"Let the rain come down and wash away my tears,
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears,
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun,
A new day has come."
Thinking about something, that at the time seemed unfortunate, makes me recall A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion. My music tastes are quite eclectic - from Rock and Roll to Country to the Top 40 to Broadway to Celine Dion. I guess my music tastes reflect the many dimensions of my personality quite well.
Anyway, this has been the rainiest summer I can remember in my short twenty-four years. This July, it feels as though rain has marked every day. On Wednesday, I dressed in my favorite simple, black dress and headed to campus for class, no umbrella in tote for the first time all month. The weatherman promised (or so I thought) that there would be no rain, just a dry, hot summer day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, so I foolishly believed him.
Not taking an umbrella to campus is a lesson I learned the hard way when I was nineteen. My first semester in college, I parked my car and walked across the campus from Lot 100 to the Biological Sciences Building East (for those who don't know - it's a lengthy trek). I'm about half way there when the skies open up and Heaven literally falls down upon me. Needless to say, I get drenched then enter into the freezing cold building. Now, any sensible person would have gone home and skipped class. Did I fail to mention this was my FIRST ever college test day? Oh yea, that's why I was heading to class. I took my first college test soaking wet and freezing. (I got an A though!) :)
Six years later and I am still making rookie, freshmen mistakes. My class on Wednesday ends, and I leave Harrington Tower and begin walking to my car. Again, I'm about halfway to my car and the heavens once again unleash upon me. I consider running into a building, but think twice. For the second time in a month, I take off my sandals place them in my bag, make sure it is closed completely to protect my computer, and saunter to my car. That's right - I strolled or walked with a leisurely gait (courtesy of dictionary.com), unconcerned with the rain falling on my head, soaking my clothes and hair.
I have to admit, it was a refreshing feeling. For the first time I can remember, I did not feel like sugar melting away, but more like oil resisting solubility. Later, I reflected on why I acted so out-of-character. The only reaction and reasonable explanation I could come up with - I felt at peace.
When there is nothing wrong, we have nothing to fear, and we truly feel at peace with our lives, with God and with the world around us, little to nothing can penetrate deeply to bother our consciousness. Currently, I am blissfully, blessedly happy. My life is moving in the direction I have worked hard to propel it, my physical and mental health are in harmony, my family is healthy and happy, and my relationships with friends continue to deepen.
When I think about rain, I think about the sky. When I think about the sky, I see Heaven. When I think about Heaven, I think about praying. When I think about praying, I feel God's presence. The unexpected rain on Wednesday made me stop and evaluate the current state of my life. I owe it all to a greater purpose. Once again, my reminder that Someone far beyond my tiny world is part of everything.
"Let the rain come down and wash away my tears,
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears,
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun,
A new day has come."
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
At least I'm passionate, right?
Sometimes, I really feel for my friends and family - they are so sweet, kind and supportive and it sometimes alludes me as to why they like me so much. I mean, I can certainly be a handful and hard to handle. I am a very passionate person who is also emotional, so sometimes my passions and emotions just can't contain themselves. Again, I repeat, I really feel for my friends and family.
When I find something I like, I REALLY like it. Sometimes it is to the obsessive level of like. My newest obsession - The Great Gatsby. First, a little back story. The older I grow, the more I realize that God is the backbone of everything and that he often has a bigger plan that the one I know about. He is everywhere and has a hand in everything, even the most insignificant thing - like the book I choose to read. He guided me to this novel, and it came at a good time. I was stuck in my writing and work ethic, but took the time to read this novel and I feel...refreshed, inspired, motivated, unstuck. I have been more productive the past two days than the week before reading Gatsby. God is one smart fella.
When I went to New York City for Spring Break, I became obsessed with Rock of Ages after seeing the Broadway play. My friends and family can attest, it is all I talked about for the next...oh wait, I'm still talking about it! Anywho, the movie version came out in theaters about a month ago, and I was one of the first in line to see it. During the previews, a new version of The Great Gatsby was shown starring none other than my precious Leonardo DiCaprio. This moment sparked a later conversation with a friend who had read the novel. She assured me the book was one I should take the time to read.
On Sunday evening, I went and plucked Gatsby from my bookshelf and took it to bed. That night, I finished the first third of the book. I'll admit, chapters one and two were not the most riveting and I considered giving up. However, I stuck with it and was entranced by the characters. Monday night, I couldn't fall asleep until I had resolved all of my issues and figured out how the story ended. That's right, I finished it.
Now, I am beyond shocked, surprised and cannot stop thinking about the story and how it ended. I'm lost in this world of the roaring twenties and aghast at how all of the characters were tied together. I don't want to give away the ending, but it is a shocker that will leave you wondering why.
I have been unable to stop talking about this novel with my friends and family. My best friend, sent me this message via Pinterest to capture my frustrations:
"Book hangover: the inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last book's world."
This is perfectly how I am feeling. Last night, I began reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter but felt as though I was cheating on Nick and Gatsby and Daisy...I'm not over them yet. It's going to take me another day or two to clear my thoughts and move on, but these characters have found a special place in my heart and The Great Gatsby has found it's way on my top-5 favorite novels list. That's quite an accomplishment. :)
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Jurassic Park by Michale Crichton
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
When I find something I like, I REALLY like it. Sometimes it is to the obsessive level of like. My newest obsession - The Great Gatsby. First, a little back story. The older I grow, the more I realize that God is the backbone of everything and that he often has a bigger plan that the one I know about. He is everywhere and has a hand in everything, even the most insignificant thing - like the book I choose to read. He guided me to this novel, and it came at a good time. I was stuck in my writing and work ethic, but took the time to read this novel and I feel...refreshed, inspired, motivated, unstuck. I have been more productive the past two days than the week before reading Gatsby. God is one smart fella.
When I went to New York City for Spring Break, I became obsessed with Rock of Ages after seeing the Broadway play. My friends and family can attest, it is all I talked about for the next...oh wait, I'm still talking about it! Anywho, the movie version came out in theaters about a month ago, and I was one of the first in line to see it. During the previews, a new version of The Great Gatsby was shown starring none other than my precious Leonardo DiCaprio. This moment sparked a later conversation with a friend who had read the novel. She assured me the book was one I should take the time to read.
On Sunday evening, I went and plucked Gatsby from my bookshelf and took it to bed. That night, I finished the first third of the book. I'll admit, chapters one and two were not the most riveting and I considered giving up. However, I stuck with it and was entranced by the characters. Monday night, I couldn't fall asleep until I had resolved all of my issues and figured out how the story ended. That's right, I finished it.
Now, I am beyond shocked, surprised and cannot stop thinking about the story and how it ended. I'm lost in this world of the roaring twenties and aghast at how all of the characters were tied together. I don't want to give away the ending, but it is a shocker that will leave you wondering why.
I have been unable to stop talking about this novel with my friends and family. My best friend, sent me this message via Pinterest to capture my frustrations:
"Book hangover: the inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last book's world."
This is perfectly how I am feeling. Last night, I began reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter but felt as though I was cheating on Nick and Gatsby and Daisy...I'm not over them yet. It's going to take me another day or two to clear my thoughts and move on, but these characters have found a special place in my heart and The Great Gatsby has found it's way on my top-5 favorite novels list. That's quite an accomplishment. :)
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Jurassic Park by Michale Crichton
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
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