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| The book "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" has been described as having the "reassuring words, 'Don't Panic'" written on the front cover.
"Don't Panic!" How I have often wished life had a comprehensive guide that tells you exactly what would happen down to the smallest detail. A schedule of life's events so complete that there would be no confusion, no wondering how it will all get done, no worry about forgetting or neglecting something important. On the other had, that kind of schedule would exclude free will, freedom, and grace.
There isn't a detailed guide to every trial life throws at us...but there is a pretty great road map. That Map shows where the path that leads to eternity begins. Maybe we can't see what every step will look like, but we can tell if we are holding to true North, or blundering in a no-man's-land of relativity. We are able to locate where we are, and sometimes we aren't where we are supposed to be.
I had one of those moments a few days ago. I was at 'office hours' on the north campus. (I sit in an office for most of Tuesday afternoon, hoping that one of my writing students will drop by and have a chat. I have been alone for weeks...) This last Tuesday two of my former students came by. We were chatting and the subject meandered to food, as it often does with college students. As we were talking, this tiny Chinese girl shared her love for chocolate. The other Chinese girl (a smidgen larger, but probably having endured much comment on her size) says with strong feeling, "Chocolate will make you fatter!" I bring up the idea that it is eating too much food that usually makes us fat. I got a look for that comment. We continue to talk about the fact that we are only supposed to eat a certain amount, (i.e. the amount our Designer planned for us with hunger signals) but we often eat more than we should because we are lonely, tired, busy, sad, greedy, etc. I didn't convince them, but it was a good discussion nonetheless.
Walking back to the bus, I thought about our conversation. I realized there were two possible reasons why I was not very persuasive. One, I didn't use my Map to show where we were. I didn't relate the idea of humanity's design to the great Designer of it all. The second reason is so much more difficult to share. I had no fruit to show. I had no evidence that my obedience to the Designer's plan had produced fruit or blessing. I was/am not living what I was saying I belive. Who believes a hypocrite? Ouch.
So, I'm wanting to see a 'Don't Panic!' on the book of my life. I still have my Map, I'm on the Journey, and while I might not have been on the best path for a while, my path intersected with His Grace. And that makes all the difference. | | |
| Hey everyone! I"m back.
I've finally been able to access Xanga (I won't tell you how) and I can continue keeping a blog.
It has been a crazy/busy month in October. But, as it often happens, the month was filled with blessings. Meeting new friends, good times with old friends, and great opportunities.
It is really late, and I should go to bed, but I wanted to try out my path to Xanga.
G'night.
P.S. I checked my grades....they were better than I expected. :) | | |
| Well folks, here in my area of Missouri we are heading into our third day of 100+ degree weather. If you didn't know, that is HOT! I realize that people live in areas that are naturally hotter (much sympathy and pity for you people), but the humidity and mosquitos are not helping either. I sat outside for 15 minutes yesterday because I was so desperate to 'be outside' before the weather forced me back inside to the AC. We need to be thinking about those who are hot with no way to cool down, and those who are old and unable to get out of the heat! In the midst of the heatwave, I am having a 'going-back-to-China' party on Saturday. My mom is sad because a lot of people have called to say they can't make it. I still think it is going to be fun, and the fewer people the easier it will be to pack up and head to the lake if it is too warm! Water is about the only think that makes summer worth the hot weather; Give me autumn any day! I will be going back to China on August 23rd, but I won't arrive in China till the 24th. Yep, I lose a day somewhere in there...Then on to Wuhu...WoooHooo! I have been dreaming of re-arranging my apartment, lesson planning, and teaching for the last week. I realized the other day that I haven't spent this much time away from China since I started living in China in 2003...sniff, sniff. I hope everyone out there is staying cool, and staying in contact with friends and loved ones this summer. Blessings, Tina  That's right folks, I am reading at a baseball game. I was in Kansas City watching the Royals stomp the St. Louis Cardinals (much weeping and gnashing of teeth) at my first away game. We were losing so badly I got out a book and spent most of the time reading. At one point during the game, a Cardinals player hit a home run (the only one of the evening) and I yelled 'Yay!' and every person around turned and stared at me. I realized I was in hostile territory...good thing I wasn't wearing red...
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| Hey everyone! I am back in America for a few months. Let me tell you the story. In January we heard the school might have a lot of junior writing classes. Junior classes end the last week of April so students can go to their teaching practice assignments. I requested these juinior classes with the intention of finishing by May, and requesting to go home early. In late March I requested permission from the school to leave Wuhu on June 4th. My brother's birthday is/was June 5th. I did not tell my parents, or my brother anything about this. I knew by mid-April that they said it was ok for me to leave early. (Still no contact with home about my plans.) I called one of my brothers a week before my flight to make sure I would have a ride home. Then, I made my plans to surprise my mom. Billy picked me up the night of the 4th, and had arranged for mom to make him breakfast. He drove me down to her house, and dropped me off a block away. I walked slowly to the house to give him time to get inside and settled. I then walked to the front door and knocked. "Someone is at the door.""Come in!" "Am I in time for breakfast?" I asked as I walked in. My mom stared, dumbfounded. It was a shining moment on my list of all-time best suprises. Mom was incoherent for at least the next 30 minutes. Later that day I surprised my brother on his birthday by meeting him by his car at his job. Good times. My plan for the summer is to go to classes in Chicago, travel around Missouri, finish my homework, and SLEEP. I haven't been able to load xanga while I was in China, so I'll try to keep update while in the States, and make an alternate plan for the next school year. Blessings, Tina | | |
| Last post I mentioned re-arranging my living room. It occured to me that I haven't sent pics of my 'living space' home yet. This year I moved to the 'fourth floor' apartment. Here are some pics... 
This is the view from the front door, down the hallway... 
My living room, the first door to the right of my front door. 
(A view from the balcony door) 
My dining room across the hall from my office. 
My office is usually messy, because I spend the majority of my time sitting in that chair lesson planning....Actually, it is unusually cluttered at the time of the picture because I had/have not organized my books and such for the new semester. I'll get around to iit soon. I'm skipping pics of the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom until later. Blessings, Tina | | |
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