In 2008, I ...

• Lived in England
• Interned at the BBC
• Travelled to Norway, Ireland, and Portugal
• Wrote a dissertation
• Finished grad school
• Moved back home
• Made new friends, but kept the old
• Found a job
• Got my first "real" paycheck
• Moved into an apartment
• Found a church
• Began a quarter-life crisis (to be continued in 2009)

Not bad ...

A Chasing After the Wind

Do you ever wonder what the point of life is? I mean, every day, I get up, go to work, go to the gym, come home, sit on the couch, watch tv, and go to bed. Rinse, lather, repeat. Ok, some days I skip the gym part. And some days I go out and see friends, but really, what is the purpose of it all? Am I missing something?

I've been chewing on Ecclesiastes this week after a great sermon at church on Sunday. I think Ecclesiastes is quickly becoming one of my favorite books of the Bible. I'd read it before and never quite got it. The book just seemed depressing to me, but my pastor explained that Ecclesiastes is written like a diary. The author's emotions go up and down, and he is writing every which way as thoughts come to him, much like my diary would appear to any one who read it (you know, my REAL diary). In the end, he makes some great conclusions. Check out some of these passages:

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him who can eat or find engagement?"

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good where they live." 3:11-12

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." 7:14

"Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whoel duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." 12:13-14

So, here's what I take from the book: Only in God does life have meaning or pleasure. Without him, nothing will satisfy, everything is meaningless, "a chasing after the wind." We should enjoy the good things God gives us without guilt and accept the bad, understanding that only in the end will we see God's plan. God also gives me a lot of reassurances about time, which is a struggle for me as I wait for many things ... "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven," ... "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

I love that God understood that man would question the meaning of his life, like the author, and include this man's ramblings in the Bible to help us on our own search for meaning. I don't know how anyone can say the Bible isn't relevant to life today. Not when you've got good stuff like this in it. There are so many applicable insights in it, it makes me wonder why I ever struggle to read the Bible sometimes. I should want to devour it. I have some good things to ponder as we enter the new year.


Currently watching: Marley and Me (almost makes me want to get a pet)
Currently reading: The Secret Life of Bees (Thanks Paige)
Currently listening: Jason Mraz (it's been in my car for months and I'm still not tired of it. definitely a new record.)

The Divine Romance

I got to see Shane & Shane, Phil Wickham and Bethany Dillon in concert over the weekend with my good friend Lauren. They were all great, but I was totally blown away by Phil Wickham. I have never heard someone make so much noise with just a voice and guitar. He completely filled the room. I think he is better in person than on cd. His song "Divine Romance" has held a special place in my heart over the last year as I have struggled with refinding the emotional side of my faith. It has helped me rekindle my desire to not just follow God, but to develop intimacy with him. I am in a divine romance with my creator. When I really think about that, I get shivers up and done my spine. Anyways, if you haven't heard of Phil Wickham, check him out.

"The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17

Graduation and Mistranslation

My graduation ceremony for Leeds is on Thursday morning. I have been getting Facebook messages from my classmates and friends for weeks about making plans for reunions and parties this week since many of them are going back for the ceremony. It's making me a little sad that I don't get to join in the festivities or attend my master's graduation. I see no future plans for a PhD, so that was my last chance at a graduation ceremony. Poor me. Maybe my parents will take me out for a nice dinner or something to celebrate from a far.

Speaking of graduation, my brother graduated from UT last weekend. One thing I admire about my brother is that he has always had a vision and a goal. He wants to be a movie director. He has had this goal since he was about 15 and started making movies with his friends. He graduated from the RTF program at UT and has taken advantage of lots of opportunities to gain experience, and I have to say, I think he has a shot of making it. His plan is to move to LA in May. This plan is probably every parent's worst nightmare, but I think everyone in my family sees how hard he has worked to accomplish his dreams and are supportive of him. Yay Christopher!

I realized that I need to start blogging about all the funny things that happen at work. Working with international students lends itself to comedy. A few days ago, a man came into my office and wanted me to make a doctor's appointment for him. This is normal because many of my students are uncomfortable making phone calls because people can never understand their accent over the phone. Anyways, I asked him what was wrong and he tried to explain his symptoms to me but couldn't come up with the words in English. He pulled out his electronic dictionary and finally came up with translation for the problem he had: Herpes. He was looking at me with these big eyes and nodding his head up and down vigorously: "Yes, yes, I have herpes." I started to laugh. I guess I am not a very good counselor.

We got everything cleared up eventually.