"With the aurora borealis flaming coldly overhead, or the stars leaping in the frost dance, and the land numb and frozen under its pall of snow, this song of the huskies might have been the defiance of life, only it was pitched in minor key, with long-drawn wailings and half-sobs, and was more the pleading of life, the articulate travail of existence. It was an old song, old as the breed itself -- one of the first songs of the younger world in a day when songs were sad."
-Jack London, The Call of the Wild
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
God is gracious
The Lord is so gracious with me. Last week I was sick (for really the first time in Korea). It was so wonderful to be gently reminded that I need to be kind to my body. I spent the week (and weekend) mostly laying in bed watching movies and napping. My friend Steve, who is now in Seoul, pointed Jesse and I to this really cool coffee shop where they have Dr. Fish. What is that? It's fish that eat the dead skin from your feet. It tickles SO MUCH!!! Don't worry, no one was injured. Anyway, Jesse, Leslie and I ended up going a couple of times last week, it was pretty sweet. I am very blessed in my friends here.
Things I realized in this time for reflection:
I'm not scared anymore. Whatever God has for me, it is what it is, I'm ready.
I am different. I've always felt like the fat girl in any group, and I don't think I am anymore. I realized this when I wimped out on hiking on Sunday because it was too cold. This is the first time I've been the one to wimp out, usually it's someone (or everyone) else, and I just go without them. I am thankful for the freedom of Korea - for the distance from all the conceptions I had built around myself, and a rotating social group that has helped me keep moving.
I'm not a bad teacher. I know I'm not the best, but I can tell some of my students have improved. And they like me, for whatever reason, and I like them! God has definitely used my students to love, encourage and challenge me this year.
I will be sad to leave, and the change will be stressful for me. I even thought (for a split second) about staying. (c: And then I stared working on my grad school application essays! They're almost done, so I will be meeting the "before December" deadline God set for me.
Hospitality is not important to me, it's part of me - I can't help it, I invite people over. And I love it.
More than anything else, I was left with the overwhelming realization that God is enough for me. In and through anything, Jesus keeps me all the way.
By the end of the week I was sick of laying around (and, fortunately, feeling much better). So, I've been loving pilates and going for long walks everyday since then! It has been very good; I was starting to feel like the sluggard in Proverbs 26:14.
Also, as most of you know, it's Thanksgiving. Mrs. Kim provided a lovely Thanksgiving meal this morning, if somewhat unexpected and impromptu. Tomorrow Jesse and Leslie and I are going to have fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a big salad with lots of vegetables. The best part is that I don't have to do all the cooking! Yay!!! (Or, more importantly, all the dishes. (c:)
I love you all and am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Things I realized in this time for reflection:
I'm not scared anymore. Whatever God has for me, it is what it is, I'm ready.
I am different. I've always felt like the fat girl in any group, and I don't think I am anymore. I realized this when I wimped out on hiking on Sunday because it was too cold. This is the first time I've been the one to wimp out, usually it's someone (or everyone) else, and I just go without them. I am thankful for the freedom of Korea - for the distance from all the conceptions I had built around myself, and a rotating social group that has helped me keep moving.
I'm not a bad teacher. I know I'm not the best, but I can tell some of my students have improved. And they like me, for whatever reason, and I like them! God has definitely used my students to love, encourage and challenge me this year.
I will be sad to leave, and the change will be stressful for me. I even thought (for a split second) about staying. (c: And then I stared working on my grad school application essays! They're almost done, so I will be meeting the "before December" deadline God set for me.
Hospitality is not important to me, it's part of me - I can't help it, I invite people over. And I love it.
More than anything else, I was left with the overwhelming realization that God is enough for me. In and through anything, Jesus keeps me all the way.
By the end of the week I was sick of laying around (and, fortunately, feeling much better). So, I've been loving pilates and going for long walks everyday since then! It has been very good; I was starting to feel like the sluggard in Proverbs 26:14.
Also, as most of you know, it's Thanksgiving. Mrs. Kim provided a lovely Thanksgiving meal this morning, if somewhat unexpected and impromptu. Tomorrow Jesse and Leslie and I are going to have fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a big salad with lots of vegetables. The best part is that I don't have to do all the cooking! Yay!!! (Or, more importantly, all the dishes. (c:)
I love you all and am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
When 'Lady'bugs Go Bad . . .
Friday afternoon I went on a short hike. It was fun. On the way out there I was sitting on the train, and I realized I was having trouble concentrating on my book because . . . wait for it . . . I could understand someone talking on the train. That's right, my brain was on overload because English was being spoken. It's a good thing November starts tomorrow. (By the way, the guy speaking English turned out to be a very nice Colombian man who's here earning money for college in the Philippines. Cool.)
There was a man at the last subway station playing the accordion. I can't even describe how excited I was. I don't think I've ever walked that slowly through a subway station in my life. Magical.
I saw a snake. I actually saw it. I heard the rustling sound through the leaves, and somehow knew it was too steady to be a squirrel, and that's when I saw it! I was extremely excited. That and the accordion guy - wow!
There was a preying mantis carrying away some kind of beetle. Nature's wonders pulled out all the stops for me . . . but no, that's not all!!!
I do not know what was going on (and perhaps still is) but ladybugs attacked me for the last half of my hike. I kept looking down and there would be three or four on me! Now, I have to say, generally I'm not at all opposed to ladybugs, but these seemed to be visiting me in a particularly unladylike way. They were running into me from all different directions, flying at my face, settling on my arms, legs and torso. I had to keep swishing my hair to make sure they weren't building a nest. It was weird. I just thought I'd share. I've never even heard of anything like that before. I think one pooped on my arm. Like I said, not genteel.
(c:
There was a man at the last subway station playing the accordion. I can't even describe how excited I was. I don't think I've ever walked that slowly through a subway station in my life. Magical.
I saw a snake. I actually saw it. I heard the rustling sound through the leaves, and somehow knew it was too steady to be a squirrel, and that's when I saw it! I was extremely excited. That and the accordion guy - wow!
There was a preying mantis carrying away some kind of beetle. Nature's wonders pulled out all the stops for me . . . but no, that's not all!!!
I do not know what was going on (and perhaps still is) but ladybugs attacked me for the last half of my hike. I kept looking down and there would be three or four on me! Now, I have to say, generally I'm not at all opposed to ladybugs, but these seemed to be visiting me in a particularly unladylike way. They were running into me from all different directions, flying at my face, settling on my arms, legs and torso. I had to keep swishing my hair to make sure they weren't building a nest. It was weird. I just thought I'd share. I've never even heard of anything like that before. I think one pooped on my arm. Like I said, not genteel.
(c:
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