The point

Don’t ask me why, but I went to Target this past Saturday.  No, I didn’t go early looking for any Christmas deals and I didn’t end up buying any gifts, but I was there among the throng who were doing their ”Christmas shopping.”  I think the saddest part of the experience for me was walking by the dvd aisle and seeing copies of the movie Knocked Up on sale for like $3.  I can only guess they were priced that low in the hopes that people would purchase them as gifts.  At that moment, thinking of someone on Christmas morning receiving a copy of a raunchy movie as a gift, I felt really sad.  That’s not the point of Christmas.  Honestly, do we really know what and why we celebrate Christmas anymore?  Or, has it really become just a chance for stores to sell millions in merchandise and for us to get and receive those gifts we want (sometimes out of obligation?)  I hope not. 

Something I have been thinking about is that Christ is in some ways given a raw deal when it comes to Christmas.  What I mean is this: every year, we sing the same Christmas carols about the baby in the manger, the newborn King, etc.  We continually celebrate the Baby Jesus.  What if we really celebrated his birthday by recognizing the fact that he grew and aged and became a man?  What if we focused more on his life than just always focusing on his birth?  I feel like it is easy for us to sing Away In a Manger and forget about who Christ really became and continues to be and the transforming power he can have on our lives, if we let him.  What if instead of only reading the account of the shepherds visiting the manger in Luke 2, we chose to read from Philippians 2:

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:     6Who, being in very nature God,       did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,     7but made himself nothing,       taking the very nature of a servant,       being made in human likeness.     8And being found in appearance as a man,       he humbled himself       and became obedient to death—          even death on a cross!     9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place       and gave him the name that is above every name,     10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,       in heaven and on earth and under the earth,     11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,       to the glory of God the Father.

What if instead of just buying presents, singing carols and eating candy canes we chose to focus on the life, the character and the glory of the person we celebrate each Christmas?  I think if we read the Christmas story, and then keep on reading through the rest of the gospels, we’ll understand why Christ is worth celebrating each year.  This isn’t to say that we can’t give and exchange gifts or enjoy a good plate of Christmas cookies, but, I do challenge us as we enter this season to remember the life we are celebrating…all of it.

Minnesota’s Finest…in every sense of the word

Congratulations to Joe Mauer for being named the American Leauge MVP yesterday.  Here is a little video/article about it.  Got to love the MN accent.  http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4682842

Joe, call me…

 

 

Perk

The one perk of having some extra time on my hands these days is that I get to do random things during the day that I normally wouldn’t be able to.  For example, I get to take walks pretty much everyday.  On Tuesday, I was able to volunteer in a 1st grade classroom and have a 6 year-old boy read to me.  Super fun.  Today, I was able to spend the day with Lisa and Layla as their “entourage.”  Lisa wanted to visit her teaching colleagues at school and asked me to come along as backup.  Layla behaved herself surprisingly well and of course made all of the teachers fall in love with her.  I mean, who wouldn’t fall in love with this face?!?  (She was awake for part of the time…just not when these photos were taken, apparently)  Don’t get me wrong: I still want to find a new job sooner than later, but, these little outings are the silver lining right now!

 

“Change is Inevitable…Growth is Optional”

The title of this post comes from a bumper sticker I saw recently.  Many of you have perhaps heard me rant about bumper stickers before.  While they can occasionally be clever and cute, I argue that they often give people just yet another arena in which to promote bitter passive aggressiveness. But, occasionally, I see stickers with worthwhile messages, like this one.  “Change is Inevitable…Growth is Optional.”  True.  Often things happen that we can’t control, but, we can control how we react and move forward from them. 

Along with this, I’ve also been thinking recently how normal it is as people to compare ourselves to others.  For example, I’ll find myself thinking “that girl is cuter/smarter/funnier/more fill in the blank than I am.”  Often, though, I find I also compare myself to myself.  This at times can be a good thing, such as when I say to myself, “Lauren: the Lauren I know doesn’t need to eat 8 chocolate chip cookies at once…she has self-control.”  That kind of comparison is a good thing.  However, there are other times when it can be harmful and depressing to compare myself to myself.  Case in point: now.  I am once again on the brink of unemployment and maintaining a sense of hope in the face of a bleak job market is hard to do.  I desire to find a job that brings fulfillment and enjoyment, but my chances of doing so feel pretty slim.  I find myself comparing my current situation to where I was two years ago: living in Ethiopia, investing in the lives of my students and women from the fistula hospital and feeling like my life had purpose.  Right now, to be completely honest, my purpose meter feels as though it is on the steady decline. 

BUT, I am fighting to believe that this is not the end of the story.  Not every season of life can be fun and glamorous.  There are days in which we are not going to feel like superheroes or wonderwomen.  Ordinary is normal.  I am blessed to have my health, a roof over my head, friends and family who love me. I could be depressed about finding myself jobless again or I could choose to believe that God is doing something through this difficult time of waiting that I can’t yet understand but someday will.  Yes, I am going to fight to believe.  But, I would ask for your prayers through this time.  It isn’t easy.  And, if you know of other people experiencing unemployment, I encourage you to pray for them: they need your support and encouragement…even if they don’t ask for it.  Thank you.

Be brave, be nice

I gave a speech earlier today at an organization and had to share something.  The speech was in the little cafeteria and tables filled up as people sat down and snacked on the food provided.  I didn’t sit at the tables that were already full but sat at a table near the front by myself figuring people would join me.  Let’s just say it felt like hours before anyone sat down next to me.  I got a lot of stares and inquisitive looks, but no one felt brave or curious enough to sit down next to me.  Finally, a brave soul named Deanna sat down and struck up a conversation.  She was great.  She restored my faith in adults being able to behave like adults and not like children.

Maybe I’m being too hard on these folks, but, I don’t think so.  I’m a normal, healthy, non-smelly person and if they had this much trouble sitting next to and talking to me, who else do they not feel comfortable talking to and including?  It got me to thinking about times when I have been at an event and haven’t talked to someone who was alone.  So, I challenge you: next time you are at a conference, meeting, church, event, etc. where you are in a group and you see someone alone, be brave and talk to them…chances are they won’t bite and they will appreciate your kindness.  Be like Deanna.

Opa!

I feel it is my responsibility to inform others of good Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food when I come across it.  I have been fortunate enough to have two such discoveries as of late.

1. Santorini.  My parents were in town this past weekend and so they took my brother and I out for brunch on Sunday.  Since my brother lives out in the Western suburbs, we decided to look for something out there.  We tried to go to Outback in Eden Prairie, but unfortunately, it was closed.  So, we needed to find something else.  We crossed to the other side of Hwy 5 and discovered Santorini.  It would be hard to miss.  It is a ginormous blue and white Greek Restaurant.  We were delighted to discover that they have a Sunday brunch buffet. It was probably about $18 per person, so a little expensive (thanks Mom and Dad!), but it was worth it.  They had a large selection of American and Greek breakfast/lunch options.  They had an entire table full of salads, for example.  And, they had tasty lamb (and other meat) dishes and yummy sauces to enjoy. So, if you find yourself in the Western Suburbs some Sunday and need a place for brunch, I’d recommend it.  http://www.santorinimn.com/restaurant.html

2. Some new place in Dinktytown.  I wish I could remember the name.  I can tell you it is a few doors North of Espresso Royale on 14th Avenue.  It is a little Middle Eastern deli that serves good cheap falafel, shawarma, salads, etc.  A deluxe falafel sandwich was $3.99.  Ummm, amazing.  My friend Sarah and I visited there for lunch today and were given free dessert compliments of the chef (pays to be a girl sometimes!)  So, if you find yourself in Dinkytown and are looking for good cheap lunch, I’d check this place out.  Again, sorry I can’t remember the name…just look for falafel written somewhere on the awning.  Enjoy!

Lovely Minneapolis Day

We have been blessed with some unseasonably nice weather the past few days.  I took the liberty to take a couple of walks today and here are some photos from around town.  It has been a great day to be in Minneapolis!

 

     

Not ok

My heart is broken after reading these three articles in the paper today.  These are just three of the articles describing violence against women, two of whom were killed by their attackers.   Not ok.   

1. A young Iraqi woman in Arizona dies after her Father runs her over for being too Westernized.  What is referred to as an ”honor killing.”

http://www.startribune.com/nation/68710142.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr

2. A 15-year old girl is gang raped in California for almost 2 hours while as many as 20 people watched without calling police.  There is only one word for this: EVIL. 

http://www.startribune.com/nation/68868127.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUUr

3. A 67 year old woman in St. Paul is killed in her home and her husband is the suspect. 

 http://www.startribune.com/local/68843222.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUT

trying to hold fast

For the past few weeks, usually when I have given a speech at a business or organization, there has been a representative from another organization there which  is also in the midst of their fundraising campaign.  This other organization is similar to ours, but is smaller and represents agencies that work primarily with chronic health issues…lupus, breast cancer, diabetes, etc.  Most recently, the woman who spoke at one of the same meetings as I represented the Brain Injury Association.  Her story was really touching and very much hit home for me.  She is in her late 20s and told us how at the beginning of 2008, everything in her life was wonderful.  She was a newlywed, she had her dream job and life just felt great.  Well, unfortunately, things changed a bit.  While shovelling the driveway on February 4, 2008 she fell and hit the back of her head on the ice…hard.  She was unconscious for fifteen minutes and her brain began to swell.  She said that over the next few weeks/months she went down an “Alice in Wonderland” like hole as her brain ceased working as it always had.  To make matters worse, she had a second fall two months after her first which setting any progress and recovery back that much further.  Today, over a year and a half later, she has gained back a lot of her abilities: she was able to get her driver’s license back, she can work, she can carry on conversation.  But, she still has a lot of challenges: her memory doesn’t work all that well, her eyesight is less than before, she gets horrible migraines, etc.  But, overall, she seems content…she is making it through.

I share this because though I often think about/talk about my accident, I often forget just how fortunate I am.  My accident happened just five days after this other woman’s and to hear about her accident and the challenges she’s had to face, I don’t know if I could have handled them.  When I think of how incredibly well I am doing in comparison to how differently I could be doing, I almost get chills.  I am extremely blessed. 

I mention all of this for a couple of reasons.  1. My job is ending soon.  I knew all along that it was a temporary position, but I really do wish it could continue.  It has been the dream job in terms of enjoying what I’m doing, enjoying my co-workers and having an awesome schedule.  But, all good things must come to an end, so they say.  So, that mean’s I’m back to the job-search.  Grrrrr!  2. I just found out my health insurance is being cancelled at the end of this month.  Turns out I make too much money to be on the subsidized plan I’m on…which is now really funny since I’ll be unemployed in a few weeks.  Lovely…

Let’s just say that the two reasons I just mentioned above are causing me a bit of stress at the moment.  I really dread going through the job search/unemployment process…again.  I really want to find a job sooner than later.  And, the idea of having no health insurance, especially given my history, isn’t all the fun.  Let’s just say I’ve been giving God some ultimatums as of late.  “Lord, you’d better find me a job…quickly!”  Maybe not that brash, but, close to it. 

This morning in church, the Old Testament reading came from Job 2: 1-10.  I wish I knew how that guy did it…how he stayed so steadfast in the face of incessant adversity. 

   ¹Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. ²The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” ³The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” ⁴Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.⁵“However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” ⁶So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.” ⁷Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes. ⁹Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

This was just the beginning of his hardships.  Little did he know that essentially EVERYTHING in his life would be taken from him and yet, he still didn’t curse God.  He believed that we should be willing to accept both the good and the bad from God and trust that he knows best.  Wow.  Let’s just say that was the lesson I needed to hear today.  And, I’m sure I’ll need to hear it again tomorrow.  God has been so good to me and along with his blessings, sometimes I need to be willing to accept his silence.  Who knows, I may be offered a job in the next couple of weeks, but, I may not.  Regardless of what happens, may I continue to believe as Job did and be willing to accept whatever comes my way…remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and looking with hope that he will guide me to the future.  (I sure do hope I don’t get the boils, though).

Play it cool? Nah…

So, Nashville was great!  It was a blast to see Jess and Abbs (Jess was an awesome hostess and tour guide!), it was fun to see some more of Nashville and it was fun to be in a place that was a bit warmer and dryer than Minnesota.  PLUS, we had a little star sighting, which was awesome.

So, shortly after Jess picked us up from the airport on Friday afternoon, we went to this hip little coffee shop called Fido.  She said that she had seen Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman there recently and that they are often seen at various places around town.  She said, “they love it here because people just leave them alone.”  Abbs and I commented that it would be awesome if we had the chance to see them while we were in town. 

Now, I should probably add here that I Love Keith Urban.  He’s pretty dreamy in my book (despite that whole being married with child thing).  If you were to ask me who I’d “most like to be serenaded by” (not quite sure why you’d ask me that), but if you did, I’d respond with Keith Urban. 

So, back to the story.  Friday night Jess took us to a restaurant called J. Alexanders (I guess there are a few of them around Nashville).  There was a bit of a wait so we hung out in the bar area and enjoyed an appetizer while we waited.  The bar area has windows on one side which face the parking lot and we were standing next to the windows looking out.  We were just standing there, enjoying AMAZING queso dip, when all of a sudden I looked up and realized Nicole and Keith were walking out of the entrance into the parking lot accompanied by another couple.  They were literally six feet away from us, only separated by the glass.  I think I just shouted to Jess and Abbs, “Oh my gosh! It’s Nicole and Keith!”  Then, I think I cupped my hand over my mouth the way you do when you’re shocked about something…and, I may have even pointed at them.  The best part of the story is that they could totally see through the glass.  Oops. I don’t think Nicole noticed because she was further away from the building but I’m pretty sure Keith saw me and looked at me and started to chuckle when he saw my reaction.  Yeah…I definitely failed at playing it cool.  But, at least I got the guy to laugh, so, that’s a good thing, right?! And, by the way, she is beautiful in person (even though she was dressed super casually) and he is quite the looker.   Jess won “the best tour guide ever” award for giving us the chance to see them our first night there!   

Here a couple more photos from our weekend.  Fun times!