Enduring Hopes and Dreams! I love Sundays! There is something about The Gatherings with The River Communitas (Community/Church). Whatever it is (I have ideas :D )it often brings out the best in me: the best husband, the best dad, the best friend, -the best me. I treasure that time with The Riv. In addition, the time after our gatherings, the time when I get home- well, it's a powerful time in my week. It seems that Sunday night-my wife is at her most beautiful. ( I know that may sound odd, but please hear me out). She is an intelligent, amazing, beautiful lady. My life has been soooooo incredible b/c of her. But, I am wicked, broken, tainted by the fall (my own fall) of this upside down world. This makes for poor eyesight (or should I say heart/mind sight?). Sometimes I forgetful, become nearsighted (2 Pet 1:9) not only forgetting that I have been purged from my sins, but also that God has given me NEW eyes, and a fresh way of seeing. But- on Sunday nights, b/c in large of the Communitas I am privileged to partake in/of, I see things much more clearly. When we get home, send the kids off to bed-those next minutes, often hours are infinitely precious to me. Our conversations are so sweet, endearing. What makes the "NOW" so mysteriously majestic is that Hopes and Dreams we share. I think to what we have endured: financial despair (that most young couples go through), miscarriages, disappointments to/from friends, Samantha's cancer, losing loved ones, people betraying (including our betrayals of others), even through these things our Love endures. And it endures b/c of shared Dreams and Hopes. The Now is only as good as the Hopes and Dreams we have for the future. I really believe this is what it means to live the reality of The Kingdom of Heaven now! Yes, we live in the Now- but we endure now, we enjoy now- because we have a hope and dream of things being best, complete-fulfilled in the future. I kiss my little Nanners (Hosanna Christine Crum) off as she goes to pre-k this morning- I am delighted and saddened at the same time- but what makes the moment, the now, so memorable is the hope and dream of what she is becoming and will become. I hugged the Zach (Zachary Samuel Crum) b4 he headed off for his first day of JR High- it was upsetting (especially to my bride) and yet hopefully joyous b/c of the hope and dream that the Zach is going to one day bring so much joy into not just our life, but so many more! So, the magic of Sunday nights, the awesome conversations, the Shulamite Props (read Song of Solomon if you don't know), spooning together, walking hand and hand-what makes it so magical in the "NOW" is the hope and Dream of doing these things together when we are older and understanding each other on whole new levels. The Kissing our little girl good-bye as she goes to school-is awesome b/c of the Hope and dream of one day holding her little girl (cue- Butterfly Kisses.........tear). I say all this to say I love my wife. Our Marriage is a treasure that I would surely pay any price to enjoy. The Journey is the Hopes and Dreams we share- the legacy we leave in this world. And in turn, the I have immense joy in The River, because we have figured out how to enjoy our marriage-. The Hope and Dreams will surely change and evolve-but the thought that the people, the amazing people (even with all our quirks and flaws)-will be together 10, 20- or 30 years from now-together, laboring, dreaming, hoping, communing together- to be "AN AFFLUX OF AUTHENTIC LIFE" -well that makes everything sweet! It's quite a sight for "sore" (broken, but getting better) eyes! OH WHAT THINGS THAT COULD BE! Loving this Community b/c of who Jesus Christ is in us-"living the dream"! sc