well, i haven't written in a bit, so i just thought i'd post a lil update. this past weekend my parents came to wheaton for a visit. this was their first time north of the mason-dixon line...they survived. :) we went downtown for a architectural boat tour (after an unsuccesful attempt at biking around lake michigan). then, we had chicago pizza, of course. on monday we went back to the city for a visit to the shedd aquarium and the field museum. it was a long day of walking, but i was grateful for the learning experience! we had lots of fun just touring around wheaton as well. from thai food downtown to walking around the lincoln marsh, there were lots of similar experiences that made the weekend memorable. i was grateful to have them here and i'm sure they were thankful to come and see where i lived. now, they can rest assured that i don't live in the ghetto!
as far as my job goes, i'm still training away. this has been the longest training process i have ever endured! however, there is cause for celebration....i will begin seeing clients on monday! this is a very unnerving, yet exciting task for me. i think i have all the information down pat, and hopefully my background in counseling gave me some sort of skills set. for those of you who don't know, the counseling we do is "peer counseling" and doesn't require a degree in mental health. most of it is very specific to pregnancy and/or the different options that women have in response to a "crisis" or "unplanned" pregnancy. there is a whole range of clients that come in--from 40 year old muslims to 15 year old plain ol' white girls. i am surprised at the extent of cultures, backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses that we see (and am extremely grateful for the diversity). i know that i will be challenged by every single woman that i sit across from in the peer counseling room....and i hope to walk away having learned as much from them as they did from me. so, say a little prayer for me that i am continually seeing my clients for who they truly are and able to speak to them where they are at in their lives. i'm sure that i will have stories and moments to share with you all as time goes on...
please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as i continue to transition to life here. i am still searching for different areas to "plug in" to. i hope that i am able to build connections and feel like i am "giving back" in some form or fashion. i am grateful for God having brought me this far and i know He will continue to guide me along the way. thank you all for your love and support as well. and, until next time....
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
i, the scoffing mourner
this week i was reading in luke chapter 8 where Jesus heals Jairus' daughter. i had read this passage before and was familiar with the story. however, something struck me this time like it never had before.
Jesus was approached by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. he fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house to heal his daughter who was very ill. Jesus agreed to go, and as they were on their way, someone came to report that the daughter had already passed away. instead of stopping in His tracks and aborting His mission, Jesus kept on going.
"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe and she will be well.' And when he came to the house...all were weeping and mourning for her, but He said, 'Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.' And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand He called, saying, 'Child, arise.' And her spirit returned and she got up at once." Luke 8: 50-55
when Jesus arived He must have seemed crazy. everyone was there weeping and mourning over the loss of this little child and instead of comforting them, he contradicts them. "She is not dead, but sleeping." how ridiculous this must have seemed to the mourners. they were there the whole time. they saw her take her last breath. they knew with certainty that she was gone. however, the reality of their perception was not the truth of the situation.
how often have i been in this spot? how many times have i laughed at the thought of an alternate reality? how easily do i find myself in the shoes of the scoffing mourner?
in seeking to live a life of faith, we all face similar situations on a frequent basis. we see the reality of our lives--cancer, loss, apathy, sin, brokeness, etc--and we recognize them as "the way it is." we see our culture spinning down a spiral of self-indulgence and destructive behavior and accept it as a fact. we watch as laws are passed and decisions are made and believe that nothing will change. well, all of these may be real but are they true?
i serve a God who raises the dead. the One who caused the sun to stand still in the sky. He releases those in bondage to addiction and sin. He went to the grave and came back to tell about it. He's not about doing things the "right way." He doesn't have a set of rules to follow or laws of nature to obey. who am I to tell Him was is "real" and what cannot possibly change? how can i laugh in His face as He whispers, "things will not always be this way" or "this is not how it is" or "no, she is not dead?"
may i have the faith to radically trust, the strength to see past the situation and the obedience to walk forward, no matter how "unreal" it may seem.
Jesus was approached by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. he fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house to heal his daughter who was very ill. Jesus agreed to go, and as they were on their way, someone came to report that the daughter had already passed away. instead of stopping in His tracks and aborting His mission, Jesus kept on going.
"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe and she will be well.' And when he came to the house...all were weeping and mourning for her, but He said, 'Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.' And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand He called, saying, 'Child, arise.' And her spirit returned and she got up at once." Luke 8: 50-55
when Jesus arived He must have seemed crazy. everyone was there weeping and mourning over the loss of this little child and instead of comforting them, he contradicts them. "She is not dead, but sleeping." how ridiculous this must have seemed to the mourners. they were there the whole time. they saw her take her last breath. they knew with certainty that she was gone. however, the reality of their perception was not the truth of the situation.
how often have i been in this spot? how many times have i laughed at the thought of an alternate reality? how easily do i find myself in the shoes of the scoffing mourner?
in seeking to live a life of faith, we all face similar situations on a frequent basis. we see the reality of our lives--cancer, loss, apathy, sin, brokeness, etc--and we recognize them as "the way it is." we see our culture spinning down a spiral of self-indulgence and destructive behavior and accept it as a fact. we watch as laws are passed and decisions are made and believe that nothing will change. well, all of these may be real but are they true?
i serve a God who raises the dead. the One who caused the sun to stand still in the sky. He releases those in bondage to addiction and sin. He went to the grave and came back to tell about it. He's not about doing things the "right way." He doesn't have a set of rules to follow or laws of nature to obey. who am I to tell Him was is "real" and what cannot possibly change? how can i laugh in His face as He whispers, "things will not always be this way" or "this is not how it is" or "no, she is not dead?"
may i have the faith to radically trust, the strength to see past the situation and the obedience to walk forward, no matter how "unreal" it may seem.
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