Busybody on Hold

                         "We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” -Brother Lawrence


Has it really only been two weeks since school got out? When I realized that today, I nearly panicked. What am I going to do for the next few months? Thankfully, I do have some things planned for the summer. I will be spinning yarn for an online store (I’ll get back to that some other time), and I plan on volunteering at the farm at my school. I have a failure of a garden that needs tending to, a pile of books to read, trails I need to explore, crafts I need to complete. I want to practice my writing. And I am taking three online classes consecutively throughout the summer. But that still leaves time. Lots and lots of it.


I wonder sometimes if I am a busybody. As much as I love being lazy, too much of it makes me feel, well, insignificant. I feel like I need to do something important with my life. So I’ll mix up some cookies or wash some dishes or volunteer to go grocery shopping. I’ll make a checklist to make myself feel productive--as if those things were actually important.


Speaking of check-lists.
Begin blog post. Check.


Here’s the thing. Summer feels like a pause button on my life. I wonder if anyone else feels the same. Think about it. Most television shows involving students skip over their characters’ summers. Nothing important happens to them except they get a tan or sell some lemonade. When I am at school, I am investing in my future. Over the summer, I am just staying alive, preparing for Season 20 or Season 21 of my life.


Yet, when I remember what my purpose in life is, my to-do-lists begin to seem small and insignificant. Is what I am doing really as important as what I am becoming? If I thought about it that way, I could say that school and other activities invest in the short term (getting a job, making lifelong friends, gaining knowledge, making decisions for my future, etc.) while this time alone, this time of waiting, is an opportunity to invest in the long term. I finally have time to get back in God’s Word. I have time to pray without being interrupted. I have time to contemplate, to meditate, and to grow spiritually. No time given to God is wasted.


Oswald Chambers wrote that "The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through….Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him.”

I realize that not everyone’s summers are as lazy as mine, and I also realize that the above quote refers to all times of life, not just the slow times. I want to “abide in Him” at all times, but I am seeing now that lazy days are great opportunities for not only that, but also for service. Chambers also says, “Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God.” I can’t say that summer is for this and the school year is for that. Both should be lived in a posture of beholding God and being open to Him.

Have a nice summer! I will hopefully be posting more often.

-ED

2013 Booklist

This year was my first year taking English Major classes. As I listened to what my professors had to say about these literary works, I found myself falling in love with literature even more. This has been one of my favorite years for reading, and I hope my reviews will make you want to read some of these yourself. I have found that reading, to me, is about more than just enjoying a story for a singular point in time. With the right story, it can do so much more. It stretches my mind. It opens my eyes to a Story much bigger than myself. It is a philosophical process that compels me to think about what is important in life.





So here it is. My 2013 book list, in the order that I read them.

1.      Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

 

This book needs no review. Read it. Love it. Read it again.

 

2.      Traveling Light by Max Lucado

 

A comforting book about letting go of baggage and moving closer to God. I would recommend anything by Max Lucado.

3.      The Shack by William Young

 

While I understand the hype about this book, and the message was hopeful and moving, I personally was not intrigued by the bold characterizations of God.  

4.      Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

 

Jane Eyre is a character anyone would fall in love with. Bronte tends to write without a direction--there is no absolute plotline in her stories--but this novel is well worth reading.

 

5.      Candide by Voltaire

 

I was overall bored with this story because of the matter-of-fact writing, but by the end Voltaire slapped me in the face with a very profound conclusion in response to the various philosophies of his time. The ending was worth the read.

6.      The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

 

This short novel delves into the psychology of a dying man, and has a thought-provoking message about what is important in life.

 

7.      Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

 

      While I don't agree with all of Miller's theological conclusions, his questions, though-processes, and experiences are presented with an honesty and vulnerability that caused me to question the same things and move toward my own conclusions. Overall very enjoyable to read. It made me laugh and then would hit me with something to think about for the next few days--maybe even the rest of my life.

8.      Hedda Gabler by Ibsen

 

A story about the most unlikable woman of all time. I can't say that I was ever bored, by I also can't necessarily say I liked it all that much.

9.      The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov

 

An interesting story to study in a class, but not my favorite. This novel portrays a rich family going bankrupt and witnessing the working class's move to wealth.

10.  Things Fall Apart by Achebe

 

Very good. This story shows the negative effects of "missionaries" in African tribes.  

11.  My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

 

Potok is a wonderful writer. Every artists should read this story about a young Jew torn between his religion and his art.

12.  Crazy Love by Francis Chan

 

Everything I expected of Francis Chan--thought-provoking, inspiring, and moving.

13.  Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

 

I had to read this before I saw the movie! Very fun read for a Science Fiction fan like myself.

14.  Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

 

My first book of Steinbeck's since The Pearl, this was funny, sad, and heartwarming all at once.I highly enjoyed Steinbeck's realistic and endearing (while ignorantly destructive) characters.

15.  Walden by Henry David Thoreau

 

I soaked up this book while on vacation in the mountains. I underlined half of the book. It made me want to live more simply. It's a book everyone should read at some point in their lives, maybe even several times, as it is a wonderful reminder about what is important in life.
 

16.  Les Miserable by Victor Hugo

 

I absolutely loved this book. It took me a long time to get through it--even though I listened to it on audio-book--but I loved Hugo's writing and characters. Hugo allows the story to revolve around his characters instead of vise versa. I bought the print version just so I could underline all of his beautifully-written insights about God and redemption.  

17.  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 

I hated the characters, but I enjoyed the book. Emily is more plot-driven than her sister, and it didn't take me long to get into this story. Frustrating as it is, it is a beautiful story.

 

18 Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

 

Sad. Just--sad. Though wordy, I love Hardy's writing. His novel is a strong criticism of the Victorian church and sexism. Tess is a lovable character who represents the downtrodden women of the time. It is a very moving--if highly depressing--story.

 

19. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

 

This is my new favorite Dickens novel. I couldn't put it down by the end, and it left me in sort of euphoria for the rest of the day. It is a story of redemption, of light, and of life. I highly recommend it.

 

20. Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

 

Very unique. It is dense with philosophy and metaphor. I can't say I like it, but it is an interesting read.

 

21. Boewulf by Unknown

 

I liked it better the third time through. If you're a Tolkien fan, you'll enjoy reading the story that influenced him.

 

22. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Unknown

 

Again, Tolkien fans may appreciate it, but it is not as enjoyable as Beowulf.

 

23. Silas Marner by George Eliot

 

This book is a response to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, so of course I didn't really like it. While I always enjoy my Victorian novels and this one had a good story, the cynicism was a little much for me. Eliot's writing is also very difficult to get through. However, I don't regret reading it.

 

24. A Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

 

A lover of philosophy, I really enjoyed this book. It's the kind of book one should read slowly and possibly more than once. The philosopher Boethius was imprisoned and put to death. This book contains his musings before his execution.
 

25.  Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Pretty good. I like Hardy's writing--maybe because I like metaphors. Outwardly, it's a story about a shepherd, and I enjoyed reading about the simplistic life of the farmers.

 

26. Flatland by Edwin Abbot

This book is one long metaphor, so of course I enjoyed it. Abbot uses the idea of a two-dimensional object meeting a three-dimensional object to represent the way humans relate to God in His supernatural dimension. (Or at least that's how I read it.).

 

27. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

A beautiful story about a man who decides to play the cello in the place where his friends and family were killed by a bomb, but also about life, the reason for living, and hope.
 

28. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A classic everyone should read.
 

29. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Probably the saddest book I have ever read, but I loved every word. The unique style of writing is whimsical and poetic. I have not seen the movie yet, but I recommend reading the book first to get a firm grasp of what the story is really about. Behind the sadness is hope. Reading The Book Thief was the kind of experience I look for in reading literature.


Overall, it was a great year for reading. I hope 2014 will be even better!

Happy New Year!

My "Single" Hope

Weddings. Engagements. Couples. It’s Facebook official: everyone is in love. Except for everyone else, who is single and very aware of it. We walk from class to class without a hand to hold, we carry our own books, and we open our own doors. We keep moving forward, but we look to the future, because only the future offers us a way out of this loneliness.

            This week, I felt the disease of loneliness spreading inside of me. I moped. I pouted. I ate some chocolate. Despite the fact that I am only twenty, despite the support of my friends, despite my relationship with my Creator, I felt lonely. The disease had nothing to do with my surroundings or circumstances, and everything to do with my mind.

            This is for everyone else feeling that disease creep into them. Before you pull out the cookie dough or type in ‘romantic dramas’ in your Netflix search engine, take a moment to reflect on what is True. I know this is hard. When I’m in a bad mood, I tend to feed that mood, somehow believing I won’t get better until I get worse. This is a lie. I’m writing tonight because I have a hope that I just can’t wait to share, a hope that I have to be reminded of every day.  

1.      It’s not the end of the world.

Sometimes I look at my singleness like there is something wrong with me. I think I’ll never be “complete” until I am married. But have you ever met a couple, whether married or dating, who would say they are fulfilled through their relationship? That they are always happy? That they want for nothing? I doubt it. Married people still have problems. They still have needs and fears and doubts. This made me wonder--what if my fear has nothing to do with singleness? What if I am in a constant state of want and discontent because I am not finding my joy in God? It's like when I was little and I would save up for weeks for a toy from Toys R Us. I would do chores and sell lemonade and search under cushions for cash. Finally, I would go to the store with my money in my 101 Dalmatians wallet and I would buy the toy. For a while, it would be my favorite toy, the toy I slept with and brought on car rides. And then I would find myself discontent again. I needed a new obsession, a new toy, a new reason to be upset. But maybe I wasn't upset because I wanted a toy. Maybe I was just upset, and so I made up a reason why.

 

Maybe I'm doing the exact same thing when I wallow in my singleness. I am discontent for reasons beyond what anything on this earth can fix, and so I come up with a reason for my discontentedness. By doing that, I think I have found a cure. But the cure for loneliness is not acquiring a hand to hold or a person to obsess over. If I ever did find that, I'm sure I would find another reason to be discontent. 

 

Marriage is a beautiful thing—love is a beautiful thing—but if we looked at our lives from an eternal point of view, would we not see that marriage is only a small part of the big picture? The ultimate purpose of our lives is not to decide who we will marry, but whether or not we will follow God.

2.      God is not your matchmaker

It is a common belief that God brings people together (specifically Christian couples), and they just know they are meant for each other. I am not entirely against this belief. I believe if you place yourself in God’s Will, He will guide you. What this idea did to me, however, was it made God merely a mythological cupid that I could pray to when I was lonely and wanting some arrows to hit their marks. I realized that I prayed to God more about His intervention in my life than about seeking His Will. It was all about me. God may intervene—he loves us and cares about every aspect of our lives, including our loneliness—but imagine if you constantly told your husband that you were lonely. He tried to comfort you. He bought you flowers. He cooked your favorite food. He told you he loved you whenever he had the chance. You accept his gifts, but you continue to cry and try to make him understand just how lonely you are, and all the while he is right there holding you and saying “I’m right here.” Sometimes I realize I am doing this to God. He has told me that He is the only one who can fulfill me and make me whole, and yet the only time I come to Him is to tell Him how empty I am. And instead of running to His arms and seeking comfort there, I ask for Him to send me comfort through another person.

3.      There is hope.

God puts the lonely in families. He will not let you be alone. But true comfort and wholeness is found in Christ alone. Your spouse should be there to point you back to God. He is your partner through life, but not the purpose of your life. As for me, I have time. I still have moments when I desire relationship, but to desire relationship is to be human. The worst thing I could do is suppress that natural desire. At the same time, I can’t fall into despondency and despair. God is with me. That sounds cliché, but sometimes clichés are repeated because they are true. I can put my trust in the One who made me, who created Eve while Adam was sleeping, because He saw his loneliness. I can sleep in peace tonight and tomorrow knowing that I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to manipulate things to work out. I can sleep because I know that my God cares for me, and that He gives good gifts to His children.

 

           

I Listen to Books

Sometimes I get funny looks from people. Not necessarily bad looks. They are more like split-second flashes of surprise or confusion. Sometimes I get them when I shop at Lowes and the employers act as if they’d never seen a teenage girl buying dirt before. Sometimes it’s when I say things like, “there’s a ‘possum in the barn” or “I almost hit a turkey on the way to school.”

There have been a few occasions when I have gotten those looks after saying a sentence similar to, “I was listening to this book the other day…” And there it is--the look. The look that says, “Don’t you mean ‘read’?” And I have to explain that I really did mean listen, as in an audio book. And then I may hear things like, “That’s cheating!” or “That’s not the same as reading.”

I started “listening to books” when I was old enough to go on road trips with my family. On a twelve-hour drive to Florida, before DVD fixtures were put into every mini van, audio books were the best way to make the time pass other than my parents’ famous hand-puppet theater.
 

The first book I listened to on my own was Harry Potter read by Jim Dale, and that is still the best series of audio tapes I have ever listened to. Jim Dale’s voices are perfect (particularly Hagrid--he does a good Hagrid). I would make excuses to stay in my room just so I could listen to it longer, even if it meant organizing my closet. Of course, that was until I got an IPod with OverDrive Media, an app that allows you to download books from the library. I can now download books and listen to them while I’m driving or gardening or whatever.

There are pros and cons to audio tapes. The downs are that you don’t get to experience the classic feel and smell and mind-consuming bliss of reading the pages of a book. That, and sometimes the reader’s voice is so obnoxious or dull that you can’t stand them past the first chapter. However, there are several pros as well. First, I would never consider it “cheating” to listen to a book. For a child learning to read, yes. That would be cheating. But I know how to read. I can pay attention to the language, story, metaphors, and other literary devices and themes of a book as much with my ears as with my eyes.

Second, I am a slow reader. I recently listened to Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. As a five-part book with quite a few chapters about politics, history, and philosophy, (not to mention hundreds of confusing French words to struggle through), I would never have been able to read this book in the time I did without listening to it. Plus, I got to hear the French words pronounced and go around thinking in an accent for a month. Lastly, listening to books allows me to be productive with my hands while simultaneously developing my mind through literature. Sometimes, being lazy and reading all day is fantastic. Other times, there is simply too much to do to spend hours on the couch. My favorite time to listen to a book is in the car.

Just think. You can be reading two books at a time this way—one on audio and one for rainy days. Simply download OverDrive Media onto your iPod or iPhone, find your local library, and you can try it for free. Sometimes there is more than one version of each book, so you can choose a reader that doesn’t sound like they have water in their throat or are teaching a math class. I typically choose long books that I wouldn't have time to read, and/or books with lots of difficult words, such as French or Russian names. I am currently listening to Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, and I'm going to have to make a list of the characters before too long or I'm going to start losing track of them! But at least I can hear them pronounced correctly!

So next time you go on a road trip or have long commute to drive every day, I encourage you to use that time to read--that is--listen to books.

 

Happy Reading (and listening)

-Emily

3 Books to Add to Your Bookshelf

Summer is almost over, and I am devouring books as fast as I can before textbooks take over my reading time. However, even during the school year, I always keep two books with me--my Bible, and a devotional book. The devotional book does not have to be laid out as a day-to-day lesson book like most. To me, a “devotional” is simply a book written with the intent of focusing the reader on God and who He is. No matter how many textbooks and short stories are assigned to me, it is always refreshing to read inspiring words by other Christians. It encourages me to know that others have experienced walking this path that God has called us to take. The encouragement is not always pleasing at first. Sometimes it hurts, but it pushes me to go the right direction. If you are looking for some guidance and encouragement, here are three books I would highly recommend:

 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis has been my favorite author for a long time. I have read most of his books, but this one is the most life-changing. As a former atheist, C.S. Lewis knew all the questions people had about God. He tried to disprove God’s existence, but never could. When he became a Christian, he found the answers to a lot of those questions, and he shared them in this book. His logic is extraordinarily simple and understandable. Some of it is speculation. Much of it is metaphor, helping the reader see God in a new, fresh way. All of it is a revelation, not only of God’s existence, but also of how we, as Christians, should respond to that existence. Read this book slowly. Reflect on each page. Faith cannot be taught, but sometimes we need to embrace logic. When we do, it may not build our faith, but it can help us better understand what and Whom we believe and how we should respond to Him.

 

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

There are different versions of this book. The classic edition is written in old English and is difficult to understand. I am reading an updated edition right now. It takes a year to go through, with one page a day (I sometimes read two a day, one in the morning and one at night). The book is a compilation of lectures and writings by Chambers, who did not intend them to be published. The first day I read this, I knew it might change me. It has challenged me every day to think about things differently. I am amazed that a man from the early 1900s could write things so relevant to a nineteen-year-old girl. He points out things in myself that I never recognized before, and he has instilled in me a passion to give everything to God day by day. James Reimann, the writer of the updated edition, writes: “I encourage you to read with this book in one hand and your Bible in the other. This book is not the Bible—it is intended to point you to the Bible.” Chambers did not intend to write a new theology. Read prayerfully, seeking discernment, and be willing to let the words change you.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

This compilation of writings were not composed by a great theologian, but by a humble cook in a monastery. His words gave me a new understanding of worship and devotion to God. As the title reveals, he teaches that we must practice living in God’s presence every moment. His relationship with God aroused a hunger in me for the same. Reading about how someone lived so beautifully is as affective, if not more affective, than a sermon. It makes the Christian life real and attainable and irresistible.

As I read these books, I had to remember, as Reimann said, that these are not the Bible. It is always important to read God's Word. Even more importantly, I had to remember that time spent in a book is not always the same as spending time with God. I must spend time in reflection and prayer and practice living in God's presence throughout the day.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did,

Emily

A Strange Use for Banana Peels

My last post was about a delicious way to use bananas. But why waste all those peels? Why not put them to good use and try something new? You’re about to think I’m a little crazy, but some Pinterest pins attract me because of their craziness. I have to try them to see if they actually work, especially if they are simple and involve saving money.

 
Here is the original pin:

 
I know it seems weird to rub banana peels on your teeth, but after only one treatment, my teeth were noticeably whiter! Now, I have learned that this is like brushing your teeth—it only works for a while. If I stop doing it for a day, there is already a difference. But if I do it every day, my teeth get successively whiter. The key is to be consistent. However, say you have an event coming up--like prom, for instance. This can be a perfect, cheap, temporary fix to make your smile whiter for pictures!

 
The pin does leave out a few pieces of information. For instance, please rinse the peels before use. Who knows where they have been? Also, do this before brushing and not after. If you have ever had a green banana, you know how bad it feels on your teeth. Finally, what if you don’t eat a banana every day? I have tried saving the peels in foil, but they still turned brown on the inside. It would be nice to have enough reserved that I could do this regularly. I'm going to keep trying different things, but for now my best bet is to use fresh peels, which means I have to eat a lot of bananas. I like to mash half a banana in my oatmeal every morning, so it's not too bad.

 
I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, and that you will actually try this. I promise it works! And if you’re already trying the Nice Cream, then why not try this as well?

 
May your teeth be ever white,

 
Emily

Ice Cream Just Got Healthy

I am an ice cream addict.

                                   

Almost every night, I scoop myself a few dollops of ice cream. I hold the blame, but I have to say some of it is due to my upbringing. When I was little, I was a little underweight. I went to the doctor for a physical and she prescribed whole milk and ice cream. My parents took this to heart and I grew up thinking that ice cream was actually good for me.

 When I was old enough to realize that ice cream is not a health food, it was too late. I was addicted. But this story has a happy ending, not just for me, but for all you ice cream addicts out there! You don't have to stifle your cravings! You don't have to eat an apple and pretend it's dessert! (Although that's good, too). You don't even have to spend hours (and money) making homemade ice cream (okay, you could). There is an easier, better, and healthier way to get your ice cream fix without having to do a hundred jumping jacks to make up for it!

 The solution?


Nice Cream*

 
You may have heard of it before, but you won't believe it till you try it. The first time I made it, I gave a bowl of it to my dad to try.

"This," he said, pointing to the custard-like dessert with his spoon, "Is good. What's in it?"
"Bananas," I said.
"And?"
"Um..vanilla?"
"And?"
"That's all!"
He couldn't believe it, and neither will you.

 
Nice Cream, in a nutshell, is ice cream made out of fruit. Most nice cream is made out of bananas, but I have heard of people using peaches and other fruits. But bananas are the most popular, and you'll see why.

 First off, bananas are cheap, they have a subtle flavor, and the texture of the nice cream is like frozen custard. Some people don't like the idea of using bananas because of the fat, but really, I'm sure it's a lot better than ice cream! If you are not a fan of banana-flavor, you can always flavor it with any flavorings you would use in regular ice cream. I suggest using organic chocolate nut spread or cocoa. I normally add just a few drops of vanilla and it's heavenly. You can also pop in some strawberries, or you can add a spoonful of peanut butter. I have been wanting to make it a pina-collada flavor by adding a few drops of coconut milk and some pineapple. Whatever flavor you like, go for it!

 
The directions are simple.

 
1. Slice a few ripe bananas. They can be over-ripe as well. I'm not picky about how big the slices should be, just divide each banana into at least four pieces for easy blending.

 
2. Put the slices in the freezer until they're frozen, maybe an hour or so.

 
3.Take out the pieces, put them in a blender/food processor (NOT a smoothie-maker) and blend. I typically use one-and-half bananas per serving.  If the bananas are very frozen, this may take some time. At first, you will end up with a dipp'n dots texture. Just keep blending and occasionally stirring and watch the magic happen as it suddenly turns silky smooth before your eyes. Once it's smooth, it is ready to eat.

 
These simple steps may change your life. Any time you have some extra bananas you don't think you'll eat, or Kroger is having a sale on over-ripe bananas, just stick them in the freezer for later and "indulge" on them as nice cream later.

 
Enjoy!

 
P.S. Save your banana peels in some foil with a little lemon juice. You’ll want to use them after my next post. Trust me!

 
-Emily 

 
*I don't know you decided to name it "nice cream." Shouldn't you replace the "cream" since there is no cream, and not the "ice" since there is, in a way, ice? I wanted to call it "Ice Dream," but supposedly Chick-fi-la has given that name to their ice cream. It's a shame really. "Ice Dream" has a pleasant connotation to it. Besides, one little-known fact about bananas is that they make your dreams more vivid, so it makes sense to associate it with dreaming.