Sep 30, 2008

jesus for president

i have been slowing digesting my way though shane claiborne's book titled, "Jesus For President". when it comes to literature that fully consumes my attention, i plow my way from cover to cover enjoying every paragraph of enlightening wisdom; however failing miserably to reatin any of it at all. this book, this radical and politically challenging book forces me to hault the train of speed reading and dissect each and every new idea posed by mr. claiborne.

during the 2004 election i was a walking ape of george w. bush paraphernalia donning supporters. i attended a mass rally in the city with a girlfriend of mine, purchased republican bumper stickers, taped signs on my apartment windows, and slapped buttons of W's upon my vintage vest. i was also at that time 4 years younger, 4 years less mature, and caught up in the effects of living as an easily influenced woman. without any thoughts of my own, i simply mimicked the opinions of those around me.

but now here we are. 4 years have passed and we are at the brink of yet another election year and i cannot help but admit my ever growing apathy towards the entirety of it all. this idea of jesus for president (not literally of course) does not coincide with that of today's culture. this world in which i am a part of (as much as i wish it were not true, i would be fooling myself if i were to say i am not of this world) blasts its insatiable hunger for power, fame, and fortune. it is a world of black and white, fend for yourself, and an endless pursuit of our very own towers of babel; a world where democrats and republicans will never coexist and each one claims they have the correct ability to properly and effectively lead america back to it's original foundation of justice, freedom, and happiness.


to all of this i find myself turning the channels when the faces of presidential candidates fight for screen time, the radio either is turned off or swapped from the race for presidency updates to the melodies of ray lamontagne, and in the chaos of it all i wonder to myself; "does jesus care? is this how it is supposed to be? could we ever have a present day year of jubilee? does anyone even know what justice and freedom truly look like?" and at the end of my fraying rope of questions i seek the mercy of christ.


4 years of growing and seeking has posed as a reforming process of my political views, and one month of inhaling the possibilities of a world led not of politics but of grace and mercy has changed my political views completely. all of which begs my vote: jesus for president.

Sep 15, 2008

phantasmal bike ride

a few friends of mine have commented that my blog postings fail to express any sort of insight into the day to day life that i live. i initially began a blog to keep my friends and family back home updated on the activities, discoveries, and adventures i take part in during my internship in california. so, dear friends of mine, in effort to combine both the depth of my randomly pondering mind and the simple events that occur each day, i give to you this post.

friday morning i joined my roommate diana and her girlfriend suzanne for a morning bike ride in beautiful coronado. after loading up our bikes onto the back suzanne's car, we made our way across the elegant coronado bridge and geared up around 9:00. 

in regards to the uniquely crafted homes and tall, aged trees that hover over small neighborhood streets providing a tranquility that only a quaint small town can,coronado is much like minnesota. it is the only place in san diego i have found thus far that actually has houses of unparalleled simplicity and yards that stretch out more than a few cubic feet. immediately i was entrenched in my default frame of mind - romantic. the air was fresh and the filled with exotic aromas flowing from the bountiful blossoms of wildflowers. 

i was lost in daydreams for a short time and allowed myself to become engrossed with questions of my future. will i live in a neighborhood canopied by enormous and vibrantly colored maples? will my home be a safe haven for others, a place of hospitality and rest? will there be a tree in the backyard that is suitable for a fort...after-all, building a tree-fort with my hubby is on my list of things to do! will i have a large kitchen to cook family meals and hang out with my kiddos? will there be a front porch where my hubby and i will converse of grace, poetry, and baseball; where we will share a 6'er, a bottle of 2 buck chuck, or stogie, and rock-a-bye in tattered wooden chairs? 

the bike ride was a potpourri of phantasmal bliss. and with each question that surfaced while parading down undiscovered streets, i offered them to god as prayers of my heart. these are the little hopes of what could be, the "somedays" if you will, that waltz in and out of my rose tinted mind.


Sep 7, 2008

communal busyness

here i am, a lousy three weeks into my fall routine and already i am second guessing my ridiculous schedule. i tend to unconsciously over-busy myself (then again, isn't that the american way?) . 2 college classes? no problem! 3 church services every sunday? why not! leading a small group on tuesdays. love to! monday and friday young life club? ok! wenesday night gathering? absolutely! coaching cross country full time? i can handle it!



like i said, it is unintentional; this over committing myself. it isn't as if i am signing up for activities thinking "hey, it'd be super rad to slowly kill myself by leaving no room to breathe." rather it's more that i want to do everything. discipling, coaching, college, teaching - these are all things i am deeply passionate about and so to add them into my schedule seems to be the logical thing to do. until sunday morning rolls around and the harsh reality that i have nothing to offer is piercing me in the face.

it wasn't until i had a phone conversation with my mentor jolene that the drowning weight of my schedule began to lift. through jolene's wise words of encouragement and extending the soft whispers of God i am now beginning to see the truth in the midst of this crazy fall season. yes, my calendar is filled to the brim, nearly overflowing in fact. but it is just for a season. each of the to-do's that shape my days are radiant opportunities to invite students and adults alike into the unfailing love of jesus. where the fault has occurred these past 3 weeks falls directly on my shoulders. i have been drawing strength not from the cross of life, but from the tattered pockets of my own efforts.

the unfolding of these truths and of the previous 3 weeks only solidifies the the truth that we are created for community. god never intended for us to journey through life alone. we are to lean into one another and to help carry one another's yoke; just as jolene came along side of me to lighten the load of busyness and shine the light of grace, for which to see the path i am walking more clearly.