On several strings actually . . .
I am taking harp lessons this semester at school and I love it. Growing up, I always thought of the harp as an unattainable instrument. Mostly because it seemed rather big for so small a person as my 7-year-old self, but also because there was no one I knew who played harp. When I got to college and found out it was possible to rent a harp and take lessons, it immediately went on my list of 'things to do at college'. I mean, I'm tall enough now!
I have compiled a list of what I love about playing harp:
1. It has a gorgeous sound.
- I defy anyone who dares contradict me. My dad will defy you too, because he was the one who first bought a harp CD for me and also the one who would listen to his Christmas harp CD in August because he loves the sound.
2. It's relaxing.
- I've found that 20 minutes of harp at the end of a stressful day of classes works wonders on my stress level. Music is so soothing in so many ways. Plus . . .
3. It makes me feel creative.
- The fact that I had not touched a harp before this September means that it is still essentially a novelty in my life. I feel like I create brand new music and sound every time I play.
4. It's normal to take off your shoes while you play
- I don't know about you, but I would live barefoot if it wasn't so stinkin' socially unacceptable. You want me to practice the harp? Oh, I should kick off my shoes? YES.
5. It's a great conversation starter.
- My default nervous-tick has become to practice my hand positions for harp. Which tends to get weird stares and people asking me what-in-the-fat-world am I doing. To which I reply, "I'm practicing my harp positions." And said person will look at me inquisitively and say, "Did I know you played harp?" "I just started this semester!" Then I get to talk about all the things I now know about harp, and clearly I'm an EXPERT because I've been playing for oh, 7 whole weeks now! I love being the expert.
6. It's something new.
- When else in my life could I take harp? I'm at college, I can rent a harp, and its free to take lessons. I get to embark on a new adventure and also learn a new skill set.
7. It's challenging.
- It's hard to learn a new instrument! My fingers get all tangled and my back hurts and my eyes start going fuzzy from watching the strings vibrate. But the feeling I get when I finally master a finger position or learn a new line to a song? Priceless.
I think I'm going to get a t-shirt that proudly displays to the world "I Love Harp". And I'll get t-shirts for all my friends that say, "I'm With the Harpist -->" We'll be the coolest kids on the block.
So, now that you know all the great things about harp, I want you to go out and doing something new and adventurous! Lead on to greatness, my friends!
m(r)
The Blessing of Halfway
Sunday, October 23, 2011
It feels as though I've done nothing but run this semester. Run through classes, run through work. Run to meetings, to interviews, to meals. Run through homework, run through sleep, run through fun. Run to get coffee, run to get exercise. I've been running, and I won't lie to you . . . running all the time is tiring. SO tiring.
But I've finished this part of my race.
No, I promise I did not drop out of school (although you do not know how many times that option seemed incredibly inviting). But I have, however, hit a point of relief in my semester. I'm breathing today, sleeping today, and that is a fabulous thing. Just thinking about how relaxed and happy I am now makes me want to cry in relief.
That isn't why I'm writing though. I'm here to rejoice, not that I'm through, but that the Lord allowed me to be so busy and to learn so much about Him through this half of the semester. He's been so faithful to me, while helping me realize daily how undeserving I am. I've failed many, many times. Many, many, many. Many. If this semester did nothing else, it showed me how humble I should be. God has taught me many things, too many to fit into one blog post, but here is one of them.
About three weeks ago, I was walking into Panera at around 8pm on a Tuesday night with a friend who is in Bible class with me. She turns to me and says, "What book did you do your outside reading report on?"
*silence*
*crickets chirping*
I stuttered, "Aaah, what reading report?"
She whipped back around. "Mareena! The one where we read a book relating to one of the ten doctrines and write a report about it. The one due TOMORROW at 8am!"
I just stared at her. For some reason, some awful reason, I did not even know what she was talking about at all. But it was true. I was supposed to get a book, read that book, and write a book report about it by 8am the next morning. I looked at the book list . . . I hadn't read any of them. So I posted on facebook asking if anyone had any of the books. Luckily a friend had one of them in her room and she dropped it off by my room. At 9:30pm on Tuesday night, I began to read Trusting God by Jerry Bridges.
No book has ever been so necessary in my life. The two hours I was able to spend reading that book shaped my outlook on the rest of the semester and really my outlook on the rest of my life. It had three *simple* ideas.
God is sovereign.
God is good.
We should trust Him.
In everything, I can always turn back to the fact that my God is always looking out for my best good. Not what I think is best, but He knows is best. When I didn't get an internship that I was hoping for, I couldn't even be too sad about it. I had a talk with God, and I told Him that because I knew He was sovereign and He was love, that I was not supposed to get the internship. When I have friends who are struggling and my piddly brain cannot think of what I should say, I can reassure them of God's goodness and sovereignty. I mean, anything and everything can always lead back to those two things! It's so wonderful to know that Someone knows my life and I don't have to worry about it.
This semester isn't over; I still have a lot of responsibilities left to complete. However, the second half will include more breathing room. Hopefully it will include just as many learning experiences though. And whatever happens, I'll be thankful.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
But I've finished this part of my race.
No, I promise I did not drop out of school (although you do not know how many times that option seemed incredibly inviting). But I have, however, hit a point of relief in my semester. I'm breathing today, sleeping today, and that is a fabulous thing. Just thinking about how relaxed and happy I am now makes me want to cry in relief.
That isn't why I'm writing though. I'm here to rejoice, not that I'm through, but that the Lord allowed me to be so busy and to learn so much about Him through this half of the semester. He's been so faithful to me, while helping me realize daily how undeserving I am. I've failed many, many times. Many, many, many. Many. If this semester did nothing else, it showed me how humble I should be. God has taught me many things, too many to fit into one blog post, but here is one of them.
About three weeks ago, I was walking into Panera at around 8pm on a Tuesday night with a friend who is in Bible class with me. She turns to me and says, "What book did you do your outside reading report on?"
*silence*
*crickets chirping*
I stuttered, "Aaah, what reading report?"
She whipped back around. "Mareena! The one where we read a book relating to one of the ten doctrines and write a report about it. The one due TOMORROW at 8am!"
I just stared at her. For some reason, some awful reason, I did not even know what she was talking about at all. But it was true. I was supposed to get a book, read that book, and write a book report about it by 8am the next morning. I looked at the book list . . . I hadn't read any of them. So I posted on facebook asking if anyone had any of the books. Luckily a friend had one of them in her room and she dropped it off by my room. At 9:30pm on Tuesday night, I began to read Trusting God by Jerry Bridges.
No book has ever been so necessary in my life. The two hours I was able to spend reading that book shaped my outlook on the rest of the semester and really my outlook on the rest of my life. It had three *simple* ideas.
God is sovereign.
God is good.
We should trust Him.
In everything, I can always turn back to the fact that my God is always looking out for my best good. Not what I think is best, but He knows is best. When I didn't get an internship that I was hoping for, I couldn't even be too sad about it. I had a talk with God, and I told Him that because I knew He was sovereign and He was love, that I was not supposed to get the internship. When I have friends who are struggling and my piddly brain cannot think of what I should say, I can reassure them of God's goodness and sovereignty. I mean, anything and everything can always lead back to those two things! It's so wonderful to know that Someone knows my life and I don't have to worry about it.
This semester isn't over; I still have a lot of responsibilities left to complete. However, the second half will include more breathing room. Hopefully it will include just as many learning experiences though. And whatever happens, I'll be thankful.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
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