Decisions, Decisions

I got accepted to IU! (Indian University, Bloomington) Now I have a lot to think about. I had a wonderful time with my friend, and I received a thorough introduction to life as a SLIS student. (School of Library and Information Sciences). Finding out that I was accepted was definitely one of the highlights. I also had a good talk with the assistant director of the Lilly Library, and I believe that I want to pursue special collections/rare books and/or archives. And, IU is probably the best school for that. There are positives and negatives, though, so I haven't decided and I'm not really leaning one way or the other right now. I'm just waiting to see if I'm accepted to the other schools. And if I get a graduate assistantship. That would be very helpful.

Touchstone

Quotes from Touchstone magazine:
"it is a perplexing theological conundrum to what extent real faith exists if the possibility of rejecting it does not exist also." James Hitchcock

"can see only fanaticism in those who believe that the natural pleasure-seeking of the human animal could actually send him to a place called "hell." S.M. Hutchens

Touchstone is an ecumenical Christian magazine that I started reading in August when I started my job. (It's one of the perks of working at a library :-) They have some interesting and thought provoking articles. I don't agree with all of them, but it still gives me an opportunity to evaluate why I do or don't agree with the author's point. The first quote comes from an article on modernity. I'm not a fan of the whole article, but this last sentence stuck out to me as very profound.

The next quote is from a review of Dinesh D'souza's book, "The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11." I love the wording of the quote, and it is true. People, namely liberals, but I believe all people, have a hard time believing that "natural pleasure-seeking" is wrong and can lead to eternal consequences and damnation. But I mainly love the phrasing. :-)

I got my hair cut today. I really miss my stylist back home, but I needed a haircut and I don't know when I'll be back in the area, so I went to a place here. Some of my friends had good haircuts, so I went to Attitudes. She did a dry cut, which I didn't like, but I think it turned out ok.

Dinner for 7 is tonight. I'm bringing the salad, so I need to go and buy the greens and dressing. I have the cranberries and walnuts already. I'm thinking dark leafy greens and spinach. I'm not a fan of iceberg salad. Dark green salad is so much prettier. :-)

God's View vs My View

I read an article on Boundless adapted from an interview that Dr. James Dobson had with Ted Bundy. The article focused on the evils of pornography, but I got something different from it. The article made it sound like Ted Bundy became saved in prison, accepting Christ as his Savior. If that is true, then he is in heaven. Instead of feeling joy for his salvation, I found myself thinking, "I have to share heaven with Ted Bundy."

As Christians, we espouse and think we believe the idea that in God's eyes all sin is equal. A sin is a sin and we all sin and thus all deserve to go to Hell. This is true, but in the world's eyes, not all sin is equal. Some sin is worse than others, and you can do some things and still be a good person. Like gossip or tell white lies. But people who do the "bad" sins like rape and murder are bad people and deserve to be punished by the law and ultimately go to Hell. Ted Bundy raped and murdered 28 girls and women. His crimes are vile and disgusting. But to God, all sin is vile and disgusting, and He can forgive it all. I didn't think that I had a problem believing this until I read that article and started thinking about it. I have a worldly outlook when it comes to sin and justice. I consider myself to be a "good person" and somehow more worthy of eternal life than other people. This is wrong. I do not deserve heaven. I do not deserve eternal life. I am not good enough, and I never will be. In the world's eyes, I'm a "good person," but in God's eyes, I'm not. Serial killers are God's children just as Christians are, and I should not begrudge salvation to anyone.

Til Later

I have much that I'd like to post about, but whenever I have the time, I can't think of anything.

I'm going to have dinner with Sally and Richard and other people from church on Saturday. Saturday is "Dinner for 7," which is a potluck style dinner at someone's house for fellowship and to get to know people that you don't normally talk to. It used to be "Dinner for 6," but they had a lack of single people, so they made it an odd number. Ha. :-) I'm so glad Sally and Richard are the hosts. They are the sweetest couple.

Last Saturday we switched from cable to dish because it was a better deal for TV, phone, and Internet. I am, however, very upset, because the new service does not include WGN. No Cubs games! I am not happy. I get the horse racing channel and the tennis channel and a ton of shopping and sports channels, but I am in Tiger territory. I'll get all the Tiger games and none of the Cubs games. I am not happy.

I am too tired to make a better post. Sorry.

I embodied the incongruity in my life. I was reading a beautiful, small, antique book of European sonnets while wearing my tree camouflage pajamas.

Know Thyself

There is something about independence that forces you to be self disciplined. You just have to do it because no one else is going to. Independence also facilitates procrastination, as there is no one but yourself inconvenienced by said procrastination. There comes a point, however, after being lazy and doing whatever you want, that you crave stimulation, and thus become a bit more self disciplined. I go in spurts with this, but right now, I realize that I need both physical and mental exercise, so running and reading are on the agenda.

One of my co-workers sent me a really good link to a job search website for librarians. I looked at some of the openings, and it makes me really want my degree and to start a new adventure. It's nice to have so many options right now. Though I don't want to move away from family and friends, I have the ability to go anywhere, to travel, to experience new things. I also realize that the adventure would wear off and I'd probably get lonely and start complaining. :-)

Library Olympics tomorrow! You betcha.

Most of the books I order through ILL for my job are huge. It makes me feel important. :-)

Heffalumps and Woozles

I'm a little annoyed, because no matter how hard I try, my standards of cleanliness will never match those of my landlady. I try, but it's just not good enough. We have very different personalities, and we get along well, but I know that my level of cleanliness and orderliness annoys her.

UI grad app. is going to be turned in today. Hooray. Only 1 left. Sigh. I know, I string this out way too long.

I'm really looking forward to my visit to IU in a few weeks. It will be so good to see my friend again and check out the campus. I really want to go to IU and I haven't even visited. :-) Hopefully the visit simply confirms my ideas. Also, Bloomington hosts a world music festival every year!

Winter doldrums.

I played "Come Thou Fount" for church, both services, yesterday. I liked attending both services. Pastor Dave preached as Pastor Keith had been gone all week, and he did a very good job. It was on fruit producing repentance, and it was a good reminder. Also, he showed a video of the "Come Thou Fount" story, and it completely caught me off guard and touched me. It was amazing how a song I chose a couple months ago would tie in and be used so well.

I have been told that I have too much food in the house. Oh bother. Freezer's need space to breathe, I guess.

Make Your Life a Little Random

I was going to be curmudgeony, but I am feeling more upbeat now that I do not have to be at the church at 5:30 tomorrow morning. There is a quiz meet tomorrow, but we are not going due to the weather. This is the third meet that I've missed, so I'm bummed about that, but I am very glad that I get to sleep in.

Yesterday I met the director of the library here in town and interviewed her for a grad school essay. She is so nice and funny. I want to be a librarian like her someday. It's sad, but that's also the first time I'd been to the public library. Though, I don't really need it, as all my library needs are met.

Grocery shopping is fun if you don't stick to your list. I go with a list, but I also browse the aisles. Need buying is not that fun, but if you stick in some cool stuff, then it's not so bad. For instance, today I bought blood oranges and coconut milk. I planned to buy the blood oranges, and I impulse bought the coconut milk. I had, however, seen a recipe that required coconut milk, so I thought it would be good to have on hand. I am very excited about the blood oranges. I can't wait to try one.

This week went by very quickly. Now that there is no quiz, I have time to write papers tomorrow and I can take it a bit more easy tonight. And stay up later. :-)

Oh, and my glasses are back, and I'm happy. I was wearing my contacts, but they were straining my eyes. That and a culmination of not enough sleep meant that yesterday was not a very good day. Today was much better.

Eleanor Rigby

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong

Just remember, you are not alone.