Sunday, March 23, 2008

Up From the Grave He Arose!

That is the first line to the chorus of my favorite Easter hymn. I love singing that line because it's so joyful and victorious. Much of the chorus has that determined marching sound. Another favorite is Christ the Lord is Risen Today. I got to sing both of these songs twice today.

Early in the morning my dad and I made our way to the Buies Creek Cementary where Buies Creek First Baptist and Memorial Baptist were having our sunrise service. When I first heard it would be in a cemetary I thought it was a little odd, but then I realized how incredibly logical and amazing it was.

We had a great service as the sun rose and people no longer needed flashlights to read the bulletin. The sounds of the trumpet in the early morning air added to the holiness of the moment.

Afterward we headed to Memorial's fellowship hall for a great breakfast and then my dad and I headed home. While he and mom went to Sunday School, I went back to bed! But I got up in time to go to the 11am worship service where we got to sing my two favorite Easter hymns again.

That afternoon we headed out to eat and then to the movies, followed by a trip to Barnes and Noble (I am my parents' child!). It was so great to spend time with my parents- who even got me an Easter basket! After a brief visit with my grandma, we arrived home and each kind of did our own thing (my mom and I watched a show and learned this technique for controlling emotional eating- very interesting!) and I hung out with Tyffany for a bit and then headed back home.

Last year I spent Easter in Chicago, so it was really great to be back with my home church this year. There was such holiness in the Easter celebrations. I'm incredibly thankful that God sent his Son to die and rise again to save us from our sins. I also love to read the Gospel passages containing the accounts of the ressurection. After doing an exegetical report on Luke's account for my preaching class, it is so neat to compare the different accounts. There's a lot to discuss in those passages.

This Easter was really great and I had a great time with my family.

Christ the Lord is risen indeed!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Procrastinating is....eh, I'll finish this thought later

I decided to change the look of my blog. Sitting in the library for almost 8 hours on a Saturday gives me plenty of time to think about things like that. Of course it also gives me plenty of time to tackle the backlog of Church History homework I've let pile up or edit my senior synthesis paper, but I would rather not.

In general, doing the school thing seems to be something I would just rather not. I started the semester enthused about one last chance to pull my GPA up as high as it could go and then spring break happened.

Ever since spring break I have not cared about my GPA. When I didn't show up to my first class after the scheduled spring break I responded to my friends by saying, "I didn't feel like ending my spring break yet." Of course missing one class is not going to send my GPA into a desperate spiral to a 0.0.

I also dropped a class I was auditing because I really don't feel like sitting in class for 2 1/2 hours on a Tuesday afternoon if I don't have to.

Yes, I think that as far as academics go, spring break was one of the worst things that could have happened.

Life without a GPA. What is that? Gracious, you best believe I look forward to finding out.

Friday, March 21, 2008

The Early Hours of Good Friday

The computer reads 5:52am. I have been up since a little before 3:30am. Isn't this only supposed to happen to parents and their newborns?

And yet, here I sit, quite awake. This tonsilitis is taking its toll.

I was thrilled when I realized I would have three evenings in a row free to do what I want. That rarely happens and I dreamed about going to Barnes and Noble and reading. Those dreams were quickly shattered.

I started to feel bad. Then it got better. Then I started to feel worse. Then my mom took me to the doctor.

Tonsilitis with the possibility of strep throat. But now it looks like its just tonsilitis. Being out for more than a brief period of time exhausts me and I find myself having to get back home to rest.

So much for that rest tonight. I had slept almost 3 1/2 hours when I woke up and have been awake since.

I've thought a bit about how on the Christian calender Jesus was being questioned at this time. He was being beaten and he knew what was ahead. And yet he stayed there, ready to give his life for us.

Fully God, he knew he would be ressurected on the third day. Fully human, perhaps the darkness seemed to almost veil the coming light.

As I took communion in chapel yesterday for our Maundy Thursday service, I knew I could only grasp a small peice of the holiness of the moment.

Easter is coming.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

I Stalk Dogs

And maybe I should be a tornado chaser.

I had a surprise day off of work today so I hit the road to the Barnes and Noble in Cary to do some fine reading of the lastest novel I'd started. Not too long into my retreat I began to feel achy and realized I must actually be getting sick.

I decided to go home, but on my way I saw two dogs frolicking by the road. Yes, it had started to rain a few drops and yes, I was feeling achy. But that didn't stop me from pulling off into a neighborhood and trying to coax the dogs toward me.

These were pretty trusting pups. The small one let me pick him up and the large one allowed me to hang onto his collar. I debated whether to take them to my car to call the number on one of the tags or whether I should take them up to the front door of the house that belonged to the driveway I was standing in. Deciding that I did not want to look like a dognapper should the family see me leading dogs away, I took them up the steps.

Poor big dog, he was old. After I got him up the steps (with which he seemed to struggle), knocked on the door, and released his collar, he went back down the front steps and I soon followed suit since there apparently was no one home. But now the big dog wouldn't come because he probably figured I would make him go up more steps. The little one was a follower and did whatever the big one did.

They ran off so I did what any daughter of my mother would do, I followed them in my car. I got out of my car once more and tried to get them to come back, but they did not listen. I drove around the neighborhood a bit more and not seeing them, I decided to leave them. It was their fault if they wanted to be in the rain and what I soon found out, was a tornado watch.

My anger toward the dogs soon turned to my anger toward a friend. I think most of my friends and family thought I was just dissapointed in how my relationship with this friend went, but in actuality it hurt with a pain I have rarely known in my life and I'm not sure when the last time was that I had cried that much.

Ok, yes, I had been a bit irrational, but he had been rather insensitive. It's not the first time I had noticed that about him, but I usually tried to dismiss it. I don't think he intends to be insensitive. I actually think that in his mind he doesn't connect his actions to insensitivity. I still respect him because he had been a good friend and there were glimpses of sensitivity once in a while. I'm not so angry now, but I still am a little annoyed by the boy.

Which brings me to my point of being a tornado watcher. As I learned there was a tornado warning in a nearby county and a watch in mine, I found it fascinating as I contined to drive down the back road, the sky gray and a storm on the horizon. I thought it might actually be neat to see a funnel. So says the girl who has never experienced a tornado.

My thoughts and feelings have been all over the place lately.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Interview Marathon, Lap 3

This time I headed to Baltimore for a meeting on the city's West Side. I must say, the landscape was a bit more intimidating than Chicago's West Side. But then again, Chicago was pretty intimidating the first time I headed out there, so maybe I just have to get used to Baltimore.

The trip up to Maryland was eventful as I took a variety of unexpected turns. After missing my exit, I made an impromptu decision to check out the Stonewall Jackson Shrine I saw a sign for. Discovering it was closed, I continued on. After a few turns and a small gasoline spray from the Nozzle at the Wawa gas station, I continued.

Construction is a big business around DC and they did not slack off while I was away. Upon returning to the area I realized the interstate was a little different than it used to be and before I knew it I had passed the Pentagon, the Washington Monument, and what I think was the Jefferson Memorial and they were all way too close for comfort. I had done it; I had accidentally gone downtown.

I called Tiffany, exclaiming that I did not want to go into the ghetto. I avoided the way to Anacostia as best as possible (by going in whatever direction the signs for Anacostia were not pointing) and with the help of Tiffany and her mom I ended up on the Suitland Parkway and eventually to their house.

Why are you afraid of the ghetto if you were interviewing there, you may ask. Easy answer. I don't mind the ghetto when I intend to be there and I know my way around. However, frantically driving the streets at night was not something I wanted to do.

On the day of my interview I headed out and got a little turned around in Baltimore. Most people get lost in the bad section while looking for the good, but I got lost in the good section while looking for the bad. I passed by Camden Yards twice, but finally got to my destination. I did get a smile on my face as I was trying to get back on the right road and I got to drive on one of the Jetson-like bridges that goes way up in the air. Then I got to do it again on the right road! There's something about all those bridges criss-crossing in the air that makes me want to drive on them.

The meeting was great. It wasn't exactly an interview as they really wanted to see where I could fit in with the ministry. They are looking for someone to work with the youth at the church, particularly to lead Bible studies and teach girls. However, the position might not be in place by the time I graduate.

I had a great time with Tiffany and other friends while I was in Maryland. I even randomly pulled off I-95 on the way back to explore Richmond. Good times.

I am safely back from my interview marathon and am praying God opens and closes doors as he sees fit.

It's been a good journey.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Interview Marathon, Lap 2

The second leg of my interview marathon was much more interesting than the first. This time I was headed to Wilmington, NC. On my way the pastor called me to tell me they were filming a movie outside of the church and I would have to enter around back. If you see a low budget film about Wilmington's race riots in the 1800s, I was by the set.

Anyhow, I entered Wilmington's historic district and was floored by how beautiful everything was. I planned to do some walking around after the interview, but decided to go ahead and go in.

I was early and the pastor was on the phone, so one of the administrative assistants and I go to talking. Before long we were in the hallway watching some of the actors put rifles in the hallway. Soon they were out and I sat down with the pastor who explained the church's vision for the residency; I was very excited.

Throughout the day I talked one-on-one with most of the staff and was worn out by the end of it. I mean, I really enjoyed getting to know them but I had been traveling on little sleep for the second day in a row all while trying to put my best foot forward. I now think I know how introverts feel. While talking to the Minister of Spiritual Formation we headed over to the activity center and I saw the youth room, otherwise known as The Cove. This was the most amazing youth space I had ever seen as there was a section with multiple flat panel plasma tvs on the wall, each connected to a different game console.

The church recently aquired the old county jail located directly behind them. This space houses social ministries and was defintely a place of interest during my visit. The main building was amazing and the sanctuary was beautiful. One of the buildings used to be an old infantry building and I was totally engrossed in reading the historic documents on the walls. I totally would love to spend the next two years of my life there because the staff is great and I really feel it is a wonderful and healthy congregation to begin post-graduation ministry in. We'll see what God has planned.

I didn't get to walking around Wilmington since I was ready to head home, but I did get to eat lunch a few blocks from the church at a seafood restaurant on the river.

Well, the third leg of my interview marathon was today and I'm rather tired, so I'm gonna keep this one shorter than the last, though by no means was it less interesting. Join me next time as I take a look my interview in inner city Baltimore and my rather interesting travel journey to Maryland.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Interview Marathon, Lap 1

I've basically been a student all my life. Sure there were those first four years of my life and then that semester in undergrad that I took off, but I have never been faced with actually having to be out on my own with no return to school scheduled. Since I graduate in May, I figured I should look into the whole career thing. I managed to schedule three interviews in four days. Many things surrounding these occasions were marked with a randomness only I could draw out. Join me as I recollect interview one: Reidsville, NC.

I began my trek and soon realized Mapquest didn't feel the need to put in the last few turns. After stopping at a grocery store, I was directed to the Salvation Army Family Store. I walked in to a scene that can only be described as something from a movie.

The twangy country music of decades past drifted across the old thrift store building as rural customers perused the items for sale. The lady behind the counter looked just as you might expect in such a movie. I wouldn't have been surprised to see two guys in cowboy hats standing in the corner look at cassette tapes.

Click, click, click. The sound of my heels seemed even more apparent as I made my way across the hard floor. I didn't quite fit in with the townsfolk as I was dressed up for an interview. I asked where I might find the person I was looking for and was referred to another worker who offered to take me there himself. Now if southern hospitality is a real thing, I just saw it.

I followed him through town in my car and wound up at the Salvation Army offices. When I saw the Captain (whom I assumed had a military background to earn the title of captain, but he did not) it was like seeing Stonewall Jackson. I am not sure what Stonewall Jackson looked like, but I imagine he had the look of this Salvation Army Captain.

I thought the whole army thing in Salvation Army was just a name or that the organization had at least been modernized. Maybe a little, but not much. The whole uniform and officer ranking seemed a little outside of my field of interest. Yet, as I learned about the job I was applying for I realized it was exactly something I would like to do.

However, there was a problem. After I saw that his wife also sported a Salvation Army uniform I began to wonder how I would relate to youth in a white button down shirt with red straps on the shoulders. I managed to ask in as non-offensive a way as possible whether or not I would be subjected to the official wardrobe. I found out I would not; I felt better.

And then there was another problem: the city of Reidsville. I feel called to urban ministry and urban this was not. It was by far one of the most depressing towns I have ever seen.

Fortunately I had the opportunity to have lunch with a friend in Greensboro, so I could talk to her about the job before I headed back for the rest of the interview. I went to Moe's Southwestern Grill and they like to yell greetings to the customers. As I stood in line and heard repeated yells, I realized it was like getting in trouble every time someone walked in the door.

But there he was, standing before me and ordering a salad in a tortilla shell. He was beautiful and he looked about my age. I figured he must be married since I am in seminary and I am used to the guys who go into seminary, those who have been married by twenty-one. But as he cracked his knuckles I realized there was no ring. In true Rebecca fashion I appeared to ignore him and that was that.

By the time I returned the to Salvation Army (having gotten lost and calling the Captain for directions) I was feeling a little depressed. As many of you know my heart has recently been broken (probably stepped on by a cowboy boot and stabbed by its spur) and I began to see the town in light of this person.

As I drove home I cried. A lot. It was rather pathetic. I prayed, I cried, I listened to my new Beatles 27 number one hits cd.

I love the job description, but I don't love the town. I don't know that I could move there, which is alright because the next day I interviewed for a job that I would love to take. Stay tuned for the next leg of the interview marathon.