Storm

In every storm, there lies a calm. A few years ago, I arrived at church to head over to STL for a youth praise service, but tornadoes began to roll in and instead we needed to stay at the church. I found myself standing in the parking lot with my mother admiring the swirling green sky and pondering if that cloud out in the distance was, in fact, a tornado. Where we stood was completely calm. The wind was a bit gusty, but otherwise, no rain, thunder, or lightening obstructed an otherwise calm evening.

This weekend I stayed down at Camp Ne-O-Tez between two weeks of camp. Last night, we had a rather hefty storm. Myself and three other girls who stayed need to move from one side of camp to another. We found a moment where the rain let up, and we made our run for it. But, we didn't make it far before the sight of Crystal Falls stopped us in our tracks. Just that afternoon we had been viewing a calm, clear barely flowing crystal falls (See first picture). Now, water gushed across it creating white crested waves that raced through camp. Parts of the creek, normally only being about ankle deep, were flowing at over waist deep.

This morning, I noted the calm Crystal falls, still more active than usual, but exceedingly calm compared to last night (See second picture). And the story of Jesus calming the storm drifted into my mind. For Crystal Falls, the water was calm after the storm, but it will take hours maybe a day or so for the water to return to normal. But for the disciples, the calm came during the storm. Imagine just ofr a minute how incredible that really is. The story can be read in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but all end on the same note: the disciples were terrified and in wonderment of who Jesus was that even the wind and the waves stopped at his words. Think about that. You're standing in a tornado and the man with you says: "Wind. Be still." And instantly it is.

As my mother and I wondered if that cloud was a funnel cloud or not, a tornado destroyed a building 10 minutes across town. People are trapped in storms everywhere, desperately searching for some sort of peace. We may be standing in the calm for now, but someone else is battling the storm.

A lesson on Aliens

A couple weeks ago, a friend and I went and saw Super 8. I loved it; I never like sci-fi flicks, but I loved it. It wasn't trying too terribly hard to be some great sci-fi, alien rampage, end of the world insanity. It's about an alien that wants to go home (Yeah, sounds like E.T. but not, I'm aware). In fact, we never even see the alien until the movie is almost over. It's a movie about aliens that is really about the other people.


Middle School week is winding down. It's friday morning. My campers now hate my co-counselors and I I'm sure for waking them up with our rendition of rebecca black's Friday. But, today is going to be an excellent last day. I mentioned last post that there's something different down at camp. I found it: Aliens. This week's theme is Aliens. In middle school lingo it's a way to say, when we follow God, we are aliens in our culture because our home is elsewhere than Earth.


It is amazing to watch these kids work out that truth. That we are different, that we are not of this world. There's a Thrice song that gets me everytime with the words:

No point in putting roots too deep when I'm movin' on

Not settling for this unsettling town

My Heart is filled with songs of forever

A city that endures when all it made new

I know I don't belong here

I'll never call this place my home

I'm just passing through

I have roots. I have roots in this world. I have things and people and places I've rooted my hope and my trust and my faith deeply into. God is one of those things. He's even the biggest. But I still have roots in the world, because, to be completely honest, it's hard to pull all those roots out. Funny how we might just be a little like Super 8. We're just trying to get home - but, unless we pull out our roots, the world won't even see our alien side until its almost the end.

40 Days

40 Days.
That's a pretty long time when I really start to think about it. Last summer, I spent exactly 40 days at Camp Ne-O-Tez. Otherwise fondly referred to by many of my friends at home as God Camp or "that one place you go all summer." I had intended to post this before I left, but, ah well, change of plans (Let's be honest, I procrastinated - on the upside I have my laptop for school reasons and intend to post periodically).

This summer I'm not spending nearly 40 days down here. Those 40 days included a week as a camper, 3.5 weeks as a counselor, one week wasing dishes, and a couple random extra days that topped it off at 40.

Biblically Appropriate? I thought so.

Here I am, Day One (well, technically two) of camp. I'm up early to do a little work for my online class before all the excitement starts for the day.

Last summer, I learned quite a bit. 40 Days prepared me to leave for college. It took me out of my own, Kelsey-revolving world, and let me focus on God and the campers. I did quite a few different jobs, I counseled, I camped, I washed dishes, I assisted the cooks, I played nurse for a couple days, and I helped run some activities. More importantly, I learned the value of attitude, I taught, I was a friend, I made friends, I needed friends, I enjoyed a trip to the doctor, I cleaned, I sweated, and I saw God.

When I think of seeing God, I think of being down here in this valley, not the top of some mountain somewhere. It's not a perfect valley, the bugs can be bad, last night was hot and humid, so sleeping was a little rough, but something is different here. Last summer, I breathed that something different.


40 Days. I think Jesus in the desert being tempted. I think 40 days of fasting. I'm thinking maybe last summer's 40 days was my fast from the "real world" to be in touch with a different world, and that I came out of it ready to handle anything.

I anticipate great things this summer. I hope you do too and come along for my journey.

Motivated by Curiosity

When I was 3, my mother was desperate to put in into pre-school. Okay, maybe not desperate, but she was fairly eager. I don't blame her; I was probably somewhat of a handful with my incessant monologues.
I remember liking preschool pretty well. Mother tells me that one day I came running out of school very excited and I exclaimed to her: "Mom! I did something I've never done before!"
Pleased that I was expanding horizons, she asked what that was.
"I sat in time-out!"

Yes. I was pretty proud of this. I was not so proud in middle school when I recieved a detention for the first time, but that's another story entirely. For the most part, I remember preschool, elementary school, junior high, and even high school pretty fondly. I always did find homeschooling intriguing; I even thought about trying it (for about .05 seconds) when I started 8th grade.

Last night, a new "schooling" concept caught my eye, Unschooling.
Google it for awhile and you'll find an interesting array of results, but here's your basics:
1. No structure, lesson plans, or textbooks
2. The kids pick their interests and learn that way
3. The parent does not force learning
4. the kid decides what's best for the kid

It's a curious idea. It appears to be a great theory; I'm just not sure about how well it works in practice.

Some moms end up with very curious, intelligent, and motived children. But, I can't help but wonder how many are more like this blogger suggests.

I did pretty well in school (still do). I spend free time reading articles and studying up on random areas of psychology. But, this is a new development in my life. Yes I was curious when I was younger, but I'm thinking I would have been an unschooler who sat with a box on my head for 3 hours and then watched some tv.

The reason I hesitate to say that letting a child's interest and curiosity motivate learning is simple. I love piano. I could talk music longer than just about any other subject I know. But, my study of music should be attributed to a structured lesson plan and coursework. When I do not have lessons, I never accomplish any pieces (this is based on what happened everytime I was between teachers....which means I looked at the piano and said: gee, I really like piano. And then watched some more tv). Without someone pushing me, I do not make much progress in the musical world.

My curiosity on this matter is great; my concern is rather simple. What about the unschoolers who don't show much interest? What about the unschooler who is exceptional at math but cannot write intelligently? How well can these kids do in college and the workplace where there are restrictions and expectations? Do these parents ensure a well-rounded education?

I am all for fostering curiosity and discovery. Which is what proponents of unschooling call "natural learning." Most children will be naturally curious and want to explore and learn, but is that enoguh to thrive in our society? I acknowledge our school system is flawed, but will this help?

Traditional schooling forced me to take a variety of classes I was compeltely uninterested in, but I would consider myself a better person for it. I know more about life and the world than just what interests and effects me, and that counts for a little in life.

In Preschool new experiences excited me. Getting put in time-out excited me. Can this enthusiasm be channeled effectively into a model of schooling unlike anything most of us grew up with experiencing?

Made into What?

Guilty Pleasure Secret #18: In my spare time, I enjoy watching MTV's Made.

That's right kids, I have been home from college for 1.5 weeks and have already wasted several hours on this show.

Today on the show, they hosted a Made dance competition - pitting 3 teens who have zero dance experience against each other on their quest to gaining skills in the hip-hop arena.

As the last girl gets ready, he coach describes her progress:

"When we first met, she was so shy. She was a goody-goody, the Deacon's daughter. She was known more for her faith than anything else."

He says this like it's some horrible insult to be known for your faith. But, sure enough, she strutted her way onto the stage in shorts that might make your neighborhood volleyball star jealous. When it came time for her to comment on her newfound confidence, she states that:

"If being confident is being sassy and sexy - then I'm okay with that."

I am all for dreams and wanting to expand your abilities. But, the peopleo n this show act as though being known for her faith and they equate a sexy attitude with having confidence. When did this become the case? Better yet, why are so many Christians okay with and embracing it?

Intersection Improvement?

Patience is a virtue.

Periodically, this becomes my mantra in life because I am not, in fact, patient. I like life to run on my schedule and my plan. Tonight, I was out driving with a friend and we were stuck at a red light. Cars waited on our side and across the intersection while the lanes with a green light had absolutely no one driving in them. I hate nights like that - sometimes I seriously contemplate just gunning it and hoping no cops are in the area. But, then I found this picture.We could have used this.

Happiness Is Never Grand

In high school, I was a bit of a nerd. Okay, probably an understatement, but I like to try and salvage my dignity every now and then. English happened to be my favorite classes, but I won't bore all two of you who read this with excessive intellectual nonsense (plus, that would take effort and I'm a low effort kind of kid). Moving on.

On of my favorite books is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It's a classic, a little controversial, and definately a paradigm challenger - all the qualities I need in a novel.

Lately, I've been pondering happiness and success. Or, better put - what really matters in life.

Huxley writes:
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a good struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."

Happiness is never grand.
So then, my question is, what does happiness look like? Your turn to ponder.