Today was a bit frustrating. I feel like everyone here knows more than me and that none of my thoughts are original. This is a passing feeling, I know, because last week I was telling my Mom how smart I am.
But still.
My questions are old, my translations are wrong, my ideas are uninspired, I can't quote Paul.
Won't somebody please strike up a conversation about Anne of Green Gables, Arthur Miller, Dorothy Heathcote or the progression of Blues Traveler's music since they formed in the late 1980s (in Princeton!)?
Then I will feel intelligent again.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Time
Lately, I've been thinking alot about time, mostly because it seems like I don't have any. Classes at Seminary are getting more demanding, there's tons of reading to do, and I just started working at the Trenton After School Program.
Here's some ways I wish I could save time:
I wish I didn't have to shower, sleep, or eat.
I wish I didn't have to take out my garbage or do my laundry or wash my dishes.
I wish I could read whole books in minutes.
I wish I could have whole conversations with friends and families by just saying a few words.
But what would I do with all my time?
Hmmm....
I would take long naps even when I wasn't tired and lots of bubble baths during which I would eat a 5 course meal.
I would keep my room at a constant state of comfy cleanliness.
I would pore over books, digesting every word.
I would talk on the phone for hours to friends and family about nothing, just to take in their voices.
What would you do with some free time?
Here's some ways I wish I could save time:
I wish I didn't have to shower, sleep, or eat.
I wish I didn't have to take out my garbage or do my laundry or wash my dishes.
I wish I could read whole books in minutes.
I wish I could have whole conversations with friends and families by just saying a few words.
But what would I do with all my time?
Hmmm....
I would take long naps even when I wasn't tired and lots of bubble baths during which I would eat a 5 course meal.
I would keep my room at a constant state of comfy cleanliness.
I would pore over books, digesting every word.
I would talk on the phone for hours to friends and family about nothing, just to take in their voices.
What would you do with some free time?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Everything I really need to know I learned at Seminary Orientation
Some things I've picked up during orientation:
- Be sure to check the source of the item you are plagiarizing because the source may be your professor.
-I should feel lucky, honored, and awe-inspired that this school has just achieved On-line registration. (I know what you're saying, "Um, haven't most schools been doing that for like 10 years?" Yes, but what's important is that we have it now.)
- No means No. Unless you are unable to say No and then it doesn't mean anything. Hmmm...
-In order to appease my indecisiveness, I can be on both the boards of "Seminarians for Life" and "Seminarians for Reproductive Choice". That's not a conflict of interest is it?
-The President ( a chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen (no, like really, he has tea with her on a regular basis)) enjoys jokes about what he may or may not be wearing under his fancy robe.
-Don't pee in a bottle and try to recycle it. (I think this is best left unexplained.)
-Your best friends should be the food service people and the facilities people.
But seriously, I'm realizing:
- I may have more gifts and experiences to offer than I ever realized.
- I deserve, despite initial reservations, to be here as much as anyone else and it's really God's plan.
- A Theatre Education degree may not be as useless as I assumed it would be since every day it's tying into what I'm doing. (Also, PTS trivia, MS.Youth Ministry Goddess herself holds a Theatre Education Degree. If that's not affirmation, I don't know what is.)
- I am truly blessed to be part of a theological community that spans almost 200 years and hopefully will continue for 200 more.
I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed
- Be sure to check the source of the item you are plagiarizing because the source may be your professor.
-I should feel lucky, honored, and awe-inspired that this school has just achieved On-line registration. (I know what you're saying, "Um, haven't most schools been doing that for like 10 years?" Yes, but what's important is that we have it now.)
- No means No. Unless you are unable to say No and then it doesn't mean anything. Hmmm...
-In order to appease my indecisiveness, I can be on both the boards of "Seminarians for Life" and "Seminarians for Reproductive Choice". That's not a conflict of interest is it?
-The President ( a chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen (no, like really, he has tea with her on a regular basis)) enjoys jokes about what he may or may not be wearing under his fancy robe.
-Don't pee in a bottle and try to recycle it. (I think this is best left unexplained.)
-Your best friends should be the food service people and the facilities people.
But seriously, I'm realizing:
- I may have more gifts and experiences to offer than I ever realized.
- I deserve, despite initial reservations, to be here as much as anyone else and it's really God's plan.
- A Theatre Education degree may not be as useless as I assumed it would be since every day it's tying into what I'm doing. (Also, PTS trivia, MS.Youth Ministry Goddess herself holds a Theatre Education Degree. If that's not affirmation, I don't know what is.)
- I am truly blessed to be part of a theological community that spans almost 200 years and hopefully will continue for 200 more.
I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed
Monday, September 10, 2007
My Break
So I have been somewhat MIA the past couple of weeks, mostly because I have been out of my routine. I ended Summer Greek and have barely touched my computer while I've been home, but here's some things I've been up to:
-Catching up with friends, including one in Wisconsin, and a great trip to the city with Lauren which killed four birds with one trip so to say.
-Going to Eau Claire, Wisconsin! This was a fun, very relaxing trip. I feel like airport karma owed me an easy one. My second trip to this wonderful state did not disappoint. I was staying with a very good friend from college, Laura, and we spent tons of time chatting- letting the time get away from us. We are eerily similar in our thoughts about things and both enjoy long, nerdy discussions about education. It was great and I wish we lived closer.
- Home projects. I have stripped the wall paper in my bathroom, cleared out several drawers of clothes, and finally made something out of all my Europe crap (from 2003!), namely, a poster to hang in my room at school. This was a great idea stolen directly from Laura. Thanks, LJ!
- Lots of movies. My favorite "old but new to me"- Philadelphia. I know, terrible that I hadn't seen it yet, but really great acting and such important issues. My favorite "New New" movie- 3:10 to Yuma. Ok, super amazing, flawless in my opinion.
-Lots of reading. I finished White Teeth (I highly recommend this, but give yourself some time, it's not light reading) and started Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, a memoir that deals in part with the issue of homelessness in Boston. It's pretty depressing, but cool because the author worked at Pine Street, a homeless shelter I lived across the street from for a year.
-Good family time. I have proudly introduced Sam to the wonders of Raffi which he asks for by saying some combination of "Aunt Nenna sings", "bathtub" or "Baby Belooooogggoooo" I think he thinks I made Baby Beluga up in the bathtub. Also, I got to see my Aunt and Uncle and cousins at a barbecue yesterday which was really fun.
Tomorrow I have to officially stand before the Presbytery of Newton and officially say what I believe, officially. It's a little stressful because I'm at the end of a very long meeting and I only have 3 minutes to fit in all that I need to say. Then I answer questions. There will be some nail biting on my part but I think I'm starting to get used to all the hoops I need to jump through.
Orientation starts Friday. Classes start next Wednesday. I'm pumped!
-Catching up with friends, including one in Wisconsin, and a great trip to the city with Lauren which killed four birds with one trip so to say.
-Going to Eau Claire, Wisconsin! This was a fun, very relaxing trip. I feel like airport karma owed me an easy one. My second trip to this wonderful state did not disappoint. I was staying with a very good friend from college, Laura, and we spent tons of time chatting- letting the time get away from us. We are eerily similar in our thoughts about things and both enjoy long, nerdy discussions about education. It was great and I wish we lived closer.
- Home projects. I have stripped the wall paper in my bathroom, cleared out several drawers of clothes, and finally made something out of all my Europe crap (from 2003!), namely, a poster to hang in my room at school. This was a great idea stolen directly from Laura. Thanks, LJ!
- Lots of movies. My favorite "old but new to me"- Philadelphia. I know, terrible that I hadn't seen it yet, but really great acting and such important issues. My favorite "New New" movie- 3:10 to Yuma. Ok, super amazing, flawless in my opinion.
-Lots of reading. I finished White Teeth (I highly recommend this, but give yourself some time, it's not light reading) and started Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, a memoir that deals in part with the issue of homelessness in Boston. It's pretty depressing, but cool because the author worked at Pine Street, a homeless shelter I lived across the street from for a year.
-Good family time. I have proudly introduced Sam to the wonders of Raffi which he asks for by saying some combination of "Aunt Nenna sings", "bathtub" or "Baby Belooooogggoooo" I think he thinks I made Baby Beluga up in the bathtub. Also, I got to see my Aunt and Uncle and cousins at a barbecue yesterday which was really fun.
Tomorrow I have to officially stand before the Presbytery of Newton and officially say what I believe, officially. It's a little stressful because I'm at the end of a very long meeting and I only have 3 minutes to fit in all that I need to say. Then I answer questions. There will be some nail biting on my part but I think I'm starting to get used to all the hoops I need to jump through.
Orientation starts Friday. Classes start next Wednesday. I'm pumped!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
http://www.sunherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/130418.html
Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Where mockingbirds used to sing
I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi
Hurrying into Spring
The moonlight on the bayou
A Creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom
And I'm wishin I was there
Please pray for my friends on the Gulf Coast.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Post #6
I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because nothing very new has happened. I have only 7 days of summer Greek left which is exciting and I'm looking forward to my first real semester. I'm feeling a bit more at home here, feeling more comfortable to be myself. In loud and chaotic places, I appreciate the solace of my quiet room.
I've spent a lot of time with my family which feels strangely wonderful. I keep feeling like I need to get all this time with them in before I go away again, and then I realize I'm not going away. It's nice.
On Monday I went to a meeting in the city put together by some Zetas. Zetas, if you don't know, are those belonging to Zeta Phi Eta, my college co-ed fraternity. They are some of the most awesome people I know and I was pumped to see them, and hopefully I'll keep seeing them! You see, we're trying to put together a New York professional chapter of Zeta. Professional chapters are for those who have graduated from college but still want to do Zeta-y things like community service and professional development stuff. I think it's great and will be a good escape from the Seminary bubble when I need it.
Ideally, something exciting will happen to me this week that I can write about.
Blessings!
I've spent a lot of time with my family which feels strangely wonderful. I keep feeling like I need to get all this time with them in before I go away again, and then I realize I'm not going away. It's nice.
On Monday I went to a meeting in the city put together by some Zetas. Zetas, if you don't know, are those belonging to Zeta Phi Eta, my college co-ed fraternity. They are some of the most awesome people I know and I was pumped to see them, and hopefully I'll keep seeing them! You see, we're trying to put together a New York professional chapter of Zeta. Professional chapters are for those who have graduated from college but still want to do Zeta-y things like community service and professional development stuff. I think it's great and will be a good escape from the Seminary bubble when I need it.
Ideally, something exciting will happen to me this week that I can write about.
Blessings!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
In My Mailbox
Today in my little mailbox at school, there were two very exciting letters. The first was from the woman, Elma, I sponsor through http://www.womenforwomen.org. This program matches women who are living in war torn countries with sponsors who pay a small amount each month to help their sisters get vocational training. Elma is 20 from Bosnia. I was excited to see a letter in her own handwriting. I hope that in some small way our relationship helps to close the gap between "first-world" and "third-world" women and that it can be an example of peace.
Secondly, there was a letter from my friend, Aubrey. Aubrey was one of 3 women that became very important to me while I was in Europe for a semester. We have not been as close since then, but there is a bond that remains because of the amazing adventures we had there so I'm always very excited to hear from her (especially in a handwritten letter). Part of Aubrey's letter talked about her upcoming marriage which is so exciting. It served though in part to propel a debate/conversation in my own head about what I'm doing and what I'm doing in my life.
This summer has been sort of hard. Dorm life in a small town is not what I'm used to. After visiting some fabulous friends in Boston this weekend who live independently and roam around that awesome city, I realized my tiny room is going to take some getting used to. This is never what I imagined for myself for this point in my life. I do not regret for a second where I am, but I think I am beginning to understand the full weight of what I'm being called to and being called to give up. I am depending in a lot of ways on the charity and grace of others, trusting that God will provide what I need but probably not a ton of luxuries. This is alternatively frustrating, humbling and comforting.
I am also struggling with the fact that while moving so much has given me so many friends and experiences, it has not allowed me to grow roots, or perhaps rather to grow too many. For the first time last week I was really homesick for Mississippi. I cried on the way home from Starbucks where I was studying. Then I cried leaving Boston because I'm homesick for there too. I was looking at churches to intern in in Europe because I feel connected there.
I feel at home everywhere and no where all at once.
I realize that this is in many ways a wonderful problem to have, but it can still be hard.
I'll keep working on it.
Secondly, there was a letter from my friend, Aubrey. Aubrey was one of 3 women that became very important to me while I was in Europe for a semester. We have not been as close since then, but there is a bond that remains because of the amazing adventures we had there so I'm always very excited to hear from her (especially in a handwritten letter). Part of Aubrey's letter talked about her upcoming marriage which is so exciting. It served though in part to propel a debate/conversation in my own head about what I'm doing and what I'm doing in my life.
This summer has been sort of hard. Dorm life in a small town is not what I'm used to. After visiting some fabulous friends in Boston this weekend who live independently and roam around that awesome city, I realized my tiny room is going to take some getting used to. This is never what I imagined for myself for this point in my life. I do not regret for a second where I am, but I think I am beginning to understand the full weight of what I'm being called to and being called to give up. I am depending in a lot of ways on the charity and grace of others, trusting that God will provide what I need but probably not a ton of luxuries. This is alternatively frustrating, humbling and comforting.
I am also struggling with the fact that while moving so much has given me so many friends and experiences, it has not allowed me to grow roots, or perhaps rather to grow too many. For the first time last week I was really homesick for Mississippi. I cried on the way home from Starbucks where I was studying. Then I cried leaving Boston because I'm homesick for there too. I was looking at churches to intern in in Europe because I feel connected there.
I feel at home everywhere and no where all at once.
I realize that this is in many ways a wonderful problem to have, but it can still be hard.
I'll keep working on it.
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