... but look on the bright side.

a poem. by Lauren.



I had to give my speech this morning instead of Thursday ... but some kid is buying me coffee to make up for it!

The sound clips in my Thrice speech didn't work ... but some guy played Image of the Invisible on his laptop after my speech!

I forgot to make a cover page for my COM outline ... but I ran to the Mac lab and printed off a copy in time for class!

The speeches in COM were deathly boring ... but I got a candy cane!

I waited in line for an hour to register for classes ... but all of the classes I wanted to take were still open!

I had to get signatures for two of my classes ... but I got new ear buds in the mail!

I got my new ear buds stuck inside my printer (ugh, long story) ... but Haley and I got to go to all the boys' dorms to find a gentleman with a screw driver!

I went to the front desk five times trying to find the right screw driver ... but there was a guy down there that liked my Thrice t-shirt!

I spent two hours before dinner attempting to retrieve my ear buds ... but I learned that I still have over 30 meals and 100 points on my card!

They ran out of ranch dressing in the salad bar line ... but they had stuffed ice cream in the demo line! (like Coldstone!)

I have a lot of homework still to do ... but the adrenaline of the day has helped me chug through it!

The top half of my SD card went missing (um, don't ask) ... but I found it!

The Lord takes away ... but the Lord also gives and gives and gives!



the end.

the antiblog.

I used to be honest-gut honest-without fearing what people said or thought about me. When I was an underclassman in high school, I posted blogs about how much I loved God and how Satan sucked. (And I said it quite eloquently, I might add. Just kidding.)

And then I began writing makeshift poetry. As a sophomore I would collaborate songs and poems with my own words to form what I called a blog, but it was really just a collage. And as a junior and senior I began to write editorials, examining my faith versus the religion I'm taught at church and the life I tried to hide behind. I asked questions.

But now, I can't bring myself to do any of that. I am embittered, but I just argue; I am dry, but I don't cry to God. I am stale. I have forgotten how to blog.

I don't know what I spend so much time thinking about. I'm not pondering some deep philosophical question or imploring God on the great mysteries of life. I think about what people are doing. Their hairstyles. The shoes they wear.

Dear Lord, what's wrong with me? I have fallen into a routine of study, eat, sleep, watch movies (or Colbert) and sleep some more. Is this the life you have called me to?

What about teaching me to love? What about speaking your Word like Ezekiel? What happened? Who am I?



I wish I knew.

I wish I was who I thought I was a few months ago.

I wish I would die to self-will already.

I wish I could realize stuff with Amanda again.

I wish I knew what I was doing.



I'm going to keep trudging through. The beauty of a trough is that it's the lowest point--it can't dip down any farther. It's only up from here.

On to victory or underground.,

Ezek.

love.

When Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself."

We befriended the outcast.

We served at soup kitchens.

We volunteered for children's church.

We sent money oversees to Africa.

We raked our neighbor's leaves.

We tithed.



But when it comes to loving those people who are different than us ...

Who are a different religion.

Who are a different race.

Who are in a different political party.



We limit God's command.

Why have we forgotten God's calling?
"And what does the Lord require of you? To act JUSTLY and to LOVE MERCY and to walk HUMBLY with your God." Micah 6:8b



You may not like our president, but he has been chosen by God.

The same way God chose King David, Solomon, Josiah.

The same way God chose King Saul, Ahab, Manasseh.



Lose the hatred.

Start caring about what's on God's heart.



"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday. " Isaiah 58:6-10



---

It’s the desire of my heart
It’s the anthem of my birth
I love you 'til you cross the line
Then watch my faith turn into works