The Quickest #7QTs That You Ever Did See!

--- 1 ---

I'm sick today. Like full out fever, cold when it's hot outside, and needing to stay in bed all day.

Expect, being sick when you're an extrovert is the actual worst. If you want to come play, I won't be opposed.

--- 2 ---

Since I'm sick, this will be the quickest quick takes...that you ever did see!

Yes, this is a child's song from camp. Yes, it is in my head. And, no, it is not fun while being sick.

--- 3 ---

Last week I got to run around NYC and pretend like I lived there. It was awesome. Shout out to team NYC & Columbia for generously letting me stay with them!

After REACH | nyc was over, I stayed a few days to play. The missionaries were very busy Friday, so I took the day to sleep in and explore. I'd never been to the NY Public Library, so I spent most of my day there wandering the halls and rooms and exhibits. It was great.

--- 4 ---

While I was in NY, I got asked for directions 5 different times. Apparently, I looked like a local. For the longest time I've wanted to move to NYC, but after being there for a week, I don't know anymore. I missed nature too much. I think Colorado has spoiled me.

--- 5 ---

My dream came true when I got to see Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp in If/Then.

This show was incredible: it follows Idina's character's life after she makes a decision and shows you the way her life would have been different based upon which simple decision she made. I loved every second of it.

--- 6 ---

During my alone day, I went and saw Matilda. It was so. good. Think big production musical with amazing singing and dancing and technical work, then add ridiculously talented children.

I've been listening to the soundtrack on repeat for the past week.

--- 7 ---

Today is Carol's birthday. Happy birthday, Carol!!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Deeper Conversations: How to Connect with Others (New Post on the FOCUS Blog)

Heyyo!

I've written another post up on the FOCUS Blog today.

It's about how to really talk to others, and a little bit on why we want to be known and loved.

image via.

I'd just love it if you went it checked it out.

Peace!

Just Say Hello

A few weeks ago, I was visiting Emily in Chicago, pretending to live the city life. I was so happy - we took the bus and the train and cabs all day. And yet, as we wandered through the forest made up of bricks and windows and street lights, I noticed that we all seem to be scared of each other. No one made eye contact. No one said hello. No one acknowledged the homeless veteran asking for a sandwich, or even thought about acknowledging the man talking to himself on the train.

Flash forward to last weekend. My mom came to visit me, so we drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park to hike and just be in the wilderness. Every person we passed on the trails smiled, said hello, and asked how we were doing. It was really nice to be acknowledge, and we even ended up making a few friends. 

I was so struck by the stark contrast between the two.

I think there is a lesson to be learned from the friendly hikers on the trail. When we disconnect from the busy and from our technology, we can begin to see and acknowledge one another. We can begin to see that really, we're all just souls searching for happiness, and hoping we will find love and companions along the way. If we just say hello, we let people know that they are someone worth acknowledging. 

Instead of complaining about our disconnected, technological world, it's time we do something about it. I believe that small acts of kindness can change the world. So this week as I wander the halls of the office, and the streets of Denver, I will be putting down my phone and sharing the simple kindness of "hello," with a smile. Will you join me?

[Currently]

Reading: Paper Towns, by John Green.

image via.

Watching: Lots of Jimmy Fallon clips on YouTube. This is one of my favorites:

Wearing: Boots, boots, and more boots. Especially dresses with my boots. I love fall.

image via.

Drinking: Loose leaf tea from Davids Tea. Specifically: cinnamon rooibos chai, pumpkin chai, and queen of tarts.

image via.

Feeling: Wanderlust. For big cities.

image via.

Writing: About what moves me for the FOCUS Blog. The answer surprised me.

Praying: Morning Prayer. The praise of the psalms have been making my heart swell each morning.

image via.

Making: The final play by play for my roommates wedding this weekend.

Pondering: How I can be kinder in my daily life.

image via.

Anticipating: Site visit planning trip to Nashville and my mom's visit next week.

Tell Me: How are you, currently?

Snake Bites and Suffering

A reflection from last Sunday's First Reading. Numbers 21:4B-9.

Ok, first things first. We have to set up this story by remembering that the Israelites were enslaved to the Egyptians for a really, really long time. God's heart hurts for his people, so he sends Moses to "let my people go, HUHHHHH, YEA YEA YEA YEA!!!!!!!!"

Moses gets them out of Egypt (AKA frees them from SLAVERY), but then they have to travel through the desert. The Israelites are pretty whiny and seem to immediately forget that they have been FREED FROM SLAVERY BY GOD, so they start complaining against God. Which pretty is dumb. So God sends them some snakes. 

The Israelites are getting pretty upset because they keep getting bitten by snakes and dying. They repent, and ask Moses to talk to God, because dying from snake bites is not cool. Moses agrees, so he asks God to take away the snakes - to take away their suffering. 

God doesn't take away the snakes, but instead tells Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. If anyone gets bit by a snake, they just have to look at the bronze snake, and they'll live! Hooray! Everyone hugs each other and they walk off into the promised land, never to offend God again. (LAWLZ. I'm kidding. The Israelites were the worst.)

What I love about this passage is it is proof that God hears our prayers, and he answers them! But...he doesn't answer prayers how we expect him to. I think what God does in this story is even more beautiful. Instead of taking their suffering away, he gives them a way to overcome it. 

Now, instead of God working the miracle of making snakes disappear, he works a greater one. He transforms their suffering into a way for his people to grow closer to him. Every time an Israelite gets bit by a live snake, they have to look at the bronze snake and they get to remember the miracle God has provided them. Their suffering gives them an opportunity to fix their eyes back on God.

So today, as I suffer through my email (and probably other small things), I will choose to look up at the bronze serpent and remember the miracles God has preformed in my life.

On Nuns in the Airport

The last two times I've flown, I've left Denver on a Saturday morning. This Saturday was just as bad as the last. People walked slower than glacier, and took up the entire hall. They presented baggage claim tickets to the TSA instead of a boarding pass, and they had no idea why they had to take off their shoes and things out of their pockets. Guys, this has been the policy for the past 13 years. None of this is new. All of this, and more, happened at DIA this weekend. If I can help it, I'm never going to travel on a Saturday again. 

So there I am, riding up the escalator instead of walking because the guy in front of me is taking up the entire thing. I'm irritated, but I'm not going to be late for my flight so I'm trying, but miserably failing, to choose love and instead of harboring hate in my heart. I weave through more leisure travelers and sigh when I approach my gate. 

Then I see her.

A beautiful nun, in a full, navy habit. She has a white wimple, and a black veil.

image via.

Without thinking, I walk up to her and call, "hello, Sister!"

We talked for maybe two minutes. At the end of the conversation, she asked for my name and promised that she and all her sisters would offer their rosary for me that night.

I walked away with a little skip in my step, and I completely forgot my airport woes.

All my airport woes were just fixed by chatting with a FULL (and I mean full) habited nun who said she'd pray her rosary for me today.
— Michelle Lippoli (@MichelleLippoli) September 13, 2014

I don't know her name, and I never will. But when I saw her across the airport, I sensed the peace, love, kindness, hope, and joy that radiated out of her. And in just under two minutes, she transferred all that and more to me.

That was a gift that Blessed Mother Teresa had. She a remarkable ability to make every. single. person. she encountered feel like they were the most important person on Earth in the moments she was with them. She was so filled with Jesus that just in being who she was, others felt the transforming power of his love.

image via.

I want to be like that.

Jesus, make me be so filled with your love that when others encounter me they no longer see me, but only you.

#7QTs on DG, Travel, & Cats with Instruments

--- 1 ---

My first ever post went up on the FOCUS Blog today! If you haven't yet, head on over there and check it out! It promises a list of fun things to do, wit (according to my friend Joanna), an image of me pieing my friend Amy in the face, and a little kid in a big hat.

Here's a quote from it for your previewing pleasure: "If you focus on making memories with your new friend, not just trying to awkwardly force conversation over a latte, trust and community will spring out of the fun. "

--- 2 ---

I think we've all discovered new blogs to read via the #7QTs link up, but have you ever discovered the blog of someone that you know!? That happened to me last Friday after I linked up with Jen. 

--- 3 ---

Do you live in NYC?? Do you know someone who lives in NYC? Will you happen to be in NYC on October 16? Then you should probably come to REACH | nyc. Or invite your friends to come. Or both!

The Events Team has started helping with FOCUS' REACH prayer breakfasts, and I am so excited. Our first one is about one month away in, you guessed it, NYC! I'm freaking out a little bit because I love New York and not only do I get to go, I get to plan an event there. Dreams really do come true, people. Everyone should also be aware that I might never come back. You've been warned.

--- 4 ---

Last weekend, Saint Louis University held their formal recruitment. My sister is a senior in DG there, and 5 (five!!!) of my former campers went through recruitment at SLU. I've known some of these girls since they were 12 (wut).

#doublesisters

It was fun to talk to Steph all weekend about recruitment, but the best news came on Monday...four of the girls went DG!

Some had been in my cabin, others I taught in show choir, and one was a neighbor and camp friend. 

Smoon had a lot of these girls in her cabin and as CILTs, so she was equally excited to add so many beautiful faces to the CT DG Family. We wanna make shirts. 

ITB, ladies, and welcome aboard!

--- 5 ---

Tomorrow starts my fall stint of travel. On the list is KC (x3), Chicago, Nashville, NYC, and Atlanta! The great news about that is I've never been to Georgia...taking me up to 23 states! We've got two more to go, people. DC might be added to the list, and if it is, I can probably make it up to 24 states. I'd also be traveling every other week for the next two months, which is crazy.

--- 6 ---

My friends Cait, Becky, & Mallory are going to watch Kat while I'm gone this week. They're amazing. But what's even more amazing are these pictures of cats playing instruments that Cait put on the facebook.

AHHHHHHH

--- 7 ---

Hey, if you haven't done this yet, I'd really love it if you hopped on over to the Facebook and liked My Life (In Lists)'s page.

Happy Friday, friends!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!