I have a friend named God...

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15

I've been on a journey of really desiring to know God intimately. This means letting Him consistently be for me, what I've so deeply sought and desired from others around me. This isn't a very easy task. Like this simple concept of what it means to be God's friend.

Now, I don't know about you, but I've had many different kind of friends in my life. Friends that are fair weathered. Friends that are of convenience. Friends that are of practicality. Friends that are from school. Friends that are from church. Friends that I've met during my travels. Friends that are like sisters. Friends that are like brothers. Friends that are like fathers. Friends that are like mothers.

All of these relationships, indicate differing levels of closeness and connection. And because each of these have held for me different kinds of experiences; joy filled, sorrow filled, filled with acceptance, filled with compassion, filled with indifference, filled with intimacy, filled with stress, etc. When I try and really know what kind of friend God wants to be for me...I struggle.

Rice a Roni

I'm currently making Rice-a-Roni. Yep, the San Francisco Treat! Hopefully it goes well. I have about 14 to 18 min while it simmers to kinda think over my day and process some of what's gone on.

Since our May 1st deadline just past this weekend, work was pretty light today. For those of you who don't know, in the admissions business, May 1st is a pretty huge deal because it's the last day that all college applicants have to let their colleges of choice know they're coming. I had a few phone calls, some emails, and some more calls.

Because of the light heartedness of the office, I've had some time to think more about Oman. I leave in T-Minus 28 days! I'm more than excited for the team and for those we will befriend when during our time. To does: Continued Fundraising and Purchasing Clothes! Although today I ran into a girlfriend who went last year and she said I could borrow her skirts! Whoohoo!

Last night we had a training session, that was pretty great for life in general. We learned two main things: Identifying People of Peace and Telling a 1.5 Minute Testimony. So things on my to do list now are to work on my testimony and pray for these dear friends we will meet. I know God will lead and direct and am excited for what's to come!

Ready, set, I do

I know , I know...I haven't written in a while. I stopped because I really hadn't felt anything really extraordinaire to write about. News Flash thanks to a Henri Nouwen post, I don't have to be really original or thought provoking...I just have to be willing to share more of myself. So, I'll try.

I've been thinking a lot about love and marriage more recently. A lot of random emotions have come along with this process...I'll save you those details...and kinda just roll with what I've really been musing over more recently...

First, one of the main reasons for this, is because a lot of my close friends have discovered that their love is meant for marriage and are tying the knot this summer. And because studying people and asking lots and lots of questions have always intrigued me...I've had lots of opportunity to observe.

In our Western culture, we have the luxury of picking our mates and deciding when "we are ready" to engage in a covenant that's supposed to last forever. Lucky us right?! Now I all know that this isn't really the case for most marriages when we look at statistics, but that's the hope right? I also know that sometimes some people marry for convenience, or status, or even looks, but that hasn't really been my experience. You know based on that very small focus group, which include the aforementioned couples and adult married couples with whom I'm close"ish".

Honestly, I think I'm more uncertain about how one knows they're ready to be married. I'm sure there are tons of books and lots of authorities on the issue, but really, how do you define readiness?

You can love someone deeply and know for certain of their commitment (because it's so much more than a feeling) and still not be ready.

You can have all the ideal ducks in a row: education finished, finances in order, soul searching completed, all wild oats sown, all the relationship experience in the world...and really still not be ready.

You can be 30+, well established, and well-connected and dating seriously and still not be ready.

I really think I'm gonna need a lot more time to observe and come to a conclusion on this one. This may need to be the thing I need to experience first hand in order to "really know".

Because if there's one thing I have really taken note of each of the couples I've encountered. While their time lines on marriage are all kind of similar, their relationships all look so very different...they're different...and they all just kinda knew...they were ready.