Minneapolis

Every 5 1/2 months I come to Minneapolis to do on-campus work at Bethel University for the graduate school program in which I'm enrolled. Until October of 2005, I'd never been to Minnesota. I'm now in the middle of my fourth trip here. Every time I come to the Twin Cities, I fall even more in love with the place. This trip has been no exception.

Since there are too many great things about this city to mention here, I'll just give you a brief look at what today has been like for me. It's Sunday, and the weather has been beautiful all weekend. The four of us (the other three guys I room with and myself comprise a group known as "The IR-Reverends." Trust me, it would require far too much explanation and disclosure), got up and walked down the block to get coffee at Dunn Brothers. Since we stay right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the walk to Dunn Bros. is always a great experience. Today was no exception. Dunn's is a chain in this area, and the one close by us is one of the more relaxing places you'll find. We had some great conversation about old TV shows we love (Crockett and Tubbs rule) and then the three of them took off for a park. After some errands, I set up shop with a book and the newpaper at the Nicollet Island Pavillion and began to let my heart, mind and soul be fed. I sat right on the bank of the Mississippi River with the skyline of Minneapolis in front of me, and was nearly overcome with how amazingly blessed I am to have been given the gift of this city. It brings something to life in me that just doesn't get tapped into back in Tennessee. I don't know what that is, but I know it's great to experience it.

The truth is, that's not even half of the what has made this day so great. And, the day continues. Our good friend from Chicago, Mike Johnson, just showed up at our hotel with enough food to feed an army, so the good times roll on. I wish you were here. I wish ALL of you were here. Wherever you are, my wish for you is that you have truly experienced and celebrated being alive today. Got to go now. There's life to be lived.