And They All Died!

Well I finished reading King Lear. With ten pages to go it looked like it might actually end happily ever after...but no. All but two of the main characters died in the last five pages of the book. I guess that's why it's called a tragedy.
In other news, I want to send off my last grad application on Friday. The problem is the essay. I have to condense my entire life down into a one-page, hand-written autobiographic essay, without making it sound like a resume. In it I am supposed to express who I really am, my personality, be original yet concise, and convey why I want to go there. That's not really the main thing keeping me from writing it though. The real reason is that this essay is for the school I want to go to. I'm banking my future on some 200 words that I have to come up with.
Que sera sera. It will all be done soon enough, and out of my hands.

Hope y'all had a Merry Christmas and find some trouble to get into for New Years Eve.

King Lear

My endeavor for Christmas break, besides mailing off the last of my grad applications (hooray!), is to read Shakespeare's King Lear. I bought an old set of four books of The Comedies and Tragedies of Shakespeare last year and am excited to finally have a chance to start reading them. I feel like a more well rounded person when I can read some old literature and pull my head out of my biology texts. King Lear is definitely my favorite tragedy (Romeo and Juliet is far too sappy for my taste). It is a great story of honesty and betrayal. Much to the disappointment of my parents I adhere to the philosophy that plays were written to be spoken. Therefore they suffer as I wander around the house reading Shakespeare aloud. I'm determined to culture them along with me, but they would rather have the cliff notes version. When I was forced to read Shakespearian lit in high school this website helped to get me through: Absolute Shakespeare. I'll post more on my thoughts regarding the play once I'm finished.

My genesis

One of my housemates shared from Donald Miller's book "Searching for God Knows What" earlier this year. She challenged us to write poems expressing anything really. This (and Robb's poem from bio class) really got me started writing poetry this year. Even though my poetry is pretty rough, it is one of the few ways that I truly can be open and vulnerable. This is the poem from the start of my poetry phase (more or less). Take it for what it's worth.

Where are you God,

When I cry and feel alone?

Where are you when life's burden's are too much,

When my strength can't pull me through?

You are here.

Waiting for me to look up,

To see and take your hand,

And trust in you to see me to the end.

Home for Christmas!

I apologize for neglecting my blog. It has been a very busy quarter. My classes thoroughly kicked my butt, and I am in the process of attempting to recover. People keep telling me "You are almost done" or "you're so close to finishing," but I don't find their words very convincing. If it weren't for my deep desire to make other people happy I would quit now. I'm not sure what else I would do, but certainly it would be better. Ce la vi. There are few things I am sure of right now in my live. Mainly that I belong at the church I attend, that I am supposed to be living where I do and in my role there, and that God loves me no matter what. I am still not entirely convinced that choosing to major in biology was right. At the moment English or Anthropology both sound better. My only condolence comes from Bible study a few Mondays ago. God spoke to me quite clearly through Robb and Aaron. They both shared on how God disciplines us and enduring hardships. I was reminded that God can use me exactly where I am and that he can use every situation to his glory. Maybe majoring in bio wasn't the best choice, but I can learn from it and become stronger because of it. Either way, I am home for a few weeks and free from school. Hopefully I'll be rejuvenate and have the strength to make it through at least one more quarter.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.