Someone suggested to me yesterday that I should export my "things I am loving"s from facebook onto my blog and then monetize my blog, because my series of stati were so very popular that I could really turn it in to a money-making venture. I don't know if I want to sell-out like that or not.
This weekend was the best I've had in awhile. Saturday, I decided to take a Sabbath. I did not set my alarm, and simply slept until I woke up. This happened to be noon. I didn't shower, I stayed in my pajamas. I made myself breakfast of waffles and a fruit salad. I spent the afternoon Sabbathing. I rested, I watched a myriad of Alias episodes, talked with my roommates. I declined invitations to leave the house. My roommate and I painted canvases. We made some dinner, sometime around 10pm. And when I got tired, I went to sleep. I think it was exactly what I needed, and something I highly recommend.
Sunday was a day of delightful company. I attended University Fellowship Church with Lindsey and Daniel. Afterwards we went to lunch at Doug and Julie's. It was such a gorgeous day. It was a timeless day. I think heaven will be these things: front porches, musicians and instruments, summer breezes, conversation, no pressured schedules. Among other things. It was lovely. Followed by Christ the King. It was a day full of the Gospel. And it was great.
Tonight, Oh, the Adventure! The Intrigue! The ladies at 710 Pickard knew at the time of renting their house that the house contained a certain treasure. The mystery and enchantment surrounding the Cellar remained and developed throughout the summer, until finally, the suspense could not be handled any longer. This very evening, with the help of several interested friends, we descended below the Cellar Door. What we found was beyond our wildest imaginations! What stories the walls could tell if they spoke, no man could imagine.
You are invited to the next opening. There are such further adventures to be had, and such wonderment to be experienced--and you could be a part of it.
2009/08/31
2009/07/28
Smiles
One talent I have mastered is the ability to speak in a smiling voice without actually smiling. You wouldn't think this would be a very useful or necessary talent, but you would be wrong. And when you are tired and not very crazy about your job, which just so happens to require a nearly overexaggerated amount of enthusiasm (hence, excessive smiling and friendliness regardless of your mood), it can be an absolute lifesaver. Ask me to do it sometime, and you will be amazed.
2009/07/10
J'ai lu, Juin 2009
We have completed six months of this year, now that June has come to an end. I find that I am still trying to discover who Katie Tracy 2009 will turn out to be. Everyday seems to bring lessons I did not expect to encounter. But I am changing. I can feel it in myself—observable change is taking place. God, who is the Author and Perfecter, continues to develop my character throughout the story he has written me in to. The plot changes, and the journey continues.
I turn 20 this month. This holds less excitement for you, likely, because I am mostly the last to reach these milestones. People are always exceedingly surprised to hear I am still a teenager. I suppose that’s an okay thing.
The Ragamuffin Gospel (Manning) – A simple meditation on grace, but with some mind-blowing insights. I really loved Manning’s thoughts on the Gospel of grace that we allow to become too familiar and too often take for granted. A beautiful reminder. He also includes a section at the end of “19 Mercies” to practice and scripture to meditate on for each of these. I love practical application, and Brennan provided this throughout. (9)
unchristian (Kinnaman) – Kinnaman was commissioned to research the perceptions that “outsiders” (people not associated with the church/not born again Christians) have of Christianity and Christians. Kinnaman presents his 3 years of research in this book and takes time to focus on each of the top perceptions (the majority being negative) to give us (Christians) an idea of how we look to the world. The world is changing, and our generations are a whole different brand of people than our parents were. This book is a great way to see ourselves from the outside looking in, and be really thinking about whether we’re living as Christ did and truly being representatives of Christ to the world. (7)
Death by Love (Driscoll) – A series of letters Mark writes to various people he has come in contact with, complete with life summaries of each of them and Biblical application of the Gospel to each of their personal struggles. I really liked the idea of this, and I liked a lot of what Driscoll says to each of them. This is something I think is great for anyone interested in loving people who are broken, and trying to figure out what to say (that should be all of you). Driscoll can be a little (or a lot) “in your face” and doesn’t really sugar coat things, but for the most part, I appreciated the insights he gave and the overall concept of the book. (7)
The Gospel According to Starbucks (Sweet) – Sweet discusses how Starbucks has created an environment and a product that are appealing, warm, and welcoming. While he has some good things to say, his argument is essentially that the modern church has a lesson or two to learn from Starbucks. I was attracted by the title, but was disappointed that it wasn’t quite as tongue-in-cheek as I expected. Eh. (5)
I turn 20 this month. This holds less excitement for you, likely, because I am mostly the last to reach these milestones. People are always exceedingly surprised to hear I am still a teenager. I suppose that’s an okay thing.
The Ragamuffin Gospel (Manning) – A simple meditation on grace, but with some mind-blowing insights. I really loved Manning’s thoughts on the Gospel of grace that we allow to become too familiar and too often take for granted. A beautiful reminder. He also includes a section at the end of “19 Mercies” to practice and scripture to meditate on for each of these. I love practical application, and Brennan provided this throughout. (9)
unchristian (Kinnaman) – Kinnaman was commissioned to research the perceptions that “outsiders” (people not associated with the church/not born again Christians) have of Christianity and Christians. Kinnaman presents his 3 years of research in this book and takes time to focus on each of the top perceptions (the majority being negative) to give us (Christians) an idea of how we look to the world. The world is changing, and our generations are a whole different brand of people than our parents were. This book is a great way to see ourselves from the outside looking in, and be really thinking about whether we’re living as Christ did and truly being representatives of Christ to the world. (7)
Death by Love (Driscoll) – A series of letters Mark writes to various people he has come in contact with, complete with life summaries of each of them and Biblical application of the Gospel to each of their personal struggles. I really liked the idea of this, and I liked a lot of what Driscoll says to each of them. This is something I think is great for anyone interested in loving people who are broken, and trying to figure out what to say (that should be all of you). Driscoll can be a little (or a lot) “in your face” and doesn’t really sugar coat things, but for the most part, I appreciated the insights he gave and the overall concept of the book. (7)
The Gospel According to Starbucks (Sweet) – Sweet discusses how Starbucks has created an environment and a product that are appealing, warm, and welcoming. While he has some good things to say, his argument is essentially that the modern church has a lesson or two to learn from Starbucks. I was attracted by the title, but was disappointed that it wasn’t quite as tongue-in-cheek as I expected. Eh. (5)
2009/06/02
J'ai Lu, Mai 2009
I'm just getting past the wave of stress that was end-of-semester and finals, and am finally hitting the books. I really have nothing to excuse my lack of motivation this month, except I simply found other ways to fill my time. Ah, well.
The Four Loves (Lewis) – Lewis discussed four aspects of human love—Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity. I feel like he presented a lot of insights and reminded me how I do not love people well, how people deserve to be loved, and what love really looks like. I especially loved his chapter on Friendship, and also the chapter on Charity. If you love people or are loved by anyone (your mother counts), you should check this out at least once. I feel as though I will want to reference it as circumstances change throughout my life, and I seek to learn to love people in new and different ways. (7)
-------------------------------------------------------
And other thoughts...
I have worked at ChickfilA for five years now, on and off. I remember like yesterday my fourteen-year-old self interviewing and being hired, and starting my first few days. I remember learning how to be an employee, how to balance fun and productivity in the workplace. It's crazy how time flies.
The Chick-fil-A I have consistently worked at is located in the food court of Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa. So naturally, after so many years being in the mall on a regular basis, I, of course, have been an avid observer of "mall people."
All I can say is, mall people are strange. I don't just mean the trench-coated, black lipstick-wearing, dog collar mall people who literally seem to spend 24 hours a day inside the mall trading Pokemon cards and talking Anime. I mean just about every single patron of the mall seems to transform the moment they step through those swinging glass doors. They stop being your neighbor, your teacher, your fellow church member. They forget who they are, that they are human, that other humans exist, and that you, in your red & black uniform behind the counter and register, are human as well. No rules apply.
What I mean by this is that I have never in my life been treated like more of a sub-human being than when I work at Chick-fil-A. With their agendas and their children on leashes, shoppers set their shopping bags on the counter and treat the person taking their order as if they are talking to a robot. Orders are barked, smiles are replaced by scowls, mistakes are unforgiven, extras and exceptions are demanded. It is nuts.
But the worst part of it is, you are helpless to counter any of this ruthless behavior. If you scowl and use as few words as possible to respond to them, you not only provoke them to more anger, but you are given a "talking to" by your boss who wants to make sure you are preserving the company image, or some (probably absolutely true and neccessary) nonsense. If you smile and act on your best behavior, you feel like an idiot and like even more of a suck-up.
Essentially, I get daily practice to turn the other cheek. So I suppose it's not a complete loss...
Has anyone else witnessed this phenomenon? Maybe in your line of work of some other experience? I'd love to know I'm not making this up.
Peace Like A River (Enger) – A novel about a boy’s childhood under atypical circumstances. It took me awhile to sit down and get through it, but the end was incredible and beautiful in a way I never expected, which really brought it home for me. Definitely recommended summer fiction. (8)
The Four Loves (Lewis) – Lewis discussed four aspects of human love—Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity. I feel like he presented a lot of insights and reminded me how I do not love people well, how people deserve to be loved, and what love really looks like. I especially loved his chapter on Friendship, and also the chapter on Charity. If you love people or are loved by anyone (your mother counts), you should check this out at least once. I feel as though I will want to reference it as circumstances change throughout my life, and I seek to learn to love people in new and different ways. (7)-------------------------------------------------------
And other thoughts...
I have worked at ChickfilA for five years now, on and off. I remember like yesterday my fourteen-year-old self interviewing and being hired, and starting my first few days. I remember learning how to be an employee, how to balance fun and productivity in the workplace. It's crazy how time flies.
The Chick-fil-A I have consistently worked at is located in the food court of Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa. So naturally, after so many years being in the mall on a regular basis, I, of course, have been an avid observer of "mall people."
All I can say is, mall people are strange. I don't just mean the trench-coated, black lipstick-wearing, dog collar mall people who literally seem to spend 24 hours a day inside the mall trading Pokemon cards and talking Anime. I mean just about every single patron of the mall seems to transform the moment they step through those swinging glass doors. They stop being your neighbor, your teacher, your fellow church member. They forget who they are, that they are human, that other humans exist, and that you, in your red & black uniform behind the counter and register, are human as well. No rules apply.
What I mean by this is that I have never in my life been treated like more of a sub-human being than when I work at Chick-fil-A. With their agendas and their children on leashes, shoppers set their shopping bags on the counter and treat the person taking their order as if they are talking to a robot. Orders are barked, smiles are replaced by scowls, mistakes are unforgiven, extras and exceptions are demanded. It is nuts.
But the worst part of it is, you are helpless to counter any of this ruthless behavior. If you scowl and use as few words as possible to respond to them, you not only provoke them to more anger, but you are given a "talking to" by your boss who wants to make sure you are preserving the company image, or some (probably absolutely true and neccessary) nonsense. If you smile and act on your best behavior, you feel like an idiot and like even more of a suck-up.
Essentially, I get daily practice to turn the other cheek. So I suppose it's not a complete loss...
Has anyone else witnessed this phenomenon? Maybe in your line of work of some other experience? I'd love to know I'm not making this up.
2009/05/12
Things I will Not Miss About Living in the Dorms
While all Freshmen at OU are required to live in the campus dormitories their first year, many students choose to move into off-campus housing after completing this requirement. A small number choose to remain living in the dorms; a few become Resident Advisors in order to reap the benefits and fulfill a desire to leave a larger impact on incoming classes.
With the financial weight of my college education being nearly exclusively on my shoulders, I made the decision halfway through my Freshman year to enroll in the R.A. Training class in order to become "certified" to apply to be a Resident Advisor, and fulfill both of the aforementioned goals of this position. After taking the class, interviewing, and being offered a job, an application for a similar position at Sooner Housing Center (commonly known as "the athletic dorms") was accepted and I decided to take the job there.
So after two years of living in dorms, and having considerably different experiences both years, here is a list of things that were not the best about living in the dorms, and I will not be sad to leave behind.
12) Flights of stairs.
11) Paper thin walls which make it possible for EVERYTHING to be heard.
10) Food produced in bulk. Aka cafeteria food. 'Nuff said.
9) Fire drills. Also, fire alarms set off by overcooked popcorn, or (actual scenario) overcooked brownie.
8) Having to use a swipe card to swipe in.
7) Having to use a swipe card to swipe out.
6) Being locked in your building because you can't find your stupid swipe card you need to swipe out when you're already running late for class.
5) Fighting for parking spots in parking lots that are still considerably far away from your door.
4) Having a room so small that one item on the floor makes the whole room look like a disaster.
3) Being advised to lock your bedroom door because your hallmates might steal from you.
2) Showers with only two possible settings: a showerhead with no water pressure that is a comfortable temperature, or a showerhead with adequate water pressure that scalds you.
1) Wearing shoes in the shower.
Freshman year was a great experience. I loved my room, my roommate, my friends, the thrill of everything unknown about college life that I was getting able to discover.
But living in the dorms a second time has felt like being a freshman again, only lacking the things that made it great.
Living in a dorm room by yourself sounds like it could be fun, but it's amazing how you can live on a floor with 30 other girls and still "live" completely alone.
Yes, dormitories, you have been okay. I am pretty ready to bid you a not-so-tearful goodbye.
With the financial weight of my college education being nearly exclusively on my shoulders, I made the decision halfway through my Freshman year to enroll in the R.A. Training class in order to become "certified" to apply to be a Resident Advisor, and fulfill both of the aforementioned goals of this position. After taking the class, interviewing, and being offered a job, an application for a similar position at Sooner Housing Center (commonly known as "the athletic dorms") was accepted and I decided to take the job there.
So after two years of living in dorms, and having considerably different experiences both years, here is a list of things that were not the best about living in the dorms, and I will not be sad to leave behind.
12) Flights of stairs.
11) Paper thin walls which make it possible for EVERYTHING to be heard.
10) Food produced in bulk. Aka cafeteria food. 'Nuff said.
9) Fire drills. Also, fire alarms set off by overcooked popcorn, or (actual scenario) overcooked brownie.
8) Having to use a swipe card to swipe in.
7) Having to use a swipe card to swipe out.
6) Being locked in your building because you can't find your stupid swipe card you need to swipe out when you're already running late for class.
5) Fighting for parking spots in parking lots that are still considerably far away from your door.
4) Having a room so small that one item on the floor makes the whole room look like a disaster.
3) Being advised to lock your bedroom door because your hallmates might steal from you.
2) Showers with only two possible settings: a showerhead with no water pressure that is a comfortable temperature, or a showerhead with adequate water pressure that scalds you.
1) Wearing shoes in the shower.
Freshman year was a great experience. I loved my room, my roommate, my friends, the thrill of everything unknown about college life that I was getting able to discover.
But living in the dorms a second time has felt like being a freshman again, only lacking the things that made it great.
Living in a dorm room by yourself sounds like it could be fun, but it's amazing how you can live on a floor with 30 other girls and still "live" completely alone.
Yes, dormitories, you have been okay. I am pretty ready to bid you a not-so-tearful goodbye.
2009/05/09
Dread and Delight are Friends
Today is May the 9th.
We have only one week of school remaining.
For the last several weeks I have been anticipating the glorious moment when I will step out of my last final exam and breathe that welcome sigh of relief we are all so happily familiar with. My classes this semester have been sub par, and as far as course material is concerned, I've been fairly unimpressed, and am happy to move on to bigger and better things (famous last words...).
However, these feelings of blithe anticipation have been simultaneously tainted by a subtle sense of uncertainty and borderline dread. This dread has showed its ugly head in reminding me that in the next two weeks, the people I spend daily time with will be out of my life for nearly three months.
Last summer, I spent time in Tulsa. I was eager to return home after my first year at school in order to revive relationships from high school that had been neglected while I was away, and spend some time with my family and others in town whom I had missed. What I found was that my friends from high school were either spending the summer out of town or had made other friends or other plans and were no longer around. My friends from college were at various places, namely, Camp Wabanna and Norman, and my family had a life that existed independently of mine that they were all busy keeping up.
Last summer, I was exceedingly lonely about 90% of the time.
After spending a semester in pretty nearly daily fellowship and community with friends who love and support me so faithfully, I am feeling that a summer under similar circumstances as last year will be even more painfully lonesome. While I will have some friends in town (Justin, I have not forgotten you) I am not ignorant of the fact that many of my closest friends will be away, and that even Justin and I will have some trouble finding things to keep us entertained all summer.
So what do I do? Do I get two jobs and work 60 hours a week? Do I make an effort to make friends with people I know I will not be around in 3 months?
Just smile all the time--that's How to fight Loneliness.
So, as I take my exams, I am torn between my desire to be delighted to be finished with French and five hour classes, and the desire to slow down time so that things I love can stay as they are.
I have a lot to look forward to post-summer that is exciting to think about. I do not usually warm up to change immediately, but I know that I will adapt. And life will be fine. And God will still be God, and will still be good. My friends will still be my friends. Summer has the potential to teach me a lot.
My summer project is to make my blog posts shorter.
We have only one week of school remaining.
For the last several weeks I have been anticipating the glorious moment when I will step out of my last final exam and breathe that welcome sigh of relief we are all so happily familiar with. My classes this semester have been sub par, and as far as course material is concerned, I've been fairly unimpressed, and am happy to move on to bigger and better things (famous last words...).
However, these feelings of blithe anticipation have been simultaneously tainted by a subtle sense of uncertainty and borderline dread. This dread has showed its ugly head in reminding me that in the next two weeks, the people I spend daily time with will be out of my life for nearly three months.
Last summer, I spent time in Tulsa. I was eager to return home after my first year at school in order to revive relationships from high school that had been neglected while I was away, and spend some time with my family and others in town whom I had missed. What I found was that my friends from high school were either spending the summer out of town or had made other friends or other plans and were no longer around. My friends from college were at various places, namely, Camp Wabanna and Norman, and my family had a life that existed independently of mine that they were all busy keeping up.
Last summer, I was exceedingly lonely about 90% of the time.
After spending a semester in pretty nearly daily fellowship and community with friends who love and support me so faithfully, I am feeling that a summer under similar circumstances as last year will be even more painfully lonesome. While I will have some friends in town (Justin, I have not forgotten you) I am not ignorant of the fact that many of my closest friends will be away, and that even Justin and I will have some trouble finding things to keep us entertained all summer.
So what do I do? Do I get two jobs and work 60 hours a week? Do I make an effort to make friends with people I know I will not be around in 3 months?
Just smile all the time--that's How to fight Loneliness.
So, as I take my exams, I am torn between my desire to be delighted to be finished with French and five hour classes, and the desire to slow down time so that things I love can stay as they are.
I have a lot to look forward to post-summer that is exciting to think about. I do not usually warm up to change immediately, but I know that I will adapt. And life will be fine. And God will still be God, and will still be good. My friends will still be my friends. Summer has the potential to teach me a lot.
My summer project is to make my blog posts shorter.
2009/05/03
J'ai lu, Avril 2009
Well, it finally happened. My laziness got the best of me and I did not even get close to meeting my goal this month. However, I'm still feeling pretty confident in myself and have not begun questioning my identity, so I think we will survive this. I'll try to redeem myself by reading extra in May. We'll see if that happens.
**Side Note: I would like to say that I think a large portion of my April reading time was transferred into time spent with my friends (you know who you are). I am very comfortable with this trade off.**
The Glass Castle (Walls) – A memoir of the author’s childhood and her family’s interactions as they lived a life you can hardly believe is true. It is not an exaggeration to say they put the “fun” in dysfunctional. A truly unbelievable but powerful perspective on a lifestyle that will make you thankful for the normality you enjoy. (9)
Ultimate Punishment (Turow) – My criminal justice class encouraged us to read this. A lawyer takes an in-depth look into the death penalty controversy and especially the role it has played in the state of Illinois. He deals with the question, “Is the risk of sending an innocent man to his death worth the benefit of killing a guilty criminal?” Interesting and thought provoking. (7)
Concise Theology (Packer) – I know we studied this in Relish this semester together, but seeing as we finished it this month, it makes it on the April list. My opinion of Packer was positive, but I wish the book had been laid out differently. Packer goes surface level on a lot of different topics. I wish he had gone deeper on not as many topics. As it is, Packer gives you a taste of many different issues of Systematic Theology, and leaves it up to you to investigate those issues further. (6)
I've got some great stuff in my stack for this month, so start looking forward to May reviews.
Currently obsessed with: Gmail and Edith Piaf.
This month in music I like Sherree Chamberlain, some of the new Gavin Degraw album, and classic favorites like Patty Griffin, Damien Rice, and John Mayer.
The Katie Tracy Band saw a fancy lot of showtime this month. As a principal member is graduating, watch for the Band to be evolving in the next few months. Get your autographs now...
**Side Note: I would like to say that I think a large portion of my April reading time was transferred into time spent with my friends (you know who you are). I am very comfortable with this trade off.**
The Glass Castle (Walls) – A memoir of the author’s childhood and her family’s interactions as they lived a life you can hardly believe is true. It is not an exaggeration to say they put the “fun” in dysfunctional. A truly unbelievable but powerful perspective on a lifestyle that will make you thankful for the normality you enjoy. (9)
Ultimate Punishment (Turow) – My criminal justice class encouraged us to read this. A lawyer takes an in-depth look into the death penalty controversy and especially the role it has played in the state of Illinois. He deals with the question, “Is the risk of sending an innocent man to his death worth the benefit of killing a guilty criminal?” Interesting and thought provoking. (7)
Concise Theology (Packer) – I know we studied this in Relish this semester together, but seeing as we finished it this month, it makes it on the April list. My opinion of Packer was positive, but I wish the book had been laid out differently. Packer goes surface level on a lot of different topics. I wish he had gone deeper on not as many topics. As it is, Packer gives you a taste of many different issues of Systematic Theology, and leaves it up to you to investigate those issues further. (6)I've got some great stuff in my stack for this month, so start looking forward to May reviews.
Currently obsessed with: Gmail and Edith Piaf.
This month in music I like Sherree Chamberlain, some of the new Gavin Degraw album, and classic favorites like Patty Griffin, Damien Rice, and John Mayer.
The Katie Tracy Band saw a fancy lot of showtime this month. As a principal member is graduating, watch for the Band to be evolving in the next few months. Get your autographs now...
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