I know my last post was about avoiding cliches, and a military post on Memorial Day is likely just that, but I would like to share this little story with you. This past Wednesday night, I was at my church's Wednesday night supper before the services that they hold that evening. I found myself serving the drinks. Because of this position, I was able to talk to all the people who came through the line. In my home church there are a handful of people that truly stick out. I will not say they are the older people but that they are the wiser people. :) So one of my particularly wise friends came through the line and I always make a point to speak to him when I see him. Another wise gentleman and I had just finished speaking about his service in the military back during Korea and Vietnam. So I called the man by name "Were you in the military?" Then, something happened that I will not forget for a long time. His eyes glassed over and his face created a strange expression I couldn't attempt to explain. It was almost a smile. He paused obviously to review the onslaught of memories that seemed to be rushing into his head. "Oh yes, Miss Jessica." he smiled and paused again. "I was an Infantryman in the Second World War!" His back stood straighter and it was like he was preparing for a salute. Not as handy with my military knowledge as I ought to be I replied, "So you were in the Army?" "Yes ma'am Miss Jessica," was the happy reply. He went on to tell me that he was one of the distraught young men that were upset that they were too young to "join up" when the war started. He joined as soon as he could which was two years before the war ended. I hated it when the drink line had moved far enough that we could not talk anymore. Having known this man for the past four years that I have lived in Metter, I have overheard many of his accomplishments in life. He is never one to boast but I realized when he reacted so to my question that he had some great adventures in his life. At eighty six years old, he can honestly look back and know that he had lived life to the fullest. Sure there were probably a few things that he regrets, but if I could accomplish some of the adventures that he has in his life, then I know I would have a lifetime of stories to tell my grandchildren. I respect this man a lot because of the maturity and humility that he exhibits so well, but also because he is always in a joyful mood. So many of the wiser people of the world are often known for their slightly negative outlook to the world, but this man despite the hardships that are bound to come within a lifespan of eighty six years he still remains faithful and joyful.
It is a hard choice to pick between little kids and babies and then my wiser friends. I not only love simply acting the fool and entertaining the kids or being all nurturing to the babies but also I love talking to the wise people and listening and learning from their life. But I hope that when I reach the wiser years of my life, that I can have the joy and perspective with life that will cause some young whippersnapper to look up to me and say surely it is because of her relationship with God!
God Bless Our Soldiers and Veterans!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Avoid the Cliche
I am a unique individual. It is not that I go out trying to be different than everyone else. It may be that often I am oblivious to social cues, but it also may be that I really strongly dislike cliches. I don't think the problem with cliches is that they offer poor advice. I think the problem is that they don't hold the emphasis or the power that something a little less used would hold. I know so many times I check out when something "cliche" comes up. I think I already know what they are going to say or mean. I have already heard that. I know that already. Then, my ADHD mind and body begins to wiggle in my seat and I begin to find something "sparkly" to look at. If I am standing I begin to swing my arms around and constantly move so as to change my view. So I always try to avoid cliches and formalized things because I find them boring and redundant.
So, I say all of that to say this. I think that to many people outside the church and non-Christians, those that are a part of the church are cliche, boring and redundant. Another aspect to the meaning of cliche is the superficiality. As Christians we do not need to be superficial. One thing that I love and hate at the same time is the "Hey, how are you?" greeting that is often offered in the South. Many times a response is not even given and if it is, then the answer is "fine." What I love about this is that people will greet nearly everyone that they see with a smile, wave, and a greeting. However, what grates on my nerves is that this phrase is often slurred together with no articulation, emphasis or meaning behind it. The person asking usually doesn't want the actual answer or care to hear the person expound upon the blessings in their life. To me this is being superficial. I think that we should have a deep love and compassion for the other people in the world per our calling to do just that by God.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 TNIV
So I think that if we demonstrated "A Joyful Heart" and a loving spirit, this world could truly be changed.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Into the Wilderness
It is a little more than a week before I leave to go to Houston. While there we will be in the inner city working for the Mission Centers of Houston with a largely Hispanic population with kids day camp, food distribution, clothing distribution and more. I don't exactly know how everything will work out but I am really excited about it.
I think it is rather odd though how I ended up in this position. I think back to the Interview weekend for SendMeNow missions back in early February. All of the collegiate summer missionaries that were a part of SendMeNow, which is a collegiate summer missions program through the Georgia Baptist Convention, went to this camp for the weekend over the woods of Carrolton, Georgia. Then, we had various devotions, discussion groups and interview sessions. Then at the end of the weekend you pick the destinations that you want to serve at. You can order them up to eight. I only chose six because those were the only ones that I was interested in. Then the BCM leaders, camp owners, and missions staff at these places meet and decide where each person should be for the summer. Some trips are short and some are really long.
I still think it strange how I was chosen for Houston. My other five choices included North Carolina mountains, New Mexico Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canon National Park and Alaska wilderness. These are all rather remote places. However, I am placed in Houston. I remember getting the call and being told I was chosen for Houston and I was surprised. I do not know why since it was my third choice but I was nonetheless. I had so much doubt about myself and my abilities. How could I relate to these people? Houston is the fourth largest city in the country! It is only behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
This is where God is so wonderful. I didn't realize it until I sat here this morning in the kitchen at my house that God has been using this semester, ever since I found out in early February, to prepare me for this urban ministry! It dawned on me that this gradual progression of thoughts and feelings were all a result of God working in my life. It is so funny to me because at the beginning of the school year I really couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that there were more people in my dorm than my high school back home. As the year progressed I became more and more comfortable in what was a pretty large step up to live in Athens. Many of you that are from Atlanta or other large cities may think of Athens as a small town but for me it was over ten times larger than my hometown. Then, I began to think about how much I loved to be around people. Why did serving in such an isolated place such as Yellowstone or Alaska make sense when I thrive on being around a lot of people? Now, don't get me wrong there are great times to be by yourself. I love going out into the woods and feeling like great adventuring explorer, but people are where the true value lies!
So, now looking back I am so glad for God and his omniscience. He has everything under control and can make a better plan for me than I could ever make for myself.
Now, I just can't wait to get to Houston!!
I think it is rather odd though how I ended up in this position. I think back to the Interview weekend for SendMeNow missions back in early February. All of the collegiate summer missionaries that were a part of SendMeNow, which is a collegiate summer missions program through the Georgia Baptist Convention, went to this camp for the weekend over the woods of Carrolton, Georgia. Then, we had various devotions, discussion groups and interview sessions. Then at the end of the weekend you pick the destinations that you want to serve at. You can order them up to eight. I only chose six because those were the only ones that I was interested in. Then the BCM leaders, camp owners, and missions staff at these places meet and decide where each person should be for the summer. Some trips are short and some are really long.
I still think it strange how I was chosen for Houston. My other five choices included North Carolina mountains, New Mexico Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canon National Park and Alaska wilderness. These are all rather remote places. However, I am placed in Houston. I remember getting the call and being told I was chosen for Houston and I was surprised. I do not know why since it was my third choice but I was nonetheless. I had so much doubt about myself and my abilities. How could I relate to these people? Houston is the fourth largest city in the country! It is only behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
This is where God is so wonderful. I didn't realize it until I sat here this morning in the kitchen at my house that God has been using this semester, ever since I found out in early February, to prepare me for this urban ministry! It dawned on me that this gradual progression of thoughts and feelings were all a result of God working in my life. It is so funny to me because at the beginning of the school year I really couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that there were more people in my dorm than my high school back home. As the year progressed I became more and more comfortable in what was a pretty large step up to live in Athens. Many of you that are from Atlanta or other large cities may think of Athens as a small town but for me it was over ten times larger than my hometown. Then, I began to think about how much I loved to be around people. Why did serving in such an isolated place such as Yellowstone or Alaska make sense when I thrive on being around a lot of people? Now, don't get me wrong there are great times to be by yourself. I love going out into the woods and feeling like great adventuring explorer, but people are where the true value lies!
So, now looking back I am so glad for God and his omniscience. He has everything under control and can make a better plan for me than I could ever make for myself.
Now, I just can't wait to get to Houston!!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Home is where the heart is...
I have heard so many times the phrase home is where the heart is. I had never really thought too much about it, other than agreeing with the statement. It naturally made sense. However, through some pondering in the relative isolation that is Metter, Georgia. Now, that is not to insult my hometown. It is an easily observable fact that there are not as many entertainment opportunities in Metter as there are in Athens. So, I have a lot of time to think.
So, I just moved home from Athens for the summer. On May 31, I will be leaving to be in Houston for nine weeks, but for the time being I am in Metter. Actually I live about ten miles north of the metropolis of Metter. There are four red lights!
So, I began to think on the topic of home and what it meant to me and what it meant to other people. I know a wide range of people. There are those that go home every weekend and yet at the end of the week are so anxious to do it all over again. I also know some people who will go whole semesters without going home and it doesn't phase them at all.
I do think everyone has a home. It may not be their house, furthermore it may not even be a place at all. It could be a person, people group, situation or action. So with that thought, I began to wonder where my home was truly. I knew several places that it wasn't, but that didn't really help me any. Then, I had what I shall call an epiphany. I realized that if I was looking for my home, then what I was really looking for was my heart. What an epic thing to be searching for! I know some people might say it is in your chest silly, but of course that is not what I am talking about. I want the seat of emotion, soul, and spirit. The source of outpouring of passion and joy.
I love my parents and my family but my house in Metter does not entirely feel like home. I have only lived there since June 2007. When I am there, I feel restless. More so than that, when I was in Elberton, the place we lived before Metter, I felt even more not at home. I cannot even place the reason why to explain why this is. I can remember moments though where I felt more home than others. So, to help with this search for home and heart, I made a list of the things I enjoy. I wouldn't take your time to make you read another one of my lists but I will generalize what I listed into two categories. There were the activities where I was able to take care of things whether it was children, plants, animals, family, or friends. There was also those things that fell under adventure: hiking, camping, trying to speak in Spanish to non-English speakers or some kind of adrenaline rush (for instance: I really want to go skydiving...). It was in those moments that I felt most alive and at home.
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman
Howard Thurman was an African American minister and theologian who rose to great notoriety despite growing up in the segregated South. I think he is absolutely correct in his statement. The world looks to Christians and typically sees people that are bored and boring. The Christian life should not be boring! So, why not examine ourselves and see what makes us come alive. Then we can use that to glorify God!
I think that this place where we are alive is also where we feel at home. After all, home is where the heart is...
So, I just moved home from Athens for the summer. On May 31, I will be leaving to be in Houston for nine weeks, but for the time being I am in Metter. Actually I live about ten miles north of the metropolis of Metter. There are four red lights!
So, I began to think on the topic of home and what it meant to me and what it meant to other people. I know a wide range of people. There are those that go home every weekend and yet at the end of the week are so anxious to do it all over again. I also know some people who will go whole semesters without going home and it doesn't phase them at all.
I do think everyone has a home. It may not be their house, furthermore it may not even be a place at all. It could be a person, people group, situation or action. So with that thought, I began to wonder where my home was truly. I knew several places that it wasn't, but that didn't really help me any. Then, I had what I shall call an epiphany. I realized that if I was looking for my home, then what I was really looking for was my heart. What an epic thing to be searching for! I know some people might say it is in your chest silly, but of course that is not what I am talking about. I want the seat of emotion, soul, and spirit. The source of outpouring of passion and joy.
I love my parents and my family but my house in Metter does not entirely feel like home. I have only lived there since June 2007. When I am there, I feel restless. More so than that, when I was in Elberton, the place we lived before Metter, I felt even more not at home. I cannot even place the reason why to explain why this is. I can remember moments though where I felt more home than others. So, to help with this search for home and heart, I made a list of the things I enjoy. I wouldn't take your time to make you read another one of my lists but I will generalize what I listed into two categories. There were the activities where I was able to take care of things whether it was children, plants, animals, family, or friends. There was also those things that fell under adventure: hiking, camping, trying to speak in Spanish to non-English speakers or some kind of adrenaline rush (for instance: I really want to go skydiving...). It was in those moments that I felt most alive and at home.
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman
Howard Thurman was an African American minister and theologian who rose to great notoriety despite growing up in the segregated South. I think he is absolutely correct in his statement. The world looks to Christians and typically sees people that are bored and boring. The Christian life should not be boring! So, why not examine ourselves and see what makes us come alive. Then we can use that to glorify God!
I think that this place where we are alive is also where we feel at home. After all, home is where the heart is...
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A Romanian Mother's Day
So, this Mother's Day, I had the absolute blessing to join the Jurma family for church and then Sunday dinner. Jane and Duane Jurma and I go to the University of Georgia and we are all three involved with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Several months ago, Jane and I were talking about her church and she had invited me to come sometime. Somehow despite a couple of misunderstandings, it all worked out that I would be coming this Sunday- Mother's Day. Though, I wasn't part of their family, I was welcomed and included.
Most of the day I took the pleasure and joy to sit back and let the beautiful Romanian language flow, swirl, and at times rush past my ears. I did not know any Romanian at the beginning of the day. I still only know Zeu este bine which means God is good. What more do you need? I find this particularly and personally amusing because on my first trip to Peru four years ago, the first phrase I learned was Gloria a Dios which means Glory to God. On a side note, I cannot believe it has been four years ago that I got on a plane for the first time, first time out of the country, without my parents, on a direct flight to Lima to then fly to the Amazon. Goodness my life has changed so much since then!
But back to the present, the message brought by the pastor was so wonderful. I was given an earbud that was connected to a translator in the back so I could understand in English. He spoke about Hannah which seems entirely cliche for Mother's Day but something about it resonated with me. I felt inspired to act on my relationship with my mother after listening. I think that is so important. To listen and do nothing, means nothing.
After church, we went to one of their family member's home where we were to have Mother's Day Sunday Dinner. I had not expected to be a part of this special day and meal but somehow I found myself at the right hand of the family patriarch. My seat was entirely chance but I felt honored to be at the adult table and not with the kids though I am sure that would have been a really fun event as well. You see, I had had a complete discussion of the Disney princesses with a nine year old while we were waiting on the food to finish cooking. :) The food was so good and it kept coming! I checked my watch after about the fifth course of food have been delivered to the table and it had been over two and a half hours!
It felt wonderful to be included in their family on this special day especially when I could not have been with my own. I had marveled to Mrs. Jurma at the size of her family to which she replied "Oh, this is not that many! You should see this house when we are all here!" I could not imagine being from a family that when we gather for Christmas and include my great aunts and uncles down to my third cousins only number twenty one people!
I do not think that this family knows what it meant to me but they most surely reflected Christ in their words and actions. So, I say thank you again. Zeu este bine!
Most of the day I took the pleasure and joy to sit back and let the beautiful Romanian language flow, swirl, and at times rush past my ears. I did not know any Romanian at the beginning of the day. I still only know Zeu este bine which means God is good. What more do you need? I find this particularly and personally amusing because on my first trip to Peru four years ago, the first phrase I learned was Gloria a Dios which means Glory to God. On a side note, I cannot believe it has been four years ago that I got on a plane for the first time, first time out of the country, without my parents, on a direct flight to Lima to then fly to the Amazon. Goodness my life has changed so much since then!
But back to the present, the message brought by the pastor was so wonderful. I was given an earbud that was connected to a translator in the back so I could understand in English. He spoke about Hannah which seems entirely cliche for Mother's Day but something about it resonated with me. I felt inspired to act on my relationship with my mother after listening. I think that is so important. To listen and do nothing, means nothing.
After church, we went to one of their family member's home where we were to have Mother's Day Sunday Dinner. I had not expected to be a part of this special day and meal but somehow I found myself at the right hand of the family patriarch. My seat was entirely chance but I felt honored to be at the adult table and not with the kids though I am sure that would have been a really fun event as well. You see, I had had a complete discussion of the Disney princesses with a nine year old while we were waiting on the food to finish cooking. :) The food was so good and it kept coming! I checked my watch after about the fifth course of food have been delivered to the table and it had been over two and a half hours!
It felt wonderful to be included in their family on this special day especially when I could not have been with my own. I had marveled to Mrs. Jurma at the size of her family to which she replied "Oh, this is not that many! You should see this house when we are all here!" I could not imagine being from a family that when we gather for Christmas and include my great aunts and uncles down to my third cousins only number twenty one people!
I do not think that this family knows what it meant to me but they most surely reflected Christ in their words and actions. So, I say thank you again. Zeu este bine!
Tallulah Trekkings
So, yesterday a couple of friends and I trekked all over Tallulah Gorge. We had an absolute best time and after hiking went to a really fun restaurant/attraction called Goats on the Roof!! All we had was each other and pocket camera.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty...
Road don't reach their full potential until there is a sing along...
One of the best sandwiches I have ever had in my life.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thinking Before You Speak
What a title! If anyone knows me then they would know that I love to talk. I think by talking. However, this often gets me either into really awkward but funny situations or into situations where I offended someone. Usually, if I think something it will come out of my mouth. If I think that I like your shirt, pants, or just that you look pretty or handsome then that thought will almost always be vocalized. It is very fortunate then that I am usually a positive upbeat person. I imagine that I would be quite the hated person if I were to be always pointing out the errors I see which I do slip and do that occasionally. Luckily that's not the norm.
Nonetheless, I have not learned the whole think before you speak concept. However, it is so valuable. I cannot count the times that I have thought of something later that would have been better to say if I hadn't just spouted off something. Furthermore, how many times I wish that I had just said nothing. The thing that I have realized is that usually the more that a person talks the less you listen to them. This happens to me rather often. I will be telling this story that I think is super interesting and then I realize not only are people not listening they are talking to each other! This is slightly offensive, but I think the real problem is me. Was it really something worth telling? I mean if no one listens to a little story that isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things the only thing that it is going to hurt is my pride. So not really a big deal. I think the real problem here is when I do have something important to say for instance something that was revealed to me either through Scripture or quiet time with God, no one is going to listen to that either. Now, that is going to hurt a lot of things. That is a big deal.
For a long time I never understood the concept of quiet time. If you know me and didn't realize it in the previous paragraph, I am not a quiet person. I am actually rather loud. I laugh loudly, talk loudly, and am a terrible whisperer. I always talk using my hands and generally wave my whole arms around when I gesture. Usually, I end up hitting someone or knocking something over. I also can trip over a cordless phone. So you get the picture: Jessica is not a quiet person. So, why in the world being the extreme extrovert that I am want to sit alone and be quiet? That made absolutely no sense to me. Was I supposed to stare at the ceiling or maybe sit in a tree? I had no idea and when I would ask the question to someone, the reply would always be: sit still and think and pray. Huh? Being ADD, that was not something that I wanted to do. When I was a kid my parents made me go to my room and be by myself. I was supposed to be in there not doing anything and when they came and checked on me I couldn't be found reading a book or something like that. This quiet time described always sounded a lot like this isolation punishment. Now, I don't think my parents had the wrong idea in discipline and this wasn't their main method either. I think that they knew something about me that I couldn't stand: being alone with no one to talk to. So often during this time I would tell myself stories out loud. Go ahead, judge me. I talked to myself and had imaginary friends/characters.
So back to the point, I was talking to Jennifer (my small group leader) one day about how when I wrote blogs, I felt like I understood more about what I believed. I could start seeing connections between sermons, things I read, and general conversation. She pointed out to me that when I took the time to write out what I was thinking about especially when I thought about it for several days in advance like I do with my blogs, that I was meditating. This meditation took moments of quiet time. It was like a light bulb went off in my head! Ding, ding, ding! The reason I had never found quiet time appealing was because I was trying to do it just like everyone else or how "normal people" do quiet time. So by writing out what I was thinking it was kind of like talking. I could think through things by getting it out of the swirly vortex of thoughts in my mind.
So, with the thought that not everything I think needs to be published for the whole world to see just like I don't need to say everything that pops into my head, I took up journaling. I have really enjoyed learning how to make my faith into just that: MY faith. It is my life and my faith. I cannot just accept it and do it the same way as everyone else.
So, I am putting this out there. I give you guys the right to hold me accountable and tell me when I am talking too much. It might hurt my feelings a little bit but it will be for the greater good and I will remind myself of this when you tell me. I love you guys and for all my college friends: keep powering through those finals!!
Nonetheless, I have not learned the whole think before you speak concept. However, it is so valuable. I cannot count the times that I have thought of something later that would have been better to say if I hadn't just spouted off something. Furthermore, how many times I wish that I had just said nothing. The thing that I have realized is that usually the more that a person talks the less you listen to them. This happens to me rather often. I will be telling this story that I think is super interesting and then I realize not only are people not listening they are talking to each other! This is slightly offensive, but I think the real problem is me. Was it really something worth telling? I mean if no one listens to a little story that isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things the only thing that it is going to hurt is my pride. So not really a big deal. I think the real problem here is when I do have something important to say for instance something that was revealed to me either through Scripture or quiet time with God, no one is going to listen to that either. Now, that is going to hurt a lot of things. That is a big deal.
For a long time I never understood the concept of quiet time. If you know me and didn't realize it in the previous paragraph, I am not a quiet person. I am actually rather loud. I laugh loudly, talk loudly, and am a terrible whisperer. I always talk using my hands and generally wave my whole arms around when I gesture. Usually, I end up hitting someone or knocking something over. I also can trip over a cordless phone. So you get the picture: Jessica is not a quiet person. So, why in the world being the extreme extrovert that I am want to sit alone and be quiet? That made absolutely no sense to me. Was I supposed to stare at the ceiling or maybe sit in a tree? I had no idea and when I would ask the question to someone, the reply would always be: sit still and think and pray. Huh? Being ADD, that was not something that I wanted to do. When I was a kid my parents made me go to my room and be by myself. I was supposed to be in there not doing anything and when they came and checked on me I couldn't be found reading a book or something like that. This quiet time described always sounded a lot like this isolation punishment. Now, I don't think my parents had the wrong idea in discipline and this wasn't their main method either. I think that they knew something about me that I couldn't stand: being alone with no one to talk to. So often during this time I would tell myself stories out loud. Go ahead, judge me. I talked to myself and had imaginary friends/characters.
So back to the point, I was talking to Jennifer (my small group leader) one day about how when I wrote blogs, I felt like I understood more about what I believed. I could start seeing connections between sermons, things I read, and general conversation. She pointed out to me that when I took the time to write out what I was thinking about especially when I thought about it for several days in advance like I do with my blogs, that I was meditating. This meditation took moments of quiet time. It was like a light bulb went off in my head! Ding, ding, ding! The reason I had never found quiet time appealing was because I was trying to do it just like everyone else or how "normal people" do quiet time. So by writing out what I was thinking it was kind of like talking. I could think through things by getting it out of the swirly vortex of thoughts in my mind.
So, with the thought that not everything I think needs to be published for the whole world to see just like I don't need to say everything that pops into my head, I took up journaling. I have really enjoyed learning how to make my faith into just that: MY faith. It is my life and my faith. I cannot just accept it and do it the same way as everyone else.
So, I am putting this out there. I give you guys the right to hold me accountable and tell me when I am talking too much. It might hurt my feelings a little bit but it will be for the greater good and I will remind myself of this when you tell me. I love you guys and for all my college friends: keep powering through those finals!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)