Entries from April 2009
My friend Pete recently brought the content of my blog and Facebook to my attention. I was empathizing with his frustration about conflicts with vendors (shampoo delivered late? 
) saying that once in a while I dread checking my e-mail for conflict. He said “But your job is perfect, you all seem so lovey-dovey with each other. All your blogs are so happy.” I laughed, thought it was a joke. No, he was totally serious.
In case you were wondering (and some of you might be) no community is perfect. In fact we have lots of conflict here in the office, in meetings, internationally, and inter-personally. During the board meeting this weekend Daphne made fun of me because my contribution to a tough conversation was “I don’t like tension” instead of perhaps something relevant about the content of the actual conversation. But in three years ask me again and I’ll be like “I love conflict.” I already see myself getting more comfortable with healthy levels of conflict as I get older; especially the last year. I’ve got a few people that are helping me walk through conflict in a loyal way, where we can disagree and I still know we are people and love each other at the end.
So, community. When you put 60+ super passionate young people together who are all trying to fulfill their vocation, oh yeah, there is tons of conflict. That’s the true nature of love, right? Calvin reminded me Hafiz said “A love like this would set the whole world on fire.” And setting the world on fire sounds painful. So bring it on, I’d rather have love in conflict than lovey-dovey. At least I think so…
Categories: Fleshie Tales. · Love.
We all love Bob. I’ve heard him called the grandfather of WMF. Laura (fellow board member) calls him “Trouble” and lately we’ve taken to calling him “Bobby. “
Bob is an amazing man, he has three daughters around my age/older than me and he’s been the longest standing person on our US Board. Bob was in a Bible study with Shane Clark (WMF’s founder) when Shane talked about the poor in Scripture and he was shortly thereafter asked to join the Board of WMF. (Late 90’s)
Bob’s walked with us through tons of stuff, he’s really knowledgeable about practical things like finances and architecture. He is deliberative and takes his time to state his opinion. He cries once or twice every board meeting.
So, without further ado, I give you Bob… in his own words.
“I was thinking we should cancel and all go out and get a pedicure.”
- Bob on Jara’s engagement
“It’s like… fitting them for their kilt.”
- Bob on the clan-like aspects of board enculteration
“Transitions are always tough. It’s like puberty.”
- Bob on life
“Chris is more of a boxers guy than a brief guy.”
- Bob on Chris and board briefs/proposals
“I try to keep my worlds separated.”
- Bob when asked what his wife Kathy would think of all the crazy quotes he had this weekend
Categories: Fleshie Tales.
Today it was 86 degrees. Everyone was raving about the weather at lunch, all I could say was “it’s going to be a hot summer.” Spring makes me nervous because I have a love/hate relationship with hot weather. This leans more towards hate. I saw Nebraska summer once… in 07. It scared me.
Pro:
- not looking like the ghost of Christmas past anymore (ie: having a tan)
- windows open
- sun, people are generally happier and not as affected by SAD
- longer days
- swimming
Con:
- having to wear shorts, which i only have one pair of because it’s still snowing in Michigan in late June
- sweating
- cotton mouth from air conditioning
Categories: Fleshie Tales.
‘God speaks to each of us as God makes us, and walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear:
You, sent out beyond your recall, Go to the limits of your longing. Embody me. Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in. Let everything happen to you; beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me. Nearby is a the country they call life. You will know it by seriousness. Give me your hand.’
- By Rainier Maria Rilke in Rilke’s Book of Hours
Categories: Faith.
CONGRATULATIONS to AJU and Susan!
We love you. I love you. You are so great!
She did it folks, she really did it.
This couple is pretty sweet. You know Andrew? Calvin’s roommate, and Susan, who I wish I could date but obviously missed my opportunity. Well, they’re engaged.
She sent the ring on Valentine’s Day because heck, why shouldn’t they propose to each other instead of just him to her?
I know that happened a while ago, but I am just feeling excited for them today as they’re chilling in Nepal together…
XO you two crazy love birds. I promise to cry at your wedding.
Categories: Love.
“It’s not fair that I was told God is a man. Because what does that say about me as a woman?”
Categories: Existential Musing.
I think I love my mind because it sees the world as exciting and full of possibilities. I love my mind because I think it’s pretty logical and I try to access that logic, especially when emotion is involved. I like that my mind sees ideas everywhere and I get to think a lot about things and have talks with myself. I have lots of conversations in my head. Sometimes they leak out and I talk to myself out loud.
I don’t love my mind when I’m stressed, especially when I’m stressed and faced with choices- big or small. It could be as small as picking out an outfit in the morning, or as big as ‘Do I move to Omaha or go to Nepal?’ I can’t choose because I’m so afraid of making the wrong choice, I don’t like limiting my options, everything seems possible and great and good and beautiful all at once. ”What if I make the wrong choice and always regret it? Is there any such thing as the wrong choice? What if I do this and I wish I did that? What will other people think of me doing this if I feel like I should do that?” It feels like my mind is going like a cement mixer (never heard one but I imagine!) and all the loud sounds of rocks being crunched makes it hard to hear anything, especially the still voice of the Spirit.
Last week my beautiful Spiritual Director Molly said to me “Get out of your mind and into your body. Be gentle with yourself. Wait on your heart, you don’t have to hurry…”
Deep breath…. oh. yeah. That’s what I’m trying to do- be gentle with myself and speak kindly to the child in me, even in my journaling. I’m trying not to use my mind to ‘discover’ my center but instead follow the voice of the Spirit into the place where She resides. I’m glad I have people like Molly to help me listen.
It’s still really hard. Darn mind.
Categories: Faith.
42 cents of stamps.
Wedding Invite.
Categories: Belly Laughs (or Chuckles).
Caldwell alternates between calling me Elizabeth Didi and Kanshi.
I call him my bhai, sometimes Hajur-Dai.
That cracks me up.
Categories: Fleshie Tales.
