When is it going to stop?
As I am glued to the news channels and cnn.com looking at the terrible destruction by Katrina, I wonder when is it going to stop getting worse? New Orleans keeps getting worse, not better, and it was 2 full days ago that the storm came through. The water keeps rising, more people are being confirmed dead, etc. When is it going to stop?
Then I had this thought. I went running yesterday at about 11:00am until about 11:30am and then I did some stretches for about 10 minutes afterward. Then I got into a nice cold shower expecting that when I get out I am going to be clean and cooled off. But I'm not. How can I feel clean when I get out of the shower and I am still sweating? I kept sweating until about 12:30pm. When is it going to stop? I keep asking myself. I do not even feel that hot, but I still sweat. It's wierd, and I know its probably so very natural, but it feels so very un-natural. Like a un-natural disaster, or a natural disaster. I don't know.
Life again as I knew it
Tonight was our first RUF large group meeting of the new school year. I spent some time today thinking of this time last year when I was fresh on the campus of Vanderbilt. I was very intimidated by people 5 years less my age with pink polo shirts with flipped up collars and inevitable Rainbow brand flip flops. I walked around for many days, weeks, and even months wondering what my job as an "intern" was. I was insecure, I worshipped peoples approval of me and wanted to be known by the students so bad, that I would spend countless hours up on campus just thinking that I might meet someone new or that perhaps I might run into the handful of people who I had met. I often did not give myself the grace to fail at my job, even though I was doing it right and left. I wanted to think that I was doing my job well, but often times in ministry, you don't know if you've done well until many many years down the road. But what I tried to hold out to them last year, and hopefully this year too, is a person who has screwed up alot, but believes in the Gospel of grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I hope this year is as enjoyable as last year was. I hope many more students come to Christ for the first time, and I hope for those who already believe that they would be strengthened, encouraged, brought low and raised up by the power of the Gospel. I hope the same is true for myself, as I continue to struggle with seeking my identity from everything but the one place where I know that I am found.
So here I sit
In Houston Hobby airport. Its the same place I have been for the last two hours. The plane was supposed to leave at 7:10, but instead we're going to cut a little time and go ahead and leave at 9:15. And I am the sucker, because I bought the internet subscription for $6.95. You know, I was going to write a very creative post about the people that I am seeing here and the people that I am sitting around, but I'm just too mad. I want to go home. I feel like I have been in airports for half the summer. I can't wait for school to start next week so that my job can begin. Peace
Camp Southwest
I flew yesterday from Nashville to Oklahoma City via Southwest Airlines. I have heard that Southwest is a really good company to work for, but i have also heard that it is kind of cultishly strange. My older brother interviewed with Southwest during his senior year of college and said that at his interview, he was dressed up in a pig costume and was forced to do his whole interview in a pink pig costume.
And then you get on the flights, and the attendants are so different from all other airlines. I think they actually enjoy their jobs and are happy to tell you how to use the seat belts.
Now I am here in Duncan, which usually affords some good stories, stay tuned.....
Back in the Saddle
Whatever that means, i am not sure because I don't own a saddle, but I will tell you one thing, I went on a mule ride while in Africa and the guy who rented the mules wanted me to buy him a new saddle. He said that when I decided to speed the mule up to more of a 'trot' that something broke in the saddle and that I should buy him a new one for 300 birr (Ethiopian money, about $40US). I didn't and didn't feel obligated to, but he sure wasn't happy with me. I am anticipating writing a long blog about my thoughts of the Africa trip, so please stay posted. Its good to be back in America for sure. I just got wireless in my new house which hopefully means another semester of midnight posts of things that i shouldn't post. Enjoy at my expense.
