Wednesday, December 22, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 16: Constancy
I am trying to find beauty in the unusual, but an airport at 5am a few days before Christmas is just scary. I did get to watch the sunrise over the clouds about half an hour after take-off, though. I'll include a picture once I get some motivation to upload the pictures from my camera. I swore that I wouldn't include things like sunsets, flowers and double-rainbows, but sometimes (virtually always, actually) they are just so breathtaking. It is incredible that something that happens faithfully everyday can still be such a gift and so beautiful.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 15: Words of Affirmation
Yesterday was my dad's 53rd birthday and also the day of his going away party after nearly 20 years as a St Joe ER doc. I started off a little wary of going to the party considering I would be the only person under 30 and a bit self conscious of my vagabond life plans not measuring up to the expectations of a room full of medical field-types. But, I decided to go anyway because 1) I had already bought a dress for the occasion, 2) I never turn down a meal at the Corndance, and 3) I would be supporting my dad in the process.
The party started off a bit awkward. Forced, choppy conversations and empty introductions began to set the tone for the evening. Beside that, my dress wouldn't stop sticking to my tights, I had a huge zit on my face, and I was dizzily hungry. But, I figured I would suck it up and use the situation to work on my polite chit-chat skills, which paid off. I ended up talking to the lady beside me (very possibly the next youngest in the room) about environmental education and camping for a while and a retired doctor about photography and Africa after that. It was actually a lot of fun.
My favorite and the most beautiful part of the evening, though, came when my dad gave his goodbye speech. For those of you that don't know Dr. Bruce Wayne Speicher, I would compare my dad to a giant grizzly bear. He is a large, usually quiet man with strength in both his gentleness and power. His hugs are the absolute best because you are completely engulfed and protected, but he also somehow has the power to scare the goobles out of you when he is mad. As he delivered his speech, his gentleness radiated through the room. He spoke of how proud he was of the work he had accomplish while working at St Joe, how he treasures the friendships he made despite disagreements among the staff, and most importantly, how he couldn't have done any of it without the love and support of his wife, my mom.
It was so sweet and heartfelt and really made me so proud to have the parents I have. The Speichers are not known for having impeccable communication skills, humility or showing of affection, but when we do, it is from the deepest, most sacred place of the heart. It was really good to see and a great reminder of what is important about a family and relationships. If only for a few choice moments, I am very. very glad that I went to that party and was able to recognize its beauty.
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” -St Francis de Sales
The party started off a bit awkward. Forced, choppy conversations and empty introductions began to set the tone for the evening. Beside that, my dress wouldn't stop sticking to my tights, I had a huge zit on my face, and I was dizzily hungry. But, I figured I would suck it up and use the situation to work on my polite chit-chat skills, which paid off. I ended up talking to the lady beside me (very possibly the next youngest in the room) about environmental education and camping for a while and a retired doctor about photography and Africa after that. It was actually a lot of fun.
My favorite and the most beautiful part of the evening, though, came when my dad gave his goodbye speech. For those of you that don't know Dr. Bruce Wayne Speicher, I would compare my dad to a giant grizzly bear. He is a large, usually quiet man with strength in both his gentleness and power. His hugs are the absolute best because you are completely engulfed and protected, but he also somehow has the power to scare the goobles out of you when he is mad. As he delivered his speech, his gentleness radiated through the room. He spoke of how proud he was of the work he had accomplish while working at St Joe, how he treasures the friendships he made despite disagreements among the staff, and most importantly, how he couldn't have done any of it without the love and support of his wife, my mom.
It was so sweet and heartfelt and really made me so proud to have the parents I have. The Speichers are not known for having impeccable communication skills, humility or showing of affection, but when we do, it is from the deepest, most sacred place of the heart. It was really good to see and a great reminder of what is important about a family and relationships. If only for a few choice moments, I am very. very glad that I went to that party and was able to recognize its beauty.
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” -St Francis de Sales
Monday, December 20, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Days 8-14: Finals Week and Recovery
So, I am very aware that I severely slacked over the past week. I did however continue to meditate on what I found beautiful each day even if I did not write it down here, so I will give you the highlights. I would write more, but I would rather start anew and give today's actual writing its due.
December 13: Day 8: The Silver Lining!
I booked my flight for Colorado Springs this day! I can't wait to be surrounded by mountains, hang out with old and new friends and introduce more kids to creative problem-solving with a Destination ImagiNation camp at the US Air Force Academy!!!
December 14: Day 9: Brain to the Grindstone
God granted me the wonderful ability to memorize completely meaningless things--title, artist, date and history of 45 Renaissance art pieces, for example--in a very short amount of time. On Tuesday I used this ability to kill my test for the next day. Our culture celebrates talents such as athleticism and vocal skills.... I celebrate my memory. Whew!
December 15: Day 10: theFinal theCanvas
As I have mentioned before, my main facet of church I attend is a laid-back, yet ruthlessly challenging bible study/conversation-based group called theCanvas. Wednesday was our last meeting of the semester, and it was just really nice. I've mentioned this before, but Canvas isn't kitschy; it isn't churchy; it isn't a free coffee break between studying. It is hard to define apart from the stories that are made there. Stories like atheists feeling welcome to sit at round tables, a leader admitting he learns as much from us as we do from him and inspiration being born before our eyes. And, I only have one more semester to pour into it.
December 16: Day 11: Free at Last
The semester is over and I feel THIS GOOD!!!!
December 17: Day 12: Food for Thought
I am very thankful that I grew up with a basic knowledge of what constitutes good food and what constitutes bad food. I lived on an organic farm for most of my life and many of my beliefs about food are deeply rooted. I watched the movie Food, Inc. on Friday, which exposes the nastiness of the American food industry. I am proud to say that although the statistics given were startling, I did not feel myself scared into changing everything about my diet. Usually when people all of a sudden jolt themselves into a different lifestyle, it causes them to crash back to their old way of living just as hard. I am taking a couple things into deeper consideration, but not in an unhealthy way. I already make choices to eat more healthy and local, organic foods, but now I will try little by little to see what else I can do and what practices I can sustain.
December 18: Day 13: Growing Up
After seriously almost falling asleep driving from Bloomington to Bourbon, I jumped right back in the car to drive to South Bend and meet my Aunt and cousins for dinner at the Corndance Tavern. (Eat there it will change your life.) Then we went to an art supply store and TJ Maxx to let my cousins pick out their Christmas gifts from my parents. It was really nice to be able to relate more to my aunt now that I am getting older and to relate more to my cousins now that they are getting older. It is interesting how that works... Like with many relationships, we seem to all be trying to play catch-up, but all along, without us knowing it, through investment we are growing closer all the time.
December 19: Day 14: JEANNA!
This day I got to hang out with the wonderful Jeanna Sell. We have been best friends since fourth grade and she one of the first people I felt comfortable being completely goofy and weird around. We watched Despicable Me together and it was like we were back in fourth grade. It was wonderful and hilarious--both the movie and our friendship.
December 13: Day 8: The Silver Lining!
I booked my flight for Colorado Springs this day! I can't wait to be surrounded by mountains, hang out with old and new friends and introduce more kids to creative problem-solving with a Destination ImagiNation camp at the US Air Force Academy!!!
December 14: Day 9: Brain to the Grindstone
God granted me the wonderful ability to memorize completely meaningless things--title, artist, date and history of 45 Renaissance art pieces, for example--in a very short amount of time. On Tuesday I used this ability to kill my test for the next day. Our culture celebrates talents such as athleticism and vocal skills.... I celebrate my memory. Whew!
December 15: Day 10: theFinal theCanvas
As I have mentioned before, my main facet of church I attend is a laid-back, yet ruthlessly challenging bible study/conversation-based group called theCanvas. Wednesday was our last meeting of the semester, and it was just really nice. I've mentioned this before, but Canvas isn't kitschy; it isn't churchy; it isn't a free coffee break between studying. It is hard to define apart from the stories that are made there. Stories like atheists feeling welcome to sit at round tables, a leader admitting he learns as much from us as we do from him and inspiration being born before our eyes. And, I only have one more semester to pour into it.
December 16: Day 11: Free at Last
The semester is over and I feel THIS GOOD!!!!
December 17: Day 12: Food for Thought
I am very thankful that I grew up with a basic knowledge of what constitutes good food and what constitutes bad food. I lived on an organic farm for most of my life and many of my beliefs about food are deeply rooted. I watched the movie Food, Inc. on Friday, which exposes the nastiness of the American food industry. I am proud to say that although the statistics given were startling, I did not feel myself scared into changing everything about my diet. Usually when people all of a sudden jolt themselves into a different lifestyle, it causes them to crash back to their old way of living just as hard. I am taking a couple things into deeper consideration, but not in an unhealthy way. I already make choices to eat more healthy and local, organic foods, but now I will try little by little to see what else I can do and what practices I can sustain.
 |
| this picture severely creeps me out. |
December 18: Day 13: Growing Up
After seriously almost falling asleep driving from Bloomington to Bourbon, I jumped right back in the car to drive to South Bend and meet my Aunt and cousins for dinner at the Corndance Tavern. (Eat there it will change your life.) Then we went to an art supply store and TJ Maxx to let my cousins pick out their Christmas gifts from my parents. It was really nice to be able to relate more to my aunt now that I am getting older and to relate more to my cousins now that they are getting older. It is interesting how that works... Like with many relationships, we seem to all be trying to play catch-up, but all along, without us knowing it, through investment we are growing closer all the time.
December 19: Day 14: JEANNA!
This day I got to hang out with the wonderful Jeanna Sell. We have been best friends since fourth grade and she one of the first people I felt comfortable being completely goofy and weird around. We watched Despicable Me together and it was like we were back in fourth grade. It was wonderful and hilarious--both the movie and our friendship.
 |
| circa forever ago |
Sunday, December 12, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 7: Change of Plans
Yesterday, the plan was to go to a Christmas party at my work friends' house where we were going to dress up in fancy clothes and be sophisticated. But then I decided I would rather go to a more casual super awesome fun Christmas party near Lake Monroe with a bunch of my others friends. But then by the time it got around to it, I realized I was still tired from the Christmas party the previous night and the weather was supposed to get hazardous. Considering I have 3 8-year-old tires on my tiny truck, I didn't feel like chancing my life on the curvy Southern Indiana roads in the middle of the night in a snow storm. So, Colleen, Katie and I decided to spend the night inside, eat fine cheese, drink some cowboy wine and watch Shrek 4. Plan 3 was going along great until one of our other friends decided to come over for a study break.
The night turned into the four of us sitting around the kitchen table reading our own poetry or writing to each other for at least an hour. It then turned into us talking about anything and everything for several more hours, adding another friend around 1 am and talking some more. Finally around 4 am we hunkered down in the living room to watch Shrek 4 where I ended up falling asleep shortly after the opening credits.
It was a great night.
Don't be an ogre; be open to change! Plans can be a lot of fun, but when you let yourself deviate every once in a while, you might surprise yourself with something really, really beautiful.
The night turned into the four of us sitting around the kitchen table reading our own poetry or writing to each other for at least an hour. It then turned into us talking about anything and everything for several more hours, adding another friend around 1 am and talking some more. Finally around 4 am we hunkered down in the living room to watch Shrek 4 where I ended up falling asleep shortly after the opening credits.
It was a great night.
Don't be an ogre; be open to change! Plans can be a lot of fun, but when you let yourself deviate every once in a while, you might surprise yourself with something really, really beautiful.
"Well, folks, it looks like we're up chocolate creek without a popsicle stick." -Gingy, Shrek 2
Saturday, December 11, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 6: Smoke Rings
Friday was our Canvas (bible study/church thing) Christmas party. It was super fun complete with white elephant gifts, a massage train (haha can you feel the love?) and the hit if the party, the homemade pretzels Brian and I made (joke). But, perhaps my favorite moment of the night happened after many of the guests left. For some quirky, random reason, people that go to the Canvas seem to really love to smoke pipes... Gandolf-style, old man-style, Frosty-style... it doesn't matter. So, at about 11 pm, everyone left at the party piled into the clammy garage to take in the sweet melodious aromas of motor oil, deteriorating cardboard and Joe's Blend tobacco.
I just find this so absolutely wonderful and hilarious. I hate few things more than when churches do things a certain way based entirely on tradition or don't do things based entirely on taboo. True, my grandparents might be mortified at the sight of the local youth group crammed in a garage blowing smoke rings, but at the same time there is something so incredible about a group of 20-somethings choosing to laugh, talk, and live life together in the name of Jesus Christ on a Friday night in Collegetown, Indiana.
As silly of imagery as it is, I still find it quite beautiful.
"What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what kind of person you are." -CS Lewis
Friday, December 10, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 5: Leading Lady
So on Thursday night, a group of friends and I got together to watch the best of all chick flicks, The Holiday. One of the characters in the film is a British woman, Iris, that has been in a toxic relationship with the self-absorbed Jasper that doesn't show the same kind of commitment toward her as she feels to him. She is completely enamored with him and measures herself against his impossible standards. Shortly after giving him a Christmas gift (and not receiving one in return), it is announced at their work Christmas party that Jasper has just gotten engaged to another woman. Iris is devastated and decides to run from her troubles by participating in a home-exchange program where she trades houses with a rich LA woman for the Christmas holiday.
It is here that she meets Arthur Abbot, one of the great Hollywood writers from the golden age of film. The odd couple starts a friendship where in their own way they are able to help the other recognize their own worth. In one scene Arthur explains that there are two types of women in a story.
Arthur: Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.
Iris:You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake!
How often do we find ourself in the same position, taking a backseat to what is best for our lives out of fear of change or uncertainty or letting go...? On the contrary, how incredible are those moments when we just know that we are in the right place--not in control, but not thrown to the wolves either? Not safe, but undeniably good. I think, once you pursue that state of being and feel and recognize it, then you begin to crave it and soon live it. Each person is made intentionally and beautifully with boundless potential to have a fulfilled, purposeful life. If you can't be the Lead in your own life, then from what perspective is your story being told?
I'm trying not to finish this with cheesy inspirational gab about God and life and Oscar Wilde quotes... since that is near to impossible, I'll just leave it at that.
Be the Lead in your own life...
... because that is pretty beautiful.
It is here that she meets Arthur Abbot, one of the great Hollywood writers from the golden age of film. The odd couple starts a friendship where in their own way they are able to help the other recognize their own worth. In one scene Arthur explains that there are two types of women in a story.
Arthur: Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.
Iris:You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake!
How often do we find ourself in the same position, taking a backseat to what is best for our lives out of fear of change or uncertainty or letting go...? On the contrary, how incredible are those moments when we just know that we are in the right place--not in control, but not thrown to the wolves either? Not safe, but undeniably good. I think, once you pursue that state of being and feel and recognize it, then you begin to crave it and soon live it. Each person is made intentionally and beautifully with boundless potential to have a fulfilled, purposeful life. If you can't be the Lead in your own life, then from what perspective is your story being told?
I'm trying not to finish this with cheesy inspirational gab about God and life and Oscar Wilde quotes... since that is near to impossible, I'll just leave it at that.
Be the Lead in your own life...
... because that is pretty beautiful.
"It's Christmas Eve, and we are going to go celebrate being young and being alive." -Miles, The Holiday
Thursday, December 9, 2010
60 Days of Beauty: Day 4: Company
There are two types of company. There's a company of body and a company of heart. Last night I was able to have both. Even though I had to work on a group paper through online (seriously, who decided a group paper was good idea?!), my friend Hannah came over to talk and hang out after church. A lot of the time was spent with me sitting on the couch working on my paper and Hannah either trying to study for nurse school or coloring in our Christmas coloring book. The only sound I was making was the tapping of computer keys and her, the soft rubbing of colored pencil on cheap paper. It was good to just have someone else there, ya know? It's like when you find someone that you can silently ride in the car with and not feel awkward about it, or you can gab and laugh all the way to South Carolina. It's one in the same. Company of body.
We did eventually get to talk and were able to just be really honest and open. We realized that we have had a lot of similar life experiences and are able to relate in a lot of ways that we haven't found with other people. It's definitely one of those kindred spirit kind of things that can't really be explained apart from God. Company of heart.
And I guess that's pretty beautiful.
We did eventually get to talk and were able to just be really honest and open. We realized that we have had a lot of similar life experiences and are able to relate in a lot of ways that we haven't found with other people. It's definitely one of those kindred spirit kind of things that can't really be explained apart from God. Company of heart.
And I guess that's pretty beautiful.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'”
-CS Lewis
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