Dreamer

If you haven't seen the movie "Dreamer" go see it. Talk about a movie with deep spiritual prophetic meaning... I won't go into my own thoughts about it and how it affected me, but I'd really encourage you to sit down, open your heart up, and listen to the Truth being told from this incredible story.

Dreamer

Love woke me up this morning
With a memory
Love came and whispered a story
That awakened a dream

Imagine a beautiful castle
And a beautiful king
He left the comfort of his throne
To fight for victory

I am a dreamer
Take me higher
Open the sky up
Start a fire
I believe
Even if it's just a dream

Love woke me up this morning
And I ran to see
The king in the winners' circle
On the horse he won for me

I am a dreamer
Take me higher
Open the sky up
Start a fire
I believe
Even if it's just a dream

Only a king would do anything
To protect the kingdom
Only a king would do anything
To protect the kingdom

.

I am a dreamer

Take me higher

Open the sky up

Start a fire

I believe

Even if it's just a dream

Glorious!

GOD is so faithful! I wish I could describe to you the joy that I feel and the smile that's on my face!

He brought me to the most beautiful book in the Word the other day, telling me to recite this:

I sit in his delightful shade, and taste his delicious fruit. He escorts me to the banquet hall; it's obvious how much he loves me (Song of Songs 2:3b-4).

He won't allow these verses to escape my mind; it's incredible!

What does shade do? It protects us from the sun. Yet, it also brings a place for coolness. Think about it... during a hot summer day we often delight in finding a shady area to rest in after we've become tired from the sun; we find a tree to sit under, one of those huge umbrellas at the beach, a gazebo, because the coolness refreshes us. And where do you go when you get all sweaty and uncomfortable from the burning hot sun? To the shade. Inside, to where there are walls that ultimately bring nothing but shade; protection. GOD's shade is protection, hence He tells us to delight in His shade.

Fruit... fruit is healthy, juicy, and refreshing. There's a reason that fruit was used in this verse, verses bread or manna. Fruits bring cleansing to the body... GOD brings cleansing to the body. There's a pattern here. When He tells us to taste His delicious fruit, He's referring to Himself, His goodness, His beauty.

He escorts me to His banquet hall. Banquet halls are used for big events or celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, or anniversary's. And an escort is a man leading a woman (but in biblical terms, men are included in being the bride); the Man in this case is GOD... He leads us, His bride, into an amazing banquet hall in celebration of having YOU at His side. This leads to the fourth part of these verses...

He does all this because of His great love that He has for you! Someone wouldn't protect you, allow you to taste their goodness, and escort you somewhere if they didn't love you. Another version says "He brings me to the banquet hall, so everyone can see how much he loves me." He wants to show you off!

I would encourage each of you to dig deep into these verses, or any other verses within Song or Songs... they are love poems for YOU from the LORD. The intimacy written within these Words are deep. They're written in the form of a husband and wife talking together... that in itself is intimate. GOD is our husband and YOU are His wife (even you men out there!), so to read this book and know that the intimacy is deeper then that of an earthly husband and wife... whew! THAT is crazy to think about. Oh but how beautiful.

How glorious!

Sweetly Broken

Sweetly Broken

.

To the cross I look,

to the cross I cling

Of its suffering I do drink

Of its work I do sing

.

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed

Showed that God is love

And God is just

.

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees,

and I am

Lost for words,

so lost in love,

I’m sweetly broken,

wholly surrendered.

.

What a priceless gift,

undeserved life

Have I been given

Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death

You’ve called me into life

And I was under Your wrath

Now through the cross I’m reconciled

.

In awe of the cross I must confess

How wondrous Your redeeming love and

How great is Your faithfulness

.

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees,
and I am
Lost for words,
so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken,
wholly surrendered.

This song is beautiful. The LORD captured my heart with the lyrics... sweetly broken. Oh how incredible that is! To know that when we have been broken, it can be sweet... Sweet because GOD is the One who allows us to break! Brokenness is incredible! You know it is truly HIM when joy and peace and confidence and comfort fill the dents and the cracks of the broken pieces within us.

When, though you know your heart has not fully been mended yet, you find yourself getting lost in Yeshua's beautifully overwhelming Love. When Joy is all that you are able to feel. When, you would have imagined yourself falling heavily into dark depression because of the revealed brokenness, the Light is so bright that even when you look, you can't find any darkness. When you know that you have wholly surrendered yourself to HIM, and your heart is ready for healing, even when you know that it's not going to be easy. When GOD's smile overtakes your face and you cannot rid yourself of it. When all you want to do is, as a friend of mine says, "suck carpet" before the LORD.

Now that's beauty.

That's being...

Sweetly Broken.

Paying [Inside]

Today, for the first time in my life... ever... I went inside the gas station to pay for my gas. No more of this outside, pre-pay with a credit card stuff.

I feel all grown up now.

On the Road

I hope you get where you're going, and be happy where you do. Jack Kerouac

I'm currently reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Only about a third of the way through, I'm already inspired. I like this book a lot. It reminds me of Jesus. No... this book isn't about Jesus and it certainly wouldn't be located under the "Christian" section at your local Barnes & Noble, but I can't help think about the Christ. This dude, Jack, back in the 1950's took a little road trip with a buddy of his from their home on the east coast, to L.A. Along the way, they run into all sorts of different people, learn about themselves, and learn about the different scenes they find themselves in. There is a whole different world outside of their home town.

For about a year now, I've had this dream of doing this... minus the hitch hiking and getting drunk part. The LORD has added a little spice to the vision He's given me. I'd be heading out, specifically to love people, just like Jesus did. He traveled around, pouring His love out to everyone He came in contact with. If money and commitments weren't a barrier [right now], I'd pack up my little stratus tonight, get out my United States Atlas, and head for... everywhere.

Walk into the poorest of poorest nieghborhoods to share Jesus. Drive into the richest of the richest nieghborhoods to do the exact same thing... share about my King. Sit down at the counter of a diner and talk to my waitress [or waiter] about the Father. Make myself comfortable on a park bench next to someone waiting for the bus specifically to tell them how much they are loved. Visit a random church along my way and pray for the young girl who's eyes are filled with tears; because I know that Yeshua would have comforted her.

My hearts aches to meet people. That burning desire just became so much more clear to me over the past couple of weeks as the LORD has been flooding my life with new faces and friendships. He's been good. Amongst some pain and heartache, He's reminded me of His children; He's opened up my heart more to seeking after and building beautiful relationships with Him as the center. Not that I haven't done that in the past; it's just different now... and I can't quite explain it.

These new friends have been a blessing that I never saw coming. Both believers, and non. And I've been touched and challenged by each and every one of them. They've all, without knowing it, helped with healing that is taking place, and encourage me to live my life more and more for Christ. One in particular (you know who are K.D.) has given me a whole new look on how to live for God and how to worship Him in my darkest hours. She encourages me in ways I can't even describe. Her wisdom is truly from the Father; when she opens her mouth to speak, all I can hear and see is Him flowing out from within her. The LORD allowed us to randomly meet at the perfect time. He's good like that. I pray that I've been half as much the blessing to her that she has been to me.

My point?... People. I want to go meet people. I want to go meet people where they're at. If they're not going to go to church, then let me bring church to them. If they're in church, allow me to join them. Let me walk with God in meeting them under that bridge... in that bar... at that park... at that tattoo parlor... in that coffee house... on that mountain... on that bike trail... at that gas station...

God made me so He could use me. And I can only pray that He uses me, just as He has used these new friends of mine to touch my life. I know I don't need to leave Des Moines to meet Christians and non Christians, but traveling to do this has definitely been something growing deep within my heart for a year now. To travel for months, even a year, with the goal of building incredible relationships with God as the guide... to be encouraging to people... to challenge people... that's how I desire to be used. If I could know that I've made one person feel loved and encouraged with Jesus's love, then I know I've done at least something right.

I'm currently on the road...

but we'll see if He calls me to a bigger road sometime in the future.

Wonderfulness of it all...

My roommate is so cute. That's her in the picture. This Texas girl was ecstatic to find herself face to face with an original Texan himself, President Bush earlier this week when he stopped here in DSM. "We talked about Texas!" Of course they did!...

I highly recommend trying a Vanilla & Raspberry Italian Cream Soda. It's quite refreshing on a warm sunny afternoon.

While doing some reading at Drake's student union the other day, I met this kid that we'll call, John. John is an international student from Kenya studying Actuary Science... and I got to tell him about Jesus. He had never heard of Adam and Eve. He had never heard of the Trinity. He had never heard that Jesus was sent to this earth to die for us. He had never heard... of Jesus Christ. He poured out question after question after question... it was incredible. Though he remains interested, he "wants to hear more, but only for the history aspect of it", I wouldn't be surprised if in the [near] future the LORD knocks his socks off. I pray for John.

I just found out that "Des Moines" means "The Monks" in French. Really shows how 6 years of French did me any good...

I'm finally beginning to get a grasp on the ministries that the LORD wants me to serve in. My plate was beginning fill up. It's weird, offer after offer after offer were being presented to me, asking me to play a key role in some rather large organizations/ministries. I'm still unsure of why the sudden push and determination from these people to get me on board, but I'm beginning to see that is has to be God. He wants to do big things through me, and I'm ready to take that! I hope you are too... because He wants to do big things through YOU as well.

It's 84 degrees out right now... it's time for this girl to go put on a skirt, head outside, and dig into a fabulous book; while sipping down a Grande Mocha Mint Frappe from the G's. Enjoy the weather friends!!

The prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines. - Jack Kerouac

Dance, Dance

This guy makes me laugh.

youngin's

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).

I love little kids. There's something about watching a little one run around laughing, fascinated by everything they see, that brings a huge smile to my face. They are so interesting to watch. Whenever they touch something, it's quite possibly the greatest thing they have ever touched... until they discover something else. Without knowing it, they're so passionate about everything around them; they want to know it all, touch it all, play with it all, taste it all. They long to discover everything in the world.

Children depend on their mom and dad to show them things, to grow, to develop. They trust their mom and dad... they believe everything that their mom or dad tells them. They have faith. God calls us to have child-like faith. Paul called Titus his "true child in the faith we share." Faith of a child. Why? Because children truly believe what you tell them. They can't analyze or question... they trust their parent and even believe in the unseen. Yes, it's good to question, but often times as believers we fall too far into that hole then we should. God says He will provide, protect, and love. Why can't we just believe it and not need physical evidence? A child doesn't need evidence; they just believe. What has happened to the child within us? The trust we used to have in God? Our child-like faith?

This past weekend I was at my usual homework spot, Java G's, where the cutest little blond boy walked in with his mom. He sported some shades a tad too big for his little face, and right away become fixated on everything around him. For about 45 minutes, I sat in awe of this child. He ran from one thing to another, attempting to grasp all that he could with his little hands. He mimicked the people around him. He talked to himself (in his own language or course). He acted like a child.

It was beautiful.

This made me think about how I can't wait to be a mom. I'm definitely not ready to be a mom, but I'm way excited. And quite honestly, I think that I'm going to do a good job at it. The idea of raising kids, with God as the center, brings a lot of joy to my heart. It's really going to be exciting to be married to an incredible man of God, and partner with him in raising our children to be Godly men or women.

So I end with this... go be a kid. Roll around in some dirt. Jump in a lake. Be fascinated with everything your eyes meet. Laugh at everything. Run around flailing your arms.

Be free.

Have faith like a child.

Read

A friend of mine had an article published on relevantmagazine.com
Take a look.
Feeling the Fireworks
k
It's interesting to sit and think... how has God romanced you? Stunningly Slowly? Violently beautiful? In the middle? He has... He is... and He will continue to. But what made you decide to take Him up on His offer of spending your life with Him? Did things slowly flourish, or did He swiftly knock you off your feet out of no where?

k

Be blessed friends.

Laughing (until it hurts)

I love those times when you laugh so hard you can't breathe... your stomach hurts... you snort... your face turns bright red... your eyes swell up with tears... you cover your mouth with your hand... your laugh becomes silent... you release a high pitched yell once your silent laughter ends... you hit the table with your hand... you can't stop laughing even when the joke is long over...

k

I had a night filled with that kind of laughter.

k

I loved it.

sad story

I got on my bike to go for a ride.

There I discovered a flat tire.

I couldn't go on my ride.

The end.

half ready

I like the idea of molting.
I'm ready.

But I don't like the idea of jumping off the cliff.
Not yet.

YOU are Everything

Ladies... I want to encourage you with a few words that a friend emailed to me the other day.

You are beautiful.
You are the apple of His eye.
You are His princess, His Bride.
You are all things good, as you were created in His image.
You are on a God-blessed journey to the heavens!

We often don't believe these [very true] words about ourselves. It's easy to see them in others, but the enemy tells us these words can't define you. Yet, we know it's the enemy... and we know it's nothing but lies. Cold, dark, ugly lies. But still, we take them as truth. We all have those certain lies we fall into believing... what are they?

Confession: the biggest lie I'm told... "You're not worth running after. You're worthless. You're not worth sticking around for."

I was watching a movie called "Pay it Forward" (watch it if you've never seen it). Towards the middle of the film, a woman is standing on the top of a bridge, ready to commit suicide. A homeless man comes running up to her pleading that she not jump... it went something like this...

Man: "Please! Come down from there! Don't do it, please!"
Woman: "Get away! Don't try to help me... I'm not worth it!"
Man: "...you're not worth it?... What do you mean you're not worth it?"
Woman: "I'm not worth it! Trust me... you wouldn't understand."
Man: "... but I do understand... I live in this messed up world and I'm treated like garbage... please... take my hand. Come have a cup of coffee with me... don't do this... please."

When you're standing up on your bridge wanting to jump... believing the lies... God says "Take My hand... I do understand. I was mocked, beaten, killed... because to Me, you are everything. Walk away from the lies and just come have a cup of coffee with me. Please."

So I plead with you... smash these lies. Because you know what? God says you're so much more; more than I can express to you. Crush the lies. Run from the lies. It's a daily battle... daily... but when you know the truth about yourself, what HE thinks of you and how HE made you, the lies can't help but flee. His power is stronger. Light is brighter than darkness.

So again, hear her words to me. Hear me say them to you. Hear GOD say them to you.

You are beautiful.
You are the apple of His eye.
You are His princess, His Bride.
You are all things good, as you were created in His image.
You are on a God-blessed journey to the heavens!

"_____" Healing

I witnessed massive amounts of healing begin to take place this week.

Physical healing, emotional healing, spiritual healing... graciously He released His healing hand upon some absolutely beautiful [young] women.

I love that God enjoys showing us what He can do. I love that He actually allows us to see what He can do. I love that He wants to do big things. I love that we can be apart of those big things. I love that He uses us to perform these... miracles. I love that nothing big can happen without His hand. I love that nothing is impossible with Him.

I love that He gave me new eyes. I love that He has given you new eyes... and I love that He will continue to give eyes to see the Truth of who He is and what He can do.

My eyes have been fully opened to a new reality. The reality of healing... the reality of miracles. They happen. They're as real as night and day. They don't just occur in third world countries... God doesn't only work powerfully in poverty stricken countries, as some may believe. He's doing stuff here; big stuff. Look around... He'll show you.

Healing... it's a beautiful thing.

[anti] Dr. Pepper

I like that the guy in the photo is pouring out a can of Dr. Pepper.

Personally I think that Dr. Pepper (after Rum of course) is the worst drink ever created. yes, EVER.

If someone were to line up five cups, pour four different kinds of alcohol in four of the cups, put Dr. Pepper in the other, and I was to smell each of them to identify which cup was Dr. Pepper... I'm about 88.75% sure I wouldn't be able to do it. Dr. Pepper smells exactly like some nasty, revolting type of alcoholic beverage to me.

And if Dr. Pepper isn't horrible enough to begin with, they had to invent the following:

• Diet Dr. Pepper
• Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
• Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
• Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper
• Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper (what the?!...)
• Dr. Pepper with Berries & Cream

Okay no... just stop it with the Dr. Pepper folks. It's gross.

Can I get an Amen?!

(dis)assembled

I feel the way this picture looks.

It took me a few minutes to figure out how this dude was bent and twisted, trying to identify what limbs were his arms and what limbs were his legs. Ouch.

My snowboarding fall has really taken a toll on me. I've forgotten how much physical pain can affect a persons daily thoughts and feelings. Meidcation can only do so much. It's only been six days, but already I feel spiritually and emotionally weak... lost... exhausted.

It's been nice not going into work and skipping classes in order to rest and get some extra sleep, but... I feel... really out of it... distant would be a good word. When you find yourself in bed for insane amounts of hours, eyes glued to the tube and the inside of your eye lids, having hardly any contact with anyone, it's only normal that you feel out of the loop. And lonely.

Oi vey.

How the ["permanently"] physically broken live day to day, I don't know. God is a healer (check out some of His best healings in a little book called the Bible)... now I can see why it's a specialty of His. Physical pain really can bring darkness (in all areas of ones life - mentally, etc). But healing... that's when vision is restored.

Huh... the concept of healing... seems to be a continuous recurrence in life recently.

Spring better get here fast.

So if you would, please say a quick prayer of healing for me. Thanks friends.

[HE brings] Freedom

Praise God... freedom for this man.

I pray he be protected, and continue to run after the Holy One even while mobs of people [most likely] hunt him down so they may put him to death themselves.

thoughts [for now]

First might I say that this picture is probably one of the most frightening things I have EVER seen. I get the heebie-jeebies just looking at it! Icchh!

While hangin' out in Colorado, I ran into some Iowa folk. It was refreshing. A couple who teach at a college in northeast Iowa, a dude who is looking to go to law school at Drake, and a brother and sister who reside in Indianola. For the first time, I actually felt that Des Moines, Iowa was my home. Meeting these people opened my eyes to how much I truly do love DSM.

A friend of mine wrote this in her blog recently:
I was distracted as I was driving that morning. Was focused on gardens - personal ones, spiritually speaking. A great friend shared an incredible vision she had about one of life's situations. We each have a garden and we chose to whom we give keys away. Sometimes a garden is cared for: the ground tilled, the soil watered, vegetation blossoming, fruit producing. Then darkness enters and keys start getting thrown around to whoever will grab them. When that happens, people trample the land. The lush vegetation starts to die off and blacken. Those with keys enter not because they want to water the land or till the soil or care for the crop, they enter because they want to steal the fruit, they want to look at others on the outside watching and wave and smile and snicker that they got on the inside. There's no care involved... just trampling and stealing... selfishness and death. The deeper this realization sits in me the heavier my heart becomes. One thing I ask is that my future husband loves and respects me enough even now that he protects his garden from that ugliness that hovers all around so freely... even in places we think are safe, especially in places we think are safe. That seems to be where it pops up with the most vigor. It's a non-negotiable for me. Guard the crop. It's not for everyone's taking... no matter how easy and fulfilling it is in the temporary.
Thanks K, I needed to be reminded of that. Let it soak in folks...

There is an Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity. One of my favorite quotes in the article reads: "We will invite him again because the religion of Islam is one of tolerance. We will ask him if he has changed his mind. If so we will forgive him," the judge told the BBC on Monday." ...Sounds like a religion I'd want to be a part of... (that was a but of sarcasm if you didn't catch it)... sadly, that is exactly how christians come across.

I'm ready for spring. The Lord placed spring to occur right after winter for a reason... rebirth and healing are coming. And I'm ready. He has beautiful things in store for you; for all of us. Get ready because HE is about to rock your world with everything new. A new attitude, a new heart, a new desire for Him... a new life. Let the Maker work with the [stunning] clay that you are.

Unfortunately, two days ago I took a pretty nasty fall while snowboarding out in the Rockies. Very similar to a fall I took five years ago... yet this time a concussion was added to the spinal contusion, slipped discs, and strains/sprains all throughout my back muscles. I've had a headache for 72 hours straight, and it feels as if my left eye is going to pop right out of it's socket. So basically, I hurt... a lot. The meds I was given do help, but soon after I take them I take a little trip to kookoo land for a few hours. I've never done drugs, but I think that the way I feel with my medication is probably similar to what it would be like if I was on hard drugs. It's trippy... weird/creepy things have happened after taking them. Sometimes I wonder if medication really is from the devil.

Over the past couple of weeks, God has been opening a plethora of doors for me ministry-wise. It's exciting... yet at the same time I don't know what to do with it all. I want to do everything that's being offered and handed to me, but I know that I need to learn to say 'no.' I struggle with over committing myself... gotta find the balance between the Martha and the Mary.

My older sister and brother-in-law have a beautiful relationship. A good friend of mine and her fiance have a breath-taking relationship. Another friend of mine and her boyfriend have a simply stunning relationship. I have yet to experience this beauty in a relationship with a man. But I know that the Lord is preparing my heart for a relationship, and I can only pray that He is doing the same with my husband. I'm excited for Him to knock my socks off with the guy... I'm excited to give the guy love that no other woman can... I'm excited to love God with the guy walking beside me. Just thinking about being in love stirs something in my heart. We were definitely not made to be alone... incredible. HE really does have a Prince Charming or a Cinderella out there for you. As much as I want to know who he is right now, God runs on a different timeline. No timeline that is. Time doesn't exist. All He's waiting on is your heart. Oh how I wish I could watch each of your love stories unfold... beginning with the romance between you and your Maker. Now THAT my friends is beautiful.

Think about the word "freedom" for a while. Beware though... it's thick. Dig into it... I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Have you ever seen your dads heart break? I witnessed my father's heart break this morning. He found out a friend of his passed away from colon cancer. He told me, with tears in his eyes, "I tried so many times to share the Lord with him, but he wanted nothing to do with Him..." It was hard to see my dad so heart broken, but it also opened my eyes to our Father's heart. He weeps for you daily. I got to see a small piece of Yeshua in my dad this morning... talk about heart wrenching. Good reminder. Amen.

This summer myself and a few friends are planning to go spend a week out at my rents house in Palisade, Colorado. I hope it happens. Spending a week biking in the mountains, hiking through caves, sitting around a bonfire making smores, swimming in the hot springs... I love the outdoors. God created the outdoors for us to enjoy... so if it's nice out [and even if it's not], go outside right now. Go ride your bike. Go jump in a lake. Go roll around in the mud. GO enjoy what He has given to us. Even snow... enjoy it. That might be hard for some of you to do, but seriously... God knew what He was doing when He created snow. It keeps wildlife living with the moisture that seeps into the earth. So go... enjoy what lies behind your front door (even if it's not "paradise"). I say you can find paradise right in your backyard. Since God created everything, we all do in fact live in paradise.

Right now there's a group of peeps out being a light in the darkest of dark places. I pray that the Lord finds joy in their serving hearts. I ask that God open up the minds and hearts of every person that these warriors come in contact with. Oh that He would be pleased!... shake everything Father... shake it all.

And I leave you with this... remember, there's more to life then being really really ridiculously good looking.

Peace.

Just In Time

You make all things beautiful... just in time.

The LORD knows exactly what He's doing. It's simple... we're not God, so we can't see the things in the making until He plants the result right in the center of our path. Underneath the pain, there's a purpose. Underneath the tears, there's truth. Underneath the confusion, there's an answer.

It's that time of the season...

things will be beautiful again. Not yet... but they will.

He makes all things beautiful at the exact moment they are meant to be complete. His timing is perfect. The beauty arises just in time for the next journey.

The darkness of winter is beginning to fade, as the colors of spring begin to press out from beneath the ground.

Beauty and healing are coming...

just in time...

for wholeness.

the Ragman

It was before dawn early one Friday morning. I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of the city. He was carrying a bag filled with clothes, both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear and tenor voice, "Rags! Rags! Rags!"

Ah, the air was foul and the first light of dawn filthy to be crossed by such a sweet music. "Now this is a wonder." I breathed to myself, for the man stood tall, and his arms were like tree limbs, both hard and muscular. And his eyes, ah, his eyes, they flashed bright with intelligence, and understanding. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? I followed him, my curiosity drove me, and I wasn't disappointed.

Soon, the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into her handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her shoulders shook, her heart was breaking. The Ragman stopped. Quietly he walked to the woman, stepping around tin cans, broken toys and garbage. I listened to hear what he had to say; " Let me have your rag," he said so gently, "and I will give you another." He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he lay across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked, from the gift, to the giver.

Then, as he began to walk away, the Ragman did a strange thing. He put her stained handkerchief to his own face, and then he began to sob, as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking, yet the woman was left behind without one tear! "This is a wonder!" I thought to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child that cannot turn away from a mystery. "Rags! Rags! New rags for old!"

In a little while, when the sky began to show gray behind the rooftops, the Ragman came upon a little boy whose head was wrapped in a bandage. A single line of blood ran down his cheek. Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and drew a baseball cap from his bag. I heard him as he said, "Give me your rag, child, and I will give you mine." The child could only gaze at him as the Ragman loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. He set the cap on the boy's head. And I gasped at what I saw, for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow ran a darker, more substantial blood-- his own!

"Rags! Rags! I take old rags!", cried the sobbing, bleeding, yet still strong and intelligent Ragman. The sun hurt the sky now, and my eyes were burning from it's light. The Ragman seemed to be more and more in a hurry. "Are you going to work?" he asked a man leaning against a telephone pole. The man shook his head. The Ragman inquired, "Do you have a job?" "Are you crazy!" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket. It was flat, with the cuff stuffed into the pocket. The man had only one arm. "So," said the Ragman, "give me your jacket, and I will give you mine." Such quiet authority in his voice; the one-armed man took off his jacket, and so did the Ragman. And I trembled at what I saw; the Ragman's arm stayed in his jacket, and when the other put the jacket on, he had two good arms, but the Ragman now only had one! "Go to work." he told the man.

After that, he saw a drunk lying unconscious beneath an old army blanket; an old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took the old man's blanket and wrapped it around himself, but for the drunk he left a new suit of clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman, though he was weeping uncontrollably, bleeding from his forehead, carrying his bag, stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old and sick. Yet he went very fast! He skittered through the alleys of the city until he had come to it's limits, and then he rushed beyond. I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow, and yet I needed to see where he was going in such a haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.

The little old Ragman, he came to a landfill. He came to a garbage dump. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. With tormented labor, he cleared a little space. Then he sighed, he lay down, he pillowed his head on a handkerchief, he covered his old bones with an old army jacket, and... he died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a heap and wailed and mourned, as one who has no hope, because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this, and I had cherished him, but he died.

I cried myself to sleep. I did not know, how could I know? That I had slept through Friday night, and into Saturday night. But then on Sunday, I was awakened by a violent light, pure hard demanding light, shining against my face! And I blinked, and I looked and I saw the first and last wonder of all! There was the Ragman! Folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive and healthy! There was no sign of age, and all the rags that he gathered shined with cleanliness!

Then I lowered my head, and, trembling for all that I had seen, I walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name, with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then, I looked into his eyes, and said with dear yearning in my voice, "Change me!"

And He changed me, my Lord! He put new rags on me, and I became a wonder beside him...

The Ragman... The Ragman... The Christ.