The Labyrinth

Sorry to you faithful followers.... I actually forgot that I had a blog to post on. Whoops.

I suppose a lot has happened since my last post.... but I don't think anyone wants to hear a play by play of my life. If you do, you can call and I would love to fill you in.

This morning for my class we went to a Catholic Church that has an outdoor labyrinth. Think maze on the ground but with no dead ends - just a path to the center that you take both in and out. The purpose of the labyrinth is to give one a chance to mediate on God. One way of approaching it is to "release" on the way in, giving God all of your stresses and worries and concerns, ask to receive something while in the center, and focus on reviewing and implementing it in your life while walking out of the labyrinth.
It was a great concept.... though kind of a tough situation - the middle of the city, near a construction zone, cold, and our whole class of like 25 people was there, doing it all at the same time so we were kind of tripping over each other and you could only go as fast as the person in front of you, causing some back-ups. And, unfortunatly, I got dizzy. But I think it was because of so many people moving so many different directions while I was trying to focus only on myself and the small path in front of me. Maybe I should do it by myself sometime.

However, I love the idea of doing something meditative to bring myself back into God's presence. That is for sure lacking for me while I'm here.... it is rough staying plugged in.

Well, on that note, today is a rather overwhelming day.... I feel like I have so much work to do and I can only feel the hours and the days slipping away. Will everything get done?? I know, one thing at a time..... but sometimes it is tough figuring out what one thing to start with.

Guess I should go start somewhere....

Missing you.

I'm sorry world, but for some reason I have not felt inclined to post. Not that things aren't happening, maybe it is just that they aren't things I think the world would love to hear.

And I have to write two pages after every internship day, so that kind of sucks my writing spirit right out. I haven't even been writing in my real, paper and pen journal. So don't feel left out.

I am missing all of my Michigan friends terribly....
I think it might be a day for another one of Anika's packages. She sent me this wonderful box with seperatly wrapped "survival kits" for different types of days. It is wonderful! One of them is for when I'm about to leave the city. Can you believe it? I have to let that package stare me in the face for the next 3 months. Haha, but don't worry, I can do it. I love you, Anika! Thanks for being great.

Internship summary: Still shadowing. Supposed to meet my own case-load clients soon, but I'm not sure I'm ready. Might even do it today, ready or not. Learning how to help people obtain jobs - resume updating, cover letters, interview skills, job search websites and the newspaper classifeds, etc. Thank you, John Beck! Glad I spent a little time with him on campus!

Classes summary: Homework. Reading. Lots of reading for my classes. I had to make a Learning Contract for use throughout my internship, and it ended up being pretty cool. A 4 page list of goals for the next 3 months. Some of them are things I have to do anyways for the job, others are things on top of that that I can log more hours for. Anyways, it should be pretty good.

Living summary: I suppose I still haven't put up pictures. I am living with 2 girls from Calvin... both from the west Michigan area. Guess I haven't left my bubble as much as I had hoped to.... Though they don't fit the West Michigan mold.

Weather summary: Cold. So cold. We had a warm couple days last week, but it is sure chilly. Although, the sun shines almost daily, so that is a blessing. It just doesn't reach between the buildings to warm the earth. But it sure is pretty when you look up into the sky! Oh, and windy. Maybe that is the worst. I hate the wind.

God summary: God is showing me a lot. Teaching me a lot. Teaching me how to love his children no matter their circumstances. It isn't always easy and I'm still not sure how to handle the homeless beggers (or even the ones who are not begging and simply sitting on the streets), but I can see a little piece of God's beauty in them. I turn my head far too often, but I think I am learning how to love them. I'll let you know if I ever come up with a solution. I'm up for suggestions.

Well, I need to figure out what I'm doing today.
Miss you Michiganders terribly.
Love you all.

Overwhelmed.

That's how I'm feeling right now. I think I am forming a new appreciation for people who lead very busy lives. I'm hoping that it is just taking me time to get into a rhythm. Once I find my rhythm, I should be fine. But for now, I feel like I'm sinking. But I promise I won't drown.

Internship has been great! I am learning a lot and am loving getting to know people. The worst part about it? The commute. It takes about an hour each way.... and, unfortunatly, I need my car so I cannot just read while I'm on the train or the bus. I have to pay close attention to traffic. Which, I believe, is partly why I am so exhausted when I get home. Up early, get ready to go, internship, home, make dinner, want to go to bed. Like I said, I need to find a rhythm to get everything else done - like the loads of homework that I'm going to have here very soon.

For my internship I am meeting with members (aka, clients) to help them with the whole job process. Updating resumes, teaching and helping to fill out applications and perform job searches, preparing for interviews, etc. I think I'll eventually also be doing job developing, which means going to businesses and trying to build relationships with them so that one day they are comfortable accepting members from Thresholds onto their staff. I don't quite feel qualified as, well, I've really only had one real job interview in my life. But, alas, I am doing my best. So far, I'm still shadowing other people. Soon I'll be getting my own case load. Scary. But kind of cool at the same time. I've also been attending a lot of meetings. About everything. Been good.

As for the driving in the city part.... well, I think I was born to drive in the city. Haha, I can cut them off with the best of them. ;-) Nah, not too intimidating so far. I just have to allow PLENTY of time to get anywhere. As fast as life moves in Chicago, traffic does not keep up. It is exceptionally slow. Can anyone else figure this out??

Yesterday a group of us walked around the city. Started out at Millenium Park (pictures to come eventually, maybe), walked to Navy Pier, dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co., back to the apartment, and then back out to walk along the beach a little. The cold, frozen beach, but still, it was grand. The beach is about a 3 minute walk from my apartment. Can't beat that!
So, as I was standing on the lakeshore, everyone else meandered on a bit while I hung back and I listened to the soft, gentle waves lapping up on the shoreline. It was so peaceful. Amist the noise of the city (and there is always noise!), how do you find the quiet to hear the voice of God?

"Be still and know that I am God."

Busy busy busy....

I know I need up update. I will. I promise. So busy. But things are going well. Internship is good.... I'll tell you more about it later. Life is crazy. And classes haven't already started yet. Ahhh!!! I think I'm still trying to get used to it, though, because I have been exhausted. I hope that I get used to it and am able to stay up after 10:30 at night again. Haha. Anywho, gotta jet off to a fine arts event... some type of dance thing! More to come (hopefully)!