Admittedly the last two blogpost has been a bit out there. “Bring it all” was was some high flying radical snippet of text wasn’t it? So I’ll take it all down a notch this time around. Not because the trip to London not was a spiritual journey in God. It was! But because 1. I first need to comprehend the journey myself. And 2. I want to tell you all how great London was! No matter what your faith are! ;-) I’ll write in English again for my English speaking friends. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see any of those of you who live in England. Hopefully we can catch up next time. :-)

So I traveled with my friend Gunnar to London last Wednesday. Some doom sayers had warned about some ash in the skies again. Didn’t affect us. Flight was nice. Easily found our way to St. Athans Hotel. I knew it was poor on beforehand, but still I felt it a bit lousy when we arrived. Guess I have to high demands. All was tight. Lean walls, seep stairs, and a very small room with half working shower in the hallway. But Later on I realized our hotel wasn’t that bad. First of all, we didn’t stay much at the hotel. That’s not what we went to London for. It was clean, it’s staff very nice people, good breakfast, cheap and a central location in a fairly quiet street. Not to mention later on we got better rooms too. Same price. Plus it was other cool people I knew from Stavanger staying there the later days. Not to dance on others misery, but I must admit it helped a bit hearing about another hotel someone else from Stavanger stayed on. Poor girls. ;-)

Enough hotel!  What did you do then?

Yes. First day, Thursday, we went to the British Museum. Looked at stone sculptures, sarcophagus, walls, pots and much else from Egypt and other ancient civilizations. Amazing how much work and details they put into those things so long ago. For what? To live forever. To be remembered. Well some succeeded with with being remembered for long at least. With masses of slaves and craftsmen just remembered as that. Pictures coming later. Then we looked at mummies at Egyptian grave stuff. Crowded there. Lots of kids amazed by the mummies. Seemed quite cheerful too. I didn’t feel that cheerful looking at mummies I must admit. Than we walked the corridors. Some Britain history. Finally I insisted on taking a round in the Greek/Rome part of the museum. Rome never cease to fascinate. How easy the mighty can fall…

Enough history jumbo now. Then what?

Right. We went down to Trafalgar Square. Stood there looking out. Gunnar read a newspaper. I looked out the people, listened to some music, thought for a bit and got to get acquainted with being in a busy city. I often need to settle in a bit to new situations before handling them. (As the IJ I am for you MBTI fellas.) Then we walked down Oxford street. Little shopping. More looking. Not so much at anything to shop, just looking. Time for the Tube. And we bought us some Oyster cards. Very happy with that. I think we struck a good deal. :-) We used the tube a lot during these days. So good to just have the card then. I think we was on almost all of the lines. Though not so far on most of them. Mostly we stayed in central London.

Anyway, jumping forwards: Watched Stomp. (Was that before?)  Cool show. Then went for a Walk(tm). We was recommended Walks.com earlier on. A great recommendation. They offer many different types of guided tours in London. Seemed more serious than most other guided tours. Almost no profiling, just have become quite large on sheer reputation of quality. On Thursday we was on a Jack the Ripper walk. yes, I know a bit standard. About 30 other who operates such tours our awesome guide Shaugan said. Back at the hotel there  suddenly had arrived more friendly faces from Stavanger. :-) After almost 14 hours out of our room I went happily to sleep.

Friday we took a bit more easy. Slept long. Decided to go on another walked. Arrived just at time. It was Shaugan again. This time with “Hidden London”.  The best guided tour I’ve ever been too. I think he could have taken us thourgh hidden bits of London for days to an end.

Then! Passion for his name. Sorry, even in this factual travel summary he can’t neglect to mention our main purpose of the whole trip. Passion London.  We traveled to Wemebely Arena with a large group from Stavanger, most of them from ACTA Bible Study. A great bunch of young people. A chaotic, energetic, happy, fun and bright bunch of people. :-) We ate together. Los Angeles classic burgers for most of us. ;-) Someone had a whole Pizza left that they brought with them for some strange reason. When we arrived at Passion none wanted to carry it so I ended up with it. I was stuffed. Apparently so was everyone else in our group. I tried desperate to get some of those who worked as volunteers to eat some. They refused but seemed happy with the offer. Finally I got some brits to accept it. They didn’t believe me at first. But then one took the box, opened it and exlaimed with suprise “But there’s like a whole Pizza here! Really?” “Yes, go ahead.” That was nice. Even if I can’t take much credit for it. It was not my idea, and not my money spent on it. But still gave a nice feeling. :-) That’s how little it takes.

Seriously!!! Enough about some Pizza! I thought this was about you travels?

Oh… Well the Passion was great! More about that another time. Saturday we also was on a walk. Around Westminster this time. A quite crowded tourist area on this fairly sunny day. Then we visited Tower Bridge. Looked at it open. Then we had to run to catch other Stavanger people as they was of to eat again. We missed them. Slumbered at the hotel for a bit before suddenly we had little time again. (We blame it all on the girls getting ready to leave!) ;-) We rushed towards Wemebely again. I and Marita had to be there before the event to talk for a bit with a Norwegian journalist. Then Passion again. No Pizza this time. Event even greater. I think. Even if “Healing in your hands” wasn’t sung this day. Norway mentioned from stage! Woohoo. Apparently we make some impression. :-) Perhaps more about that another time. A late night. Chating and relaxing on the hotel.

Sunday we took a trip to the Science Museum. Was nice, but seemed to need to electrical repairs. Then we ended up sitting for a long time on a café even if that wasn’t our intention. Then we got to Hillsong London for a Sunday sermon. Was cool. Quite different than what I am used to, even if I belong to a fairly charismatic church by Norwegian standards. After the sermon the girls I and Gunnar was there with was to leave for Norway. As the British gents Gunnar and I am we took the girls through the Tube and traveled with them to Victoria Station. ;-) Then Gunnar wanted to visit a Improvisation Musical(!). I am sure that was cool, but I needed to wind down. So we splat for the first time. ;-) I think Gunnar had a great tome. I used the time walking in the streets and parks around our hotel. What can I say. That was perhaps the best part of the whole trip! :-) More about that another time?

Walking by yourself? Thinking then I guess?

Mhhmm. And listening. And praying. Very nice.

I bet. What about 17th may then?

Did you know that 17th may is the National Day of Norway. (Norwegian Constitution Day).  It’s unlike other national days of most other countries. No military, no parades. It’s the people who celebrate, first of all the children. And Norway is so beautiful in May! All of Norway celebrate. Well some grumpy ones don’t, but I think most of them already has fled the country on that day. I hadn’t fled! Not at all. It was really a bit difficult for me not to be in Norway at 17th of may. We suited up, unpacked our flags and everything and traveled for the the Norwegian Seaman Church of London. It’s a nice place southeast of Tower Bridge. We was a bit late so we had to stand through the sermon. People was happy. We ate some waffles, drank some Solo and took some pictures. Then we went to a park nearby where there was event’s and a parade. We ate some ice and met some of the ACTA people. It was really nice, but I missed Norway. ;-)

We had a bit of fun with a clown and fooling around before I and Gunnar had to head for our flight. Went around trying to shop a little before we left. We hadn’t done that before. It got a bit expensive at the airport. Our flight departed on time. No ash trouble for us now either. :-) Even if the airport had been closed just hours before  we departed.

Arrived at Norway. Was met by two sweet girls at the airport, driving my car. :) Drove home, had a nice chat with Gunnar before we said goodbye.

Well that was the bulk of it.  I tried to leave out details but I see I failed some places. ;-) To summarize:

One of the best trips I’ve had in many years.

Thank you!

My manifesto.

I live a good life. I am secure, no threat from my government. I have a enjoyable job, able to work with things that interest me along with friendly people. I have a home, a car, a stable income. In fact compared to rest of the world, I have a very good income. I am fed every day. I can buy most of the things I desire. I can spend my time with things that interest me. I have people that care about me. Friends, family. I am free to express my opinions. I live in a beautiful country. All this is good. I am grateful. And I am grateful that most people around me in my daily life has the same good things that I do. But why do I then live in a society that does not seem grateful at all? I’m just a human, and I’m affected. I get a feeling that this is to little too.

Let me shock you: It really is too little!! There is a central piece missing. The foundation stone. The purpose of life. Our creator!

And I’ve met him… Woah! So my life is not good. It’s great!!! He’s given me a purpose.  A place to settle down. A congregation to belong to. He gives me wisdom, leads me through trials. He gives his shoulder to cry on, he lets me dance and seeing freely to his name. He laughs along with me. He drags me up again and again. He points out at world for me, opens my eyes. He gave me free will. All that is good. I’m so grateful.  Still, all that would be nothing without the key to it all. His love. He loves me. He loves all of us. All.

That’s crazy!

And so amazing.

To show his love he sacrificed himself so that he could spend all his time with us. And how I fail in return. Oh how I fail. How I’m dragged into this world. Petty words, struggles for power, tiredness, egocentric daily life. Then step by step he shows me new ways. Turns me around. He washes away all that’s been. He humbles me. And let me rise again and shine in his light. Fills me with His love, and remains me that that is what it’s all about. Not demands, not numbers, not past. But love.

So my biggest desire in life is to love Him back. To live in His grace. In His love. And in free love do His will. I’ve so much yet to explore in that relationship. I’ve so far to go in his path. So much to listen to that he wants to tell me.

Therefore I take a time-out now. I go to London and the Passion-conference there. To honor him. To love him. To listen. To let him fill me again. With life. And I will bring everything. He expect nothing less. All my sorrows, all my joy. Because he doesn’t care about just some of it. He doesn’t limit his love. Love is not only for the good days. True love lasts every day, no matter what. In this chaotic world I want to live a life by him. I may falter again, surely I’m still human. But here I take a stand. Let Your love always surround me when all else falters. No chaos can tear down you God. Be everything in my life God. And I will bring everything to You. Jesus, I want You to be my life.

Yes, I’m crazy for God.

It may seem a bit crazy to you.

Hey, it’s a bit crazy and scary for me too.

But that’s love you know. ;-)

And to him I’ll bring everything. Please hold me to that. :-)

Oh, this post is a strange one!

It’s parts of text from the ending chapters of a fiction novel in a long series of books. So it’s full of spoilers if your gonna read the book. You probably ain’t reading the book so go ahead, read this. ;-)

I am not quite sure why I post it, but I do. Just a novel, but the words fit right now.

-:-

-:-

Then he rested his elbows on his knees and his head on his hands, staring at the diminutive statue of the man with the globe.

To think.

[...]

Why? Why had the Creator done this to them? Why?

Why do we live again? the voice in his head asked, suddenly. His voice was crisp and distinct.

Yes, Rand said, pleading. Tell me. Why?

Maybe… The voice said, shockingly lucid, not a hint of madness to him. He spoke softly, reverently. Why? Could it be… Maybe it’s so that we can have a second chance.

Rand froze.

[...]

All was still. Even with the tempest, the winds, the crashes of thunder. All was still.

Why? Rand thought with wonder. Because each time we live, we get to love again.

That was the answer.

It all swept over him, lives lived, mistakes made, love changing everything.

[...]

That’s why he lived again, and that was the answer to his fathers question. I fight because last time, I failed. I fight because I want to fix what I did wrong.

I want to do it right this time.

[...]

The Power winked out.

The tempest ended.

And Rand opened his eyes for the first time in a very long while. [...]

He regarded the world beneath him. The clouds above had finally broken, if just above him. The gloom dispersed, allowing him to see the sun hanging just above.

Rand looked up at it. Then he smiled. [...]

It had been far too long.

[...]

[...]

“Some novices noticed it first, Mother,” Silviana said, stepping beside her. “And news spread quickly. Who would have thought that a little ring of sunlight would cause such a stir? It’s such a simple thing, really. Nothing we haven’t seen before. But…”

There was something beautiful about it. The light streaming down in a column, strong and pure. Distant, yet striking. It was like something forgotten, but somehow still familiar, shinning forth from a distant memory to bring warmth again.

[...]

She stood there, rather than returning to her stud immediately. It felt relaxing to stare out at that distant light, so welcoming and noble. “Storms will soon come”, it seemed to say. “But for now, I am here”.

I am here.

Ingen blogg siden påske sier du? Ikke etter planen. Men det skjer mye ja. Bare ikke her. Det er sikker noe med vår og vær. Har noe med bortreist på jobb å gjøre, og kanskje fjasetid på fjasboki. For å oppsummere.

Hadde en strålende påske. Ble jo ikke noe ski på grunn av vær og føre. Ble roligt hjemme i stedet. Leste litt bøker og spilte rollespill med barndomskamerater. En “kampanje” som har vart i 12 år! Jeg satser på en grandios episk avslutning i sommer.

Deretter var det overraskende kjekt å komme tilbake på jobb etter en kort påskeferie. Det er jo liksom det man er vant med nå. Husker det var skikkelig deilig å stå opp tidelig om morgenen å reise på jobb i januar. Tenkte jo at det sikkert ikke var en følelse som kom til å vare for alltid. Da var det godt å kjenne på den igjen nå. Jeg liker jobben min og folkene der. Og det var fint å ha en uke der jeg hadde mye (“viktig”) å gjøre igjen.

Deretter var det en flott helg med fotografering ved Vålandstårnet og en kort prat med noen kjente som grillet der, og deretter fotografering på SKRIKS Multicup. Har noen måneder med bilder å sortere og redigere meg gjennom nå. Skjerpings! Lørdag var nestne hele dagen viet til studentledergruppa i IMI-kirken. Herlig samling, fokus på hva Gud vil fremover. Jeg er spent. Fottur opp i Sørmarka etterpå. Grilling, lek og samtaler. Litt kaotisk for en J som meg, men fint. ;-) Fantastisk solnedgang! Inn i hus for en del av gjengen etterpå, kom noen andre løgnaser og det ble en hysterisk morsom kveld. Herlig med masse selvironi. Humor som ikke går på bekostning av andre er så digg å virkelig kunne le ut til! :D

Søndag var en heidundrande sykkeltur som satt i beina til torsdagen etter. Kanskje strakk jeg for lite ut. Og det hjalp nok ikke med trappespringing senre på kvelden! :D Bena var som tømmerstokker på mandag og tirsdag. Herlig! ;) Tok med en pause med noen SKRIKS-folk i Møllebukta på hjemturen. Deretter lysstyring i IMI. Meget enkelt oppsett denne gangen. Var et forferdelig lerret som hang midt på scenen. Fikk allikevel flere komplimenter for bra lys. :-) Betyr mye.

Forrige uke var jeg “på reis”  som vi sier på jobben. Var ute på et kraftverk. Eller rettere sagt inn, da det var et fjellkraftverk. Var kjipt å inn i fjellet med strålende sol ute. Så jo solen stå opp i horisonten når vi forsvant inn i fjellet og så den gå ned når vi kom ut igjen. Var ikke riktig så ille det for vi fikk oss noen fine lunsjer ute. Beste var dagen vi grilla i solsteiken med ryggen lent mot fjellvegen. Ahhh… Kaldt inne i fjellet, og ble lange dager. Allikevel var det i grunn helt greit. Jeg koblet masse, og hadde “hands-on” arbeide. Gikk opp noen lys for meg på hvordan vi gjør ting. Overbevist om at det gjør meg til en flinkere ingeniør å få prøve meg på praktiske ting. Også er avvekslingen fra kontorjobben grei å ha i ny og ned. Savnet Stavanger litt da. Merkelig hvor glad jeg har blitt i denne byen…

Hadde nok en flott helg. Hybelkveld, loppemarked, rally, lage middag med andre,se film,  være med på Lys i mørke, gå tur, spille rollespill! Kortvariant. Alt var kjekt, og noe veldig veldig kjekt. Forøvrig påpekte noen at jeg brukte ordet kjekt. Eeek. Jeg blir vist påvirket av å bo her…

Denne uken har vært så rar til nå at jeg står over å utbrodere det i detalj. ;-) Nok å si har jeg hørt på samme sang over 100 ganger og skrevet mitt første dikt på spansk. Jeg kan ikke spansk en gang…  I morgen derimot setter jeg kursen mot Oslo. Stiftelseting for Ny nasjonal studentorganisasjon venter. 4 dager til ende. Gleder meg, selv om studentpolitikk ikke er så viktig for meg lengre, i alle fall ikke nasjonal. Men det er jo greit nå. Skal kontrollere litt bare jeg, ikke ha politiske meninger. Organisatoriske meninger har jeg mange av da. I et sjeldent tilfelle av mangel på ydmykhet skal jeg påstå at organisering er noe jeg forstår meg bedre på en de fleste. Hehe, men jeg skal ligge lavt i terrenget der og. Slik som jeg pleier forøvrig. :P

Jaja, mer enn nok om meg. Gleder meg til å sette noen mer svevende tema eller livsspørsmål på agendaen her igjen. Inntil da, Guds fred.

This short story I wrote some years ago. It was as an end to the stories of my main characters in the MMOG World of Warcraft. I played on a RP server, Earthen Ring, with some great guilds as Pillars of Faith and Ember Throne. Dimitri was my original character. Later when I returned I made Ambius. Perhaps this short-story is a bit difficult to grasp at the beginning as it jumps straight into the story of the characters. But for some reason I very much felt like posting it tonight.

Closure

Chapter 1:

It was a warm autumn evening in Stormwind City. People happily enjoying the last summer breeze. Ambius was far to fetched up in his own thought to notice. He walked up the steps to the Cathedral of Light. Would his questions be answered here after all? It had not been before. Not here, not anywhere. He nodded briefly to the old priest at the entrance as he hurried past. Cornello’s answerers wasn’t satisfying. It gave no meaning. I don’t want to be a pawn in any game between light and dark. That was one thing he had decided on a long time ago. As he descended to a lower chamber of the cathedral he again wondered on who he was to meet. Apparently someone had taken the investigation into their own hands. Why? Who have told them? Cornello perhaps?

The lesser hall was dim, apparently not all the torches were lit this evening. Strange, usually the room is quite illuminated. He made out two figures at the end of the hall. A dwarf and a man judging by their sizes. They seemed to discuss something. Ambius perked his ears, but all he could hear was some strange words.

Suddenly they went silent.

«Approach lad», the dwarf said.

Ambius walked slowly across the floor trying to make out the figures.

Read more…

Til noe helt annet: TV-serien Lost. Jeg digger den serien. Er du en av de som gav den opp? Fortvil ikke. Den blir bare bedre.

Når jeg så ferdig sesong fem i sommer var jeg henrykt. Jeg husker jeg hadde planer om å skrive om Lost på bloggen da og. Av uvisse grunner skjedde det ikke. Før sesong seks begynte nå tenkte jeg og på å skrive, men det ble nedprioritert. Men nå vil jeg skrive om sesong seks. Så da må jeg bare skrive om min henrykkelse for sesong fem først.

Jeg går ut i fra at du kjenner til serien. En gruppe personer styrter med fly over at Atlanteren og ender opp på en tilsynelatende øde øye som viser seg å være lite øde og veldig mystisk. Om du ikke viste det bør du i grunn bare slutte å lese dette med en gang og begynne å se serien i stedet. ;-)

Folk som har sluttet å følge med klager gjerne på at det bare er nye spørsmål og ikke svar. Det er egentlig ikke så sant. En av grunnpilarene til en spenningsserie er jo det mystiske. Det vi som seere ikke kjenner til. Lost er jo ikke formiddagsdrama heller der vi kjenner alle motiv og får se det om igjen 100 ganger før serien kan gå et halvt skritt veider på plottet. Jeg ser ikke helt underholdningen i det. Joa, det finnes nok en mellomting. Men skal man ha en “serialized”-serie – altså en serie som ikke baserer seg på at handlingen løses i slutten av episoden og det er noe helt nytt i neste episode – da må man holde igjen på hva seerne får vite. Og det er jo ikke slik at Lost ikke kommer med svar. Det står heller på at noen forlanger at alt i Lost skal forklares. Samme urimelighetskrav stilles ikke andre Sci-Fi serier. Ja, Lost er Sci-Fi/Fantasy om du virkelig trodde noe annet. Det er kanskje nettopp der problemet for mange ligger.

Poenget her var allikevel ikke hva slags type serie Lost er. Poenget her er at sesong fem er noe helt for seg selv. Og det er ikke slik at man må lide seg gjennom de fire foregående sesongene for å komme til femmeren.  Jeg så gjennom alle sesongene i høst. Sesong 1 og 2 er topp. Sesong 3 grei. Sesong 4 daler litt. Så slår sesong 5 til. Den er genial.

Jaja, man kan si hva man vil opp tidshopping. Jeg er ikke den største fan av konseptet heller. Men det fungerer så bra. Tidshoppingen på øya og “the flash forwards” er så smart bygd opp. Tydelig planlagt godt før innspilling. Jeg påstår man nesten at man kan se sesong fem alene, uten å kjenne til de andre.  Den henger så sammen med seg selv, samtidig som den selvsagt henger sammen med resten av serien. I sesong fem får du nesten alle spørsmål fra sesong besvart på slutten. På en måte nok ingen spådde. Plotet i sesongen er litt som en sirkel, en syklus. Og de som kjenner meg vet jeg elsker slikt. Ting biter seg i halen.

Ofte har ikke skribenter av TV-serier svar når de lager ett mysterie. De har kanskje en tanke, men senere når ting endrer seg, må de finne på noe nytt. Her er Lost også skyldig. Produsentene har innrømmet at de ikke hadde en så veldig kartlagt langtidsplan i sesong 1. Den planen lagde de før sesong 2. Hvor mye de har fulgt den vet jeg ikke. Men det som er tydelig er at sesong fem følger en plan. Slutten på sesong tre, deler av sesong fire og sesong fem klikker bare så godt sammen når man har sett ferdig sesong fem. Man får virkelig en aha-opplevelse.

Jeg syntes sesong fem av Lost var den beste enkelt sesong av en TV-serie jeg har sett. Godt plot, godt skuespill, livsspørsmål, action og kjærlighet. Eneste jeg savnet litt var kanskje en dypere tematikk. Men den har vi nå fått i sesong seks. Mer om det en annen gang. ;-) Så om du liker TV-serier som har et litt mer komplekst plott en hva kan løses på enkelt episode, og samtidig ikke er en konstant-finne-på-nye-kule-ting-som-ikke-henger-på-greip-overhode-serie (også kalt Heroes),  så anbefaler jeg Lost på det varmeste. Kos deg!

Jeg tenker ofte at jeg må gjøre mer, få til mer, levere mer. Det være seg i alle sammenheng. Jobb, hjemme, familie, tro. Noen ganger er det berettiget. Jeg gjør feil og har mine mangler som alle andre. Ikke gjør jeg alltid mitt ytterste. Jeg er i stand til å gjøre så mye mer for meg selv og ikke minst de rundt meg. Jeg kan bruke min tid bedre.

Forståelsen av sine egne begrensninger kan være viktig for å utvikle seg videre. På den annen siden kan det fort bli til negative tanker som er selvdestruktive om de får råde. At man ikke får til nok uansett. For meg har det vel gjerne gått på at jeg ikke strekker til alt det jeg skulle ha gjort hver dag. Mitt oppe i alle oppgaver, hvordan skal jeg ha tid til å “forandre verden”? I en hektisk hverdag, og det er et fjell der foran av oppgaver, kan livet virke tungt. Det er nok mange metoder å komme ut av et slikt tankemønsteret. Det er sikkert individuelt. Jeg har kommet igjennom de perioder før. Det har sikkert du og.  Men noe har endret seg drastisk for meg. Jeg har fått oppleve den største lettelsen av dem alle.

Kom til meg, alle dere som strever og bærer tunge byrder, og jeg vil gi dere hvile. Ta mitt åk på dere og lær av meg, for jeg er mild og ydmyk av hjertet, og dere skal finne hvile for sjelen. For mitt åk er godt og min byrde lett.

Når jeg ledes av Gud betyr det ikke at livet er blottet for motgang. Jeg er fortsatt i denne verden, preget av alle dens krefter. Allikevel gir Gud en så stor trygghet i motgangen. I strevet kan det være mer hjelp å søke Gud sin visdom enn å forsøke å takle problemene på vår egne måte. Vår uvettige måte i forhold til Gud sin visdom. Hvordan det har endret livet mitt drastisk det siste halvåret er verdt ett innlegg i seg selv ved en senere anledning.

I vinter har jeg blitt med på mye nytt. Jeg har kjent på en dragning fra Gud. Jeg har lenge lurt på hvor jeg skulle ende opp, hva jeg skulle gjøre. Jeg har blitt med på nye ting. Men har fortsatt tenkt at jeg må gjøre mer, bli med på noe mer. Dette er ikke nok. Det var mine tanker. I det siste har jeg fått kjenne på at jeg står i det Gud vil at jeg skal stå i akkurat nå. Det er jeg som stresser, ikke Gud. Og jeg oppdaget plutselig at jeg har jo beveget meg. Jeg skal nok få bevege meg til nye ting med tiden. Akkurat nå  skal jeg fokusere på hvor jeg er. Og få  hvile i det. Gud har gitt meg ett triangel av oppgaver nå. Innen der kan jeg hvile. Og bare ledes av Gud.

For noen så kan det fremstå som det er stress å tro. Gud kaller hans etterfølgere til å gjøre ting. Da tar du heldigvis skammelig feil. For om din nærmeste elsker deg så mye og du elsker tilbake. Gjør du ingenting for han/henne? Tenk om han/hun bare elsker deg uendelig mye. Gir deg så mye vidunderlig. Gir du da ingenting tilbake? Hvis du velger å ikke gi, elsker du ham/henne virkelig? Jeg elsker min frelser over alt. Så jeg vil gjerne gi ham noe og. Og så spør kanskje noen, ja men om han er allmektig så kan jo han bare skape og du slippe å gi. Svaret er veldig greit: Ja, det er poenget! Frelsen er så stor. Si deg villig til å følge ham så leder han deg.

For ikke lenge siden fikk jeg prøve en utendørs vertikal vindtunell! Det betyr at man kunne sveve i løse luften. Bare presset opp av vinden. For å få det til var det bare i grunn bare å slappe av og lene seg framover. Allikevel fikk ikke alle det til. De stressa, stolte ikke på sikkerheten, tenkte på hva de skulle gjøre for å klare dette. Jeg trakk pusten, la alt til Gud, og bare svevde. Det var en herlig opplevelse. Bare å sveve. Og så lite som skulle til. En svær vifte under meg. Da er det vidunderlig å tenke på at slik kan hele livet mitt være. Gud er en mye mye større vifte. Jeg kan velge å følge Gud, legge mine utfordringer til han og la han fylle mine seil med vind. Det er kjærlighet. Det er nåde. Det er å få hvile i fremgang.

Jeg håper du også får ledes i slik hvile.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

- Matt 11:28-30 / “The Message”