you, too?

There is comfort in seeing yourself in someone else.

Maybe it comes from knowing you’re not the first one who’s made that mistake. Maybe it lets you know your taste isn’t as strange as you thought. Maybe it’s just part of being human, one of 7 billion in the world -- no two exactly alike, but not altogether different, either.

Tell me what you think about...

Spanking -- a psychologist on the news just advised spankers to seek professional help "because it is available."

Christians making and/or enjoying melancholy and/or explicit art (visual, music, literature) -- because Joy Williams, former CCM artist, is the female half of The Civil Wars.
*By "art" I mean, of course, works of creative notoriety that are not vulgar for shock factor, but truly seek to portray some aspect of human experience.

The state of "Christian music"

Technology in education

WIC vouchers being accepted by fast food establishments -- because it's a possibility.

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Instead of continuing to flood my twitter followers with opinion, I decided to move all of these to blog-land. Please feel free to say what you really think, even if you feel the need to comment anonymously.
Thanks!

lame-o shout-out

Just a moment of simple pleasure here, with excessive exclamation points...

I LOVE looking at my little "live feed" over there and seeing visits from other countries! I love that I have friends who are obedient to God and sacrifice part of their 20-somethings to be far, far away! I love that we can keep up with each other this way!

Thanks for reading, you overseas-dwellers!

rant. shameless rant.

Before you read this, I want you to know that I don't hate being single. I enjoy sitting on my couch at night with a good book and a cup of hot tea (or pint of ice cream). I don't mind the freedom to do what I want, when I want, and with whom I want. I love the solitude, the chance to finally catch my breath and figure out who I am when nobody's watching. BUT it seems that people my age are starting to think they should get married. I guess that's not a bad idea, if that's what you're into.

Here's my question: What exactly qualifies a person to make this decision? Because when I look around at the people I know who are committing their lives to each other (not all of them, but some), I have to wonder what exactly it takes to be considered a good future spouse.

I log into facebook and see wedding pictures of a boy who in the fourth grade said "oh look, that homely girl can play the piano." And yes, he said that to my face. to. my. face. I know that was a long time ago and people do change, but let's face it, who you essentially are as a child doesn't change too terribly much. God may work in your life, but the self you will be fighting on the day you die is the same self you were born with. There are many exceptions, but people who aren't nice kids don't usually grow up to be especially kind adults, either.

And then there are the oddballs. You know, those people who are pathetically awkward and generally outcasts. The high-maintenance girl, the overbearing boy, the one who's dated 6 people in the last two years but is suddenly ready to settle down... Yet someone thinks it's a nice idea to live with them forever. Do you get my point? It just makes me wonder, that's all.

I know a lot of you really are made for each other, and I couldn't be happier for you. I don't think there's anything more beautiful in life than a healthy marriage; it's the ultimate picture of our relationship with Christ. I hope one day I have the joy of being a wife, and even now I'm learning to be a better Bride to my Savior. Being perfect is by no means a requirement, because none of us are perfect. Thank God for grace and mercy in dealing with me -- I need to show more of those in my relationships.

But seriously... Why all these crazy people gettin married to each other?!

perspective on a paper napkin

I am a liar.

I don’t make a habit of saying things that aren’t true. I assume things that haven’t yet become true, and I think that is just as much a lie as saying “no” when I mean “yes.” I am lying to myself.

"Apt E"

New song! Inspired by a couple of true stories, and some not so true.

let's play a game!

I'm going to tell you a story. Listen [read] closely and don't miss a single detail. Then tell me what you think it means. When I read allegory, I always wonder if I get what I'm supposed to, but usually the author is dead. This is an exercise in reading allegory. You have to figure out what the story means. Tell me what you think, and I'll tell you if you got it right. 

Long May You Run...

“Becca, you look like a hippie!”

I laughed with my friend as I passed him on my bicycle. I was sporting blue jeans with a t-shirt, Mary Janes, and curly blonde hair. “Thanks, I kind of feel like a hippie!” I wondered if his remark was comment or compliment, and I secretly hoped he found hippies attractive. I kept replaying the encounter in my mind as I made my way to the library with the complete works of Shakespeare. I plopped down in a back corner and set to work with a sixty-four ounce Nalgene bottle, baked potato chips, and Neil Young.

Of course my friend didn’t know what I had in my backpack and where I was going, but I’m sure he could have guessed as much. I think my face probably gave away the fact that his attention made my day.