the people with a story...

are definitely my favorite. Some people are storytellers, and gosh darn, I enjoy it. My roommate is one of those people, and she can turn any story into a comical saga. Beyond storytelling itself, I enjoy people who have life experiences that dramatically impact who they are today. Frequently I find that the more complicated the story, the more I like the person. There is something intriguing to me about pushing beyond quotidian appearances and hearing someone's heart, experiences, and perceptions.

Maggie told me about The Story of Us in high school, and I think that was the first film that piqued my interest in messy stories. The couple, Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis, are struggling to keep their marriage and family together. They share memories, seemingly insignificant, that comprise the core of their marriage. There are other films that capture the little, essential details that make a good story; The Family Stone and A River Runs Through It come to mind.

I've realized that not everyone shares my affinity for messy stories. Some individuals are gifted with a lightness in living that seems to soar and lift other people's spirits. Others are consumed by the pieces that don't fit, finding in them darkness rather than hope. But for me, these tiny details of failure, altered plans, glimmers of hope, and turning points, all draw me closer to the storyteller. I believe messy stories make others seem more approachable. "Oh yeah, she's a basket-case, just like me."

Perhaps that makes me cynical, finding hope in the fact that other people screw up too. But honestly, perfectionism is impossible...nobody buys it. I don't buy it. When I try to keep everything in perfect order, I know it's impossible. I know that behind my work and play, I am simply human, trying to make things work and continually wondering if I'm doing things right.

So the next time you're tempted to put on a front and act like everything is a-o-k, remember that your honesty may be more endearing than your perfections.

and then God said...

"Stop worrying."

As some of you may know, I am in the home stretch of my time in North Carolina. This fall I will be taking my last 9 hours of coursework at the seminary (hallelujah!). And after thaaaat, who knows? Every time I try to devise some sort of plan, I literally can't nail anything down. So I'm going to need to re-learn what it means to trust God. It just so happens that this time I'm trusting him with ev-er-y-thing: location, insurance, apartment, job, schooling, church, friends, finances, etc. That's right, it's all going to change.