Ripe with Possibility

Monday evening I was about to head into our backyard to read when I saw them: the neighborhood deer. Dad was nearby and told me to throw rocks at them. I said, "Isn't it bad for rocks to be in the grass [when you have to mow the lawn]?" He reluctantly agreed, but then offered me a ripe banana instead, which I didn't take.

Never Arrive

Let me share someone else's wisdom:

If you put off getting married until you are completely ready to be the perfect spouse, you will never be married.

If you put off having kids until you are ready to be the perfect parent, you will never have kids (unless God intervenes).

If you put off sharing your faith until you are completely and utterly prepared, you will always be silent.

You will never arrive. Step out in boldness, trusting God to use you, weaknesses and all.

Closer to Fine - The Indigo Girls

Here's to friends.

I'm trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
Its only life after all
Yeah

Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable
And lightness has a call that's hard to hear
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
I'm crawling on your shores

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

And I went to see the doctor of philosophy
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee
He never did marry or see a b-grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me
I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind
Got my paper and I was free

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m.
To seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend
And I woke up with a headache like my head against a board Twice as cloudy as I'd been the night before
And I went in seeking clarity.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
Yeah we go to the doctor, we go to the mountains
We look to the children, we drink from the fountains
Yeah we go to the bible, we go through the workout
We read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

Disclaimer: (What's a good Emily post w/out a disclaimer?!) I believe there is Truth and an Answer. I like these lyrics in terms of the temporal life we have now.

Whole Wide World

In honor of the discussion on To Seek or Not to Seek?...

Fall Is in the Air

I read outside yesterday afternoon. It was nice being bundled up in a sweater and blanket with the sweet smell of fall in the air. But the trees kept pelting me with dead leaves and seeds.

To Seek or Not to Seek?

I am single. I’m not going to say how much I love being single or how much I hate it. My feelings aren’t the point of this post. My aim is to convey the contrast in two kinds of thought regarding my singleness and to find out what you think.

I have two friends. Both of them are married, and I consider both of them to be more mature than me in the Christian faith. But they each have their own thoughts toward how a single person should live.

Friend A thinks that I should “get myself out there.” He believes single people shouldn’t merely pray that God bring them a spouse, but they need to be actively looking for someone who fits their requirements. (And if you’re female, you should not hide yourself in a closet, but make sure a large number of available guys know you exist.)

He has told me many times that I should church hop for this purpose. When I protest, saying I love the service I currently attend and would hate to go to another just to snag a guy, he says that it’s not a good enough excuse. He believes that asking God for something without actively doing your part is senseless.

Friend B believes that I should not concern myself with looking for a spouse. He thinks I should just follow God throughout my day and week, trusting that He will basically smack me in the face when the right person comes my way. I shouldn’t do anything differently just to find someone. For a guy or a girl to actively look for a significant other would be to take matters into his or her own hands and would be to tell God, “I don’t need you. I can do things on my own.”

Both friends seem logical in their own ways, yet they are just about as similar as night and day. So, what are your thoughts? Do you think one way makes more sense or is more biblical than the other? Or does it even matter which route someone takes?

TV Unity

Last night at my house...
Me: Everyone [political hopefuls] always says they want to make the world a better place. No one ever says they want to make it worse.
Dad: That's right! I need to find that party and join.

My parents have been lamenting recently. They know what is ahead. For two weeks our television showed nothing but Olympic coverage. Then came Democratic National Convention coverage and commentary. This week is the Republican National Convention. But after a four-week span of athletic and political intensity, what's to come?

I comforted Dad with the knowledge that The Office will be starting up again on September 25 (mark your calendars!), but this doesn't do much for Mom. Our house needs more unifying televised events!