Thursday, August 30, 2007

Unrecognized Apathy

Yesterday I went with my pastor to visit some of our homebound members. I'm currently doing my supervised ministry and decided to make visits part of my ministry experience. I just assumed we would have to drive some distance, but before I knew it he had pulled into a driveway just several yards from Campbell buildings.

I had seen the house so many times, but I had failed to think about who was inside. As we went in we got to talk with an amazing lady. Living in Buies Creek and being much older than myself, I didn't really think much about what she used to do. Then I found out she used to be a surgical nurse and ran an operating room.

We went to the next house where the lady said how she used to walk a mile to go to school in Buies Creek. We complain about walking across campus from a far away parking space. She told me how her husband had built the very house she lived in because their old one, which you could see from her driveway, was too big for them as they got older. She said she was amazed that there was a Chinese resteraunt around. I thought I was amazed...nothing compared to her, I'm sure.

We went to the third house and I met a lady who was super sweet and invited me back at least twice. She talked about Mae (May?) Marshbanks, whom I found out is 90 years old. I think about that. 90. That means she was 65 years old when I was born. My whole life is just a fraction of her time here on earth, her experience, her wisdom.

All these houses sit around the Creek and we students fail to think about the hands that built them. We have an apathy regarding community members other than college students or staff, and we have an apathy regarding the history to be found in the stories of homeowners all around us.

We wouldn't call it apathy because we don't recognize it as such. Most people would say, "That's not apathy, it's just that I never noticed." Is that not apathy of that which is not directly concerning ourselves? If apathy is a failure to care, then isn't our failure to notice that which is outside of our immediate realm on campus constitute a form of apathy?

There are several amazing generations living in Buies Creek, and all we care about is ours. We watch Campbell knock things down and build things up. We see our community change all around us. There are people who are living witnesses to this amazing area that has become a part of each students' life story. We have people around who personally knew the individuals our buildings are named after. We have history, wisdom, and godliness all around us and we don't reach out for it.

Sometimes we're quite blind to the blessings that have been here long before we got here.

Monday, August 27, 2007

My Car

Ok, so I won't be participating in the 39 mile breast cancer walk. It seems my car has taken to being ill and it won't be as easy as I thought to get to and stay in Charlotte. Of course my ol' 2000 Chevy Cavalier hasn't abandoned me completely. I can drive it locally, and even to Raleigh sometimes. I just can't take it on trips that are hours long.....Charlotte....Maryland.....Atlanta (ok Lauren, we can still work with this!). But it's ok because compared to the thought of not having a car at all (which would mean good-bye babysitting job and saving money by living off campus with mom and dad) the local thing isn't so bad. And there's another bright spot- I'll save on gas money!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Waldorf Worldwide

Many of you may be familiar with the tune my little blog post is named after. Good Charlotte, a rather odd looking singing troup, are indeed singing about my hometown in that once-was-a-hit song.

I took a drive around Waldorf today while my mom took a trip to ye olde doctor. First I went by the new Starbucks to get a white mocha frappachino (my favorite starbucks treat) for the drive. I went by my house. They landscaped.

Sure, landscaping is good....but how are you supposed to sled down the front yard hill with a bunch of flowers and a brick walkway? And what's with totally changing the color and siding of the garage!? Was the way we lived not good enough?? Ok, really....I'm ok with it.

On my trip I passed my the house on a hill with a wrap around porch I used to dream of living in. I swung through town and passed My Brother's Place, where local bands (such as MXPX) would play before they got big. I went by the old mall and was pleasantly suprised to see new retail additions such as Build-A-Bear.

I stopped in the Borders where I once got to dance some very basic swing steps with a rather cute instructer. It was also the Borders parking lot where I first locked my keys in the car while it was running. I saw Boston Market and Einstein Bagel Bros. and Family Christian Stores, all of which I worked at.

There were stores I shopped at, neighborhood streets I walked on, and resteraunts I ate in. I think I miss my neighborhood most of all. There were miles and miles of sidewalks and you could literally get lost in the many streets and cul-de-sacs.

I didn't realize how much I missed Waldorf. As mom and I were leaving Borders I thought about how natural it felt, not odd at all to be back.

And of course it's always fun to browse the local section of the bookstore and see books on the nation's capitol. :)

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

On Poverty

I had an amazing coversation today with the six-year-old I babysit. We were playing Monopoly (yes, with a lot of guidance a six-year-old can play Monopoly!) and she was about out of money, which she commented on.

She then said, "Some people don't have any money." To which I replied, "That's right."

She said, "Is that why you're moving to the city? To give people money?"

I replied, "Well, not to give them money, but to teach them how to get jobs and give them a place to live (as some examples)."

I was very excited to be able to share my ministry with her. Even though she is only six and lives in a family that has two parents in the household and they don't have to worry about money, she still gets it that others have less.

The precious faith and insight of a child.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Country Club Travel

In all my time of driving the golf cart for admissions there was one rule: stay off the road. Well people, today I took it to the streets.

No, I wasn't working in admissions. I was working in Keith Hills, babysitting. The family I babysit for just bought a new golf cart, so the kids and I took it out for a spin. We headed up to the clubhouse for lunch and then took a leisurely drive around the block.

As we were leaving the house I was quite thankful for the golf cart driving test I had to pass that involved cone weaving, backing up, and crossing through a narrow space. I assured my kids that I had taken a golf cart driver's test, especially after my six-year-old asked me if I was old enough to drive a golf cart (you have to be 10. I'm not even sure why she had to ask).

Let me just say, owning (or knowing someone who owns) a golf cart is quite fun.