Update

...Just a quick update to let you know that we won! Yes, the GWU swim team defended their NEC Conference title for the 3rd. year in a row! I will have pictures up as soon as I get them back, I just wanted to let you know! :)

GWU Swim Team

So this is the lovely Gardner-Webb girls swim team. The picture came out kind of small, so you can't really see it, but I am on the far left, second in. :) That is our head coach on the right, Coach Simpson, he is a wonderful, godly man. I feel so blessed to be a part of a swim team that is built, from the foundation, on, first of all, God's word, and the belief that we live to glorify God and our giftings are simply an outworking of that. Right now, I am sitting in my hotel room in Landover, Maryland, just out side D.C. We are at out Conference Championships and the meet begins tomorrow. This has been a wonderful swim season, despite the pitfalls, the failures, and the despair, at times, we have had just as many successes, glorious moments, and wonderful times together to outweigh them all. As G.K. Chesterton stated, "New roads; new ruts." Such has been my first year in college swimming, yet I praise the Lord that I have the chance to be able to compete in swimming at the college level and that God has blessed me with such a wonderful team. Though we are not one of the swimming powerhouses of the nation, we don't have a huge budget, we have, quite frankly, a tiny pool, we have a prize that outweighs them all, a relationship with God. So, I ask that you would pray for us this weekend as we head into our meet, I will let you know how it goes.


This is a quote that encouraged me throughout this season.
"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbraking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."
-B.C. Forbes


And, of course, Eric Liddell's words will always ring out true...
"I believe that God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run (swim:) I fell His pleasure."

"I run in God's name, let the world stand back in wonder."

Peace, Where There Is None

In a world that is consumed by frenzied chaos, one thing is certain, as Christians we are called to be a peaceful beacon of hope. In an age where stress rules our schedules, where every second of our day is categorized into our to-do lists, where there is barely a moment's rest to pause and reflect...we must take that moment. Whether it be in the early morning before the world arises, late in the evening before we go to sleep, or whether it be a slight pause in the middle of the day, we must learn to take that brief time to regroup, to bring everything that is going on in our lives into perspective.


Every time I take a trip to Europe and visit the Cathedrals, I am overcome by wonder at their magnificence and the beauty. In many places though there is an innate simplicity to the majesty as well. One of my favorite parts of the cathedral is the cloisters. The cloisters are, for the most part, four corridors with a courtyard of some sort in the middle. This courtyard may have anything from fountains to just simple landscaping, yet, the peace and serenity of the place is magnificent. It is a peace amidst the chaos, a humble center amidst the soaring heights of the surrounding structure, quiet amongst the noise...

Silent doors close on world’s confusion,
Noise and frenzy disappear,
Each step of faith bringing,
Peace, silence, and serenity,
A thousand feet have wandered here.

Seeking the Path of Wisdom,
Rootless hearts seek these cloistered walls,
Faltering steps of the sad and weary,
Seeking solace for their souls.

Modern man by life drained empty,
Nourished by broken bread of lives laid down,
Drinks from ancient wells of mercy,
Drinks deeply of healing of the soul.

Ancient souls stand in silent witness,
To this Temple built with living stones,
Secluded lives of prayer and service,
Serving God with heart and soul.

Cloistered walls by stone ribcage canopied,
Harbors safe the heartbeat of secret prayers,
Breathed by ancients t’ward Eternal Father,
Echoes loud in Heavens’ ears.

The way of peace and faith-bearers
Reaching to heaven, prayers vigil keeps,
From sunrise to sundown through the night watches,
Yearning to touch the heart of Heaven’s King.

From translucent pages of Lamb’s Book of Life,
Silent witnesses gaze down upon sinner and saint,
Reminding pilgrims and seekers, doubters and believers,
Faith embraces peace at the foot of the Cross.

Silent doors open to world’s frenzied confusion,
Noise and agitation reappear.
Each step of faith, bearing peace to the restless,
Blessed are the feet that have walked with Him here.

-Brianna Bleymaier 2002

The image at the beginning of the post is of the North Cloister in Chester Cathedral, built around 1525-1530. Chester is located in the north-west of England, right on the border of Wales. It was built around 2,000 years ago by the Romans and is one of the best preserved walled cities in the country. Chester is the beautiful city where my mum grew up.