Feb 26, 2008

I want to be in bed in 46 minutes.

Sweet relief. My paper is done. Turned in online. I will not look at it again until it is returned with a grade on top. I can honestly say I worked hard on this paper. I can honestly say I tried my best to write. I can honestly say I spent my Friday night writing for 7 hours. I did get distracted a lot in those 7 hours...but still. I worked a lot.

I have much that I want to write about. My thoughts are flowing. However, I have reading to do and flashcards to make and study. I will leave you with this...

My senior nursing major friend Becky and I went out to dinner to have some quality friend time. In talking about nursing school, as I am just beginning and she is reaching the end, we were talking about the fun and the not-so-fun that goes into the major. She said "Nursing majors don't have a normal college experience at this school. You just have a different schedule."

It makes me sad. I want to remember college as fun. I want to remember the experience. But does my major prevent that? I study a lot. I wake up early. I tell people to be quiet if they are loud past midnight. I get cranky. I keep my door shut. I feel like a bad RA. I feel like I don't do well in classes - even though my grades show different. I don't have a lot of heart to put into my work. It's really hard to be half-assed in my day to day life.

But by golly, I WILL put in a catheter in two days.

Feb 22, 2008

With A Little Help From My Friends

I am writing a paper. If you have input, please let me know. Here is the prompt.

In Early Medieval Art, Lawrence Nees writes: “Over the tomb of St. Martin of Tours the visitor could have read: ‘Here lies Martin the bishop, of holy memory, whose soul is in the hand of God: but he is fully here, present and made plain in miracles of every kind.’ The inscription encapsulates many of the fundamental themes of the cult of the saints: the physical body, remembrance, intimate connection to God, miracles, and living presence among the faithful who come to his tomb” (117). Write an essay in which you consider how a particular culture’s view of ontology informs or shapes their attitude toward the material world, using at least two specific examples of art and/or architecture. (Their attitude toward the material world can include their understanding and treatment of that realm.)

HELP.

Feb 20, 2008

What Lost Character Are You?

Intrigued by this question, I naturally took the Facebook quiz to find out which of my favorite people in the whole wide world (or is it purgatory!?) I am.

The questions were hilarious. This was my personal favorite.

If your friends were in trouble, you would:
Kick ass and take names.
Exploit their weaknesses and use them to your advantage.
Talk them through it.
Drink, start yelling, then get to it eventually.
Let the universe sort it out.
Drown.

My first instinct was to put number 1. But let's be honest, I only wish I could be like the Others. Then I wanted to put "drown" just so I could be Charlie in the end. Poor Charlie.

For your information, my "ideal" Lost character is Kate.

My actual character is CLAIRE!? Who knew.

Description being:
You are sweet and sometimes flakey. Prone to many styles and phases, you have one consistency: your genuineness. You speak your mind always, and you're not afraid to tell people what you think. Also, you may have an evil baby.

Buzz kill.

Feb 2, 2008

Where I Stood

something told me to run...
there were sounds in my head,
little voices whispering
that I should go and this should end
...and I found myself listening


The song is about leaving. Leaving someone behind who you love. Not entirely applicable to my life right now, but it mirrors what is happening internally.

I am unsettled. There is something inside grating at the edges, and I feel it. The voice that tells me to go a new direction, that there is something "out there" that needs to be seen. And I'm allowing myself to listen - and ending up rather torn.

I think I've become too comfortable where I am. Life is easy here. Life is safe here. And while feeling safe is never a bad thing, I truly believe that God has never intended for us to live in safety for long. Following Christ is giving up a life of comfort and safety and stability. He had "no place to lay His head", and He interacted with the lepers and the tax collectors and those who led lives that didn't mirror His.

Like Mr. Beaver said: "Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus to see what was required of him to get into heaven, he claimed to have followed the rules. He had kept the commandments, stayed within the boundaries - saying he had done what was necessary for salvation. I love Jesus' reaction to him in Mark 10.
Jesus looked at him and loved him.

And then, He tells the ruler to give everything has away. To free himself of the worldly comforts he possessed, to bless others through his sacrifice. And then, once that was done, Jesus had one more thing the ruler must do.

Then come, follow me.

Jesus asked for his followers to give up comforts and conveniences. A place to sleep, a guaranteed meal or drink of water, safety from religious figures. The life He lived was radical.

I don't know what it means. I don't know if it's my own selfish voice talking, or if it's Him telling me to stop being my own rich young ruler. The only thing that I am certain of is that I don't dare go against His path.

God, teach me lessons for living
so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
I love traveling this freeway!
Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
---(Psalm 119:33-37)