Das Licht des Geists

I haven't written for quite a while. I would like to say it's because I have been so busy, but we all know that wasting time is one of the things I have been "busy doing." So, I have returned to the blogosphere to write an entry on what I have been feeling recently.

As finals week approaches, so many find themselves in the throes of anxiety and stress over final projects, capstones, events, grades, and general frustration. My roommate Michelle and I have decided that we are tired of caring so much and would rather be happy individuals than pull our hair out over silly things like grades. Instead, we plan to do our best but not be stressed and just accomplish what we can, while leaving time for more important things-like happiness.


This semester has been one of transition for me. I came back to school feeling like a college student, ready to get to work and just get "it" over with. I did my senior recital, I planned a choir tour, I applied and was accepted to a few seminaries, I filled out paperwork for my future, I worked with my a cappella group, and I started serving a new ministry at my church. It's funny how when we start to focus on tasks instead of inner emotion how much God does within us without our knowledge. In the wake of my responsibilities, I feel more mature, but I also feel a peacefulness.

Of course, I am human and feel frustration and anxiety, but the thing that outweighs those feelings is one of release. I know that God has planned our days, and I am just so grateful to be living them. I have been able to breathe more deeply, enjoy my relationships, forge new friendships, and worry less about what's going on in my "stressful" life and just enjoy it instead!

The Advent season has arrived, and this year, I feel prepared to experience what God offers. Preparation and focus are two parts of Advent, when we wait for the coming of the Lord. As most who know me are aware, I LOVE Christmas, but I think I almost like Advent more. Waiting, preparing, watching, and cherishing are things that are exciting to me this year. I want the peace and wonderment I feel to continue throughout the months of December and January, allowing for reflection and love.

So, if you, as you read this little blog post are feeling a little stressed just take a minute and invite the peace. If you aren't religious, that's okay, just invite your soul to be calmed and meditative.

And, last but not least, here are some things I am listening to:

"Christmas Time"-Phil Wickham
"Turning Page"-Sleeping at Last
"Take Care"- Drake
"Grow Till Tall"-Jonsi


So, listen to some songs and take a moment to quiet yourself. It is worth it.

Liebe

Love. L O V E.

To me, this is the most beautiful word in the English language. For some people, love is impossible to give, for others impossible to receive. But love is a gift. It is given freely and without reservation. There are no strings attached to love, it carries no connotation. It is merely love. Pure and unadulterated.

You may wonder why I am writing this, and to be honest, I am not entirely sure. I have been filling out my seminary applications recently and spending a lot of time meditating on my "statement of faith."

In  this "statement," I have to write about the people who have shaped my faith, the places I want to take it in my future, what the crux of my faith is. I keep coming back to that one word though: love. I just want to write that I love God, that his love lives in me, and because of it, I am able to fully love other human beings.

When I talk about loving, I do not mean romantic love. I mean agape. The love of others, mankind, the human race, the world. I know that I may be an idealist, but really, what's so wrong with that? I think it is possible for one person to make a difference, and I KNOW that the most powerful thing in our world is the love one person can have for another. Compassion and kindness are outpourings of this love, they are love manifest.

So, wouldn't it be awesome if instead of the time we put into sarcasm (myself included), or unfriendliness, or even romantic love, we reserved a small portion of that time to let the love within ourselves multiply? If one person can truly change the world, just THINK what the love of many could do. Give it a try, be a prism, and let your light shine into the darkness, your love blazing forth- a marvelous light.

Love others. Love yourself.

Ich weiss nicht.

I am a thinker. I plan it out. I take a breather. I do not jump into things without knowing they are good and right choices. So, why did that change all of a sudden? I like being the type A Delaney. Now I feel like I am holding on for dear life. I think I could use some peace and some Godly direction. Maybe I should just open my ears and eyes, huh?

I worry a lot. Whether this is a blessing or a curse, i do not care. It is merely a fact of who I am. I don't like to make people unhappy, in fact I say yes to most people so they will be happy. I just feel sort of loss. i think I would like very much to sit in my room and do stuff I want to do for a couple days. that's not how the world works though, is it?

Was mache ich jetzt?

I have been planning for as long as I can remember. I know what I want to be and I know the things that matter to me. I have always known that I was going to go to college. For quite some time I have known that college would be followed by seminary. I feel that God wants me to be a servant to his people and his church. I know all of that.

I have always known that I want to be kind, I want to be strong and love fiercely like my mother, I want to be smart and helpful like my father. I want to say how I feel like my sister. I want to be brave like my brother. I have always wanted to make the world a better place and be the best friend I can be to those I love.

I feel lucky to know the things I want and the person I aim to be. My life has been shaped by the creator and those around me, and here I find myself at a precipice looking out over the expanse of my future as I start my senior year of college. I have choices to make. I feel like I'm going off script. I have started wondering things like, "what will my future look like?" "What talents do I have to serve God and his people?" "Where should I go from here?" I always thought uncertainty was terrifying, but I have started to see that it's actually really exciting. I GET to make these decisions.

Curve balls have become a welcome guest, and at this point in my life, where things seem to be full of possibility, the thing I have been praying for finally walked in from stage left. I know I mixed metaphors a lot, but I really feel like anything could happen right now. That used to scare me, but now I am only excited.

And because I have been slacking lately on my music, here you are, my few readers:

"Murder in the City"- The Avett Brothers
"Famous Flower of Manhattan"- The Avett Brothers
"Super Bass"- Nicki Minaj
"Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"-Coldplay
"Sister Rosetta"-Noisettes



Be happy. There's a plan in the works.

diskutieren

Today I want to chat a bit about something that has been driving me crazy as of late: self-centeredness.

There are so many things going on in the world at large and the world in your personal sphere of influence, maybe it's time to learn about it. Quit thinking all of your "woe is me" thoughts, stop thinking of what you want to say when the person who is talking finishes their thought, and PLEASE stop thinking that just because you are not the topic at hand, that the topic doesn't matter.

Now, does this mean that I don't care if you have a problem? Of course not! I care. Talk it out.
Does this mean that I think it's fair of you to only talk about yourself and all of your "issues"? NO.

Ask someone a question about themselves and then while they're answering, LISTEN. Do NOT start thinking of how you can relate what they are saying to yourself or of anything really other than focusing on what's being said. If you really don't give a flying flip what the person is saying to you, then don't ask. That's your thing, but it's rude to expect others to become your personal sounding board when you don't lend an ear or even ask anything about their life.

So, I am sorry for the rant that this has become. But in closing I would like to say one thing:

People matter. By talking only of yourself and your interests, that small fact is not apparent to the listener. So, make sure they know you care, and let them talk and teach yourself to listen. I am sure you will be happy you did.

No music today, sorry.

Entspannt.

Hello all!

I trust this entry finds you all relaxed and well. I know that is how I am feeling this summer- relaxed. Not even bored like other summers where I spend a lot of time sitting around. I am merely relaxed. I have been spending this month of July in Kirksville working at the housing office at school and really just chilling with my roommates and my friends. I can't say that all the things leading to this decision to come here were great blessings, but I can say that being away has some perks.
So far, this summer, I spent about a month in Europe, had soooo much fun at home with my mom and sister, and now am leisurely making money and sleeping in. So, this blog entry is devoted to happiness and relaxation. It's time to slough off those mid-July boredom blues and find something fun to do!
You could...

See a play
Take an art class
Get a tan
Start dancing in your underwear every morning
go on a bar crawl
Go to a museum
Wander around a park
Eat ice cream
Make a new friend

The possibilities are endless! So, why not enjoy your freedom in the summertime and find something new to do instead of sitting on your couch. I am sure you won't regret it.

In the way of my blog, here is some music for you. I have been enjoying country this summer, so here are two country songs. These two are, ironically married to one another!

ENjoy! Love you all.

Reisen

Hey everyone!

Sorry I haven't written in a long time; I had a hectic end to school and now I am in Europe!I went to Finland, Latvia, and Estonia with my choir and now I am in Cologne, Germany. Thir trip h as been incredible so far. I was so inspired by the people of Estonia and Latvia. Those countries, as you probably know, were part of the USSR. They won their freedoom in remarkable, peaceful ways. Estonia, especially, was inspiring. The people of Estonia participated in something called "the singing revolution." This revolution took place in Estonia and included many people who came together and sang forbidden songs in Estonian stressing things like freedom and a national identity. They used their ideas and the power of music as well to gain independence from a great opressor who had done a lot of hrm to their people and their national identity. Latvia has a similar story, with many casualties in the soviet time period.
As an American, I realize how lucky I am to have my liberties, but I did not realize until I visited a part of the world which was recently opressed, that I take a lot of things about being American for granted. People all over the world live without a voice or an advocate, but we, as Americans, live somewhere where most of us can be heard when we have something to say. The idea of being occupied is foreign to us, and generally when we learn about foreign atrocities, it feels as though it happened to "Those people." Being in the places where the formerly abused and oppressed live and lived is somethign completely different, and it helps to learn about these people and events in their contexts.

This trip  has been so interesting to me and completely awe-inspiring. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in fear or to fight against that constant fear, knowing you were at a disadvantage, sinply because of your nationality. Today's music is a song that is important in Estonia, "Mu isamaa on minu arm"

The modern version of this song is sung at the end of every Esotnian song festival, every two years, and its current melody was composed in the 1940s by a famous Estonian conductor and composer, Gustav Ernesaks. This man and this piece gave hope to many and helped to create a new identity in Estonia that would withstand approximately 50 more yerars of occupation.

Text:

My Fatherland is My Love,
to whom I´ve given My Heart.
To You I sing, my greatest happiness,
My flowering Estonia!
Your pain boils in My Heart,
Your Pride and Joy makes me happy,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!
My Fatherland is My Love,
I shall never leave Him,
even if I must die hundred deaths
because of Him!
Does the foreign envy slander,
You still live in my Heart,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!
My Fatherland is My Love,
and I want to rest,
to lay down into Your Arms,
My sacred Estonia!
Your Birds will sing Sleep to Me,
flowers will bloom from My Ashes,
My Fatherland, My Fatherland!

So, enjoy this piece and maybe take a second to be thankful for our rights and freedoms, because there are many who fought for them and many who still work toward them now. 

Symptome

So, this entry is something a little different than my usual fare, and I hope that's alright with you.

I have a lot of single friends. Now, my friends run the spectrum from elated with their singleness, hooking up randomly, to yearning for a permanent romantic relationship.

For a while, I have been one of the yearners. My friends and I wonder what it is that is keeping us from falling in love and finding our happily ever after. I have recently decided, within the past year, that although I may not always be happy with being single, there are a lot of things about it that make sense at this point in my life. These are things I would like to share with you.

Two of my best friends use the phrase "waiting time is not wasted time." While we may not always abide by this mantra, I think it is a great outlook and something that is very true. Those who are "unhappily single" could benefit from finding the blessing in what they might term a burden. Being alone can be something that is so liberating and give you the time to become who you truly feel you are meant to be in the interim.


A lot of the movies we watch and books we read as typical young women shape our views of the world. We think that we will meet a man by the time we are 25 or so, date for a while, get engaged for a year, have a beautiful wedding and start having children. This frame of thinking is so detrimental to us. People are different. Lives are different. Focusing your energy on a movie-style "happily ever after" is a somewhat futile endeavor. It's not to say that nothing like that ever happens, but to count on it seems ill-advised.

Instead of looking at fictional relationships, as well as the successful relationships of our peers, it might help to look to ourselves. What is it that you truly want? How can you become the best version of yourself? Are you doing things that make you feel happy and fulfilled? Until we can start to answer these tough self-assessing questions, being in a relationship would be a nightmare.


So, I just thought I would share my thoughts with you and leave a thought and a video for you to contemplate tonight...

"You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere."
- Anonymous

SO, be comfortable in your singleness and relish the gift it is to be uncertain. We have an entire life ahead of us that is not tied to any one person. Think about the places you could see or the difference you could make with this gift of time to be solitary. Hold that gift in your heart, and when the time is right, you will get to share the beautiful person that you have helped yourself become with someone who is really worthy.

Im Stress? Ja, Natürlich!

Well, the end of the semester has arrived. Oh what joy!

I have been staying up a lot later than usual and freaking out more, but finally, I have finished a majority of my work. For those of you who read this and don't go to Truman (who am I kidding? That's just my mom), after Easter, we have 4 days of classes and then finals week is here. Generally, I am the queen of procrastination. I work but nothing seems to get done. This semester, that is not the case! I have a much heavier load than usual but that seems to have inspired me to action!

My general look at finals week time:

My look this year:

So, with my smiling face and reduced stress thanks to the long hours I have put in the last few days, there must be some music that I have been jamming to, right? RIGHT!

So, in the wake of my stressful working brain overload days, I have some relaxing tunes that you might like to get down with if you have a stressful life right now too.

1. "Be Gentle With Me"- The Boy Least Likely To
            This song has gotten me through some tough times over the past three years. I used to take breaks  from the really crappy days and dance to this in my dorm room. Hell, a couple weeks ago, I danced to it in my house. If you take this musical recommendation (which you should), make sure you stand up and MOVE while you listen. It will make you feel better. I promise.
2. "We Be Steady Mobbin"- Lil Wayne feat. Gucci Mane
            This jam is not for the faint of heart. If you can't handle profanity, don't listen to this. If you, like me, have no problem with people who curse like sailors and say crazy stuff, this is for you. Make sure you listen, because although it's classic violence and womanizing, it really is pretty clever.
3. "Tightrope"-Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi
            This song is so catchy and upbeat. It's another song that's perfect for dancing. With a 60's soul feel and a modern, upbeat twist, you can't go wrong. "Tightrope" is AWESOME.

Well, I don't really have much else to say today, except that you should keep your chin up, take a five minute break, and listen to a song. You'll be glad you did.

Spaziergang Symphonie

Over the weekend, I went on an early morning walk/coffee run with one of my best friends. Usually, on the weekends, I just sleep in, but this weekend, after a few minutes of drowsing, I woke up and got moving.

We went to "Sweet Expressions" on the square and drank some delicious chai and coffee, as well as a breakfast of blueberry muffins and had some awesome conversation. After that, we went to "Hidden Treasures," an antique and consignment store across the street from "Sweet Expressions." We wandered around the store for an hour or so, and after that headed home.

After leaving Emily at her porch, I started my short walk home. The sun was shining and, in a very out of character moment, I decided to leave my iPod in my pocket, rather than in my ears. I was really glad that I did so. That morning, the world provided me with a myriad of sounds. The sun shone brightly on my path, creating a background of light and warmth. The pleasant sound of birds chirping created an ambient melody in my otherwise quiet morning. As I walked, I thought about how lucky I was to live in such a beautiful world and as my thoughts turned to this "glass half full" pattern, I started to notice more sounds. The morning became a symphony of sound, filed with flies buzzing, birds singing, leaves rustling and the wind blowing. It was such a beautiful, calming walk home, and when I arrived at my destination, I felt that my spirit had somehow been lifted by the walk.

As you know, this blog is mainly linked to music, but sometimes we use music and our iPods as an escapist tactic; I know I sometimes do. So, in today's recommendation section, I leave you this:

-the world- unplug your headphone jack and plug in to the sounds around you, if only for ten minutes. You won't be sorry you did.

Etwas ein bisschen anderes

I have been thinking a lot recently about a lot of silly things. I have felt tired, frustrated, and very much alone. Yesterday, I called my mom and told her that sometimes I feel like no one asks me questions about myself or really wants to know anything that matters to me. She, being the wise woman she is, told me that sometimes you need to share without being asked. After I hung up with my mom, I went out with my friends and danced the night away. Not so alone, am I?

This morning, I started thinking more about our conversation and the way I really feel. Here is what I have discerned:

A lot of the time, loneliness is self inflicted. If you are unhappy about being alone and you feel sad for yourself, chances are, that is no one else's doing. I realize that sometimes I get so far inside myself that I am only isolated because I have somehow chosen it.

That being said, there are a few things that we could all learn from my "revelation" of sorts:

1. People matter. The thoughts and feelings of those around you are valid. Even if you may not agree, or you cannot see where they are coming from, people should always feel like their emotions are significant.
2. Listening is a gift. One of the most beautiful gifts you can give to another person is a listening ear. While this may seem like a cliche or an overly emotional look at life, it is important to remember that we are not solitary beings. Humans are made to be in communion with one another, and one great way to do that is through communication.
3. Self-pity is fast growing. Once you start to think, "poor me, no one cares what I think" you have embarked on a slippery slope. It's true that sometimes other people don't care what you think, but that doesn't make you less relevant, nor does it give you license to act as though you are the long-suffering listener.

I know that this is a little different from my other postings, but I figure that this is a platform to write what I think and feel. Today, I feel this.

Lastly, the sun is shining today and I, being an optimistic person, have something to share, a version of which I am certain  you have all heard me say:
The world is full of enough darkness. Bad attitudes, sadness, and complaints are all part of this overarching shadow. The most magnificent thing, however, is that we, as humans, have the power to dispel this darkness. The light that shines within our hearts can be shone through us, like light bulbs that are switched on by compassion. So, as silly or romanticized as it seems, maybe it's time we all shed a little more light and helped to clear some of those shadows.

Last night, my friend Sam gave a message at our weekly worship service talking about bearing good fruit. Now, whatever your faith structure may be is not the point. We can all grow tall and bear good fruit to improve the world in which we live if we try.

So, since I don't want to freak you out by having a non-musical post, I leave you with a recommendation for today:

-"Three Little Birds"-Bob Marley

Because every little thing really will be alright. 

Die Sonne scheint in meinem Herz.

Today is SUNNY! I am having such a glorious day. I have had classes, but honestly, sometimes I dig learning. I know, I'm a nerd, a dweeb, a locker dweller. Well, whatever you call it, I embrace my academic existence.

A few days ago, I decided to explore a new world of aural entertainment that I had never before experienced. What is this entertainment, you ask? Why, the podcast, of course. For those of you who, like I was, are unsure about what a Podcast  actually is, let me enlighten you. A Podcast is like a radio show. It's a prerecorded program, sometimes with a video component, that is recorded and then available for download. Most of the popularity of these programs came through the use of the iPod, hence "podcast." Most if not all podcasts are free to download on iTunes and I have found a couple that I think are really incredible.

If you've read my blog so far through these formative stages, then you know what is coming next... a recommendation! It should come as no surprise that the podcasts I listen to now are music oriented. The first of the two is the NPR "Tiny Desk Concert" series.  This series is recorded at the desk of Bob Boilen, the host of NPR's "All Songs Considered" and its basically an artist or band performing live. This podcast has a video component, but the audio is incredible, so it is definitely portable as an audio Podcast on your iPod or MP3 player.

In the interest of hooking you, I have included a link to an incredible Tiny Desk Concert performed by the Avett Brothers....

Avett Brothers Tiny Desk

 I hope you enjoyed it if you haven't already listened to the Avett Brothers or seen a Tiny Desk Concert!! You shoudl definitely subscribe to the Podcast; there are some incredible acts.

The second of the Podcasts I am listening to is the "KEXP Live Performances Podcast." This Podcast is basically just a live in-studio performance with a smattering of incredible artists at a Seattle radio station, including Florence + the Machine, Beirut, Jamie Lidell and a ton of other AWESOME musicians. I just listened to the Florence recording today, and I highly recommend it. Below is a link to a Youtube video of the "Cosmic Love" recording from this performance...

Florence on KEXP

Well, if you haven't tried the Podcast thing before, I hope this entry has encouraged you to do so. There is a world of music out there that can move your soul, move your feet, or just help you move through the day, and below, I have left some recommendations for sunny gorgeous days like today.

-"Radio"- Beyonce (I know, not my usual fare.)
-"After the Storm"- Mumford & Sons
-"Rehab"-Originally by Amy Winehouse, covered by Paolo Nutini
-"Campus"- Vampire Weekend

So, take a break, read up and then plug in for some tunes. You'll be glad you did.

Draußen? Grau. Natürlich.

Well, today was a dreary day in Kirksville. The whole day was sort of gray, in every way. Generally, days like these make me sad, and today was perhaps no different, although there is one, pardon the cliche, silver lining to these sorts of overcast days. Now what, do you ask, could be the silver lining? Well, my friends, that would be the music that accompanies these sorts of days.

I am an iPod junkie, and therefore, I seldom walk anywhere without it. So, today, in between classes and responsibilities, I listened to some GREAT cloudy day music.

I started my day with Bon Iver. I listened especially to "Skinny Love" and, of course, "Flume." The other day, a fellow music major friend and I were talking about the emotions we like to sing. We both decided that, while love songs and happiness can be easy and fun sometimes, we really prefer to sing sadness.  I think that's why Bon Iver speaks so clearly to me when it's cloudy outside. Sometimes, it is really soothing to feel in touch with the sad, sonorous harmonies of this type of music and today was one of those times.

Without much thought as to why, I know that the lyrics to "Skinny Love",  /And I told you to be patient And I told you to be fine And I told you to be balanced And I told you to be kind/ really speak to me. But isn't that what art is for, after all? To speak to your soul, even when you aren't sure what it's saying.

My other gray day band that kept popping up in my head and on my iPod today was Beirut. Beirut is an American indie band that mixes Balkan folk and and other Eastern European folk with Western pop music. I could listen to "Postcards from Italy"or "Nantes" all day. Now, I'm not a naturally sad person and I have a lovely life, but sometimes, I love to get into this music and let it affect my mood. The beautiful melody lines and harmony lines that correspond really play on my heartstrings, in a good way.

So, on this gray day, if the weather's got you down, embrace it. Kick back and listen to my recommendations today...

-"Elephant Gun"- Beirut
-"The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!"- Sufjan Stevens
-"Naked As We Came"-Iron and Wine
-"Silver Lining"-Rilo Kiley

So, take a break, read up and then plug in for some tunes. You'll be glad you did.

Vorstellen

If you're reading this, chances are you know me. If you know me, chances are you know I have opinions.  So, in this modern age, what better place to voice those opinions than on the interweb! So, I should probably tell you a bit about myself, because even if you know me, it's always polite to inroduce onseself.

Hi! My name is Delaney and I am a college student. Things I love include:
-God
-Laughing
-MUSIC
-My Friends
-Books
-Awkward Jokes
-Singing and Making Music

Facts About Delaney:
-I am a music major, and after I graduate, I intend to go to seminary and become a pastor.
-I am really involved in my a cappella group.
-I think compassion is important.
-I love relationships of all types.
-German is my second language but the first in my heart.

So, I don't really know what a blog should be, so bear with me while I discern that. I figure I will just write about stuff I like that I think you might like, and we will go from there. Here goes...

My recent obsession is... Adele's new album, "21".

If you don't know Adele's music yet, starting with her sophomore album would be fine, but not advised. Adele's first album, "19", released right before my 18th birthday, on January 28, 2008, is full of bluesy, soulful piano and guitar ballads swith some sass thrown in for good measure. It's an awesome album, and it should probably be the basis from which Adele is approached. In my humble opinion, however, "21" may have surpassed it in mature musicality and diversity of song writing. Released on January 19, 2011, Adele is back with even more to offer this time around. Her incredible voice is still at the forefront, belting out awesome anger songs like the album's first cut, "Rolling In The Deep" and "Set Fire to the Rain," but she has tempered some of that ballsy attitude with a softer ballad voice this time around. Adele has begun to employ the mixed voice more in this album, instead of just belting stuff out in her gorgeous chest voice. Her emotions run the full range, from sad, to angry to hopeful. Her songs focus mainly on the trials, tribulations, and wonders of being in love, but this theme does not get boring because it just sounds so dang good. In case you're confused about what it is I'm trying to say, it's as simple as this: Buy the Album.

If this hasn't convinced you by now, watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw

Are you with me now?! Right, I thought so.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this first edition of "The Schlake Take".

I'd like to conclude my blog with a few songs you should listen to:

"One and Only"-Adele
"Sinister Kid"-The Black Keys
"Ill With Want"-The Avett Brothers
"Blinding"-Florence + The Machine

So, take a break, read up and then plug in for some tunes. You'll be glad you did.