Applicable

I am taking a personal development class this semester. We are reading Scott Peck's book
"The Road Less Traveled." Today in class we came across his section titled "Love Is Separateness." This section (see below) is not by the author but by Kahlil Gibran It is something that really struck accord with me today. Just thought I would share it with you because I am so bad at blogging! There is a good chance that it may mean nothing to you but it had some relevance to me today!.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you

Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each others keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each others shadow.*

Sus Strikes Again

Ok... I have to share this story because it is just too good to not tell a friend. So thanks for reading. I am taking an online class this semester which I new from the start was a bad choice. The reason I am still in it is because it is one of the last classes in fact the last class I need for my major. Silly Psychology. The moral of the story is we have online exams. Way more stressful than regular in class exams because you have 40 Min's and you can kind of use your book ( so you frantically search for the answers you don't know... which is most). Basically it is a time set aside four times in the semester for one heck of a panic attack. Today I am suppose to take an exam before noon. Last night I looked online at the practice exams and this morning was up at 7 reading and sipping coffee. Off to a pretty decent start until... dun dun dun. I decide to take the exam. As it turns out in opening the practice exams last night I actually opened the real one. So the timer began and I didn't even know it. Then I proceeded to walk away from my computer to talk on the phone and engage in other acts of procrastination. Little did I no this morning when i logged on to take the test that I had already used my 40 Min's to take it. Thus giving me a whopping score of 0/56 or something... Pretty impressive. fortunately I let the timer go all night and maybe my prof can see that I took 9 hours to take the test and didn't fill any in. I am praying she lets me do something!!! EEEK! Have I mentioned how much I love Monday's?????

I call this Sus Strikes again because I quick took the first exam before my trip and even though i answered all the questions my score wasn't all that higher.

There is probably also irony in skipping yoga because I'm too stressed.... Math Quiz heck yeah!!

Woah Cap n' gown

Today my friend DUNa and I went to our schools Grad Fair. We walked around sampling a variety of unique food samples while filling our little goody bags full of all the free stuff we could get our hands on without being "those girls." I think overall it was a success. We left with some coupons, notebooks (the edgewater notebook is my personal fav.), also DUNa grabbed a basketball! PRETTY SWEET if you ask me. We also are now owners of these stellar little change holders that probably max out after about 3 dollars worth of quarters! So be looking for those dangling off of our key chains and backpacks! The real kicker of all this grad fair excitement was picking up our tassels. We are both equally disappointed with our tassel color. DUNa gets a really pretty brown ( I mean I actually like it and offered to trade). Mine is Gold... probably because when it comes to academics I receive the GOLD star ( that makes me like it a little )! I am thinking that perhaps my first protest will be that of equal tassel rights. Like "let me pick my own color for Pete sake!" I tell you what I would choose ... that of the cultural studies major. They have a beautiful peacock teal!

The whole topic of graduation is a real tense one for me.... basically because it doesn't seem real. I walked around the grad fair today feeling like oh... DUNa is graduating. She feels like she is going to graduate. I don't know why but I am still waiting for the bottom to drop out. Not really sure why... not a lot of bad things happen to me... mostly good actually...I'm pretty lucky... I am just concerned that something will happen to set me back. Why am i worried about time anyway.... (I want to get better at living life "in my own good time"). It will also be weird to walk for graduation only to the following Monday start taking more classes at UMD. I will be 6 credits or 2 classes short. I am completely fine with this however because that means at least an extra month in Duluth.....One time in conversation I measured that in Sundays. I said that will be another good four Sundays up here so that's OK.... WOW I am the definition of "special treat."

Blogging Slump

I have hit it. I have hit it all too soon. This blogging slump. Maybe it is because I have so much on my plate at the moment... or maybe its because I am just plain and simple... not inspired. I guess I have a lot to learn from those who are good at writing entertaining things for me to read each day. There is is a time (that being now)when we must fess up to the fact that... that person will never be me! I am thinking of what would best fill this page. Would it be free associating with words or perhaps ink blots left for your interpretation... Maybe some poetry that I wrote when I went through that faze of writing... Or maybe some words of wisdom from my friend Jack Handy. These all seem like reasonable solutions ... I'll stick with that.

A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then you call the guy and hold the burning fuse up to the phone. "Hear that?" you say. "That's dynamite, baby."

~Jack Handy

Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment"? I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games.

~Jack Handy

multi tasking

I am currently At Sara's Table where I am blogging, reading/writing a sermon, drinking coffee, and aggressively consuming a hummus sandwich. I picked off the tomato's.... I order them in hopes that I will have a little each time and maybe someday actually like them. I also am sick of being that girl who orders a meal but then asks for everything that is served with it to be removed. ( My many years as a waitress has inspired this movement.) I am getting good at eating the small diced ones but have yet to master the ginormous red round slices ( as seen on my sandwich). So for now I just leave them on my pizza but pick them off my hummus sandwich. I talk about this like you care....
Anyway the multi tasking.... It feels really good to be overwhelmed with things I enjoy for once. The post trip work load has been quite overwhelming and I am by no means finished. Last night there was finally a break in the action... I went out to eat with two of my roommates and then went home and was in bed before 8:00. Today I have been going strong since 7:00am and much to my servers dissatisfaction I have been in this large wooden booth since 9:00. Ill make up for it in my tip!
My sermon is going to be on temptation (Jesus in the wilderness etc...) I am in awe of all the amazing propositions Jesus received from the Devil....So many times Jesus could have took the money and ran if you know what I mean... I see this currently with my to do list... There is a lot of easy ways out like "An Offer Hard to Refuse" ( I think that's my sermon tittle). I would much rather be out singing karaoke, ice skating, or catching a movie with my friends but I cant do that! I wont let myself! Right now... I am forced to sit at my desk or in a coffee shop crying over algebra and biology. I however am optimistic.... My eyes are on the prize... This sermon writing business is reminding me of why I am finishing college instead of running away crying. I need to make it through this last semester so that I can go on to do what it is I believe I am called to spend the rest of my life doing.... make sense?

This is personal blog therapy today I think!

ommmm

Today I woke up at 4:30am. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that perhaps I am not yet back to my regular schedule. I can't decide if its left over jet lag or just anxiety about my first day back at school. I think its probably fair to say that both are playing a significant role in my status. I have Yoga in less than an hour. One would think that this would be a good thing. Relaxing, energizing, etc... However... I am a fool when it comes to Yoga. I have a bumper sticker on my desk that says "I'm Knot into Yoga"! There are very specific reasons for this. Each time I make a complete fool of myself. Its the tree pose that really gets me. I cant stand up worth a darn. Then I do that awkward I'm embarrassed laugh and in return get shot with eye bullets from the instructor. Turns out I'm not cut out for downward facing dog or the warrior pose either. I guess I am seeking meditation. Today I would kill for it. I am thinking that someday when I take over the world and start my own University it will be fully equipped with a prayer/meditation room. I think I am suffering from prayer withdrawal. Or as I come off the mountain from my trip I am longing for that thickness The Holy Land provided for me. Who knows really.
Today I am really sad that my friend Becca is leaving. It shouldn't be a big deal but I am making it one. Today the people at Walmart made me cry. Who knows whats next. Yoga probably... hehehe... Putting on my tough girl mask and going to face the the world of big mirrors and sticky mats. I think maybe later Ill crawl in my gym locker and have a serious discussion with God.

Don't Tell Ric

Pastor Ric and several others thought this trip would be an amazing experience. I has been. I only have two days of travel, exploration, and speakers left.. This trip has only scratched the surface of what I would like to know and understand about the political situation and just my history and everything else.

What I will take from this trip however is so far from what I came here for. So far from what I feel Pastor Ric wants me to take home.

These People are amazing. The people I am traveling with are sooo wonderful. They have just taken me under their wings and I am running with it like I always do. For some reason "Store up your treasures in Heaven" comes to mind. I have amazing connections. I already feel truly blessed with the people I have supporting me. That number has doubled this past week and a half. I can't describe these people and the amount of encouragement they have shared with me in this short time.

I have learned more about my United Methodist background than I thought I would. My roommates will be disheartened to hear that I am even more proud than when I left and they couldn't quite tolerate it. Most importantly I have learned that people are human. These People are human. A lot of things that I was unsure about have been made clear by them. Its Epiphany after Epiphanyor bonk on the head after bonk on the head. Linda... you may be disappointed in me... I have been enjoying the nights with these clergy to their full potential... (talk about putting my foot in my mouth) **Hopefully you are getting what I'm talking to you about in code here....** Michelle has probably figured it out... You are right.. Things taste better over here... I have learned to like new things...

Its Raining Men

wow... let me tell you... I have had some unique experiences in these last few days. Now I don't claim to be that drop dead gorgeous American but when you are traveling with a group where the avg. age is 50ish one becomes more appealing.

We have had a hard last two days... Yesterday we visited a refugee camp .. I met my friend and soon trouble Mohammad. He was my age and a student at the university... moving to china this summer.... :( Becca can relate....hehehe Anyway.. I was totally not interested but we began to small talk.. we had a lot in common. However... this became annoying when he was right over my shoulder all the time we were there.... So to me this was really no big deal.. on this pilgrimage we are encouraged to get to know the locals and have challenging conversations... we were discussing the ever so ridiculous wall that divides this country and its people. I also learned many things about his situation and life... deep stuff... but as we would walk through the camp other boys his age (our age) would laugh and point and say things to him at Hebrew..... There was no doubt in my mind that these laughs and comments were about me... you know the ol ooooOOOooo's and what not.... Fortunately for me I have adopted parents on this trip.... Fritz and Liz... Two amazing individuals who call me their own. ANYWAY... we were in the camp art gallery when I just began to feel really awkward/uncomfortable... other individuals in the group were noticing but were also laughing because lets be honest it was amusing. The moral of the story is i clinged to my daddy and he stared the boy down... it meant nothing to the boy because he obviously didn't get the msg when he asked me for my e mail address but I spent the rest of this adventure arm in arm with my dear Fritz.

To give you a little side note about Fritz: I asked him to take pictures of me two days ago swimming in the Dead Sea. He tool about five pictures of his face because he held my camera backwards... a real winner if you ask me!

Day 4

GOOD DAY!
This has to be a quick one because I shared my internet time..... We did Bet She'an it was the most ruins and remnants I have seen in one place thus far. We climbed a huge huge hill that is made of at least 20 old city's. AMAZING... We also st oped at the Jordan River followed by Tabgha where we went to the church of the multiplication (You know when Jesus fed the multitude with 2 McFish Pa ttys and 5 McDonalds buns...) We also when to the Church of Primacy -St. Peter... where Jesus made "the first breakfast after the last supper" My fav. quote of the day is Ken the Bishops Husband... here is a sample of one of our many dialogues today..
KEN: Hey Susie... do you know where the rock is that Jesus cooked the fish on?

Sus: Rumor has it is in the church I haven't been in yet.
KEN: Yeah... I totally would have choose that rock too (referring to a rock literally) You know.. nice rock with the gas hook up right there and all

HE is too funny! We also did Capernaum and then went sailing on the sea of Galilee... It was great it rained hard..
Tomarrow we are off to the wilderness and the Dead Sea... switching hotels so not sure of the internet situation.

Jet Lag

Still So tired... but making the best of my time here. Today we visited Megiddo. We were here for a very short time but learned of its long history... 25 layers of city's are here. The would be where Pharaohs army did a sneak attack to take over the city. This site is cited in Rev. 16:16. W

Today we had two lectures one was at the house of peace in Shfaram. We visited and were served Palestinian meal... i actually ate this one... rice beans, and the best hummus I have ever had. I feel in love with the founders granddaughter... she was sooo cute and we flirted with each other from across the room. Before I left she counted to ten in English for me and said I love you. That's all she knows... ADORABLE!!!

Our last stop for the day was the Mt. of the Beatitudes. Where we actually heard Jesus give us the sermon on the mt. hehehe just kidding.... There was a group of Asians walking around playing guitar and violin and singing... It was very beautiful... palm trees everywhere and kind of foggy.... SO PEACEFUL!

Overall a good day... im still sooooo ridiculously tired... My bed is a lot like those at camp. I tool to mattresses and stacked them but they are soooo firm.... Last night was full of crazy dreams of being left behind or forgotten... is that symbolic... hopefully not.... I am taking in all the smells. Most are good... its the ones of food that make me go... ugh... what am i going to have to eat.....

City on a hill

WOW... SO HERE I AM... feet away from the sea of Galilee. This is crazy excitement! Today we were all over. We were awake all night on the plain and spent all day touring near Nazareth. We saw some amazing art, and some amazing buildings and spent some time by the Mediterranean sea. I even got my feet wet... GOOD TIMES EH?

The thing that stood out most about today was the city's after dark... This is very hilly country and all of the buildings and lights are soooo close together. You can see a city for miles. There are many city's in this area that claim to be the city on the hill from the common scripture but not one surpasses the other in beauty.... It reminds me of the cute little song "you've got to stay bright to be the light of the world... so let your light so shine before men..." Great Tune.... Also there is a full moon tonight right above our little hotel room huts... IT makes the sea look marvelous!!!

As for food. I plan to loose weight... *wrinkles nose and sticks out tongue a little*
I am doing surprisingly well in the journal and photo department... I give myself three stars.... This is all for now cause I am timed online and I have no idea how much time I have left... I need to read you girls' blogs!