Ok, so I know this is going to sound kind of strange and nerdy and slightly stalkeresk, but this evening I was googling some of the people who will be my professors at Fuller. And I got really excited again! I am super pumped and just thought I would share that tidbit of info.
In other news, last Wednesday I went to the Smithsonian American History Exam. I hitched a ride on the metro to Smithsonian station (which happened to be open this time...see previous post!) and arrived shortly before the doors opened at 10 am. After a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner during which some elderly men stood and took off their hats, the doors opened and began the journey of learning about American history and trying to remember what I learned in school (its been 5 years since I took an class in American history). I saw the first American flag, Kermit the frog, Dolly Madison's dress, and some boots worn by the first person to hike the entire Appalachian trail. It seems that American History is made up of a lot of random stuff. But, it appears that the American public loves to look at this stuff. There were tons of people gawking and taking pictures (hint: they don't come out very well if you use a flash and are taking a picture of something behind glass!). It made me begin to think about identity and what it means to be American (or anything else for that matter...what does it mean to be Christian or a woman). Perhaps our identity is rapped up with a cassette playing boom box (this made me feel old- a cassette player in a museum!) or a beautiful sparkly dress. But other pieces appeared that perhaps weren't as happy-go-lucky. The lunch counter from a sit-in during the civil rights movement or photos of the Vietnam war....of course, all of these past dark spots have seemingly been triumphed over according to the museum. I am not sure I want to buy into the museum's story about who I am and who we are. Perhaps we live in relation to something bigger than Oscar the Groach or a steam powered locomotive.
And so, I come to the thought that I want to live my life following the calling to live faithfully for God, serving God's people and our purpose in the world. This requires me to realize that although I love Kermit and the rest of the muppets, my life is not bound by the meaning of being American but rather I should find purpose and meaning in my calling to serve and follow Christ. Now, this does not mean that I always succeed at not chasing after the American Dream, but I'm working on it.
Since Wednesday, I have been working lots of hours here at the WP House. This afternoon I took a lovely nap and made brownies. It is only slightly over a month until I move to CA and I am excited about starting seminary (with all those people I googled)!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I don't want to be a princess...I want to be a theologian!
I was reading a theology article tonight online, and I was thinking about how much I want to do that...I want to read, teach, and write theology. Now, I know for many people this sounds insane- who would want to write papers for the rest of his or her life? But, it seems that this is what I like and this is what I am passionate about...for better or worse. Wow, it sounds like I getting hitched to theology!
Currently, a couple of hurtles are between me and the dream! I am accepted and ready to go at Fuller...except that it seems that I still need an apartment (something the Fuller housing office has been little help with so far). It also seems that getting a degree in high finance may be helpful to understand financing and stuff. I also need a job while I am at Fuller...oh and a church and some (preferably awesome) friends and a mentor and someone to make me raw cookie dough when I have a bad day and...you get the picture. Those of you who know me understand that I am a detail person. I want to have all the details figured out. I am (thank you to my socialization as a woman) interested in how the details will be sorted out as well. So, here I am with lots of details and no answers, waiting. Prayers for me and the details I seem to be marrying when I marry theology are appreciated! Bum, bum, bum, buuuum, bum, bum, bum buuuum, buuuum, bum, bum, buuum, bum, bum, buuuum, bum!
Currently, a couple of hurtles are between me and the dream! I am accepted and ready to go at Fuller...except that it seems that I still need an apartment (something the Fuller housing office has been little help with so far). It also seems that getting a degree in high finance may be helpful to understand financing and stuff. I also need a job while I am at Fuller...oh and a church and some (preferably awesome) friends and a mentor and someone to make me raw cookie dough when I have a bad day and...you get the picture. Those of you who know me understand that I am a detail person. I want to have all the details figured out. I am (thank you to my socialization as a woman) interested in how the details will be sorted out as well. So, here I am with lots of details and no answers, waiting. Prayers for me and the details I seem to be marrying when I marry theology are appreciated! Bum, bum, bum, buuuum, bum, bum, bum buuuum, buuuum, bum, bum, buuum, bum, bum, buuuum, bum!
Monday, July 20, 2009
DeVol Ladies in DC
Well, this is my first non-introductory post! As I mentioned before, I am not sure why people think this new chapter in my life is going to be so great (I am not saying it isn't going to be good, but I do think it is going to include a lot of challenges). One of the reasons for my thinking is that I miss my Malone friends like crazy! I wish we could all be back in DeVol Hall living together. For just over 24 hours, I got the great privilege of seeing three of my dear friends: Lindsay, Colleen, and Liz! The braved massively congested traffic to make it into DC to visit!
It was one of the best times I have had since graduation! We ate Indian food at a local restaurant (which was a pretty hilarious experience of Lindsay giving verbal affirmation to the waiter and us catching up). Then we headed on the metro over to our old friend Barrack's house (no dog sightings). We ventured to the National Mall to see the monuments where I gave my famous night tour- there is no need to pay that hefty night tour price when you have me! After having some serious discussion about how much war hurts those who die and those who survive and trying to remember our American history, we ventured to the metro station to head back home. But when at 10:04 we arrived at our station, a sign appeared explaining that it closed at 10pm on the weekends. We decided to walk the other 10 or so blocks back to the house (rather than walk about 5 blocks to the next station and about 6 blocks from the closest station to the house). After a brief trot, we made it to the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol building where we hung upside down on the ledge looking at the rotunda and the night sky. We laughed! It was great! We discussed who the lady on top of the Capitol building was, considering Sacagawea as a possibility! The great irony, we decided, being that America has a long, tumultuous history with American Indians. As well, we decided that she was the ultimate working mom- carrying a baby on her back while leading Lewis and Clark (if we remember our history correctly)! We arrived back at the house after a brief hold up at the Supreme Court to let a crane move some stuff that might have fallen on us if we kept walking (according to the construction guy).
It was a wonderful visit! It made me long to be with my friends from Malone again and reminded me of who they inspired me to be over the years! It seems that we are all struggling to carve out lives after graduation, but for a brief time the four of us laughed and played in our nation's capitol like it was 1995! (I don't really know what that means, but it sounds good!)
It was one of the best times I have had since graduation! We ate Indian food at a local restaurant (which was a pretty hilarious experience of Lindsay giving verbal affirmation to the waiter and us catching up). Then we headed on the metro over to our old friend Barrack's house (no dog sightings). We ventured to the National Mall to see the monuments where I gave my famous night tour- there is no need to pay that hefty night tour price when you have me! After having some serious discussion about how much war hurts those who die and those who survive and trying to remember our American history, we ventured to the metro station to head back home. But when at 10:04 we arrived at our station, a sign appeared explaining that it closed at 10pm on the weekends. We decided to walk the other 10 or so blocks back to the house (rather than walk about 5 blocks to the next station and about 6 blocks from the closest station to the house). After a brief trot, we made it to the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol building where we hung upside down on the ledge looking at the rotunda and the night sky. We laughed! It was great! We discussed who the lady on top of the Capitol building was, considering Sacagawea as a possibility! The great irony, we decided, being that America has a long, tumultuous history with American Indians. As well, we decided that she was the ultimate working mom- carrying a baby on her back while leading Lewis and Clark (if we remember our history correctly)! We arrived back at the house after a brief hold up at the Supreme Court to let a crane move some stuff that might have fallen on us if we kept walking (according to the construction guy).
It was a wonderful visit! It made me long to be with my friends from Malone again and reminded me of who they inspired me to be over the years! It seems that we are all struggling to carve out lives after graduation, but for a brief time the four of us laughed and played in our nation's capitol like it was 1995! (I don't really know what that means, but it sounds good!)
Starting a new chapter...WHAT?
On the recommendation of a friend (hm, hm...Cody), I have decided to start a blog to share my thoughts and life with my friends (who seem to have spread out all over the world). It seems that I am "starting a new chapter in my life"...please imagine me saying this in a deep, important sounding voice. I am not really sure what this means or why everyone thinks it is such a great, exciting thing.
This "new chapter" includes heading to seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. I will be "leaving on a jet plane" (you know you sang that) at the beginning of September to live in an apartment, take classes, and accrue debt....ok, really to get my M.Div. degree. The new reality is both scary and exciting at the same time. I waver between freaking out and thinking I am going to live in the Garden of Eden.
In this seeming in between time, I am living and working in Washington DC at a Quaker hospitality center on Capitol Hill. I am folding laundry, attempting to give people directions around the city, and visiting museums!
So, I am hoping to put life event updates and various ramblings up for you all to read if you so choose! Cody, who recommended a blog, thinks I should blog about what I am thinking about writing my PhD dissertation about...I don't think I will share any such secrets! But I may tell you about some other great adventures....stay tuned, life continues after these messages!
This "new chapter" includes heading to seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. I will be "leaving on a jet plane" (you know you sang that) at the beginning of September to live in an apartment, take classes, and accrue debt....ok, really to get my M.Div. degree. The new reality is both scary and exciting at the same time. I waver between freaking out and thinking I am going to live in the Garden of Eden.
In this seeming in between time, I am living and working in Washington DC at a Quaker hospitality center on Capitol Hill. I am folding laundry, attempting to give people directions around the city, and visiting museums!
So, I am hoping to put life event updates and various ramblings up for you all to read if you so choose! Cody, who recommended a blog, thinks I should blog about what I am thinking about writing my PhD dissertation about...I don't think I will share any such secrets! But I may tell you about some other great adventures....stay tuned, life continues after these messages!
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