we have a winner!

I finally got to vote yesterday after work. With no line. Of course. I could have saved myself the trouble of going in the morning, made coffee at home, and gotten to sleep a little bit longer if I had known that. It was fun though. For the first time, (out of the two national elections I have ever voted in...this being the second) I felt like I made an informed decision and played a part in last night's outcome.

As a history nerd, I was so excited about Obama's win. Think about the historic implications of his win. The first African-American president. Think about where we were as a nation less than 75 years ago. How amazing! I haven't fully processed through all of my thoughts on this topic but I'm excited. I'm looking forward to 20 years from now when I can look back and see how things changed after Obama's election. I'm looking forward to being able to talk to my children about what it was like to be in Chicago for this occasion. Awesome.

all that jazz

Happy Election Day!

Today is the first time I feel like I've had any real interest or concern about the outcome of an election so I was all excited to get up, vote, get my free coffee from Starbucks and then head off to work. That was the plan anyway. As it happened, I got up, got in line to vote, left the line without voting because I was going to be late for work (which I was anyway), paid for coffee at Starbucks and came to work, annoyed at everything that had transpired. Not quite how I pictured it. So now I have to go stand in line at the polls after work instead of going to the gym. That isn't really the work out I was hoping to get but oh well. There really isn't much I can do about it now.

Currently, I am sitting in a classroom, listening to 14 guitar students practice one of two different songs all at the same time. Quite the experience, I must say.

Anyway. I'm looking forward to finding out the results of the election and hope the day does not crawl by as a result of having to wait.

Today could shape up to be an interesting day.

bubble, bubble pasta pot

Today is going to be a posting of random things. I have had things I've thought of posting about but none of them seemed substantial enough to warrant their own post. So buckle up, bear with me, and enjoy the ride!

1. I finished reading The Godfather yesterday. I found it to be a well-written book in the sense that you really feel like you are a part of the world the characters inhabit. The syntax is uncomplicated and simple and it is similar to how mafia characters are often portrayed to speak: in short, concise sentences. Well done Mr. Puzo. Now I just have to see the movie.

2. Happy Halloween!

3. I have been reading a lot of different books recently (it happens when you have inordinate amounts of free time at your job) and several themes keep coming out that are intriguing to me and have caused me to have to wrestle with my own beliefs. What is the idea of calling? What is God calling me to do? What do I believe about God and how God causes change to happen in us? How do I become self-aware without becoming self-absorbed? Lots of questions that I don't necessarily have the answers to. I have a collection of people's thoughts on the topics but I am currently in process of figuring out what that means for me. I'm learning to trust. I'm learning to continue on the journey of life without becoming overwhelmed by these questions. I don't have to know everything right now. I can't just sit down, take a break from life and not continue to travel until I solve everything I'm struggling with. It's actually somewhat refreshing to realize that. Life doesn't stop for me. I keep going and it is good.

4. I have a sneaking suspicion I am getting sick. That does not excite me so I hope it's just a one day thing.

5. Brian Williams was on Sesame Street this morning. I only watched for about 5 minutes or so but it was fun. He was reporting on a disease afflicting everyone on the Street called "mine-itis". And every time Elmo referred to him, he called him "Mr. Brian Williams"

a little morning music

I just wanted to share the last two songs I heard this morning before getting to work. If these don't get you ready to work or go to class, I don't know what will!




This was first. Followed by this one:



Enjoy!

only hope

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now you're my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing
And laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

I give You my destiny
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs
I'm giving it back

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

I heard this song this morning. Switchfoot captured what's in my heart.

what's this I smell?

When I came into work this morning, I was welcomed by the smell of sewage wafting through the main office (where my office is). What a lovely way to start a Monday morning. I do want to share what one of my coworkers said about it. It didn't make the smell go away but it makes it more fun...

"John Wayne Gacy is back and has at least a hundred bodies buried under the floor here"

That must be it.

that's about the size of it

I am in the midst of an interesting situation. I'm sitting in a classroom (AP European History), supervising the students as they do the work left for them by their regular teacher--nothing really out of the ordinary except it's not just "the usual". They're working on a Venn diagram that compares Luther and Calvin and are studying for a test on the Reformation. There is a pair of students discussing their personal beliefs on religion. How you know if religious beliefs are true, where does good living fit it, how they feel about others who try to convert them, and their views on the role of God in their life. This is taking place across from the room conversations about the specifics of Luther's theology and how it is similar to and different from Calvin's.

Listening to all of this going on (and these are sophomores) I don't understand why many youth ministries neglect theological discussions and focus more on having fun. Is it because we don't think adolescents are capable of discussing theology deeply? Is it that we are scared because it might take us into territory we ourselves are not sure of, to a place where we don't have all the answers? Why do we simplify Christianity? Why do we tell young people they have to live one certain way as followers of Christ? That they have to listen to certain kinds of music and not use certain words and only hang out with certain people? We often do not allow them to wrestle with these kinds of questions. We don't introduce them to church history so the only place they learn about Luther and Calvin is if they happen to take a European History class that includes the topic of the Reformation. When a class assignment is prompting spontaneous discussions about theology, that should at least hint to us that young people are capable of much more than we often give them credit for.

just some thoughts.