My Child

We’ve been having Bible studies together for eleven weeks. She never talks, it is actually quite awkward, but I have become accustom to it, everyone has their own style. Christmas break is seven days away, and we won’t study for three weeks straight. I pray for her. But this last study was different. She was so talkative, telling stories, applying the study to her life, keeping conversations going, laughing harder than I ever noted. She ended the study quite different than usual. We prayed, and began to leave when she noted that she needed to tell us something. She proceeded to tell us that these Bible studies had answered so many of her questions she had owned most of her life. She closely asserted that no one had ever answered her questions with the Bible, and that we were different than everyone else. She confidently thanked us for studying with her, being her friend, and answering her questions with the Bible. You see, she is special to me! She is my child. At the age of 68, she lives with her 87 year-old Mother, which she adorably addresses as “Mother”, so unique. The highlight of her week is Wednesday’s exercise class in the YMCA, and her walk next to the river, which she frequently does. She has been raised Baptist, and lived in the same apartment with her Mother for the past 42 years. She hasn’t gone to church for the past nine years, for a personal reason. Her parents are split. Her father, addressed as “Father”, lives in Florida, is 89. To the average person, this means nothing… Until you take time, until you study. Until you Search what is important to her. Until you make what is important to her, important to you. Until you realize her physical needs so that you can help bring her to her spiritual needs. She has grown like a child, God’s child. I have countless stories to describe the beauty of her character and personality. The average person wouldn’t notice, but she intricately thinks about everything. She’s a thinker, she is a searcher, she is beautiful. But the greatest smack in the face was, I thought the main reason she was studying with me, was for social time. I decided to continue studying because I felt that if she learned one thing, the friendship would be worth it in the end. Then, she came and surprised me by expressing what she has learned. Don’t give up on God’s plan, don’t underestimate his Greatness! You may not notice, but people are searching…

Reece's Thief

On my way to lunch today I walked by the vending machine. As I glanced to see what was inside, I notice the Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cups calling my name, and I gave in. Sliding my card into the slot, I typed in 1-3-1 for my beloved Reece’s pieces to come to me. To my dismay, it got caught on a pointy object on its travel to me… I stood in awkward silence. A minimum of ten people stood around, or more sat around, doing homework or chatting with friends. One girl in particular noticed what happened, and eyed me to see what I would do next. I muttered under my breath, “awe-man!” as I awkwardly stood before the Reece’s monster. We were now at war. Hoping that a gentle magical touch would encourage the Reece’s to finish it’s journey to me, I tapped the front of the monster… Nothing… Now what!? So, I nudged a little harder, hoping that no one would notice beyond that girl that had… Nothing… So, I tried a different direction, a little harder… Nothing… The girl, feeling bad for me, saw a boy walking by. She stopped him, and asked if he would help me. By this time, it was obvious, I was on a mission to receive my sugar for the day. He, not so gently, shook the monster, several times. To our surprise, as we paused, we watched a Hershey’s Cookies and Cream White Chocolate bar descend to the pick-up slot. Our eyes watched it safely descend, then at the same time shot back up to the Reece’s bar, which hadn’t budged… He looked at me and asked, “Do you really want that Reece’s pieces?” One glance at him, told him my answer, so he said, “Okay, one more time.” So He held the side of the monster, and shook the machine with all his might…Nothing…So we gave up, and decided that the Hershey’s Cookies and Cream White Chocolate bar would have to suffice. That Reece’s still sits in the machine, calling my name. I wonder how many other people have tried to shake the monster to get it… I still want a Reece’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cup.

What If?

… So much to do, so little time. Running causes my thoughts to flow. WHAT IF. What if I want to live for Christ Radically. What if I want to forget about necessities and follow Christ completely, but I’m scared. What If I hang onto way too much. What if I want to live, helping those in need. What if I want to take a step and live like Shane Claiborne did in the book Irresistible Revolution. What if I want to climb Everest, kayak the Bowron Lakes, Ski/snowboard on mount hood, backpack Europe, hike Halfdome, rock climb Halfdome, play piano, play guitar, play harp, run marathons, bike across the united states, Hike the west coast, sleep in hammocks, ride street bikes, ride dirt bikes, jetski, live in a grass hut for a while, know what it is like to not own a penny, design my own clothes, look stunning, have a six pack, crochet an intricate picture of something, longboard, rock climb, own an official crocheted hat business, colporteur, lead a colporteur group, be a dean at UCA, be a student missionary, be a missionary, go to Nepal, return to Africa, road trip all over with friends, backpack Lost Coast, be done with school. What if I want to solve world hunger, end homeless issues, teach people about Jesus. What if I want to teach like Jesus, lead like Jesus, Follow like Jesus, act like Jesus, heal like Jesus, hold myself like Jesus, breathe like Jesus, Be utterly selfless. What if I want stay single for the rest of my life, or get married. What if I want to be Jesus to the world, drop out of college and be a Bible Worker for the rest of my life. What if I want to go to a mountain top and proclaim that Jesus is Lord. What if I want to be lowly and go unnoticed. What if I want to make a difference, and go down in history as being Christ-like. The list proceeds, but tonight I will stick to Proverbs 3:5,6. 

Text Me Maybe

I was mundanely doing homework when my phone vibrated. A familiar name popped up on the screen. What was he texting me about? Flipping my ancient dinosaur phone open, I read his message to me. “Melllllina! How’s it going?” It had been a while since we had conversed last, and time had disappeared like sand running through my fingers. What a cool kid, he thought about me! Admittedly, I don’t enjoy having long conversations over text, but to receive a “hey, how are you?” text can flip a ordinary day into an amazing day. It is so simple, but I thrive off of simple. I have the best friends ever, just sayin’.

Hakuna Matata

So many amazing memories, I miss it immensely. Anyone up for being a student missionary to Africa for a year or so with me?

"Hoodies for Homeless"

My desire accelerated as I viewed a friend’s Youtube film “Hoodies for Homeless.” I have a smoldering passion for truly homeless people, and to observe someone else take action in helping them brought a twinge of motivation. My mind scurried to different ideas that I could do, and places that I could help.  Their idea was so simple, why hadn’t I thought of doing that? Am I too selfish of my own time to help someone else in need? I have come up with a personalized idea to plan for my own “Hoodies for Homeless.” It may not include t-shirts and hoodies, but something more along the lines of crocheted hats and something warm and beneficial for them. I ponder the quote, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” And I realize that I would be giving a man a fish, but you can’t starve a man while you teach him how to fish. Someday, maybe I will teach a man out of a homeless life, but for now, I will feed him and help him grow.