Cappuccino Casualty!

My tiny little baby story is that I spilled my coffee on myself this morning.  I was so excited the barrista added a fourth shot on the house!  And then I reached for a sleeve and tipped the cup.  I think that last shot hit the road, or counter top.  *sigh*  And to add insult to injury, my jacket sleeve also received much coffee lovin'.  I now smell quite, um, delicious!  Almost like a grande, nonfat, 2 raw sugar, quad-shot cappuccino!  Jealous?

And just so there's no confusion, the model cup in the photos is my water glass-no coffee present!

Retreat!

The word retreat is an interesting one, the idea of drawing back or away...  I feel that way with different things in my life.  

Sometimes its a needed thing, like when my priorities are unbalanced.  Then it becomes a good thing to lighten my grip and to back off what I was so intent on, or so consumed by.  

And then when I look at the idea of taking a retreat for Spiritual reasons...  Initially the two ideas don't seem to go together.  I look at a retreat as a time of making a connection of God, of building the relationship, of resting and growing.  And then there is the sense I have that people who go on retreats are super-spiritual and get God-things I'll never understand.  Those people intimidate me.  

But then I realize that by choosing to leave my regular life behind for a little bit to commune with God really is retreat.  It's the decision to back away from a lifestyle that has perhaps gotten too busy or too filled with things of temporal value.  And when I look at how God can draw me in that time, well, there's nothing to scary about that-or even super-spiritual!

This past weekend I was able to go on a silence and solitude retreat.  I thought I was too busy to go, and was dreading it.  Plus it was for class and I didn't want to spend the weekend with classmates I barely knew.  

Let me just affirm that this time beat my expectations hands down.  God was there.  I experienced His Presence in a way I have not in a while.  This came at such a needed time as well.  My life really isn't so smooth right now, nor is it in most people's lives that I know.  God is up to something and none of us know what it is, but we're in it!  So this pause from that stress was a blessing.  I came away from this weekend with the knowledge that God did something amazing in my life.  I have a hard time describing it, but it happened.  Nothing flashy or TV-evangelist-in-your-face, but more gently, more humbly.  Like the way the Saviour of the Universe came to earth quietly and started human life in the manger of an tiny, unknown locale.  Humble and unassuming.  Yet mysterious and powerful.  

I feel like I have the sparkle-dust-glow of that God-encounter on me still.  Which is good since I'm back in the real world.  My problems didn't go away at all, but now I can approach them from a different perspective.  A better one.  One where God is involved and I know it.

I plan on taking more retreats now.  Before I didn't get it, I didn't see the value really.  But now I do.  I hope you can experience this as well.  I know a good spot if you need a recommendation!

Personal Preferences

Today as I was studying (and thank goodness the room isn't crowded with chattering undergrads, I find the chattering to be counterproductive for my study habits!) I happened upon a realization:  I'm set in my ways.  

I had to sit at a table I wouldn't normally sit at because my 3 top choices were taken.  Later as my favorite spot opened up I rushed right over and claimed it!  Plugged in my laptop, spread out my things, set my bag in the second chair-that spot was MINE!  Interestingly enough I find I've been able to study better because of it :)

But then this thought was really driven home when I went to the restroom.  I walked down the hall and discovered the whole entire restroom was empty!  So I got to choose whatever stall struck my fancy.  I walked down the row and found my favorite stall-and that's when I stopped.

 I have a favorite bathroom stall?  Oh yes, I do!  It changes from restroom to restroom, usually depends on lighting (who wants to get into a small, DARK stall?  That's uncomfortable.  Scary.  Weird.).  The more I thought about (because what else would I do when washing my hands?) the more I realized I do this all the time.  I sit in the same chair in 3 of my 5 classes, but in the same area of the remaining 2 classes.  If you want to find me at Resonate, you'll be able to track me down on the right hand side a couple rows from the front.  If I get in my car, I'd better be in the driver's seat.  When I park at church, school, or Target, or Starbucks I'll be drawn to the same area usually.  I have a little more flexibility at Barnes & Noble, but there are some places I want to sit, and others I definitely don't want to inhabit...

What about you guys?  Any creatures of habit out there besides me?

Modern Designer Furniture and The White Person

This week I heard about a book that was given to one of my friends called something like "What White People Like."  I'll have to check into that again.  Anyway, that in itself was a little amusing because this friend isn't white, but his friends say he's the whitest person they know...  

Yesterday the book was waiting for me, and I flipped through it this morning.  *Realization-I'm probably pretty white!*  

One of the qualifiers was the obsession with Modern furniture designed by classic architects.  The chairs are not to be referred to as "chairs," but by their proper name, which usually in some way works the architects name into it...  For the untrained, if you walk into this person's house, you can identify the piece by its uncomfortable appearance.  If you do not recognize it then you can ask who designed it.  You can then in turn spout off about your anticipation of acquiring (insert any well-known architect's name here) splendid and sculptural chair.  If they're familiar with it, your estimation goes up in their eyes and they'll nod appreciatively.  And if they don't know it, they'll still nod-and go home to look up said architect and their furniture designs!  

Coming from a background in architecture I find this to be so true!  I can vividly remember when fellow architects I knew would acquire a special piece.  We stood around it reverently, admiring the lines, the quality, the sophistication and beauty...  The chair can be an idol for architects-I'll just leave it at that.  I'm pretty sure there was something pretty close to worship going on with those chairs!

Above are a few of my personal favorites.  The white "La Chaise", designed by Eames, is my hands down favorite, although I love the "Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge" and the Wassily chair is a close third!  These can be yours for about $1850-$8500 depending on which one you want. 

*sigh*  

Maybe it'll be a little while longer before I get my own "La Chaise"...

I need a title...

Lately it seems like I look around and see nothing but heartaches, challenges, and difficulties all over!  Doom and gloom style.  I get the sense these days that my "who I am when no one looks" person is delving more and more into negativity...  Uh oh!  

What?!

I'm an optimist though!  This down and out aspect to my life is unwanted...except that it helps me grow.  Rats, there's that optimism coming through again!

I still see beauty in life.  I can still appreciate the creativity in things I see and know gladness that I experience God-given pleasure.  I know that at the core of everything God is still the King of the Universe and in control.  In the chaos God is still there.  

Is it just me, or am I on a theme these past few weeks?!  I'm ready to have different thoughts that I blog about...  Maybe it's time to pay closer attention to those creative, light-hearted things I come across.  :)

Something to work on-and post!

(And maybe it'll even be something with a picture!)