A delicate wisp of lavender...

in a delectable white chocolate scone, accompanied by Ti Kuan Yin Monkey Picked Oolong Tea on a late Saturday morning at Tranquil Tea Lounge in downtown Fullerton.

Competing highlight of the day? Reading about God's plan of salvation including all of the created cosmos, not just our souls, in Howard Snyder's Kingdom, Church and World. Read just 2 chapters, had to stop so I could let the amazing truth seep into my soul--er, I mean body-soul. Being. Whatever.

Other moments:

~finding a pair of office-worthy, yet comfortable shoes that actually fit at Buffalo Exchange for $18. Wow.

~running into a $2 book by G.K. Chesterton in a new art gallery after reading local authors in indie mags.

~discovering 2 free regular events in downtown Fullerton: "Nerdy Thursdays" at Mulberry Ristorante, a variety show with live music, poetry readings...; and ArtWalk, first Friday of the month.

Thankful I could drive my mom's car today so I could access all this wonderfulness.

Limitations and longings

Limitations, longings, and what it means to honestly acknowledge both in job-searching and life-living at this particular juncture of my twenty-something life.

Any thoughts?

Beyond my circumscribed world

So, today I experienced once again the joys and wonders of public transportation. Thought it an interesting coincidence when I met a fellow passenger again on my return trip--I had met her earlier on the way "to". Anyways, she starts talking and won't stop. I debate between reading "The Externally Focused Church" and actually engaging. We wait like 20 min. for the bus, me silently hoping it'll come sooner, but to no avail. Well, I decide to invite her to church, seeing as it's on Imperial Hwy. and therefore accessible via bus. She accepts my bulletin with the address but comments that it's Father's Day; she might be busy. We exchange phone numbers.

Just now, I was reading reviews of C.S. Lewis books, and something made me think of how our world is bigger than just ourselves. And that makes me think of today--that maybe it wasn't just an coincidence that intersected Amalia's and my paths; perhaps God's trying to reach her. Which, really, isn't that much of a stretch in plausibility.

The risk of action

When we draw back from action, we are often motivated not by humility but by fear of risk. We risk so many things when we act: taking a fall, failing to achieve a goal, appearing incompetent, evoking criticism or competition or resistance or anger, or simply being ignored. But most of all, we risk exposing ourselves--selves at once strong and fragile, known and unknown--to the scrutiny of the world and, sometimes less mercifully, to the scrutiny of ourselves.

The greatest risk in action is the risk of self-revelation, and that is also action's greatest joy. No one can know us fully, not even we ourselves, but when we act, something of our inner mystery often emerges, and it can shock or delight when it does.

--Parker Palmer, The Active Life

Decisions, discernment

(Somehow, these two go together)

Thoughts, wisdom, prayers much needed and appreciated for deciding about accepting an offer to join L'Arche in Kansas--I need to decide by this Monday. I wasn't offered the case manager job that I was off-the-walls excited about, and initially wasn't excited about L'Arche, but lately am seeing the possibilities and goodness. One year commitment, with first three months probation, so doesn't feel overwhelming.

Observing at a group home tomorrow for residential counselor position. 18 month commitment. Haven't been offered the job yet.

Don't know if it's better to stay local, off to Kansas, or wait for a job in a location that draws me more, ie. Oregon.

Hoping if I go to Kansas, I can find spots of refreshing beauty, kindred spirits.

Twaddle...

...is a word. Typed it into my Word document as I wrote an experimental poem and the red squiggly lines didn't immediately appear underneath. Thought it a mistake, clicked on the thesaurus, and lo and behold, it's a bonafide word. Thus says Encarta.

Go figure.