Chelsea's Run

Early this morning, as the sun was just beginning to rise over the mountains, I was driving towards Balboa Park and "Beautiful Things" by Gungor came on my Pandora station.  Tears filled my eyes as I heard these words: "You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust."

I have heard the song a thousand times, but listening to it while thinking about Cheslea made the words feel more true and real.  In the context of this morning, I was reminded that God can take the absolute worst imaginable situation- a tragic and horrific nightmare- to make a beautiful change affecting countless lives.

Today was the third annual "Finish Chelsea's Run", a 5k in honor and memory of Chelsea King and benefiting the Chelsea's Light Foundation.  Each year, I am completely in awe of the beauty of this event.  I'm amazed by Mr. and Mrs. King, and the dignity and grace with which they have handled a situation nothing short of any parent's nightmare.  I admire how they have refused to succumb to bitterness and have instead embraced change and hope for the youth of our country.  They honor their daughter so beautifully, which is both empowering and heartbreaking because I can't imagine the pain they continue to endure.  They are truly an inspiration.

It has been three years.  She would be 20 now.  I never met her and I never would have known she existed if she would have made it safely home from her training run that February day three years ago.   But for some reason, I feel like I know her well.  And I think that is what is most wrenching about her story and why I continue to think about her and look forward to this run every year.  In her, I see each of my high school smallgroup girls at church- 17, full of life and ambition, looking forward to graduation and the vastness of life just ahead of them.  I see myself at 17, a lover of music, learning, and creativity.  I see each of my dear friends, brimming with potential and full of laughter and adventure.  It could have happened to any one of us.

So today, thousands of people came to honor Chelsea.  Vibrant sunflowers were everywhere, and the love and hope in the air was tangible.  Even though her life was cut short, she is changing the world.  God is truly making beautiful things.





To read more about the event, click here

Visit the Chelsea's Light foundation website here. Proceeds go towards college scholarships for teens who, like Chelsea, are ready to change the world.

I Believe

I believe in Jesus Christ.

I believe that He is all good, and all love, and that in His spirit there is freedom.

I believe that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you more, or less.  He loves you fully and completely, just as you are.  We are all imperfect and flawed, and He is still crazy about each one of us.

I believe that His love cleans every wound and is bigger than any sin.

I believe that nothing is too small or seemingly insignificant for Him; that He cares about every detail of your life.

I believe that if you truly experience His power and love, you can never, ever be the same.

I believe that his heart aches for His people, His creation.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world.

I believe that He is coming back here, to this messy place, to right every wrong and end every kind of injustice.  That with righteousness and justice as the standard, He will make His creation perfect again.

Isaiah 11:4-9
But with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together,
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

I believe that He is the creator of creativity itself.

I believe in all things lovely and beautiful, because they point to Him.

I believe that if you let Him, He will show you a life more beautiful and full than anything you could ask or imagine.

And then you will be found.

Sunshine

Mondays are normally my "get stuff done at home" day, with cleaning, laundry and homework on my to-do list before my piano students start coming.  Today was no different, other than the fact that it was just so gorgeous outside- I had to take advantage of the perfect weather.  My inlaws live about 10 minutes away, and my husband has an office space at their house out of which he runs his business.  I decided to set up a little office of my own today, in their backyard.  Look at the lovely view I had while doing my homework:



I just couldn't help but stare out over the valley as the beautiful sunshine kissed the hills and the Redwood swayed in the breeze.  My husband's grandma (she's 93!) planted that Redwood tree in the 1950's; she brought the little sapling home in a coffee can.  Look at it now!  Such an amazing reminder of God's ability to grow such beautiful things out of small, seemingly insignificant ones.

Quiet moments like these are my favorite.

I hope your day was full of beauty too.

-Alicia