How Sweet the Sound

It’s late and I’m exploring the blog world feeling inspired to write-specifically from Lily’s blog (Check it out- http://wienerface5.blogspot.com/) Lily is a wonderful friend of mine who used to go to TA but moved to Florida.  To sum it up, she is going to change the world, and she is only a junior in high school!  If you want to believe that the Lord can transform someone, talk to Lily.  Reading her blog is always a reminder to me that there is HOPE!!! This also inspired me to just acknowledge people and thank them.  Why don’t I do that more? Honestly, I feel like such a sucky friend right now.  To my housemates, my friends at home, girls at TA, my teammates, my best friends at school-I’ve just sucked lately. Granted, I have mono (which I wish upon no one in life ever), and I’ve been swamped with work, but that is not an excuse…because I can’t get any of that lost time back, and I hate that. And when it comes down to it, relationships are what I care about. And for pretty much my whole life, they’re what I’ve been good at.  I’ve always known how to be a good friend.  But you know what? I can’t be a good friend on my own.  It has all finally caught up to me.  I can’t keep up with hundreds of relationships in my own strength and rely on my natural people skills to be a friend.  Instead of trying anymore, I’ve let myself be overwhelmed and pushed away from relationships that I care so deeply about.  Thank God there is redemption. I need it every day.  And I need it real bad right now.  I’ve never been so excited about the gift of grace because I hit a point where it’s all I’m banking on.  I’ve dug myself pretty deep in different places and I’m ready to allow Jesus to pull me out and shower me with his gifts.  I can’t wait to see where my friendships go from here.

This morning at BRV (my church at home which I adore so deeply) we sang “How He Loves” and though I’ve heard it tons of times before, the line “I don’t have time to maintain these regrets” really hit me.  I literally don’t have time to think about the areas I’ve failed in or to hold onto past sins.  If I dwell in all of my failures, I’m going to miss out on what God wants to show me now.  Even right now the Lord is gently reminding me of how much he loves me and delights in me.  I’m usually cautious about hearing from the Lord through people because I’m prone to getting caught up in the affirmation of others.  But right now God is using people to remind me of his love, whether it be undeserved encouraging text messages from sweet, sweet girls at TA or conversations with friends promising and proving that they won’t give up on me no matter what my actions portray.  Logan and Abby-two girls that understand the unconditional love of Jesus and are therefore able to share it with me when I need it.  That’s what the body of Christ is all about right?

I’ve been thinking a lot about community lately and what God intended for it to look like.  The best picture of community I’ve gotten all semester was when Rebecca, Colleen, and I sat in my bed and shared our lives with each other.  It is such an amazing thing that we can talk about the really sucky things about life and then encourage each other in the Lord.  It was incredible, but kinda sad that it’s the only real and pure form of community that I can remember from the semester, which I believe I have a huge part in myself.  The past few sermons I’ve heard at different church services have been pretty convicting for me when thinking about my part in a community.  We have been studying the Sermon on the Mount at Eastside, which is the church I go to at school, and a couple weeks ago we heard that God gives inherently good gifts that we should ask for.  If I actually lived out the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, imagine the good gifts I could give to others!  Just like we all seek and ask things from Jesus, what if we were the answer for each other.  If I went and loved people the way that Jesus tells me to on the Sermon on the Mount, I could be the answer for someone else.  And then suddenly, we become the body of Christ.  How beautiful is that?  Or what about Galatians 6:9-10? “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  What’s funny is that verse 9 is a verse I have clung to a whole lot since being in ministry, and the Lord has proven to be faithful.  But what happened to verse 10? ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers.  At BRV this past weekend my pastor spoke on Galatians 6.  He reminded us that it is so much fun to give! Something I always try to remind myself of is that it is in giving that we receive.  I got that from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

THIS is what the kingdom is about because it is what Jesus and the cross is all about! It is in dying that we are born to eternal life…(#thankful).  As Pastor Mark said, the kingdom is about giving, sharing, building each other up, and doing good to one another. Imagine what our friendships, families, communities, houses, and the world would look like if we all lived this out.  I know I'm terrible at this, but I want to do this forreal.  I want to do good to the family of believers above all else! Even if no one else is doing it, because it’s not about expecting to receive back.  What if Jesus expected back from us?  He died for us while we were still his enemies, so that we may have eternal life.  PTL for grace and redemption.

Another thing, all of which has been inspired from conversation with Rebecca...I don't think that seeking to console, understand, and love those who simply aren't doing the same for us is where it stops.  As Reb said, we are so quick to give our lives away when it is easy or even when there is no reward... but when someone spits backfire in your face...now THAT'S hard to give your life away.  WHY DO WE MAKE EXCUSES FOR NOT LOVING PEOPLE!?! Especially in the Christian community.  I literally hate the phrase "hard to love." What the heck does that even mean? Aren't we all "hard to love?" And you know what, maybe we don't put ourselves in those types of situations enough where people are throwing it all back in our face.  I respect people who are gonna do that.  We need them.  Jesus didn't just die for those who didn't believe in him or just don't want him.  He died for the people that were freaking nailing him to a cross!!  Think about the person who has hurt you the worst in your life-in the moment how painful it was or even still is now.  Jesus was hurt worse and STILL forgave! He is SO perfect.  As we have been learning at Eastside, we are most like Christ when we forgive, because forgiving is the hardest thing to do.  But my charge to myself and to you if you are a part of a community of believers: Find the people who are going to reject you and go against you and hurt you and annoy the crap out of you, and love them.

Building for Forever

My heart is so full right now I don’t even know what to do!  All my friends are hanging out right now, but there is too much going on inside of me for me to socialize like a normal human being without blurting out all of my emotions.  (Even though I just did that to Wil, and he let me, and I am so thankful J)  But the crazy part is, I don’t feel the need to be with everyone, and if you know me, that’s a big deal.  The Lord is teaching me big things, things he has been preparing me for.  He is revealing to me the ugliest parts about myself, but in it he is showering me with his grace.  I am getting to a point where I’m really starting to understand that NOTHING ON THIS EARTH MATTERS.

What the heck have I been doing with my life?!
Why have I been building foundations on relationships and words that are just going to fall to pieces? ALL OF THEM.
Right now, in this moment, it just makes so much sense to me. ETERNITY matters. That’s it. Every little thing I do should be for the sake of eternal life, mine and others.

And that is what I want to talk about.  This is why my heart is full.  Because I realize why I am doing what I’m doing.
If you were to ask me why I lead Young Life, I could easily say because I want to love teenagers for Christ in hope that they would know God loves them. I think many people in their times of leading have come to the point where they really had to think about why they are doing it.  And many people have come to the point where they realize that this thing we’re doing with kids is real.
But guys, THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.

I struggle so much with the strategic aspects of Young Life.  I know they’re biblical and that is why they work, but where does God’s timing come in?  How do I know if I’m just neglecting biblical strategies or if the Lord is just waiting to move?
But I get it now.  Running around JMU’s campus taking pictures with strangers and “coning” at the McDonald’s drive thru with a bunch of hyped up high schoolers-THAT is for eternity.  Eternity is the ultimate goal, and if God wants to use a crazy scavenger hunt for kids to get there, who am I to question that?  Because we fix our eyes on the unseen.

“In reality, the unseen world is more real than the seen, for the world will one day pass away. Eternity is forever.”

When I went to Israel this past summer, someone asked the questions, “What are you building your life on? Are you building for eternity?”  For some reason, God won’t allow me to let go of these questions.  I remember I tried to dismiss them and convince myself that I really was building for eternity, but that just didn’t sit right with me.  This is the scariest thing I’ve had to think about, because I so badly want to say that I have been building for eternity, but that’s just not true.  I have been selfish, I have sought glory for myself, I have been building my life on the affirmation and approval of people BUT THAT IS A BUNCH OF CRAP!  “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

I am DONE with all that, and I am 100% positive that I am being called to build for eternity by investing in relationships with high school girls at TA.  I think I used to be a little afraid to say it because I thought people were going to think I was crazy, like for spending too much time with my high school friends or something.  I even was afraid that students were going to think I was there too much or something.  Now I know, that is SO ridiculous.  I am done compartmentalizing “leading Young Life” in my head.  This isn’t just going to be something I do.  I literally want it to be my life, and I am finally comfortable saying it.  I know I’m at the point where I’m just preaching but PLEASE PEOPLE, don’t hold anything back!! Give this everything you possibly have (WHATEVER it is that you’re doing).  Do you really think you will ever regret going to too many games? Or do you really think you can have too many early mornings? Show up time after time after time until they are sick of you!! (even though they won’t be)  God wants to use us so bad and wants us to be apart of the work he is doing for eternity, so let’s let him!  I seriously didn’t know my heart had the capacity to love as much as I love those girls, but the Lord has singled me out and called me to do so, and it is HIM who works in me.

“The preaching of the Gospel is still His will, and the salvation of souls is His chief concern.  So also should it be thine, and nothing else should be permitted to take precedence over evangelism in thy life.”

UpToWn GirLz

Nine girls in one house. Sounds crazy, right?
Uh, no. FUNZONE! I am getting super excited to move into Uptown with all of them.

These girls are so special to me.

Morgan: Thank God for Morgan.  I probably would have died by now without her.  She cares for people in every way possible, and I really admire her nurturing gifts.  Whether I’m sick and tired, sad and crying, or stressed and overwhelmed, Morgan is literally the first one at my side every time.  She is fully dedicated to whatever the Lord puts in front of her.  Morgan has the ability to speak the truth in love with power, and her prayers have carried me through this past year.
Lindsay: She knows how to make any person’s day brighter.  She floats through the air and frolics into your room with a huge smile on her face and carries an unexplainable peace and joy around with her.  But that’s not all there is to Lindsay…She is one of the most profound people I know, and if she is talking, listen up.  Seriously, it is such a blessing when Lindsay shares her heart and her story, so if you get that chance, please take it-it will change you.
Ashley: I’ve told this to a few people, but I think Ashley exemplifies Jesus more than anyone I know.  She is the most accepting, non-judgmental, humble person I’ve ever met.  The Lord has given her his eyes for the world, which allows her to love others and extend grace.  Her confidence comes straight from God, and through everything, she remains faithful to her Savior.  If you want to be more like Christ, follow Ashley’s example.
Sara: Sara is so in love with the Lord, and it is her biggest ambition to know Jesus better and to share him with others.  She is fully committed to the Word, to prayer, and to communion with the Father.  Sara lets herself be led by the Spirit and flees far away from sin, and I know that God delights in her.  Because of all these things, she has such a kind and gentle spirit, and she is an amazing friend to me and to others.  I feel closer to God when I am with Sara.
Rebecca: She is NOT ashamed of the gospel, and I will be forever thankful to have her to look to since the day I decided to walk with the Lord.  Rebecca is an evangelist in all senses, whether it be to her family or friends, through Young Life or different types of missions, she makes it her ambition to share the gospel with others.  And it is refreshing to have someone around who is so real, open, and vulnerable.  I literally can’t wait to see where God takes her in life because she has opened herself up to him to be used in incredible ways.
Evi: My little intellect.  I absolutely admire how she asks question after question and searches and doesn’t settle until she figures things out for herself.  Evi possesses one of the most humble qualities a person can have: she is teachable.  She is so like Jesus in how she simply attracts people, which is noticeable in the tons of different friends she has.  She is so easy to talk to and has such a comforting spirit.  I would hang out with Evi all day every day if I could.
Colleen: Sweet, sweet Colleen.  God has given me a special friend in Colleen because her presence has been so comforting and crucial to me throughout college so far.  Whether it be at Carrier at 3 AM, at leadership with way too many people, across the world in Israel, during intense discussions at small group, or through painful hours of Justice class, she has always been there to understand.  I admire Colleen’s open mindedness and desire to explore the world and live life to the full.  She is someone who really knows the beauty of the Lord, and she is a joy to everyone who gets to be around her.
Jillian: Jilly is one of my newest friends, but simply from observing how she lives her life and loves others, I cannot wait to live with her.  She is SO incredibly committed to Jesus and living her life for him whole-heartedly.  It is her ambition to serve the Lord and to serve others so that they might know him.  I love how Jillian knows that she is a light in this dark world and how she puts herself in situations where she is able to shine.   I value her words so much because the Lord seems to speak through her so clearly and uses her to encourage others.
Beth: Our honorary house member!  My college experience would have been completely different if Beth wasn’t my freshmen roommate-she was my wing girl and made me laugh harder than anyone.  She has taught me what it means to love the Lord with all your mind.  She pursues knowledge of God more than any person I have ever met.  I seriously wish I read the bible half as much as this girl does because it has made her into a beautiful woman of God.  She loves people, ALL people, and she does it for Jesus.  I am so excited for Beth’s future.

I think this verse really sums up what our house is going to be about:

"Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me."-Psalm 56:1

Would You Rather

So let me just preface this by saying that I am not an ungrateful, spoiled brat.  I really loved my two weeks in Spain!  Seriously, it was beautiful.  I had so much fun hanging with my crazy English family and it was so nice to relax, but for the sake of a good laugh, I’m gonna be dramatic and tell you how I really feel…

As life goes on, especially after these two weeks, I am finally comfortable stating with confidence that I like winter better than summer.  Not only that, but I like the cold, everything about it and everything that comes along with it.  I’ve known this fact about myself before, like when someone asks, “Do you like the mountains or the beach better?” I always say mountains.  This topic of conversation actually led my dear friend, Kaitlin, and I to a presentation on contrasting the mountains and the beach.  Ironically enough, it was in Spanish class (we also did one on the North vs. the South, but that’s a different story…actually, I’m not sure how we passed the class after presenting that one).  And in case anyone out there is interested, I have a Spanish presentation on The Phenomenon of Harry Potter as well.  It’s safe to say I got laughed at a lot by my fellow Spanish studying Duke Dogs, and Professor Javier may not have loved me and my attempts at speaking his language, but he sure did love my jokes.  Anyway, with all this Spain talk, it’s also safe to say that along with my preference of winter, I prefer England to Spain.

To recap:
Winter over Summer
Mountains over Beach
England over Spain

And let me tell you why…

1) There is no pressure to be tan. Sorry, but I’d rather avoid breaking out in heat rashes and getting white spots all over my body (yeah that happened, and my doctor said it’s a skin disease called Malassezia furfur) after bathing myself in tanning oil and baking in the sun for hours in a desperate attempt for some bronzin.  People who say you like to lay out, stop lying to yourselves. AND MAYBE I LIKE MY PALE SKIN OK!?
2) Coffee is supposed to be hot.  Who thought of iced coffee and when did it become acceptable? I’m being a hypocrite, but only because I would rather not melt to death on a hot summer day…I want to go out in a much cooler way (no pun intended).  Sometimes, I just really want to order a nice, normal, steaming cup of coffee, how God originally intended it to be consumed, but because of the blazing heat, I can’t.
3) The book-reading atmosphere is 100x better.  You think to yourself, “I have an entire two weeks to spend on the beach, I better get a good book to read.” But I think to myself, “I have an entire two weeks to spend on the beach, I better start liking music more and update my iPod.” Because personally, I like to choose when I want to flip to the next page in a book rather than having the wind decide.  I also like to be able to see the words I’m reading rather than being blinded by the sun or having the words ruined by water soaked pages.  But forreal, who likes sand stuck in the crevasses of their book?
4) Pub life over Club life.  Sitting at a little wooden table in a cozy pub while the Brits yell about the football match on TV in awesome accents, or getting lost in the disco lights and darkness while the Spaniards fist pump to loud music in another language in the club?  I choose the first, thanks.  I’d rather not have to deal with a language barrier when telling Juan and José I don’t want to dance with them and that “Yo tengo un novio.”  Like, I know you understood me, my Spanish isn’t that bad.  Why do I still have to escape while you go to the bathroom?
5) Modest is Hottest.  I don’t wanna see topless women on the beach, and no, I don’t wanna participate in the “who can wear the shortest dress” contest.  I thoroughly enjoy wearing layers and layers of warm winter clothing.

Basically, I just want to cuddle up with a hot cup of coffee and good book in a log cabin up the mountains while the snow falls.
To all you iced coffee-lovin, beach babez out there: please don’t be offended.  Some of my closest friends are just like you, and I still love them!

That being said, here are some summer, beach pictures from Jávea, Spain!

The Seven Horcruxes of my Heart

I have met many, many people from all over the globe at this point in my life; people who have changed me forever in places that have changed me forever.  I also have a burning desire within in me to experience life to its fullest.  I want to ring out life for everything it’s worth. I think we all do.  I think God placed that desire straight into each of our hearts.  And I believe that the only thing, the only person or relationship that can quench that desire deep within us is Jesus.  But we all find Jesus differently, which again is just a manifestation of my Father’s beauty.  And for me, I have found Jesus in people and places all across the world.  God has given me a passion for traveling and experiencing different cultures.  He has blessed me tremendously with incredible opportunities to explore many different cities and countries, and for that I am so thankful.  But I am currently experiencing a time where I literally feel like I have left pieces of my heart in various places that are thousands of miles apart from each other (kind of like Voldemort...but he intentionally split his soul). I am going to share a few of these places with you and tell you what they mean to me.

Saranac Village, NY

Parasailing with Rebecca and Nina

You probably all saw that one coming.  With Young Life camp being the main topic of conversation due to the fact that it is summer and all of my friends are leaders, I have been thinking about it a lot.  Just like any YL camp, this place changes lives for eternity.  To this day I will claim the last week of July in 2007 as the best week of my entire life.  Before that week, never in my life did I experience the freedom, joy, pureness, perfection, and realness that I did at Saranac.  Before that week, no one ever offered the love and grace of Jesus to me.  It exemplifies the majesty of God’s creation in awesome ways.  Lake Saranac holds a special, special place in my heart, because it is where I met my Savior.

London, England

The bloody Brits! Nana Joan and all her grandkids

PG tips tea with digestive biscuits: England is my blood. My dad was born and raised in the eastside of London, England.  I grew up with “W.C.” on the bathroom door and using “XXX” on all birthday and Christmas cards.  Some of my closest loved ones, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, all still live there.  Family members often tell me that I am “such a Francomb,” between my facial expressions and characteristics.  Not to mention, I simply love the chaos and coziness of the city of London, especially during the wintertime.  I frequently wonder if my English heritage has something to do with how I so fancy Harry Potter.

Lima, Peru

With our host family, the Hidalgos

I believe that the week I spent in this city has altered the course of my life.  I got to visit the missionaries of Word Made Flesh (http://www.wordmadeflesh.org) and see how they serve Jesus among the poorest of the poor.  Rebecca, Nina, our YL leader Jess, and I were welcomed into the community of passionate Christ followers whose calling is to practice and proclaim the Kingdom of God to children, adolescents, and young adults from the streets of Lima.  I will never forget the night they took us to the streets.  I still have such a vivid picture of gorgeous yet sickly 15 year old Anita, who was standing on the corner sniffing glue to ease her hunger pangs; who told us that she had to run away from home, which wasn’t much of a home at all, because she was pregnant and her mother would abuse her.  But the way she welcomed us and embraced us in her arms was a perfect picture of Jesus.  The Lord opened my eyes to his heart for the poor and the oppressed.  I understood what Jesus was about after going to Peru: serving and loving the lowest, dirtiest, poorest people out there in complete humility, expecting no recognition for any of it.  Jesus isn’t just found on Sunday mornings at a mega church in Texas or in a camp speaker at Saranac, but Jesus is found in a young, homeless Peruvian girl named Anita.  I fell in love with everything about this country, and it had a huge part in me choosing to major in Global Justice Studies and to minor in Spanish.  I know I'll be back there.

Harrisonburg, VA

Lily, Me, Kasey, Blaire
TA girls + JMU dance party = my life in Hburg

My last post about college kind of sums it up, but I have grown more in these past two years that I've spent in Harrisonburg than I have at any other point in my life.  Spiritually, emotionally, relationally, educationally, Harrisonburg has given me so much.  But something that I didn’t mention much in my last post: I think a huge part of my heart has been left in the halls of Turner Ashby High School.  I never thought I could love a bunch of punk teenagers as much as I love those kids.  I have never believed in or hoped for someone like I do for kids at TA, I have never walked through a valley like I have with some of those girls, I have never had girls look up to me like they do.  They have pushed me towards Christ in huge ways, and even though it has been tough and my heart has been broken, my friends there have changed my life.

Israel/Palestine

Me and Brent, playing some hide-n-go-seek in Jerusalem

After walking where Jesus did, the bible has truly come to life.  I have this newfound excitement to read the Word of God and dig into Scripture.  When I hold the bible in my hand now, it literally feels different than it ever has before; there is such power behind it.  I could write about Israel for days, but just to mention some of my favorite places that we went: Mount of Temptation, Garden of Gethsemane, Megido/Armageddon, and the Sea of Galilee.  I also loved learning about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict because I just didn’t know much about it.  Without stating any biased opinions, I would implore you to look deeper into it.  If you want to meet people who are completely in love with Jesus Christ, go to Palestine (specifically a little town called Zibabdeh!) If you never again want to doubt that Jesus Christ came to earth to die in place of us, go to Israel.  I know God and the many dimensions of his Spirit much better after traveling to the Holy Land, and I am more in love with my Savior.

Philadelphia (Ridley, PA)

Class Night at the Diamond Club

I LOVE the city of Philly. It’s fun, it’s adventurous, the people are crazy but at least they are interesting and real.  I love how fast paced it is, I love First Fridays at the Gallery, I love hanging out at boathouse row and on the art museum steps, I love South Street, I love soft pretzels and Rita's wooderice, I love Chickies & Pete’s, I love the Phillies, the Eagles, the Flyers.  Ridley, well…that’s a different story.  Honestly, there are some terrible things I could say about Ridley, but I won’t, so if you want to know what it is like just check urban dictionary.  However, I am thankful that I grew up here because I know it is a huge part of who I am today.  It challenged me to fight for more out of life than what was being offered at the surface level.  I knew that the world had to be bigger than what I was living in, and it made me ambitious to explore it.  I am extremely grateful that Ridley taught me to form my own opinions, speak up, and stick up for myself.  In a gigantic high school with over 2,000 kids, you have to learn to fend for yourself.  You have to find out what you’re good at and become confident in who you are, or you’ll never be noticed.  One random thing I love about Ridley: no one gives a crap about what freakin designer clothing or brand name anyone is wearing.  No one can afford it, so materialism is never an issue, and I really appreciate that.  Ridley has made me more than okay with being different and not conforming.  And most of all, Ridley has introduced me to the best friends I could ever ask for.

Spain

How did I get stuck rowing?

Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Malaga, y Javea.  Nothing spiritual or life changing about this country, I just simply love it.  I love the Hispanic culture: the food, music, colors, language etc.  I think Spain is beautiful and vibrant, and I am STOKED to be there again in just 9 days!!  España will forever have a leeeedle piece of my heart. J

My advice to you: Travel AND meet new people.
Other awesome places you should go: Italy, France, Portugal (just not significant enough places for me to make a horcrux out of them)

COLLLEEEEGGGEEEE!!!

How do people have time to blog so often?! Maybe I just write too much.  Or maybe I view it as being separate from spending time with Jesus, but today I am going to incorporate it into my QT!

First I just want to talk about college.  Think about it-its literally the greatest thing anyone has ever thought up (I speak in absolutes and exaggerate way too frequently.)  I've probably been thinking about it a lot because we are almost juniors! 2 years=dunzo.  It's the simplest moments with friends and people I love dearly when I think, "When the heck else in my life am I going to get to live life like this?"  Simple times of doing work (hanging out) in Carrier Library, watching hockey games and dumb scary movies and getting the cops called because of Karaoke at Urban Exchange, going to Klines twice in one day when we all have tons of work to do, and the countless ridiculous conversations at D-hall.  We are so lucky!!! Actually, we are so blessed.  I am SO thankful for this community of amazing, fun, loving people.  I truly believe I have the best friends ever.  And I am SO thankful for this ministry.  Leading Young Life has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life (no exaggeration there) but the Lord has grown me in unimaginable ways and has given me the perfect picture of the body of Christ through my teammates. Maybe I'm just a college person, as Anthony told me yesterday, but on the real: these have been the best two years of my life, and I am so excited I have two more years.

The Lord has recently helped me express these thoughts through a revelation in Scripture:
"For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills."
-Deuteronomy 8:7

God has delivered me from the sordidness of this world and has provided.  He has brought me into a GOOD, GOOD land where there are endless brooks of water and fountains that I can drink from and be satisfied!  I am just so THANKFUL.  He is so worthy of all of my praise.  I have been learning about the power of praise recently.  This past semester I have learned so much about the power of prayer in many dimensions from prayers being answered through God's faithfulness, to being built up in community by the hearts of others expressed through prayer, and to simply being completely broken and humbled before God in prayer because He is bigger and He deserves it.  But now, I think God is just asking me to PRAISE HIM.

In "Come Away my Beloved" I read something in a section called "Dynamos of Praise." It says: "Man has contemplated the power of faith and of prayer, but only rarely have I revealed to men this far greater power of praise.  For by prayer and faith doors are opened, but by praise and worship great dynamos of power are set in motion, as when a switch is thrown and an electric power plant such as Niagara is thrown into operation.  Praying for specifics is like requesting light for individual houses in various scattered places, while worshipping and praise flood the whole area with available current."

What a beautiful image.  Why do I ever doubt?  Why do I limit God and confine him to only what I can see in front of me?  God is good. I have known this truth for quite some time now, but this semester has taken a toll on the connection between my head and my heart.  But now I can say with confidence and from full belief in my heart that God is good.  I have every reason in the world to be joyful and thankful.  PTL people!!! ;)

Best Friends at Black&White Semi-Formal! I just LOVE THEM
...and I'm really verbal about it

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail."

It's been a pretty long time since I've posted, as my dear friend Matt O'hara has repeatedly reminded me of, along with my other dedicated readers (haha...not really.) But at first I thought that I just haven't written because I have been too busy, but honestly, I just realized that's not the case at all.

It's 1 AM on my first night back from Spring Break, and I was about to go to bed until I had crazy racing thoughts and felt lead to start writing.  I've had a lot of realizations today, one being that my dorm room is one of the only places where I can think clearly.  I've gone back and forth with this thought, but JMU really does feel like home to me, and it's because God is so present here.  And yeah I know He is present everywhere, but where have I spent the most intimate time in prayer and in the word and seen God move in the hearts of so many people? Here at school, in Harrisonburg.  And more specifically, I've had some sweet, sweet alone time with the Lord in my room, which is weird because it actually used to feel like the opposite, but we prayed, and God so obviously heard us and has again been faithful.

So another realization I had is that it's not that I've been too busy to post, I've been too scared.  I usually write about stuff I'm learning, and in the past it's been some pretty concrete stuff I can put words to, but for the past month or two, it's been really different.  I would like to say I haven't hid from it, because I've shared it with some people to a certain degree, but the reality of it is, it's so much more than I can express, and even I don't know what's going on, so I will write about it because that's what I'm better at.  And I am also going to share because I feel like I've cheated people out or been dishonest, which is funny because I am the biggest promoter on being open and real, and if there is one type of person I respect it is someone who is genuine, and I am sorry that I haven't been.

So here it goes: Basically for the past two months I have been completely broken/anxious/overwhelmed.  I was thinking about it today and literally on any given day I could cry, and contrary to what people believe and have seen in the past (YL placements...) I am not typically a crier.  I wish I could describe it better, but I literally can feel my heart beating out of my chest and the tears start to come when I start to really think about life, or pray, or read the bible.  I am at a point where I know how bad this world sucks, and it hurts, but I am also certain that this is exactly where God wants me.  I've wrestled with thoughts of thinking I am being "spiritually attacked" or like the enemy is up to something, which I am sure there is some truth to seeing that I am positive that my anxiety is not of the Lord; I have never been an anxious person.  I am also currently struggling with the basic concept of faith and viewing God as the Sovereign, Almighty God that He is.  It has been so hard for me to believe that He is in complete control and to ask for things accordingly, because I am fearful of disappointment.  But anyway, we are doing a Beth Moore study in small group called "Believing God" (very fitting to my life currently...ironic? probz not.)  Tonight she brought up what Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:31-32, and I think it really relates to me and what I am experiencing.
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Satan asked God for permission to uncover the weakness and sinfulness of Peter through his plan of sifting.  But Jesus didn’t ask God to spare Peter from being sifted by the devil; He asked only that in the face of the sifting that his faith may not fail. The point of Jesus’ prayer is not that Peter would not stumble or sin.  Jesus knew that Peter would struggle, but Jesus also knew that His prayer would be heard by the Father and that ultimately Peter would turn back.  His faith would not fail, and he would be able to strengthen his brothers again.

So whatever it is I am going through, I know God has allowed it to happen.  I used to be so desensitized to the brokenness, but now I really feel like God has allowed me to have a little glimpse into his heart and his eyes for the world.  However, there are definitely times where I let the discouragement and anxiety get the best of me.  I just check out, and sin and selfishness take over, I try to control my own life, and I can't see past my own little world.  But thankfully, I have been shown so much grace, so if you are someone who has loved me through this, thank you for sharing Jesus with me.  But every time this happens, I'm eventually brought back to the same answer.  I literally have nothing else.  I have absolutely nothing to offer to God or to anyone in my weakness, and I need Him.  And when I go to Him and respond to Jesus' call for me to simply come, I realize how much bigger God's world is than mine, and how much more perfect His will is than my own.

A friend shared this quote with me: "A true Christian knows the somberness and brokenness of the world but still carries an unspeakable joy around with them."
So I pray to God that I will never lose that joy, His joy.  And I trust that I won't, because Jesus Christ is my only hope, and He has prayed that my faith will not fail.

Valentine's Day!!!

Just kidding. I'm not actually gonna talk about Valentine's Day at all-I wouldn't do that. But I am gonna talk about love, the Agape kind of love :)

        I've had quite a few conversations recently about showing God we love him.  A friend asked: "At what point am I doing ministry, reading my bible, or praying because I love God or because it has become routine?" In response to this question, another friend said that when they find themselves thinking that, they think about what their life was like without God, which leads them to their realization of how they love God. After thinking about my life before Christ, I shared this with another friend who challenged me and asked if I only love God because of what He has done for me.

         At what point did I fall in love with the Lord? I think it was when I heard that He loved me for the first time ever. The reason the idea of Jesus was so attractive to me at age 16 was because I realized that He was literally the only person that I didn't have to prove anything to; that there was someone who loved me, and always did and always will love me, regardless of who I was or what I did or everything that I found my identity in.  That is why I decided I wanted to let him in and love Him back, because He loved me first.  So when I think, do I only love God because of what He has done for me...ultimately the answer is yes, because what He has done for me is love me, and "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

         Regarding how to show God we love him, someone suggested taking ourselves out of the equation.  They said don't think about what you can do for God, just think about the character of God himself, and I think that is exactly right.  What matters is that God sees me, a wretched sinner, and knows every single thing about me, and values me more than anyone on this earth ever could.  Naturally, there is NOTHING good about me, but God thinks of me as his treasured possession. "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." (Deuteronomy 4:12) This is what sets the Lord's love apart.  And this is what I know about the Lord and His character, which fuels my love for Him.

         So I don't think there is an answer or formula to how we can show our love to God.  I currently dislike everything about formulas and structure, especially concerning my walk with the Lord because Christ has set me free and where is the freedom in that?! Anyway, I believe that the simplest response is to just think about the fact that God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it, loves ME.... that actually just made me laugh. But I know that it is true, and that is what compels me to live a life pleasing to God, or at least try to and mess up a whole lot. :)

"Always remember that God is easy to get along with, and if your heart is right, He is not too concerned about the formula. God is kind and good and gracious, because there are some of us that are just too hard to get along with.  If God were as hard to get along with as we are, there would be one perpetual quarrel between our souls and God. God has to be easy to live with, and if He knows you mean right, He will let you make all sorts of mistakes and not care."-A.W. Tozer (credz to mah gurl Joanna Rose)

Serious bomb on that one-sorry bout it!

Nine years ago...

I would say I am a people person. I like people a lot. I would even go as far as to say I think people are the most interesting creation in the entire universe.

I also enjoy talking. In fact, I can converse for hours on end, with pretty much anyone, because like I said, I like people.

However, I am particularly fond of a certain two girls. And I am particularly fond of conversing with these two girls.  They truly are the most beautiful, interesting people I know. I am genuinely blessed to have the two best friends I could ever ask for.

            Who would have thought that three 11 year old girls, coming from three different "rival" elementary schools, who were completely new to the chaos and drama of a middle schooler's life, would be best friends forever?  Although new to the wild jungle of the halls of Ridley Middle School, I'd say we caught on rather quickly, and together we learned to survive the heartbreaks and misdemeanors of a middle schooler's life. But the funny thing is, sometimes one of us accidently caused the heartbreak of another.  I can remember one specific night at a Ridley Park firehouse dance (if you don't know what that is, I'm not sure that you want to know) where my heart was broken into a million pieces as I watched my best friend kiss the boy I was "crushin badly" on.  And then, we had a sleep over afterwards.  Awkward? I think so.  And sometimes, one of us accidently ratted out the other.  Among the three of us was "the girl who never turned down a dare."  When the entire Language Arts class was together given the liberty of a "bathroom break," we couldn't simply go to the bathroom, return to class, then continue on with our work.  Naturally, we dared the infamous "never turn down a dare" girl to go into the boys' bathroom.  Little did we know that we were being watched by another authority figure, who proceeded to follow us into our classroom and tell our teacher that they saw one of us three enter through the door of the boys' bathroom.  When I was pointed out as the suspect, I came very close to putting the blame on my best friend and accurately identifying the true rule-breaker.  But more importantly, we made it through these little bumps in the roads of our friendships, clearly seen in the many memories formed from that same Language Arts class.  One time, we thought it would be a good idea to get up in front of the class and do a little performance to "The Little Mermaid."  However, though the two of them are quite talented clarinet players, not a single one of us has a voice that is aesthetically pleasing.  Or there was another time when our teacher became very frustrated with the lack of commas being used in essays and therefore drew the biggest comma I have ever seen in my life on the chalkboard.  You might not think it's that funny, but the three of us literally laughed out loud hysterically for 10 minutes straight.  So we may have been the three girls that received the report card comment from our first year homeroom teacher that said, "lacks self control," and we may have been the girls who got the phone call home to our parents about being too cliquey and leaving the other girls out, but it's where we are at in our lives right now that matters, right?

            And where we are now is not even close to where I thought we would be as 6th graders.  It's actually a miracle, and all I can say is that God is good. Today I got to spend a beautiful morning with Rebecca Concepcion and Meghan Geiser.  We decided to visit our dear friend, Jenna, at "The Bagel Hut" on Temple's campus.  As Meg drove us through Philly we joked about finally being able to travel places with just the three of us, seeing that we were/are the last people on earth to get our licenses. (only 10 more days Reb!)  When we got there, we were given the extremely generous gift of three free bagels and coffees! So we sat, ate, drank, and talked. We talked about the book of Genesis, about the theology behind it and what different religions believe and about the character of God.  It is so refreshing to talk to passionate people who have a thirst to learn and know more.  I'm currently going through Genesis because we are doing bible in a year as a Leadership for Young Life, and they both took bible/religion classes this past semester.  We all contributed different input, and it was very interesting to hear what each of us had learned at our respective colleges and with our personal experiences.  The three of us go to polar opposite schools.  Meg at Temple University, a medium sized diverse school in the busy city of Philadelphia; Reb at Azusa Pacific University, a smaller Christian, yet fairly liberal college (resort) in California; and me at James Madison University, a pretty big school with a bunch of conservative Virginians in the small town of Harrisonburg.  After lots of discussion, I think the one thing that stuck out to all of us is how redeeming God is throughout Genesis.  Even before Jesus came to earth, God was so redemptive in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and countless others and continuously blessed them with what they didn't at all deserve.  I generally write off God to be full of wrath throughout the Old Testament, but in reality He is loving and compassionate towards His people.  I was so encouraged as I sat next to Rebecca and Meghan and thought about the women we've all grown into. Granted, we still have our child-like vigor and/or immaturity at times.  For example, an elderly black man from the heart of North Philly asked Meg where a certain building was, and in her directions she explained the building "that looks like Hogwarts."  Or I could refer to how Rebecca and I, at the exact same time, called the Old Testament the "Old Testi." Oops.  But, as I reflect on our friendships and on the past 9 years of our lives from 6th grade until now, one thing that is so obviously apparent is that God has redeemed each one of us.  God is definitely good.

The adventures of Rebecca, Meghan, and Lindsay:

And Ms. Snyder never would have thought that one day...

 We'd be little NHS scholars,

 People would actually like us,

 Or that we would graduate!

eeeeeeeeek

Certainty in Uncertainty

"Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things."—Ecclesiastes 11:5

            I've been thinking a lot about the time of life that I'm in right now.  I know most college age students think about the future quite a bit because "real life" is fast approaching.  I've recently talked with some friends about how ever since we graduated high school, we've been transitioning into the next thing.  Especially when I started college; I felt like I never even had time to think about it and then time disappeared and now here I am, starting my second semester of sophomore year.  We even talked about Winter break and how the entire time is basically a transition period.  The first week we transition to being home, the second week is crazy with holiday festivities, and the third week we are getting ready to go back to school.  Conclusion of all of these random thoughts: My life is uncertain.  I have no idea what the future holds.  And that could be really scary, but being a "look on the bright side" kind of person, I find uncertainty to be one of the greatest things that life has to offer us.  Because the more uncertain my life gets, the more certain I must become of God.  Isn't it so comforting to know that in the midst of the confusion and unknown that we have a Lord who does know and who will reveal his plans to us on his timing?  And I am SO thankful that it is his timing and not mine, because if I was in control and if I got to choose the timing of things in my life, I would undoubtedly screw it up...badly.  Whenever I hear people say, "I wish I could just fast forward to see like five minutes of my life in the future," I instantly think that is a terrible idea.  Not in a harsh or mean way, but where is the adventure in that? This past Sunday at church, the pastor spoke about the Christmas song, "Come All Ye Faithful" and about adoring Christ.  Adoration means to tell someone something, and the dictionary defines it as "fervent and devoted love."  He told us to tell Jesus what we adore about him, and one of my favorite things about Christ is the mystery of him and the adventure he brings.

           Going to college with a bunch of people I have never met before in a different state with a totally different culture than I have grown up in, there are many, many times when I feel misunderstood.  I know everyone goes through it, and initially it sucked to feel like no one truly knew me.  But again, during those times of uncertainty, my certainty is found in the Lord.  The more I feel misunderstood by others, the more I feel understood by God.  It assures me that I was designed to be in a relationship with him and that he is the only one who will never fail me.  And the more I know God understands me, the more I know that he loves me, because he knows the depths of my heart and STILL delights in me.

           The thing that got me thinking about this whole "certainty in uncertainty" thing was from Oslwald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" back in April.  (I know "Utmost" is a cliché pop culture Christian devotion, but you can't deny that it is good.)  He wrote, Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises."  As a follower of Jesus, I no longer live the commonsense life.  I remember someone saying at Summer Staff (Where you work at a YL camp for a month) this past July that we no longer fight worldly battles; we fight spiritual battles.  In another devotion, "Come Away My Beloved" by Frances J. Roberts, he says, "For we labor not in the material realm, and we work not with the elements of this world; but our labor is in the realm of the Spirit, and the accomplishments are not judged by the human eye, but shall be revealed in the light of eternity."  I want to live like I am a citizen of heaven and not of this world, with an eternal perspective and in the Spiritual realm. I can't even begin to imagine the revelations we will see in the light of eternity, but what a gift that we get to see them at all.  Christ is our hope, light, and peace in times of hopelessness, darkness, and restlessness, and that is what I cling to.

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the thing we cannot see will last forever." —2 Corinthians 4:18

Winter Break FUNZONE!!

El Día de Gracias

Happy Thanksgiving!

Five things I am thankful for: (starting where we left off...)

1) Harry Potter.

It sounds trivial, but seriously though, there is nothing like getting lost in a good book-especially Harry Potter.  Entering into the fantasy world of wizards always seems to be my escape away from the chaos of this world. I could (and have) literally sit in my room for three days straight with no communication with the outside world and be totally fine if I had a HP book in front of me. J.K. Rowling writes in a way that makes you feel like you yourself are a student at Hogwarts.  I swear I would leave behind everything in my life now if I could actually transfer to Hogwarts. (I was gonna say just kidding after that, but honestly I'm not sure that I am.) Anyway, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1-amazing. Obviously not as good as the book, and they missed some great details that I was really looking forward to seeing, but I thought they did an incredible job at portraying the main scenes.

2) Family.

I am thankful that I have been raised with the freedom to make my own decisions in life.  I can't remember a time where I was forced to do something or told I wasn't allowed to do something.  I know for a fact that I wouldn't be the person I am today if I didn't have the chance to choose for myself what I wanted to do, and I have learned so much from each decision I have personally made.  Also, I am grateful for the humor of my family.  Each of them has such a unique sense of humor from most people I know, and I am just glad we can laugh at the most ridiculous things ever. (Although I seriously believe Joe may be borderline mentally insane with some of the things he does.) I am glad that I am able to take a joke and laugh at myself because of them.

3) Friends.

Each and every one of them. I am so incredibly thankful that I have people who genuinely care about me and love me. I am thankful that I have friends who listen to me and rejoice with me and who I can listen to and rejoice with as well.  And I am SO thankful that I have relationships where we share in each other's sufferings, because that is what is rare.  I don't think I would be able to think clearly if I didn't have people in my life to process things with.  It is so encouraging and comforting to be able to simply observe the lives of my friends and know that I am learning from their example.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

-Philippians 1:3-6

4) My Teammates.

Yes, my teammates (Young Life team that is) are of course my friends too, but when you do ministry alongside of people, your relationships deepen tremendously.  They are the ones that know why your heart is so broken for that one kid.  They celebrate with you over the smallest victories that others can't understand.  And most importantly, they are the ones that have the same exact purpose and mission as you do, to go after lost kids no matter how hard it gets.  I am so fortunate to be on a team where grace and love flow abundantly and unconditionally.  My teammates know my heart better than anyone else does, and not only because we spend crazy amounts of time together, but because we take up our crosses together and encourage each other along the way.  It is so amazing to truly know someone's heart and to see how much each of them has to offer to God.  I am blessed to know someone with the most passion I've ever seen, someone so dedicated and giving, someone who lives expectantly and dreams big, and someone whose strength comes completely from the joy of the Lord.

Philippians 1:7-8 says, "So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus."

This perfectly reflects my heart for my team.

5) The Cross.

I am thankful (that is an understatement) that God our Father sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for me and the rest of this world so that he could literally become our sin and so that we could live freely and innocently.  I am thankful that Jesus was obedient to his Father's will so that I could be forgiven of EVERYTHING and live in perfect relationship with my Lord.  I am thankful that we have the Bible to tell us all of this, and that we have the example of Jesus to follow.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature, God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!"

-Philippians 2:5-8 (I am aware that everything in my blog posts is from Philippians-this is not intentional.)

I think this relates back to what I mentioned before about Simple Spirituality and the five simple stones of WMF. Those things are based on the example of Jesus and what lead him to carry the cross for us. At church a couple of weeks ago, the pastor said, "Be careful of a Christianity without a cross." Because that is what it all comes down to. And if I give thanks for anything at all, it is the cross. Because through it, I am cleansed and perfectly loved.

Simple Spirituality (conflicting with my newfound ownership of a Droid)

I have many different thoughts running through my head right now, so I'm just gonna write. I don't even know if I'll post this, but we shall see! I like the idea of writing stuff down that others could potentially read, and seeing what things/thoughts I find to be important in my life currently and also seeing what things I am keeping to myself or between God and I. I feel like a lot has been happening, but then again, not so much is actually happening (and that may only make sense to me...)

Well for one, I am home! Currently residing in Secane, Pennsylvania.  It has been an eventful past two days. And by eventful, I mean I just bought a lot of stuff and spent money on things I don't get a chance to do at school.  On Thursday night, actually at 3 AM on Friday morning after HP7, (we'll get there later) a friend asked me what the first thing I was gonna do when I got home was.  I said I was gonna hang out with my dog, but little did I know the first thing she was gonna do when I got home was bite me! Not a very pleasant greeting from Tippy, but she has always liked me the least. Anyway, back to the eventfulness of being home: I went shopping with my mom at Target yesterday, and today I got a Droid! Buy one get one free deal. Who knew that my mom dropping her phone in coffee would benefit me? :) Today I also had the chance to hang with my dear friend and one of my favorite people, Joy.  We got our nails done, which is probably the last thing you would expect the two of us to do together?  It was weird...However, it was great to catch up and just hear how exciting her past couple of months have been.  The Lord has been so faithful to her after some long, hard times, and I was so encouraged to see verse Philippians 1:6 come to life before me. "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion to the day of Christ Jesus." That is something I will never stop praying: for friends from home, friends from JMU, friends at TA, family, myself... It's a promise, and I don't think I'd be able to do the things I do if it weren't true.  That sounds vague, but actually, I don't think I'd be able to get through each day without trusting fully in that promise.  Since this rambling seems to have brought us to this point, I guess I will share some things I am learning.

I have recently picked up the book "Simple Spirituality." Before I went to Peru with my bFf Rebecca, her sister Nina, and our YL leader, we read this. Underneath the title it says, "Learning to see God in a broken world" and it is "A book for people who are ready to see."  We traveled to Lima, Peru to see what the life of a WMF (Word Made Flesh) missionary is like.  At that point in our lives, the three of us girls (though fairly new to it all) were SO curious and so ready to see God in a broken world.  It was life-changing, and looking back and re-reading this book, I just think the WMF ministry is so right.  They have nine core values, and five simple stones that are central to WMF. They are:

Humility to slay the giant of pride and arrogance

Community to slay the giant of individualism and independence

Simplicity to slay the giant of intemperance and excess

Submission to slay the giant of power and control

Brokenness to slay the giant of triumphalism, defiance, and resistance

The other day I went through my bible and journal to look for Scripture that supports each of these simple stones.  It was really cool to see how quickly I was able to call to mind verses that have been revealed to me since being at college and to realize that those are the foundations I want to/try to live my life by.  I don't really know if I'm being clear, but it was just cool to see what Scripture I associate each of these five words with and to see what God has been teaching me with them.  I am no where near understanding or representing these things, but I am learning.

This turned into a much longer post than I had anticipated.  I know I said I would get to talking about HP7 later, but I think I'll save it for a Thanksgiving post when I share what I am thankful for.  Last week at d-hall lunch, Anthony suggested the idea that we go around the table and all say what we're thankful for. I said Harry Potter.  Most friends did not respond positively, but it's the truth!  And somehow, I have a feeling that the mention of Harry Potter in some form will make it into the majority of my posts.

Disclaimer: The title of this post is not supposed to be a joke. It's just to point out that my life is a learning process, and I've got a long way to go!

Just bringin' back some Peru memz! :) Isa and Natalia are THE BEST.

(Reb and Nina: you're okay too...)

Skeptics and Believers

During my Biological Anthropology class we watched a movie on the discovery of hobbits (I didn't know they were real either...or am I the only one who didn't know that?) I don't usually pay too much attention in this class, (aka I never really go to this class on Fridays) but I went and maybe it was only because they had mentioned elves and showed Dobby from Harry Potter that I started paying attention, but it was actually a pretty interesting film.  At some point, referring to archaeologists and the discoveries they were making, they mentioned "skeptics and believers having to work alongside of each other." This got me thinking. I think we hear the phrase "skeptics and believers" quite a bit, but it has never really meant anything to me.  Immediately the image of the "Coexist" bumper stickers popped into my head. I've never really liked those, which I think has something to do with the way I've had the philosophy presented to me in the past or just from reading others' posts about it kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but I get it now.  The definition of coexist:

to live in peace with another or others despite differences, especially as a matter of policy.

Why shouldn't we coexist? I'm not saying that I don't believe in an absolute truth, because by all means I know there is only one way; I'm just saying that I think the image of "skeptics and believers having to work alongside of each other" is a beautiful one.  And I know we've all heard this type of stuff before-about "acceptance" or "not judging" or "living in peace."  But if we're all honest with ourselves, actually living these things out is very rare, myself included.  When I think of skeptics and believers working alongside of each other, there are a few of my close friends who come to mind.  I absolutely love watching these friends or hearing stories about them working alongside of other friends who are so different than they are. It is inspiring.

I am not trying to offend anyone, but I think that I have become more closed-minded and more of a conformist since coming to school in Virginia (which might actually sound closed-minded haha).  I don't think this is anyone's fault but my own, but I guess it has just made me come to the realization of how much I really appreciate diversity.  [To further explore lack of diversity, please refer to Beth Jasper's recent blog post regarding "the trendy race (being indie)"-http://jasperle.blogspot.com/2010/11/diy-do-it-yourself-memoir-on-trendy.html?spref=fb] I feel like at home I just see and experience so much more of people with different beliefs, values, and backgrounds existing together.  I know I have chosen my own path here at school, and it has been absolutely amazing to live in a community of "believers," but for some reason, in this moment right now, I am having the overwhelming feeling that this is not how life is supposed to be.  This could just be a phase I'm going through (as are many things in my life), or this could be for a number of reasons. 1) I haven't been home since August. I MISS THE CITY!!! Everything about it: the noise, the people watching, the food, etc. 2) I'm kind of over having conservative takes on things just because I think I should. As a Global Justice Studies major (oh yeah mom, I changed my major), I'm thinkin I have some pretty liberal views. and 3) I heard a lecture on empowerment last night from this little Northern firecracker lady, and I feel empowered to speak up! But anyway, moral of the story: let's coexist. And I know that the skeptics will learn from the believers and the believers will learn from the skeptics.  Oh and another moral of the story: ONLY ONE WEEK until I'm home for 9 days getting to celebrate the holidays in the city=my favorite thing ever!

Biological Anthropology Hobbits

Ring Hobbits

Dobby! (Sorry, couldn't contain myself)

Also, I lied earlier. My favorite thing ever is definitely mythical creatures.

P.S. Meghan Geiser: Thanks for being my biggest (only) fan and source of support for this so far! Literally CANNOT wait to watch Christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, eat cookie dough, and snuggle with the Geiser girlz!!! (you, Melizza, Ava, and Roxy)