Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 175

It was a nasty sort of day, and I was in full meltdown mode by about 3:00 this afternoon.  A long, weird day had ensued, the weather was awful, and a phone call informing me of a change of evening plans that I hadn't even been particularly invested in was the tipping point.  I found myself talking on my cellphone, in a green tiled university hallway, with tears welling up, and not even understanding why there were suddenly tears.

I ended up deciding that what my bruised and weary soul needed was a night of nothingness, and that's what I gave it.  Brainless entertainment, laughter in several forms, and a moratorium on homework.  Oh, and chocolate and my favorite soup (now discontinued, and slowly dwindling in my freezer.)

It's the kind of day when a Daily 5 list is important, and the kind of day when it's harder to write.

Here's what I came up with for Today's Daily 5:

1. A late night exchange last night with my former roommate, L, about the nasty weather we were expecting overnight.  I wrote her commenting "Why on earth do I live here?"  Her response made me laugh out loud, and basically involved her telling me that she'd wondered that herself when she was living here!
2. That the city had actually cleaned their portion of the sidewalk that I had to walk to get to the bus this morning.  That doesn't sound like much, but when you're slogging through 8 inches of dense, newly fallen snow, a shovelled walk is a blessing.
3. Cozy mittens
4. Recognizing choices differently
5. Being able to duplicate some work from one class for another class, thus saving myself hours of research time
6. a class getting canceled that allowed me to attend a Monday noon-hour worship gathering led by my chaplain friend on campus.  I needed that 40 minutes of worship and quiet space fairly badly today.
7. the reminder, via some hard things, to be praying for some friends
8. my last class of the day ended early
9. both of my current favorite targets for sarcasm and snarking were out in full force this evening, allowing for brainless entertainment and laughter
10. "watching" The Bachelor with a far away friend tonight and laughing together
11. wearing a cute scarf and earrings to school today
12. giving myself a pass on something I'd told myself I should do, but is absolutely unneccessary
13. Italian wedding soup for supper
14. good drinking water
15. going to bed early tonight, in my own bed, and knowing I don't have class early tomorrow at all, and can thus sleep in without setting an alarm, and hopefully feel a bit recovered when I emerge to face the world tomorrow

Not Sure What I'd Do

On Saturday, Rachel Held Evans posted this guest post, written by Lisa McKay.

The post, entitled "The Blessings of the Bai Si" intrigued me. 

First, because I am fascinated by culture, and am particularly sensitive to the spiritual realm.

And second, because I'm not entirely certain what I would do in that sort of situation.  How comfortable I would be in a setting that involves a clear interaction with the spiritual realm.

And so, I've been pondering culture, and being sensitive to that, while still being true to my own faith.

And I honestly don't have an answer for you.  Not a single one.

Two years ago, even, I would have probably refused to be part of a ritual like the one that McKay described.

Now, I don't know.

Because I'm sensitive to the spiritual realm, and have wrestled with that sensitivity for years, I feel uncomfortable with the idea of knowingly involving myself with a ritual that emphasizes those interactions.

And yet, I am increasingly aware that I do not need to fear the darkness.  That I can walk amongst it, and be protected.

And that sometimes, it really just is about the blessing.  That God can allow me to receive the honor and blessing being conveyed to me, while protecting me from any evil that is also being conveyed, however unintentionally.

I don't know what I would do, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts.