Smiles

I've been reminiscing lately. About grade school, about old high school times, about my past in general. Things pop up all over the place that remind me of someone or something or sometime. It's an intriguing experience that I havent really had before.


For example... I was driving my mom home from her choir practice, and she decided we should stop at the grocery store. About thirty seconds from the entrance, a whole new world came on the radio. : ) I was excited, and surprised, and all at once a tide of memories came flooding to the forefront of my mind. It's the kind of feeling that makes you want to just sit back with your eyes closed and exist. Unfortunately, that's not the best plan while you're driving towards a building. So my mother tactfully advised me to slow down and sit normally, which i did... but I couldnt get rid of the subconcious smile that was fueled by memories of cast parties and band tours, senior servant days and a trip to Florida with good friends.

Other than in remembering these wonderful times, that smile with a mind of its own pops up in various places. When I'm reading, when I hear a good song, when something becomes clear... and when I'm hearing about Christ. Plain and simple, no strings attached glorification and proclamation of everything He has done and is doing... in that I cannot help but smile. I smile a lot, I know I do. I cannot help it - and in this there is not fleeting joy that comes from memories, but a living, present joy that no amount of time can erase.