last friday

Last friday night, a group of gals met a small group of lads at Eddie's Attic. We then enjoyed the musical talents of S. Carey . Not only did I finally see a show at Eddie's Attic (hello music history has been made there...and pretty sure John Mayer used to work the door there) but Rebekah made a good observation about Sean Carey. She thought it was neat how he and his 4 or 5 other musicians were creating music on stage. Now, that isn't to say that other musicians don't do that...they do, but something about the Sean Carey's music is so convoluted that it's almost as if you're listening to a modern orchestra tune and perform music. Regardless, give him a listen...you will be impressed, but also sleepy.

On an entirely different note,
Because this week is the prelude to the resurrection, I've been trying to keep the cross at the forefront of my mind. Meaning, I've been trying to avoid stress in the fact that not only is worrying unbiblical but Christ already won the war for me. So a full week of school is just an opportunity for God's grace to abound. And it has. And it probably will next week as well (hello final project of the semester). These two songs have helped me keep in a constant state of worship:

Place of Freedom:


Holy Spirit:

Attraction

via poppytalk

3.5 tons of petals to cover Costa Rica. A Volcano with flower lava? Check out the full post about it on poppytalk : http://www.poppytalk.com/2014/04/8-million-petals-over-costa-rica.html (for some reason my link was messing up. just copy and paste this into your browser)! This is totally unrelated to my post but I just had to share it as well.


You have your friends and you have your family. Most of your family you do not choose and the majority of your friends are the people that you choose to let in your life. Once I reached college it was entirely my choice for who I wanted to be my friends. Rarely do I make a conscious decision to make someone my friend (with a few kind of creepy instances...and now we're really good friends so I guess it worked!) a lot of times friendships just naturally happen. But lately I've been thinking about the idea of attraction in friendship. Don't let me lose you here...I'm not talking about having a guy friend and being attracted to him and then 'oh dang now the friendship is ruined' type of attraction. But...what initially attracted you to the person that you are friends with (or with whom you are friends? I always forget.)
I've heard so many guys defend themselves when talking about intially talking to a girl because she is pretty, "I can't just immediately know if that girl has great character...usually there's something that initially attracts you to a girl and looks ARE external..." And I get that. Girls think the same way...no one walks into a room and goes, "Okay who do I have the least amount in common with...and it would almost be like pulling teeth to try to have a conversation with that person...*scans room* THAT person. Okay I'm gonna go talk to her/him." But over the weekend I've had this discussion a couple of times.

Is it a bad thing to initially be friends with someone because of the way they look? or just because you were naturally drawn to them?

Now I can't answer that question because I honestly do not know. We are drawn to certain people and we can't always help that...it's just a natural tendency. But lately I've been thinking about the foolish weight that we cast onto people's looks. Or just their external identity. Do they listen to 'cool' music? Do they wear clothes that I like? Do they read books that I read? Do they do the things that I do too? Do they make me laugh? Do they make me feel happy? So we see people through our filter made by the flesh. What if we take a moment and think of a biblical/Christ-like view of the people around us? How many people are hurting and falling and are in hard times and we have completely overlooked them because they did not fit into the criteria of our "friends"? And that's the thing, I don't think most of us even do it on purpose, but it's as if we don't even SEE those people.

Christ loves the unlovables. We are the unlovables -- this was convicting. (shereadstruth)

"for ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23

We're all the same. Regardless of our clothes, regardless of our sense of humor, regardless of the things we do for fun...we're all the same. We aren't called to love people that make it easy to love. We're just called to love as Christ loves. These people that we overlook are not objects to be fixed by OUR presence in their life. We aren't better than these people and we certainly are not doing them a favor by being their friends. These people are just like ME. On the inside...they hurt. They stress. They have joy. They have pain. They talk. They cry. They laugh. They dance. They sing. They rejoice. They have bad days and they have good days. They're just like me. 

So it's not that I'm bashing myself and others for being accidentally close-minded about their friends...not at all. This is me realizing that we generally don't even do this on purpose. We are blind to the needs of others. I'm making it my prayer that my eyes be opened to SEE everyone. 

This may not even be something that bothers you or your struggle. All I know is that it has been a recent conviction. 

and then I remember...

I really did fly over the sea and go to the Land of Ire. I really did lay my body down on a rock and look into the crashing ocean many, many feet below me. I really did live in a cottage with a red door and make french press in the mornings. I really did hold a Harris Hawk (his name was Juan). I really did just take a hike to a castle...multiple times.

Ireland was real.

But so is Auburn.

And they are both beautiful in their own way.
Feeling thankful today, even if it's a crazy day. Life is just too beautiful not to announce that every once in a while.

uncool

I feel like 'cool' is such a loaded word. And who doesn't want to be the epitome of what it means to be cool? Whether it be a lifestyle, attitude, style, experiences (and and the list could go on), people can be cool in so many ways. But all of those ways are based on worldly things. And no one is cool 100% of the time. So when I watched 'Almost Famous' for the first time tonight (shocking. I know.) I was hit really hard by a certain quote:

"The only true currency

 in this bankrupt world

is the truth that we share 

with one another

when we are being uncool."

And there it is. Life is not about being cool. It's about being uncool with people who love you no matter what. The friends that stick around are the friends who still look at you with warm eyes and open arms at your most uncool moments. And those friends are only a tiny representation of how God looks at us. He doesn't want us to be cool, he wants us to be the way He made us...He wants us honest. 

Snow, snow

and my heart is full...

sunday thoughts

If you would have asked me about 3 years ago what my passions were, I would have told you exact answers. I would have said music for sure, and would have talked about how I wanted to be involved in the music business to some degree. I thought about majoring in audio engineering and reeeeeally wanted to go to Belmont. I was sure of who I was. I was relying on God and I knew what I wanted out of life. I was full of life! I wanted to discover and explore and experience things. So, yes, music was my plan. God had a different plan for me though. And I wound up at a school that I had initially not really wanted to go to because my whole family had gone (...I was that kid.) and I was in a major I didn't fully understand (actually still in that major). What happened between those 3 years and now? I don't know. I'm just learning not to blame anything or anyone but to just take life one day at a time.

Now. I have interests and ideas. But I don't have a specific passion. I don't have a plan. And that's scary. I've experienced some unexpected plot twists in the past 7 months and my life looks totally different than it used to. And that's where I remember God and His will. His plan is different than any plan I could imagine. His plan is perfect. His plan is reliable and His plan is better for me. So no, maybe I don't know what I want to do with my life. Maybe I don't love my major and I'm thinking I won't actually do much design after I graduate...but I DO know the type of person I want to be and I know that God knows who I am. And I think that's enough.

Fresh Breath

Well yeah, being outside is one of my favorites. I just tend to be cooped up in front of a computer screen (gag). 

I don't know why we do this. But sometimes, when humans are thrown extra responsibility, they stop doing things for fun and turn their attention to what is the most logical thing to do with their time. I get that sometimes you have to forego the things that make you happy in order to get what needs to be done (I get it. I totally do.). But I feel as though we forget to take care of ourselves outside of the normal, take a shower, eat healthy, and sleep type of things. A healthy mind is important too. So why not spend 10 minutes a day reading for fun? Why not a take weekend and go camping? Why not go to a restaurant and spend 3 hours eating your meal? Because I think when we take the time to take care of our mind and spirit, everything else begins to function in a better way. 

All of that to say. I love camping and haven't gone in a long time because of school. I am so happy to have the opportunity to go to college! But I'm learning that taking the time to pursue things just because they are fun...is a really healthy thing to do for a person. I feel better when I do it. So will you. Trust me. 

Let's just throw away our ideas of the perfect self and just do something for fun! No judgement, no guilt, just go and do it and take a deep breath and feel the life that God has given you inside of your lungs. Life is a blessing. Go live it.