10 Books That Mean Something

A while ago I wrote a post about songs that mean something to me. I think it's about time for another list like that, so here are my thoughts on 10 books.

~"Here's to Hindsight" by Tara Leigh Cobble: This memoir really came out of nowhere. Although Cobble is a pretty well-known Christian singer/songwriter, I had never heard of the book. It actually just happened to catch my eye one day at the bookstore and I ended up buying it. The easy-going conversation feel to each page caught my interest instantly and I could relate to the stories and lessons Tara shares. It has become one of my favorites that I would (and do) gladly share with friends.


~"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck: I've said this before and I'll say it again: I never knew that sounding manly and poetic at the same time was possible, but Steinbeck proves it is. I'm a big fan as I could pretty much love anything he's written.


~"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares: Cheesy, I know, but I can't help but love this series. Brashares captures the heart of friendship and creates characters who are well-developed and easy to love.


~"Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne: I can't say too much about the plot line since it's better if you don't know before you start reading this. So, all I will say is that it got me thinking about an old topic in a new way. The ending is amazing and even though I never cry while reading, this book made me tear up.


~"The Giver" by Louis Lowery: Best utopian novel I've ever read! It kept me guessing and turning pages. Plus, it's kid friendly : )


~"Perelandra" by C.S. Lewis: As Lewis is one of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time, it's difficult to choose just one book of his to put on this list. However, this is the one I'd have to say right now. Though I hated "Out of the Silent Planet," the first in this science trilogy, this one is amazing. The reason I know this: I read it over half a year ago and I still think about it on a daily basis.


~"Nocturne" by Adam Rapp: A play that was pretty much the highlight of my summer. It's a sad story and not really that strong plot-wise, but I absolutely loved Rapp's writing. This is a man who understands the power of words.


~"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson: Not a book I necessarily recommend because of its subject, but it was a well-written, haunting story that has stuck with me.


~"Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott: Best book on writing I've ever read, and believe me, I've read quite a few!


~"Blue Like Jazz" (and really any other book) by Donald Miller: He is a conversationalist who I honestly feel like I know. Miller makes difficult topics seem simple and says simple things in deep ways. Definitely worth your time, even when you don't agree with everything!


There's my list. What books are on yours?

Who Is Your Neighbor?

I am the human waking up each morning in a house just like yours. I am the baby crying in the stroller you passed on the sidewalk. I am the restless teenager searching for meaning and the teacher attempting to open eyes. I’m the tired and the dreaming, the lazy and the bored. I am the one working hard to get what I want -money, attention, power. I am the longing. The single mom living in constant chaos. The soldier risking life in a far off land. The business man sitting in an office day in and day out. I am the poor, the oppressed, the rich, and greedy. I am the man you pass by every day without noticing. The struggling artist settling for quantity instead of quality. I am the quiet and the humble, the bold and outspoken. I am the sick. I am the girl walking your campus halls alone. The guy you think has it all together. I am the loving and the unloved. The peaceful and the impatient. I am one who thinks I’m not enough. I am the broken. The sinful.

And yet... I'm the one He loves. The created being. The unique, blameless, and blessed. I am the cared for and the righteous. He died for me.

Who is your neighbor? I am.

Thoughts on Images

"Not my idea of God, but God. Not my idea of H., but H. Yes, and also not my idea of my neighbor, but my neighbor. For don't we often make this mistake as regards people who are still alive -who are with us in the same room? Talking and acting not to the man himself but to the picture -almost the precis- we've made of him in our own minds? And he has to depart from it pretty widely before we even notice the fact. In real life -that's one way it differs from novels- his words and acts are, if we observe closely, hardly ever quite 'in character,' that is, in what we call his character. There's always a card in his hand we didn't know about." - A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is it possible to miss someone more when they are right beside you than when they’re gone? When they are exactly where you’ve wished for them to be for so long, but something’s missing. When you’re close enough, you could reach out and touch them, but you don’t. And the words you’ve recited over and over again in your mind won’t come. Is it possible to long so deeply for closeness with someone that you will always be disappointed with your actual distance? When no one lives up to the standards in your dreams and all that you find when you look around are broken images.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them." - Jeremiah 10:14 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This summer I went to a dance show at Millennium Park in Chicago. The dancers were amazing artists who performed well and were a pleasure to watch. I sat with my mom and sister in one of the front rows, but when we got up to leave a bit early, something caught my attention: a huge crowd of people were sitting in front of the large screen set up for people to see better from a distance. However, these people were not far from the actual stage, in fact turning their heads a little to the left would have given them a great view. Instead of enjoying the real thing, these fans preferred mere images.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." - Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have seen the true Image, why settle for worshipping anything less?

I Feel Most Myself When...

~ I am snuggled into the backseat of a mini van with headphones in

~ There are photos of friends and family nearby

~ I am at Malenovice during a Josiah Venture conference

~ Donald Miller, C.S. Lewis, John Steinbeck, and Ann Brashares books are on my shelf

~ Walking the loop around campus with my roommate

~ Watching Elizabethtown, Dan in Real Life, old sit-com reruns, or Lost

~ I'm a part of a large crowd and can observe other people

~ I am drinking a Tazo Passion Shaken Iced Tea at Starbucks

~ Listening to The Weepies, John Mayer, The Fray, Regina Spektor, or Missy Higgins

~ Swimming laps or ice skating

~ Writing poems late at night

~ I am wearing my Rocket Dogs, a hoodie, and jeans

~ Walking on cobblestone roads and eating a caramel Magnum ice cream bar

~ Splitting a piece of Adam's Peanut Butter Ripple Cheesecake with my brother

~ Helping my mom make cereal snacks or Swedish hardbread

~ Worshiping God at a church with stained glass windows and old steeples

~ People around me are speaking different languages or at least have accents

~ Shopping on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago

~ Sitting in the audience of a play (especially when my sister is in it)

~ Studying something new that challenges the way I think

A Day Like Today

On a day like today the weather decides to calm down and give us what we love about Fall. Waking up early to go to breakfast feels more like a treat than a chore. The test in that surprisingly challenging class is ready to be aced and the scarf you threw on this morning gets you a lot of compliments. You have enough free time to get ahead in your homework, to mark tasks off of your to-do list, and even watch a cheesy movie on YouTube. The emails in your inbox give you the opportunities to serve others, attend fun events, and hang out with your wing. The weekend is coming and although you have nothing planned you know it'll be a good one. Work is slow, but the time goes fast anyway because people you haven't seen for a while come by to chat. Meals in the cafeteria are better than normal and the group at your table makes you laugh. The semester is in full swing, you should be tired but aren't, and Fall Break is coming soon! On a day like today, I'm happy that it's Fall.