On Our Marks, Get Set...Here We Go!

My daughter has two tattoos.

One following the gentle curve behind her left ear inked with Greek letters conveying the sacred meaning of her name: anointed. The other an elaborate Assyrian cuneiform script imprinted upon the rib cage of her right side, its ancient prayer marking body and soul:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.”

Despite my “tat” request imploring Kristen to refrain from going, “Totally Angelina,” with this not-so-new form of self-expression, I unashamedly admit she wears her convictions well.

Which led to my thinking...well, you know.

Thus, my puncture wounds (hence hypothetical nature of this conversation) would be ensconced delicately between my shoulder blades and read:

“Running after Jesus—lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

While certainly less poetic than my daughter’s (but self-explanatory, perhaps, as to why I have never sought nor acquired gainful employment within the official constructs of pseudo-political church leadership) such fervent & unapologetic declaration articulately summarizes the holy trinity of my past, present, and future: The life-long pursuit of Jesus.

This is all I've ever done; running, sometimes walking, skipping, and limping, towards the One of whom I first sang about in a late-60s paneled classroom; intently marching on its cheaply covered indoor-outdoor carpet, while singing, "I'm in the Lord's ARmeeeeeeeeeee!"

This is what I've known & been inextricably drawn to for thirty-eight years.

This is where I belong.

This is who I am.

Utterly and thoroughly, "Jesusey."

Welcome to my new blog spot cyber-surfer, doubter, believer, mother, daughter, and friend. I believe you'll find it to be broader in nature; allowing me to write, opine, wallow, post links, revel in my skewed quirkiness and thus, explore with few limits, the all-together messy and gloriously complicated nature of the life lived in pursuit.

As times goes by, Running will meld with the design look, nature, and purpose of my website, www.juliebarnhill.com. But it's been three-months since I set out to get that all accomplished and I'm tired of waiting. (As are/were many of you as your emails can attest. Thanks for the, uh, butt-kicking encouragement to "do something about your new blog idea!") So, here it is--a work in progress as I continue to enthusiastically amble my way towards Jesus.