I really enjoyed blogging this summer from Prague, so I thought perhaps I should keep it up. This will most likely be quite different from my other blog...less exciting European adventures to record...but then again, all of life is an adventure. My guess is that this will blog will more often feature lyrics, quotes, books I'm reading, music I'm listening to, possibly thoughts on life...but who knows yet? We'll see where it goes.
I'm back in Greensboro, back in school, starting my junior year. It's hard to believe how much has happened and changed in two years of college. Grace and blessing have been poured out on me here beyond what I could have ever foreseen or hoped.
Things that are good about being back:
1) My HOUSE!
It is quite old and lovely (and happens to be a Greensboro historical monument, oddly enough). I share it with Lauren and Megan, a wonderful pair of twins and fellow dancers. I have a fireplace (nonfunctional) in my room and a front porch swing- you can't get much better than that.
I'm really thankful I decided to move out of the dorm when I did. It would be hard to come back from a city apartment to a dormitory. So far I'm really enjoying the solitude of living off campus. Now if I can just learn to become a spectacular cook, life will be delightful. Thus far I am living on pasta, omlettes, and cereal. My friend Laura in Prague had a cookbook called "How to Become a Domestic Goddess".....I am happily working torwards that goal these days, and I am confident that it will eventually be accomplished someday!
2) My FRIENDS!
This picture is of a reunion celebration on the sidewalk of TCBY. Yummy. As I write this, we're sitting here having a heated debate about the values of Community vs. Individualism/Independence, which gradually moved into a broad discussion about the nature of heaven and eternity. Yeah, it's amazing. Seriously, I have a great circle of intellectually and spiritually stimulating friends...we just sit around and talk about things like this for hours sometimes. I've undoubtedly learned more from these conversations than from any of my academic classes, and I'm so thankful for the blessing of their friendship.
3) Spring Garden Community Church!
That place is home, and I have missed it greatly. Being back Sunday felt marvelous.
Things that are not so good about being back:1) Classes
Bah, humbug. Need I say more? But seriously, on the bright side, despite the loads of homework I see looming in my future. these classes do seem very valuable. I'm taking things like "Dance Education" and "Linguistics for Teachers." So hopefully that means I will learn how to teach dance and English this semester. And that actually feels useful, for once.
2) Work
The library at 8:00 AM. What a dreadful thought.
3)Missing Friends
The sad thing about reuniting with old friends is the enhanced realization of those who are are missing from the reunion. I keep thinking about my graduated friends from UNCG have moved onto graduate school in Texas, the Navy, missions in Kenya, marriage, and working life... or my camp friends that I haven't seen in months... or the WHM interns that are off working and studying in Texas, Maryland, Philadelphia, and Tennessee...or all my friends in Prague that are seperated from me by a vast ocean. There are so many reminders of each of them every day, and it's a battle sometimes to rejoice for the time that they were a part of my story and not mourn their absence in my present life.
4) Missing Prague
I'll probably write more about this later...I have a feeling it might be a reoccuring theme this year. Being the introverted mountain girl that I am, I never thought I would long for the city life, but I do now. My street seems quiet and my life seems ordinary. I miss the bustling, vibrant, active, colorful spirit of Prague. I miss my friends there greatly. I even miss the things that seemed strange and unfamiliar there, because now they are more distinctly lacking here.
I am ever so thankful that God is the same, my unfailing Rock and my Refuge, my point of continuity from this summer to my life as it is now.
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book of the moment: "Searching for God Knows What," by Donald Miller (who is perhaps more well known for his "Blue Like Jazz"). Quite good...an emphasis on the relational nature of the gospel.
song of the moment: "Rock of Ages," the Sandra McCracken version. I would highly recommend her album "The Builder and the Architect." Beautiful stuff.
the tangle of the heart
