ABC of Growing Up

There, there, baby
It’s just text book stuff
It’s in the ABC of growing up
Now, now, darlin’
Oh don’t lose your head
'Cause none of us were angels
And you know I love you, yeah
~Speeding Cars, Imogen Heap

Earlier this week, while in Colorado, a friend made the comment that the line between being young and foolish and old and stupid was a very thin line. I thought and still think that line happens at 25 (and because I'm 25, I would like to perhaps make a petition that line be moved to 27 so that I can have two more years and young and foolish behavior). It seems like the time between college and 25 is like the grace period given with your student loans, you can still be an idiot and it's acceptable. Shortly after 25, grace for the same mistakes is harder and harder to come by and the consequence for foolish decisions have a much higher price tag.

At what point do we really learn? If given a similar situation and similar circumstances, will it produce similar results? Will we alwyas fight the same battles and the same insecurities? How do we grow up, buck up and make those necessary changes that move you from foolish to wise?

Catching Up

Due to the very busy nature of the past, oh, month or so, the last few days have been a chance for me to catch my breath and begin the slow process of catching up on everything that's fallen to the side--sleep, bills, friends, family, work etc. It's a process. I've found that the longer I go doing the little maintenency things the harder it is to do something completely in one go.

Example One: Before I had a Washer and Dryer, I would wait forever to do my laundry because I didn't want to lug it to the laundry room, but it would take forever before all my clothes were clean. Example two: The longer I went between cleaning out the fridge meant an evening wasted and a couple trips to the dumpster. Example Three: The longer I waited to take my car into the shop meant a MUCH more expensive repair bill.

Usually, the longer I waited to do something and the more things piled up, the less discriminating I would be. I just wanted to be finished with the cumbersome task. Who cares if I just bought those carrots and does it really matter if this new shirt is washed on the wrong setting? At least it's all finished right?

Can the same be true of friends who stop keeping in touch? I've been thinking about this a little bit since I ran into a friend at the Gathering whom I hadn't really talked to in about 6 months and another friend whom I recently emailed that I hadn't talked to in a few years. All the little things that make up the everyday get forgotten or simply glossed over and in an effort to "catch up," life is shortened to two or three sentences, "Yes I'm still in Oklahoma City, DCE-ing, yes I'm still single, yes I'm still enjoying what I do".

It does seem a little bit like the pile of laundry that can build up when you don't keep at it. The process of getting it finished is so overwhelming that everything gets lumped together. The process of actually truly catching up with someone is so overwhelming that it's easier to give the one or two sentence response as opposed to the "we should go to lunch and truly catch up" response.

The other way that catching up, like doing laundry, is successful is if you keep at it. No more waiting until mom comes to visit and does the laundry for you and no more waiting and waiting until opportunities deliver your friends to your front doors to do the catching up.

Late night musings

It's late here. I've been listening to my "Best with a cup of tea and a journal" playlist for a good couple of hours hoping that it would inspire some sleep.

I think I'm too keyed up to sleep and having left my phone in New Mexico, my outlet (friends with incredible listening capabilities) are inaccessible and so I decided to head to the kitchen, make a cup of tea and journal--which is exactly the purpose of my playlist. Perhaps if I'd titled it "music to dream to"I could be sleeping now.

Last week at this time, our 7 middle schoolers, 2 adults and I had a full day of service under our belts while working at a servant event in Angel Fire, New Mexico. It was the first time I'd ever done a synod planned servant event and I was impressed. I loved the members of the church at Angel Fire, mainly for their hospitality and generosity. They called us their "david and goliath group": one of the smallest and youngest to come, but those that accomplished the most. I loved the chance to get to know the middle schoolers that went and can't wait for the opportunities that will happen this year. A couple of my kids truly have servants' hearts and hearts set towards Jesus and for that I'm thankful.

This time next week, I'll have been on a bus bound for Orlando for a little over 18 hours with 26 high schoolers and 5 other adults. It's hard to believe that after 10 months of planning, prayers and fundraising that it's nearly here. While I'm excited, I'm also getting a little stessed about the minor details, the things that I can't necessarily control; The kids who didn't earn enough fundraising that are having to pay out of pocket, the parents who are upset at the expense of the trip, the youth that has only made it to one meeting this year and will miss our mandatory meeting on Sunday night.

Still, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to spending the quality time with my youth, experiencing the gathering with my little sister (who arrives tomorrow night-yippee!), the growth that I know will happen, the inside jokes that will be made, and the impact that 30,000 youth worshipping together makes.

I'm also SO excited for the opportunity to see friends. Most of my college friends are bringing groups and I'm looking forward to running into them, if not spending some time with them at the CUNE reunion day. It's hard to believe that three years ago in Orlando, most of us had only just started on internship and now, we're the "seasoned professionals"(or as Jules says we're the "slightly seasoned professionals").

I guess that's all for now. If you want to keep up with my group's happenings at the gathering, check out our blog, nygbound.blogspot.com starting next Thursday for daily updates and pictures (hopefully).

Off to find some sleep...

Pictures

Well friends, it's been awhile and maybe a while before another post. So here are some pictures from the recent trip to Angelfire, New Mexico with my middle schoolers...

Photos (You don't need to have facebook to see them)

More later.

Ps. I left my cell phone in New Mexico, so if you've been trying to get a hold of me, I haven't been ignoring you... I promise.

Confirmation

This past year, I taught the 6th grade Old and New Testament as part of confirmation. After grading the last take home test this past week, I laughed out loud at some of the answers and some of the responses from these 6th graders over the past year.

On Song of Solomon
Hannah: Why do you think God created human sexuality?
6th grade boy: For Entertainment

On the Epistles:
Test question: What are the two types of Epistles? How are they different?
6th grade girl: They are different because they are the teaching letters and thank you letters.
6th grade boy: The Pauline epistles and the catholic epistles. The are different because the catholic letters are ACTUALLY books of the Bible.

On the Epistles:
Test Question: What does this verse mean? how does it relate to today?
6th grade boy: "... it means that we have a bad side that tells us what to do. DON'T DO IT. Today it means if somebody tells us to do drugs, we shouldn't do them"
Same Boy, different verse:.... "it means that God gives us good things, like my new phone."

On Saul/Paul:
Test Question: Who was Saul/Paul called to witness to?
6th grade boy: To the Lord
Test Question: Paul was called to witness to the Gentiles. What is a gentile?
Same boy: Someone who believes that violence is wrong.

Perhaps next year we'll spend more time on the epistles...