Monday, February 8, 2010

hello world

I know I've been absent for far too long. What can I say? Sometimes the actual living of life (rather than the reflecting on it) gets the best of me. I think almost every day about writing, but I rarely think its worth sharing with others, my small, silly thoughts. So I hoard them in nifty journals and enjoy the moments of truth and love and peace that God gives me on my own. Alas, why have a blog if I don't even share my life? Silly me. Well, hopefully that will change in the new year.

One of these things that I've been hoarding to myself is how much I love God and how much God is changing me and how He is moving in this city. That's right: I'm coming out of the closet. I love Jesus and there's no stopping it. Recently, God has been showing me that I've over-intellectualized His word, and by doing that I've successfully fallen out of love with Him. But you know what He did, He romanced me and I fell in love again. Head over heels, people. It is good to find rest in God's word, rather than perceptions of failure. Grace, grace, grace.

Also, I'm feeling way better about being in the city. It is where I'm supposed to be. I have surrendered to it. I have surrendered my locality in this world to God, and He's got me here for good reason. Here is one of them: my new friend Renee is beginning an intentional community in the southern edge of Boston called C.R.E.A.T.E. (Christian Relationships Enabling A Transformative Environment). In this part of Boston, over 25% of the population falls below the poverty line. Thousands of students fill the city each year to attend some of the most elite colleges, and yet in this part of the city, only half of the children graduate from high school and fewer than 10% go to college. Crazy, right?! So, she's buying a house and inviting some students to live there, to love people and provide needed things and to hopefully share the love and light of Christ. I'm praying about joining them right now. I'm feeling pretty good about it, but it's scary to let go of comfort, of my own room, of my own schedule. I realized I probably sound pretty selfish after that statement. I'm praying that God would take away my selfishness and bring me confidence in where I live next year, wherever that is.

Oh! And this past weekend I spent at a monastery in Cambridge. It was wonderful! Single room, endless amounts of tea, reading my school books (not as cool) and Persuasion (very cool). Reading Persuasion is such a wintry thing for me, and it really came to life in the silence of the monastery. Alas, sometimes I long for the chaste courting of early 19th century England...

I apologize that this lacks my typical diction. Fare the well, world, til the next installment.

2 comments:

  1. Betsy - One of my only regrets about not going to Boston for my MDiv was that I haven't gotten a chance to get to know you better. :) I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you, and I hope to hear more about what you decide about CREATE. Keep us all posted!

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  2. There you are! If ever you doubt that someone wants to read about the minute details of your life, I promise I am always interested :)

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