There’s a scriptural basis for this notion of secrets.

God has secrets (Deuteronomy 29:29, Psalm 25:14, Job 11:6a, Revelations 10:4, 1 Corinthians 2:10)—hidden treasures (Isaiah 45:3, Romans 11:33, Colossians 2:3). We can seek them out (Proverbs 3:32b, Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7).

We are hidden in Him (Psalm 17:8, Psalm 31:20, Psalm 27:5, Isaiah 49:2, Colossians 3:3). He delights in the intimacy we share, “You are My private garden, My treasure, My bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain” (Song of Solomon 4:12).

Wisdom is hidden (Job 28:20-21).

Manna is (still) hidden away (Revelation 2:17).

His power is hidden (Habakkuk 3:4).

God has had a secret plan since the beginning of time (Romans 16:25b, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:26-27).

There is a secret place of the Most High God (Psalm 91:1).

God says, “I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard,” (Isaiah 48:6b) revealed like a “secret whispered in [your] ear” by God (Job 4:12). Just ask Him (Jeremiah 33:3).

He loves a good secret. In fact, “It is the glory of God to hide things in secret; the glory of kings to seek the matter out” (Proverbs 25:2).

How does it make you feel to know that it is the glory of God to keep secrets? It makes me eager to get on with finding them out.

I picture Him up there excitedly hiding Easter eggs like a child, vibrating with anticipation at which of His children will take the time to seek them out – to know the Lord and discover His secrets.

Father and son

At lunch today, I listened as the guy behind the counter called to most everyone who walked in by their first name—and smiled. Joe is very friendly and he, like the place, is loud. Several TVs with mostly sports and news were on and people sat around crowded tables conversing—happy to have a place to sit in the lunch rush.

The tables are close together, and I ended up sitting perpendicular to a father and son.

Their body language suggested the intensity and trust that comes only through that unique relationship (another post for another day). They were leaning towards one another over the table, arms folded comfortably on the table’s edge, and their eye contact was unyielding in an urgent but completely loving and accepting kind of way. There was a sports highlights reel playing, a pretty girl who walked by, and continual motion all around them—but it seemed that they were completely unaware of it.

They were honed in on one thing: their own private conversation.

This kind of intentionality is distinct in and of itself in this age where phones serve as mini-computers that constantly buzz, vibrate, and ding with social media’s latest distraction—there were no phones on the table that I could see. But their personal connection or lack of disturbance was not what drew me (not usually an eavesdropper) to their conversation.

It was their quietness—their stillness—and the distance between them and the world.

They were talking the entire time… I just couldn’t hear what they were saying. And that intrigued me.

I could hear 18 other conversations, but the one I wanted to hear was precisely the one I couldn’t.

They modeled what you and I already know: there is something more attractive than the obvious, than the easy, than the amplified. Less is more and sometimes the hidden things, the secret things, the treasures that you store up in your family or for yourself can be the most important, leaving the world in the dark.

There’s a scriptural basis for this notion.

1. We’ve been so busy!

2. We’ve found a new apartment! It’s near where we are now – not too much of a change, but looking forward to our new digs.

3. Grant’s mama and my mama have had birthdays! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

4. Last weekend we spent Sunday in Helen, GA with Grant’s family – it was so nice hanging out!

5. This weekend, we’re headed to the lake – and hopefully seeing my parents.

6. Coco and I have a standing Tuesday night date – we’re going to try out all the places on Scoutmob until we’ve been all over the city trying chic new places for 50% off. Last night we went to Gekko Sushi in Old Fourth Ward – awesome! We tried 3 different rolls, fried cheesecake and fried bananas, a la mode. Scrumptious!

7. Our small group is doing a study of Song of Solomon and we’re loving it.

8. It’s spring break around here – several friends are on mission trips!

9. I have the best husband in the world.

10. We have so much stuff to pack up before we move the 15-16th… I should get back to packing…

This weekend was crazy busy but filled with fun.

Friday Grant and I headed to the lake – moved a dresser and lots of clothes (no more packing to take off to the lake! we have stuff there permanently!) We woke up, got in the hot tub in the early morning grey, over looking the water – perfection.

At Grandmama’s house in Athens, we found some photos of Mama and Daddy in college – so fun! – some letters from Granddaddy to Grandmama during the War – priceless – and other memorabilia from mine and Stahler’s childhood – precious. All in all, we worked a lot, played a lot, and laughed a lot.

Back in Huntsville and showered, we 5 visited Grandmama at Big Springs before heading to dinner at Watercress – delectable! – where we celebrated both Stahler’s and Mama’s birthdays (March 7th and April 4, respectively).

My longtime friend, Tinsley Davidson, is getting married! To help her celebrate, Grant and I attended an engagement party in her honor on Saturday night.

Isn’t she lovely?

We think so, too!

The party was lovely and we got to see a bunch of old friends and reconnect with several family friends I hadn’t seen in ages.

Sunday morning we went to my parent’s Sunday School class and heard Mark Stearns speak about a local mission opportunity. Lincoln Village is a rough patch of Huntsville that one could never know exists, never know needs help, never know could be redeemed. It’s awesome and I completely support what they’re doing. Check it out – they are truly being Christ’s hands and feet on this one: http://www.lincolnvillageministry.com/Home.html

After lunch and seeing Grandmama again, my friend Emily had a baby shower for her soon-to-be son, Lochlan Edward {I love that name. lovelovelove it!}. We had the best time.

I gave her the Anthropologie pop-up book: The Little Prince. It was Em’s favorite in high school French.

Loch will certainly be a little, awesome, rough-and-tumble prince.

So that was our packed-to-the-max weekend.
Huntsville still feels like home.

This was painful to experience but funny to write about. Here’s a peek into my day.

Sometimes (against Grant’s wishes and my better judgment) I go to the Starbucks drive through in the morning on the way to work.

Do they have exceptional service? Not particularly.

Do they have exceptional coffee? Not really.

But they are on the way to work and that’s about it: convenience wins.

This morning, they filled my grande skinny vanilla latte to the brim (and then some). I asked for two splendas and got them with no stirrer and no napkin. I proceeded to pull out of the line and to the parking lot exit, where I thought I would doctor my coffee.

Nope.

Someone was immediately behind me – and waiting to pull out on a Friday morning at 8:00 does not make for a happy driver. So I exited the parking lot and pulled up to the red light.

I thought I’d just slip the lid off, dump in my splenda, replace the top smoothly, and continue with my morning.

Not happening.

What did happen was this: at the hint of freedom, the coffee spilled raced over the edges of the cup, drenching me, my jeans, my car, my seat, and even my shoes with scalding hot coffee and foam – lots of foam.

It was completely ridiculous. My mind jumped for a moment to that lawsuit about the guy in the McDonald’s drive thru… it made me laugh.

I did, however, have to return home before work – I was not going in with a coffee-smelling stain on my jeans… and my shirt… and my shoes….

Happy Friday!