Back to Blogging

    It's been a good seven months since I last wrote. I've been slacking on my writing, but as most of us are, I've been very busy. Since I last wrote, much has happened.


    First, I've decided how I'm going to spend my summer because now we're already halfway through the summer. This summer, I chose to spend in discernment of ministry to the Church. I know I want to work in the Church and know in my heart that I cannot separate my vocation from God and my faith. So, I have been working two internships this summer. The first is through my church, Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester, VA. It has been a blessing to be able to serve at my home church because though I've been there for a little over 2 years, there have been many things for me to learn and many people to meet. It is a fairly large church, so I am still learning names and the process of how to do things. But I am enjoying it very much. During the week, through the month of June, I worked in the office doing odd jobs and trying to learn as much as possible. And every Sunday, I help serve at both services (8am and 10:30am), which are each different in their own ways. I especially love serving on Sunday mornings because it is great to observe up-close and first hand and to be involved. Learning comes from diving right in and experiencing, which I am having many opportunities to do.

   At the end of June, I left the country for 10 days. A team of fifteen of us, including my mom and me, went to the Dominican Republic to lead a Bible school and paint a school. I had been once before, but I tried to go in with an open heart and mind for new experiences. And what a new experience it was! We had a wonderful team, and we all meshed well. Almost no one was too afraid to jump right in and take action. I realized very quickly that my Spanish had much improved from two years previous and it made me so happy to be able to communicate and understand. One of my first realizations in discernment this summer is that I need to continue learning Spanish. I really believe it is useful now and will be so even further on in ministry. Working with the kids in the DR was the highlight of my trip. I knew it would be, but the feeling can not be captured until you're there. Unlike 2 years ago, when we left Bani for the final leg of our trip in Santo Domingo, I cried. I didn't expect to, but it was so emotional to leave the people we'd grown so close to. I learned so much about patience and flexibility and especially just loving and building relationships across all boundaries. Comfort is relative when you are with people who love and care for you. Despite the heat, long days, and lack of clean water, time went by too fast, and I barely thought of being uncomfortable.


    Two days after I got back, it was time to get into my second internship. I am the program director for a summer program through Amor Y Paz Iglesia Metodista Unida. It is a Latino congregation who supports many social programs in the community. Every summer, in order to keep children off the streets and learning about Jesus, it hosts a summer program for a fraction of the cost of most summer kids programs. I had begun by planning many things for the program, but quickly learned that I would need to learn to go with the flow. We have been following my curriculum, but it is very lax. From day to day, I don't always know the dynamic or which kids will be attending. Yet, so far, it is going very well. On a normal day, we start off by serving the kids breakfast. Afterwards, I tell them a Bible story (one about Jesus, as my theme for the curriculum is "Jesus is the best friend we could have")and help incorporate a theme of something that makes a good friend, which Jesus does or a quality he has. Then, the kids' favorite part is singing music. I started off with only songs in English, but we have now added some in Spanish that I learned and taught in the Dominican Republic, and the kids love them! Then we spend the rest of the morning doing a craft and/or other activity to tie into the theme. At 12:30, it is lunch time, but for a while, I was never sure what would be prepared or who would bring food. Last Monday, I was told the person who was to bring food wasn't going to come, so I called a local church ministry which works with the local food bank and found out about their program of summer lunches. Every M-Th, they provide a well-balanced lunch free for children, no questions asked. So, the children had lunch that day because of this wonderful ministry! I think we're planning to go there the next few Mondays as well. Afternoons differ. On Mondays we go to the library summer program, which has ranged from singing puppets to a fiddler/banjo player. Tuesdays and Thursdays, other Methodist churches come in to lead for the day, and we help support them. On Thursdays, afternoons are spent at the swimming pool, which is a blast. The kids are very active and involved (sometimes, too much so!) but I pray every day that they are learning something, and that their parents are taking good care of them when they go home because they are such great kids! Working with them has truly kept me busy and has been such a blessing this summer! The volunteers, some of whom were on the mission trip with me, have been a joy to work with as well!


    Many things have gone on this summer and we're only halfway through. My first sermon was last Sunday, and I think it went pretty well. I was not as nervous as I thought I would be. It's one of those times that you just have to pray that your words touch someone and come across to the people as the Spirit is guiding the words to. Many more sermons are to come, I feel, and I am not worried. Serving Eucharist last Sunday was probably the highlight for me. What an amazing opportunity to serve God! It's hard to describe how it feels to be a part of serving this welcoming and unifying meal. On a different note, I have been enjoying myself outside of working as well. I've gotten to see quite a few great movies, including attending the midnight premiere of the Dark Knight Rises two nights ago. I enjoy following the news about all that's been happening, and am looking forward to the upcoming Presidential elections. Many good things have taken place in President Obama's term, but much more can still be done. We must keep our officials accountable. I only pray the elected official does not take us backwards. I am planning to get back into practicing very soon, as auditions are coming up in August. I also now have a new bassoon that I'm excited to start using. School is coming up so soon, and I can't believe it's senior year. It will be a great year, and one full of even more discernment. This summer is definitely one of the most packed and one that I will remember forever.

   I hope that each of you is taking some time to yourselves, time to think, learn, pray, meditate, grow, and love. Also, this summer, do something for someone else as well. There are many opportunities to get involved in your communities, and, if you're in Winchester, I know of one that is always looking for volunteers :) Have a great rest of the summer!

A Different Take on Resolutions

I'm taking some time today to reflect on the past year and think about the new year. Most people do this every year on New Year's Eve. We make a million resolutions and rarely succeed at keeping them. I'm guilty of the same, but this year I want to try something different.
Now, of course, there are the common resolutions I'm planning: lose a few pounds, drink more water, exercise more. I am planning those few out specifically with a regimen (thanks to Behavior Modification class two years ago), as part of my everyday schedule, and will check them off in my planner as I do with all my school assignments. I think that's the only way to succeed in those.

But, above all, my number one resolution for the new year is to be open and listen for God. For me, this reflection is a looking back on where my priorities fell this past year, specifically this past semester. My priorities fell onto my relationships with people, taking care of others and doing what I love to do, talking and listening with others. Schoolwork came second, but it often fell to the wayside. Somehow, by the grace of God, I did very well this semester, but is wasn't my best effort by far. Work probably came into a tie with schoolwork; it became a chore for me to take the time to go to work, when in the past, I have very much enjoyed it. I did enjoy meeting some new co-workers and making new friends at work, but once again, that was the relationship/people priority kicking in.

I lost track of my relationship to God this semester, because everything became so stressful and busy that I didn't make the time to be still and listen. In the new year, I am planning to take the time for God, the Creator, the Savior, the ultimate friend and Father. When all becomes so busy, life becomes a rush, a blur. Everything suffers, including the relationships with my friends and family, my schoolwork, and the discernment of who I am and what I am going to do with my life. When there is instability in life, the sole being who is stable, stable in love, in comfort, in understanding, and in relationship, is God. I hope everyone can remember that in the new year. We all want everything to be balanced and working smoothly and stably (relationships, work, mental health) but nothing will, if God isn't first. I have come to realize that this year. It is very okay, no, absolutely necessary, to find the time to be still.

People are very important to me. I want to dedicate my life to helping others, loving people the way they deserve to be treated and understood. I hope to advocate for social change, living my life as what I hope a disciple of Christ would be like. The most important thing I can do for people in my life, and what I will work towards in the new year, is to be a better listener and communicator. If ever we hope to work together in the world and make anything of this world, we have to listen to each other. And we must be honest as well. Everyone deserves honesty; without it, there is no understanding. And without understanding there is no trust. I pray for everyone in their relationships with others, including neighbors, friends, family, and significant others in the new year. If there is any time for reconciliation and working through hardships and disagreements, the time is now.

On another note, this past year has been a great one for self-discovery and change. I have decided to adopt vegetarianism (nearly veganism) as a lifestyle. It has changed my outlook on the world and on my health. I see animals in a whole new light, which is generally difficult to explain to most people, but it was a good and necessary choice for myself. Also, I am in the process of still discerning what I will do this summer. I am for sure planning to go back to the Dominican Republic to do more mission work; I love those kids and the people there so much! I wish I could say the trip will be entirely unselfish, but it won't be entirely. There is too much love there for me to pass up going:) I do pray I can touch their lives in a positive way, and I'm very glad my mom will be coming for the first time. I may be doing an internship at a church this summer (not quite sure yet), as well, in hopes of figuring out somewhat where my life is going. I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of working anywhere all summer, but time will tell what I'm meant to do.

In reflecting back on the past year and looking ahead to a new one, I pray everyone sees the changes they must make now. It's not that a new year starting is a reason to change. A new year is just time passing. But, the new year is symbolic of a new better start to our lives. It is for us to to look within ourselves and see what it is we must change now to better ourselves and this world.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and enjoys the time in the company of friends and family. Eat lots of good food and enjoy yourself. But remember those who may not enjoy themselves tonight and those whose circumstances don't allow them to better their lives in the new year. I pray one day we won't have to make a million resolutions we can't keep, when the positive changes to ourselves and the world become permanent changes. For now, we'll make resolutions and have to work extra hard to keep them as best as we can. In the new year, we must have hope, not in ourselves alone, but in God to work through us towards positive change and social justice. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year, full of peace, strength, and love!

Reflections on the Week and the Season

It has been a long while since I've been on here, but I'm glad to be back! Writing is such a stress reliever and a way of recording where you are in life at the moment. Kinda like a diary, but a little less personal. I like to share my reflections with people every once in a while :)

It has been a hectic, no, psychotic semester! I've never had so much work in my life at one time. It's that feeling where you get one thing done and then 2 more things tack on. Yet, I have no room to complain. If anything, I've realized that the life given you is truly what you make it. I've been given the wonderful opportunity to be at school and to learn, so I better make the best of it. Also, for those who complain about being busy, think about it; we make and allow our lives to be busy. We make our own schedules most of the time. We fall into the world's rush. But, amidst all the hectic craziness, please take some time for yourselves. And for your families and friends. Because in the end, the people in the world, our relationships, are the important things. I say this because I'm the worst at taking my own advice. Don't let the stress of work and the holidays consume you because relationships and your own health will be the first things to go.

This semester has been great. My favorite class has been my counseling one, Clinical Helping Skills. I've learned what it's like to be a therapist, counseling a variety of people, from an agoraphobic college student who can barely leave her house to a grief-stricken woman who got in a car accident, killing her brother and leaving her best friend paralyzed. It sounds tragic, but it has been a great learning experience. I've learned how to work with many people and to empathize with almost anyone. It's been great to try to apply the skills to real life situations as well. I've learned that everyone has a story and deserves to share it; they just have to have someone willing to listen and understand. I've discovered my passion is trying to understand people and their stories, helping them through their difficulties and guiding them to being the best they can be. My vocation path is leading most recently toward pastoral or spiritual counseling. Not sure of everything yet, but I can't see a future without counseling and without involving my spirituality. The possibilities are exciting.

My thoughts for the night are centered on this: There is too little time in life to spend it complaining, arguing, and talking badly about other people. I've experienced a lot this week of those who have treated others poorly, many times for the sake of making themselves feel more powerful or justified. Well, in my opinion, those who are treated poorly by the arrogant and power-hungry, will ultimately have the upper hand in happiness and goodness. And those who spend time complaining about little things and being negative are wasting their lives and won't feel better about themselves.

This time of year, Christmas trees beam with bright lights and festive ornaments, the Christmas music rings from almost everywhere (I generally prefer music not found on the secular radio stations), and generosity becomes more prominent as loving feelings arise. Be generous in your actions to others always and be thankful for the good and bad things in life. It is the bad that makes us stronger and that causes us to know what is "good". But especially this time of year, remember that God first loved us so that we would know what it is to love others. Even with all the rush of this time of year, even amidst all the shopping and cooking, cleaning and wrapping, take the time to love, yourself and others, because it is the real meaning of the season.

Cherish

The title of today's blog is reflective of the song that popped up on my ipod this morning. As I drove to meet Chelsea for breakfast at Panera, I got fed up with the repetitive radio tunes and decided to put on my ipod. I thought this morning it would be good to do some reflections on recent happenings, since a lot has happened in the past week or so. At first I put on my Christian music playlist; well, I realized quickly I need to do some cleaning out, as much of the music on it doesn't speak to me like it used to. It's nothing about Christian music in general; it's just that I enjoy songs that have words that are unforgettable, that resonate long after the next song comes on. For example, "Our God is An Awesome God" is okay, except for the verses mentioning God with thunder in his footsteps, lightning in his fists, and his wrath poured out on Sodom. Well, first, I like to think of God as a more loving, all-surrounding God, not Zeus sitting high on Mount Olympus, creeping on my every move and striking me down. Not exactly the song with which I want to start my morning.

Needless to say, I changed to the "Easy Music" playlist. One song that came on was "Cherish" by Kool and the Gang. It's an old song, from the 1980s, and probably many of us haven't heard it. It's also seemingly cheesy, at least at first. But as the seagull calls began (signaling the beginning of the song), I remembered something one of my professors once said: "Many times, there are better messages for leading a Christian life, in music that's not 'Christian music'". So out of curiosity, I further listened. The words of the refrain say:

"Cherish the love we have for as long as we both shall live,
Cherish the love
cherish the life
cherish the love."

It is a romantic song, which mentions a walk on the beach and a man wondering about spending eternity with his mate. Cheesy? Probably a bit. But, the lines did resonate today and are very applicable to the past few weeks. For those who didn't know, my parents' storage unit was robbed last week and at first it was a shock. We never expected it, and I've never experienced what it's like to actually be robbed of things of sentimental value. For a few days for me, it was sadness to anger to "why us?" and finally to "I can deal with this." And the dealing with it came from me reflecting on how precious life is. The things that were stolen, though containing sentimental value, were not lives lost. They were photographs of life, they were gifts from loved ones, they were sentiments; but that is all. They were things. Life is not just a thing; it is a precious precious gift. And thank God no one was hurt in this robbery.

There are many more events that are truly devastating; lives are stolen everyday. The tragedy of the 76 lives (many being teenagers!) stolen by an extremist in Oslo, the life of a talented singer stolen by drugs and/or other causes, and just two days ago, the life of an Olympic skier stolen so quickly by a self-inflicted gunshot, are just a few.

With all that has been happening, amongst the recent debt reduction plan disagreements, it is easy to get worried and become discouraged with life and as my mom puts it, "the way the world is going". Well, the way the world is going is not all bad. There are hopeful occurrences everyday; just the way people draw together in times of tragedy is hopeful. I pray that people do learn to draw together to push forward because if we sit and stew in the sadness and the discouragements, we fail to see what we can do to make this a better world. Will there still be sadness and anger and struggles and mistakes and tragedies? Absolutely. But through the mishaps and the pains, we can become closer to our neighbors and the ones we love (which should be everyone!). We can learn to work toward lessening the pains where we can by making our voices heard (don't be afraid to call/send letters to your government representatives!) And we can learn through the trials that we must cherish every moment we have here on Earth, living and working with others who are going through struggles, too.

Guys are pigs?

It's been a little while since I've posted. Here I am at the library again. Another long and quiet night, but no complaints here. I've shelved some books, checked some people's books out, scanned over People magazine, and read a little of a novel I'm currently reading called The Almost Moon. Anyone read The Lovely Bones or seen the movie? Yeah, this book is a little out there, too, but it is interesting. I'll let you know how it is further into it.

This week Matt's participating in the National Jazz Festival here at Shenandoah, so I'm staying in town all week to spend time with him when he's not at school from 7am-10 or later. I decided today while he was away that after my jazzercise class I would do some cleaning. "Some cleaning" turned into an awful lot of cleaning. I decided to truly clean out the refrigerator after I found old food from April and May of this year. I didn't realize how many colors some foods could turn or how much food could be wasted from a certain guy who goes out to eat all the time. Now I'm not bashing Aaron, but today raised a serious question. After all the cleaning out I did, and all the relief I felt when the refrigerator and freezer had been rid of all the old meat, dairy, potatoes (one of the worst), and other vegetables, I wondered: Why is it that only I am concerned about cleanliness of the fridge, among other things? I'll admit, sometimes things do go bad and I have to pitch them before I can use them up. But three trash bags full of food having to go bad and still no desire to clean up even a little bit? That's wrong.

One of Aaron's friends, Larry, came over and I vented to him about the ecosystem in our fridge, and sometimes in our house, and he said, "Rachel, that's a guy for you. It's in their nature. All guys are like that." Really? Being a guy gives you the excuse of being a pig? I don't agree. My boyfriend isn't like that. Many guys I know aren't like that. So what is it? Is it hereditary? I'd like some research if anyone can provide some good, reliable and valid research. Because to me, being a guy does not give you the right nor the power to be a pig and get away with it. Pigs (you know, the farm animals?) are pigs...they have the power to be themselves. Human beings, male or female, do not.

A Beautiful Love

This morning has consisted of waking up (trying to), going to an excellent jazzercise class (honestly the best way to get the morning started), getting to talk to the nicest people, and then coming home to reading about the NY gay marriage bill passing. It's funny how you can see God in so many places, and so far, today there have been many.
For one, I love the bonding nature of my workout class; everyone is so kind and supportive, and it always makes me want to go back. I got to see many people today that I haven't in a while, and it was nice to be back. Waking up to music, smiles, and laughter is the best!
Then, once I got home, reading the comments posted about the NY bill, the positive and the negative, was revelatory. The negative comments were to be expected...I very much expected them. I was told by one woman that I need to stop trying to be popular and that I need to turn to Christ and follow Him because now is not the time to give up. Well, apparently, I'm not working hard enough to lead a Christian lifestyle. She was trying to be nice about it...I'll give her that. But above all, the comments of hope and acceptance and love were the greatest sign of God and love that I saw today! The fact that this bill was even passed is a beautiful thing! For those who believe being gay is about having multiple flings, it's not; not any more than being heterosexual and having flings. I have seen many gay couples who are committed, loving, monogamous, and have God-centered relationships. This is more than I've seen in many heterosexual couples and marriages! Who you love does not define you. How you love does! I am not God; I do not know exactly what God specifically always defines as right or wrong. But I do know that God is love...Christ came to show us God's love. He did not come to shake his finger at us and say we are all bad people and we need to start focusing on getting into Heaven; but he did come to say that we are wrong in our perception of God and we need to start focusing on making Heaven here, God's Kingdom here on Earth, now. In my spiritual discernment, I have found God calling us to be loving and tolerant, open-minded and free of worry. It makes me sad to see so many people full of fear and worry. But I don't believe at all that that was what God came to do, to make us feel afraid and rejected. I see this bill passing as a sign of progress, not only for society, for the political issue of marriage, but also for those who love God and are committed to his work here on Earth. Love is a beautiful thing when it is true love, Godly love. We might not be able to always help who we love, but God can teach us and let us choose how to love.

More time :)

I'm not bored, just very relaxed and enjoying the quiet of the library. As I'm not a nighttime person by far, I'm falling asleep here; but thanks to Matt Knonenborg, I have a ginormous cup of Sheetz coffee. I mean huge. I need it. But I love the library at night. It's so peaceful and I feel like I can read, or facebook people I've missed, or blog without getting yelled at:)

This week has been great so far. Yesterday was the most stressed I've been in a while, but with stress comes a lot of learning, I usually find. I realized this past weekend that it is okay to quit a job. I've had quite the experience of quitting jobs in the past, but never one that I had to text someone to quit. Extremely awkward, but I didn't have the most professional operation I was working for either. Needless to say, I've felt a lot less stressed than usual.

This summer is just starting. I hope everyone's having a great one so far. I do miss school, in the sense that I feel more accomplished when I have a long list of to-do's that I can accomplish and check off. Yet, this summer I can get other things accomplished. I can spend time with my family. I can read anything I want. I can practice for fun. I can go to Panera for a reason besides studying. I can watch a sunset. I can go on a canoe trip. I can daydream. Those are accomplishments and things any human being should be able to enjoy. Normally, as most of you know, a busy school year doesn't permit one to do such things. But now I can:) It's a great feeling.