"Nothing matters...

...in this life accept for relationships. And a relationship Jesus Christ is the most important of them all."

This was something that Will Franklin Chapman shared at his sister's funeral. He was the one who was driving the car that tragically killed his little sister. In the middle of this intensely painful time, this was his conclusion about life. Nothing too deep. But actually, it might be the most central reality of all.

I know that I have to be reminded of this daily. As I feverishly work toward a Masters degree, I must remember what it's about. As I wake up in the morning with a list of tasks to accomplish, I must remember what those tasks need to be about. As I sit here typing on a computer, I must remember that relationships, most notably with Jesus, is what this life is all about. How sad we would be if we ventured through life and looked back only to say, "I spent way too much time worrying about stuff to do and things to accomplish."

Relationships. This is where we must center our lives. Can we lose focus in relationships? Yes. Can we be involved in unhealthy relationships? Yes. Can we mess up in relationships? Yes. But still, it is in these that true life can be had.

Portions of the memorial service can be viewed here. Also, a friend showed me this sweet site about adoption called Shaohannah's Hope. It's well worth checking out. I believe adoption has to be something that Christians are aware of and potentially involved with in some way or another. A good way to start is to understand more about the process.

Maria Chapman's Family Speaks Out

I just finished watching the first interview since Maria Chapman's tragic death by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts since. An album by Steven Curtis Chapman was the first I ever owned (a cassette tape), and while you may not love his musical style, he has lived a life boldly, honestly, and courageously for Jesus Christ in front of an audience of thousands. Already having three children of their own, he and his wife have adopted 3 Chinese girls, and they are champions for adoption all around the world. It is so cool to see the compassion and love they have for their children. Maria was a beautiful girl and her story just hit me harder than most tragedies.

Check out the interview here. It's worth 10 minutes. Watch for the unique perspective, albeit honest, that these people possess.

Also, his most recent hit song, "Cinderella", was written for his 3 adopted daughters and it means something wholly different since his youngest died.



"We grieve with hope."
"That's what faith is. It's living with the questions."