The last 2 days, Sally and I have watched Cloud Atlas. A 2012 movie that is one story woven through 6 time periods. It is a movie that must be watched several times to catch deeper and interwoven plots. I am fascinated with its commentary on the power structure of the modern world. One of the themes as it flashes through several different time periods is that "boundaries are conventions," and that boundaries are to be transcended.
But what does this look like?
What are the boundaries that we are presented with?
What are the boundaries with which I keep myself constrained?
What are boundaries that I need to transcend for myself? That I need to help others transcend?
What are social and political conventions that no longer work and need to be brought down?
Who are the people who are my allies?
More questions than answers.
More pondering is required.
However, there are small steps I can take in transcending the boundaries I constrain myself with.
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Friday, June 07, 2013
So now it is Friday
Well, it is Friday and I haven't posted in a couple days. Life has gotten busy and I remember that I haven't blogged just about the time I am ready to go to bed. After a day of hiking, haircuts, hanging with the elementary kids at church, and honoring a high school graduate, I am taking a few minutes to write.
Tomorrow I must spend time working on my exam for my Christian Educator Certification. I have some writing to do. Some of the writing is very much about me focusing on what my passions are, how they are informed by my academic knowledge, and how they play out in the life of the church.
I need to put more of myself into this project and let my passions come across. Hope to post some of the work tomorrow.
Tomorrow I must spend time working on my exam for my Christian Educator Certification. I have some writing to do. Some of the writing is very much about me focusing on what my passions are, how they are informed by my academic knowledge, and how they play out in the life of the church.
I need to put more of myself into this project and let my passions come across. Hope to post some of the work tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
oops
So I got caught up in listening to the OU Women's softball game against Tennessee for the national title last night and forgot to write anything. Makes me want to change a quote from Airplane to "looks like I picked the wrong week to start blogging everyday." Oh well, like I said the first night, this isn't about being perfect, it is about getting started.
I also spent a lot of time yesterday reading other blogs, particularly ones on organization. I am fascinated with organization and I think there are some incredible ideas, but I need to figure out ways to help myself stay organized. I have tried lots of different things, but I find that they get cumbersome. So here's to finding ideas and trying to adapt them to fit my not so organized style.
I also spent a lot of time yesterday reading other blogs, particularly ones on organization. I am fascinated with organization and I think there are some incredible ideas, but I need to figure out ways to help myself stay organized. I have tried lots of different things, but I find that they get cumbersome. So here's to finding ideas and trying to adapt them to fit my not so organized style.
Monday, June 03, 2013
What a day
No earth shattering information today, just lots of frustration with my car. Last night I went out to my car and it would not start. I called my dad to let him listen to it. He thought it was the battery. I was frustrated because of how my car was parked and it would be only possible to jump the battery with extra long cables and it really didn't do me any good to call on a Sunday night as no place would be open anyway.
I had decided to wait until morning. However, on a whim while walking the dog once last time for the night, I tried starting my car. First, I flipped on the headlights and they came on. I tried to turn the ignition over and it whirred like before. I tried it again and it tried to turn over. The third time it turned over, but died quickly. On the fourth time, the car fired much to my surprise.
I grabbed the dog and put her in the car and jumped in to keep it running and went for a drive. I called my dad again and talked to him for a minute. Yes, I needed to drive for a while to give the alternator a chance to charge the battery a bit. I drove up and down Mo-Pac and 183 for about 30 minutes, very glad that I had filled the gas tank a few days before.
I got home and decided that I would get up early, take care of the dog and then pray the car would start so I could drive to the dealership. I had phone numbers for a couple of options for jump starting my car and I had been smart enough to back into the parking place so jump starting the car was actually a possibility.
Much to my relief, the car started this morning on the 2nd try. So I drove to the dealership to get a new battery and to go ahead with the next 5k service which was close to being due anyway. Then there was an hour wait to get the shuttle to work and later in the day, a 2 hour wait after calling from work to get a shuttle to take me back to the dealer.
So at the end of the day, I drove out of the dealership with a new battery, tires rotated, oil changed, an alignment and wheel balance, so hopefully the mechanical issues are taken care of for awhile. I so didn't need to add that to my day.
I had decided to wait until morning. However, on a whim while walking the dog once last time for the night, I tried starting my car. First, I flipped on the headlights and they came on. I tried to turn the ignition over and it whirred like before. I tried it again and it tried to turn over. The third time it turned over, but died quickly. On the fourth time, the car fired much to my surprise.
I grabbed the dog and put her in the car and jumped in to keep it running and went for a drive. I called my dad again and talked to him for a minute. Yes, I needed to drive for a while to give the alternator a chance to charge the battery a bit. I drove up and down Mo-Pac and 183 for about 30 minutes, very glad that I had filled the gas tank a few days before.
I got home and decided that I would get up early, take care of the dog and then pray the car would start so I could drive to the dealership. I had phone numbers for a couple of options for jump starting my car and I had been smart enough to back into the parking place so jump starting the car was actually a possibility.
Much to my relief, the car started this morning on the 2nd try. So I drove to the dealership to get a new battery and to go ahead with the next 5k service which was close to being due anyway. Then there was an hour wait to get the shuttle to work and later in the day, a 2 hour wait after calling from work to get a shuttle to take me back to the dealer.
So at the end of the day, I drove out of the dealership with a new battery, tires rotated, oil changed, an alignment and wheel balance, so hopefully the mechanical issues are taken care of for awhile. I so didn't need to add that to my day.
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Trying to get back to blogging
So it has been over 2 years since I last blogged. My new goal is to try and blog everyday. I need to start writing more often. I want to publish Christian Education books and children's theology books, but I have been scared to do it. I have been scared of rejection and have found more excuses not to write, but it is time to change that. Like most things, writing gets easier and better the more it is practiced. I have lots of ideas running around in my head, but I need to give them space to begin to breathe.
I would like to write about the importance of teaching children theological language. The church has its own unique language, but we have neglected to continue to pass it down. Leonard Sweet speaks to this in his book the Gospel According to Starbucks. He talks about how if you order at Starbucks, but don't know the lingo, they will teach it to you. They will repeat what you want back to you in the appropriate terms. You say small, Starbucks says tall. In the church we talk about theology, grace, sin, salvation - but how do we explain these concepts to children? How do we help equip their parents to be the primary spiritual educator? Are we truly passing down the faith, or are we simply passing down a set of guidelines and behaviors for the next generation to follow?
I would love to write a series of children's books on theological doctrines. I would also love to write a children's book about the dog that Sally and I rescued. Her name is Tilly and she was a breeding dog in a puppy mill. She is a sweet and loving dog and it is amazing to see how she has come out of her shell in the last six months. She is a totally different dog, from the frightened little one who came into our home last December.
I know I may miss a day here and there, especially while on the mission trip with the middle school youth, but I want to write more days than not. To make use of this space to begin to flesh out ideas for future books.
I would like to write about the importance of teaching children theological language. The church has its own unique language, but we have neglected to continue to pass it down. Leonard Sweet speaks to this in his book the Gospel According to Starbucks. He talks about how if you order at Starbucks, but don't know the lingo, they will teach it to you. They will repeat what you want back to you in the appropriate terms. You say small, Starbucks says tall. In the church we talk about theology, grace, sin, salvation - but how do we explain these concepts to children? How do we help equip their parents to be the primary spiritual educator? Are we truly passing down the faith, or are we simply passing down a set of guidelines and behaviors for the next generation to follow?
I would love to write a series of children's books on theological doctrines. I would also love to write a children's book about the dog that Sally and I rescued. Her name is Tilly and she was a breeding dog in a puppy mill. She is a sweet and loving dog and it is amazing to see how she has come out of her shell in the last six months. She is a totally different dog, from the frightened little one who came into our home last December.
I know I may miss a day here and there, especially while on the mission trip with the middle school youth, but I want to write more days than not. To make use of this space to begin to flesh out ideas for future books.
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