Tagged!

I was on vacation all of last week: Kayaking, hiking in the mountains, swimming and relaxing in the hot tub at night--it was heaven on earth. A week without cell phone or internet--at first I had withdrawals, but after a couple of days got used to being "unplugged". We had a blast!

So, I get back home and check my e-mail and some of my favorite blogs and find out I've been "tagged". So now I have to share 7 unknown (little known) tidbits about myself and tag seven others to play along. So here goes...

1. 2007 has been one of the "lowest" years of my life. I have battled depression most of this year and have really struggled at times just to maintain whatever level of sanity I usually enjoy.
2. Ironically, in light of #1, during this year I have felt as close to God, or closer, than at any other time in my life.
3. I am still "grieving" my daughter's going to college--I miss her so much and there is an "emptiness" in my life without seeing her everyday (which probably has played a bigger role in #1 than I realize).
4. I don't have any friends that have blogs (other than Brian (who tagged me), and the others he tagged).
5. I hate, despise and detest much of organized religion. Which is perhaps ironic coming from a pastor, but then I read the gospels and the stories of Jesus' reaction to organized religion and I think maybe I'm in pretty good company.
6. I enjoy cleaning the toilets--one of the few areas in my life where I see immediate and positive results.
7. I LOVE to cook.
8. (Bonus factoid, just for fun) I was born in Arkansas.

So there is my list...for now.

So just sitting here wondering how well people really know each other--even the people with whom we work and with whom we spend most of our days. I'm wondering how well most of us really know ourselves. If you're reading this I hope you know (or soon come to know) that there is a God and he knows you, and he's crazy about you.

Peace.
JimT