Tonight I am struck by the individual
The individual
Composed of so many facets
A lone flower in a field of flowers,
Petals arrayed with what appears only slight difference
And yet each is a unique combination
Family, personality, tendencies, thoughts
Smile, aura, complexion, experience, dreams
The individual: unintentionally and irrevocably distinct
Original despite attempts to assimilate, to join the status quo
An integral part of what is and what has been and what will be
The individual,
Meant to thrive,
To thrive in the context of the collective
Meant to be appreciated
To be appreciated in the midst of a story that we call Time
Meant to know
The Author of Time.
He made you so beautiful, individual.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Foggy Day
Well, the foggy days have begun! This morning was drizzling and foggy. I decided to cheer up the day with a bright-red rain coat.
Church was wonderful. In Sunday school, we talked when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son. It was so cool just to revisit the story, to feel the power and intensity of it. I often forget how many parallels there are to Christ's sacrifice. It is so moving to realize the incredible love that it takes to sacrifice your only son. I am not in the most eloquent of moods, so I cannot adequately communicate the half of what I've thought about today.
The general update: life is good, God is faithful.
Church was wonderful. In Sunday school, we talked when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son. It was so cool just to revisit the story, to feel the power and intensity of it. I often forget how many parallels there are to Christ's sacrifice. It is so moving to realize the incredible love that it takes to sacrifice your only son. I am not in the most eloquent of moods, so I cannot adequately communicate the half of what I've thought about today.
The general update: life is good, God is faithful.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Blonde Moment!
I thought I would give a little laugh for you all!
So, our right sink in our apartment bathroom has always been slow to drain, but we've never bothered to get it fixed. Then yesterday, the tub starts filling up while I am in the shower. Of course, I determined it must be that the pipes in general just need unclogging. So, I submitted a work request for it to be fixed.
Later that night, Hannah yells from the bathroom and informs me that it was just that the drain pull was pulled shut.
Haha.
:)
Easy fix, hey?
So, our right sink in our apartment bathroom has always been slow to drain, but we've never bothered to get it fixed. Then yesterday, the tub starts filling up while I am in the shower. Of course, I determined it must be that the pipes in general just need unclogging. So, I submitted a work request for it to be fixed.
Later that night, Hannah yells from the bathroom and informs me that it was just that the drain pull was pulled shut.
Haha.
:)
Easy fix, hey?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
I'm the Janitor
The other day we were watching a movie in one of my education classes. It was a very insightful movie about how segregation still rears its ugly head in modern day America. There were a lot of things I agreed with.
And yet, something gnawed at me the whole time. The movie talked about how it was often assumed that people of certain ethnic backgrounds would be better off working with their hands, doing jobs such as janitor work or construction or potentially a trade. Consequently, in schools those people were often put into lower track courses, and did not end up going on to "bigger" things.
While I do agree that it is atrocious that a person be academically categorized by his ethnic background instead of his intellectual capabilities, I was very sad to see the disgust displayed for jobs like being a janitor or working with your hands. Our society has slowly shifted to see a college education followed by a "good" job as the only respectable track for a person. Being a janitor, a maid, a fast food worker, a physical laborer, a factory worker - all these things are looked down on as jobs.
As Christians, should we really let ourselves get pulled into that thinking? Why should we find a job mopping floors any less respectable than a job in an accounting firm? This system of "respectability" is something that we've created. Janitors, maids, fast food workers, and the like are a vital part of our society.
Am I suggesting that we shouldn't encourage students to reach high and get the most out of their education? Of course not! What I am suggesting is that we rethink how we view different jobs. Shouldn't a Christian be able to be content flipping burgers and do that for the glory of God? Now, when we've been given gifts in another area, great, let's use them. However, let's learn a little more respect for the jobs everyone else looks down on.
A thought for the day: If you were given a new job as a janitor in a high school, could you do it without feeling ashamed? Could you do it for the rest of your life and praise GOD with your work? Maybe it's time for us to double check how much of the world's way of thinking has entered our own thought patterns.
And yet, something gnawed at me the whole time. The movie talked about how it was often assumed that people of certain ethnic backgrounds would be better off working with their hands, doing jobs such as janitor work or construction or potentially a trade. Consequently, in schools those people were often put into lower track courses, and did not end up going on to "bigger" things.
While I do agree that it is atrocious that a person be academically categorized by his ethnic background instead of his intellectual capabilities, I was very sad to see the disgust displayed for jobs like being a janitor or working with your hands. Our society has slowly shifted to see a college education followed by a "good" job as the only respectable track for a person. Being a janitor, a maid, a fast food worker, a physical laborer, a factory worker - all these things are looked down on as jobs.
As Christians, should we really let ourselves get pulled into that thinking? Why should we find a job mopping floors any less respectable than a job in an accounting firm? This system of "respectability" is something that we've created. Janitors, maids, fast food workers, and the like are a vital part of our society.
Am I suggesting that we shouldn't encourage students to reach high and get the most out of their education? Of course not! What I am suggesting is that we rethink how we view different jobs. Shouldn't a Christian be able to be content flipping burgers and do that for the glory of God? Now, when we've been given gifts in another area, great, let's use them. However, let's learn a little more respect for the jobs everyone else looks down on.
A thought for the day: If you were given a new job as a janitor in a high school, could you do it without feeling ashamed? Could you do it for the rest of your life and praise GOD with your work? Maybe it's time for us to double check how much of the world's way of thinking has entered our own thought patterns.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hymns in the Dark
This week has been very, very busy. I think the honest truth is that I am a person that likes to have space in the day with nothing going on. I like a schedule, but not for every moment that I am awake. Probably, to the average person, this week would not have been daunting. However, being that I am an April, it was tiring.
One night this week, I was feeling particularly helpless. So, I called my dear friend Rosemary and we walked down to the soccer field. We sat in the dark and sang a few hymns. I love that. I love that part of being a Christian. I love that part of going to school with other Christians. I love how worship (be it prayer, singing hymns, or reading the Word) always brings you a sense of peace and joy. Not that any of those things are magical in and of themselves: but there is a powerful God that we encounter in a very real way through those means of worship.
The Holy Spirit has been working in some crazy ways. Firstly, in making me more and more aware of my sin. It stinks...., but it's great. The less confidence I have in the flesh, the more I trust in my True Anchor. It's painful to see how unrighteous you are. Secondly, the Spirit has been leading me exactly where He wants me. I can't tell you how many times that He has (literally) redirected my steps through some random event so that I run into someone that needs to talk. Even when I am not aware, He is at work.
I have a Living Hope. Awesome.
If you're praying for me, here are some ways you can pray:
1. Pray for my walk with the Lord. Ask Him to challenge me, to stretch me, but to help me hold on. Ask Him to break me off all the pride left in me and give me confidence through Jesus.
2. Pray for my little sister! She's doing great here at Covenant. Please keep praying for God to grow her.
3. Pray for my grandpa. He's been in a lot of pain from his back lately.
4. Pray for my relationship with my boyfriend. Ask the Lord to help us see how to best support each other, and just to guide our relationship where He wants it to go.
5. Pray for the students down in the apartments. Pray that God would pull our community together. (We have picnic on Sunday!)
6. Pray for my future, that God would take me wherever He wants me. Pray that I would truly be willing to go wherever He leads.
I hope you're all doing well!
One night this week, I was feeling particularly helpless. So, I called my dear friend Rosemary and we walked down to the soccer field. We sat in the dark and sang a few hymns. I love that. I love that part of being a Christian. I love that part of going to school with other Christians. I love how worship (be it prayer, singing hymns, or reading the Word) always brings you a sense of peace and joy. Not that any of those things are magical in and of themselves: but there is a powerful God that we encounter in a very real way through those means of worship.
The Holy Spirit has been working in some crazy ways. Firstly, in making me more and more aware of my sin. It stinks...., but it's great. The less confidence I have in the flesh, the more I trust in my True Anchor. It's painful to see how unrighteous you are. Secondly, the Spirit has been leading me exactly where He wants me. I can't tell you how many times that He has (literally) redirected my steps through some random event so that I run into someone that needs to talk. Even when I am not aware, He is at work.
I have a Living Hope. Awesome.
If you're praying for me, here are some ways you can pray:
1. Pray for my walk with the Lord. Ask Him to challenge me, to stretch me, but to help me hold on. Ask Him to break me off all the pride left in me and give me confidence through Jesus.
2. Pray for my little sister! She's doing great here at Covenant. Please keep praying for God to grow her.
3. Pray for my grandpa. He's been in a lot of pain from his back lately.
4. Pray for my relationship with my boyfriend. Ask the Lord to help us see how to best support each other, and just to guide our relationship where He wants it to go.
5. Pray for the students down in the apartments. Pray that God would pull our community together. (We have picnic on Sunday!)
6. Pray for my future, that God would take me wherever He wants me. Pray that I would truly be willing to go wherever He leads.
I hope you're all doing well!
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