In a cleaning splurge a few weeks ago, I shoved over forty pounds of paper, school stuff, and college advertising into a blue, plastic recycle bag. It was quite satisfying.

While going through all that old stuff, I found something I wrote for a class two summers prior. The teacher had given us a few minutes and told us to write “what we believed” on a sheet of loose leaf.

My list was extremely varied, ranging somewhere between random insanity and the deepest sincerity.

I believe in simple things. I believe in singing all the time. I believe in laughing every chance you get. I believe in climbing trees barefoot. I believe in lying flat on your back to watch a storm roll in.

I believe in books and the power of words.  I believe in running as fast as you can. I believe that silence can be breathtakingly beautiful. I believe in loving life.

I believe in purity. I believe that love never fails. I believe we never stop searching for beauty. And I believe in Jesus, the only One in whom that beauty can ever be made complete.

My list hasn’t changed, but two years later life has brought its additions…

I believe it is quite alright to be crazy. I believe water is delicious. I believe I will always be scared of the dark. I believe dandelions are flowers, too. I believe Windex can clean anything.

I believe the world looks better from a hammock. I believe in forever protecting your childlike wonder (or finding it again). I believe in family. I believe in writing things down. I believe in my friends. I believe that rain is a gift. I believe in poetry.

I believe that innocence is never something to be ashamed of.