given the amount of time i spend on the cell phone this makes me very nervous.

busy week

This has been a busy week. (Hence, the lack of posting.) Exactly 8 days ago I decided to go to Colombia. Tomorrow. There was a lot to get in order as far as the visa and my job, and I'm not entirely confident I got it all done. Still, it is an important trip. I was starting to melt and wilt, and I need to see my fiance. I still need to pack and do some laundry and get some t-shirts for R and A, but it will have to wait. The great irony is that my sermon this week is about "being still." Haha. There was an unexpected surprise this week, and that was the evening I spent reconnecting with a seminary colleague of mine and getting to know his spouse. We were both at the same wedding, and we had a great time talking and laughing.

"Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be comparable to him."

Miss Always Invisible...

I found Marie Digby via You Tube awhile ago when I was looking for acoustic versions of familiar songs. She now has a record deal and she's not quite "unknown," but she's not a household name (yet.) There are two things that are striking about her in her youtube videos 1. She has an amazing, angelic voice. 2. She is very beautiful. I was surprised, then, to learn that this song "Miss Invisible" was autobiographical... it's about an awkward kid who doesn't fit in, who's hiding behind the bleachers and wanting someone to befriend her. It's a reminder to me to continue to be a person who looks to befriend those on the outskirts. They are in every "group," churches, schools, seminaries (yes, seminaries too. That's a post for another day...) Who are the invisible people in your world and community? How can you reach out to them?

the exercise i posted about a couple of days ago

i posted a couple of days ago about the exercise i read from ys marko's blog... i did it this morning. here's how it went:

1. Write down the names of 5-10 people you love.
i had nine... E, six family members, and 2 friends.

2. Write a word or phrase about each person writing what it is you love about them.
that they listen to me was a common theme, also that they are kind and good listeners. a couple of surprising things came up here, too.

3. Write down the names of 5-10 people who love you...
i had 7... 4 family members, 2 friends and E.

4. Next to each name, write what it is that this person loves about you...
this is harder than you would think, but i came up with some stuff...

5. Finally, write down a list of things that God loves about you.
this was easier than i thought it would be... came up with lots of reasons...

the final part of the exercise was to pick something that surprised you about what God loves about you... i picked "because God is delighted by me." delighted? i delight God? i was surprised that came to mind, but i believe it's true.

i encourage you to try this exercise. it's a pretty private one, which is why my answers aren't really descriptive or clear. it's a good thing to try out sometime!

Prayers for someone I don't know (except through his music)

I was planning to write a post about the American Idol finale when I heard about the death of Stephen Curtis Chapman's 5 year-old daughter. Steven Curtis Chapman is a prolific songwriter, and an exceptional human being. I have listened to his music since junior high school. My favorite song of his is called "Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds," and it is a song about adversity. You can listen to it here. It's heartbreaking in the context of this death. I can not imagine the pain that comes from losing a child. My candle this evening is lit for the Chapman family.

YS Marko told about an exercise he did at his church. I am going to do it this weekend, and report back. If you feel so led, you should try. Sounds like a valuable exercise.

What you need:

Some time
A quiet space
A flat stone and sharpie (or piece of paper, cardboard, whatever.)
A pen and paper

Got the stuff? You're ready...
1. Write down the names of 5-10 people you love.
2. Write a word or phrase about each person writing what it is you love about them.
3. Write down the names of 5-10 people who love you
4. Next to each name, write what it is that this person loves about you
5. Finally, write down a list of things that God loves about you.

Done?

The stone and sharpie is to write down the most surprising thing that God loves about you, to keep as a reminder. Cool, eh? I'll let you know on Monday (or Tuesday) how it goes.

thanks, julie.

my friend julie just posted about a commercial that has been bothering me as well. thought i'd get on board and post about it too. maybe if enough bloggers get on board electrolux (and at least kelly ripa) will contemplate the absurtidy of their message.

the commercial is this one:



i'm sure i don't need to spell out the problems with this commercial, but i will anyway, because, ahem, it's good to get stuff off one's chest. while i wasn't around in the 1950s, i hear there were some pretty cool things going on. soda fountains, poodle skirts, etc. i also hear that women were expected to be perfect in every way. they were expected to entertain, take care of the kids (and the dog) and do it all while looking fabulous and feminine. hard to do. then women started to work outside the home. good for us! we have skills outside the home too! but somehow, it seems, that this working outside the home thing has become something that we are to do in addition to taking care of the kids and the dog, maintaining a beautiful home and being a size negative zero with perfect hair and makeup. kelly ripa: you are a fun, talented woman. your husband is a hottie. you are a multi-millionaire. we get it: you are superwoman. however, let us not forget that you have a nanny, a housekeeper, a hair and makeup stylist, a driver, a publicist, and probably someone who picks up your starbucks for you. listen up ladies: wanna stay home and be a mama? good for you! wanna work outside the home? you go girl! wanna do both? i admire you tremendously, but don't think you can do them both perfectly a la this ridiculous commercial. ain't gonna happen.

p.s. make sure to read julie's blog. it's better than this one.