Stewardship, Pumpkin Pie Lattes, and Chit Chats

This afternoon I had the pleaure of spending a chunk of time with a woman I greatly admire. This woman has the ability to paint some of the most wonderful pictures and analogies in the world to help depict what is going on in life. For example, I once heard her speak about stewardship (quite recently, actually) and she was explaining why stewardship is important. Beyond the fact that Jesus calls us to stewardship (it's as simple as that) there is a perfectly good reason why we should practice it; without stewardship, we are dead.

She explained by using the example of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is dead because there is nothing coming in and there is nothing going out. The Dead Sea is, well, stagnent and dead. It gives nothing, it receives nothing. If we give nothing of ourselves, we are full of our own selfishness and dead. If we neglect to receive, we end up empty and dead. There is a happy middle ground of flow between others and ourselves that is vital to have in our lives. It creates this good, healthy, strong balance that helps us to live the life we have been given.

This afternoon, this wonderful woman and I had coffee at a little place called Cafe Adagio. Walking into the warm, cozy coffee shop, it's floor covered with beautiful little yellow leaves that had blown in the doors throughout the day and leaving the cold, gray, rainy day behind us, we ordered pumpkin pie lattes. GLORIOUS! Better than any pumpkin beverage I've had in my entire life. We sat at a table on tall chairs, staring out the window at the gray sky, sipping our pumpkin/coffee goodness, and talking about what it means to move on, out of the darkness and into the light. We talked about what it means to take on the challenge of growing and accepting, the challenge of living life without regret or fear. I am jeaous of my friend's strength and desire to do just that. I want to, I really do; but am I ready?

I don't know if I am. But I know that my little chit chat over a couple of pumpkin pie lattes with my friend was good for my little heart.