Perhaps the most horrible part of tragedy is not the actual event, but the repercussion and consequences of that disaster. In light of recent national events, and time to reflect on my own experiences, I am compelled to pray for so many people in need, and ask others to do the same.
When a “tragedy” strikes, there is generally a lot of instant sympathy, prayers, rescue aid, support, media attention, etc. The individuals or group going through the tragedy realize that they have many people who are watching and praying and thinking about them. Money, donations and support pour in, notes of sympathy, moments of silence, news coverage with titles like “Special Report” accompanied by sad music and somber voices of reporters. In the middle of chaos and shock, all that matters is getting through the moment, releasing emotion through tears and sadness, and dealing with loss. And there seem to be many supporters to help them grieve and cope.
This can be seen with the incident at Virginia Tech recently, right before the anniversary of the Columbine shooting. Another example is Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Mississippi.
Though these incidents are horrific and traumatizing that in the aftershock, there is so much sympathy and support and understanding, it actually makes it slightly easier to manage. But as a former student of Columbine High School, and recently having seen the state of affairs in New Orleans, Louisiana, I know for a fact that the ripple effect of these “storms” is often the hardest part.
Just as it was with Columbine, so it will probably be with Virigina Tech. In a few weeks and months, people will forget. The nation will go back to its normal worries of money and Iraq and distractions like tanning salons and nice cars and designer purses. They will deal with their own issues, and forget about those students that they mourned with for a day or two. As they move on with their lives, they will assume that the students affected by this horror are also moving on, and forget to pray or show support.
Meanwhile, these students will be left with memories of friends and fellow students, the sickening sound of gunshots, and media cameras buzzing around like annoying mosquitoes. They will be haunted by images of Cho speaking angrily into a camera, holding guns that he employed to kill 32 people. They will attempt to go back to classes and concentrate, attend funerals, avoid movies with guns, break out in tears for no reason….and move on slowly with their lives while everyone else around them forgets. Forgets to pray, forgets about them, and only remembers their own problems. And in one year, it will be plastered across the news again when the anniversary comes around, for people to mourn and remember for one day, and then forget again. Meanwhile, the survivors will carry on with wounds in their heart and bad memories, missing their friends and family. They will still have nightmares, still be frightened by certain sounds or images, and have no one but each other to remember to pray for them or offer encouragement.
Of course, I am not exempt from this behavior. Having just been to New Orleans, I realize my own tendency to do this. In fact, I tend to lack the empathy from the beginning – when you are not close to the situation, it just doesn’t impact you much. But I realized the need for compassion and for a helping hand going down there. I can’t even begin to imagine what they went through, even when I hear their stories. It didn’t hit me hard when it first happened 20 months ago, because it’s far away and does not affect my daily life. My job and friends and time were just more important to me. But my prayers and efforts are so appreciated, and I had no idea. Why didn’t I go down to help from the beginning? I’m trying to figure out which pair of shoes to buy, and they’re just trying to find a pair of shoes to slosh through the water with.
The residents of Louisiana are also forgotten - a few months pass, and people move on. The news shows a Mardi Gras celebration as the city rebuilds, and everyone feels warm fuzzies, happy that they are getting on with their lives. But they are left to live with it every day, with little help from the government, and few volunteers to help them rebuild. They struggle on by themselves now, struggling for food and clothing and a place to live, while people in other parts of the country go to a home every night, out to eat, and shop for anything they want from their local mall or boutique. Is anyone still praying for these people?
As I write, I realize this concept applies to anyone going through a hard time as well. Everyone is compassionate in the beginning, but somehow we all get caught up in our own issues and forget about each other. (And also something that I desperately need to work on). Sometimes all you need is a listening ear, a compassionate heart and some prayer, months or even years after the ordeal.
“A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair. “ – Abraham Joshua Heschel
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Windows to the Soul
They say the eyes are the window to the soul. I’m not sure that I always feel that to be true, though I know there is truth in this poetic idea. But this past week…well, I guess you could say that I saw many souls. And beautiful souls at that, ones that have impacted me beyond what I ever expected.
I spent 5 days in New Orleans helping with Hurricane Katrina Relief work. God opened the door about as wide as it could go for me to travel down there to help. And so I walked through it, not sure of what to expect, but stepping out in faith for Him to use me…
Imagine the brightest pair of blue eyes you’ve ever seen – not as light as the blue sky, not as dark as the ocean waters, but piercing swirls of a blue more akin to what you might see on your computer screen, a bright, cerulean kind of blue. They sparkle, surrounded by deep lines which display the laughter and smiles that have lifted these eyes in their many years, and are almost warm as they say hello. Step back a bit, and you see gray hair, the round body of a true New Orleanian accustomed to fried foods, and a bit of a tired demeanor. But the eyes – a window to the soul of a man who devotes his days to serving the people in his community, to giving out pounds and pounds of food, water, clothes and diapers, to people who cannot afford it by themselves. Sure, he probably struggles to buy these things for himself, but he’d rather worry about other’s needs. If you ask him how he’s doing, you will probably hear something like, “Blessed by God.” A man who will not let one of these go from his presence before lifting them up in prayer to the God he serves so diligently and so joyfully….
Ron invited our team to step into his crazy world for a few days, in which we were able to catch a glimpse of many more souls whom he meets on a regular basis. Now imagine the contrast of these bright, joyful, sparkling blue eyes…
Dark, nondescript circles of brown or gray….nearly a reflection of the flood waters that carried dirt and dust for days and days, and which hold little purity anymore. Eyes that rarely sparkle or shine, which also carry lines around with them - lines carved in from worry, tears, fear, and discouragement. Just like the waters that savagely cut through and carved into their homes, workplaces, cars, and their lives. When you look through these windows, you see a deep, dark pit of frustration and just a slight tinge of hope, which keeps them pressing on through the remnants of those dirty flood waters. Person after person seemed to display souls very similar to that of the next person. You ask one of these how they are doing, and you’ll probably hear, “Making it through,” “Doing okay,” or, “Surviving.” How it hurts to hear them say it. These are people who survived a deadly hurricane 20 months ago, and are still barely making it because there is so little help, and so little hope.
And do you know why their windows are so cloudy? Well, one is living in a trailer, unsure of when the government will take it back from him, asking for food after coming straight from a funeral. A woman’s son is angry and mean and can’t comprehend what has happened, while she also deals with the guilt of the loss of her mother, who she found dead after the storm kneeling in prayer. One man’s sister was left for dead in a nursing home, another’s father is in the hospital having a triple bypass while she prays that God take her instead of her parents, one tells a story of cutting herself out of her attic with a chainsaw after being stuck for 4 hours in fear of the growing waters and wind. These souls do not scoff when you ask them if you can pray for them, they are not opposed, they gratefully accept, even if they don’t know Jesus….and then come back week after week for the same thing, forced to humbly depend on other people for survival.
Imagine another pair of dark, clear, empty eyes that as you speak slowly become brighter and feel creases as they lift in a smile. A soul so tired and worn, eyes that have seen too much. And yet there is joy…because he knows Jesus. Step back and you see a tall, skinny, 60 year-old black man in search of a warm meal. A man who is temporarily homeless…who dragged himself to a New Orleans Mission simply to get some food….who lost nieces and nephews as they drowned in those terrible flood waters of hurricane Katrina, trapped in their home. A man who survived because God told him a way out…and who repeats to himself Psalms 37:16, “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked.” He can barely see the words in the bible because the words are so small, but he doesn’t need to see to know these words. Because he feeds off of them, he lives on the very words of God. He didn’t come to the mission looking for love, or even conversation, just food. But he left with someone who showed they cared and that the Holy Spirit used to keep him around to hear scripture and encouragement shared by many others like him.
There are so many others like this in Louisianna, struggling to make it through. But I saw, maybe truly for the first time, what Jesus saw in his time on earth. These are who He came for, this is who he loves, who he spent his time with.
There may be few people in New Orleans who are truly happy….their lives have just been too hard, and continue to bring struggles each new day. But from those who know God intimately, to those who are just trying to make it through….they live on slices of hope, on a bit of laughter, from the help that comes from others, and on the very words of a miracle-working God. Oh, that my eyes might one-day reflect a soul like these, so humble, and so in need of Jesus....“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
I spent 5 days in New Orleans helping with Hurricane Katrina Relief work. God opened the door about as wide as it could go for me to travel down there to help. And so I walked through it, not sure of what to expect, but stepping out in faith for Him to use me…
Imagine the brightest pair of blue eyes you’ve ever seen – not as light as the blue sky, not as dark as the ocean waters, but piercing swirls of a blue more akin to what you might see on your computer screen, a bright, cerulean kind of blue. They sparkle, surrounded by deep lines which display the laughter and smiles that have lifted these eyes in their many years, and are almost warm as they say hello. Step back a bit, and you see gray hair, the round body of a true New Orleanian accustomed to fried foods, and a bit of a tired demeanor. But the eyes – a window to the soul of a man who devotes his days to serving the people in his community, to giving out pounds and pounds of food, water, clothes and diapers, to people who cannot afford it by themselves. Sure, he probably struggles to buy these things for himself, but he’d rather worry about other’s needs. If you ask him how he’s doing, you will probably hear something like, “Blessed by God.” A man who will not let one of these go from his presence before lifting them up in prayer to the God he serves so diligently and so joyfully….
Ron invited our team to step into his crazy world for a few days, in which we were able to catch a glimpse of many more souls whom he meets on a regular basis. Now imagine the contrast of these bright, joyful, sparkling blue eyes…
Dark, nondescript circles of brown or gray….nearly a reflection of the flood waters that carried dirt and dust for days and days, and which hold little purity anymore. Eyes that rarely sparkle or shine, which also carry lines around with them - lines carved in from worry, tears, fear, and discouragement. Just like the waters that savagely cut through and carved into their homes, workplaces, cars, and their lives. When you look through these windows, you see a deep, dark pit of frustration and just a slight tinge of hope, which keeps them pressing on through the remnants of those dirty flood waters. Person after person seemed to display souls very similar to that of the next person. You ask one of these how they are doing, and you’ll probably hear, “Making it through,” “Doing okay,” or, “Surviving.” How it hurts to hear them say it. These are people who survived a deadly hurricane 20 months ago, and are still barely making it because there is so little help, and so little hope.
And do you know why their windows are so cloudy? Well, one is living in a trailer, unsure of when the government will take it back from him, asking for food after coming straight from a funeral. A woman’s son is angry and mean and can’t comprehend what has happened, while she also deals with the guilt of the loss of her mother, who she found dead after the storm kneeling in prayer. One man’s sister was left for dead in a nursing home, another’s father is in the hospital having a triple bypass while she prays that God take her instead of her parents, one tells a story of cutting herself out of her attic with a chainsaw after being stuck for 4 hours in fear of the growing waters and wind. These souls do not scoff when you ask them if you can pray for them, they are not opposed, they gratefully accept, even if they don’t know Jesus….and then come back week after week for the same thing, forced to humbly depend on other people for survival.
Imagine another pair of dark, clear, empty eyes that as you speak slowly become brighter and feel creases as they lift in a smile. A soul so tired and worn, eyes that have seen too much. And yet there is joy…because he knows Jesus. Step back and you see a tall, skinny, 60 year-old black man in search of a warm meal. A man who is temporarily homeless…who dragged himself to a New Orleans Mission simply to get some food….who lost nieces and nephews as they drowned in those terrible flood waters of hurricane Katrina, trapped in their home. A man who survived because God told him a way out…and who repeats to himself Psalms 37:16, “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked.” He can barely see the words in the bible because the words are so small, but he doesn’t need to see to know these words. Because he feeds off of them, he lives on the very words of God. He didn’t come to the mission looking for love, or even conversation, just food. But he left with someone who showed they cared and that the Holy Spirit used to keep him around to hear scripture and encouragement shared by many others like him.
There are so many others like this in Louisianna, struggling to make it through. But I saw, maybe truly for the first time, what Jesus saw in his time on earth. These are who He came for, this is who he loves, who he spent his time with.
There may be few people in New Orleans who are truly happy….their lives have just been too hard, and continue to bring struggles each new day. But from those who know God intimately, to those who are just trying to make it through….they live on slices of hope, on a bit of laughter, from the help that comes from others, and on the very words of a miracle-working God. Oh, that my eyes might one-day reflect a soul like these, so humble, and so in need of Jesus....“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Monday, April 9, 2007
Stranger Than Fiction
A friend suggested that I see the movie Stranger Than Ficton, and so I took her up on that advice, not setting my expectations too high, but happy for an excuse to enjoy a relaxing evening at home.
And I’m so glad that I did - I would highly recommend it, mostly due to the complexity of the movie. Simple, yet very deep and very true. It was one of those movies that everything pulled together so well in the end, and this last quote had me smiling like a big dork, alone in my small apartment. The way it was written, and the way it rang true to me, left me feeling very pleased with these few hours spent on my futon. For those who have either intentionally sought out this movie, or like myself, just happened to kind of stumble onto it, the following quote might sound familiar. (To be read slowly, and with a British accent):
“As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin…or a kind and loving gesture…or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort. Not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs...an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters…and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick.”
It is so true. Now of course, it is God who saves our lives…but he allows us these little blessings in life which are really what it is all about, and what makes each day better, special, unique, joyful. This is something that I have been realizing in my own life, which is why these last few lines were so profound to me, and gave me goosebumps.
My pastor spoke recently about how we believe we are entitled to certain things. You live a Godly life, and you expect good things. For him, it is an issue with his son, who has developmental problems. This has been a huge struggle for him and his wife, and one of those things that leaves them feeling like: “We should have a normal son. We deserve normal children.” But they have also found dependence on God through this, learning what dying to yourself means. They have found trust in Him and the realization that they are not entitled to anything….and the pure joy that comes when his son accomplishes something so small. To most parents, some simple acts are normal, and not nearly as “celebrated” as when his son is able to accomplish something. And in the middle of hardship, they are able to appreciate the smallest milestones with huge gratitude and celebration, because they realize how prized that is, and that they were never deserving of it in the first place. And he followed, nearly in tears: "what better way to live?"
There have been 2 times for me which, when losing myself in fear, routine, or hopelessness, that those “accessories” were realized as the most important parts of my day. My boyfriend and I spent two-weeks apart with no communication. And it was in the absence of what I felt was normal, deserved and routine…that I was able to truly appreciate all of the subtleties that make our relationship such a treasure. The phone calls to start and end each day, enjoying music together, our frequent trips to Rubio’s, our boxing matches in my apartment, our conversations of workouts and protein that most would find crazy…the conversations about entirely inappropriate things that are somehow so funny…a hand to hold when you’re scared or worried, having someone to tell about your day, and knowing there’s someone who wants to tell you about their’s… These are my “Bavarian sugar cookies”.
And out of that break came similar revelations about God…that there are so many blessings and joys that come from simply knowing him, that we often neglect to recognize. The way he always shows himself when you really seek him out…friends he has put in my life, who turned to be more plentiful than I even realized…the support of prayer….a coffee date with someone that provides immense comfort…the joy that he can shower on you when you simply wait in his presence and cry out to him for peace…wisdom He gives, even in the strangest places…and knowing that if He never gives you any of those things, he is still good and knows what is best and loves us, and that is all that truly matters.
That same pastor said something to the effect of “it is sometimes in the valleys, the hard times when it almost feels like He’s not there... that God teaches does His greatest work, and it is almost proof that he is working as he strips away our selfishness. Without the empty, hard, unpeaceful times in life we might not ever recognize the best things in life, and never appreciate the blessings and grace that God has poured out on us. Without the valleys, can we ever really know his grace?
Just like the quote says, the anomalies don’t just accessorize our days, but they are effective for a much nobler cause. And so now I wake up thanking God for a shower, for friends to pray for, for an amazing best friend and boyfriend that I can count on… for a great bed to sleep in, for few money worries and for the joy in giving it away….for silly e-mails at work that seem like a waste of time, but truly enrich the soul…for food to enjoy…for a job that’s fun and easy, for a cell phone, for a car to drive me anywhere I want to go…for friends to talk to…for good coffee in the morning – or at night – and for the knowledge that in times of drought, we can still bear fruit and have confidence in God. (Proverbs 1).
These things are not just part of my day, they are what make my day worth living and which always turn me back to God in thanksgiving, knowing that He is what I live for, but he has chosen to bless me with all of the “nuances and anomalies” which serve for a much greater cause.
And I’m so glad that I did - I would highly recommend it, mostly due to the complexity of the movie. Simple, yet very deep and very true. It was one of those movies that everything pulled together so well in the end, and this last quote had me smiling like a big dork, alone in my small apartment. The way it was written, and the way it rang true to me, left me feeling very pleased with these few hours spent on my futon. For those who have either intentionally sought out this movie, or like myself, just happened to kind of stumble onto it, the following quote might sound familiar. (To be read slowly, and with a British accent):
“As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin…or a kind and loving gesture…or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort. Not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs...an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters…and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick.”
It is so true. Now of course, it is God who saves our lives…but he allows us these little blessings in life which are really what it is all about, and what makes each day better, special, unique, joyful. This is something that I have been realizing in my own life, which is why these last few lines were so profound to me, and gave me goosebumps.
My pastor spoke recently about how we believe we are entitled to certain things. You live a Godly life, and you expect good things. For him, it is an issue with his son, who has developmental problems. This has been a huge struggle for him and his wife, and one of those things that leaves them feeling like: “We should have a normal son. We deserve normal children.” But they have also found dependence on God through this, learning what dying to yourself means. They have found trust in Him and the realization that they are not entitled to anything….and the pure joy that comes when his son accomplishes something so small. To most parents, some simple acts are normal, and not nearly as “celebrated” as when his son is able to accomplish something. And in the middle of hardship, they are able to appreciate the smallest milestones with huge gratitude and celebration, because they realize how prized that is, and that they were never deserving of it in the first place. And he followed, nearly in tears: "what better way to live?"
There have been 2 times for me which, when losing myself in fear, routine, or hopelessness, that those “accessories” were realized as the most important parts of my day. My boyfriend and I spent two-weeks apart with no communication. And it was in the absence of what I felt was normal, deserved and routine…that I was able to truly appreciate all of the subtleties that make our relationship such a treasure. The phone calls to start and end each day, enjoying music together, our frequent trips to Rubio’s, our boxing matches in my apartment, our conversations of workouts and protein that most would find crazy…the conversations about entirely inappropriate things that are somehow so funny…a hand to hold when you’re scared or worried, having someone to tell about your day, and knowing there’s someone who wants to tell you about their’s… These are my “Bavarian sugar cookies”.
And out of that break came similar revelations about God…that there are so many blessings and joys that come from simply knowing him, that we often neglect to recognize. The way he always shows himself when you really seek him out…friends he has put in my life, who turned to be more plentiful than I even realized…the support of prayer….a coffee date with someone that provides immense comfort…the joy that he can shower on you when you simply wait in his presence and cry out to him for peace…wisdom He gives, even in the strangest places…and knowing that if He never gives you any of those things, he is still good and knows what is best and loves us, and that is all that truly matters.
That same pastor said something to the effect of “it is sometimes in the valleys, the hard times when it almost feels like He’s not there... that God teaches does His greatest work, and it is almost proof that he is working as he strips away our selfishness. Without the empty, hard, unpeaceful times in life we might not ever recognize the best things in life, and never appreciate the blessings and grace that God has poured out on us. Without the valleys, can we ever really know his grace?
Just like the quote says, the anomalies don’t just accessorize our days, but they are effective for a much nobler cause. And so now I wake up thanking God for a shower, for friends to pray for, for an amazing best friend and boyfriend that I can count on… for a great bed to sleep in, for few money worries and for the joy in giving it away….for silly e-mails at work that seem like a waste of time, but truly enrich the soul…for food to enjoy…for a job that’s fun and easy, for a cell phone, for a car to drive me anywhere I want to go…for friends to talk to…for good coffee in the morning – or at night – and for the knowledge that in times of drought, we can still bear fruit and have confidence in God. (Proverbs 1).
These things are not just part of my day, they are what make my day worth living and which always turn me back to God in thanksgiving, knowing that He is what I live for, but he has chosen to bless me with all of the “nuances and anomalies” which serve for a much greater cause.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Drinking Drinks
I have been perusing the postings of some friend’s blogs (which I used to think were one of the most ridiculous inventions), and appreciating the humor that comes out of the most simple things in life. This goes right along with my previous post and the idea that is it these seemingly minor things in life that really make it great.
And this led me to think about beverages. Now, I share this with some hesitation due to childhood trauma inflicted by my brother who used to joke about me and my fondness of “fun” drinks. As if it were my only hobby, he would tease, “You love drinking cool drinks”. He meant it in a loving way, but I became a bit paranoid about sharing my love of certain beverages…although I will admit that I really did enjoy trying new and interesting drinks. Virgin pina coladas, strawberry lemonade, sparkling cranberry/orange/raspberry/who-knows-what-else specials found on restaurant menus.
“Dad”, I would lean over and whisper as we went out for a birthday or Christmas celebration at Red Lobster, “Can I get this drink?” I would ask him innocently as I pointed to the menu, trying to keep it on the down-low that I once again wanted the opportunity to entertain my taste buds and try something new and exciting. And knowing that I would once again hear my brother mock me: “You love drinking drinks.” Yeah, yeah, I know.
Now, much of this drink consumption (and I’m not talking alcoholic-necessarily) has been halted due to my increased awareness of these pesky little things called “calories” and this other annoying substance called “sugar”. But I’ll be honest, that love of certain beverages still lurks inside of me…they are my “Bavarian sugar cookies” (see post above). And this is proved to me as I sit at my desk, looking at the 3 different cups/mugs staring mockingly at me. Coffee, water, and an empty mug often filled with unusual teas.
Erin, a friend at work, recently posted about Diet Coke, which is what actually made me think about the whole beverage phenomenon. I think I got roped into the whole artificially sweetened drink-thing that I used to be so opposed to when I started working at ECCU. Constantly surrounded by co-workers unknowingly enticing me into the pleasure-filled world of calorie-free drinks. Erin’s post cracked me up, because it really is a great (yet mostly artificial) beverage. I mean, why is that when I forget to pack a diet soda in my lunch, I will scrounge through my wallet and purse and car about 5 times to find every last dime and nickel, hoping to find exactly $.65 in order to have that glorious diet coke from the vending machine at lunch? It’s sad, really.
And then there’s wine – and no, I don’t drink it every night or scrounge for money to be able to buy it, so don’t be thinking I’m a lush. But it’s a symbol of many things to me, and there’s something very pleasant about drinking it (and not just because it makes you feel pleasant). But really the first times I enjoyed wine were in countries where it is part of the culture, and so much more than just a means to drunkenness.
In France it is an atmospheric part of a meal which lasts for hours, enjoyed as part of a ritual, a role in bonding with friends and family over good conversation and rich food. Or as part of a grown-up dessert of wine and cheese. It is sipped slowly, for taste, each representing a different region from whence it came.
And in Italy…what goes better with pizza or pasta? A rich, smooth glass of red wine, cultivated in their own backyards. It is part of tradition, of culture, an experience of sorts. And there was something in the back of my head dreaming, “maybe one day a nice-looking man will take me out for an elegant dinner and we’ll chat over a glass of wine.” In the mean-time, my friend Lindsay and I would have to romance each other along the Grand Canal, splitting the cost of a small bottle of wine. When I returned to the United States, drinking wine reminded me of those times, of those cultures of which I had became very fond. It was a classy, enjoyable, grown-up drink which encompassed so many memories and people and places, having nothing to do with the fact that it makes one’s head feel fuzzy
And then there’s the most popular beverage of choice - coffee. I’ll quote my favorite television show- Gilmore Girls. A male teacher is trying to ask out the main character, Lorelai, and asks, “Do you like coffee?” To which she dryly responds, “Only with my oxygen.”
Ah, yes, I know the feeling. It’s a mystery as to what makes coffee so wonderful…but allow me to throw in another quote. “This seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis - a good hot cup of coffee.” ~Alexander King.
Again, I completely agree. It tastes good, it’s soothing, it wakes you up (unless you’re immune, like me, or just totally unaware of its effects), it’s a huge part of our social practices, you can find it anywhere in the world, and you can have it in just about any form. Perhaps it is the joy found from something so simple as a small paper cup, full of rich, dark, aromatic liquid which, with just one whiff comforts you, brings back memories, begins or ends a day, swishes warmly through your mouth as it slides smoothly down your throat, and then brings a smile to your lips as it warms you like a blanket.
So okay, yes, I like drinking drinks, I admit it. My brother was right and I can’t pretend like he wasn’t. But I would argue that many other people feel the same way – perhaps about coffee, or diet coke, or tea, or alcoholic beverages. Whatever the reason may be, it is a huge part of our social culture, our experiences, our memories, our vices. And it is one of those little things make our days that much more enjoyable, even tolerable. Cynthe knows what I mean: “Happiness is a cup of coffee in the morning.”
And this led me to think about beverages. Now, I share this with some hesitation due to childhood trauma inflicted by my brother who used to joke about me and my fondness of “fun” drinks. As if it were my only hobby, he would tease, “You love drinking cool drinks”. He meant it in a loving way, but I became a bit paranoid about sharing my love of certain beverages…although I will admit that I really did enjoy trying new and interesting drinks. Virgin pina coladas, strawberry lemonade, sparkling cranberry/orange/raspberry/who-knows-what-else specials found on restaurant menus.
“Dad”, I would lean over and whisper as we went out for a birthday or Christmas celebration at Red Lobster, “Can I get this drink?” I would ask him innocently as I pointed to the menu, trying to keep it on the down-low that I once again wanted the opportunity to entertain my taste buds and try something new and exciting. And knowing that I would once again hear my brother mock me: “You love drinking drinks.” Yeah, yeah, I know.
Now, much of this drink consumption (and I’m not talking alcoholic-necessarily) has been halted due to my increased awareness of these pesky little things called “calories” and this other annoying substance called “sugar”. But I’ll be honest, that love of certain beverages still lurks inside of me…they are my “Bavarian sugar cookies” (see post above). And this is proved to me as I sit at my desk, looking at the 3 different cups/mugs staring mockingly at me. Coffee, water, and an empty mug often filled with unusual teas.
Erin, a friend at work, recently posted about Diet Coke, which is what actually made me think about the whole beverage phenomenon. I think I got roped into the whole artificially sweetened drink-thing that I used to be so opposed to when I started working at ECCU. Constantly surrounded by co-workers unknowingly enticing me into the pleasure-filled world of calorie-free drinks. Erin’s post cracked me up, because it really is a great (yet mostly artificial) beverage. I mean, why is that when I forget to pack a diet soda in my lunch, I will scrounge through my wallet and purse and car about 5 times to find every last dime and nickel, hoping to find exactly $.65 in order to have that glorious diet coke from the vending machine at lunch? It’s sad, really.
And then there’s wine – and no, I don’t drink it every night or scrounge for money to be able to buy it, so don’t be thinking I’m a lush. But it’s a symbol of many things to me, and there’s something very pleasant about drinking it (and not just because it makes you feel pleasant). But really the first times I enjoyed wine were in countries where it is part of the culture, and so much more than just a means to drunkenness.
In France it is an atmospheric part of a meal which lasts for hours, enjoyed as part of a ritual, a role in bonding with friends and family over good conversation and rich food. Or as part of a grown-up dessert of wine and cheese. It is sipped slowly, for taste, each representing a different region from whence it came.
And in Italy…what goes better with pizza or pasta? A rich, smooth glass of red wine, cultivated in their own backyards. It is part of tradition, of culture, an experience of sorts. And there was something in the back of my head dreaming, “maybe one day a nice-looking man will take me out for an elegant dinner and we’ll chat over a glass of wine.” In the mean-time, my friend Lindsay and I would have to romance each other along the Grand Canal, splitting the cost of a small bottle of wine. When I returned to the United States, drinking wine reminded me of those times, of those cultures of which I had became very fond. It was a classy, enjoyable, grown-up drink which encompassed so many memories and people and places, having nothing to do with the fact that it makes one’s head feel fuzzy
And then there’s the most popular beverage of choice - coffee. I’ll quote my favorite television show- Gilmore Girls. A male teacher is trying to ask out the main character, Lorelai, and asks, “Do you like coffee?” To which she dryly responds, “Only with my oxygen.”
Ah, yes, I know the feeling. It’s a mystery as to what makes coffee so wonderful…but allow me to throw in another quote. “This seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis - a good hot cup of coffee.” ~Alexander King.
Again, I completely agree. It tastes good, it’s soothing, it wakes you up (unless you’re immune, like me, or just totally unaware of its effects), it’s a huge part of our social practices, you can find it anywhere in the world, and you can have it in just about any form. Perhaps it is the joy found from something so simple as a small paper cup, full of rich, dark, aromatic liquid which, with just one whiff comforts you, brings back memories, begins or ends a day, swishes warmly through your mouth as it slides smoothly down your throat, and then brings a smile to your lips as it warms you like a blanket.
So okay, yes, I like drinking drinks, I admit it. My brother was right and I can’t pretend like he wasn’t. But I would argue that many other people feel the same way – perhaps about coffee, or diet coke, or tea, or alcoholic beverages. Whatever the reason may be, it is a huge part of our social culture, our experiences, our memories, our vices. And it is one of those little things make our days that much more enjoyable, even tolerable. Cynthe knows what I mean: “Happiness is a cup of coffee in the morning.”
Friday, April 6, 2007
Anyway
Anyway ~
The Paradoxical Commandments
People are often illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it will never be enough.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
-Adapted from Dr. Kent M. Keith and Mother Theresa
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ” ~ Col. 3:22-25
The Paradoxical Commandments
People are often illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it will never be enough.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
-Adapted from Dr. Kent M. Keith and Mother Theresa
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ” ~ Col. 3:22-25
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