The One Year Anniversary of Ground Shaking

This year has been
changing
incredible
devastating
life changing
life halting
unbelievable
frustrating
real.

This blog has been one of the best outlets for me to process, share, grieve, be real, and have some fun.

And today marks the one year anniversary of Ground Shaking. One year! As I reflect on the many, many posts I've written, I can't help but reminisce. Reading posts from a different stage in my life really gives insight into how far I've come in this last year.

Thank you so much for reading. Thank you for participating in discussion, and for processing ideas and thoughts along side me. Some of you have been around from the very beginning, and some of you are reading this post as your very first. Either way, thank you for being a part of Ground Shaking.

And what of that name? Ground Shaking. A long time ago, I wrote:

'Ground Shaking' is a direct result of what I believe my purpose in life to be. Haha, I know right? That's a pretty intense statement. In all seriousness though, I've put a ton of thought and prayer into this aspect of my life. I've been challenged to think and re-think. Eventually, I was able to land on a one sentence phrase which I believe sums up my purpose. My purpose is to be an earthquake for Christ. I know that as time goes on, how I define my purpose will probably be sanded down and polished. It may even be broken in two and completely re-made. As I stand now, however, this is what I believe my purpose to be.

This year has proven to be both sand paper and polishing rag.

So, how has my definition of 'Ground Shaking' changed in the last year? In a few ways.

• I no longer see it as an act necessarily. Being a Ground Shaker doesn't require an action on my part- it's who I am.
• My effectiveness as being a Ground Shaker largely depends not on how I appear, or my surroundings. Rather, it depends on my being secure in who I am, and being 100% real in that environment.
• Love is an integral part of being a Ground Shaker, and Papa is Love.
• Ground Shaking doesn't necessarily mean speaking up because I feel I have to. Many times, it means listening and sincerely asking questions.

On this blog, I've shared my best times, and my worst times. Thank you for your discussion and thoughts as I've continued to develop what being a Ground Shaker means.

It's a process. Life, I mean. I'm in it, your in it, the President is in it, that guy on the corner holding a sign is in it. We're all in process. Just as this first year of my blog has held the best and worst of experiences, I anticipate this next year will hold amazing times, and frustrating periods. My life will, inevitably, change in the next year, and I will have things cross my path that are completely unexpected. What I'm beginning to realize is that all of that is simply a part of the process.

This I do know: Papa is especially fond of me. He loves me how I am, and is excited for who I am becoming. As much as He loves what I am interested in and what I do, He cares so much more for who I am. His love outweighs all the hate in the world, and his peace calms the most fearsome of storms.
He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is Love. He is.

The only reason I can have any impact on this world- ANY IMPACT- is because of Him. I am, because He is.

Fascinating how that works.

Am I a Ground Shaker? Yes.
And, I am only this because He has created me this way, and loves me how I am.

May this next year of blogging be even more terrific, profound, fun, ridiculous, and full of love.

Thanks for tagging along with me! Here's to a great start of year two!

Colin

What darkness means

CNN, MSNBC, and Time have all confirmed that Michael Jackson has been pronounced dead. Such a sad day...

Some twitter quotes:

@JesusNeedsNewPR "Gen X's "Elvis" is dead..."

@Jackalopekid "The news today should remind everyone that life is short and that none of us are invincible"

My heart breaks for the Jackson family, and my prayers go out to them. What a painful time. Words cannot express the amount of grief they must be going through.

Just three months ago my family was in a similar position the Jacksons are now in. Again, my prayers go out. Grief is the opposite of what God intended- pain was never his plan.

Great talent has been lost today. I'm saddened.

Let God's love shine through this madness
Colin

One foot in front of the other

Been listening to a lot of Jars of Clay recently, specifically their album 'If I Left the Zoo.'

Fun day today, here are some highlights:

School was mostly uneventful. Good discussion in English, good prep in Math. It's hard to focus on those things when that's not where my hearts at right now though.

Got some new chucks (pictured right.)

Doin' a lot of processing and funeral stuff. I'm workin' on the piece I'm going to be saying at the funeral. It's hard. Hard, but good.

Family is awesome. I've been hanging out with aunts, my sister, parents, my grandma, and other family in everything but blood.

I've heard stories from old grandparent-types of them pulling up to their 50's sweetheart in beautiful cars. Today, I got to experience similar for myself! My friend, Michael Boerner, left the keys to his beautiful 1998 bright red Corvette to my dad for the week. Just hearing the engine is mouth watering.
My heart jumped when my dad threw me the keys so I could go pick up my girlfriend and drive her to a lacrosse game at Les Bois Junior High out in the middle of no where! We drove, we talked, and we got to the destination but couldn't find the game! Regardless, it was a great opportunity to take a walk in the sun and just be. Great memory.

Ended the night with a game of Apples to Apples, then did some work on an intense puzzle with Kona. She got 11 freakin' pieces, and I only got 6!

The sun shown through the inky darkness today.

Colin