MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude“

I’m blessed to have multiple wonderful women in my life who are great resources and share great resources. Poems and song lyrics speak to me especiallly much. Tonight in Bible study, we listened to this song…

In Exile
by Thrice

I am in exile, a sojourner
A citizen of some other place
All I’ve seen is just a glimmer in a shadowy mirror
But I know, one day well see face to face

I am a nomad, a wanderer
I have nowhere to lay my head down
There’s no point in putting roots too deep when I’m moving on
Not settling for this unsettling town

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don’t belong here, I’ll never
Call this place my home, I’m just passing through

I am a pilgrim, a voyager
I wont rest until my lips touch the shore
Of the land that I’ve been longing for as long as I’ve lived
Where they’ll be no pain or tears anymore

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don’t belong here, I’ll never
Call this place my home, I’m just passing through

Such great truth!

[And another thing: I will never forget that God's timing is perfect because I have seen evidence of it in my life (and the lives of others) over and over again. Praise God for answered prayers and a plan far greater than our own.]

I must admit. I bought this off Etsy:

Was really just too cute to pass up. I’ll use it enough. And I really love building outline drawings/products lately.

Like these:

My latest time-wasting tactic involves doodling my favorite NYC building along the bottom of my notebook page.

Found the heart of Donald Miller’s book tour talk online. Listen to it. (Follow this link, then find “Story — Donald Miller a few links down.)
I’ve found his “thesis” entering my mind over and over again.

Mark Driscoll’s got me thinking about something lately.

A debate between what is sin and what is simply unwise. Where am I lacking wisdom in my life?

And am so frequently blind to the wisdom God is sharing with me?

“The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6

Watch his sermon.

[I know there are a lot of good churches out there. But what if I could move to Seattle and go to Driscoll's Mars Hill Church? Or move to Portland and go to Donald Miller's Imago Dei Community? These thoughts come frequently with graduation coming in May.]

from Found, long ago

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Have you seen that section on Craigslist, Missed Connections? They’re weird, sad and funny. I had seen the site, then I saw Missed Connections the blog. Illustrations by Sophie Blackall of exact postings on NYC’s Missed Connections page.

They’re beautiful, though the subject matter is odd.

It’s a bit dark and sad and funny, but totally worth your time.

The story can be summarized by Max’s line: “It’s hard being a family.” To me, the underlying theme was families — those we’re born into, and those pseudo-families we form. Max follows his statement by saying, “I wish you guys [the wild things] had a mom.” Well put, because yes, it’s hard to be a good, strong family at times, but we all need moms.

I want kids like Max.

Further signs of my growing up: I’ve become enamored with pretty cake stands. I have one from my mom already, so I’m not even on the market… but look at these!

from highstreetmarket

from whitneysmith

from stylegarden

Excited for the following:

movies…

+ New York, I Love You (doesn’t look like it will be as good as Paris, Je T’Aime)

+ Where the Wild Things Are

+ An Education (I’ve been told I look like the girl in this… weird)

music…

+ The Swell Season’s ‘Strict Joy’ album

+ Ministry of Magic in concert (local(ish) “wizard rock”* band)

+ Fun. in concert (the guy from The Format formed a new band, thank goodness!)

books…

+ Her Fearful Symmetry (second from The Time Traveler’s Wife author)

+ A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

+ God’s Neighborhood (heard the author of this speak at Together for Adoption)

—-

*wizard rock: musical movement started in 2000 that consists of at least 600 bands playing songs about Harry Potter