Here is a picture of our front yard, including my pet project: the front flower garden. When we moved in, the bushes had been overgrown and a lot of the ornamental foliage had been inexplicably designed to actually block the passerby a look at the flowerbed. I spent the spring ripping out all the shrubs and laying out a whole new design of plants. I aimed for a Victorian style of splashes of color throughout the garden. I've now added a second garden across the yard. It's the Russian heritage of farming; man, I do love to get into the soil whenever I can.
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I think of some of the deepest friendships of my childhood. There was a great elementary school pal named Danny, who listened to my fantastic stories and superhero plans, encouraging me all the way. Then there was the Camp Mt. Lou San summer counselor "Uncle Marv", a former member of the Air Force who was a humble yet straightforward mentor to us impressionable ones. I also remember my teen years' spiritual mentor Eric, who helped me see the reality of Jesus and the joy of the Scripture. All of these - and many more - friends helped me see the true friendship that Jesus offers to everyone and anyone. Even in my stupidest moments - the time I was arrested for an act of graffiti, the time I cheated on my high school sweetheart, the time I lied to a string of friends in order to cover up an initial falsehood - these close friends stood by me and let me know that they would stay nearby. They didn't condone my stupidity, but even as they corrected me they showed that they were true companions. I think that is where I first saw Jesus as more than an icon; I saw Him as a friend.
" My love of you, O Lord, is not some vague feeling: it is positive and certain. Your word struck into my heart and from that moment I loved you. Besides this, all about me, heaven and earth and all that they contain proclaim that I should love you, and their message never ceases to sound in the ears of all mankind, so that there is no excuse for any not to love you. But, more than all this, you will show pity on those whom you pity; you will show mercy where you are merciful; for if it were not for your mercy, heaven and earth would cry your praises to deaf ears." - Augustine, "Confessions"
