On History

I love the feeling of the beginning of a new semester of school. So much anticipation for good classes, good books, interesting research, fascinating people. I don't regret for a minute that I will graduate at Christmas with a degree that probably won't open a whole lot of doors for me - what is history useful for anyway? I can't figure out how to apply this passion, this degree of mine to a profession that will pay the bills for my dreams of travelling, of graduate studies, of independence and not living with my parents much longer.

So, for the moment I'm enjoying purchasing books and getting ready to read them. Two arrived by mail today - John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" and Steve Wilkens "Good Ideas from Questionable Christians and Outright Pagans." The first is for a class, the second is just for fun. I order as many of my textbooks as possible online from Chapters/Indigo because they're generally cheaper than the university bookstore - sometimes only a few dollars sometimes as much as fifty percent less. Either way, it's worth it.

I love history. I see God in it. So much of it is the story of his church - until somewhere between 1500 and 1700 C.E., the church is the dominant institution - it shapes everything. Yes, it is not always a positive story, but it is still the story of how God worked in the past, and gives hope that He will work today amidst a universal church that seems to attract more criticism than gratefulness and praise from its members.

I love to learn, and I've been priviledged to be taught by some excellent scholars. I've been blessed with some stellar professors, but I've had my share of the ones where it was easier to learn if you just skipped class and read the textbook. You can tell, sometimes, the professors that are Christians. I attend a secular school, and their personal faith is something that does not enter into the classroom, but you can tell. The attitude they bring to history is more positive, more passionate, sometimes more educated than their unbelieving colleagues. It delights me to encounter believers who bring both passion and depth of knowledge to their field. Their classes are infinitely more interesting because of their passion for their areas of specialty and research.

Now, with all that said, I'm off to read some Bunyan. I received the course outline by email, and I have a 1200 word document analysis essay due on September 20th. Class may not start until Monday, but if I don't start reading now, I may find myself in trouble later!

Quote of the Moment: Take 2

I stumbled across the following quote tonight on the web while checking here for a magazine that seems to be defunct...

"I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Mahatma Gandhi

Thought provoking, no? Discuss.

Relational Highs and Lows

I've had a bit of a crazy week in terms of the relationships of people around me. Some very high highs, and some very low lows. It always fascinates me, the way relationships can be like that.

I've watched a friend struggle as a member of her immediate family is slowly dieing. She has been in pain, in hiding, wondering where God is and why this is happening. I thought about her all week, prayed for God to intervene, for her to know God's peace. I've winced internally everytime I thought of her, of what she's going through. I've longed to make it better.

Then, tonight, I celebrated with a different close friend. A week ago she celebrated o­ne year of dating a fantastic guy. Tonight, she celebrated her engagement to that same guy. It has been a priviledge to watch their relationship grow - to watch them love God, and love each other, to watch him care for her, protect her, support her. I screamed when she called and told me (a fact my mother finds infinitely funny). I was supposed to spend the day with her today, but she called me late last night to cancel - her boyfriend needed to spend time with o­nly her. I told them at the party that this is o­ne of the few acceptable reasons for ditching me for a day. I couldn't be happier for them.

And so, Jesus, tonight my prayers are somewhat bipolar. Lift my friend from the darkness. Heal the wounds in her life. Heal her family member's illness. Pour your peace o­n her life. And, Jesus, bless my other friends' engagement and marriage. Pour out every good thing o­n their lives together. May they know you deeply both personally and corporately as they prepare over the next months to join their lives. Thank you, Jesus, for friends. Thank you for the depth of relationship that allows me to share in their pain and in their joy. Thank you for making the world a relational place. Thank you for being a relational God.

Listing

In case you hadn't figured it out from several of my previous posts, I am somewhat of a list fanatic. I will attempt many things, as long as they are on my list for the day. I make mental lists. I plan my day, and what I'm going to pack for trips in lists. Lists are my attempt at controlling the uncontrollable. Most days it doesn't matter if I stick to them too closely, as long as they are there, giving me the comfort and security of knowing that I at least attempted to plan my day!

And so, today on my first day off in a while, I have a list of what I need to do (and the rationale in my head as to why I need to do them):

• pick up the book that is waiting for me on hold at the Library
• finish organizing bedroom - I now have all my furniture, and my parents are getting restless about the boxes of things still living on my floor.
• put the things I'm storing for right now up into the garage attic - dad is getting annoyed and wants his floor space back for work
• pick the raspberries and strawberries - mom comes home tomorrow and dad is covering the bases with whoever happens to be around when the idea occurs
• clean the bathroom - same logic as the raspberries, but also one of my usual weekly chores
• make phone calls - there are some people I need to catch up with.
• spend time writing - I've been putting it off for a week, and I think I need to vent. The tears that bubbled out of my while I watched a movie last night, and read a novel start to finish in one sitting until 2am are probably a good indicator that I need the release of writing down some things that have percolated for a week or so.

With all that listed, it's time to go get started. I'll change out of my pajamas and head into my day.

An Excellent Afternoon

For the record, my last post was quite tongue-in-cheek. Just in case you missed that. It was true that I felt much more self-confident in nice clothes, and that I was noticed, but I also felt better simply because I devoted more time to caring for myself, to caring about my appearance, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

With that said, let me tell you that my afternoon of "retail therapy" has left me in a fabulous mood. It was a great time of good conversation, walking all over downtown Calgary in search of fun shoe shops and to avoid buying a transit ticket, and just generally having a good time. We hit two bookstores, and I bought books at each. (I have a disease where I can't walk into a bookstore without purchasing at least one book.) I bought some "unmentionable" items, and...

I'll have you know that I did find the "perfect" pair of shoes. If I had a digital camera, I'd put a picture here so you could all appreciate them with me. Since I don't, you'll have to either take my word for it or invite me out to dinner so that I have an excuse to wear them!

We wrapped up our afternoon with Vietnamese food at a little restaurant on Stephen Avenue. Vietnamese is my current favorite ethnic food - and it's affordable, comes quickly, and is (at least this is what I tell myself) relatively healthy. It was the perfect way to wrap up the afternoon.

Now that you know that I spent far too much money today, and had a great time doing it, I have to go bake a chocolate cake. My bible study is at my house tomorrow night, and I need to have something on hand to feed them! If you attend that Bible study, bring your appetite, because I don't really want a ton of leftover chocolate cake sitting around my house and tempting me to eat until all of my new clothes don't fit anymore!