WORLDS ARE FORMING

Art Re-members.

"In art, either as creators or participators, we are helped to remember some of the glorious things we have forgotten, and some of the terrible things we are asked to endure, we who are children of God by adoption and grace."                                                                                                          L'Engle, Walking on Water, 11.

Traveling to Home #2.

I do.  Haven't been there since September, and need a fix.  So, I'm going twice next month.

March 6-8 :: Dallas :: Ordination Business :: All by my lonesome  ::
March 16-20 :: Austin :: Wedding :: SxSw? :: Coffee :: My Church :: Friends ::

No, I am not made of money.  Both trips are being done for cheap.  I like that.
Yes, I have school.  Only missing two days.  Very do-able.

It's Good to Have an Attractive Group of Friends.

                                                      (I love Bro's Bible Study.)

Madeleine L'Engle: Walking on Water.

I go through seasons of creativity. There are times when I feel super creative...journaling, drawing, singing, taking photographs etc.  Then, there other times, when I am anything but creative.  In my creative stages, I certainly feel some sort of connection to God, as if I am a co-creator in something bigger than myself.  In my "other times," I can only stand back and appreciate others' work,  and wait for another season of creativity. 

I have heard about this book for several years, and am eager to consider L'Engle's reflections on faith and art.  Hopefully, I will find some inspiration for the days to come...

Ear Plugs:The Life and Times of Old Man Cleve.

They don't call me Old Man Cleve for nothin'. I mean, really.  I like my routines.  I like to go to bed early and get up early.  I like to feed the birds, take a walk around the block, do a little crossword or two, check the weather, go buy a cup of coffee at the local diner, etc.  (Not really, but work with me here...ok, so the early to bed, early to rise part, well, if that's not true, I don't know what is.) 

I've done pretty well, up until now.  I've lived in dorms for six years.  I've had several snoring roommates.  I've led countless youth group sleepovers.  I've slept through many a raucous night.  Maybe my ears are getting more sensitive or my neighbors are getting more loud, but today, I gave in. 

Today, I took a little trip to Target and purchased my first-ever pair of ear plugs.  I'm a little skeptical, I must say.  I'm not a fan of having random cocoon-shaped objects lodged in my ears for long periods of time, but I know that many people swear by these puppies.  Tonight is the inaugural run for Old Man Cleve...wish me luck. 

Do you have any success or horror stories related to ear plugs?  Help me out here.

A thought of the day from Augustine.

O Lord our God, let us abide in hope under the screen of Your wings, protect us and carry us!  You will carry us: both as little children and into our graying years You will carry us.  For then is our strength really strength, when You are it; but when it is our strength, it is weakness.  Our good lives eternally in You; and because we were turned away from there, we have been turned inside out.  Let us return now, O Lord, in order not to be overturned, since our good lives in You without any defect, because You Yourself are it.  Let us not fear that there be nowhere to return to, since we fell down from there -- and while we are not there our home, Your eternity, will not fall down.
                        ::Augustine, Confessions. IV, 31 (emphasis mine)

Who do you love?

A friend emailed me and reminded me how great it is to be loved by friends and family (and by God)...and how it can be so easy to take that love for granted.  It seems to me that Valentines Day can remind us of commercialized "love," but it can also bring us back to that center of real, pure love.

Though you can do this any day, maybe take a minute today to write a loved one a real live, handwritten note, just to remind them that you love them, and how loved you feel by them.  (It would probably be good to give or send it to them, too.)  Just a thought.

It's all a blur.

Hebrew.  Second semester.  Test #1.  Oh, the drama.  Hiphil?  Qal.  (Or is it a Piel?)  Cohortative?  Five hour group take home test with Collins and Frick last night.  Are we in Yentl?  (Papa, can you hear me?)  Curse.  (Wait.  Who are the Nephalim again?)   Who wrote this textbook anyways?  In class test today.  BDB saves my life.  (I think Dr. Seow hates my life.)  It's all a blur.  My eyes...my eyes...my...zzzzzz.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNY.

Today is my friend Hannah Snelling's birthday.  We've been friends since 1997...from Spokane, to Austin, to Jersey.  That's a long time. 

After this picture is viewed by Ms. Snelling, I may have to speak of our friendship in the past tense.  The picture is a few years old, but still captures well the veritable good natured humor and mad musical skills of my friend. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNY.

It's like the crew of Extreme Home Makeover did their handiwork here in Princeton, New Jersey!

                      YESTERDAY: 9:30am                                            TODAY: 9:30am

What a difference a day makes.  It has been snowing since yesterday afternoon at 3:00.  These shots are looking down the front steps of my dorm.  The news makes it sound as though we are going to be buried alive, but I don't think that will happen. 

I found out that the church is not like the United States Postal Service.  We know when to say when, and know when to cancel our services.  It is supposed to keep coming.  That's all for now.  If you are on the East Coast, stay warm.  On the West Coast?  Keep getting your tan.

Check Meredith's blog for more adventurous snow pictures.  Check this album of mine for a few more!