... camera.
I broke mine last October trying to take a pic of my bridesmaid dress so that I could find some shoes to match it, and then I accidentally dropped it. It's basically unfixable (if that's a word) because the lens part that comes out is forever bent. I took a look inside to see if I could fix it myself but no such luck. Boo-urns.
Thus, I've been going through snapshot withdrawal and it's mounting day by day, especially when I see all my friends' lovely photos or when I see something beautiful in nature or when I feel like being creative. Aiya~, I'm gonna go crazy!
However, one thing I've appreciated not having a camera is that I take more time to gaze and intake the raw, majestic scenery itself. Before, I would go, "Snap! Snap! Snap!" and move on without taking the time to stop and enjoy the view. Odd, I know.
One of the things that sucks about being a student is that for the majority of the time, you're stinkin' poor. I know that once I'm working as a nurse I'll make tons of money (not to rub it in or anything, I'm just stating a fact) so really I could spend my loan money to buy one since I'll probably pay my loan off pretty easily... but somehow I just can't bring myself to doing that. If I've learned anything from the Bible, it's that I shouldn't place my trust in objects, money, future events, etc.; my hope is placed in God. Therefore, I guess I'll just have to wait patiently until I graduate and start working or get crackin' on my finances now and budget well so that I can buy one sooner.
Or... I could always ask for one for Christmas I suppose...
July 21, 2009
For God's Glory
When I was still in 1st year some many years ago I met the infamous Rod Alm, a Campus for Christ staff member working out of Saskatchewan. He's a wonderful man about the same age as my dad who is gentle, thoughtful, and full of passion especially for God. When he speaks or gives talks, no one can not listen to him; he's very charismatic! Anyway, when I first met him he said to me, "Mindy, I encourage you to use your pharmacology for the glory of God." I believe he was referring to 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says...
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
At the time, I had no idea what that meant. What does it mean to do... well, anything for the glory of God?
Fastforward several years and now I think I'm beginning to understand.
You have to first look at the word, glory. What does it mean in this context? The Greek word is doxa or doxan where the definition states that in the New Testament, it's always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory. It can also mean magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity and grace. To put it simply, I think of it as for God's dignity. Whatever I do, I should do it for God's dignity.
What brings Him honor and glory? Loving Him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And also loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37~39). Bringing Him into every aspect of your life because He doesn't want just parts of you; He wants all of you.
How do I do that since I know I'm not capable of doing that alone? I rely on the Holy Spirit since He alone is the only one who can change me and help me to love as God loves.
I love this song by Tim Hughes, Everything. It expresses everything above in simplicity and beauty. Also it reminds me to live every moment with God, for God.
God in my living, there in my breathing
God in my waking, God in my sleeping
God in my resting, there in my working
God in my thinking, God in my speaking
Be my everything, be my everything
Be my everything, be my everything
God in my hoping, there in my dreaming
God in my watching, God in my waiting
God in my laughing, there in my weeping
God in my hurting, God in my healing
Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything
You are everything, You are everything
You are everything, You are everything
Jesus everything, Jesus everything
Jesus everything, Jesus everything
(Definitions were taken from http://net.bible.org/)
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
At the time, I had no idea what that meant. What does it mean to do... well, anything for the glory of God?
Fastforward several years and now I think I'm beginning to understand.
You have to first look at the word, glory. What does it mean in this context? The Greek word is doxa or doxan where the definition states that in the New Testament, it's always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory. It can also mean magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity and grace. To put it simply, I think of it as for God's dignity. Whatever I do, I should do it for God's dignity.
What brings Him honor and glory? Loving Him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And also loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37~39). Bringing Him into every aspect of your life because He doesn't want just parts of you; He wants all of you.
How do I do that since I know I'm not capable of doing that alone? I rely on the Holy Spirit since He alone is the only one who can change me and help me to love as God loves.
I love this song by Tim Hughes, Everything. It expresses everything above in simplicity and beauty. Also it reminds me to live every moment with God, for God.
God in my living, there in my breathing
God in my waking, God in my sleeping
God in my resting, there in my working
God in my thinking, God in my speaking
Be my everything, be my everything
Be my everything, be my everything
God in my hoping, there in my dreaming
God in my watching, God in my waiting
God in my laughing, there in my weeping
God in my hurting, God in my healing
Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything
You are everything, You are everything
You are everything, You are everything
Jesus everything, Jesus everything
Jesus everything, Jesus everything
(Definitions were taken from http://net.bible.org/)
July 20, 2009
Nonproductive aggression...
I'm doing my clinical rotation in a pediatrics ward right now which is pretty great. Kids are fun and it's amazing to see their resiliency and strength in really difficult times. Quite different than the adult crowd where it's not uncommon to see bitterness, anger and/or purposelessness.
Anyway, on the very first day which was our orientation, the nurse I was shadowing was caring for a young child who had hit her head a few days earlier. She had just come to the day before and in the nursing notes, it was recorded that she would often get aggressive when agitated. The lab technicians had to take a blood sample in the morning so that the doctors could figure out what was going on with her and make sure she's ok. Though the nurse and the child's mother tried to tell her that this was important and good for her health, she wailed and tried to fight off the technicians. This ultimately led to an aggressive episode where she was punching, kicking and jumping off the bed trying to attack anyone who got close, even her own mother. I was quite shocked at how violent a 6 year old could get. Eventually she calmed down and was back to her normal sweet self again which was a relief. Talk about a crazy first day!
What stuck with me from this experience is how humans act in a similar way towards God. God does certain things in our lives with or without explanation which may initially cause hurt, pain, or suffering but ultimately, it's for our own good. However, because we lack the wisdom and the full perspective of the situation, we often aggressively lash out towards God, whining, complaining, cursing His name, letting our anger burn towards Him. We don't understand that what we're going through will help us in the end. We get so stuck in the problems at hand, so immersed in ourselves, that we cease to remember His faithfulness and love which carries us through the tough times.
The mother of the child broke down at one point saying, "This isn't like her."
I often wonder how many times we have broken God's heart when we responded to His love with anger and hatred.
What's also interesting is how even though we may act in this way, it resolves nothing of our anger nor does it make our lives any better.
Anyway, on the very first day which was our orientation, the nurse I was shadowing was caring for a young child who had hit her head a few days earlier. She had just come to the day before and in the nursing notes, it was recorded that she would often get aggressive when agitated. The lab technicians had to take a blood sample in the morning so that the doctors could figure out what was going on with her and make sure she's ok. Though the nurse and the child's mother tried to tell her that this was important and good for her health, she wailed and tried to fight off the technicians. This ultimately led to an aggressive episode where she was punching, kicking and jumping off the bed trying to attack anyone who got close, even her own mother. I was quite shocked at how violent a 6 year old could get. Eventually she calmed down and was back to her normal sweet self again which was a relief. Talk about a crazy first day!
What stuck with me from this experience is how humans act in a similar way towards God. God does certain things in our lives with or without explanation which may initially cause hurt, pain, or suffering but ultimately, it's for our own good. However, because we lack the wisdom and the full perspective of the situation, we often aggressively lash out towards God, whining, complaining, cursing His name, letting our anger burn towards Him. We don't understand that what we're going through will help us in the end. We get so stuck in the problems at hand, so immersed in ourselves, that we cease to remember His faithfulness and love which carries us through the tough times.
The mother of the child broke down at one point saying, "This isn't like her."
I often wonder how many times we have broken God's heart when we responded to His love with anger and hatred.
What's also interesting is how even though we may act in this way, it resolves nothing of our anger nor does it make our lives any better.
July 15, 2009
A Glimpse of Life Past #1
From left to right: Sarah, Katie, Karina, myselfFrom my English class way back in 1st year at the U of A, there were 4 of us girls who got really close and have remained close over the years. One of our traditions was to go to Earl's on campus usually on a Friday and order margaritas and a Cajun Chicken Cheddar Sandwich with fries and extra ketchup on the side. We would burst out in laughter when the server would ask us what we would like to order since we would all order the same thing. I'm sure they thought we were psychos or something.
This one time, we had a really good-looking waiter serve us. I think he liked us too. I mean who wouldn't? 4 nicely dressed and hot-looking girls all at one table. Things can't get any better than that :P
Anyway, the following reasons were why we thought he liked us:
1. Tuesdays are cheap margarita nights, not Fridays. Fridays are cheap martinis. However, though we ordered margaritas he charged us the cheap martini price.
2. You know how most servers only come maybe once or twice during a meal? Yeah, he came back many times to see how we were doing.
3. We ordered dessert (chocolate mocha ice cream pie) but he brought the wrong one so he had to go back and re-input the order (ie. he was buying time).
4. When we got our dessert, it was huge! Definitely bigger than the ones other customers got.
At one point during the evening, I was trying to show my friends this dorky trick with your fingers (the one where if you bend your middle finger but have all your other fingers out on a table, you can't lift your ring finger) and he came by. Most people would've probably given us a really odd look and walked away, but he laughed and joined us in our fun.
Every time thereafter, we would hope that we would get the same server again... but no such luck. Sigh, I wonder what he's doing now. Hahahaha, good times :)
Our finger trickMini-update...
I've been busy. This shouldn't be surprising really since I'm always busy, haha. These past 2 weeks especially though I feel like school has taken over my life.
45% assignment due last Friday
25% "quiz" Monday morning (really, it was more like final #2)
5% quiz Monday afternoon
40% final yesterday afternoon
Yeah, you could say I'm tired. My brain hurts. Education has sucked it dry. I only have 2 weeks and 1 day left to go in this semester which shouldn't be too bad... if my energy levels continue to hold out that is.
Just 1 more group assignment, 1 more quiz, 1 more final, and 1 more lab final, then I'm done. Phew...
45% assignment due last Friday
25% "quiz" Monday morning (really, it was more like final #2)
5% quiz Monday afternoon
40% final yesterday afternoon
Yeah, you could say I'm tired. My brain hurts. Education has sucked it dry. I only have 2 weeks and 1 day left to go in this semester which shouldn't be too bad... if my energy levels continue to hold out that is.
Just 1 more group assignment, 1 more quiz, 1 more final, and 1 more lab final, then I'm done. Phew...
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