Well, I had a blast at the Musikgarten conference. I learned a lot, not only about my business and how young children learn, but about the kingdom.

Firstly, I spent 9 hours a day, in a class room type setting. I learned a ton and met some wonderful people who are as passionate about children as I am. But, I was not able to eat as well as I could of if I had more of a choice of what to eat, I got no exercise and I was not outside for any more than a walk to the car and back. I had to sit in a straight backed chair in a room with very poor lighting. None of this really bothered me until the last day about 3:30 when it hit me. I don't feel human at all. I have had no quiet space dedicated to meditating on Jesus (morning office of prayer). Although I had a deep awareness of God's presence throughout the day I have come to crave a morning time of "sacred space". I have not been able to exercise my body and contemplate being formed by the master through it (you guys know I am addicted to Pilates - in a good way). I ate poorly because it was fast and cheap (which was high starch, fat and carbs - nothing healthy, green and fresh). Not to mention I had no time to be outside in space that was not formed by man but formed by God. And to top it all off, I was busy from sun up to sun down.

Do you see where I am going? Some of you reading this may think I am a buff, vegetarian, environmentalist, monk who is passionate about all of the things I listed above. Well, I am not...but God is showing me that to have my life completely integrated into him, I have to be actively working in all areas (food, work, creation, exercise, silence etc). It finally clicked with me, when at the end of the day, I thought, "If I don't get out of this room I am going to die".

So I say all of this to say...take a walk during your lunch break, (outside), eat a salad for God's sake (I mean that literally) sit in a quiet space for 10 minutes before you additively check emails and start running at work(maybe if we start with 10 we will grow in to 15 and so on). I am learning if I don't do these things I can never fully be human. Actually, that these things are more real than the fast paced worked crazed life we think is real.

Mike made a statement on the hour long commute back home about how long drives make him sad. I asked what he meant. He said "Because so many people live half their life in a car, driving like crazy." Put that together with 9 hour work days in poorly lit offices with bad food and no exercise and no silence to hear anything let alone God makes for very joyless creatures (whether they know Jesus or not). It makes me want to throw myself on the mercy of Jesus and cry, "Lord how can I help them? I want them to have your peace. I want them to experience your real life".

So I am grateful for the last three days. Not only the conference and the business lessons, but the deep burning conviction it has given me to live a completely integrated life in God's kingdom and help those around me do the same.