Falling in Love - With a Country {wk. 17}

        " Moving to the other side of the world and having a large family was never my dream or even my idea. But as I look back, I can see that God spent my whole life preparing me for the life He had planned for me - the people He placed in just the right places at the right times, and circumstances I could never fathom would eventually be for His glory. For years before I went to Uganda, I had fantasized about doing something incredible for God and others; what I have learned is that I can do nothing incredible, but as I follow God into impossible situations , He can work miracles in and through me. "
                                                ~from, Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis
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        The tone of this piece is one of realization - something everyone faces at some time in his or her life. For Katie, this realization comes in the fact that God has always had a plan for her, so why not lean on Him and fully trust Him with your future? This is something that I also am beginning to learn. The book goes on to tell of her life story - how God used her and still uses her to reach hundreds of Ugandans. She shares about her struggles through it all - one of which was teasing and misunderstanding from friends. I, too, have experienced misunderstanding about my heart for India. Some people just don't get it. One thing she experienced that I never will, though, is doubt from her parents. They didn't want to allow their daughter to go overseas, but over time God softened their hearts. In this passage, too, is a sense of no regret. She doesn't regret the decisions that were made to bring her to being a full-time, single mother of 14 girls in Uganda. Her realization has brought her closer to God, as I hope mine will in the future.

Pride and Prejudice ~ wk. 15

     " Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards for up and walked about the room. her figure was elegant, and she walked well; - but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, turning to Elizabeth, said - 'Miss Eliza Bennet,  let me persuade to take a turn about he room. - I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.'
       Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up."
                                                   ~from, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, pg. 38 and 39
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  I love the content of this passage - it brings about such an understanding of these characters! {preposition} It correctly presents Mr. Darcy as a book-wormy, seemingly boring sort of man. {preposition} Miss Bingley seems to be a divisive, snobby sort of girl -  who considers every person on the planet to have been created to do her bidding. In the end, though, she seems to always proverbially run off, hurt and disappointed. {adjective} Miss Bennet, on the other hand, is very rightly presented in this passage as a woman who's actions could be thought of as shy, yet precise and thoughtful. {adverb} Overall, this has been my favorite part of the book so far because of how well all the characters are displayed so truly. {adverb}

Poetry, week 14

AN ECHO

by Robert Pack

VOICE:                                                               ECHO:

How from emptiness can I make a start?                   START

And starting must I master joy or grief?                     GRIEF

But is there consolation in the heart?                          ART

Or cold reprieve, where’s natural relief?                    LEAF

Leaf blooms, burns red before delighted eyes.           DIES

Her beauty makes of dying, ecstasy.                         SEE.

Yet what’s the end of our long life’s disease?            EASE

If death is not, who is my enemy?                             ME

Then are you glad that I must end in sleep?               LEAP

I’d leap into the dark if dark were true.                    TRUE

And in that night would you rejoice or weep?           WEEP

What contradiction makes you take this view?          YOU

I feel your calling leads me where I go.                      GO

But whether happiness is there, you know.                NO    
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I love everything about this poem - how it has such a sense of mystery and anxiety. The mystery is in the answer to the questions; even though the author included them, they could be interpreted in so many different ways. The anxiety can be heard in the voice of the 'narrator'. He or she seems to be going through a lot of struggle in life, without their partner there to answer all these nagging questions. I believe the echo to be the quiet, almost unnoticeable answer from the friend to the troubled main character. Overall, I especially love the mystery of the poem...it kind of leaves you hanging - deep in thought.                

Poetry, due wk. 13

                                        As Life Goes Along
                                     By God, through Jacob
                                       As life goes along,
                                       It's filled with our wrong
                                       And in our reflection
                                       We see no perfection
                                        But through it all
                                        Jesus has stood tall
                                        And by His resurrection
                                        Has given us redemption.
                                               ~ From the pocket of my little bro, a 12 year old
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     I almost cried when I read this this morning! It touches me that my little brother is being led by God. He's off to a good future! The poem is totally in the perspective of a child of God, and the simplicity is awesome. Sometimes, words aren't enough - other times just a few are perfect.
     Jacob strikes a lot of people as a simplistic, quiet young man - and he can be, sometimes. But most of the time, he's jabbering endlessly about...nothing at all. He's one of the many comedians in the family. Jacob is shy, sometimes... he just walked by and asked if I was going to put 'Anonymous', but I told him I wasn't planning on it. =)
     Overall, the simplistic realization of God's grace and love vs. our imperfection displayed in this poem is inspiring to me. Especially knowing who the author is behind it.   

Mythology and adverbial clauses, wk. 11

 "     A few days after he bought the car,  he brought each of us children up to it, one at a time, raised the hood, and told us to look inside and see if we could find the birdie in the engine. While our backs where turned, he'd tiptoe back to the driver's seat - a jolly Santa Clause in mufti - and press down on the horn.

     'Kadookah, Kadookah.' The horn blaring right in your ear was frightening and you'd jump away in hurt amazement. Dad would laugh until the tears came to his eyes."
                                           ~from, Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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 My brother and I are currently reading this book together, and we laughed so long and hard over this part, I just had to share it! Not only is it absolutely hilarious, but it shows the tough love and humor that a lot of fathers have. Truthfully, this sounds kind of like something my Dad would do! He is full of surprises, especially if we have recently pulled a joke on him. Sure, he's a good sport when a joke gets pulled on him, but watch out! Overall, this passage is a perfect one for describing fathers, and my brother and I still laugh about it! 

Angel Levine w/adjectival clauses, wk. 10

 " But Bella's was bursting with strains of blues. Through the window Manischewitz recognized the dancing crowd and among them sought Levine. "..." Levine had shed his old clothes, wore a shiny new checkered suit, pearl gray derby, cigar, and big two-toned button shoes. To the tailor's dismay, a drunken gaze had settled upon Levine's formerly dignified face.
                                                                ~ from Angel Levine, by Bernard Malamud
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What!? The angel isn't an angel! I believe this piece to be the climax of the story. It is where the main character discovers that this man whom he thought was an angel sent from God isn't in fact and angel, which is absurd to him - how could he not be one? The tailor had prayed for... a deliverer of sorts, and he ended up with Levine, who was just beginning to warm up to the role of being this angel figure, sent to answer all of the tailor's prayers. Then he discovers Levine, possibly drunk, in a bar with a bunch of other men. (with a lady on his lap, and a cigar in his mouth) This just can't be! I like the emotion of this particular part of the story. 

The Introduction to the New Telemachus

  (Pallas Athena)   " 'You must not cling to your boyhood any longer-- it's time you were a man... And you, my friend--how tall and handsome I see you now--be brave, you too, so men to come will sing your praises down the years.' "

 (Telemachus, the man) " ' Oh stranger,' heedful Telemachus replied, ' indeed I will. You've counseled me with so much kindness now, like a father to a son. I won't forget a word...' "

                                                      ~ from The Odyssey, by Homer, pg. 87

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  In this section from The Odyssey, Homer, as the author, is using Athena developing the character of Prince Telemachus - the young son of long-lost Odysseus. In the begging of the book, Telemachus is just a 'little' boy, who is still so because he has lacked a fatherly figure since he was an infant. He has grown up among gentle women and rough, unrespectable men. In consideration of this, the author introduces the goddess Athena as a man, a sort of fatherly one, to encourage Telemachus into becoming a man himself - ready to protect his father's household and wife. 

      At this point in the chapter, on page 87, we see that Athena has succeeded in her mission -  making Telemachus into a man. As we leave this page, the young Prince is strong in the new courage of his manhood.