So I play the fiddle now...yeah I'm spontaneous. I came home and was hooked - and have been - on celtic and bluegrass with a strong fiddles - specifically reels. I almost immediately found a band out here - Culann's Hounds and found someone on Craig's List offering lessons. After emailing that guy I called a music store and asked for a recommendation and they gave me a phone number to call - turned out to be the same guy. And he's the fiddler for Culann's Hounds (saw them perform at a local bar two weeks ago and they were GREAT! Check them out on itunes or on www.sfhounds.com).
So I pick up a brand new instrument - having only dabbled with the flute and played piano (for 8-10 years). Haven't read music or played at least since early high school. I became determined to play and play well before I left and practice like crazy. The result? Now on my 5th lesson I can sight read a piece and play it - and yeah it squeaks but it's getting there and since an average student doesn't pick up a fiddle for at least 2 months (practices music, rhythm, and plucking) I'm doing pretty great. And know what else? I LOVE it, I love the way it feels to play, I love having something to work on, something I want to get better at, something that is a challenge and has a definite goal (to play celtic and bluegrass!). It's frustrating to start from scratch at something and it's a feeling I haven't had to experience in awhile and I think it's really healthy.
Have a sport you always wanted to try and didn't? Or a guitar laying around that you never learned to play? Maybe a trumpet? Try it - it's worth it and it's definitely not too late :).
Now about a teacher when I get back to school...haven't found one yet but I'm determined so I will keep trying. And my roommates better invest in ear plugs.
Oh and the accusation that fiddles sound like cats? Apparently not far fetched as the strings used to be made from cat intestines - ew - but ok.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Majesty.
Majesty (Here I Am)
Here I am humbled by your Majesty
Covered by your grace so free
Here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man
Covered by the blood of the Lamb
Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine;
Since you laid down your life;
The greatest sacrifice.
Majesty, Majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed, but alive in your hands
Majesty, Majesty
Forever I am changed by your love
In the presence of your Majesty
Here I am humbled by the love that you give
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand, knowing that I'm your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire
Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since you laid down your life
The greatest sacrifice.
- Majesty:
- Etymology:
- Middle English maieste, from Anglo-French majesté, from Latin majestat-, majestas; akin to Latin major greater
Define: 1: sovereign power, authority, or dignity2—used in addressing or referring to reigning sovereigns and their consorts 3 a: royal bearing or aspect : grandeur b: greatness or splendor of quality or character
We sang this song on Sunday and it has been stuck in my head and I was thinking about the word "majesty." It's not a word we use much - occasionally when watching a movie that takes place in a castle or a modern day spin on royalty (ie Princess Diaries) but in general it's not a common word. So I looked it up because I usually hear it used as a title and I was curious plus I'm a word nerd and love to know where things come from. Thankful for my background in Latin, I see it is an adjective and actually is feminine - but that's besides the point. So we are fairly likely to sing this song in agreement with the fact that God is Majestic - we have other songs declaring that and many Psalms as well. He is A majesty as well as deserving of the title which gives him power, authority, and dignity. As they did back when they addressed kings and queens, calling someone Your Majesty would be form of admitting service or submission to their will and wisdom - whoa whoa, all I did was sing a song?! But yes, we should declare God as our Majesty and praise him for being Majestic and recognize his Majestic work around us. But there's a part of that definition that I noticed and wonder how it ought to affect us. Granted it's from the dictionary, written by fallen humans and not from God's word, but I think it still works.
The line is italicized and it is "And their consorts." So I checked on that word to make sure I had this idea right - consort would be anyone in partnership with the person who is considered majestic - anyone trailing behind the king would still be addressed by "your majesties" - I think? So if we claim partnership, following Christ then we would also be included in the 'consort' of God's majesty. Whoa that's a bold statement. I'm not sovreign or divine for sure but royal bearing? My mom calls me a princess - but in reality, I am a daughter of the King so that works. But greatness or splendor of character? Not so much....
Our message on Sunday was about humility and being Christ-like (see Philippians 2) and the difference between being a doormate and being humble. So the balance between a character of greatness and splendor and an attitude like that of Christ as a servant is super fine and I don't have it all figured out, I'm just musing I suppose.
But it is food for thought - and Majesty is a really cool word...and the song is my current favorite.
Check out this Wordle Cloud I made of the song!
We sang this song on Sunday and it has been stuck in my head and I was thinking about the word "majesty." It's not a word we use much - occasionally when watching a movie that takes place in a castle or a modern day spin on royalty (ie Princess Diaries) but in general it's not a common word. So I looked it up because I usually hear it used as a title and I was curious plus I'm a word nerd and love to know where things come from. Thankful for my background in Latin, I see it is an adjective and actually is feminine - but that's besides the point. So we are fairly likely to sing this song in agreement with the fact that God is Majestic - we have other songs declaring that and many Psalms as well. He is A majesty as well as deserving of the title which gives him power, authority, and dignity. As they did back when they addressed kings and queens, calling someone Your Majesty would be form of admitting service or submission to their will and wisdom - whoa whoa, all I did was sing a song?! But yes, we should declare God as our Majesty and praise him for being Majestic and recognize his Majestic work around us. But there's a part of that definition that I noticed and wonder how it ought to affect us. Granted it's from the dictionary, written by fallen humans and not from God's word, but I think it still works.
The line is italicized and it is "And their consorts." So I checked on that word to make sure I had this idea right - consort would be anyone in partnership with the person who is considered majestic - anyone trailing behind the king would still be addressed by "your majesties" - I think? So if we claim partnership, following Christ then we would also be included in the 'consort' of God's majesty. Whoa that's a bold statement. I'm not sovreign or divine for sure but royal bearing? My mom calls me a princess - but in reality, I am a daughter of the King so that works. But greatness or splendor of character? Not so much....
Our message on Sunday was about humility and being Christ-like (see Philippians 2) and the difference between being a doormate and being humble. So the balance between a character of greatness and splendor and an attitude like that of Christ as a servant is super fine and I don't have it all figured out, I'm just musing I suppose.
But it is food for thought - and Majesty is a really cool word...and the song is my current favorite.
Check out this Wordle Cloud I made of the song!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
I got the Joy - Joy - Joy - Joy....
Church was about Joy today - well actually it's about joy all summer - based on Philippians. Specifically joy that overcomes: circumstances, adversaries, and personal agendas (whoa whoa whoa...what?). It stemmed from Philippians 1:12-26. And our pastor made an interesting comment about spontaneous incontrollable laughter that generally occurs when we shouldn't be laughing (ie a wedding, church, interview, meeting, class, prayer, family gathering....and I have experienced that in all of those places except a wedding) but that we're really wired for that type of overcoming joy that cannot be stopped.
He said Paul would have been on an 18 inch chain with a guard at all times - the same guard for 6 hours at a time and there would have been no privacy for either man (ew?!). Paul decided that since the guard could always see what he was doing, that he would write and preach God's grace and wound up converting the guards - but the verse says something a long the lines of "it was no secret among the guard that I am in chains for Christ" - really? No kidding, they must have thought he was nuts. But he was joyful - cool.
Joy is in the perspective - so if that's the case then it is, in theory, always possible to be joyful. I know I'm not so what's up with my perspective then? The thought being "How is God working in this" or "To live is___ and to die is ___" ..... that is going to take some more thought I think.
Fill in those blanks - I spent some time making a list and it looks something like this:
to live is:
love, success, happiness, companions, coffee, random good times, photos of good times, good music, long chats, good worship
to die then is: loneliness, disappointment, hunger, boredom, no communication, not enough sleep, poor sound quality, songs I don't know
Well look at that! Right there is part of my issue - the joy is in the small things which is ok but it's temporary and short lived joy. Paul said - and actually in the Greek there was no "is" as if he was so pumped he had word vomit, but he said "to live is Christ and to die is Gain" - yeah that's not on my immediate list today...ouch. But even the list he read from Chuck Swindoll was different. What would that look like?
joy is a cool word - better than happy and seems to connote, for me, an emotion that is not superficial or invisible but that takes over - makes you beam, jump, yell, cheer, laugh - without inhibition and sometimes uncontrollably. Pretty cool - but how often do we experience TRUE joy?
Church was about Joy today - well actually it's about joy all summer - based on Philippians. Specifically joy that overcomes: circumstances, adversaries, and personal agendas (whoa whoa whoa...what?). It stemmed from Philippians 1:12-26. And our pastor made an interesting comment about spontaneous incontrollable laughter that generally occurs when we shouldn't be laughing (ie a wedding, church, interview, meeting, class, prayer, family gathering....and I have experienced that in all of those places except a wedding) but that we're really wired for that type of overcoming joy that cannot be stopped.
He said Paul would have been on an 18 inch chain with a guard at all times - the same guard for 6 hours at a time and there would have been no privacy for either man (ew?!). Paul decided that since the guard could always see what he was doing, that he would write and preach God's grace and wound up converting the guards - but the verse says something a long the lines of "it was no secret among the guard that I am in chains for Christ" - really? No kidding, they must have thought he was nuts. But he was joyful - cool.
Joy is in the perspective - so if that's the case then it is, in theory, always possible to be joyful. I know I'm not so what's up with my perspective then? The thought being "How is God working in this" or "To live is___ and to die is ___" ..... that is going to take some more thought I think.
Fill in those blanks - I spent some time making a list and it looks something like this:
to live is:
love, success, happiness, companions, coffee, random good times, photos of good times, good music, long chats, good worship
to die then is: loneliness, disappointment, hunger, boredom, no communication, not enough sleep, poor sound quality, songs I don't know
Well look at that! Right there is part of my issue - the joy is in the small things which is ok but it's temporary and short lived joy. Paul said - and actually in the Greek there was no "is" as if he was so pumped he had word vomit, but he said "to live is Christ and to die is Gain" - yeah that's not on my immediate list today...ouch. But even the list he read from Chuck Swindoll was different. What would that look like?
joy is a cool word - better than happy and seems to connote, for me, an emotion that is not superficial or invisible but that takes over - makes you beam, jump, yell, cheer, laugh - without inhibition and sometimes uncontrollably. Pretty cool - but how often do we experience TRUE joy?
Monday, June 23, 2008
"Yakety Yak!" (Don't Talk Back)
As of today, I am an art teacher for Camp Edventure More - an arts and science camp that I have worked for every summer for 3 years now. Previously I was a counselor but am thrilled to be in a real teaching position and have my own space to make and use - an actual art room!
I never felt like an achiever in art, could not stand my art teacher in elementary school and never pursued anything remotely artistic aside from photography. I found myself considering what went wrong and what it would take to help a camper - student - random kid - love art and really believe that they are an artist and succeed at being creative.
My solution? Well not complete yet but today with the younger kids we read a story called "Dot" and it's about a girl who 'can't do art' and her teacher tells her to just make a mark and sign it - so she makes a dot and signs it. Turns out they frame it and make a big deal about so she makes a bunch of different kinds of dots - and it's art and everyone loves it. Point being, anything you do and are creative with and excited about is art and it may be different than what I drew or the person next to you drew but let's get excited about it because YOU did it and YOU put work into it - so be proud!
What does that *really* look like? Pulling details, " Cool wings on that bug!" or "Check out those colors!" "Wow I love that habitat!" etc.... but does that really seem effective?
I really believe children are naturally creative and imaginative and just need places to effectively use those skills - fine tune them perhaps and appreciate the outcome. So the project begins - learning how to teach art, love art, and make kids into artists.
More thoughts to follow...
Along those same lines is the idea that art can be a form of worship - whoa wait I'm working at a secular camp so how does that work? Well I definitely cannot talk about it but it's worth my sanity to keep it in mind, what these kids perceive to be the world around them and how they interpret it, change it, and represent it is a glimpse of the fingerprint of God on each of us and our perception, imagination, and appreciation in the world we live in.
hmmm more food for thought.
PS the title? That's my 'call and response' for the classroom to pay attention and get quiet - kinda fun!
I never felt like an achiever in art, could not stand my art teacher in elementary school and never pursued anything remotely artistic aside from photography. I found myself considering what went wrong and what it would take to help a camper - student - random kid - love art and really believe that they are an artist and succeed at being creative.
My solution? Well not complete yet but today with the younger kids we read a story called "Dot" and it's about a girl who 'can't do art' and her teacher tells her to just make a mark and sign it - so she makes a dot and signs it. Turns out they frame it and make a big deal about so she makes a bunch of different kinds of dots - and it's art and everyone loves it. Point being, anything you do and are creative with and excited about is art and it may be different than what I drew or the person next to you drew but let's get excited about it because YOU did it and YOU put work into it - so be proud!
What does that *really* look like? Pulling details, " Cool wings on that bug!" or "Check out those colors!" "Wow I love that habitat!" etc.... but does that really seem effective?
I really believe children are naturally creative and imaginative and just need places to effectively use those skills - fine tune them perhaps and appreciate the outcome. So the project begins - learning how to teach art, love art, and make kids into artists.
More thoughts to follow...
Along those same lines is the idea that art can be a form of worship - whoa wait I'm working at a secular camp so how does that work? Well I definitely cannot talk about it but it's worth my sanity to keep it in mind, what these kids perceive to be the world around them and how they interpret it, change it, and represent it is a glimpse of the fingerprint of God on each of us and our perception, imagination, and appreciation in the world we live in.
hmmm more food for thought.
PS the title? That's my 'call and response' for the classroom to pay attention and get quiet - kinda fun!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Lover of My Soul
I'm going to take a risk - according to Google, no one is really reading this except me anyway but it's a place to write. I'm going to go personal for a minute...
I am 3400 miles away from someone I care very much about. Someone in fact, that I love. In the past two summers I have operated under the mindset that a countdown, work, and spending time on the phone make it easier, while also trying to enjoy being home. It was ok - we survived and here we are, summer #3. I left with some tears this year but got on the plane out of my mind excited to come home. I am still so thrilled to be home and with my family and my attitude is very different. I am clinging to the time I have here at home because I was more than ready to be here and because I know I'm running out of "just being home" time. I didn't have the heavy lump in my throat when I called him the first day here, I didn't feel sad, lonely, or depressed because I have a summer ahead of me - I was content to be home. I am.
But tonight my family is off doing other things and my plans fell through so I am home. It is beautiful, finally getting cool, and smells wonderful of California plants and dry air. All of a sudden, while cleaning up the kitchen, it hit me. The dull ache and longing came back and I thought I might cry spontaneously with no warning. I turned on loud music and scrubbed the pots harder. I sent a text...two...three. It wasn't going to get better in my mind unless I magically wound up in his arms within the next 10 minutes.
Then I realized that the feeling itself is ok - it's good to 'miss' someone, I think it makes for a healthy relationship and makes you appreciate the time you do have. It's what I do with that feeling - so I directed it up. Yes up - to the real love of my life and giver of life. I prayed. I asked God to be my wholeness, my love, and to hold me. I asked him to be my love. And as soon as I finished cleaning and eating, I took off on a walk to enjoy what he has given me - love gifts if you will - and settled up on a hill overlooking Mount Tamalpais to journal. A 'date' perhaps.
So am I ready for this summer - and to be alone? I don't know... I like the idea sometimes but other times something is really missing. I LOVE being home but it still aches. But I think I just need to turn that ache over - and I know I'll have to do it repeatedly - so that God can use it to draw me to himself. He loved me first and I can't properly love if I don't love him back - first.
I'm sure it seems elementary but for a girl in love...profound!
I am 3400 miles away from someone I care very much about. Someone in fact, that I love. In the past two summers I have operated under the mindset that a countdown, work, and spending time on the phone make it easier, while also trying to enjoy being home. It was ok - we survived and here we are, summer #3. I left with some tears this year but got on the plane out of my mind excited to come home. I am still so thrilled to be home and with my family and my attitude is very different. I am clinging to the time I have here at home because I was more than ready to be here and because I know I'm running out of "just being home" time. I didn't have the heavy lump in my throat when I called him the first day here, I didn't feel sad, lonely, or depressed because I have a summer ahead of me - I was content to be home. I am.
But tonight my family is off doing other things and my plans fell through so I am home. It is beautiful, finally getting cool, and smells wonderful of California plants and dry air. All of a sudden, while cleaning up the kitchen, it hit me. The dull ache and longing came back and I thought I might cry spontaneously with no warning. I turned on loud music and scrubbed the pots harder. I sent a text...two...three. It wasn't going to get better in my mind unless I magically wound up in his arms within the next 10 minutes.
Then I realized that the feeling itself is ok - it's good to 'miss' someone, I think it makes for a healthy relationship and makes you appreciate the time you do have. It's what I do with that feeling - so I directed it up. Yes up - to the real love of my life and giver of life. I prayed. I asked God to be my wholeness, my love, and to hold me. I asked him to be my love. And as soon as I finished cleaning and eating, I took off on a walk to enjoy what he has given me - love gifts if you will - and settled up on a hill overlooking Mount Tamalpais to journal. A 'date' perhaps.
So am I ready for this summer - and to be alone? I don't know... I like the idea sometimes but other times something is really missing. I LOVE being home but it still aches. But I think I just need to turn that ache over - and I know I'll have to do it repeatedly - so that God can use it to draw me to himself. He loved me first and I can't properly love if I don't love him back - first.
I'm sure it seems elementary but for a girl in love...profound!
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