christmas in a cup

I have a confession.

I may be addicted to tea.

The first step is admitting you have a problem, right? Or is it simply good preparation for England (assuming that everyone there does drink tea, the archetypal Brit)?

Also, for your amusement, Victor Borge and Dean Martin: (although my family and I have differing opinions on the funniest clips)

who are you and what have you done with [name]?

A crazy week has drawn to a close. It began with the completion of an essay, the frantic rewriting of that same essay within two hours to make the midnight deadline, a power outage at school, a rescheduled midterm, and a movie review.

Welcome to November, folks.

It's hard to believe that this semester is more than half over. I realize I mentioned in my previous 'post' (apparently two sentences don't constitute as a proper post) that only a couple months remain until the holidays. My brother clearly announced this afternoon that there are only seven weeks left until Christmas (inevitably followed by his ever-growing list ;) ) which means that in ten weeks I will be distanced from home and loved ones by an ocean. It still seems all a little unreal.

But that's the future.

For now, I'm waiting to put the icing on the cake.

Also, I have been struggling with "Thy Will Be Done" so I would like to share this link. It is from the soundtrack of "Joseph King of Dreams" which speaks of letting go of our own dreams when doors appear to be closing and following the path He has set out for us.

to/two/too

In two months and a few days, the first semester will be over and we'll be into the holidays again.

In two months and a few weeks, I'll be in England for a few months.

thanksgiving

this too shall pass

We have wandered far from God; and if we wish to return to our Father's home, this world must be used, not enjoyed, that so the invisible things of God may be clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, -- that is, that by the means of what is material and temporary we may lay hold upon that which is spiritual and eternal.

Augustine, On Christian Doctrine

take it as you will

Quote of the day:

If you have Jesus in your heart ... someone should tell your face.

Compliments of Dr. Loney.

at the end of the day

"Some texts are born literary, some achieve literariness, and some have literariness thrust upon them." [Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction]

School, in all its various forms, has begun once again. These lofty ideas of criticism, ambiguous statements, the idea that each reading is a rewriting ... my favourite quote of today's reading is from Paul Ricouer as he is discussing the relationship between story and life: "We learn to become the narrator of our own story without completely becoming the author of our life."

How true is this?

I can learn, acquire knowledge and insight, but at the close, I am just myself. Me, as I am. And it is the simple things which matter most.

keeping up with the joneses

Blogs are allegedly the safe and the way to announce new relationships. Here, the news slowly circulates as people stumble across your blog rather than having the news plastered on the front page news.

As many of you have probably heard by now and for those who have not, I am dating a wonderful boy named Joel. [Insert pretend gasps of shock - we haven't heard that yet.] He's a special person.

life in the peripheries

We paused a moment or two to chat with the customers. So often we don't know what is going on in the lives of others, the issues they are dealing with or the joys that they would like to share. As I work, I remain wrapped up in my own small sphere of thought, only emerging from the bubble when conversation has been struck up.

Sometimes, I share my own joys and excitement about either upcoming or past events but rarely do we discuss fears or the serious issues surrounding each life. If we cannot build a relationship with those with whom we work every day, how much more difficult is it to relate with those who we rarely talk to?

I'm not trying to say we need to spend all our time and energy on getting to know people. It's the foundation that really counts - built at the foot of the cross. Recently, I spent a week at Campfire! where I met so many people who I had never spoken to before. Yet there, background, personal history is not important - you are there for the sole purpose of praising the Lord. It is this infectious joy which is carried from that place, something that we should seek to share with others.

God works in so many incredible ways. I walked [well, drove] away from Campfire! with the renewed conviction that, even though we are sometimes crumpled, torn, ground into the dirt, God still sees the worth underneath the layers of dirt and grime. Most amazing are the times when He grants you so much, especially when you least expect it.

LOVE (III)
by George Herbert

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.