tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77633009179466991502024-03-06T02:32:16.379+00:00things of the sea(from shore)cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-15370311519803565072013-02-20T02:42:00.001+00:002013-02-20T02:42:27.352+00:00on job-seeking...part 2Some of you may be asking, "Why is Caroline writing a post on such a banal subject?" Answer: this topic has come up frequently in my community of friends over the last year. If you have not experienced job loss or the inability to find full-time work, please understand what a blessing that is! I am certain that job-seeking is a very refining process and can be used for God's purposes in our lives. But, we can be honest about the difficulties and discouragements along the way.<br />
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To give you an idea of just how commonplace this issue is, I'll give you a glimpse of my everyday life. I currently work a part-time job at a grocery store. Most of my co-workers on the front end are high school and college students, with the exception of four older women who have full-time positions. Full-time positions are a novelty in blue-collar society, especially following recent healthcare stipulations. So if you are needing full-time work, positions are harder to come by these days. Some of the women I work with are single moms, working part-time at multiple jobs in order to be able to afford their needs.<br />
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Take my small group as an example. Within our group, one father was a highly-paid financial planner. He and his wife and three children re-located to Raleigh, just about the time the economic downturn took root here. Because he was the newest employee in his position, he lost his job. It took months to find work, which required him to go on unemployment benefits. Even then, he had to learn generosity with his minimal earnings, tithing especially when it hurt. They lost everything. Now that he has found an entry level position again, he continues his search to find employment which can provide for his unexpectedly growing family.<br />
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I could tell you the stories of many others, in similar situations, grasping for opportunities to provide for their families. In your everyday life, I would encourage you to look for opportunities to care for people who are in financially difficult situations. Galatians 6:10 exhorts believers to show goodness to others when opportunities arise, "especially toward those who are of the household of faith." Christians, I believe that we may have more economic difficulties to come, and caring for believers is one way we can put God's love and provision on display for others.<br />
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Let me share with you my story. I began looking for full-time positions in October. I knew I would be graduating from Southeastern in December and needed full-time employment in order to pay rent. My parents had generously helped me get through school, and it was time to become financially independent. I applied anywhere and everywhere. I rarely heard back from anyone. If you think I am exaggerating, I can count on one hand the responses I got to over forty applications. Heartbreaking.<br />
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What made my search more challenging were all of the extra "meanings" I attached to finding a job: the ability to be independent, to save money to help Rob through school, to be able to move toward marriage, to have a career. Job-seeking took on an impossible weight and brought paralyzing, crushed expectations.<br />
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Amidst my despair and frustration, God provided. A family in my small group offered to let me live with them, without charge. They refused any sort of payment. What is even more unimaginable, two families had given me the same offer on the same night. This was the only way I could afford living expenses while job-seeking, and God provided. The C family has taken wonderful care of me. I have a little room and bathroom, two little siblings, a dog and cat. I love this family.<br />
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Not only has God provided a home, but He has provided work. Somehow He keeps sending odd-jobs my way. House-cleaning, random-babysitting jobs, picking up shifts. It is incredible how God has used these odd jobs to humble me (honestly, I never saw myself as a house-keeper. He completely changed my heart about it, and I truly enjoy the work!). I know that God is the one who brings me work in His timing.<br />
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God has also provided encouragers. THEY ARE VITAL. If there is one thing Christians who are jobless need, it is the truth of God POURED into their lives. Job-hunting can cause people to believe all sorts of lies. I began to despair, thinking that my inability to get a job is completely my fault for picking terrible educational degrees, that I am not hireable, that if only I could get right spiritually God would provide a job, that life is so easy for other people, etc. It's sickening to think of all the ways the evil one tries to warp the truth and steal joy from believers, especially in their darkest hours. THIS is why Christians need to be encouraging each other, speaking truth into each others lives, reminding us of God's promises and presence.<br />
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Do I have a job, you ask? No, not a full-time one. But I am fighting each day for a godly perspective and enjoying all the ways He is looking after me, and Rob, and our future. Below are just some tips, if you are in a similar position right now. Don't take these as rules, but rather as encouragement from someone who is experiencing very similar discouragements in job-seeking.<br />
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1) Surround yourselves with Christian community and soak up their encouragement and support. Be humble and honest, you don't have it together and that is perfectly fine.<br />
2) Seek the Lord. Be faithful in prayer, even if you feel you are beating down His door and have difficulty hearing Him lead. He promises to strengthen the heart of the afflicted (Psalm 10:17).<br />
3) Tryyy to be teachable. Seriously, if we had a dollar for every time someone offered unsolicited hiring advice, am I right? BUT, many times it is offered out of love and concern for you. Harness the good advice and easily dismiss the hurtful stuff.<br />
4) Keep an eye on that green monster. Jealousy. Yep, watch it like a hawk. The Bible talks about fights and quarrels rising up amongst believers when we covet what others have. Simply put, we get jealous and bitter because we want the blessings we observe that our neighbors enjoy so easily. Instead, go to God with pleas and thanksgiving. Even thank Him for taking such good care of your neighbors, that they do not have to wade the murky waters of job-loss, that they are equipped to help others in need.<br />
5) Give job-hunting your best efforts and trust God is sovereign. This means keeping your theology in check. God has made us responsible, so do everything in your power to apply and search out jobs in the best, most efficient way you can. And at the end of the day, you can know that it is GOD'S JOB to provide you with work. He has been giving humans work since the garden, so believe me, when He has a task for you, He will deliver. Trust Him and His timing.<br />
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I hope these two posts have demonstrated the timeliness of being aware of economic difficulties and how they affect those we love. I hope that Christians, as more of us experience financial difficulty and suffering, will use these experiences to put God's love on display and grow in holiness. I hope you, the discouraged job-hunter, will know that it is <i>understandable </i>this time is so difficult. Be honest, and allow God, His Word, and others to nourish your heart during this phase of life. Seek a heavenly perspective, which assures you, this life is a vapor compared the the eternal glory Christ purchased for you.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-76602190107452287822013-02-18T16:58:00.001+00:002013-02-18T17:03:01.697+00:00on job-seeking...part 1For those of you who read my blog, it probably goes without saying that long periods of silence mean I am working through something and will return to writing once I have come to some resolve. That is partially the case with this post, but I am certainly not in the clear...yet. What I <i>have </i>found is a new perspective, which has made the last week brighter and restored hope to my outlook. If this post seems gloomy at first, bear with me, I'll get there.<br />
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Perhaps it was the way I was raised, thinking that joblessness is simply a code-word for weakness, laziness, or ignorance. I admit, that thought is appalling to me now, but for some reason I always thought that work was simple. You find a job, you work hard: simple. I look back with shame on all the times I have failed to have compassionate thoughts toward those who struggle financially or seem unable to land a job. There are an abundance of factors that play into even the simplest career move, especially in today's world.<br />
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Let's discuss logistics. Hiring in our society is no longer a simple matter of walking in the front door of a business, handing them your resume, sitting down for an interview, and being hired on the spot. If you live in a small town or perhaps the town you grew up in, things might still function more simply. But for those who move frequently or live in bigger cities with specialized industries, job-seeking can become much more complicated.<br />
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Complications are the name of the game with online applications. Maybe this system was adopted to weed out poor applicants or save the employer time, but online applications may have weaknesses of their own. It is impersonal. The job-seeker spends hours filling out online applications, only to receive a brief, automated response that the computer has, indeed, received your ever-so-personal, data-converted application. You, the job-seeker, are no longer Jana Dough with wonderful people skills and a cheery aspect; you are now the summation of data-entry now grouped with many other e-applicants like yourself.<br />
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Not only is e-application impersonal, but it may also be dehumanizing. Honestly, I do not mean this to sound like an over-reaction. But in what other area of life is it acceptable to have someone solicit your time, respect, and attention, only for you to ignore them, fail to respond, or plainly not acknowledge their humanity and needs? Understandably, businesses are likely flooded with applicants for each available opening, and logistically it is probably challenging to speak with each individual. So perhaps this is not merely a problem with e-hiring, but a problem in our tech-savvy society in general. Have we forgotten the importance of acknowledging and honoring human dignity as we become increasingly detached from physical reality and engrossed in nebulous technology? We may be forgetting our people skills and care.<br />
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Even though many job-seeking experiences transpire in the manner stated above, there are unique glimmers of hope that have tremendous powers of encouragement. Take Heidi, for example. She responds immediately after reviewing my application. She calls me, hears my voice, and seems genuinely interested in helping me find a position in her company. She sets up interviews and follows-up. If you are in a position responsible for hiring personnel, be a Heidi. Let people know that you believe they are inherently valuable and worthy of your time. As a representative of your company, it shows that your company cares about its employees. And you never know how much your efforts encourage those involved in what can be, a very discouraging process.<br />
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In the next post (on job-seeking...part 2), I will be writing about ways to surround yourself, the job-seeker, with godly encouragement, truth, and support. In the section above, I have discussed some of the external difficulties of job-hunting. Now I am moving on to discuss the internal dynamics of the search. Hopefully the discussion of the internal will reach your heart and bring you encouragement, as it has done for me.<br />
<br />cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-24992829034066381532012-07-11T01:33:00.001+01:002012-07-11T02:45:15.703+01:00the 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.<br />
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Maggie told me about <i>The Story of Us</i> 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; <i>The Family Stone</i> and <i>A River Runs Through It</i> come to mind.<br />
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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."<br />
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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>I</i> know it's impossible. <i>I</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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<br />cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-63578152425067677652012-07-04T15:23:00.000+01:002012-07-04T15:23:17.201+01:00and then God said..."Stop worrying."<br />
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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.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-59208711109193712752012-06-23T20:13:00.000+01:002012-06-23T20:13:22.090+01:00recent topics...1. John Mayer may certainly believe his "shadow days are over," but I personally appreciate his inner bad-ace attitude...and I find it more believable. Gracias, John, for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19HgSnf18pM&feature=relmfu&fb_source=message">this</a> new song. It ranks right up there with Heartbreak Warfare.<br />
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2. Everyone has differing opinions regarding how to talk about sex. This week my Marital/Premarital Counseling course opted for the extremely-uncomfortable-euphemisms-route, and boy, what a strange choice. I tend to think that, at least in the academic environment, it is 100% more appropriate to use proper terminology. But that's me. If you prefer to "tend your garden," okayyy Solomon, have at it.<br />
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3. Yesterday the skies threatened to storm all afternoon. When I got home from class, I promptly put on my play-in-the-rain attire, and waited. For two hours. The sky was billowy and grey, which reminded me of standing on Portugal's beaches in the rain. Breathtaking. After two hours of summoning the rain, I gave up, came inside, and cleaned up. The icing on the cake: I got to watch my roomie play church softball in the rain last night. It was such a refreshing way to end the week. (insert long train of thought about missing daily life outdoors)<br />
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4. My 26th birthday is coming up, and I have waited my entire life for it! In 2nd grade, my teacher Mrs. Paul told us about "golden birthdays," which means the birthday on which you turn the same age as your birth-date. Even though I've been waiting my whole life to turn 26, I have no idea how I am going to celebrate the big day. I've honestly never been too concerned about birthdays, but this year I hope to do something exciting! Suggestions?cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-70798885440629794382012-06-08T17:54:00.000+01:002012-06-08T19:15:54.074+01:00breaking the silence...part IIIPrior to this new understanding of God's grace in my life, I approached religion and the Christian lifestyle with misdirected attitudes. I considered biblical principles to be rules, and my failure to comply slapped a 2" by 6" piece of duct tape on my forehead: "UNWORTHY." My inability to get myself together fueled a constant fear of making mistakes and being exposed as the imposter among truly holy individuals.<br />
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My fear of failure and discouragement often silenced my desires to speak about Christ, take risks, or attempt new endeavors. Frequently I would avoid doing good things because I did not want to be hypocritical. Others may not have noticed any hypocrisy, but in my heart I felt the dichotomous nature between who I was (messed up) and who I wanted to be (a Christ-follower).<br />
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But the Gospel changes everything. Literally, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. My <a href="http://www.jdgreear.com/">pastor</a> uses four points to guide the prayers of <a href="http://www.summitrdu.com/">Summit </a>church members. As these tenants have gradually permeated my heart, I've begun to believe them. The result: freedom and joy. Freedom to live and love unhindered by my own, blatant shortcomings. Joy to celebrate this life in Him. Christ is sufficient and abundant in me. <br />
1. In Christ, there is nothing I could do to make You love me more; nothing I have done that makes You love me less.<br />
2. You are all I need today for everlasting joy.<br />
3. As You have been to me, so I will be to others.<br />
4. As I pray, I'll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection.<br />
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About three months ago, I was standing in a worship service at Summit and experienced something beyond my wildest dreams. For most of my life, I was painfully aware of my sin and doubt during worship. But on that evening, I realized God had caused my heart to truly rejoice in liberty and His grace. I felt a joy in my heart unlike any I had felt before. I know this joy is abiding, unshakeable, and able to cast off the gloom of my first nature. I praise my Savior for doing the impossible in my life: ushering in joyfulness by impacting the very core of my need.<br />
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I entitled this series "Breaking the Silence" because of a song I found recently that seems to express my experience over these last two years. The chorus, in particular, conveys my hopelessness turned into worship, by the grace of God.<br />
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<b>Chorus of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBhrITnrM5E&feature=related">Wonderful</a>" by Christy Nockels</b><br />
And my life will burn for you,<br />
Because your light shined in the darkness,<br />
I was hopeless, and you lifted up my head<br />
To sing for joy,<br />
With a song that broke the silence of my worship,<br />
Now I'm singing all the day<br />
And forevermore, you will be adored,<br />
'Cause you are wonderful.<br />
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>There have been a number of individuals who have walked beside me these last two years, to which I owe a lifetime of thanks:<br />
Hannah and Mark: for forgiveness and grace<br />
Gabri: for processing through my sorrow and joy<br />
Bobby and Allison: for inviting me to participate in true community<br />
Carole: for teaching me life is not so serious afterall<br />
Justin: for friendship saturated in forgiveness and understanding<br />
Mitch and Allyson: for seeing the changes in me<br />
<br />cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-19251919439587501672012-06-03T18:06:00.003+01:002012-06-03T18:19:25.853+01:00breaking the silence...part IIUnfortunately, my last days in Portugal were tainted by grief, or at least the early signs of it. I remember distinctly mulling over the decision of who would take me to the airport that early June morning. One year prior, the decision would have been clear. But everything had changed. I felt overwhelmed by a sense that I had ruined everything, killed the friendships that had sustained me throughout my time there. I decided on a taxi cab. Yes, that was the appropriate send-off for someone who had left a trail of damaged relationships for the past six months.<br />
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Perhaps seeing my need, my team leader and his wife insisted that leaving in a taxi was a terrible idea. I awoke, stripped my sheets and placed them in the washing machine, placed my bags in the elevator, and stood on the curb. The morning was serene, adorned with early morning chill and quiet streets. The quiet continued on each flight home. Months that had culminated in bitterness steadily gave way to shame and hurt. At home, I soaked up the love of my family, something which felt every bit undeserved. I was the desolation after a storm, wreckage and spoil.<br />
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I moved to North Carolina. And still, I was a disaster. Sure, I was fortunate to make friends and forge a new lifestyle, but my carefree aspect was merely the fruit of inner turmoil that seemed well beyond my own ability to resolve or make sense of it. I had no difficulty shrugging off the opinion of others and no concern for my own reputation. No external opinion could have been as devastating as my own opinion of myself at that time. And for all the self-inflicted judgment, I felt surely God could not bear the sight of me or the words of my prayers.<br />
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And I tried speaking to Him, apologized multiple times daily for my failures. Every prayer began with remorse for the sin and grief that flowed through my veins and stole the life of those I had loved. Never in my life had the knowledge of my own sin been more apparent. I would venture to say that I did not understand my sin until this point, when God allowed me to be utterly crushed by my own doing. At its foundation, the problem was not the offenses of others. God was concerned with my responses and the apparent gracelessness within me. Not only had I refused to go to my brother and sister in love, but I had slandered the very body of Christ.<br />
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For months, my Father kept reiterating two lessons. Gossip, at its very heart, is exponentially more damaging than speaking words at the expense of others. And gossip was <i>rampant</i> among our mission team. Absolutely disgraceful. I was a listener, and people love to speak openly when someone is listening. I heard everything, and gossip is <i>poisonous</i>. Especially among believers, gossip is hatefulness toward those who are also part of Christ, members of His very own, chosen body. To speak against fellow Christians is to offend Christ himself. My sin against my brothers and sisters was equivalent to slapping my Savior's face, repeatedly. Judging others in that way revealed I had no real knowledge of my own sin, the severity of my forgiven debts, and what it cost Christ to save me. How could I accept a reprieve on my own debts, only to turn around and exact payment for minor offenses from others? I looked into the law of grace, forgot it, and proceeded to punish others.<br />
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The second lesson was gradual and painful. I continued to dialogue with the Lord, but my prayers were dominated by knowledge of my own sin and inability to fix myself. II Corinthians 7:10 says that "godly grief leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." Somehow I knew I needed to experience godly grief, because the overwhelming shame I felt was killing my spirit daily. I would awake, pray, be slain by my sin, pray, drown in my shame, pray, despair. I desperately needed salvation that came not from my own hand or devices, but the salvation from Christ that rescues the powerless. Gradually as I acknowledged my inability, God began washing away the remorse, guilt, sadness, pain, and shame.<br />
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These two lessons were the impetus for what was to come, the unimaginable joy that I could not have hoped or asked for. But that unchanging joy could only be found on the heals of understanding the true gospel. I know that God began working in my life when I was very young, but I could not appreciate His salvation until I was demolished by the knowledge of my own sin, in all its ugliness. I could not appreciate His grace until I knew my desperate want of it. I am the invalid, sick, criminal, ugly, and unworthy. And yet God in His perfect love chose to wash, heal, restore, forgive, and adorn me with His mercy. I could not have cleaned myself up enough for Him; I had to surrender in my weakness and trust His grace to take pity on me...cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-9610107419659765772012-06-03T05:54:00.001+01:002012-06-03T05:54:49.152+01:00breaking the silence...part IThis post has been a long time coming: two years, to be exact. Or at least that was the beginning of the process. Rewind to Portugal 2010. That spring I was preparing to leave Lisbon in June, and my spiritual life was every bit as tumultuous as moving back across the ocean. I felt alone, isolated from anyone in whom I believed I could trust. Given that my personality for most of my life has been weighed down by melancholy and loneliness, that spring was not markedly abnormal. Except for one major element: friendship discord.<br />
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All throughout my life, God has been faithful to provide me with good friends and a thoroughly supportive family. In Portugal, I grew to love and depend on my teammates and national friends. But at some point during my two year term, I began feeling isolated and skeptical of my relationships with teammates. All I can deduce is that my mind was shrouded in negativity. Nearly everything and everyone failed to escape the judgmental scrutiny of my thoughts. Imagine your most cherished friend and the loving endurance of your relationship. What if suddenly your heart was filled with cynical observations that quickly turned into condemnation? Friendships cannot withstand that type of judgment.<br />
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Now having the benefit of two years to reflect, I see that my mind was saturated with lies and evil. I do not mean to say that somehow the lies were the result of some other person's doing. On the contrary, I know that the lies, self-righteousness, and judmentalism arose from the dark depths of my soul. I was blinded and hateful. Not only that, I was malicious. Having no one to speak with about my frustrations, the lies and hurt marinated in my heart until they festered like exposed wounds.<br />
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I now consider my position on the team in Portugal to have been a unique one. There was no one with whom I could have spoken freely about my thoughts, without being slanderous...everyone was tied together as one team. I did make efforts to speak with a counselor, but benefited little from the interaction. By the time I realized I needed to speak directly with my estranged friend, my hurt and deception had become a twisted web of bitterness. Given that I would be leaving Portugal shortly, I decided to maintain my silence and apologize to those I had involved in my struggle.<br />
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Thankfully, by God's grace, my friend confronted me one early morning during the last week I was in Lisbon. Sitting in a cafe, tearfully exposing my sin was probably the hardest experience I have ever gone through. By that point, it did not matter whether my hurt was substantiated; I was thoroughly wrong and injudicious. I have never in my life experienced that kind of spiritual torment. What I did not know then was that the heartache would continue for at least another year...<br />
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<br />cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-89982529793219691622012-05-11T04:53:00.000+01:002012-05-11T04:53:17.411+01:00bullet points, etc...I often find myself wanting to update this blog, but I get hung up on one detail: I think it is an arduous process to carefully select each word. Sure, I enjoy the end product and the contentment which comes from expressing myself genuinely. But the process of writing is slow for me, and I currently have enough slow writing to do for school alone. So maybe summer is going to give the blog a boost, who knows. Anyway, here's my life update in bullet points:<br />
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<ul>
<li>I have started studying for the GRE. Even though I'm not sure I want to go back to school right away. Feeling a bit burnt out.</li>
<li>My math skills have taken a nose-dive since high school. The good news is my verbal scores help me out a bit.</li>
<li>My nanny family is having a big week, the two parents are tying the knot on Saturday! The bachelorette party this evening included crepes, pouring chocolate molds, and plenty of inappropriate humor.</li>
<li>The groom is from England, so his sweet family flew from Birmingham for the event. And they are huggers! Loving every minute with them.</li>
<li>Tonight I received perhaps my first complement ever on my legs. It was weird. That's never happened before.</li>
<li>In two weeks, I'll be on the dock with my college pals, giggling!</li>
<li>It is quite the daunting prospect to beginning looking at schools, cities, jobs, etc. all over again. Anyone up for a move?</li>
<li>My mom bought me a Kindle, it arrived yesterday. It's still in the box, unfortunately. Gracias, end of semester assignments.</li>
</ul>
Off to bed, farewell for now!cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-14201901434470498482012-03-26T01:59:00.007+01:002012-03-26T02:32:54.762+01:00the symphony...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIveTNl2PplMLgsaQAO6UwlyADLM9AehMwssoglJEUBDKy4lUPRZC69WOlFIn0G7ypkeYSCnz6stpznsIywLQywt10cg6M4uPbeO2nWPrfoYMs9XnScnbfUi2rBPjkLC6ohhPd4nNbcde/s1600/meymandi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIveTNl2PplMLgsaQAO6UwlyADLM9AehMwssoglJEUBDKy4lUPRZC69WOlFIn0G7ypkeYSCnz6stpznsIywLQywt10cg6M4uPbeO2nWPrfoYMs9XnScnbfUi2rBPjkLC6ohhPd4nNbcde/s320/meymandi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724006715620375570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSfd4HrV2rXLAPccJAlvrol8-z-GcpiSD662EMuuS4E0b-i_VW4zmTPPnr7U8ZB4fKdXvQrcXxmNrlTxXWRThcgJvVDtPpYMc6e03Xk0zkKSO0Lnu7flaxmbz9AI_nFJxQkA21VFd5qbs/s1600/progress-energy-center.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSfd4HrV2rXLAPccJAlvrol8-z-GcpiSD662EMuuS4E0b-i_VW4zmTPPnr7U8ZB4fKdXvQrcXxmNrlTxXWRThcgJvVDtPpYMc6e03Xk0zkKSO0Lnu7flaxmbz9AI_nFJxQkA21VFd5qbs/s320/progress-energy-center.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724006481014244834" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfiNJZ0S0WC4dJHgv3Gw6MZ-7F_ALygShJjf3LhXGmtfxxVEvmJXwSgNX-oBDwACe-VOdgaA1IQK0XVcRnC8HnjfnKwDHLUX10ANrAjhGlEsyKq87aZK7mHoswZik80ysdrz0zjbKgeC9/s1600/88.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfiNJZ0S0WC4dJHgv3Gw6MZ-7F_ALygShJjf3LhXGmtfxxVEvmJXwSgNX-oBDwACe-VOdgaA1IQK0XVcRnC8HnjfnKwDHLUX10ANrAjhGlEsyKq87aZK7mHoswZik80ysdrz0zjbKgeC9/s320/88.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724005337515137874" border="0" /></a><br />One week ago today, after a week of busyness and exhaustion, I made an excellent decision. Frequently I realize I have fallen prey to a "routine," predictable and dull. For some reason, that Sunday evening I was convinced I needed inspiration and a night of leisure. Enter the <a href="http://ncsymphony.org/">North Carolina Symphony</a> and Ben Folds.<br /><br />Unhindered by the thought of going alone, I reserved one seat and anxiously anticipated Thursday evening. Another friend decided she would like to join me, and we arrived just in time to watch the sun drop beyond the patio of Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Center. The evening was perfectly spring, and the guests were a comforting visage of folk art simplicity.<br /><br />Having listened to Ben Folds in high school and college, the first notes drew me back to moments of joy, driving down generic streets, singing along merrily to odd lyrics and playful melodies. The brilliance of the evening shone from the black suits and polished instruments to the very last row of the concert hall.<br /><br />Occasionally there are moments in listening to live music when I am blessed with the novel sensation that I am hearing music for the first time. This evening was a first breath of winter air, the smell of salt air when stepping off a plane, a string of chords that sends chills up each note of my spine.<br /><br />Mr. Folds offered tremendous praise for the symphony musicians and a gem of wisdom for the audience. In our society, he noted, there are few organizations left that consist of individuals who selflessly perform for the corporate good. Rather than a stage filled with fame-seeking pop stars, symphony musicians perfectly complement each other and glorify the whole.<br /><br />For two hours my ears danced along with the strings, and I found it nearly impossible to resist the thought "I am the luckiest." Making time for substantive regeneration faithfully yields a lifetime of irreplaceable, keepsake memories.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-30238595739792399132012-02-17T17:35:00.001+00:002012-02-17T17:39:11.981+00:00well i was gonna...sit down and write, do homework, read, work out...<br /><br />and i just got called into work.<br /><br />this is my life, right now. three jobs.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-50111709741103972472012-01-26T17:08:00.002+00:002012-01-26T17:12:30.961+00:00...new heaven, new earthPreviously, I had difficulty believing in heaven.<br /><br />Now I do.<br /><br />Simple reasoning: glimmers remain of the original glory of creation, and the brokenness of this world leaves me yearning to see the eternal restoration of all things. Even faint hope can turn to faith.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-32186500741833507212012-01-18T20:10:00.003+00:002012-01-18T20:37:56.520+00:00long-ending Layla...I've not always been a girl who likes surprises, but there is one type of surprise I particularly enjoy: being surprised by beauty. Washes over you, silences your throat, harnesses your gaze, plants your feet--the surprise of beauty, indiscriminate and equal-opportunity.<br /><br />Last fall I was caught in the middle of the mundane. The quotidian rhythm that seldom allows inspiration, revival, or even a depth-filled sigh. I inched my car into its space, following an early morning of class that was likely preceded by a late night of studying. Then it fell: surprise.<br /><br />Having been listening to Derek & the Dominos' "Layla," I was hushed by the instrumental ending. I had never heard it before: perhaps the hustle of American life requires radio edits, or what is worse, perhaps my own lifestyle reflects a "failure to yield."<br /><br />As the warm light enveloped my cheeks, I surrendered to stationary-living long enough to invite the music to dispel its magic. With tears fumbling carelessly to the surface, Layla soothed my heartbeat with an effortless tune. She dances a whirl of grace and ease. She embraces time without stressing the where, or even when, she closes her spin.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3ycKQV_4k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3ycKQV_4k</a>cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-68265272414051604502012-01-16T02:29:00.001+00:002012-01-16T02:31:04.385+00:00when I get outta school...I hope to:<br /><br />1) Be able to go to the gym four times a week.<br /><br />2) Read without worrying about retention.<br /><br />3) Call people back, write emails, take vacation to see friends.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-83223707819821555552012-01-14T04:51:00.004+00:002012-01-14T05:21:27.489+00:00...southern baptists (insert eye-roll if you please)For three weeks in January, I have submitted myself to a form of cruel and unusual punishment...or so I thought. Baptist History is a required course for my degree: something about showing my appreciation to all those little church women that paid for me to live overseas and also pay 3/4 of my tuition here.<br /><br />Fortunately, I have a kick-ace professor named, drumrolllllll: Keith Harper. He pairs each lecture with a fair share of sarcasm and coercion to bring breakfast for the whole class to share. So I'm surviving. Actually (although it would be really embarrassing to be associated with this...), I really enjoy the class. Why? Thought you would never ask (eye-roll again if necessary).<br /><br />Ever since I have been reading about all the politics happening at OBU, I've been brainstorming solutions. Surely there is another answer besides the blatant options:<br /><br />1) I dislike all fundamentalist/conservatives who are stupid enough to believe in blah-blah-blah (which is normally something tied to biblical inerrancy, the creation account, homosexuality, abortion, etc. or perhaps more legitimatly, their orthopraxy of separatism from modern American culture--don't blame you on that one.) Let's totally disconnect OBU from its constituents and benefactors!<br /><br />2) I dislike all the hell-burnin' heathens out there who want to read ideas and talk about issues that would make granny blush. Opposing ideas are dangerous, and I want my kids to know one thing: the Bible.<br /><br />As great as those two parties sound, I'm interested in knowing how other Baptist institutions withdrew from the their local state conventions without committing financial suicide. And is that even a good option, considering that the trend in formerly-religiously-affiliated schools is to become unrecognizable to orthodox believers only a century later. Do I really want our beloved OBU to become antagonistic to orthodoxy? Not really.<br /><br />My last reading assignment for the course is Barry Hankins' <span style="font-style: italic;">Uneasy in Babylon</span>, and so far I'm intrigued by the academic laxity among moderates that facilitated a conservative resurgence. How sad that "academic" elitism on their part created a vacuum for cultural moralists to take over. Moderates were as isolated then as conservatives appear to be today.<br /><br />Here's another surprise: the early conservatives among the SBC resurgence read more widely the works of Northern evangelical theologians. That's not the dim-witted conservative impression I expected to find. All this to say, the sides are not as clearly defined as we may want or feel led to believe.<br /><br />So why do I care? I care about preserving an OBU that challenges students to truly think, grapple with foreign ideas, and formulate opinions that are informed, not formulated for them.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-20256932113521617692012-01-02T20:11:00.002+00:002012-01-02T20:18:45.060+00:00resolution...I have no resolution for the new year. But I do intend to start writing again. I frequently have the thought, "I should probably write that down." So I'm going to pick my technological pen up again...<br /><br />Thoughts on the new year:<br /><br />1) I feel like I am getting old. 25 isn't so scary around other single twenty-somethings. But throw me into a New Years Eve party with a bunch of married people, and well, you get the idea.<br /><br />2) Now, more than ever, my life feels wide open. It seems as though the sky is the limit, no road lay open before me. Choosing a direction feels arbitrary.<br /><br />3) My nanny kids are the biggest blessing to me, daily reminding me to take it easy. Life's not that serious. "Whatever you do, just don't say D-A-double M!" and I'll be ok.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-78227778523773309422011-10-07T21:46:00.003+01:002011-10-07T22:01:07.283+01:00(high places)gone to the high places<br />all since been gone<br />a flat expanse<br />now drawing undone<br /><br />marigold orb<br />bathes marsh in saffron<br />not to be crossed<br />by spin over planks<br /><br />the high places are gone<br />warm days fading<br />his the daylight<br />my trees shading<br /><br />no steeple rising<br />o'er chilled earth<br />merely a sigh<br />trampling mirthcosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-55368699473440891612011-07-14T15:32:00.004+01:002011-07-14T15:42:02.789+01:00on Sabbath...From Your hand, the manna poured<br />By Your mercy, the quail soared<br />Sufficient for the hunger in each day<br />The bounty our God extended our way<br /><br />Not that we should store for ourselves<br />But that He would replenish our shelves<br />Requiring of us, faith in His might<br />To meet the needs, before His sight<br /><br />O, that our wills would rest on the seventh<br />Waiting on Him, to send bread from heaven<br />Rejoice, O Israel, our God draws near<br />Take hold, our Trust, expel all fear<br /><br />Your right hand is mercy, abounding grace<br />The day of rest, for knowing our place<br />By dawn we will praise, Your love that sustains<br />By dusk we dance, Your presence remains<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />[Thankful for my reading this morning, which reminded me that He knows our need (Ex. 16). So often tempted to be anxious over finances...joyful to know God had humanity's needs met from the beginning, from the wilderness, from the cross.]cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-48437740434315903742010-06-09T21:40:00.003+01:002010-06-09T22:38:02.891+01:00still green?well, tomorrow marks one month from my departure date. as i look back over the past 2 years, i still wonder sometimes, "how did i get here?"...i figured that at some point the "woah, i live here" moments would subside. but to my surprise, i have never grown tired of the ocean, the view from the train, the endless greenery, even the rainy season. it's more than that, really: all of those things continue to be as beautiful and captivating as they ever were.<br /><br />the strange thing about this one month marker is that i have very little feeling about it at all. of course i recognize how i will miss the sea and my lifestyle here, but more than anything, i feel like it's time. it's time to move on and get plugged-in to a community again. it's time to return to studying and a more regimented job. it's time to process all that has changed during my time here.<br /><br />for the past six months, i've been noticing a change in heart: i don't "feel" much anymore. it has taken me quite a while to figure out what that means, what might have caused the change, and more-so, am i <span style="font-style: italic;">okay</span> with it. and the truth is, i'm not. i'm tired of experiencing things on my own, and only having my mom to talk to about it (though i am SO thankful to have her). i'm so stinking sick of building friendships with people that are not emotionally responsive. i want to be able to come home to someone with whom i can feel safe to share what is really on my heart. i want to be able to trust people again. i want to feel like it's okay to pick up the phone and call friends...instead i stop myself every time, thinking that too much time and space have passed, or that i need them more than they need me.<br /><br />i know that all things come from the Father's hand, but i'm having trouble coping with the fact that He removed me from community for such a long time. yes, i have learned many lessons through relying on Him more, but i never thought i would be deadening my emotional receptivity. especially these past few months, it has been harder to fight away the reminders that i have become <span style="font-style: italic;">dead</span> inside.<br /><br />a professor in college recommended the book <span style="font-style: italic;">hiding from love</span> to me, and pretty much assured me that there were things in the book i needed to work through. so after realizing i was going to have to deal with this stuff now or at a less ideal time, i have begun working through it. and honestly, it has helped me pinpoint crucial issues in my heart. the only difficulty i am finding so far is that he wrote it under the assumption that the reader has access to healthy relationships/community. welllllllll, that's the tricky part. so i'm pressing ahead, trusting that the Lord will send someone in whom i can safely confide. and maybe that won't happen until i return, who knows...<br /><br />the redeeming part about all of this is the reminder the Lord gave me today, after reading in John 15. i have been wondering if the deadening in my heart is something that is irreversible, like many of the people i know who just go into emotional hiding and never come out of it. but today i realized that, though i have endured drought, i became negligent in "abiding" in Him. so my soul has begun to wither, and with it my ability to relate to and invest in others. the task now becomes "remaining" in God's love, and trusting that He can restore green, abundant life through my branches. yes, i believe my heart is still green, stemming from the True Vine.<br /><br />so now begins my journey toward a new heart...new wineskins for the ever-anticipated new wine, so to speak. and i am also anxiously awaiting being reunited with community: dear loved ones and friends. you have no idea how frequently i think of you all, cherishing the blessing of being able to call you my friends.<br /><br />(goodness, overwhelming post. but i think i needed to be honest about where i'm at. thanks for bearing with me.)cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-84230370596524898992010-05-11T22:31:00.005+01:002010-05-11T22:52:22.832+01:00what do you think?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXyLEeF7kzgJngEcCs6_0MFfk662p2WjqgF7m4yjZjD2pRQjSW-A7DGri_xSLQC01L9QJhrCmmFwisVR5ZW8RGu8uNuldqRUcoFV01qReblZOzSqomq4O5PFjfJc73LAeeMqUnTtkhtK9/s1600/ribbons.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXyLEeF7kzgJngEcCs6_0MFfk662p2WjqgF7m4yjZjD2pRQjSW-A7DGri_xSLQC01L9QJhrCmmFwisVR5ZW8RGu8uNuldqRUcoFV01qReblZOzSqomq4O5PFjfJc73LAeeMqUnTtkhtK9/s320/ribbons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470133621832460626" border="0" /></a><br />so, lately i've been pondering the good things in life...and i want to know, what good things <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> think Christians are guaranteed? what good things are we promised? <span style="font-style: italic;">please share your ideas with me!</span><br /><br />the reason i'm asking: i've been realizing some lies i have bought into in my own life. i guess i just thought that if i love God and work hard enough for the things i want/think are good, then i have earned them. but i am coming to believe that even the smallest graces are exactly that, undeserved. there will likely be many things in my life that i think are good (and will work towards), but will never receive or attain them.<br /><br />so where does that leave me? how do i humbly accept that i am not entitled to the "good things" in life? i confront my own selfishness in asking that, but also acknowledge that perhaps our culture has shaped many of us to hold 'morals' of merit and entitlement...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">thoughts, anyone?</span>cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-31282301164786301222010-04-24T16:21:00.002+01:002010-04-24T16:44:19.443+01:00what it's like...to do this. this portugal thing.<br /><br />1) sometimes, you force yourself to stay.<br />2) surfthechannel.com<br />3) conversations about fast food become really fun!<br />4) you become the neighborhood quandary.<br />5) people really like to help you. and eventually you learn to be helped.<br />6) you adopt strange music interests.<br />7) often, you say goodbye. lately it's been once a month.<br />8) you develop a healthy mistrust of hairdressers<br />9) boots in april/may seem perfectly normal.<br />10) you adopt a rolly, grocery bag thingy. mine's name is edith, she sports brown plaid.<br />11) you forget that the beach isn't a daily thing for most people.<br />12) if you are a girl and exercise, you are the anomaly in the park.<br />13) before bed, you place your cell phone and vonage phone within reach.<br />14) making life decisions seems ten times more difficult from here.<br />15) even "hi, carrie, bye!" from the nephews is priceless.<br />16) 55 cent coffee, 20 cent bread, 30 cent cookies<br />17) trying 50 types of yogurt in a year is sooooo fun!<br />18) your feet become strangely accustomed to jagged rocks underfoot.<br />19) that smell...oh, that's just the garlic seeping through their skin. ewwwww.<br />20) every month you stick it out, so incredibly worth it!cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-27082057211640966652010-04-04T00:08:00.003+01:002010-04-15T21:17:17.812+01:00sem título...green, except by the sea.<br />suddenly gray, water emerges.<br />quiet, except when not.<br />revisits treasures,<br />often disinterested in new.<br />ice cream, cup not cone.<br />likely to love,<br />equally to forget.<br />wooden floors,<br />for one purpose only.<br />summer chirping, autumn creak.<br />everything in place,<br />minus thursday's laundry.<br />sweeping locks behind ears,<br />2, 4, 6, 8...lots of holes.<br />(but likes the pain)<br />birthday present hymnal,<br />self-help library.<br />one brown puppy,<br />to share a twin-sized bed.<br /><em>pão de deus,<br />com queijo e manteiga,</em><br />alarm clock cringe,<br />late night piddle.<br />laughter and pink cheeks,<br />pocket-full-of-posies.<br />grins for the sky and sea,<br />tears for the space between.<br />butterflies for plans unseen,<br />cloud 9 for the dream.<br /><br /><em></em><em><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></em>cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-16324413899682274982010-03-21T22:47:00.003+00:002010-03-21T23:55:56.162+00:00who I've become...is yet to be determined, I suppose. My time abroad has shaped and transformed me...but as of yet, I can't determine exactly <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">how</span></span>. So here are some indications, and one day I'll know what they mean.<br /><br />-I've spent an incredible amount of time alone. Time on public transport, out in public, in cafes, etc. Time simply observing, thinking (way too much at times), reading, running, walking, listening to music, writing, drawing. But all on my own. My solitude has become incredibly personal and dear to me.<br /><br />-You know that instinct where you want to <span style="font-style: italic;">tell someone</span> something, anything? Well I hardly have that anymore. There are few things that necessitate my needing to converse about them, at least not immediately. Admittedly, this has gotten me into trouble...because sometimes I forget that my friends need me to ask, to be more engaged.<br /><br />-I spend the greater part of each day outdoors or in the public sphere. I've begun to wonder how exactly I will be able to adjust to living <span style="font-style: italic;">indoors</span> again. Most likely I am going to need a running buddy or a good gym to work off the stress from too much time indoors. I am certainly going to miss those quiet reprieves I enjoy multiple times a day in parks, next to the ocean, etc.<br /><br />-I've observed so many different people, taken in all of their stories and faces. I don't exactly know what to do with those now...it feels like the strangers have become as dear as my sweet friends here. And I can't figure out how to "place" those in my mind, in my future, in my memories.<br /><br />-Doing everything in another language is so enjoyable for me. It makes each day more challenging, but more rewarding also. When I was home at Christmas, my mind felt so disengaged. I didn't have to work for anything, at least verbally. And I held no mystery in another tongue...I am just another U.S. American who speaks English.<br /><br />-After two years away, I would be na<em>ï</em>ve to think my friendships had not changed at home. I'm just beginning to understand this one, but I know it will have more weight when I return. My friendships here are coming to their fruition, and I have yet to know what their continuance will look like. My friendships, the genuinely close ones, are still in tact in the States. It will look different though; we are all on such vastly different pages of life. I hope there is room for me in your lives again. And I hope to meet some new friends also; perhaps it would aid me to start at square one with someone.<br /><br />-Dating relationships are not appealing to me right now. At all. Especially after this last year, I need some time to heal and be renewed. One thing I know: things will be different next time, they must be. No more wasting time on the ones who don't know themselves, let alone what they want.<br /><br />-There are not sufficient means to express my gratitude for the time I have been given in Lisbon. These years have been filled with personal growth, exploration, challenges, and beautiful things. I feel so fortunate every time I ride that train by the sea, every time I meet friends for coffee, every time I am surprised by beauty. These months will provide me with years of sweet memories.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-14029207364486459012010-03-07T23:22:00.002+00:002010-03-07T23:36:40.075+00:00how to plan...a budget, as a u.s. american (female) living in europe:<br /><br />1. substitute the make-up category with skin care products. it's all about preserving natural beauty, not covering it up. gurrrrrrlll, show-off that pretty skin of yours!<br /><br />2. come to terms with the fact that a great deal of your budget will go to coffee and pastries. it's ok, you'll walk it off! coffee shops are the hub of communities, so dive in!<br /><br />3. if you won't have a vehicle, go ahead and start a "new pants fund"...between the food with fewer preservatives and self-powered transportation (walking), you're going to change size.<br /><br />4. sometimes you are going to <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> to go to the movies. honestly, it will make you feel connected with home in some way. and it's nice to hear some English, laugh a little, and relax.<br /><br />5. plan to cut back on eating out, for multiple reasons. firstly, eating out over here will cost more, so it's better to save it for special times. secondly, your money will go much farther by stocking up at the grocery store and preparing homemade meals. besides, cooking will become a stress-reliever, promise!<br /><br />6. purchase some earplugs...in case you, like me, end up living below a married couple ;)<br /><br />7. bring along or buy a pair of hard-soled shoes; it will be the best investment you make here! hard-bottomed shoes you make the rocky world go round!<br /><br />8. put some money aside to <span style="font-style: italic;">see</span> things. it is easy to spend money on everyday purchases and clothes, but far more worthwhile to put some aside for special outings: concerts, vacations, museums, etc.<br /><br />9. get a webcam or vonage phone! it makes a world of difference to be able to contact those you love.<br /><br />10. try to cut back on the unnecessary purchases...europe is a great place to simplify the <span style="font-style: italic;">things</span> in our lives, to appreciate making a lot out of a little, and to place our treasures in things that last: community, relationships, quality time, etc.cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7763300917946699150.post-68505818363111081562010-03-02T22:25:00.002+00:002010-03-02T22:36:38.371+00:00when in doubt, laugh...so this is the secret to surviving in a foreign country...well, at least it's my secret, anyway. I wish I could express how many times a week I am confused about <span style="font-style: italic;">what exactly</span> someone has just said to me. but rather than ask each and every time for them to repeat things, I have learned that a giggle and a smile go a long way. now, I realize this does get me into trouble on occasion. but seriously, it is a wayyyy better alternative! that way, they think I think they are funny, I can pretend I heard whatever I want, and it makes for great laughs later on (when I actually realize what they said!).<br /><br />case in point: at our cafe downstairs, the owner asked my roommate and I if we were the daughters of a 27 yr. old English taxi cab driver that he knows. in confusion, we just laughed and walked out of the cafe. later on, I realized what he had said...what was I to say?! "why yes, my father did in fact give our mother conception when he was 4!" nope, no response necessary (except laughter). so the cafe staff thinks Lindsey and I are sisters, English, and biological freaks. ehhhhh, oh well :)cosas del marhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619961253691116215noreply@blogger.com2