Things I am thinking and learning about:
The Church. I recently read Shane Claiborne's Irreristable Revolution. That book is by far one of the most convicting books I have read in a long time. I really loved what Shane had to say. It was so pure and simple. I think it's funny when people say that he is part of the emergent church, which I have many concerns about, because all he is asking is for christians to be real, to actually live like Christ. That's not emergent. That's just living what we believe (like we always say we are doing, but really aren't). Not gonna lie, even as a PK, I have been pretty disappointed in the church and even just within the last week, I've experienced some sad situations in my church. I've been volunteering at VBS and basically, I have been shockingly treated pretty rudely and the whole VBS itself is not where it could be. I have never been apart of something so disorganized and where the people helping honestly did not want to be there and don't really care where they show it or not. This is something that has made me pretty angry and it takes a lot to make that happen.
But, today as I was outside working, I was really convicted about how I felt. I mean things really do need to change and it is worth being upset about, but it was consuming my thoughts. I had to laugh because that morning, one of the volunteers was telling the kiddos about the 10 commandments, especially the 'Do not murder" one which means physically and mentally. Here I was just completely consumed in thoughts of how horribly I am being treated and how the kids deserve better. But you know? We all have been there where we lack social skills and hurt relationships. I for sure played a large part in hurting relationships recently. It happens to everyone, so I must forgive. And though I really don't want to go tomorrow. I will because I know it's right. I shall press on.....
I have many more thoughts about the church and all that is related, but that would take up like 5000 blogs. Talk to me if you want to know what they are. And I would LOVE to hear your opinions!
I'm going to India in January. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I don't expect it to until I'm there. I'm super pumped for this experience and am praying that my heart stays focused on my desire to love others, not just on the fact that I am going to a different country. As I start reading and watching the bunches of materials they have given the team, I'm getting more interested in the social injustice going on there and other places. I have always thought of myself as someone who is concerned about issues, but it's really only been recently that I have really looked into it or had a desire to change it.
I guess overall, I am just learning what it means to really follow Jesus and how I can implement that without going to Africa and stopping poverty.
Goals:
-Make a new friend that is very different than me. I had a girl all picked out whose mom just had a heart transplant and works with my mom, but that fell through. No worries though, there is still plenty of summer left. :-)
-Stay active because I don't have a job and so it can be really easy to just lounge around all day.
-Do devos and journal everyday. So far, I'm doing pretty good with this one.
-Relax and allow others to pour into me.
-Invest in my family, especially my sisters and their new husbands. This is a hard one because although I really really like my new brothers-in-law and am super happy for my sisters, part of me feels that I am being left alone and that they are taking my sisters away from me. Totally not true, but at the same time, my family will never be the same.
I do believe that is all for now. It's weird not being at camp, this summer is still turning out to be a favorite.
