Through The Maze: The roads we travel

Still running for the cheese (or why this blog still exists)

As my regular readers can tell, this has been a dry year for me. Just look at the number of posts this year vs. 2008! Awhile back, I had considered either shutting down the Maze, or starting a new blog that would more accurately reflect where I am in life now. Truth be told, sometimes I come here, look around, and feel distinctly hypocrytical about the things I want to write. I'm sure I'm not the only one to ever be in that kind of place.
As the time in between posts has grown longer, I came to realize something. Without the past years' material, where I am now makes very little sense. What good is the destination without the journey? As Christians, so much of the best stuff that happens to us is in the times God is molding us to His image. To throw away the evidence of that process would somehow cheapen the result, I think.
So, here we are, dear friends. I think my little mousie may just have rounded a corner finally. Some things will change around here to reflect the changes in my heart. And you know what? That's ok. As much as I typically rage against anything changed in my life, I'm learning to accept the God-given ones. My prayer is that some of you may be encouraged by what you read here. Hey, you may even be challenged. And of course, if you know me, then you know you always stand a good chance of being offended too. Not intentionally, to be sure! Just know that what you find as you wander this Maze with me may surprise you as much as it does me.

All that to say this:

Welcome to

Sunday, May 4, 2008

The roads we travel

I have done some traveling in my life, though not as much as I would have liked to. One thing I was blessed with was my own car as a teenager. It allowed me many nights on the road, alone with my thoughts and the wind in my hair.

Many things in our lives will bring us full circle so that we can take the time to remember the roads we have traveled. One such event today for me was a church fundraiser. They are passing out baby bottles to be filled with spare change to go to the local crisis pregnancy center. Not quite 8 years ago, I found myself walking through the doors of that very place.

When MonkeyMan was conceived, I was 19. Unemployed, unmarried, and still at home. Trust me, after our families found out, it certainly became a "crisis pregnancy". I admit, I was not sure at times if I would be able to continue the pregnancy because I was so afraid. How would we do this? We had nowhere to go, no one who was supportive, and man, were we young.

So one day, while looking in the yellow pages "just to check my options" I found the crisis pregnancy center. I thought to myself, "Well if this isn't a crisis, I don't know what is." (ah how young and naive I was.) I gave them a call and in I went. They confirmed my pregnancy, and explained all the ways they could help if I chose to have the baby. One lady patiently asked me if I'd put any thought into how much it'd hurt my partner because I had told them we were still together. Come to think of it, no I hadn't thought of him. That's kinda what sealed my mind. How would Mr. P. feel about all this? I mean, he *did* take the news so easily but that didn't automatically mean he was going to bolt.

They provided us with a beautiful hand made changing table, 4 months of diapers, many tiny outfits, and knowledge that anything else we needed was but a phone call away.

Well, you all know how that story turned out. :)

I know I have many journeys yet before me, and when I look at my sons, I see all the potential within them. I can't help but wonder what roads will God send them down? How will they fare? I pray they enjoy the journey as much as I have.

Til next squeak,