I recently joined Facebook in attempts to connect with old and new friends, but at the same time deleted my MySpace in hopes of maintaining some kind of balance in my digital connections.

Today, thanks to connecting via Facebook, I had “linner/dunch” with my two dear friends from high school. It had been 8/10 years since I had seen either of them and seeing them was an absolute joy. It seemed as if no time had passed between us and it was generally delightful to reconnect.

Now, three hours later, I sit here pondering the adage of “friends for a season” and its relativity in the digital age. If we are truly connected through our various formats-social networking, wiki’s, IM, etc…is it really possible to “lose track”? In the three weeks since I have joined up with the fb gang, I have found 86 friends. Some old, some recent, some tried and true. The most fascinating thing about it all is that none of these “lost connections” were a result of some tragic break up of friendship, rather simply just a change of season.

Will friends for a season be something slowly goes by the way side as we continue to connect? I do not seek to answer this question. Only to wonder…..

Peace.

A big shout out to my little sister. She is so smart and giving. It is because of these traits that she has been awarded the HIGHEST honor for service to the engineering community given to a graduating senior in all of the engineering department at Temple University.

So not only is she graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in a few short weeks, she gets to address her entire graduating class and us, her proud and not-so-humble about her awesomeness, family!

Civil Engineering world, look out, a special gal is entering your world in May. Be ready to be rocked.

Way to Go Little One!

A big grey cat is sitting on my lap.
He is very very fat.
He comes from Maryville, Mo.
In fall of 97 we brought him home.
With my ‘rents he now abides
But he visits from time to time
Today he sits as I type without a single care
Two weeks he will be with me
My small apt. we’ll share
Allergic to my big grey cat alas I have become
But for two weeks ’twill be ok because he gives great love.

Yesterday was a banner day at my PT job selling awesome running shoes. It was the busiest Saturday I have seen since starting the job. I feel like we made a lot of people really happy yesterday and I was pretty proud that I worked two families at a time at one point.

As much as working a 9 hour day on my “day off” from school is tough on my energy, I’m so happy working this job. It challenges my brain in a new way as I diagnose the feet, gait, and needs of our customers. It is a steep learning curve as I learn the ins-and-outs of all of the intricacies of shoes. It provides both a momentary diversion from life and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I love that this shop serves the community. I love the community both of runners and of the average Jane’s and Joe’s that come in for their first pair. It is awesome.

Yesterday in the shop we had a nice chat with a gentleman who had the pleasure of working for Mr. Rouse. I think the environment in the shop yesterday was a great example of Mr. Rouse’s vision for Columbia. All walks of life, coming together to a small business to obtain their needs. Shopkeepers who are knowledgeable, friendly, and who take the time to serve the community. I hope that had he been there in the shop with us yesterday, he would have been proud.

I didn’t know how to express my current feelings, so I sought out and found the best description through Edna St. Vincent Millay. Thank you Ms. Millay, for providing words for me today.

Ebb

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

I know what my heart is like

I heard these words today, “the resurrection of Jesus is the most important thing that has ever happened on Earth.” I must be quite honest that even I, a committed Christian, was taken aback by this comment.

Even when putting the audience (school children at a Christian school) aside, I find this presupposition of knowing the greatest thing to be horrifying. Who gets to decide that? What are the repercussions for a statement such as this on the lives of the approximately 70% of the world who do not practice Christianity? Jesus lived and died a mere 2000 years ago, what about the billions of years prior to his life and death? Wouldn’t the creation of the Earth rank up there pretty importantly?

I am sure the speaker of the statement did not mean to offend anyone. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t think about the power of his words. We must be thoughtful to the fact that just because we are Christians does not make us superior to the world. Before we go touting the perfection of one act, however miraculous and world changing, we must consider that perhaps it is the spouting of superiority that makes much of the rest of the world angry with Christians.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t be proud to be Christians. I am not suggesting that we do not define the resurrection as the most important event in the history of Christianity. (We would not exist without it) What I am saying is that I do not feel we can truly be followers of Christ, living His example of humility, love, and grace, if we assume that the most important thing to ever happen in the history of the world is about us.

Even up to his last, Jesus allowed others to learn through his use of parables, reciprocal questioning, and his model. We as adult followers give children a great gift when we allow them to learn about Christ through our lives, through our stories, through our songs. We should never attempt to teach them through perceived superiority, assumption, or exclusion of others.

No matter which religion you practice, or none at all, you are loved.

Peace.

Took my fantastic five year old niece to Horton Hears a Who today. It now has my five star, two thumbs up, and gold star seal of approval. It was fantastic for both kids and adults. I think what I liked the most was how well it highlighted two major themes; faith and diversity. I haven’t read the story in years but was so moved by the story in a new way as an adult.

Need something to do by yourself? with your kids? with your loved one? Go see it. You’ll see what I mean.

I’ve been watching a lot of The West Wing this fine spring break as my cable is out and I need some kind of distraction. (Reading isn’t as easy these days). This short tale is the most moving moment of Leo’s text from every episode. His character was the epitome of servant leadership. The line is from the Noel episode of season two.

This line completely represents a few people in my life right now without whom I could not currently be walking upright and getting through the day. To them I offer my thanks. If you are ever down in the hole, as I am now, I shall come in and help you out.

Leo: “This guy’s walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, ‘Hey you. Can you help me out?’ The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, ‘Father, I’m down in this hole can you help me out?’ The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by, ‘Hey, Joe, it’s me can you help me out?’ And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, ‘Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.’ The friend says, ‘Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.’ “

Today in church it was befitting to sing “I am the Bread of Life” hymn 335 in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982. The text of the music is rather interesting in that it really makes quite clear the meaning of the Eucharist. It makes no bones about the way to the Father. With words like, “unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of his Blood, you shall not have life within you” this is a very serious piece from a theological standpoint.

But it is the chorus of the piece that always moves me. No matter where I am or where I sing it, as the congregation breaks into the harmonies, I am moved to tears in the promise that God has made to us. It is particularly moving when I am surrounded by those whom I love, the first time I sang it at my new church, on my wedding day, or whenever I am with my Mom, who sings just about as loud as I do.

“And I will raise them up, and I will raise them up, and I will raise them up on the last day.”

This piece reminds me, even in the darkest of times, that God is our hope. That when we come to God, broken, afraid, or empty, that He will fulfill all of our needs. And on the glorious day of resurrection, we will sit with Him at the table.

Happy Easter dear Reader. May this day find you in a place of peace and be a reminder to you, wherever you are on your faith journey, that you are never alone.

I love the fact that no matter when you go or how long it has been since you were last there friends are always at the SP Safeway. Today it was my longest friend Casey, her wonderful bf and her amazing parents. She reminds me of who I am, where I come from, and some of my best memories.

What a great way to end my good Easter day.