Read This and Feel the Love

Oh, how much do I love my friends? Well, to find out you could read my post entitled, Look Inside My Heart, or you could simply click on this link. And there you would discover how much I love my friends and how much they love little ol' me!

Doube Nut Fudge has blessed my life...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARO!!!!

The Contemplation of Names

It's funny how people who become close no longer call each other by their names. They use all these pet names or just none at all and it's ironic because you would think that becoming more close, you would want to honor the person more and really name out who they are as this individual who is more unique and important to you than other individuals, but instead we resort to words like "honey" or "sweetheart" that are affectionate, but nonetheless really common. So basically you are talking to the same person ("honey") your co-worker is with ("honey"), because they are called by the same name. I was talking about this with this married guy at my work a few months back. (We were discussing what people call their significant others, I was trying to think of good pet names for men, and there really aren't any except for like Stud, but that sounds too much like a Boogie Nights reference.) I've heard of places where it's Don Luis if Luis is a higher status, so maybe they use another word like Luis Amor, if Luis is your sweetheart. Anyway, it just makes me think, in American English our language reflects our culture, and we are people who become more casual everyday, with fashion, with morals, with social cues as well as verbally. It used to be really common when people were called Mr. So-and-So or Mrs. So-and-So. It used to be something you could offer someone when you wanted to invite them into knowing you personally. ("No, please, call me Dawn.") A name is a really important thing. It frames who you are, and is the umbrella which under all your actions take place. This is one of the reasons I studied sociology, because I don't need to rebel against our modern social conventions, but I am fascinated by how these tiny little nuances reflect our national character. We no longer value as much a person's social standing, where they fit in the social strata. And in some ways that's good because we are all sinners and there is level ground at the foot of the cross, but in some ways it is (I think) not against a kingdom-centered way of living to honor some more than others. When I think of my mentors, or other Christian people who are just way above the pack in seeing spiritually and doing God's work, I think they deserve greater honor and respect for their wisdom and willingness to live closer to the edge, pouring themselves out for others and Jesus.

Elusive Mixtures

Blogging causes the individual to become more elusive. When my life changes in some small way, or I should say when I evolve slightly and become more of myself, I always want to discuss it with myself. And when I am feeling magnanimous, I post it here and let you all comment. (And by you all, I mean my 3 faithful readers.) So here you will hear the retelling of my metamorphosis...

Chemical reactions are beautiful. Some boil, some foam, some explode with a sharp noisy crack. Torches burn propane and flame into blue and gold, chocolate chips melt into sauce, a meringue beaten with air will hold its head up high. Some chemical mixtures remain separate like oil and water. Some like vinegar and baking soda cause a volcanic overflow. But each is changed nonetheless. Even the oil and the water cannot remain the same. Have you ever tried to pour the oil off the top of a water glass? No one is that talented.

Look Inside My Heart

If you looked inside my heart you would see all the love I have. I especially want you to know how deeply I take the importance of who you are, and who I am when I am with you. Growing up in a tumultuous family, I needed people who would think I am fabulous. Who would think I have something to add to the conversation of life. As I was pondering the cosmos last night, I realized how much I appreciate that relationships are a one-time experience. Since we are all constantly evolving as people, we are only our "now" selves for one space of time, and we can only know the "now" of someone else for a period of time. And I certainly appreciate that I have people in my life now who have grown and changed with me, who have let me change, let me become more of myself. But some of my most interesting relationships are those that didn't last, that were only for a time, and no one can fully understand from the outside how two people are together, what feelings, dynamics and sparks happen between the two, what sins are done, what drama occurs just between the two. And I am discovering that this is why people fall in love. Because light has a spectrum that is unique, every spark of light has a specific unique place on the spectrum, shaped by a million tiny factors and one day your spark and their sparks just match and they light a match, and a flame begins. I used to say I didn't get falling in love, but I think I get it now. I used to say I didn't get marriage, and I think I get it now, because when you find that person whose spark fits your spark of light, you want the sparks to be together forever, to make a beautiful glowing light that will never fade.

Quiet Christians

So as I was driving to work today I saw this big Mack truck and it was of those ones that are for hire, so the driver has his own truck puller and he hitches on one of those really big box things to drive it around. (I know Karen is laughing now at my sad explanation of all things country.) Anyway, his truck puller thing had this BIG "And God is so good..." quote painted on the side. And I thought about how I just don't get that. What possesses some Christians to get all these crazy stickers or silver fishes or whatnot and plaster them all over their vehicles? I am SO not into this. It made me think of how there are so many Christians out there and the ones I respect the most don't do this fishes, t-shirts, stickers craziness. I have dubbed them the Quiet Christians. Because what does my God require of me? To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with my God. I think I am a quiet Christian.