the journey inward

A great article from the NYTimes…

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/faith-and-deficits/

You know you’re turning NorCal when…

You enjoy going into REI (and other outdoor goods store). So much so in fact, you would claim that REI is your favorite store.

You enjoy perusing the aisle and aisle of outdoor goods, knowing that you can actually use the stuff that is in this door on your next hiking/camping/snowboarding/ski trip. And no matter what time of year it is, REI is always full of people. People who don’t mind shelling out the dough for the newest and best gear; and to be able to return it for ANY reason, at ANY time just because you held onto your receipt. 

When you’re NorCal any trip can/will involve a trip to REI. Whether it’s to pick up a headlight or a lift ticket – you can find a way to make a stop to REI. And if REI doesn’t have it, it doesn’t exist.

So here is a salute to you REI. You make us NorCal.

A great quote from this morning’s devotional:

Christian maturity is not about reducing the highs and lows of emotions to a level plane, but of feeling deeply in a godly way. The issue is not how or what we feel, but what we do with our emotions.

The passage coupled with that study was Psalm 35.

It’s a relief to know that as Christians we don’t have to be completely void when it comes to showing emotions. More importantly, when we do get “emotional” how and where we place our feelings is where we need to keep ourselves in check.