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.

Slumdog Millionaire

I saw this movie at the Angelika last night.

It was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time (excluding HSM 3 of course :o ). You should check it out, especially if you have any interest in India.

Happy Thanksgiving

God has blessed me so much. I don't deserve everything he has given me. So, it's time to count my blessings and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

• My family. The longer I am alive, the more I realize just how lucky I am to have a happy, loving, encouraging family.


• I get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with my family this year. Spending the holidays by yourself is not fun. I did it last year, and I know of many people who are doing it this year.


• I found a job that I like relatively quickly and painlessly.


• I am graduating "With Distinction" and just found out that I made a perfect score on my master's dissertation.


• I have friends from all over the world to go and visit some day.


• I am able to support myself financially.


• I have a cute apartment.


• I am slowly but surely making new friends out of college.


• After my experience in England, I am thankful that I live in a place where it is not too difficult to be a Christian and find places where I can grow in my faith.


• Lame, I know, but I am thankful for DVR. And TV that makes me laugh. The Thanksgiving "Friends" episodes are greatness.


• After reading the news about Mumbai this morning, I am thankful I live in a country where I feel safe and do not have to live in fear of bombs and hijackings every day.


• One of my Saudi Arabian students was beat by her husband last week, but the Saudi government refuses to acknowledge this or help her situation. She will have to live with abuse for the rest of her life. I am thankful that I live in a culture where women can have rights and be empowered.


• I am healthy. So is everyone in my family.


• I am thankful for laughter and humor.


• I am thankful that I have free time again.


• I am thankful that I was able to live abroad for a year like I always wanted.


• I am thankful for Sonic Happy Hour. Yep, I sure am.


• I am thankful that I know a God who loves me and will forgive me no matter how many times I mess up. I am thankful for the hope and joy I find in Him.

My sister and I put up the Christmas tree this morning and are in the process of digging out all our Christmas ornaments. The Christmas music is on. I am indulging my shopping addiction by reading all the sale ads in the newspaper and planning out my gift giving and wish list. Football is about to start. It's a good day.

Send this to 10 people for good luck

So remember the days when e-mail first came out? I was in middle school and all my friends got free hotmail or yahoo accounts. I don't know what we needed e-mail for, but we had fun with it. We would send each other e-mail forwards, chain letters, and "About Me" quizzes. These things were considered good e-mail. After middle school, the "send this to five people you love in the next five minutes" e-mails stopped. So now, ten years later, I am discovering a resurgence of junk e-mail forwards that I don't understand. I guess I am finally "in" at work because all of a sudden the administrative assistants who weren't that friendly to me are sending me all these forwards of pictures of cute animals, rainbows, and "pass this on to your special sisters". Really? I didn't think people in the workplace did this kind of stuff. Do they think I will forward these things on? This is all the result of an afternoon of boy talk. Apparently we've bonded, and I doomed to be on their e-mail forward list forever. Oh well. At least this means I'm "in". In that case, I'll take the forwards.