An old mix

Meet Liz. She was my neighbor for 2 years in the Peet dorm at Beloit College. She is also my extremely funny, incredibly talented friend. We have shared some big laughs (like the Milwaukee Brewers game where we found a way in to a secret part of the stadium...and met Bob Uecker.) Here is a picture from a breakfast meeting in Chicago last year:

Tonight at church, they showed an awesome video. It was set to that old Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush song called "Don't Give Up."

That song makes me think of Lizard, because it was on a mix tape she gave me when I graduated from college (I'm two years older than Liz, and thus the first to get booted out of the Beloit nest.)

The first year or so out of college was a little crazy for me and I can remember listening to that song over and over. Sometimes it would make me cry--because I could feel the angst of the lyrics; sometimes it would lift me up--because I could feel the encouragement of the words.

I hadn't heard the song in years. And hearing it tonight kinda hit me like a punch in the stomach, only in a good way.

"...rest your head, you worry too much. it's going to be alright. when times get rough, you can fall back on us. don't give up, please don't give up...don't give up, 'cause you have friends; don't give up, you're not the only one; don't give up, no reason to be ashamed; don't give up, you still have us; don't give up now, we're proud of who you are; don't give up, you know it's never been easy; don't give up, 'cause I believe there's a place; there's a place where we belong..."

I am so thankful that God has always surrounded me with people willing to speak hope, truth and love into my life in whatever way I'm capable of hearing--like songs off old mix tapes.