National Visit a Museum Day

Lately my life has felt too routinized. Each day seems like a prescriptive formula with the same imputs, outputs, and even variables. My heart has felt trapped by obligations and commitments, and extremely bound by time. I'm anxious for a little adventure. I am talking about the kinds you see the movie, where all your senses are heightened and you're caught up in magic and beauty unfolding before your eyes. You are not limited by you own inhibition, and your mind is allowed to run without exhaustion. Your resourcefulness, creativity, and (wo)manliness are at the forefront of your superpowers.... Until then, I have to make do with the one or two hours of play and exploration I have each week.

To celebrate Adventure and National Visit a Museum Day, here are something happening around San Diego to experience, get caught up in the adventure of these activities:

1) Hillcrest Open Air Market/Farmers Market- Every Saturday... If you love Wednesday Farmer's Market in OB try this one for variety
2) Free Admission to the Natural History Musuem at Balboa on Tuesday's
3) Ingrid Michaelson is playing at the House of Blues Wednesday, November 5th- 15.00 for tickets
4) Yoga In the Park: Group convenes every Tuesday in Redwood Circle (at Sixth Avenue and Balboa Drive). Bring mat or blanket, towel, water. 858-412-7836. Cost is $7.00
5) Taste of Liberty Station- Wednesday at Liberty Station to raise money for education (Point Loma High School, High Tech High School, etc)- Live music 4:30-6:00pm. Cost is $8.00


Just a few ideas... among many others:)

Water

Water...a resource we take for granite far too often. We turn on the facet and expect the water to run. But the day be approaching, earlier than we are ready, for water to be scarce. Water is an intrinsic part of most spiritual beliefs and is central to Christianity. Babylonian mythology states that the gods, and subsequently all beings, arose from the fusion of both salt water (Tiamat) and sweet water (Apsu). The holy books of the Hindus explain that all the inhabitants of the earth emerged from the primordial sea. Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, was born of the sea. At the beginning of the Judeo-Christian story of creation, the spirit of God is described as "stirring above the waters," and later, God creates "a firmament in the midst of the waters to divide the waters" (Genesis 1:1-6). The water and act of baptism is the link between life and purification. All throughout the New Testament God is flowing ceaselessly as the water of life and restoring His people. As Christians we need to protect the purity of water and care for the resources God has given us through sustainability.

This is NOT a republican issue, nor is it solely the democrats responsibility either. This growing world water crisis is a matter of the people. By the year 2025, the population of the world is estimated to increase from 6.4 billion to 8.4 billion. At that time, 3.4 billion people could live in countries where water is scarce. The supply of water is becoming less accessible and those providing it are able to demand more money in return.

There is an opportunity for you to learn more about this. October 2nd at Balboa a documentary called water is being shown at 6:30pm in the Natural Science Museum. It's won multiple awards, including one from Sun Dance. If you are interested in attending, or just the crisis on hand, you can learn more at www.flowthefilm.com.

Other happenings this week... It's spiritual renewal week. So this is the perfect time to be talking about water and it's power. I hope all of you go to the Prayer Path in Brown one night this week and take some time to refocus. I'm praying for each of you!

MY ROOMMATE, BRITTA TURNER, IS PLAYING AT TIME OUT THIS WEEK (AFTER TIMEOUT IN THE PBC). GO CHECK HER OUT. SHE IS AN AMAAAAAZING MUSICIAN AND REALLY HOT TO WATCH!

Time

Two things have been on my heart this weekend... Time and a lack of time. It always fascinates me that we allow ourselves be defined by years, months, days, minutes- chromos, or time defined by the world. We allow ourselves to be embonded by our commitments at certain TIMES of day. At school and work we have deadlines that are TIME imperative. In our extra-circular life we tasks and activities that are TIME intensive. We fill our plates with one activity after another and instead of saying no to new challenges we find ourselves adding more commitments to our ever-ending list. And sometimes these obligations get in the way of the most important part of life- relationships. There is this dynamic contrast of how we define time and God's time. I've always wondered how we separate ourselves from the way the world defines time and allowing God' time to dictate my life instead. We've ALL been here and we will continue to come back to this obstacle in our lives. My challenge to you this week is to question all of your activities and priorities. As we are beginning to fill our plates because of all the new opportunities the new school year presents, take a TIME OUT... and analyze whether you could realistically have the energy and TIME to pour into the relationships in your life if you added this activity.


Progressive Dinner is this Tuesday! PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE COMING or IF YOUR WANT TO HOST A COURSE! 6:00 start in 45F!
Here's what's left:
1) Mocktails- 45A
2) Appetizers- ?
3) Salad-?
4) Entree- 45H
5) Dessert/coffee/tea- 45G

What's Happening this week?
Monday-
Tuesday- Progressive Dinner @ 6:00pm beginning in 45F
Wednesday- Time Out
Thursday-Covenant Group @ 7:00pm in the Flex Lounge
Friday- Women's soccer game @ 4:15pm! Men's Soccer Game @ 6:15pm
Saturday- Volley Ball Game-SPIRIT BELL- vs. Biola 7:00pm in Golden Gymnasium!

(No) Labor Day

I don't know about you girls but the history of our American culture (and many others) fascinates me. I think it has to do something with being able to connect with societies and individuals that lived tens, hundreds, and thousands of years ago. I recently saw Sister Hood of the Traveling Pants (yes I will admit I spent my weekly allotted gas money on a silly girl movie), and one of the main characters, Bridgette, was studying anthropology and archeology in Egypt. She found a skull of an Egyptian woman from thousands of years previous. As she studied the bones, she observed that her death had been the result of unsuccessful childbearing began asking questions and wondering what was daily life like for this woman, what type of mother was she, and what were made her joyful. She felt connected to this woman, despite the gap of generations and living in completely polar societies-she found similarities.

In a similar way, just like Bridgette, the mystery of the unknown makes me search for the answers. Thus, this weekend with the celebration of labor day I began googling the tradition and history behind labor day. I've always wanted to know why this nationally proclaimed holiday is called labor day when all government institutions are not laboring. So for those who also are perplexed by this oxymoron, here is what I discovered...As the Industrial Revolution took hold of the nation during the 1880's, the average individual (including children) worked 12 hour days, seven days a week in order to provide for their families. American unions became more prominent because of the long, terrible working conditions and on September 5th, 1882 10,000 workers marched from city hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first-ever Labor Day parade. Participants took an upaid day-off to honor the workers of America, as well as vocalize issues they had with employers. As years passed, more states began to hold these parades, but Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later.


Aren't you glad you just learned THE REST OF THE STORY....)

All you need to know for the Happenings This Week (September 1st- September 7th):
Tuesday- Enjoy your pseudo monday!
Wednesday-Club Fair on caf lane after chapel. Learn about more things to put on your plate!
Thursday- Girls volleyball game 7:00pm
Superhero Bowing 9:00-11:00pm. Look for more communication from ASB
Friday- Last day to add classes for the semester
Men's soccer game 4:00-6:00pm
Sunday- Church and Enjoy your Saabath!


One Final Thing... The progressive dinner is set for Tuesday, September 16th starting at 6:00 pm! Please sign your roommates and you up for hosting a course (appetizers, salad, entree, dessert). Remember the cost is covered by the Flex Budget!

And en-light of dinner parties... the video of the week is all about my two favorite things...creating awkward public situations and dinner parties.


Have a great week girls!

Welcome Back!

Hey women of Building 45! Welcome back to campus. In talking to a few of you it sounds like your summer's were full of traveling and adventure. By now I believe I have met all of you, but for a little refresher my name is Brittany and I am the RA of this building. I am a MOCM/IDS double majoring senior:) I am so excited to meet all you this year. If you need anything, I live in 45F. You can find the toilet paper in a box outside my apartment and if you a vacuum can be checked out from my apartment in exchange for your id card.


As you prepare for Monday and the first week of classes, I hope you have time to process and reflect on the three month journey you just experienced. In order to move forward and grow as individuals, it's imperative to reflect on the struggles you've just overcome, the joy you've just felt, and the acts of love you've just witnessed. This summer I spent a month on a loveworks trip in Thailand teaching english, by myself some of the time,to fifth grade students who didn't know a word of our language.While I was there I began to understand the value and art of journaling as a self-prescribed catharsis. Reading over my journal this week, I have been able to relive my experiences there and rediscover how God's hands are always working, always molding, and always omnipresent. With all that said, I encourage you all to find a way this week to re-evaluate your summer- pros/cons, trials/joys, tears/laughs...I would love to hear about each of your summers... I am a huge coffee fan and can't wait to sip some java with each one of you this year!

Even Mulan knew the value of reflection of her past and who she wanted to become... We all can learn a lesson from Disney.




Here's a quick glance of what's going on this week:

Monday, September 25th- First Day of classes
Tuesday, September 26th- Happy Birthday Megan Libby (45H) and Mandatory Meeting @ 8:00pm in my apartment (45F)
Wednesday, September 27th- Fiesta on Caf Lane- 10:00-11:00pm
Thursday, September 28th-
Friday, September 29th- First Cross Country Meet @ UCSD! Good luck to our two little runner's Megan Moyer and
Katie Browning
Bobby B's Birthday Bash 5-7:00pm


Saturday, September 30th- Labor Day Weekend!