Do you notice that you mark life by anniversaries? By events that've taken place, situations that've impacted you and by significant life changes. Every year I'm amazed at the events, situations and circumstances that cause me to go; "a year ago". I don't mark the years with years... when 2006 hits, I seldom use it as a reference point; "In 2005 I did ____." No, I use the event; "Four years today my mother died." "A year ago today a dear friend made a sudden visit to Calgary to surprise me." "This same time last year I was amdist the Apprentice Program through AYMI and questioning what on earth I was doing in it." haha. So what marks your journey?

This journey, this path I continue to follow, finds me continually facing the same issues but in various forms. Just when I think I've got them beat, or turned the corner, or even stopped and paid the toll... there they arise again. I feel like the Isrealites... running in circles... chaos, peace, war, chaos, peace war, chaos. It's like a continual circle of mockery to me.

I'm challenged to view life without assumptions. A friend and I have this ongoing discussion about assumptions. It's a great goal to seek, but I fear it's still so uncommon and so untangible to so many. Why is it that we jump to conclusion, we assume before we know. We fail to wait and question for fact and instead run solely on the emotion of the assumption. When will we stop judging, placing people in these boxes and force them to self-fulfill the projection we've put on them?

I'm sick of judgement... Do you know them? Have you stopped to hear their heart? Or have you concluded from a random outward response that you have taken out of context? Even if you do know them, stop assuming you know how they will respond. You don't. People can change. Even if they don't, trust Christ in them enough too instead project hope. We're so freakin' quick to assume we know, we know why they did what they did, do what they do, are who they are. Who freakin' cares... stop judging... stop, slow down, take the time to seek and understand their heart. Your rules, your judgement, your speculation, won't change them. Grace will. Compassion will. Love will.

Please, I beg you stop placing people in boxes with your sarcastic humor. Stop holding people to their past. Please... allow people to be free to be who they are, show them grace, compassion, love, this will change thier lives. Not our measly assumptions.

You don't know me to warn others about me... You don't know me to tell others my story... You don't know me to sing my praises... Do you?