As I sit on an old and dirty bench in rather cold weather waiting on a train that seems will never come, my mind wanders. I sit under a covering that shelters me from the cold autumn sunlight that is streaming through the clouds that tend to suffocate and choke out the brightness. It is a brilliant Sunday afternoon, and yet everyone around me (all three other people) and myself are dressed in dark color schemes. I look down at myself and my eyes are shocked by the bright and childish aqua blue color that is my headphones; the headphones that are delivering the poetic and soulful stories accompanied by beautiful, melodic sounds of Mumford and Sons. Their songs have poignant meaning that stir my soul more than this Sunday morning’s message at church.
How truly odd it is to wait for a train, to surrender ones independence to something you truly have no control over. I stare not at the not so old tracks, but at the old rocks that they sit on, and the old wooden beams laid between them. The world is old, but some parts are older than others. When sitting at a train depot in Seattle, a person cannot picture men in top hats and women in bustles or hoop skirts awaiting an old steamer. In England, hot easy it becomes to let ones mind slip away and forget the steel benches and gum that is permanently adhered to the dirty pavement that people live their daily lives on. I can see a time long before anyone I have ever known lived. A time when there was no surrendering your independence, because you really had none to start with (well us women at least).
Idealization. We all do it, don’t we? Grass is always greener, if only, back then, other places, and what it? Where do these things lead? Do they breed hearts of dreamers? For if that is true, it surely is not a bad thing. For dreamers will change the world. Or does it breed hearts of discontentment? Is it even possible to have a heart full of content anymore, or is everything made to leave us, the human race, wanting? If you do not have a fancy, dream, or let your mind wander what will become of you? If you do not choose to see reality, reason, and what is truly in front of you, what will become of you?
The rocks that surround me were hewn a long time ago. They have seen changes in language, fashion, technology, faith, government, and civilization as a whole. Do you think they are embittered? Are they content? Are they discontented? They have heard of anguish and joy. Newspapers full of atrocities were left on their faces, and yet they still stand. They have not crumbled. They have not given way. Is that good?
If people heard anguish and joy, atrocities, and things to celebrate, and they never moved; never crumbled to be rebuilt in a stronger fashion, would civilization not have ceased to function and move forward a long time ago? The funny thing about the stones is they are not alive. They have no way to change, unless, man deems them too. They have no free will and no faith. Yet they are from the past, in the present, and will be in the future.
Past. Present. Future.
Is God in the past? Is he in the present? Is he in the future? How you answer those questions makes every other question asked near superfluous. God wants us to dream as others dreamed, wants us to have our hearts broken, and to avoid the plague that is bitterness and discontentment. God has us look to the future of his will and says live in a way that my future will be possible.
The rest is just a bit of nonsense really. The ramblings of a girl waiting at a British train station.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The story of...
Here is a little taste of just how different it can be!
This is the story of a pretend British girl.
One day, a little girl went to her wardrobe. She decided that she wanted to wear her gray trousers and black jumper. It was still dark out, and she had to walk on an uneven pavement to get to her bus stop. So she opened up her drawer and pulled out her torch. She made her way into the kitchen to get some snacks for her day. She knew her class was taking a holiday, so she packed her bum-bag full of yummy biscuits.
On her way to the bus stop a lady in trackies and trainers passed her and asked if she was alright. The little girl replied, “Yeah, cheers!” Later that evening her mates and her decided to go see a film down at the cinema, but ended up pushing a trolley up and down a car park.
The little girl was knackered after her long day, but had to take the rubbish out once she got home. She decided that she was going to where a posh outfit the next day, and laid it out. She washed her teeth, used the lou, and climbed into bed.
The End.
The story of a pretend American girl
One day, a little girl went to her closet. She decided she wanted to wear her gray pants and black sweatshirt. It was still dark out, and she had to walk on an uneven sidewalk to get to her bus stop. She opened up her drawer and pulled out her flashlight. She made her way into the kitchen to get some snacks for her day. She knew her class was taking a field trip, so she packed her fanny pack full of yummy cookies.
On her way to the bus stop a lady in her sweatpants and tennis shoes passed her and asked, “How are you?” The little girl replied, “Yes, Thank you!” Later that evening her friends and her decided to go see a movie down at the theater, but ended up pushing shopping carts up and down a parking lot.
The little was tired after her long day, but had to take the trash out once she got home. She decided that she was going to where a fancy outfit the next day, and laid it out. She brushed her teeth, used the bathroom, and climbed into bed.
The End.
This is the story of a pretend British girl.
One day, a little girl went to her wardrobe. She decided that she wanted to wear her gray trousers and black jumper. It was still dark out, and she had to walk on an uneven pavement to get to her bus stop. So she opened up her drawer and pulled out her torch. She made her way into the kitchen to get some snacks for her day. She knew her class was taking a holiday, so she packed her bum-bag full of yummy biscuits.
On her way to the bus stop a lady in trackies and trainers passed her and asked if she was alright. The little girl replied, “Yeah, cheers!” Later that evening her mates and her decided to go see a film down at the cinema, but ended up pushing a trolley up and down a car park.
The little girl was knackered after her long day, but had to take the rubbish out once she got home. She decided that she was going to where a posh outfit the next day, and laid it out. She washed her teeth, used the lou, and climbed into bed.
The End.
The story of a pretend American girl
One day, a little girl went to her closet. She decided she wanted to wear her gray pants and black sweatshirt. It was still dark out, and she had to walk on an uneven sidewalk to get to her bus stop. She opened up her drawer and pulled out her flashlight. She made her way into the kitchen to get some snacks for her day. She knew her class was taking a field trip, so she packed her fanny pack full of yummy cookies.
On her way to the bus stop a lady in her sweatpants and tennis shoes passed her and asked, “How are you?” The little girl replied, “Yes, Thank you!” Later that evening her friends and her decided to go see a movie down at the theater, but ended up pushing shopping carts up and down a parking lot.
The little was tired after her long day, but had to take the trash out once she got home. She decided that she was going to where a fancy outfit the next day, and laid it out. She brushed her teeth, used the bathroom, and climbed into bed.
The End.
Monday, October 4, 2010
In the beginning...
One can think that they are completely ready to take on a task, and be completely blind in confidence about it. If you need to battle a fire-breathing dragon, and you only have a rusty spoon (please no creepy salad fingers references), you will probably not defeat the dragon, even if you think you do.
Going into orientation week, I was slightly worried that I was going off of blind confidence. I was thrilled that the things that I found myself failing in were not detrimental to my being in anyway, and that the tools that I God had equipped me with were as always, more than adequate. I had laugh after laugh. I enjoyed being educated in British accents, terms, and the way of pub life. I have found a community that enjoys laughing, joking, and musical theater (yes, you are allowed to insert jokes here) as much as I do! People have been so lovely! They might laugh at me, well, okay, with me, because I do realize how silly I am to them, but for those who were praying for community to be a solid thing in my life over here, I can say that God is good, and has answered it ten-fold.
I have already been challenged, and will continue to be challenged. I look forward to see how my viewpoints will look in a little, and how it will impact my life.
Now, some funny points, well clubbing out in costumes apparently is fairly common place. So we went out, and enjoyed club hopping while dressed! I went as a ladybug, and happened to ride a mechanical bull! Um, the photos are tagged on facebook if you want to experience my humiliation. I was the only girl willing to do it, and I wonder if it is my bold American nature, which I am told I have quite a bit haha!
For a quick, she didn’t see that coming point. I was informed that I am going to a “bridal” college. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of people within second year, let alone third year who were in a serious relationship, engaged, or married! Almost all with fellow students! It was quite the shock, and unlike back in the states, the girls are the hot commodities, as the boys outnumber us quite a bit! How strange! I have mixed feelings about it all, but am happy that the girls that I have made good friends with have all expressed the need of accountability for it. Ahhhh! It is actually kind of scary.
Anyways, lectures started today, and so far are fairly interesting. I look forward to really diving in! Talk to you soon!
Going into orientation week, I was slightly worried that I was going off of blind confidence. I was thrilled that the things that I found myself failing in were not detrimental to my being in anyway, and that the tools that I God had equipped me with were as always, more than adequate. I had laugh after laugh. I enjoyed being educated in British accents, terms, and the way of pub life. I have found a community that enjoys laughing, joking, and musical theater (yes, you are allowed to insert jokes here) as much as I do! People have been so lovely! They might laugh at me, well, okay, with me, because I do realize how silly I am to them, but for those who were praying for community to be a solid thing in my life over here, I can say that God is good, and has answered it ten-fold.
I have already been challenged, and will continue to be challenged. I look forward to see how my viewpoints will look in a little, and how it will impact my life.
Now, some funny points, well clubbing out in costumes apparently is fairly common place. So we went out, and enjoyed club hopping while dressed! I went as a ladybug, and happened to ride a mechanical bull! Um, the photos are tagged on facebook if you want to experience my humiliation. I was the only girl willing to do it, and I wonder if it is my bold American nature, which I am told I have quite a bit haha!
For a quick, she didn’t see that coming point. I was informed that I am going to a “bridal” college. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of people within second year, let alone third year who were in a serious relationship, engaged, or married! Almost all with fellow students! It was quite the shock, and unlike back in the states, the girls are the hot commodities, as the boys outnumber us quite a bit! How strange! I have mixed feelings about it all, but am happy that the girls that I have made good friends with have all expressed the need of accountability for it. Ahhhh! It is actually kind of scary.
Anyways, lectures started today, and so far are fairly interesting. I look forward to really diving in! Talk to you soon!
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