So, it's been a week since my last post, but I've been particularly busy with school as well as having some massive computer problems when trying to connect to our campus network. It's not been fun. However, I cannot solely blame my inactivity on dorm life. In reality, while I have been swamped with work and homework, I have often found time to do other things, like play Chinese Checkers with one of my friends on the other side of campus, and watch Disney movies, and attend a kick-ass concert by a group called "Barrage." They are pretty freakin' sweet, go look them up on YouTube.
But anyway, I have various other reasons for being absent, such as yesterday no longer being an anniversary for my (recent) ex and me. Apart from the emotional trauma of him having a girlfriend and not telling me, and then not telling me who, which I have decided to give up on ever finding out, life has consisted of being antisocial and minor problems with a few friends here on campus, all of which have been solved or overlooked by grace (on the part of either party).
Enough of being vague though. Truth be told, the reason I can now get around to a new post is because I am quite lonely and most everyone has left campus for the weekend. Several of my good friends, including the only other regular attender of Transy Nightly Prayer. The solution to all this though, I know, is learning to rely on God for my companionship. Even though it's hard, I feel like this is something that I am being forced to learn the hard way. And if God is going to go through so much trouble to isolate me, this must be an important lesson.
And when you think about it, it really is an important thing. People will always eventually fail us, therefore, if our reliance is solely on God, who will never let us down, no one can steal our Joy.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Nightly Prayer
So, last year a senior started this nightly prayer group. A few people, about 5 or 6, would get together every night at midnight to pray for a while. It was an amazing ministry when it started because it just continued to skyrocket. True, we never had more than like 10 people in a night, but that was okay because those people that came grew visibly closer to God.
And then this year started. Granted, the beginning to the school year is always harsh on students, but it seems like this one has been particularly draining. A total of four people have made it to nightly prayer, which is bouncing back and forth between midnight and 11pm. Only two of us have been making it consistently. The good news is that God said "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I will be among them." So, even though this year has been off to a rocky start, we know that God still hears us and still listens, and will grow this ministry when the time is right.
And then this year started. Granted, the beginning to the school year is always harsh on students, but it seems like this one has been particularly draining. A total of four people have made it to nightly prayer, which is bouncing back and forth between midnight and 11pm. Only two of us have been making it consistently. The good news is that God said "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I will be among them." So, even though this year has been off to a rocky start, we know that God still hears us and still listens, and will grow this ministry when the time is right.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Lasagna and Company
I moved back onto campus yesterday evening. Last night, I experienced my first home-made smoothie and my first spice cake. The bad news was that I also got next to no sleep because of this obnoxiously bright light just outside the window just next to my bed. Sunlight from the very window also woke me up this morning at about 8:00am. Not fun, but I digress.
My fellow housemates had decided a while back that we were going to be making lasagna and cheesy/garlic bread tonight for dinner for the house and some friends. It was the first time any of us had made lasagna or cheese bread and while we did have a recipe, the plan included some "winging it." Two of my housemates began preparation of the vegetarian lasagna at 5pm, while I laid down to take an hour nap because I had not gotten enough sleep the night prior, because of that stupid field light. Anyway, 3 minutes before my alarm was set to go off, there a loud rapping, rap-rap-rapping, on the front door, which happens to be just outside my room, where I was finally asleep. Startled, I jumped out of my bed and ran to the door, not even bothering to put on my glasses on the way.
Turns out that a former house resident was stopping by to check out the rooms and visit two of the girls that moved in that morning. Needless to say, I was quite irritated because I was finally asleep, but we move on with life. Since God had said that it was not my day to sleep, I decided too pitch in with the cooking effort. All went amazingly well, even with it taking like an hour to cook the noodles, and one of the girls brought home a cheesecake for dessert as well. It was amazing!
Anyway, point of the story, there was like a ton of people in the house, and at first I was very annoyed by this because I'm not used to it. I lived a very solitary summer. As the night wore on though, I got more comfortable with it; it helped that everyone seemed to be genuinely having fun. I honestly can't wait for the rest of the people to arrive on campus tomorrow.
I think this is really going to be a good year. I foresee some rough spots, but I believe that God will give us the grace to smooth everything over.
My fellow housemates had decided a while back that we were going to be making lasagna and cheesy/garlic bread tonight for dinner for the house and some friends. It was the first time any of us had made lasagna or cheese bread and while we did have a recipe, the plan included some "winging it." Two of my housemates began preparation of the vegetarian lasagna at 5pm, while I laid down to take an hour nap because I had not gotten enough sleep the night prior, because of that stupid field light. Anyway, 3 minutes before my alarm was set to go off, there a loud rapping, rap-rap-rapping, on the front door, which happens to be just outside my room, where I was finally asleep. Startled, I jumped out of my bed and ran to the door, not even bothering to put on my glasses on the way.
Turns out that a former house resident was stopping by to check out the rooms and visit two of the girls that moved in that morning. Needless to say, I was quite irritated because I was finally asleep, but we move on with life. Since God had said that it was not my day to sleep, I decided too pitch in with the cooking effort. All went amazingly well, even with it taking like an hour to cook the noodles, and one of the girls brought home a cheesecake for dessert as well. It was amazing!
Anyway, point of the story, there was like a ton of people in the house, and at first I was very annoyed by this because I'm not used to it. I lived a very solitary summer. As the night wore on though, I got more comfortable with it; it helped that everyone seemed to be genuinely having fun. I honestly can't wait for the rest of the people to arrive on campus tomorrow.
I think this is really going to be a good year. I foresee some rough spots, but I believe that God will give us the grace to smooth everything over.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Packing
A book with dog-eared pages,
an old story only half written,
a set of maroon sheets,
All set together tightly in one suitcase.
Packing time is something I always look forward to, yet dread at the same time. It forces you to sit down and determine what is really important in life, and how long you can live without life's little luxuries. Sitting on the floor of my room, a pondered what I needed versus what I merely wanted. "Let's see: Sheets, Towels, shampoo and conditioner; I've got all that. Notebooks, binders, extra paper, sticky-notes. Yep."
A childhood toy,
a comfort item,
something to remind me of you,
Something to remind me of myself.
"What else do I need?" I looked over my bookshelf, my nightstand, my bed. I saw things that I knew I would pack, just not yet. There were too many things I still needed access to before leaving." My alarm clock, my pillows, my stuffed fox (that, yes, I still sleep with every night). I couldn't pack those things up yet. Perhaps I would have the nerve to put those away tomorrow, or the next day.
A box within a box,
holding memories and dreams,
locked away
too tightly to leave behind.
Was I really going to need that book, or that picture? Really? I could live without them, if I didn't have room in my other suitcase. Resigning, I decided that I would only take them if I had room left over. Time to consider clothes, but half my wardrobe needed to be washed before it could be packed. I would just have to wait on that too. I really just wanted to get this whole thing over with. "Would it be too odd to go ahead and put that one box in my trunk, even though I won't leave for a few more days?"
A vase, small but elegant,
the last thing, can't forget,
The now empty vessel,
to hold all the pieces
of my once broken heart.
"I'll pack this tomorrow," I said passing judgment on a small locked box that held so much. An ocarina, the gift from my great-grandmother. A picture of me on the basketball team in the third grade. Two of my baby teeth. A picture from my first year in marching band. A ring, a gift from two friends, from so long ago. The piece of music the band played at my graduation. A small collection of Canadian coins. And two knives, one fairly new, the other being quite old.
Perhaps the rest of the packing can wait. . .
an old story only half written,
a set of maroon sheets,
All set together tightly in one suitcase.
Packing time is something I always look forward to, yet dread at the same time. It forces you to sit down and determine what is really important in life, and how long you can live without life's little luxuries. Sitting on the floor of my room, a pondered what I needed versus what I merely wanted. "Let's see: Sheets, Towels, shampoo and conditioner; I've got all that. Notebooks, binders, extra paper, sticky-notes. Yep."
A childhood toy,
a comfort item,
something to remind me of you,
Something to remind me of myself.
"What else do I need?" I looked over my bookshelf, my nightstand, my bed. I saw things that I knew I would pack, just not yet. There were too many things I still needed access to before leaving." My alarm clock, my pillows, my stuffed fox (that, yes, I still sleep with every night). I couldn't pack those things up yet. Perhaps I would have the nerve to put those away tomorrow, or the next day.
A box within a box,
holding memories and dreams,
locked away
too tightly to leave behind.
Was I really going to need that book, or that picture? Really? I could live without them, if I didn't have room in my other suitcase. Resigning, I decided that I would only take them if I had room left over. Time to consider clothes, but half my wardrobe needed to be washed before it could be packed. I would just have to wait on that too. I really just wanted to get this whole thing over with. "Would it be too odd to go ahead and put that one box in my trunk, even though I won't leave for a few more days?"
A vase, small but elegant,
the last thing, can't forget,
The now empty vessel,
to hold all the pieces
of my once broken heart.
"I'll pack this tomorrow," I said passing judgment on a small locked box that held so much. An ocarina, the gift from my great-grandmother. A picture of me on the basketball team in the third grade. Two of my baby teeth. A picture from my first year in marching band. A ring, a gift from two friends, from so long ago. The piece of music the band played at my graduation. A small collection of Canadian coins. And two knives, one fairly new, the other being quite old.
Perhaps the rest of the packing can wait. . .
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