Sometimes, plans are not so great. I much prefer ideas to plans myself, especially detailed, long-term, where-am-i-going-with-my-life plans. If I put much stock in plans, I would still want to be a firefighter (age 8), pilot (age 14) or an architect (age 17). Now I can see that I really wouldn’t be much good as any of these. Seriously. I much prefer to make fires, I’ve always been uneasy with heights, and I’m not great at drawing (or math for that matter).
However, sometimes plans are WONDERFUL. Ever come into a new job where they tell you a very general idea of what you’re supposed to do, and just leave you on the proverbial curb with a ton of responsibility and no guidance? That was a little bit like my summer job as a pool manager. A plan is a really helpful thing at that point! I ended off the year by putting together the document I wished I had received at the beginning of the summer: a manual that spells out how things have worked in the past at the Roanoke Pool. Hopefully it will be useful to whomever gets it next.
So what’s the point? Plans are made, and plans are changed, plans are bent and plans are broken and plans are fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams. I think I’m figuring out that plans are neither good nor bad. They can be helpful, but they are not unfailing. Use em, but place your faith elsewhere. And keep some humor in your life to help when plans go awry!
To end, here’s a little bitty piece of a plan. A very important plan. Goshen College’s crisis management plan, actually. Even in something as important as this, you should keep your sense of humor.
More pictures since the last one, featuring an indie concert, the British Museum, riding the Tube, and today’s daytrip to Salisbury and Avebury. Photos below…
13.5 hours of sleep does a body real good! So does a large english breakfast, which consists of bacon, egg, a stange (but good) sausage, beans, cooked tomato, toast, and tea or coffee. After that amazing start to the day, we got to work burnning off those Calories with another, larger tour of the city. Today’s tour got us used to the London Underground (the subway system), and we visited many of the venues and sites that we’ll ned to find later for mandatory performances.
My group (music) visited Barbican’s Centre, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tate Modern, The National Theatre, Westminster, and The Royal Opera House. Other exciting occurances were witnessing my first May Day celebration (and first time talking with Communitsts), getting the hang of the Tube (there seems to be 3x the number of lines as the Chicago L), and exploring some more of our neigborhood by myself afterwards.
Having been on Study-Service Term in Senegal this time last year, I keep trying to relate these experiences with those past ones. However, I think I’m slowly learning to just take things as they come, one day (and step) at a time.
((Pictures will come as soon as I get access to a computer which enjoys my camera!))
I don’t know really what to say, other than it’s been a ride. Many of my friends dubbed it “the semester from hell.” It wasn’t that for me, but it was very different than any other semester. Partly because of my new major (communications). Partly because… well honestly I don’t know why. But it was different.
What am I happy about? Got an A in my animation class. The following is my final project…
What else am I really happy about? For Comm 312 (Broadcast Media Production 2) I had to do a final film project, either action sequence or music video. After flirting with the music video idea, I decided that an action sequence was the better route to go. The final product, titled Markers, is something I’m very happy to show off to the world. Please note the HD version!
What’s next? Well, as I type, I’m also packing up all my things for an early move-out. In less than 48 hours I will be traveling with 45 other students to London for the Arts in London may-term class. 30 days in London taking in theatre, music, and art, and going to all the little rock shows that I can find! I’ll be blogging for the official Goshen London blog at www.goshen.edu, I’ll probably post excerpts and pictures here as we go. Wish me luck!
You just got tagged in your friend’s Facebook note, “25 random things about me!” Now you’re considering it.
Well here’s a random fact about that random list: according to Facebook, in the past week, over 5 million people have forwarded this note, with over 125 million facts and counting.
I would love to see some statistical analysis on the contents of the notes, looking at counts of key words or phrases. Just for kicks.
I almost kind of miss the daily announcements over the intercom. I had those from Kindergarden all the way through 12th grade. Such a good way to start the day, and I can still say the Pledge of Allegience just the way Marsha did in elementary school.
The real reason for the post is that I want to throw out an announcement or two from my life that I don’t think I’ve said to many people. **drum roll please** ***provides drum roll***
I’m a communications major. More specifically, I flip-flopped my major and minor. I’m a generalist communications major (except still focusing in audio/video) with a youth ministry minor.
Kathryn is back on this continent. Joy! (those of you who know me will know the full and complete emotion I put behind that simple word ‘joy’)
Ummm… I’m not sure of another announcement to make. This is the part of the announcements where they’d give sports scores and congratulations to people.
This is the part where they’d tell you the birthdays for today
This is then the final part where everyone “please rise, and face the flag for the pledge of allegiance…” (and in elementary school, if it was your birthday, you got to lead everyone over the intercom! Excitement!)
“And now for the time when I show you what sorts of exciting things are right here under our very noses. It’s Show And Tell From The MHL. I have lots of things here today, most of which have nothing to do with what we’re talking about, but they’re still exciting anyways!…” *jdr grin*
“I often think that baby-church-growth is just as important and under-appreciated as evangelism-church-growth. Baby-church-growth, or as I like to call it, ‘bedroom evangelism…’” *rampant laughter and jdr grin*
“Why don’t we take communion more often as Mennonites? I know it’s a flawed analogy, but if you’re married, why would you have sex only twice a year?” *laughter and jdr grin*
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven…
This passage of the well known Lord’s Prayer should be a little more shocking to us, make us stop and think a little more. On Earth as it is in Heaven? Really? Because most likely, in Heaven God tends to take the side of the powerless. Of the oppressed. Of the hungry. Of the disenfranchised. Of the silenced. God rescues these people. Less often does God rescue the powerful. The strongman. The mighty. The well fed. The oppressors. The rich.
Are you confident that you want this type of saving grace, this justice brought to Earth? Honestly stop and think. Which side of that line are you on? I’m no preacher, but it makes me a little nervous to read.
Are you ready to bring that kind of saving grace, that kind of justice, to the Earth??
Should I? Shouldn't I? What would be the benefit? Does anyone I know use Twitter? Isn't it the same thing as Facebook status updates?
