I live in Boston

After seeing a buncha lovely UVa buddies at A&D's wedding last Saturday, I grew unexpectedly and immensely home(VA)sick. You know when your heart physically aches from missing someone? As if someone reached in and began wrenching and twisting it? I felt like that several times per day this past week-- missing old friends, familiar community, being understood without having to explain.

I'm trying to cope; I don't know where I'll be for my intern year or post graduation, but I know that I'm here now. I thought about constructing a list of things I love about Boston. That wouldn't be hard-- I could immediately think of at least 20 things at the top of my head... after all, I'm part of the rare breed that loves the cold, winter, and snow :)

The problem has been remembering and internalizing what's good. Living in the moment & appreciating it. It's so easy here (as it probably can be anywhere in the world) to see what's missing: what could be better, what desperately needs fixing, what relationships could be deeper. Wanting more.

The life I led in VA was one I'll forever treasure; being part of a loving & truth-seeking community grew me in so many ways, especially in opening my eyes to the way God Himself is revealed through the ways we strive to seek Him and love one another.

What about now? Here? Today?

I want to try keeping track of these treasurable moments and appreciating what I have. Now. Here. Today.

This morning, I can think of 2...

Shirin. Last night was Hannah's birthday, so a buncha my classmates and I went to dinner at Orinoco's. We were on our way to a lounge post-dinner for further celebration when Hannah began feeling motion sickness on the T-ride. None of us had disposable bags/containers with us. She held one hand tightly over her mouth, embarrassed to make a scene. Her roommate Shirin (another friend & classmate of mine) quickly emptied the contents of her pink Coach purse, handed it over to Hannah, and whispered, "Just use my bag, seriously don't worry about it. It's just a bag." Shirin stood right next to Hannah and held her purse close by the entire T ride, just in case. I don't think Shirin knows Jesus, but I see Jesus in her.

Cedar House. The 5 of us who live here try to have brunch together once every 2 weeks to catch up more in depth and pray. We essentially all go to different churches and spend our days in starkly different settings. The commonality? We're all trying-- trying to seek God, obey Him, love those around us, and make an impact in His world. We're all single, and our families all live a good distance away. And we're all looking for depth in our community as a house. I've lived here for 8 months, and it's been pretty darn cool to be part of a group that doesn't have all the answers or know the exact next steps, but that is trying-- trying to do what's right, asking each other for help, and encouraging each other along the way. I love brunches in general, but brunches with these gals have been extra special.

WV - Lent 2011

May God bless you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen

May God bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen

May God bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen

May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen

And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen

http://www.worldvisionacts.org/?q=lent2011_relentless_acts_of_justice

on praying for people

Frequently our lack is not faith but compassion... [If] we genuinely love people, we desire for them far more than it is within our power to give, and that will cause us to pray.

- Richard Foster

a new year

Fixed scenes peel away

In loud, thick, and jagged strips

Revealing what's real

The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy.

- MLK Jr

(... happy 2011, everyone!)

in hiding?

xxx: haha i always ask how ppl met their gf/bf

i want to know, WHERE ARE ALL THE GOOD GUYS HIDING????!!

in a CAVE?

me: LOL

xxx: or just at church?

haha

Cambridge Public Library

... possibly my fave new place around Boston!

pictures below are stolen from all over the Internet.

This is a pic of the old (left) and the new CPL buildings

New Building

Part of the 1st floor

A study corner

Teen Lounge

You prob can't tell from the photo, but the lights on the sides of the walls are colorful...

There are also booths near the back of the room for folks to study/snack

Children's Floor

a reading corner of the Children's Floor... with carpet stones!

Old Building

The donor of the CPL old building asked for this piece to be kept permanently on one of the CPL walls

A reading room in the old building

This is where I'm "studying" right now!!

... uh oh, I don't want to leave...... =)

From Gracias! by Henri J. Nouwen

"My hour in the Carmelite chapel is more important that I can fully know myself. It is not an hour of deep prayer, nor a time in which I experience a special closeness to God; it is not a period of serious attentiveness to the divine mysteries. I wish it were! On the contrary, it is full of distractions, inner restlessness, sleepiness, confusion, and boredom. It seldom, if ever, pleases my senses. But the simple fact of being for one hour in the presence of the Lord and showing him all that I feel, think, sense, and experience, without trying to hide anything, must please him. Somehow, somewhere, I know that he loves me, even though I do not feel that love as I can feel a human embrace, even though I do not hear a voice as I hear human words of consolation, even though I do not see a smile as I can see a human face. Still the Lord speaks to me, looks at me, and embraces me there, where I am still unable to notice it. The only way I become aware of his presence is in that remarkable desire to return to that quiet chapel and be there without any real satisfaction. Yes, I notice, maybe only retrospectively, that my days and weeks are different days and weeks when they are held together by these regular 'useless' times. God is greater than my senses, greater than my thoughts, greater than my heart. I do believe that he touches me in places that are unknown even to myself. I seldom can point directly to these places; but when I feel this inner pull to return again to that hidden hour of prayer, I realize that something is happening that is so deep that it becomes like the riverbed through which the waters can safely flow and find their way to the open sea."