It's something unpredictable, but in the end, it's right.

And I hope you had the time of your life.

I think this line of the popular Green Day song could summarize my wish for every person I've ever loved. This weekend, months of planning, budgeting, prioritizing, and, yes tons of fun, came to a somewhat bittersweet end as about 30 girls trooped into a room filled with confetti and yummy food, a room full of tables cloaked in turquoise and white and sprinkled with pretty pictures in black and white.
"The bridal shower of the century" one of them called it. I'm not certain it was that, but it was fun.
The party reminded me that life does not always occur the way we might expect, or even the way we might request, but, in the end, obedience, and faithfulness, loyalty, and patience, will lead an individual who leans on Christ to a richer, fuller life than could ever be expressed.


Nothing brings me greater joy than to pour myself into places where the Lord dwells. Courtney means "Court Dweller", "Honest Counselor", "Protector", or "King's Attendant" and every one of those is something I endeavor to be, but in all of this, I aim to be Christlike. Sometimes this means emptying every ounce of what we were given into every ounce of what we were given, read that again if you're confused. Let me put it this way: Don't leave anything undone.
Imagine if Jesus, in His divinity, had adopted some of the less desirable characteristics of humanity, such as...hmmm...selfishness. What then? I daresay if Jesus had been like some of us live every day, we'd all still be lost.

There, in a room cloaked in turquoise and white, it occurred to me that Jesus set up a party like this for each one of us, complete with food, presents, balloons, colors, confetti, all of it, and He did not have a sister, or a friend, or anyone who could help, or take part of the planning, or part of the cost. He had no budget, He kept no receipts, He cared so desperately about RSVP's that He came from eternity to gather party goers. He spread His love like a banner, and sang a glorious song...some showed up, others did not.
Name tags adorned every table, and every stinging stripe, and all the while, He whispered "I did all of this for you."
In a room of turquoise and white, I understood the cross on a different level. See, 30 girls were in that room, but I didn't do any of what I did for all of them, only for one. Though I sincerely hoped ALL who presented themselves were blessed, my desire was to bless the bride, my sweet little sister, whom I greatly love.
Every girl present so lavishly exuded the Image of the Most High, and I was so blessed to see all of them there, engaged in celebration of the same life. They reminded me of what heaven must be like every time someone meets Jesus, all together, in sweet celebration.
And though the party would've been worth it for the joy of the one celebrated, my hope is that it ended up a blessing to all. This, this is Jesus in a nutshell, All for One, but All for All.
At the end of the day, exhausted and traipsing under the sky to the doors of an Indian restaurant on a corner, I thanked God for my unpredictable, lavish and immeasurable life.
I picked up my head and praised God for feet that worked, hands that worked, a tongue that spoke, and a brain to command them all, and for the two on either side of me who picked up speed accordingly as I began to run.
"All for One, but All for All, too!" He did it for everyone, but just like that party was directed at one person, He would've done it all for you, too.
At the end of the day, I sang that line, "It's something unpredictable, but thank the Lord, it's right, and You've given me the time of my life."

Thanking God for another lesson, in a room of Turquoise and White.

"For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19