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.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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?
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?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)