As a wonderful story from my experience at a Silent Retreat:
I went on a silent retreat this past Saturday for my class Faith and Discipleship. I spent the morning focusing on just being in to moment,praying for others, and for organizations/conflicts around me. After lunch I decided to walk the trails; it was during this time that I prayed about my future. I talked with God about how I felt that I was seeking and he was not responding and that I did not understand. I was lead to re-ask myself what God wants me/Christ-followers to do.
I had just read Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne over fall break. While reading the book I was pleased to find that what Shane talks about is what is inside of me that I lacked the vocabulary to vocalize.
Thinking of that book, Jesus' example, and my own beliefs I realized that simple radical truth: God desires for me (for Christ-followers) to love (radically love, something so many Christian's do not do). God wants me to love a love that gets not just my hands dirty, but my life dirty. If we love someone then we get involved in their lives and help them (which can "mess up" our own comfortable lives). God reminded (okay, had to reveal to the silly narrow minded me) that I do not need an organization to do live out the Radical Love that Jesus lived out.
I felt once again re-affirmed in my plans to move to Pennsylvania. I do not know if I will end up with an organization or not, God may in fact lead me to an organization; however, I am very open to the possibility of being a full time lover without an organization. I could very well work at a "regular" job (like transfer to an Applebee's out there) and love.
This may sounds silly; however, to me it helped me move from just having the internal understanding of love to grasping the radical external lifestyle of real love.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My Thoughts on the book: Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne was written to push people to live a life that reflected Jesus’ life of living with and amongst the poor and outcasts. Irresistible revolution does just this when Shane Claiborne destroys the comfortable Christianity that the American church created and un-remodels Christian living taking it back to its simple and true form of love. Jesus calls us to love and to love those around us; Shane Claiborne wonders how people can follow Jesus from the comfort of their middle and upper-class lives while letting the poor go hungry on the streets. Jesus, Shane Claiborne points out, does not want his disciples to be so detached from the homeless on the streets that they send them a monetary donation everyone once in a while to ease their conscience. If disciples of God are to follow Jesus’ life and teachings then they had better do just what Jesus did; build relationships with those on the fringes of society. How can a Christian say that they love someone if that Christian has no relationship or connection to that someone?
In Irresistible Revolution Shane Claiborne mentions that wealthy people ask him what they can do to help, usually meaning “where can we send the money?” In response Shane Claiborne often replies that they can come down to The Simple Way, where he lives, and spend some time building relationships with the kids and families on the block. The challenge is that if everyone who claimed to follow Jesus would really follow Jesus and get the know those around them who are in need the needs would be able to be met and people would cease to be marginalized.
At one point Shane Claiborne and a friend wanted to contact Mother Theresa to see if they could join her in India. After many tries they got her number; he asked if they could come and told her when and how long they wanted to be there for. Mother Theresa told them to come on out; when Shane Claiborne began to ask about the travel details and where they would stay Mother Theresa told him that if he wanted to come and serve God’s people then he should just come and let God take care of the details. That is the kind of lifestyle Christ-followers all are suppose to live; people are suppose to love God’s people even the details clear. Following God gets dirty; when people start to really love those around them they get involved in their situations and suddenly the easy life has intertwined with their friend’s reality. The clean cut separation between another person's problems and their own life becomes fuzzy as they work more and more to help their friends. This is what Jesus did, Shane reminds us; Jesus spent his time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and outcasts showing them God by loving them. Jesus got involved in their lives blurring the social boundaries that existed.
My understanding of God’s desire for us to love was driven home during the silent retreat I attended on Saturday. During the nine hours of silence I spent some time praying about my life after graduation in May. I have been searching out youth organizations in South Eastern Pennsylvania to get involved with and have not been having the best of luck finding them. I asked God what He really wanted me to do and re-asked what I was essentially called to do; it was then that I remembered Shane Claiborne’s book and how I when I had read the book I felt like he was putting into words the truths I did not know how to vocalize. I remembered that God wants me to love, racially love, first and foremost. I do not need an organization to love God; I can radically love God by honestly loving those around me wherever I go.
In Irresistible Revolution Shane Claiborne mentions that wealthy people ask him what they can do to help, usually meaning “where can we send the money?” In response Shane Claiborne often replies that they can come down to The Simple Way, where he lives, and spend some time building relationships with the kids and families on the block. The challenge is that if everyone who claimed to follow Jesus would really follow Jesus and get the know those around them who are in need the needs would be able to be met and people would cease to be marginalized.
At one point Shane Claiborne and a friend wanted to contact Mother Theresa to see if they could join her in India. After many tries they got her number; he asked if they could come and told her when and how long they wanted to be there for. Mother Theresa told them to come on out; when Shane Claiborne began to ask about the travel details and where they would stay Mother Theresa told him that if he wanted to come and serve God’s people then he should just come and let God take care of the details. That is the kind of lifestyle Christ-followers all are suppose to live; people are suppose to love God’s people even the details clear. Following God gets dirty; when people start to really love those around them they get involved in their situations and suddenly the easy life has intertwined with their friend’s reality. The clean cut separation between another person's problems and their own life becomes fuzzy as they work more and more to help their friends. This is what Jesus did, Shane reminds us; Jesus spent his time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and outcasts showing them God by loving them. Jesus got involved in their lives blurring the social boundaries that existed.
My understanding of God’s desire for us to love was driven home during the silent retreat I attended on Saturday. During the nine hours of silence I spent some time praying about my life after graduation in May. I have been searching out youth organizations in South Eastern Pennsylvania to get involved with and have not been having the best of luck finding them. I asked God what He really wanted me to do and re-asked what I was essentially called to do; it was then that I remembered Shane Claiborne’s book and how I when I had read the book I felt like he was putting into words the truths I did not know how to vocalize. I remembered that God wants me to love, racially love, first and foremost. I do not need an organization to love God; I can radically love God by honestly loving those around me wherever I go.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fall Break
Fall break was wonderful and as expect went by much too quickly for my liking. The flights went well and I was occupied reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Since Shane lives in Philadelphia the book included many organizations and such in the area. This offered me encouragement as I feel that I am exhausting all of the routes and connections I have to the area. Who knows; I am trusting God and seeking with him.
Nathaniel and I watched the Phillies games with his cousins and I must say I am hooked! When I was back on campus Wednesday I was sad that I was not going to be able to watch the game that night; then Marlene whom I babysit for on Thursdays and I started talking in the cafeteria (where she works) and she invited me to watch the game there! I am psyched for the World Series!
Bill smoked some ribs and pulled pork while I was there so that I could see that his was the best He wanted to prove to me that CityQ's bbq could not compare; he was correct. Originally he was going to smoke for the community festival; however, the weather canceled that event so he smoked just for me. Bill made sure that everyone knew that they had to thank me for the smoked pulled pork by saying that if I had not been there he would not have made any. (Which would have been sad, it was a great addition to the Sunday evening Phillies game with the Franconia young adults).
On Monday I met with the Franconia Conference Youth Pastor Marlene. She gave me tour of the C-Dock School grounds and we talked about what I might like to do in her area after graduation. It was enjoyable to see the grounds and nice to put a face with the name. She did not have any specific ideas for me, but gave me some things she'd thought of and told me that she would keep me in mind.
Nathaniel took me out putt-putting (or mini-golfing as they do not call it putt-putt) and then to dinner Monday. He is amazing, we had more fun than most people could have put-putting. After he won the game (which was no surprise, he'd beaten me bowling both times we went out with his friends that weekend; he did give me some tips to improve me game), we went to eat some tasty, tasty food. After we were both stuffed, we went back to his house put on some Phillies gear and went to watch the game!
I had an amazing fall break, which as expected went by too quickly. Before I knew it Nathaniel's mom was driving me back to the airport and I was coming back to college, still I am grateful for the time Nathaniel and I were able to spend together.
Nathaniel and I watched the Phillies games with his cousins and I must say I am hooked! When I was back on campus Wednesday I was sad that I was not going to be able to watch the game that night; then Marlene whom I babysit for on Thursdays and I started talking in the cafeteria (where she works) and she invited me to watch the game there! I am psyched for the World Series!
Bill smoked some ribs and pulled pork while I was there so that I could see that his was the best He wanted to prove to me that CityQ's bbq could not compare; he was correct. Originally he was going to smoke for the community festival; however, the weather canceled that event so he smoked just for me. Bill made sure that everyone knew that they had to thank me for the smoked pulled pork by saying that if I had not been there he would not have made any. (Which would have been sad, it was a great addition to the Sunday evening Phillies game with the Franconia young adults).
On Monday I met with the Franconia Conference Youth Pastor Marlene. She gave me tour of the C-Dock School grounds and we talked about what I might like to do in her area after graduation. It was enjoyable to see the grounds and nice to put a face with the name. She did not have any specific ideas for me, but gave me some things she'd thought of and told me that she would keep me in mind.
Nathaniel took me out putt-putting (or mini-golfing as they do not call it putt-putt) and then to dinner Monday. He is amazing, we had more fun than most people could have put-putting. After he won the game (which was no surprise, he'd beaten me bowling both times we went out with his friends that weekend; he did give me some tips to improve me game), we went to eat some tasty, tasty food. After we were both stuffed, we went back to his house put on some Phillies gear and went to watch the game!
I had an amazing fall break, which as expected went by too quickly. Before I knew it Nathaniel's mom was driving me back to the airport and I was coming back to college, still I am grateful for the time Nathaniel and I were able to spend together.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Busy and looking forward to fall break!
Since I'm so busy reading these books for classes I do not really have the spare time I used to for the luxury of blogging. Even right now as I am sitting here I am thinking about things I should do as an RA in preparation for our pick-a-date mod meeting tonight; I need to drop the hot-coco, apples to apples, and the other games off at my mod parents so they they are there when people return with their desserts from our Dessert search (4 people, 2 date sets, are going out with a limit of $10 and 1 hour to see which group can come back with the best dessert and then well play games).
This past week I cross-trained at Applebee's from a hostess to a server. I did a little math in my head on my way back to Hesston on Saturday after getting off my shift and realized that I worked over 40 hours at Applebee's this week. I am quite glad that I do not work a full time job with my 17 (plus my auditing of chorale which makes it 18) credit hours; I'd never have a moment to spare between homework, Applebee's, and my other responsibilities as an RA. No worries, I'll be back to a normal part-time position at Applebee's now that my training is done. Applebee's is getting new menus on the 19th, which ought to be fun to try to implement so soon after my training. Although, I am looking forward to several of the new items; I just hope that it does not completely confuse me since I am so new to this position and will never get to be a server with the menu I trained under.
On an extremely happy note that I happened during Hesston's Centennial celebration weekend the last weekend in September. My parent's came out for their 30 year class reunion and when I was heading outside to greet them I saw a third person walking beside them, whom I first thought was a random person who just happened to be on the sidewalk, but suddenly realized was Nathaniel! This was the most wonderful surprise I could ask for; Nathaniel's home is 24 hours from Hesston. He had contacted my parents and set it up so that he would drive to Ohio and then car-pool out here with them. I was completely ecstatic! It was dinner time and where I was meeting my parents was just outside the cafeteria, so everyone eating got to see Nathaniel surprise me. I had quite a few people on campus tell me they quite enjoyed watching us, especially the girls in my mod with whom 5 minutes prior I had a conversation with about how long it would be until I got to see him. The weekend flew by (with not much sleep), and while I was gone to a chorale rehearsal my parent's and their college friends Brian and Judy TP'd my room and short-sheeted my bed. I love them, who can say that they were pranked by their parents and their parents college friends? Also, Penn State and Iowa played that weekend; as I am sure most of you know Iowa won! Even though I had to miss 3/4 of the game because of music gala the chorale sang in, I enjoyed having Nathaniel around so that I could tease him a bit.
The weekend went by too quickly and soon my parents and Nathaniel were heading to Iowa Poor Nathaniel had to meet my brother and most of the Gugel's without me. He survived, I think they went easy on him. I will say though, that saying goodbye this time was much easier than it'd been in May and then in August when we knew we wouldn't see each other for several months because it was only 3 weeks between then and fall break. Now fall break is only 3 days away! Wednesday after classes I am flying to the Philadelphia airport where Nathaniel will pick me up; I am very much looking forward to a break from classes and a week with Nathaniel and his family.
This past week I cross-trained at Applebee's from a hostess to a server. I did a little math in my head on my way back to Hesston on Saturday after getting off my shift and realized that I worked over 40 hours at Applebee's this week. I am quite glad that I do not work a full time job with my 17 (plus my auditing of chorale which makes it 18) credit hours; I'd never have a moment to spare between homework, Applebee's, and my other responsibilities as an RA. No worries, I'll be back to a normal part-time position at Applebee's now that my training is done. Applebee's is getting new menus on the 19th, which ought to be fun to try to implement so soon after my training. Although, I am looking forward to several of the new items; I just hope that it does not completely confuse me since I am so new to this position and will never get to be a server with the menu I trained under.
On an extremely happy note that I happened during Hesston's Centennial celebration weekend the last weekend in September. My parent's came out for their 30 year class reunion and when I was heading outside to greet them I saw a third person walking beside them, whom I first thought was a random person who just happened to be on the sidewalk, but suddenly realized was Nathaniel! This was the most wonderful surprise I could ask for; Nathaniel's home is 24 hours from Hesston. He had contacted my parents and set it up so that he would drive to Ohio and then car-pool out here with them. I was completely ecstatic! It was dinner time and where I was meeting my parents was just outside the cafeteria, so everyone eating got to see Nathaniel surprise me. I had quite a few people on campus tell me they quite enjoyed watching us, especially the girls in my mod with whom 5 minutes prior I had a conversation with about how long it would be until I got to see him. The weekend flew by (with not much sleep), and while I was gone to a chorale rehearsal my parent's and their college friends Brian and Judy TP'd my room and short-sheeted my bed. I love them, who can say that they were pranked by their parents and their parents college friends? Also, Penn State and Iowa played that weekend; as I am sure most of you know Iowa won! Even though I had to miss 3/4 of the game because of music gala the chorale sang in, I enjoyed having Nathaniel around so that I could tease him a bit.
The weekend went by too quickly and soon my parents and Nathaniel were heading to Iowa Poor Nathaniel had to meet my brother and most of the Gugel's without me. He survived, I think they went easy on him. I will say though, that saying goodbye this time was much easier than it'd been in May and then in August when we knew we wouldn't see each other for several months because it was only 3 weeks between then and fall break. Now fall break is only 3 days away! Wednesday after classes I am flying to the Philadelphia airport where Nathaniel will pick me up; I am very much looking forward to a break from classes and a week with Nathaniel and his family.
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