AN EXPLORER OF THE MOMENT - BE STILL 2018.

I have a tendency to overcommit, become overwhelmed by all the things I overcommitted to, and retreat via vegging out with six seasons of something on Netflix with Doritos and enough soda to serve a family of eight. 

So my only real goals for 2018 (besides maybe drinking less soda) are to learn to just be present and enjoy what is good, mourn with those who mourn, listen well, and speak up + speak clearly when the time calls for it.

To do this I just plan to make sure that in the midst of being extremely busy I will not forget to start my day with poetry, listen to new music, hang with people, discover old music, draw just for the fun of it, and play with my little girl without getting caught up in how much I should do to care for her in order to be a good dad.

It is ingrained in me that a good dad is a provider who makes sure his little girl has everything she needs + everything she wants.

That is not a good dad.

A good dad is PRESENT.

So is a good husband.

And a good friend.

And neighbor.

So that's me this year: God is present. I am present. Present to God. Present to my wife. Present to my family. Present to my friends. Present to new friends. Present to fun + adventure. Present to pain + suffering.

An explorer of the moment.

This will involve working hard. I am in grad school. I am a pastor. I am a husband + dad. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. But that work has a time + place. There will always be more that I could do, and I can always do it better. But just as God set the boundaries for the sea, saying this far and no farther, I will set the boundaries of my work as well.*

-joshua (2018 YO!)

*There may be occasional flooding.