Often when you ask kids what they want to do when they grow up here, you’ll receive and “I don’t know” or some other response. But, today, I loved the response I got from these two boys. They both play soccer. They’re about 13 years old. One of the boys told me that he wanted to be an engineer and the other wants to be a policeman. One even had a computer in his house. I felt like I was back in the States for a second hearing that they play video games, watch Transporter 3, computer games and play sports. Sometimes I find myself entrenched in the culture that I need a healthy reminder that kids in the States have a completely different life. They have parents, shoes to wear, toys galore, events to attend, sports to play, new clothes, dreams for the future and so much more. I love helping these kids see their potential and see that they can grow up to be something amazing.
sports
The End
No…not of this blog! But of my ceramics class. Today/this week was/is the last time to throw wet clay. Sad. I’ll be kind of glad to have my Monday nights back, but I’ll miss being able to make bowls and other fun things. I’m also sad because I always seem to open up and engage with the people in my class right before it ends. I had a delightful conversation with a girl in my class about law school, unitarianism, Bethel University, sports and ceramics tonight. I wish I could have had this 5 weeks ago so that we could have developed more of a relationship. Yet, the class ends. The same thing happened last summer with my pre-law type class at William Mitchell. I met these women and began to get to know them sort of well right at the end. I’ll just have to take longer classes 😉 or learn to open up sooner!
Best Friends
I remember as a little girl going the whole nine yards with the “best friend” frenzy. From necklaces, to bracelets to matching things, we flaunted the “best friend” status. Unfortunately, in those years sometimes people get left out and hurt by the whole “best friend” mania. Plus, the manufacturing companies never made life easy by only allowing a girl one best friend. Although, if we want to go technical, there should only be one “best”, right? Maybe we just need different types of “best” because that’s what the distinction comes down to sometimes. A best friend to talk with, a best friend to do sports with, a best friend to go dancing with, ect.
Last night, I really needed one of my “best friends.” I tried some of the other “bests” and they filled their spots wonderfully, but not quite what I wanted/needed. I needed that person to talk some sense into my negative, messed up head and to speak light and truth into the darkness with all encompassing love. I fell asleep with tear stained cheeks feeling a bit defeated. Yet come morning, my “best friend” spoke the healing words I needed. I am so thankful to have such amazing people in life. I am so glad that I have all sorts of “bests” to walk with me through the different struggles and triumphs. I am so thankful to have enough relationships that go beyond the proximity and affinity type (those are important too, but in a different way!). So, here’s to all the “bests” in life who let us lay it all down, drop anything to get there for us, and help us rise into the light at the end of the fight 🙂
Just lay it all down, put your face into my neck and let it fall out
I know, I know, I know, I knew before you got home
This world you’re in now, it doesn’t have to be alone
I’ll get there somehow
Cause I know, I know, I know
When even springtime feels cold
But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark
And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight…
You were blessed by a different kind of inner view: it’s all magnified
The highs will make you fly but the lows make you want to die
And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing
So I know I know I know, it’s easier to let go
But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see,
So we can both be there and we can both share the dark
And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
And into the light at the end of the fight…
…and in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds
and into the light…at the end of the fight
“Nightminds” by Missy Higgins
Inside Out Forehand…Here I come!
I went to the last Gopher basketball game of the season tonight. The game started out with some exciting 3-point shots and really made me miss competitive sports. Oddly enough, I’m older than most of the people on the team–except for the few seniors. Though, definitely shorter! I definitely got that twinge of “this is the last game of some of their college careers…” feeling. Oh, the joys of endings and beginnings.
I am SO ready for spring and summer so that I can play outside. From running to tennis to golf to rollerblading to kayaking to everything else, I can’t wait! Especially after trudging through snow this morning in heels at 7am to bring out the garbage. Not fun at all. Such is life. Sometimes we have to suck it up and trudge through the snow and hard times to get to the feeling of “amazingness” that comes from hitting that inside out forehand or the 3-pointer to win the game.
Sexually Charged Culture
I listened to a sermon entitled “Sexual Sin” by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, today from his “Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions” series. This series came out of the “Ask Anything” challenge. Basically, people were allowed to write in answers and then vote for their favorites. The top nine questions make up the sermon series.
Now that you have a little background…I’ll get to a few of the thoughts that stood out from the sermon I listened to tonight.
1. Don’t try to manage or tolerate or suppress your sin. Put it to death! Legitimizing, justifying, and judging sin hinders us. Sin leads to death. Sin separates us from God. Jesus died so that we could put sin to death. (See Colossians 3:5-8)
2. Driscoll suggested fasting from television, your ipod, the computer, the radio, ect. for a few days and then returning to see just how “sexually charged” our culture is. For me, the hardest part would be the internet…I use it FAR too much. I waste time looking at things that are really not worth it in the long run such as Steep and Cheap, REI, Facebook, and my e-mail for the hundredth time. I’m pondering doing a variation of this challenge. I’ll keep you posted.
3. Number 3 of “How to Resist Sexual Temptation” consisted of living as a new person with a new mind. This included not viewing men or women as potential sexual partners but as brothers and sisters in Christ. I think you could rephrase this to not seeing men or women as potential boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, cuddling buddies, friends with benefits, ect. Personally, I’ve found myself with a little crush that turns into a downward cycle of temptation that does not honor that person as a brother in Christ but sees him rather as someone who I could date, kiss, cuddle, befriend ect. I could add a lot of disclaimers to this and further the thought, but I think for now I’ll leave it at that.
4. Who or what do you worship other than God? Sex? Television? Sports? Relationships? Success? Money? Good looks? Weight? Books? Authors? Pets?
Worship the Creator not Creation
p.s. I’m impressed with my newfound skill of in-text links! 🙂
b'ahava 