a promise I cling to

“Prayer is asking God to incarnate, to get dirty in your life.  Yes, the eternal God scrubs floors.  For sure we know he washes feet.  So take Jesus at his word.  Ask him.  Tell him what you want.  Get dirty.  Write out your prayer requests; don’t mindlessly drift through life on the American narcotic of busyness.  If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you.  Seize the corner of his garment and don’t let go until he blesses you.  He will reshape the day.”

{Paul Miller in “A Praying Life”}

For we do not grieve as those without hope

Those who read my birthday post on adoption may remember the story of the Watters family .

Their son,Victor, passed away early this morning and is resting in presence of Jesus.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corinnewatters

hearting the pigness of the pig

For my birthday, a friend who knows me quite well gave me this t-shirt:

It’s a true statement; I do heart the pigness of the pig.  In other words, I love the distinctiveness found in God’s creation.  When we honor, celebrate and act in light of that distinctiveness, we see God’s glory and goodness manifested.

Underlying all of my studies in agriculture and communication is the conviction that there is a particular order to his world.  Human beings, designed in the image of God, were created for intimate relationships with God and other people.  Moreover, they were designed to cultivate God’s creation in their unique vocation whether that be farming, nursing, teaching, administrating, engineering, etc.

And, along with God creating human beings with design, he also made all of creation with a unique purpose, including the pig  Pigs, cows, giraffes, sparrows, elephants, walruses, chickens…. different animals, distinctively purposed in creation.

Restoring the God-given order to the world cuts deep into our lives infecting our relationships with God, people and creation.  It’s a task that requires discernment and thoughtful action.  Yet, it’s a way of living which shows our allegiance to Jesus.  It’s a way of living which speaks to his power and his desire for God’s glory and our good.

 

Weekend Edition, #1

Sure, it’s Monday… but, as it’s Labor Day too, I feel no shame in posting my weekend edition today.

Here are a handful of things that I enjoyed this week:

I appreciated Don Miller’s tribute to J.R.R. Tolkein on the anniversary of the author’s death.

This summer, a dear friend from my childhood moved to the Philippines with her husband to build a midwifery clinic.  She recently wrote a post about her time in the Philippines up to this point.

Brett McKay at The Art of Manliness had a great article about morning and evening routines.

For those Star Wars aficionados out there, here’s a treat

Enjoy the upcoming week!

 

 

{hiking with friends on Labor Day}

sagacious

I named this blog with purpose when I initially started it a year and a half ago.

For those faithful few who’ve been dutiful in reading this weblog, you know I’ve had my writing ups and downs.  Sometimes, I write several posts a week.  Other times, you won’t hear a peep from me for months.  So sorry about the lack of consistency there.

This upcoming school year though, I’ve set a challenge for myself .  I want to blog 3 times a week.  My class schedule is wonderful as I only have 2 hours of class on Tuesday and 1 hour of class on Thursday.  The plan is to blog on those lovely days in which I have so much free time.  Here’s what it will (hopefully!) look like:

On Tuesdays, I’ll write a bit about something about food, agriculture, cooking… you get the idea.  Trust me, you won’t want to miss it

On Thursday, I’ll write about something I read during the week.  Maybe it will be an online article, a textbook, a quirky quote, a passage from a book I’m reading… who knows how you’ll be surprised???

Sometime on the weekend, I’ll share with you the things I found online during the week that humored me, made me think, kept me entertained, stirred up some good conversation, etc…

The overarching goal of this plan is to continue the quest live with joyful discernment because I want to sagaciously stroll through this life.

the semester

Well, I’m 3 days into my 3rd year of college!  What a wonderful feeling

This semester may prove to be a favorite due to classes, activities, and living situation.

Social psychology, intro to public relations, agricultural markets, writing for the mass media, quantitative methods for decision making, and entomology will fill my study time.  In addition to classes, I’m beginning work on my honors project with my professor and adviser.  It’s been fascinating/exciting to read academic literature about food insecurity, the culture centered approach, ethnography, and poverty and begin the process of designing my project.

On the extracurricular front, I’m excited to for a new semester with RUF.  Meeting new people, beginning of the semester events, Bible study– it’s good stuff.  I’m especially looking forward to building deeper relationships with the girls in the group.  God has been so gracious to give me such thoughtful, fun-loving, encouraging friends.

I’m also serving as the Social Media Chair for Purdue’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) chapter.  Tomorrow is our officers’ meeting, and no doubt, it will be lively as we plan for the new semester and discuss the direction of the club.

Finally, I’m thrilled to be living in an apartment with a dear friend.  We’re finally completely moved in and just have a two paintings to hang.  Cooking, decorating, cleaning, grocery shopping have been adventures.  My roommate and I’ve especially appreciated having room to invite friends over for meals.  Taking the space God gives one  and making it a place full of hospitality, beauty, order and contentment is an enjoyable undertaking.

As always, I’m excited to see how this semester shapes me and molds me into who God wants me to be.  It’s a sweet thing to see his work in our lives.  And I’m exceedingly grateful that he gives us a life full of laughter, joy, hard experiences, and opportunities to know him more.

summer fades, fall burgeons…

Well, what do you know?  Another school year is about to start

This week I return to my beloved college campus, settle in my apartment, and prepare for classes… my summer has ended.

For me, this summer was a very different one bringing a unique set of learning opportunities, joyful experiences and wearying moments .

I couldn’t have asked for a better work situation.  I learned a great deal and developed academically.  However, working from home and needing to drive to the office for meetings every other week or so brought its challenges.  Additionally, my classes consumed A LOT of time.  I’m grateful they’re behind me, but they wore me out.

Yet, the hardest thing about this summer wasn’t work or the classes in isolation.  Rather, it was this subtle unsettled feeling.  I never felt as if I was fully in one place.  When I was home, I found myself consumed with classes and work.  When I was on my college campus for work, I found myself thinking of family and friends at home.

Assuredly, summer did offer opportunities for rest.  Building new memories with high school friends, lots of family time, reading some good books, preparing for apartment life, swimming in the pool… all wonderful activities that made my summer feel like summer.

But the looming school year is not one I find myself dreading.  Instead, I’m (as always) excited about the new classes, the place I’m living, deepening current friendships and forging new ones. It’s always fun to dream about the memories you’ll make with folks, to ponder what the new inside jokes will be, to contemplate how you’ll be stretched and molded.  I cannot wait to live all in one place again.

Summer 2011, you were a good summer and I’m grateful you were a season of my life.

Fall 2011, I welcome you with delight… I cannot wait to see what becomes of this new beginning