Blessings Blog

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" 1 John 4: 18.

Hey all! Sorry it's been a few days, I've been busy trying to take one day at a time! I've been a little under the weather, and I'm thankful for some time to rest, even if I didn't take enough of it. I'm thankful for supportive friends and family who were understanding through that time and who also had my back through my presentation at Carleton about my Cuba delegation! I'm thankful Carleton gave me that opportunity to talk about Witness for Peace's work as well as even a fraction of what I nerded out about in Cuba. And I'm thankful for some leftover tamales, courtesy of Latin American Studies, that are occupying my fridge (but not for long!).  

I'm thankful for so many opportunities to meet some of Northfield's difference-makers in my new AmeriCorps work, as I am still learning the ropes but have great resources to learn from.  

I'm thankful for my first ever contra dancing experience - it was incredible to see so much of Northfield turn out for a night of jubilant folk dancing and to learn right along with them! I was also grateful for the opportunity to have a few Carls over to my real-world house for some snacks and silly dancing. A couple years ago I never would have imagined coming out of my shell enough to want to host a party atmosphere, but I am thankful I have come to possess enough comfort in my own self to aim for respectable ridiculousness with a group of people I love and trust.  

I'm thankful for the time to drive up to my home church this morning to see their production of The Lorax. Doing inter-generational productions with my dad was a really pivotal way my church supported my involvement with arts and acting, and it was so fun to see all the little munchkins and adults alike involved this time around. I missed actually participating in one, and it was really sweet when a number of people told me I should have been in it this time around, but Northfield is where I need to be for now. And I'm just so proud too of my dad's instrumental role in recruiting production leadership as well as families to participate for this all to come together. He's the best. I'm a pretty lucky daughter. 

I'm thankful for a new friendship to keep me accountable. He asked me in all of the busy-ness and transitions in my life, what are two goals I want to focus my life path and ask God to direct me towards. Even though we do not see each other very often, he checks in with me to see my status report on if I am working for social justice related to Latin America and if I am trying to be a vessel for God's love in all that I do. I ask God to give me strength, wisdom, and peace in these endeavors, and I hope that every day I can ask myself this question or be asked by my friend, I would be able to confidently answer "yes." With my continued involvement with Witness for Peace and new Promise Fellow position, I am definitely doing social justice work related to Latin America - especially as I start working more with Latin@ students and their families on post-secondary options and how to afford them to help lift families out of the poverty cycle. I hope I walk with God's love wherever I go too!  
  
Many of my friends still at Carleton are seniors and are in the midst of a confusing time being pulled in many directions at once, with desires to spend precious time with friends in their last few months, focus enough of their energies on their senior theses, take the final few classes they are required to take and/or interested in, and also figure out where they (and possibly their significant other) are being led next in life. Some of those pieces tugging at them involve a lot of patience, especially landing a job and discerning where in the country and world they are meant to be. And if there is a significant other involved, there will inevitably be even more things to think about. I found this piece from a recent Encouragement of the Day particularly relevant for my friends who find their patience being tested, and perhaps you would also find the phrase "wait training" helpful!
"Just as physical weight training builds strength, so does spiritual 'wait training.' We are promised this in Isaiah 40:31: '... but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.'" May waiting for whatever you are in life strengthen you, and may the results of your patience be fruitful.

Also, there's nothing like unconditional love from furry animals. There just isn't. At this point in life I am not settled enough to have a pet of my own, but Carleton had a winter carnival today, and giving hugs to and petting the fluffiness of a pack of sled dogs in the sunlit, sparkling snow was basically the best thing ever. God is good.