Retreat

“I have been a selfish being all my life, in practise, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son, (for many years an only child) I was spoilt by my parents, who though good themselves (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared to my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were alll my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.”
Pride and Prejudice

Something about this passage always made me smile. Perhaps it is the power that someone’s character can have on another person, or how people really are able to change. Darcy’s vanity was engrained in him from a young age, and his acquaintance with Elizabeth abolished all of his past conceptions. He stopped looking only at himself, and worked to try to please another. The last like gets me every time though: ‘You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.’ I remember reading this passage to the Jr High girls on the Twin Pines retreat, and they kind of just stared at me, totally lost in what I was saying. I continued to explain this in simpler terms, and I began to hear ‘awes’ and ‘that’s sooo sweet!’ and ‘I like him!’ It makes me want to strive to be one of those women worthy to be pleased.

Anywho, the retreat was definitely an experience. Never had I been around so many pre-teenagers for such a long period of time. Seth gave me the group of 6th grade girls, which I was very thankful for, since I had previously taught them in Sunday school. Little Natalie, Jessica, Christi, Katy, and Halle are the silliest and cutest little girls I have ever known. One girl I was immensely proud of was Anastasia. I believe she is in 8th grade, but she was in my room, and she is the opposite of the 6th grade girls. She is quiet, reserved, [wears the coolest clothes!] and is always reading. We bonded on the bus, and read together, while all of the other girls were being crazy. I give her a lot of credit for roughing it in our room, since she is so different from the other girls, and does not have many friends in youth group. She still continues to come despite these things, so I know God is working in her life.

The trip itself was a success- there was a good amount of snow there, so everyone bonded by sledding! It was a great time, and I saw a lot of kids that previously had not known eachother getting along, sledding, and sharing sleds and tubes. Dan was up from Columbia and came to talk to the kids. He talked about encouraging words, and how what we say can either be from God [by building others up] or from Satan [by shutting people down and hurting their feelings]. The kids seemed pretty receptive to it, although their attention span is basically zero. It was great to see the kids working together in group activities and encouraging others. In my daily reading, I came across Colossians 2:2-3 and it really hit home with what the kids were being taught over the weekend. And so, I copied the passage onto 6 pieces of paper to give to each of the girls, to remind them of what they had been taught.

“This is what I have asked of God for you: that you will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of Love, and that you will have the rich experience of knowing God and Christ with clear understanding.”
Colossians 2:2-3

I hope that this weekend taught the kids how important our words are. In James 3, the tongue is described as a bit in a horse, or the small rudder of a ship- that little piece has the ability to direct and move a horse or a large ship, even though it is so minute in comparison. In the same way, the way we use our tongue and the words we say are powerful. Dan said “God’s words are powerful, and we are made in God’s image, so our words are powerful.” This is true, especially in the junior highers’ lives right now. Middle school was the worst time of my life, basically, and the encouraging words I received then made a substantial difference in the way I viewed myself and my attitude. How can blessings and cursings come out of the same mouth? In the same way, we must think before we speak, allowing the things we feel and say build others up. In this way, people will know we are God’s disciples.

“A new command I give you: Love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35

If we love others, we will want to say words of encouragement and hope.

Here are a few photos from the retreat:

back to reality

It’s been a very long time, but I’ve realized that writing here is probably more useful than posting in Facebook or simply keeping my thoughts in my journal under my bed.

“…And this is the secret: that Christ in your hearts is your only hope of Glory.
So everywhere we go we talk about Christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as we know. We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what Christ has done for each of them.
This is my work, and I can only do it because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me.”
-Colossians 1:27-29

I suppose I read this passage while in Florida because I remember underlining it, but unfortunately had forgotten what Paul had said.  Paul is describing the purpose and passion of all Christians – no matter the time frame or location, nor one’s race, sex, status in society, etc. – Evangelizing and sharing Christ with everyone we come in contact with.

To be a beacon of light for all to see, just as described in Matthew:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. [Matthew 5:14-16]

Who hides a candle under a bowl or under a lampshade so that no one can see it? The point of the candle is to diffuse light throughout a space so one can see!

And what’s driving us? ‘We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what CHRIST HAS DONE.’ This involves nothing one has done on one’s own, but Christ alone. We work to help others see how destitute and sinful we are without accepting Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.

Thank you God for being unchanging. I know I am at Stony Brook to be a missionary for you. While I’m not over in the Congo or the busy cities in India, there is so much one can do in one’s backyard. Thank you for forgiving me for my constant and daily forthcomings.

“I have carried you since you were born;
I have taken care of you from your birth.
Even when you are old, I will be the same.
Even when your hair has turned gray,
I will take care of you.
I made you and will take care of you.“

-Isaiah 46:3-4

unchanging. Thank you for your promises