once around...

i was on my way home tonight..
i could have chose a shorter route..
but as usual..
i drove past the lake...
becasue i love driving past the lake..

driving west...
i could see the sun setting into the mountains...
it was beautiful...
turning to head toward home..
i could see storm clouds to the south..
on my drive...
it seemed there was just so much beauty...
all around me..
it was hard to take it all in....

it's like last night...
i couldn't sleep...
so i got up...
i sat on the balcony...
i listened to the thunder...
while the rest of the world was quiet..
i watched as lightning lit up the mountains..
with a cool breeze...
to help settle my restlessness...

there's this movie...it's called "once around"...
it's about this guy who makes a lot of money...he's kind of eccentric...and he meets this woman who's much younger...she feels like a failure...she's not very self assured...they fall in love...
she feels she's found true love..but her family...is worried about how eccentric this guy is...
it's an intersting movie...
the thing about the movie that struck me is...
this guy....he has a limo...with a driver...
and there's this traffic circle in the park..
and the guy loves to have his driver...
drive around the circle..
he says to the driver..
"once around..."...
this guy can afford almot anything he wants to do...
but he finds joy..
in "once around"....

sometimes...
i realize i do things..
that are hard to understand...
sometimes..
i could chose a faster route...
or ...a route that is more direct..
instead of a route that leads me away
from where i should be going..
but...
then i'd miss...
the sunset
then i'd miss...
the storm clouds to the south...
the way...the sun glistens off the lake...
like fireflies dancing...
or..
wind waves...rolling across corn fields...
as harvest approaches...

so if you know me..
and if i do something...
like drive by the lake..
or...
if i'm heading west..
when the fastest way...
is to go east...
maybe...
if it seems odd to you
when i do these things..
and other things..
that don't make much sense..
well...
they make sense to me..
and if you find them troubling..
maybe..just maybe...
it might help..
if you realize..
in my mind...
it's my own special form of worship...
to see the beauty around me..
thanking God...
for the moments i get..
to be a part of it all....

sometimes...
it's the most simple things...
that bring our greatest pleasures...


tonights music...
meredith andrews...you are not alone...

"...you've had to face the music on your own,
but there is a sweeter song, that calls you home
...sayin'

you're not alone,
for I am here,
let me wipe away your every tear,
my love, i've never left your side,
i have seen you through the darkest nights,
and I'm the one that's loved you, all your life,
...all your life,

faithful and true...
forever...
for my love will carry you...."