spontaneity

A respected teacher once said, "Spontaneity is what my grandson does in his pants." Although I see where he's coming from, I think spontaneity is a lot more than that. Spontaneity is the spice of life--it's what makes fun people fun, colorful personalities colorful! Without spontaneity this world would be pretty boring.

Spontaneous moments in my last few weeks: I was bike riding on the Issaquena Trail the Sunday before I had a big paper due for a class (2 weeks ago?). I should have been writing--I know. But I'd already committed to biking, so I couldn't back out of it. I also had an RA banquet that night, so I had to get back in time to shower and get ready. We rode along Lake Hartwell and basked in the glorious view of the shimmering water. About three-fourths of the way through the ride, my friend discovered a rope swing. I had 20 minutes to be back in order to get my shower, and that would have been pushing it, but we decided to do the rope swing instead--in our biking clothes. Oh, it was so fun. I went to the RA banquet with hair still wet from the lake, but it was worth it. And the paper--it's over. What will I remember 10 years from now: spending my Sunday afternoon writing an essay, or swinging on a rope swing? Easy answer ;).

Another spontaneous moment: A friend and I went running at 9:00 one night--a little late to start running, honestly. We ran to the Botanical Gardens, hung out in the 80-ton bird's nest sculpture (It really looks like a bird's nest, but it's made of tree trunks! Amazing.), kept running around the gardens, talked about honeysuckles and philosophy, got back to Stadium Suites and dived (I mean dived) onto the grass, fresh and warm, waiting for us to gaze at the heavens with it.

Moment number three: Late night grits at Waffle House then driving around town—of course I want to keep driving.

Spontaneity makes for some unforgettable moments.

What is it in us that loves surprises and spontaneity? I think God likes to surprise us and glory in His own creativity. Look at His good creation--from the micros to the cosmos, beauty and creativity can be found in everything. We're His image-bearers and we draw pleasure from surprising each other, as well. What do you think?

deliberating

The sun is rising and I'm setting. This has happend about 80% of my nights in the last three weeks. All-nighters, but tonight was a good one, no term papers or anything. Just talking to some crazy new friends I've met just this semester. I'm imagining where I'd be if I hadn't been placed as an RA here at Stadium Suites. I've met some of the coolest "kids" ever. Oh, I have an exam tomorrow, but it's at night. I've got time to study, hopefully.

I think I'll go watch the sunrise.

Sleeping in the library

I don't remember the name of the book I read in third grade, but the main character in the story escaped her awful family life by living in a museum. She stood on top of toilets in restroom stalls so when security checked under the doors they wouldn't see someone was still hiding in the museum. She hid out there for several weeks. I don't remember where she slept, but I always thought it'd be exciting to evade the eyes of security and camp out in a museum.

A library was the next best thing. Last week, I guess it would have been early Wednesday morning, I finally fulfilled my dream and slept in the library. I hit the books around 2:00 am and studied with Will and Lena till around 4. I finally had to crash. So I put two cushy chairs together (they're more of a couch/chair combo) and slept in the library. It was fun! My backpack and purse were my pillow. It was one of the best sleeps I've ever experienced. It kind of stinks, but security doesn't care if people sleep in the library. I see people doing it all the time. I still felt audacious, adventurous and cool.

Engagement

Rebekah and John are to be wed October 14 of this year! She took cuts from classes today and they rose before dawn to journey to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here's Rebekah's story: "I was a little suspicious that he might be proposing, but didn't want to be disappointed if he didn't. When he started taking pictures of the sunrise ("before pictures," in his mind), I doubted this would be the day he'd ask me. John's been re-reading John Piper's "Desiring God" and was reading me some quotes from it. He told me there was a section on marriage he wanted me to read and gave me the book. I flipped over to the page where the paragraph was and he had cut out a section of the book to fit the ring into!" She said yes this Good Friday the fourteenth of April in the Year of Our Lord Two-thousand and Six.

A note: Rebekah and I have been kindred spirits for about the past three years. When I think of a "faithful" friend, I think of her. She and John fit each other in their desire for truth, their analytical minds, and their love for people. Rebekah never ceases to sharpen me in our conversations. By that, I mean she happens to bring up the topic I've JUST been thinking about and she'll push me to developing it lightyears further than I could on my own. This has happend I don't even know how many times! I appreciate that. People meet John and are swept away by his humility, thoughtfulness, and sharp mind. We joke around that he must be perfect, but I'm sure he's not, somehow. It just seems like he is. When I think of the two of them together, my heart rejoices! How exciting to see how God will use them together to glorify Himself!

Das Haus der Waffeln

Otherwise known as Waffle House. I hadn't been to the one in Clemson till this week when I went twice, both times with "cool DCF people." Maybe it's something about the smoky, flourescently-lit atmosphere, or the stale coffe that, when mixed with sugar and cream, "tastes like candy," but the place breeds good discussions and laughter. Maybe it's just the feeling of being a college student with the world as your oyster that breeds those discussions, and Waffle House breeds that feeling. Ok, so maybe it's just the people you're with. But I'm very much a college student when I'm there. Yeah, I live on a cheap budget, and so do all my friends. Sure, I like eating breakfast any time of day, especially after 12. I have homework due tomorrow, but that can wait. There are more important things to concern myself with, like the present.

Maria

She went to my church in South Africa. We shared family stories and deep theological thoughts over Rooibos tea and cheesecake, her favorite. In Hermanus we'd run on the beach, she, barefoot, and look for whales together. We never saw any. Her easy laugh and wild curls were natural complements of her carefree personality. We called each other "kindred spirits"--we were. She was one of the few I'd always stay in touch with. The last e-mails we wrote each other were in mid-January, she wrote me last. Having one of my "Maria moments," which I often do, that longing to talk to her, her to listen in that non-judgemental, wise, kind but strong way, I e-mailed her at the beginning of March.

Yesterday, March 29, her sister wrote me back. She was sorry to tell me, especially over e-mail, but Maria had passed away January 25. She attached photos of her--this beautiful, colorful, bright-eyed woman--who had been alive in my mind since I last saw her. She died in a car accident.

Two months have passed, but my mourning process has only just begun. I'm far away from our mutual friends, many of whom have already reached closure. She's the first friend I've lost--a very good friend. I feel like my world's about to change.

Brannon said something once: "The older you get, the more extreme happiness and sadness become." When you're little, the best thing that happens to you is the ice cream truck coming, and the worst, scraping your knee. As you get older, the best is marriage, children, grandchildren. The most tragic is death.

L'Abri

My friend Hannah is going to L'Abri in Switzerland next semester. The French word "L'Abri" means "shelter" and it's basically a self-study school anyone, from any background, can go to to ask questions and get honest answers about life and its meaning. As I understand it, the school is set up communally--students garden, cook, and clean for themselves and each other. Students discuss questions over the dinner table every day. About a third of the time is spent studying, another thrid working, and another third doing other things (traveling?). When you arrive at L'Abri, you receive a personal tutor who directs you in the subject you want to pursue. Weekly lectures are also given, I believe.

L'Abri was started by Francis and Edith Schaeffer, one of the most godly, like-minded, and intelligent couples to walk the planet. I'm reading Edith Schaeffer's book "L'Abri" and have been blessed by her faith, critical mind, and fidelity to Scriputre. I'm writing down quotes I think are exciting. Here's one you might like:

"The thing about real life is that important events don't announce themselves. Trumpets don't blow, drums don't beat to let you know you are going to meet the most important person you've ever met, or read the most important thing you are ever going to read, or have the most important conversation you are ever going to have, or spend the most important week you are ever going to spend. Usually something that is going to change your life is a memory before you can stop and be impressed about it. You don't usually have a chance to get excited about that sort of thing . . . ahead of time!" (ch. 5)

If that's not exciting - the future, mystery, God's goodness, which rests in His wisdom - I don't know what is.