In Death There is Life

For here in the winter wilderness lies,
A Wall, cracked broken and remnants meeting the dust of the ground:
a reminder of the flood that came

And there is hope, that an undercurrent can destroy a mighty wall
leaving ruins of what once was and truly remain rubble for the many years to come

A restful rubble of hope and testament
to the years He and I fought to bring them down
to make a new path and passage through.

The individual stones now scattered,
from all my rampage,
the little lies I now know to despise

And all the time I was looking for You
But you weren't who I thought you were
you were unexpected mysterious and captivating

I built the wall and am finding all the while you were tearing it down
All the while protecting me from my own wicked heart
All the while I was not letting your life grow

And with my defenses down
I am finally taking the breath of life I was meant to all along!
With my body lying face down in the rubble and dust that I was always meant to breathe.

In death there is life.

-JG

Update on the 8019 project

So it's been a while since I updated here on the 8019 Project, no new videos this time. Sorry, I know they were entertaining and awesome but alas I do not have my video camera with me or a wide angle lens for it so this update will have to be simply pictures and text.

As we last left off on the basement construction adventure, little did I know that between framing, electrical/ duct work, hanging the drywall and there being a room done/ livable much work needed to still be done. There is a lot more that goes into the completion of a room, than I really thought or understood!

I spent a lot of my Christmas break preparing Bedroom #2 and The Recording Studio so that while I was at school these past three month they might be completed and the basement project could enter its next phase of construction during spring break while I was home applying for summer architectural internships at local Denver firms. And believe it or not both are now done. See for yourself!

Currently the bedroom is occupied with extra storage. So technically it is just a storage room but work with me.

Likewise the studio too is now done. It is awaiting unpacking but you can see it is already taking shape!

In our problem solving for the solution to the headache of the where to put all the great room stuff we devised a great idea for storage. Why not finish out the furnace room and make it a sports equipment room as well.

And believe it or not with those three storage areas / another empty non finished bedroom/ bathroom the great room is empty/ workable now.


I'm not quite sure how much will get done over the next three months while I am away but I imagine when I get back the great room may be done! What a thought!

JG

[IN]vertical

As an architecture student I am taught to think a certain way about the world and my engagement in it; to breakdown what most take for granted and analyze it to its purest most metaphorical essence and then transform this into something tangible for others to experience. Most of you who read this will never understand the full complexity of what that means or let alone be able to comprehend this and my way of reasoning. As Elise says there is always a back story to what I write here and you have to understand me and the circumstances thoughts and reasoning surrounding and what I am finding captivating/ takes my breath away at a given time before you begin to understand my writing.

I guess this is why intellectuals put footnotes into their papers, because no one really understands them. So they do their best to trace their reasoning that the common man might follow along.

When I decide to talk about the [IN] vertical here you must understand that the course of my reasoning regarding this subject regards knowledge of my relation to the horizontal vertical and diagonal plane and their specific definitions to me. The vertical plane is the relationship we have with God. The horizontal the relationship we have with people. The diagonal finding God in community and people; this being I believe my best simple reasoning as to how to live my life as a Christian. That is letting God invade into my everyday life and interactions with others.

The [IN] vertical is a downward humble position: a starting point to building a bridge, the very columns that support all the verticals, horizontals and diagonals that allows for true relationship with God. Understanding that He alone is in control of what happens on the other planes and he is the very support that holds all things together. It does not allow for inaction in the christian walk but sees every action as a chance to further strengthen the other planes.

Elise sent me the above picture last night it is of my favorite bridge in the whole world located in Ventura CA. I never realized til this morning why I loved the bridge so much. I understand now! It's because all the members are so strong and the unseen supports on the sides of the highway are unseen yet immensely present but they are mighty and strong.

As Christians we ought to be like that bridge, our foundations must be true and strong. We shouldn't be swayed by trivial matters like the earthquakes that come occasionaly in Ventura, CA. Set your foundations in the [IN]vertical in the downward humble position. Understanding that He alone is in control of what happens on the other planes and He, Jesus, is the very support that holds all things together.

JG

Between the lines

So next week is dead week. I am not quite sure how I found myself the week before it. But here I am. There are so many things to do. So much on my mind. On my heart.

Part of me wants to put it all here. Every burden etc.

Lists. Timetables. etc.

All the scattered actions of my Maker. The lack of knowledge. The collective knowledge of my God

digression.brokenness.lack of control.a closeness to God.

A fore mentioned things you somehow need to know. That mean nothing to you the reader.

Preparation that leads to progress. subtleness. the lines in between.

scripture, a heart. continued presence of God. His desire. profound love.

But I don't write the in between. He does.

So I'll let the lack speak.

JG

Unexpected, Undeserved Grace and Love

I continue to be amazed and utterly overwhelmed by what God is doing in my heart.

How when I am honest with myself, I am stripped to a core of my self that I have not seen for a while.

And, I could be so easily distracted by the lack of responsibility and the even mindedness that seem to have vanished as if I never had such qualities in the first place. But I think perhaps a real heart is being birthed in this season. And this morning I am choosing to focus on that.

Last night I took a walk in the heavy down pour. I had finished most of my work for today. I decided to go out because I wanted to go encourage some guys who were staying up late in their various architecture studios.

I think I am learning how to love.

I could so easily say "I never had that in my own life" and get so bogged down by that lack in my own life that I miss out on the gifts I could give; but to simply love others in the most creative most meaningful ways has such a beauty about it.

I hope we can learn as christians to extend to someone the incredible unexpected undeserved grace and love that we ourselves experienced through Christ.

We learn more in those moments than in all if not most others.

JG