One of my roommates is getting married next summer.
And I suddenly find myself living in wedding central. It is driving me CRAZY!
I would swear to you that since she became engaged, every conversation we've had has revolved around dresses and cocktail receptions, and do the guys wear vests or not, and flowers and colors.
Right now in the background the conversation is how many chairs, and when will the cake be cut, and how long will people stay at the reception. We've already discussed flowers, and bridesmaid dress styles ad infinitum.
She's already bought a dress and found a venue. The most significant details are taken care of. And yet, I live in 24/7 wedding central.
And the kicker is this: The wedding is still nine months away.
I'm not sure I'm going to survive the next nine months.
Right now, the two weeks at Christmas when both of my roommates will be out of the country are looking better and better.
In the meantime, I'm trying to do laundry, and waiting for a long enough pause in the conversation to enlist one of my roommates to help me attempt a new method of unclogging our clogged bathtub drain. (If I can get the drain unclogged, at least I can retreat to the quiet of the bathroom and soak in a long, hot, bubble bath.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Garden of the Saints
another great thought from Henri Nouwen...
The Garden of the Saints
The Church is a very human organization but also the garden of God's grace. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. Saints are people who make the living Christ visible to us in a special way. Some saints have given their lives in the service of Christ and his Church; others have spoken and written words that keep nurturing us; some have lived heroically in difficult situations; others have remained hidden in quiet lives of prayer and meditation; some were prophetic voices calling for renewal; others were spiritual strategists setting up large organizations or networks of people; some were healthy and strong; others were quite sick, and often anxious and insecure.
But all of them in their own ways lived in the Church as in a garden where they heard the voice calling them the Beloved and where they found the courage to make Jesus the center of their lives.
The Garden of the Saints
The Church is a very human organization but also the garden of God's grace. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. Saints are people who make the living Christ visible to us in a special way. Some saints have given their lives in the service of Christ and his Church; others have spoken and written words that keep nurturing us; some have lived heroically in difficult situations; others have remained hidden in quiet lives of prayer and meditation; some were prophetic voices calling for renewal; others were spiritual strategists setting up large organizations or networks of people; some were healthy and strong; others were quite sick, and often anxious and insecure.
But all of them in their own ways lived in the Church as in a garden where they heard the voice calling them the Beloved and where they found the courage to make Jesus the center of their lives.
Live Inside Hope
The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
- Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
- Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Juxtaposed
My life, just at this moment, seems to be a bizarre juxtaposition of the completely surreal and the completely practical.
It seems my life has yet again been hijacked by Jesus. And that hijacking is resulting in some completely surreal experiences. (And a serious lack of sleep.)
On the other hand, there are some completely practical things consuming me as well.
Like the desperate need to do laundry (especially since I may be going away for the weekend again.)
Like the 125 dollars poorer I am after my laptop cable needed to be replaced tonight.
Like the library books that need to either be renewed or returned this week.
Like the recycling that needs to go to the bottle depot and is sitting in George's trunk just presently.
And a clogged bathtub drain. Does anyone know how to rectify a clogged bathtub drain without calling a plumber? Or, more practically yet, does anyone out there want to come over and fix my clogged bathtub drain for me (without calling a plumber??).
This is my juxtaposed, surreal, practical life (and despite the dozens of frustrations and wrestles in both of those categories, tonight I don't think I'd trade it.)
It seems my life has yet again been hijacked by Jesus. And that hijacking is resulting in some completely surreal experiences. (And a serious lack of sleep.)
On the other hand, there are some completely practical things consuming me as well.
Like the desperate need to do laundry (especially since I may be going away for the weekend again.)
Like the 125 dollars poorer I am after my laptop cable needed to be replaced tonight.
Like the library books that need to either be renewed or returned this week.
Like the recycling that needs to go to the bottle depot and is sitting in George's trunk just presently.
And a clogged bathtub drain. Does anyone know how to rectify a clogged bathtub drain without calling a plumber? Or, more practically yet, does anyone out there want to come over and fix my clogged bathtub drain for me (without calling a plumber??).
This is my juxtaposed, surreal, practical life (and despite the dozens of frustrations and wrestles in both of those categories, tonight I don't think I'd trade it.)
Headlines
I'm in the midst of scrambling to get some projects finished, and to take some time to simply quiet myself and write. (all of which were complicated by the sudden failure of my laptop power cord tonight, and the subsequent rush to the only store still open with a prayer that they would have a replacement. they thankfully did, but my wallet is significantly skinnier than it was an hour ago. ah well...)
Anyway... in the midst of everything else, here are a couple of headlines that caught my attention today...
Crackdown Vowed After Tanzanian Albino Girl Killed, Mutilated
Human Heads Sent to Mexico Police
Anyway... in the midst of everything else, here are a couple of headlines that caught my attention today...
Crackdown Vowed After Tanzanian Albino Girl Killed, Mutilated
Human Heads Sent to Mexico Police
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