Tahred

I went to Thai Spice tonight with Jael and Nathan, and it was fun. :) Although Nathan and I probably bored Jael with our English talk, and I picked most of the chilis and leafy greens out of my food (scary animals hide in jungles; so why wouldn't scary, spicy peppers hide in the folds and contours of leafy veggies?), it was really nice to catch up. Sadly, there was no Jonah, Patricia, or Ryan there tonight, but the company was good. I don't really feel like writing much about the restaurant, except to say that I apparently misunderstood the receipt I got and almost walked out without paying (oops! der), and that Thai coffee is fairly scrumdiddlyumptious. 

     This week coming up should be interesting; already, I'm behind 3 pages of Shakespeare and 2 pages on my term paper for Brit Lit. Tonight is all-nighter night, so you would think I'd get a bunch done, but . . . I doubt it. One recent, interesting development for anyone who reads this: Dr. Borders is letting me take my test tomorrow (today) at 8 am, but I don't really feel like I should be able to. It was my own fault that I missed it, and I don't see why I should get an exception. I've been dreading going to his office to take it ever since I got his email. I don't think he would appreciate my hesitation here, but I don't feel comfortable taking the dern thing. I can't imagine that he will think too highly of my making full use of this exception, either. In short, I feel like I'm up a creek without a paddle. Hopefully I'm past the waterfall, and this is just all nervous worrying on my part.

     I think that every time I hang out with Nathan Barrow now, I see a different side of him. Tonight, I found out that that boy can sing and play guitar! (Apparently, for hours and hours, too, haha.) I like his taste in worship songs (and other songs -- like "Falling Slowly"!). The first time we went to Greenwood, I found out just what a crazy pair the two B-Boys make when they're slaphappy together. Now I know that he can "bluegrassify" hymns. ;) Anyway, having an actual guitar to play makes me miss my own, and realizing how much I suck on the piano lately makes me want mine in my apartment next year so that I can play down here at AU!!!!!! Anyway. 

     Nathan and Jael played and sang a duet to this song called "Run Baby Run" by Jason Upton. I looked up the lyrics because I was really intrigued by them when I first heard them. Here they are:

"I've been calling you to go to the city / I've been watching you every day / Now I'm paying for a one way ticket / for a ship that sails the opposite way

And you laugh and you cry / and you live and you die / cause you don't really know who you are / All alone in this world / orphan boy, orphan girl / cause you don't really know who you are

Run baby run / My hands release you baby / Run baby run / just as fast as you can / Run till your legs / lead your heart to the real truth / You're my daughter, my son / so run baby run baby run

Hear me laughing as you run from your calling / See me crying, see me crying in the storms that rage / One way or another, you will be going / To obey is such an easier way"

     It made me wonder how much God really owns us as part of his family once we become part of it. I wondered, is it possible to really run from God so much that you run away completely? I think it takes more than we realize. Even when Jonah was running from God, he was still in God's hands, although times were troublesome for him. He eventually came back around, albeit begrudgingly. I was reminded of Jesus' admonitions that those who would "put their hands to the plow and look back" were "unfit for service in the kingdom of God". (Side note: yes, I understand that I'm not using quotation marks in the right places according to American writing styles, but the British style is much less ambiguous at times. If that's a problem, well, may I suggest a straw? If you don't know what that means, then just ask.) Back on topic. I wondered if looking back after putting a hand to the plow or running away from Ninevah really disqualifies a person permanently, or if these things merely signify an immaturity in faith that will come to pass. If such a person is unfit by definition and not as a temporal result of a bad decision, then we have to admit that Jesus is calling Jonah unfit for the kingdom of God. I like the suggestion of those song lyrics that, even if we take the scenic route, God will always steer us back to his path. The Greek for "fit" in Luke 9:62 can be translated as "useful". I'd like to think that that uselessness of the one who looks back is only temporary, until he can move up in maturity to achieve usefulness. I'm probably just extrapolating on what may be nothing at all here, though. I'm just getting really tired. I wonder if I could just sleep for 45 minutes? Probably not, but I think I might try...

     Goodnight all. :)

MOOD: lethargic