Glory to God in the Lowest.

The greatest rescuer and lover of humanity decided that it would be best to enter into the world as a baby- born in the dust of a small desert town, and in the presence of some barnyard witnesses.
I'm learning some interesting lessons in the foolish wisdom of our God.

A little while ago, I realized for the first time that Christ wasn't just God in human flesh, but he was also love, incarnate. I understand that this is simple logic, but I just never really thought about it this way before. It's sort of beautiful to think about- Love walked around, and he had a laugh, and a beating heart.

Last week, Lauren described Jesus as "the richest of Kings". We hold this to be true, and yet it is humbling and inspiring to know that when he came, he didn't boss people around, or make us feel bad about all the awful things we do. He came to love and heal us; we don't have to be afraid anymore.


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What does this even mean?

Have Yourself a Meowy Little Christmas...and a Couple of Asprin.

Choosing to move in the middle of finals week was probably not the wisest of decisions, but it's over now, and so is my complaining. We like our new room- you should stop by and visit.


I'm excited about having free time again. Two whole weeks of taking naps, reading things I want to read, and doing laundry for free.

It's time to go home. Nashville tomorrow!!!

Dry.

For the past week or so I feel like I've run out of things to say, or probably more accurately the desire to say things. So, this wisdom is not my own, but I read this for the first time when I was sixteen and I've kept it since then because fragments of it are still resonating in my heart, so I thought I would share it with you.



"It is a peculiar stupidity that allows me to become so easily discouraged. my usual order of things: (1) pray for God's guidance and wisdom (2) ignore or betray the convictions He gives me (3) charge or doubt Him because of the disorder and confusion in my life. is there peace in our hearts? are we not lying to ourselves and others, professing a faith we scarcely believe in? may God forbid we become comfortable here! but rather than seeking happiness we should value this restlessness. if we didn't first feel the pain of a cut, what would prompt us to clean and wrap the wound, preventing infection or worse? this emotional pain of ours (if I may assume I'm not alone in my sadness), as with physical pain, is often a sign that something is wrong. rather than dress the wound, or even question the cause, don't we choose spiritual numbness (entertainment, socializing, education or career ambitions...) and so decide not to feel the infection of our entire lives? this sickness or infection is disobedience and self-absorbtion, a lack of love for God and other people. I am sick with myself, and too much with this world. but there are certain moments, radiant with sorrow and pity, where my soul is set on fire by the love of Jesus! he does not avoid or deny the suffering of the world, but takes it upon himself in its most extreme. far from our mediocrity and compromise, his crucifixion challenges us to suffer wildly, dares us to love recklessly, even foolishly. my friends, when will we grow tired of mediocrity and compromise? God, forgive our selfishness. please soften our hearts and open our ears to your truth. let us die to oursleves, and give us a new and wonderful life. help us see You in those around us and show them the patience and gentleness You've shown us. let us love the unlovable as You have loved us. You are beautiful, just beautiful, my Lord!"
-ajw

Thanksgiving Review.

I'm kinda glad I didn't go home for the holiday- it was really great having my family here. I kinda forgot how much fun they are :) My grandparents didn't make it into the picture this year....oops.


I'm glad my mom got to hang around Biola for a little while. She came to class with me and was helping out with the people project for a little while. I saw her taking pictures during class, and afterwards when I was looking through them, there were like 8 or 9 of Maggie with a pair of legs on her head...





Here's Andrea right after I finished wrapping her head.

So, in other news...
I had no idea that Mexican jumping beans were real. I thought it was something that an old person probably made up. However, I stand corrected, and I now know that they are real. My mom bought some today. Weirdest things ever. I don't know if I'm alone in my ignorance of bean knowledge, but just in case someone else is in the same boat with me, they jump because there's a little worm that lives in each seed, and they move around inside the bean whenever they react to light and heat. Whoa. And one day they will make a hole in the seed and burrow out of it and become a pupa or something. Ehhhhh.



Dear Nature,
I marvel at your beauty and majesty all the time, but to be quite honest, although you are wonderful and stunning, you are also weird and gross simultaneously (i.e. little worm beans). I hope you are not offended by this letter- this is merely an observation.

Your admirer,
Veronica Burris

"I'm feeling like this, if you can live with that."

I really like being myself. I don't know how that sounds to you, but what I mean is that I think it's wonderful when we find ourselves in a place where we're not entirely concerned with how others perceive us, and we just start assuming that people will like us because we're being exactly who we are.

I embarrass myself daily with things that I say and do, but I'm starting to come to the conclusion that my absurdity is just part of who I actually am, and I guess I'm ok with that. Maybe I just value honesty a lot more now than I have in the past. I don't even know if honesty is the right word. Maybe genuine- but I don't really like that word either. Comfortable. There is something beautiful that happens when we become comfortable with who we are. It makes our shame and self-doubt disappear. I could always make a lot less room for those things in my life.

Go, Mordecai.

I love watching those movies that you haven't seen in forever, but you still remember the title and that one part that was funny, and you think you laughed pretty hard, so you figure that it'd be a good idea to watch it again just because. The Royal Tenenbaums is worth remembering. Pagoda, himself, is worth remembering.

We also watched Love Actually this weekend...it's a good almost-Christmas movie. See it if you haven't already; it's like getting a hug, but you're not actually getting a hug. Because it's just a movie. But it's still good. I think one of my favorite parts is in the opening credits...

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world,
I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport.
General opinion makes out that we live in a world of hatred and greed-
I don't see that.
Seems to me that love is everywhere.
Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it's always there."

Kinda nice, huh?

In other news, my parents are coming into town tomorrow. I'm really excited to see my mom- I've needed a hug from that woman for a number of weeks now...

Modest Beginnings

Andrea and I started blogging again. This is like the third attempt for us. We're pretty hopeful this time around, though. Wish us luck...

Andrea's been goofin around with that foam claw for about a week now.