Just ambling along

Another late night of internet surfing has led me to a new (to me) artist who I think Kevin Sutton and little Derek would like: Jonatha Brooke. She's a mix of Shaun Colvin and Sara Groves, two of my favs and I'm impressed. Take note: www.jonathabrooke.com

Nothing too new here to report since the last posts. Life here in the south if slow. It's an interesting place to be on this journey. Sometimes you're sprinting, sometimes you're pacing yourself and sometimes you're just ambling along.

One of my friends works out of her home and I heard recently that she dresses up everyday as if she was going to a regular office building. I thought, "Well, that's just silly! What a waste of time and effort! Who cares?!" But, as I sit in a peanut butter smeared t-shirt, I reconsider this. I could use some of her motivation!
Where's the dignity in your life's work if you can't put on some clean pants?

I've caught myself embarrased to tell those I meet that I live with my parents. I don't want to come across as the sterotypical freeloading, unemployed, unshowered slob. My parents really couldn't be more gracious. There's something about coming back home that causes a person to digress from the natural process of maturation. I know that I can't be the easiest person to live with all the time. Sometimes I feel like I am emotionally fifteen years old, only I'm trapped in the body of an older model that's found some bumps and bruises along the way.

By the way, I'm not wearing a peanut butter smeared t-shirt. It's ice cream.

Thirsty for real connection

I just returned yesterday from a wedding in North Carolina. My friends Kevin and Maria (of the HoneyRock clan) married at a beautiful spot in the mountains. It was so nice to be back with some fellow HoneyRockers for a short time, and to be in such a beautiful place was an added comfort.

The inevitable question of "How's it going, living with your parents?" came and I was relieved to find that I hadn't forgotten how to share my thoughts and feelings. (It is going pretty well, by the way. No knock-out scream fests yet...) I was reminded that I am made for connecting with people and when it's not there, I wilt like a bunch of thirsty tulips.

It has been a bit lonely, moving from an intense community of intentional people, to a small family from whom I have been detached for so long. I've been fighting tendencies of extreme laziness and feelings of uselessness due to being unemployed and having too much time on my hands. The things that need to get done just aren't happening.

It's a tricky spot I'm in, but God is much bigger--of this I'm certain.

So, yes Andrea. Blog's just might be for the single and unemployed. But, you'll never know it if you don't read it. ;)

Humble Formalities

The Japanese language is one of humble formalities. I was thinking about this today as I've started an informal online study. When a Japanese person (Nihongin) receives a compliment, she will say "I'm really not as good as you say" or "I have so much to learn." The difference between the Japanese and American manner of speaking was so clear to me today when I watched a daytime talk show host bring attention to a young female pop-star for raising funds for Hurricane Katrina victims. The pop-stars response? "That's not all...I've also helped..." I couldn't believe the audacity of this young woman's cheap plug of self-promotion.

A message of gentleness and humility from a gentle and humble Shepherd may be well received in Japan.

The underside of the loom

So many weeks have passed with too much to unpack (figuratively and physically). My initial eagerness to sort through all of the stuff I've gathered over the last 10 years vanished when I could no longer walk around my room. So, I've put everything away, unsorted. It's got to be dealt with at a later time. A lot like my experience with HoneyRock and the 12-month program... Only I have no choice but to reconcile myself with this process of decompression as I have some final papers to finish up for the program. I can't officially say that I have a masters degree until they're done.

It's a bit overwhelming to look at a March 2006 departure date considering all that needs to be done. Putting away everything unsorted was a necessity for creating some sense of order in the chaos of my mind at the moment.

But, He is an orderly God who sees beyond our frayed edges, isn't He? And for this reason I have much HOPE.