Things that make me happy

Here are some things that have made me really happy the past couple days:

• Talking about life with people you're just beginning to know (i.e. some freshmen and our new theology prof). We were at a philosophy conference at Wheaton last night, and on the drive home, we opened up. Way cool.
• Notes from people I love. I came home to a note from my mentor, Tarne, my 8 year old friend, Katrina (also Tarne's daughter), and my dear friend, Amanda. Unexpected and so welcome. :-)
• My mom and sister teasing me. They crack me up. I don't know why, but I get the biggest kick out of people giving me crap. They're so cool.

I've been thinking more and more lately about how the littlest things can be so powerful...like the things I just mentioned. It's amazing how life is bursting with such an intense beauty. I love that!

It's so simple...right?

I just finished reading a post on theooze about telling a person you like him or her. It wasn't even about dating relationships at all...it was about how even platonic relationships can leave you wondering, "Do they really like me?"

It's amazing to me that telling a person you like them takes so much courage. I don't quite understand why, but it really puts us on the line. I wonder why it is that telling peopple that you appreciate who they are and genuinely like them is so hard? Why does that put us in a tough spot?

At the same time, though, it's meant so much to me when someone has approached me and told me that they like me. Especially when it's left at that, it makes me feel so appreciated and special. It's a way God constantly reminds me of the value He's put on me...and plus, it just plain makes me happy.

I want to do the same for others...letting the people I care about or respect or even admire from a distance know that I like them.

Time to pray that God gives me the guts to tell some really cool people in my life that I like them...

When I'm feeling overwhelmed...

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Ps 27:14)

OK, Daddy.

Soul connection and begging for money

I just got back from a weekend trip to Orange City, Iowa, with Sara and Amanda. I had no idea how much I needed this weekend until I experienced it.

Every night we hung out at a coffee shop that the Northwestern students hang out in. I experienced community unlike anything I've ever experienced before. It didn't matter who we were, where we were from, or what type of people we were...we were all genuinely welcomed and accepted. I've never experienced an entire group of people that listened so intently and loved so freely and unconditionally. (I've met individuals like that but had never experienced a community like that.)

Even though we were only around for a few days, we connected deeply. I even had a dream that one of the guys there was my long-lost brother. Through simple things like their words, their hands, and their eyes, they communicated this sincere love and desire to know one another. Through this brilliant yet ragtag group of people, I hung out with Jesus. That had to have been what it felt like for the people who hung out with Him back in the day.

No wonder Jesus tells us to love each other so deeply. It was the most amazing gift I ever could have asked to receive. Human relationships continue to amaze me more and more every day.

And it shows me the kind of person I want to be. I want to give that freely, listen that intently, and love that gently.

Oh yes...another cool thing about the weekend - the three of us and Sara's friend, Tony, drove down to Omaha on Saturday. We spent our time walking around the art district, checking out shops and enjoying the day. We walked on cobblestone streets! The best part about Omaha, though, was when we all sat down in front of an abandoned building, Sara and I took turns playing guitar, and we all sang. Lots of people smiled as they walked by (including a police officer!), a couple stopped by to talk, and a few people even gave us money. It was such a neat experience.

I wan't expecting to leave my heart in Omaha, but it's a place I'm definitely going back to. I'd love to live there someday.

Again, what an amazing weekend.

Now I'm off to love and give and live in the moment.

Oh yes...I am definitely a big nerd...

I just sent this as an email to a friend, but it struck me so funny, I had to tell the world...even at the risk of you guys thinking it's just a weird Greek story. It's too funny not to share...

I'm such a big nerd. I was talking with Amanda, tonight about something that happened in our Greek class this morning, and it was so funny, I wanted to share it with the world. However, I don't think it'd be funny to most people...they'd all be like, "Yeah, you're a nerd, Erin." However, that's a risk I'm willing to take.

Amanda and I are the only girls in the class, and the guys were all trying to outdo one another: ("I can translate without looking at my notes very much" . . . "Well, I can translate without using my notes at all..."). My prof, Dr. Rozema, is just amused at the whole thing. So finally, after watching them all compete with each other for a minute, he calls on our friend, Henry, to translate.

Henry gets excited easily.

So he's translating from John 12, and he keeps getting stuck on this one part. So Dr. Rozema starts asking him to think of the syntax of this particular participle. And Henry just starts shouting out all sorts of answers...and that seems to excite Dr. Rozema...so Henry keeps shouting all his guesses louder and louder...and Rozema keeps writing on the board faster and faster...It was Greek class filled with adrenaline!

It felt like I was watching "Win, Lose, or Draw"...but in Greek. I could just picture it going on, and finally Henry shouting "GENITIVE ABSOLUTE!!!" and then having his team win a bunch of money or a new car or something.

I love Greek class...I need a life. ;-)

This is so wonderful...

I seriously must be in the best place on campus right now. My room overlooks a courtyard and right now, 7 or so students are outside...some playing guitars, one playing hand drums, and all of them singing. It's midnight right now, and they show no signs of stopping. They've been at it for almost an hour already. And it makes me happy.

I love the community that I'm seeing and hearing right now. I'm witnessing the Kingdom on Earth...the Body of Christ. I'm eavesdropping on joy and freedom. And even though right now they're out there and I'm in here, our hearts are in the same place, and we're really all together.

"You are beautiful, my sweet sweet song...I will sing again" (what they're singing right now)

Again, I'm smiling.

I keep coming back to this...

In the midst of all the questions I've been asking lately, these words keep coming to mind...


"In Christ Alone" by Stuart Towend and Keith Getty

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my ligh, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

OK, here's the deal...

After probably too much deliberating, I've decided to start blogging. I hope that it can be a neat experience, and that maybe my thoughts can ring true with you guys as well. Maybe I'm a big nerd, but I'm really excited.

Feel free to post your thoughts as well!