, but He has won. As inheritors with Christ (Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 4:6-7), we are victorious because He was first.

Absolute power. Answered prayers. I’ve been too inspired lately to write about it. Words have seemed too small, but if I’m a journalist, that couldn’t last.

I think two brilliant new friends may have something to do with the inspiration overload. Although I was determined not to make friends this summer, something rare and beautiful has begun in my friendship with JD and Elaina. I first met them about three weeks ago in that Wednesday night prayer meeting mentioned in my last post. Since then, we’ve spent days together, constantly in awe of Jesus and the love we have for one another. Sometimes we can only shake our heads and smile at the three-week-old bond and brutal honesty we share.

Meet JD (J. Elquist, you’ll see that in lights one day… or on the president’s favorite suit): He is a gentleman, a fashion designer, and a steadfast, born-again leader.

Meet Elaina: She is an artist, a Georgia peach made for Manhattan, and God’s love truly emanates from her.

We can’t stop talking about Christ and His living words. After making breakfast for dinner (classic, right?!) to celebrate J last night, it wasn’t long before the three of us were praying together on my bed. On the 4^th, watching the fireworks above the Hudson together from a Chelsea rooftop, we couldn’t believe the view that we call ‘home’. Three in eight billion, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This past weekend, my parents came for a quick visit! I walked them to death and fed them back to life—the life of a New Yorker. We explored the villages, ate cake at Magnolia and lattes at Think, people watched and I even managed to get a back scratch. We started Saturday morning at Amy’s, the same bakery that we ended our Big Apple vacation years ago… There was something special about that moment—sitting at the same window together—just grown up and grown closer. I was glad I could share my world with two of my favorite people.

A few more lessons learned:

1. Ugly people shouldn’t attend DETAILS parties.

2. Don’t under dress when grabbing Stumptown Coffee.

3. Renting a bike to cruise the Hudson is a city must-do.

4. Stick with Jack’s Sat. morning cycling class, the brawny Swedish man on Wed. plays elevator music and sounds like a character from Mario Kart.

5. Hibernate and lock your doors for Pride weekend.

6. Even “grunters” in the gym can listen to Taylor Swift.

Next stop Boston.

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