The Village
I just saw one really fantastically twisted movie. I figured it out right away however the story was so familiar and so grand that I enjoyed the entire thing...I would even watch it again. Who knew that a color could be so frightening! (I wonder if my color blind friends would appreciate such a movie) It's well worth seeing...Think about it.
A Worthy Opponent
*Trumpets Call*
[Shouting]Hail High King and Queen of this fair land, Lords and Ladies, nobleman, countryman, all within the grasp of this summit:
Lend me thine ears. I should like to welcome a worthy opponent into this coliseum of great heroes. This arena where countless thousands have lived to die before lesser audiences than these. This sanctuary for no man. Where respite is not to be found. Where battles are fought-not for the winning-but for the crowd. Where death is the only retirement. Where honor is earned in audience approval. Where glory is awarded to the last man standing.
To those who come here today with a temporal fire that will be extinguished by nightfall I offer to you this:
This is your greatest day, for today you live, today you fight, today you are in the minds of this deep gathering. Fight well, make each blow count, for it may be all that is left to remember you by. Show no fear: cowards are fed to the lions and men lust for their deaths. Shred your arrogance for from this day on you have no identity other than the blood that stains your flesh.
May your life blood that is spilt here today live on in immortality throughout the ages-in this text that is our only breath.
*pause*
May the battles be long.
*applause*
May the courageous die with honor.
*cheering*
May your words be remembered... For today you die.
*uproarious shouting*
[Aside:]Let the games begin, indeed.
On Making Marriage a Priority
Let me first explain that I know now as I sit down to write this that I don't have the time to give this subject adequate words to couple with the thoughts that are running though my head like a ticker-tape-parade. Therefore, there is more to come.
These are the truths that I am going to connect.
Being satisfied doesn't mean that you never feel lonely.
God provides. Before we even anticipate our need, God has already provided.
I am willing to learn.
I am not sure about calling it a priority...but I do know what it means. It means recognizing my need and seeking God for direction (in so many things).
There are more but I need sleep.
Traveling Buddy
I was having a conversation with my mother on the phone. I was telling her about all of the great things that I would love to go off and do. Join the Peace Corps. Travel in Central America. Work missions projects in East Asia. Study Abroad. I would go in a heartbeat if I could only have a buddy. You know, a traveling buddy...like in the Veggie Tales production of Jonah. Someone to travel with, explore with, share with, compare notes with, study with, learn with. Someone to understand and experience the *life* of it all with. Someone to re-live it all with. Someone to build and share memories with.
I pause for a breathe.
"Mom?"
"I am still here dear."
"You were awfully quiet"
"Trisha, there is a very
real thing that you are looking for."
"There is? A traveling buddy?"
"Yes, but most people call them a spouse."
"yeah, I guess they do. Well, I don't need one of those. I'll go by myself and send you postcards."
*sigh* "Am I never going to have grandchildren?"
"Goodbye, Mom."
"Goodbye, Miss Independent."
*click*
if only
if only i spent as much time praying as i did talking it over with jordan
if only i spent as much time seeking out God as i did thinking about God
if only i spent as much time on my face before God as i do questioning him
if only i had the faith to hear, perhaps i would have the courage to go, the strength to do, the ability to be, and the wisdom to obey
if only
if only i could live without regret
if only i could start to live
if only i could
if only i could
but i can't
it's not even about me
if only this didn't seem to be such circular thinking
Exhausted
I just spent an exhausting conversation on direction and came to no real conclusions except that what I have is meaningless and I don't know what I need. Let me amend that...maybe I do know what I need, I just don't know how to go about getting it.
I need to reach a point of desperation that is consuming. Like Hannah. That woman was so desperate for a son that she dedicated him to God. She was willing to give away the gift, the blessing that she longed for. A desperation that leads to the honor and glory of God. A desperation that leads to
action.
I need a direction that is clear. Like Ruth. That woman knew what she needed and she clung to it tightly, eagerly refuting her lifestyle, her heritage, her home, her family, all for the sake of following the God of her husband and her mother-in-law even in the face of discouragement. If only I knew what to cling to. Maybe its obvious: cling to God. How?
I need a brokenness that is complete.
I will work on this. Can I work on this? I will work on giving it up. If only I knew how.
Gary, IN
I went to IN tonight....Gary, IN.
Lovely town. It has been a kinda busy day. We had to leave DeKalb by 4 so I
ran out of school. And I just got back. We went to the
Genesis Conference Center to watch the
CBA All Star Game. Well, I went because I am in love with this
man. It was a good game. A great drive. I learned that my friends at the Lightning absolutely
rock at what they do! I can't wait for the
next game! I think he loves me too. Once he looked right at me and nodded. Wow! I think we will name our first daughter "Genesis."
It being a school night, I need to get to bed...5 hours till the alarm rings.
Play the game
Because my friends and I are so amusing we like to go out to celebrate birthdays, but we like to do it up big, so we bring presents, generally cajole the wait staff into background vocals, random trivia answers and photography assistance. On January 13, 2005 we were celebrating the birth of my dear friend Rachel. At this celebration we played a game. A game funny enough to document.
The gist is that everyone writes a question on a slip of paper then folds (not crumples) it up and throws it into the center of the table (or into your raspberry tea if you are Jen Swanson). Then everyone draws a question (not their own) and writes down their answer. However, there is a catch, you don't get to read your answer to the question that you drew. Ohhhh, no! That would be dull. So the first person reads the question on her slip of paper and the second person reads the answer that she wrote to her inquisitive slip. And around we go.
Tonight's players are as follows: Lauren Lee, Rachel Stys, Jen Swanson, Moi, Jen Wegmeyer, and Tina Fisher (love you babe!)
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Lauren reads: Who will you kiss next?
Rachel answers: Kelly Osborne
*mild amusement*
Rachel reads: Whom do you most resemble?
Jen S answers: The man I love
*general gafwawing*
Jen S reads: Who do you say smells the best?
Trae answers: It could be anyone of us, except for me (I know better) and except for Lauren cause she's married.
*laughter that hurts*
Trae reads: Who will be Jordan Gladden's next love interest?
Jen W answers: Arnold Swartzinegger
*uproarious chaos that threatens to have us permanetly banned from Olive Garden*
Jen W reads: Who is the governor of California?
Tina answers: Jesus
*hangover laughter ("isn't 'Jesus' the answer to any question?")*
Tina reads: Who is the love of your life?
Lauren answers: Tom Lee
*unified awwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhh!*
now the real question that I have to leave you with is this...can you guess who the original author of each question was? ... I'll never tell .... :*
Troy
I am a big fan of ancient mythology, I am not quite sure why I love it so much, yet I do. I watched Troy this evening and all in all they did a really great job with it. I loved it. I was afraid that Brad Pitt was going to be the ruination of the film but to my surprise, I didn't hate him, except when I was supposed to. They attempted to do an epic justice, and I admire their efforts. I will watch it again.
grouchy
i am grouchy
i had an icky day
too much noise
too much shushing
too many parents upset about report cards
unavoidable confrontations
out of the blue, as i was grading some papers and doing that small talk thing, she asks me, "do you like teaching?"
everything in me wanted to tell the truth
but i think that i recovered well
is it teaching? or teaching there?
i hate how empty this feels
Earth: Heaven or Hell?
"Earth, I think, will not be found by anyone to be in the end a very distinct place. I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell: and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself." -C.S. Lewis
It is a certain phenomenon that as your eternal destiny is chosen, your current life is infinitely impacted. For once Heaven is chosen: all subsequent steps, all future decisions, are effected by that one choice, even the choices that you see as options are effected. What may have seemed feasible in your earthly cognition is now incomprehensible. And you are not responsible for this change. You begin to see life differently from the
start...not merely in retrospect. Once you have recognized you inability and your desperate need for mercy you begin to see just how capable and merciful God has
always been. Amongst tragedy you see grace. In poverty you see provision. In the weakness you see the strength. And none of it comes from you. You now recognize the Source. You do not understand, for He is beyond comprehension. But in knowing, even in part, the vast God of Creation, in times of trial you know a peace that is unprecedented, that is unbelievable, until it is known firsthand. In this way earth is not a place of torment and of anguish. It is not a purgatory. It is an opportunity to know God, and to be known by God. It is a chance to see God move and to be used. It is the foundation of an eternal relationship.
In contrast, if Heaven is not your destination, if you were to put all of your life into living out your dreams and seeking out happiness, you will find nothing that satisfies. All roads will dead-end in despair. All love will waver. All hope will fail. Life will be utterly meaningless. A chasing of the wind. For there will be no purpose. (Ecclesiastes 1:2-2:26) The only real conclusion is this: "Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the entire duty of man." And for those who do not fulfill this duty, this life is a mere stepping stone to Hell.
Which leads me to the thought of CHOICE. Whose choice is it? Ours or God's? Who chooses between Heaven and Hell? I think I know.
enough to think about
With this post I begin a raving that is potentially infinite
"Good as it ripens becomes continually more different not only from evil but from other good" -C.S. Lewis
I paused my reading for a moment to ponder that thought. I happen to agree with him. Isn't it absolutely perfect that all good is not identical? We need not fear becoming some celestial equivalent to the Olsen twins whom we are told are "not identical" but they're still impossible to tell apart. I love that uniqueness and true individuality therefore come not from doing "your own thing" but from doing "God's thing" for your life. For in following God's plan for your life you journey on toward good. A good that grows into something unlike evil and even unlike other good. Not only does God have a plan for you, but He has a plan that is unique for you. Unique in a
real way not in some "rebellious-teenager" sort of way where in their attempt to be different they turn out looking like carbon copies of their peers. Goodness will set you apart. From everybody.
De Ja Vu
It is snow day number two. I am loving this. I can't tell you how much I enjoy having the day off. I am completely overwhelmed with gratefulness. Never in my life have I so loved snow.
Snow Day
My class was interrupted as the school secretary stepped in and deposited a white sheet on my desk and wordlessly left the room. I was curious. I refocused the discussion of sea annemones as I crossed over to my desk. It took me a moment to locate the paper, as my desk is piled high with papers of all kinds waiting for my attention. I found the newest addition to the chaos and flipped it over quickly skimming the contents. A phone tree. No explanations. Just names and numbers arranged in a flow chart fashion. But it was the clip art at the top that gave it away. **Snowflakes** I held in my hand the chain of command that decided on those ever wished for snow days. I jumped up and down as I giggled and clapped my hands in excitement, on the inside of course, on the outside I tucked that precious phone tree into my grade book where it was sure to journey safely to my sanctuary of "home" thinking to myself, "I may need that soon." After asking around, I had been informed that at 6am the decision would be made and the phone tree activated, I could anticipate a call by 6:05 if there was a snow day to be had. My name is very near the top (because I am so important or because it is arranged alphabetically: take your pick).
***
The roads were icy. Cars were sliding into ditches (or curbs). I set my alarm for 4:45, as usual. The next morning we had school.
***
It began snowing. Conditions were terrible. I set my alarm for 6:00. I was hoping.
***
My alarm sounds. ARGH! "Maybe, they're running late." I hit snooze.
* 9 minutes later *
My alarm sounds. ARGH! "Shoot! I really have to get up and face this day. Pshaw! Well, 9 more minutes wouldn't hurt...might help my outlook a bit." I hit snooze again. I blinked slowly watching the glowing numbers of my alarm fade.
RRRIINNNNNGGGG!
My eyelids fly open. Did I just dream that up?
RRRIINNNNNGGGG!
I threw off my comforters while jumping out of bed. I stumbled over some pillows on my way to the phone.
RRRIINNNNNGGGG!
My socks slid all over the tile floor as I scrambled to reach the handset before the caller was sent to voicemail. Locating the ringing, I hastily punch "Talk" and mumble "Patty?"
"Trisha! Good Morning."
"Is it?"
"It's a snow day!"
"YES! It is indeed a good morning. I'll call Julie...see you tomorrow, I hope!"
"bye"
"bye"
I called Julie, who already knew because she had the radio on. Then I crawled into bed and stayed there till 11. I have since played with my computer, read TIME, completed some grades due next week, and lounged about in my pajamas all day. I love snow days! I did indeed choose the right career. I can't stop smiling...or singing...
Let it snow.
Let it snow.
Let it snow.
Thankful
I am so very thankful for my new computer. I was so immeasurably frustrated by the amount of difficulty that "the evil computer" had inflicted upon my life. I am so amazed at how seemingly simple it was.
I did nothing. Well, I did hit the "F" key and type my name a couple of times...
All of this to say that Jordan is my new best friend.
And, as a side note to Jordan, if you have anything truly wretched, vile, and/or horrifying to tell me about yourself, you may do so now. I will forgive you for anything! ;)
