red white and blue

 

for the win

mighty mississippi

I just realized that I never wrote anything about the flood that took (still is?) taking place in Mississippi that I finally got to see first hand at the beginning of June. Actually, what really is spurring this post is just wanting to share the pictures with you. It is a very strange thing when the favorite pictures you have taken in quite some time are of a natural disaster that is affecting people you actually know and care about, and in a land that is, quite literally, so near and dear to home. I feel like I'm learning more about photography these days and getting more comfortable with my camera/lens and photoshop (which is maybe the best gift my sister has ever given me). So I really like some of these. The time of day was so pretty. But you could argue that the content is not. Because of that, I see this huge juxtaposition between what is lovely about nature and how untamed (and in this case, harmful) it really is. I think that is fascinating.

And in a way, that poses some sort of problem for me. I don't want to think this kind of thing is beautiful. When I took these, I didn't want to make them look ugly to try to convey more of how tragic this sort of thing really is in our little part of the country. Some of that happened naturally of course. But some of the landscape I saw really was gorgeous. I'm telling you, it's hard to make a delta sunset look like crap. Maybe what's wrong with this event, these landscapes and these pictures isn't enough to cover up with is right.

Just a thought. 

Regardless, everytime I look at these, I hear Lissie singing "Oh Mississippi" in the background. I wish I could make that happen for you, but really all I can do is point you in the right direction.


Oh mighty river, oh Mississippi
oh all of the troubles your banks have seen
please take me with you
far from this land

here we go. again.

This big, white box with its constantly blinking cursor haunts me.

There's just so much I want to tell you....about last year, about my hopes for next year, etc. The school year has come to a close. It's over. And that was the end of the 2nd year of my internship. By God's grace (seriously), I fulfilled my 2 year commitment. And so begins my 3rd year.


This absolutely was not in my plan at the beginning of this gig. I entered being dead-set on physical therapy school and will be leaving (Lord-willing) bound for seminary to get a counseling degree. I entered into an RUF full of strangers, and will be leaving.....well, not yet. And because we're getting another girl intern here (HOO-RAY), I'll get to spend all of my time with the older girls. I'll probably spend a good bit of that time marveling that they are in fact the "older girls" now. I have no concept of what it means to be a parent. None at all.

So you should know that by now that I absolutely love my job. And I'm not using that as a blanket statement so I can now tell you all of the crappy things about it. I mean that, as you see, the trajectory of my life has been altered from its original plan because of it. I love working in ministry, and the places I get to do that, UVA and Charlottesville, are so dear to me. This year has been especially vital in helping me to realize both of these things. It certainly had it's ups and downs. At times it was flying by, and at others it was going painfully slow. Yet through all of the times, Jesus taught me more of one simple truth: I am with you. What a beautiful, loaded statement.

And that's why I want to stay around for another year. Jesus has been kind to let me see some of the work he's doing here and in me. That is motivation enough to keep doing this weird little job.

If you feel so led, I would covet your prayers: for this summer as we lead a Bible study, as I raise support, and as I continue to be in Charlottesville and learn what that really means. I would also love your partnership by supporting me financially. In reality, everything I have is a gift. This is especially true of my job. I couldn't be here without the sweet generosity of friends and family. You can donate at ruf.org.

So, with that said, I will kindly thank you for reading and revisiting this little blog (and life?) of mine, and say cheers! to summer.

still here

If you have talked to me much at all in the last month, you know that there's a lot of thinking going on in this head of mine, about my future, about my current life here in Charlottesville, etc. If you haven't, then there's a chance that's my fault, and I do apologize. And now you know: I'm currently in thinking mode. Which is probably why I've been hesitant to update this little blog of mine about this little life of mine. To make up for it, I even began to wonder if I should start posting recipes (and even pictures of the recipe if I'm feeling pioneer woman-like), as that seems to be the trend. I just can't bring myself to do that. But I promise I still love those of you who do.

Thinking, searching, praying, hoping, waiting.....I've come to learn that these are exhausting. And they have each taken up much of my time. But thankfully not all of it. Jesus has also been kind to grace me with such a thing as 30 rock (from the sun), which allows my roommates and me to daily "liz lemon our cares away." I challenge you to think of something that would be more beneficial to do with our time. Just don't tell me what you come up with.

Then there's been the large part of my life that I would like to call "interning." Actually, I'd probably try to call it something else if I could, because we ALL know by now that I'm not trying to learn how to be a campus minister.  But I'm told that's what I am, so we'll stick with it. And even though I mentioned 30 rock before this, I assure you my job takes much more precedence. Most days.
Moral of the story: I'm still here, and I'm still loving it.
And if you met my first years (or freshmen) girls, you'd know why.

I wish I could give you a pithy something to summarize what you just read, but I do believe I just gave you the abridged, spark-notes version as is. More thoughts to come. Maybe.

I hope your today has been filled with love. Love from Jesus, a friend, a spouse, a parent, a stranger, whathaveyou. Happy valentine's to you.

and.....go

I'm a little amazed at how much my brain has been stretched lately, especially since being back. Not in learning new material, or even really in doing anything new. Just in relating. In keeping up with another thinking, speaking, acting human being. In conversing with another person of a completely different way of processing, way of seeing the world. In listening, then figuring out if/what to speak, then maybe even doing so. Or getting that order completely reversed. In attempting to love them and let them love me. In trying to remember what the heck we last talked about and what I'm forgetting to ask about. In trying to figure out this thing called "life" together.

And in doing that with multiple different persons, be it friends, students, family, housemates, acquaintances, folks near or far, etc.

I really do not mean to portray these things in a negative light.
I do mean to say that my mind is being used and challenged.
I like that.

while mindlessly scrolling around NPR today

I found this article. I had not previously heard of Milton Rogovin, so the news of his death was not heartbreaking to me. His pictures of the "forgotten ones" as he called them, however, struck a deep chord. The article says, "he allowed his subjects to compose themselves as proud people, not as victims, in front of the camera." And you can see it in their eyes. And they are beautiful.

While I have no experience with photographing people whom I don't know, and am not sure if I ever will, I certainly hope to be a noticer also the "forgotten ones."

I would also like to thank my current book, To Kill a Mockingbird, for heightening such emotions. Atticus Finch has won me over, again.

happy mlk day

This is my gift from me to you. It's certainly appropriate for the holiday, but also for cloudy, cold day we are having here in c'ville.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6Q5-Ap3o8

there are a lot of places i like

but I like New Orleans better. - Bob Dylan

The sites, the sounds, the food, the people, the stories, the architecture, the river. I love it. New Orleans has always had a certain mystique, a certain pull on me that has only grown stronger over time. There's something about that place that makes my soul feel a little bit at rest. It's as if the unspoken invitation it offers is to come as you are, and sit down and stay a while. At least, that's how I perceive it. It's a place that knows its flaws and still celebrates. And asks you to join. I can buy into that.

Our group spent the week priming, trimming, caulking, and scraping at what will soon be a artist studio for neighborhood residents. The work was productive and the fellowship was sweet. We got to explore the city, go the a Hornets basketball game, listen to good jazz, watch the U-Singers (from UVA) perform, eat good food, and spend time with a few folks from Redeemer Pres, all of whom were great and gave VERY convincing arguments as to why every single person should move there at their earliest opportunity.

All in all, it was a good trip. Even the 16 hour car ride on Thursday. And that's saying something.

And, it's good to be back

today

I am going here.

 

New Orleans. One of my favorite places. I'll be there with these folks

RUF at UVA. for almost a week. We'll be working (and looking) like this

Here's to long drives, hard work, gas masks, beignets and coffee, the french quarter, redeemer presbyterian, jazz music, and gumbo. See you back in Charlottesville.

gets me every time

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

vacation with pay. Want more

of everything ready-made. Be afraid

to know your neighbors and to die.

And you will have a window in your head.

Not even your future will be a mystery

any more. Your mind will be punched in a card

and shut away in a little drawer.

When they want you to buy something

they will call you. When they want you

to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something

that won't compute. Love the Lord.

Love the world. Work for nothing.

Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace

the flag. Hope to live in that free

republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot

understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.

Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.

Say that your main crop is the forest

that you did not plant,

that you will not live to harvest.

Say that the leaves are harvested

when they have rotted into the mold.

Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years.

Listen to carrion - put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.

Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

though you have considered all the facts.

So long as women do not go cheap

for power, please women more than men.

Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

a woman satisfied to bear a child?

Will this disturb the sleep

of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.

Lie down in the shade. Rest your head

in her lap. Swear allegiance

to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos

can predict the motions of your mind,

lose it. Leave it as a sign

to mark the false trail, the way

you didn't go. Be like the fox

who makes more tracks than necessary,

some in the wrong direction.

Practice resurrection.

Wendell Berry - Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

I think this might be my new year's resolution.

happy 2011

Hello dear friends, and welcome to this new blog of mine. I honestly don't know what it says about me that I have to up and move to a new site in order to want to write anything. Actually, there were a few reasons for the change, but I will bore you with none of these. Moral of the story: here I am, and here I (hopefully) will stay. Feel free to adjust you google readers accordingly, or not at all.

To sum up my break, I'll say that Mississippi has treated me well. I was and continue to be completely flabbergasted that Christmas (and my birthday, and new years, etc.) have already come and gone. that. was. fast. But it was good. I spent the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida....a place I barely knew of and certainly didn't really care about until a week ago. Now, it will forever hold a special place in this little heart of mine. Due to some incredibly generous folks, Amy and I got to go the the gator bowl (go dawgs) for free. What's even better is that we got to spare the entire trip with the Gulletts....one of my most favorite couples. Together, the 3 of them made fantastic travel buddies. The more time that has past, the more fondly I look back on our adventure.

What's even better is the fact that we got to visit 2 BEACHES. Did I mention how much I loved traveling with these 3? The first was to the gulf coast on new year's eve. Cold, but beautiful.

 

 

The second was to the atlantic on new year's day. We made the short drive after a very sweet mississippi state gator bowl victory. Oh how fun it was.

Finally, we got to ring in the new year with some good, good friends and lots of other semi-crazy alumni. 

It was a happy start to 2011, indeed.