October Reflections ....

It has been a crazy month (like usual) and I thought I would take a few moments to share some of what happened ...

FALL RETREAT

The very first weekend of October was spent at a somewhat local camp with a bunch of Cru kids for our fall retreat. It was an awesome opportunity to get to know some of the fabulous freshmen who have been getting involved.

The speaker, Dave Patchin, taught on Colossians and it was just really straightforward but awesome stuff about the practicalities of living for Christ. I think the most personally impactful thing he spoke on was when he was talking about 3:13-14 and he talked about the importance of waiting for God to start the work and then jumping on the bandwagon - i.e. we don't have to be the ones fixing people even if we are an influential tool in how God goes about addressing things in their life.

ART CRIT

One of the two classes I have to take this semester is my intensive writing class, art critisim. Although sometimes I feel that it perpetuates the snobbishness that it is really easy for artists to fall into, I definately feel that it has been an area leading to a lot of growth for me. I am realizing that I am a very global thinker and the structure of the class is one that lets me make the broad connections between things like how art can change a place for the better, how rehumanization can happen, and how God's love for the world can be expressed in powerful ways through art ... this happens in snippets all over the place, but one thing that really brought this to the forefront for me was watching a film about an artist in Detriot who has literally transformed his nieghborhood through these crazy pieces of art he has made. Already I feel the Heidelberg Project meanadering around in my head, looking for a point to break out an apply.

SAVANNAH

Was a really great week, hard sometimes but great. Of course seeing Courtney was wonderful beyond all reason, but it was also good to get yet another taste of what my life may look like if I am able to go on staff with CCC like Chris and I are planning (even if it is not at SCAD).

STARBUCKS

I still absolutely love my job. Some days it is harder than others and I am definately still trying to figure a lot of things out. I love my co-workers, all of them really even though I may have some pretty substaintailly different worldviews. I am just incredibly thankful to have the job and work environment I have (even when I don't always feel like being there)

METRO

The once monthly metros are almost always a highlight - in part because it is a chance to see Kelly Lee (who has been one of my deepest friends since coming from from East Asia over a year ago). This month one of the staff kids talked about the importance of discipleship and what that looks like. Although it was stuff I have been exposed to before, refreshers are always nice.

HALLOWEEN

This is the first holiday since starting at starbucks. Since halloween has not really been a big deal to me in a long time (I haven't celebrated it in years) I didn't think I would mind working ... well less than half-way through my shift I was really bummed about being at work versus being with my friends (which doesn't really boad well for Thanksgiving and Christmas which I also have to work). I was totally blown away with happiness when a huge group of my friends moved their party literally to me (even though I still had to be working so I couldn't do much more than exchange a few quick words periodically). It made me feel super valued.

All in all it was a good month ....