45 Days of Lent?

I thought there were 40 days of Lent, not 45.  

Although, there are several Sundays, 6 to be exact, between today, the first day of Lent, and Easter.  Or does Lent actually start tomorrow?

But that wouldn't make sense either.  Why does Mardi Gras mark the last day of revelry before suddenly walking the straight and narrow?  Is Ash Wednesday just a go-between day?

I'm still confused though.  Even if you took Lent off on Sundays, that's 39 days of Lent.

What happened to 40?

To Not Limit: Part II

Here We Go Again

Oh, contemplation.  How you turn my insides inside out, and my brain into a pile of goo by the time you're done with me. No, truthfully, I do it to myself.  Willingly.  Sometimes with good results, but most often with visions of mind-numbingly long strains of work that, seemingly, will never get accomplished.

So what the heck am I talking about?

I'm contemplating going back to school.  It's not that I wasn't going to go back to school. I was. It's just that today decided to pop a different consideration into my head: Go for something you haven't been anticipating.

Great.  That wasn't the tentative plan.

Logistically Speaking

The plan was to continue on for a bachelor's in communications after I graduate in May with the associate's (and yes, I am still completely on track with that).  But what has my brain done with that?  Informed me that the institution I was planning on attending is more than I can afford.  That, and the degree I'll end up with is, well, a bit too theoretical for my liking.

It's not that I don't like theory.  I do enjoy it.  However, that's all it is: theory.  You can't get a job as a theorist.  I've heard too many stories of acquaintances getting communications degrees and promptly beginning their careers at WalMart.  I shudder.  Profusely.

So what's the plan?  Web design. It's always intrigued me.  I've always wanted to do a little more design-wise with this oh-so-humble blog (and the other one, of course).  Granted, there will be much more I'll be able to do when it's all said and done; this blog is just one small example.  

When I first transferred to my current institution of higher learning, it was as a web design major.

Getting Past the Unknown

I'll admit: There's something incredibly scary about pursuing this major. Reason being I don't know squat about web design.  Yeah, I can manipulate code; but only very minutely.

Although...

Either way I go with further education, I would still have at least two more years of school. Two years spent either learning more theory, or learning how to design a web page.

So, I guess for now I'm leaving it at "We'll see."

Oh, yes.  We'll see.

I've Never Written an Application

But I sure have filled them out...

There's something to be said for knowing peoples' full names.  I always knew there was a reason I wanted to. And tonight it hit me as to just exactly why: Applications.  You could have a completely flawless application, complete with glowing references, a fresh degree, some volunteer work, and maybe even a little experience in your field.

Then it hits you: Previous employment.  It isn't so much the fact that you have previous employment, it's more that you don't know anyone's full name there.  Seriously.  This has happened to me on more than one occasion.  I'll know their first names perfectly well.  But putting just a first name on an application makes it feel naked and exposed - probably because it's the only visible flaw.  I will agree that on a daily basis, full names aren't required (and thus probably the reason they're never learned in the first place).  But officialdom sure appreciates them, and will be sure to raise an eyebrow at you if you dare to leave it blank.

Why is it too, on applications, that they demand every morsel of information imaginable about your previous employers, yet only give you 2 inches of space to write it in? Are they really sending some sort of subconscious message to us? "We don't really want to know!  We're just required to ask!"  Is that it?  How many of those previous employers actually get called?  I've never asked.  But then again, in so many ways, I really don't want to know.

Indulgences, Really?

Pardon me whilst I get up on my Lutheran soapbox.  Catholics, I love you, I really do. But honestly?

This is why I continue to not understand Catholics.  They create law after law after law to uphold their religion, yet it really seems like all they can do with it is forget about God.  I hold great respect for Catholics. They believe in the same God and Savior I do, and for that I cannot fault them. 

I was going to say more, but I'll leave it at this:  There's a difference between penance and repentance.   Human priests cannot forgive sin, only God can.

Alright, I'm getting off the soapbox.

Being You

What do you like about being you?

A simple question, undoubtedly.

But a question that, for all its simplicity, could quite possibly take many their whole lives to discover the real answer to, is undeniably difficult.

I was asked this for the first time today, and I know my answer.

I want to know what your answer is.

Being You

Tangle

I've known about GodTube for some time now (over a year, I think), but I never visited much. Recently, they've kept sending me emails saying they were changing their name, but never actually said what the name was, and all I could keep thinking was, "So tell me the name already!"

Well, they finally told me the name a couple days ago: Tangle.  And suddenly the inexplicable urge to set up an account there hit me.  Seriously.  So I did.  Then the inexplicable goal of finding at least one "Tangle" person on every continent also came to me.  Thus far, I've found someone in Africa, and someone in Australia.  Not to mention...

Someone Messaged Me, and I Didn't Even Message Them First

I was pleasantly surprised.  He's a very nice guy from Indiana, and he asked me a very thought-provoking question (which, if you know me, I love): What do you like about being you?

What do I like about being me?  Dang.  He cut right to the chase - awesome!  That was beautiful.

So I had to think about it - what do I like about being me? What could I do besides give him an honest answer (and the first thing that popped into my mind)?

Here's what I said, in a nutshell:  I like being me because I'm free in Christ.  Yeah, I live in the world, but its things are not for me.  I'm not concerned with amassing great wealth and many possessions as so many others are.  No.  I would rather amass friends; moreover, friends I can help lead to Christ if they don't already know Him.  That, and I'm happy with the talents He's given me: enjoying good, thought-provoking questions, and writing (and, to a lesser extent, designing).  Hopefully they can also help me in being a good witness.

So I'm curious: What do you like about being you?  I would love to know your answers, so leave them in the comments.

Good Things Coming

I opened the Tangle account wanting to find friends; people with whom to build a good, solid, Christ-centered foundation.  1 is a small number when it comes to friends, but then again so is 2 - the number of days I've had the account.  I've got time.  I've got plenty of time when it's God's time.  By all means, I would recommend joining.  If anything, it's another way to build Christ-centered friendships, and accountability.

Grammy Sidenote

I don't know that I've ever been so concerned with the Grammys, and really, I'm still not. However, I couldn't help but notice - tobyMac won an award for his album, Alive and Transported.  I was looking, initially, to see if Coldplay had won anything for Viva la Vida (another excellent album of theirs, if not my favorite yet).  And yes, they have. Smile.

A Little Thought for Thwack

For some reason, I'm getting excited about living in a depression.  Call me crazy.  But maybe it's because I know God's in it with me.  And because of Him, I have no need to fear.

Pointless

My life is pointless.  

Would you find having a pointless life discomforting?  My first thought is that yes, you would. But I'm telling you now: I have absolutely no qualms about it. I have Solomon to thank for enlightening me that much. 

Yet again today, I've been frowned upon and laughed at (literally!) because I told my English instructors I would not be going on for a graduate degree.

"A waste!" my friend exclaimed. "What a waste of such an intelligent mind!"

Granted, I do appreciate that she thinks I have an intelligent mind. 

But I'd rather use the intelligent mind for God's purposes, and not the world's, thank you. Would they understand that though?  Sadly, no. But I do.  And He does.  And that's all that matters.

Winner or Loser?

What makes a winner, and what makes a loser?

My students this morning came up with a wide variety of answers, ranging from certain local football teams, to people who have the innate talent (or don't), people who try, people who don't. All their definitions were comparable to fairly earthly things.

What's a winner, really?

This is it, in a nutshell: A winner is someone who is righteous, honest, not slanderous of others, loyal to God, and someone who does not take advantage of others' poverty (sounds like George Bailey - imagine that!).  This comes from Psalm 15.

Interesting.  Not a word about looks, wealth, fame, skill, or intelligence.  Not a word about Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood celebrities, big homes, diamonds, or fancy cars being the stuff of a winner. But to reverse that - there's also no word about drug addicted people, promiscuity, murderers, liars, or thieves being the stuff of a loser.

All-Encompassing

He only tells us what a winner is. He does not say one word about what a loser is.  God loves all people: rich, poor, sick, healthy, addicted, Godly, promiscuous, pure, righteous, and immoral. We are all human - not one of us different.  Tainted, yes. Forsaken, no.

This Psalm, if in whatever small way, proves that by default, none of us are losers!

So please, never think you are.  Because He does not think you are.

Completely Beautiful, Completely NO!

Dreamworld

Have you ever had one of those dreams that you wake up from and instantly go, "Now why can't that happen in real life, but at the same time.....NO! That's not what I want!"

I had one of those last night.  Yeah.  Most dreams like that that I have revolve around guys, and getting together with them.  I've only had two such dreams.  Both of them completely lovely when I was having them (albeit this one last night was a tinge off kilter because he claimed in the dream that he worked at Pizza Hut, something he does not do - to my knowledge - in real life...) but then when I wake, I'm immediately left thinking, "NO!  That's not my goal!"

I'm not going to deny that I would like a boyfriend/future husband right now.  However, something completely unexpected is going to have to happen if it's the plan for me to get married in the next couple years.  I don't make this plan!  He does.  And I'm nowhere close to a boyfriend, though so much of me would like to be.

But... do I really want to be, or is it just something else talking?

Realworld

It's Super Bowl Sunday.  w00t.  The only reason I care is because I get to hang out with friends tonight at a youth group Super Bowl party.  I could care less about the game (though if the Steelers win, that'd be trivially cool).

The future is facing me head on.  There is only so much "bubble" living you can do before it pops.  Bubble as in - you're not entirely financially responsible for yourself.  I'm still living in the bubble.  But the days and weeks and months stretch on, and the bubble is growing thinner and thinner as I get nearer and nearer graduation, and the *gasp*.... real world.

Then the faith really gets tested.  I can't wait.