To Recap this Semester

         A friend of mine once told me a joke: "There are two kinds of people in this world, those who need closure..." as his voice trailed off I instinctively interjected "And?" But that was the whole point. There are those who need closure and this was meant to show you that you're one of them. It's very true, my life becomes extremely unnerving when I haven't received closure in different areas; ambiguity doesn't always sit well with me. I also need time to reflect on what has happened during each season of my life. So this is it, the bookend to this semester. Fall 2013 Semester is basically over.
         A mere two hours ago I walked out of a physics classroom for hopefully the last time ever. It also happened to be my last final of the semester. Aside from a couple extra credit reports that I'm trying to convince myself I should write, I am done. I have no more academic commitments for the rest of 2013, which is such a relief. This semester has been kind of rough... I averaged about 4.5 hours of sleep a night, and only had one day off (no work, no school, no orchestra) over the course of the whole semester, even over academic advising and Thanksgiving breaks I was still busy. I don't mean to make you feel sorry for me, most of it was my choice or a direct result of my choice. Meaning, I want to be at Calvin more than anywhere else in the world. I can't afford to come to Calvin without working, therefore I work about ≈25 hours a week, although it does vary. But it's tough being that busy all the time. I know "that's the life of a college student," but I'm not sure it's supposed to stress me out that much. It definitely had some detrimental effects.
         Even though I was pretty stressed, overworked and underpaid for the majority of the semester, I still managed to enjoy myself sometimes. I let the nerd flag fly: I was one of the  many who stood in line for a couple hours and one of the few that actually got into the inaugural Grand Rapids Comic Con. I got to see the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special in theatres in 3D! I wrote in Circular Gallifreyan and made my own cipher (although I never did use it for anything).

I taught my first class ever.
I wrote my own case study of a learner who struggles in school.
I had class for 12 straight hours once.
My calling to teach was confirmed above and beyond what I thought it would be.
My calling into chemistry was confused... what I thought was a love of chemistry began to disappear, thanks to organic chemistry. I now don't know whether I was never supposed to be in chemistry in the first place or if God is calling me in a different direction that I didn't expect, or if I just need to stick this one out and it'll get better from here.
I got a 96% on a 12 page research paper that I did the research for AND wrote in the span of about 36 hours. That's not 36 cumulative hours of work, it's that I spent at most a day and a half working on this paper.
I played some of the most glorious parts of Handel's Messiah.

         But that's not all I did! I also built and upheld a lot of relationships. I reconnected with some people from high school. I got to know some coworkers from Michaels a lot better. I built up stronger friendships with people from Calvin that I knew from last year, and started new ones with some other fellow Knights. I started dating a most wonderful guy. I remained a daughter, a sister, a friend, a student, and an employee (though at times I wasn't really the best of any of them, but I tried).  
         I was reunited with the Charming Cellos of Calvin College was so excited to welcome  many new charming cellists to the section. I found greater purpose and joy in making music than I have in any of my previous nine years in orchestra (not to downplay those, I made some of the best memories in those nine years due to orchestra). I went to Spanish chapel almost every week to get back into hearing and speaking Spanish. And now that my semester has finally come to a close, I am headed to enjoy my short break before I, along with 15 of my fellow musicians travel to Costa Rica for an Interim Chamber Orchestra Tour. I'm literally so excited, and even though we've got a lot to prepare it's going to be a wonderful experience. So, on the whole, I'm glad this semester happened, but I am glad that it is no more and I am looking forward to the New Year, new beginnings, new adventures and whatever life has to throw at me next semester.

Teaching Isn't All Fun and Games

There comes a time in every teacher-to-be’s life when you realize that deciding to become an educator is more than a choice to spend every day with students. It’s more than preparing lessons, coming up with fun review games, writing tests, and grading homework. At the core, choosing to teach is choosing to give of yourself in order that the children with whom you work daily can learn. It’s about preparing children to become wonderful young men and women, and preparing young men and women to be well-rounded, stable parts of the functioning adult world. Teaching isn’t about forcing information into students, but about using what they already know as a basis to broaden their horizons and have new information flow through them. And sometimes, practically, I think that is such a hard task.

How do I teach the kids the information they need to know without feeling like I’m shoving it down their throats? How do I motivate them to care about my subject matter if it’s something they don’t see the value in? How do I come alongside every student so that they can achieve their best, but also make sure that the schools standards for learning on the whole are where they should be? The scary part is, I don’t know how to answer these questions. I have ideas, but they are not comprehensive. I’m not sure any “plan” ever will be. Maybe that’s pessimistic, but I think it’s realistic. All we can do is our best and even when we do that there will still be things—maybe small things—that slip through the cracks.

In my education class this semester, we recently had a discussion about how to deal with a class full of students all at different learning levels. We gathered ideas from each other on how to make activities that can encompass students at all varying degrees of academic ability: those highly gifted and way above the rest of the class, those struggling with even the most basic concepts, and those at every point in between. I do believe that every child can learn and I really do believe that every child can achieve their personal best in school, but I understand that those will not all be at the same levels. That still won’t stop me from trying to accommodate those who have trouble learning; it won’t stop me from being a creative teacher when I can be.

I will be presented with many challenges as a teacher. Some of which I can prepare for in my time of studying at Calvin. Most of which I’ll never even think about until I end up in my own classroom. In our discussion in class and subsequent conversations with people I’m close with, I began to realize that on the outside, I’m a real pessimist. I exaggerate my problems and complain more than I should. But deep down, I am such an optimist. My heart tells me that everything will work out in the end, that life is beautiful, and that there are always positives to focus on. I think this plays well into my calling to teach. Though teaching may be challenging and sometimes draining, each student has something unique to bring to the table. Everyone has their own individual strengths and weaknesses and I want to help students realize them. Sometimes the hardest part of learning information is learning how your brain works, and what you struggle with. Moving past the failures, facing the struggles, and embracing the strengths is what true teaching is all about. You cannot just focus on all strengths or weakness, there has to be a balance, and as a teacher you have to be the one to set that balance.

Sure, teaching might not be all fun and games. But it’ll be rewarding, I know. It’s the most rewarding career I could think of because I have the opportunity to make an influence. I still have so much to learn, but I’m ready to take it all on. I am so thankful to have wonderful educator examples in my life to run to when I really don’t know what to do and I am equally as thankful for those who listen to my dream and spur me on towards my goal. I’m not looking forward to the times when I struggle and don’t succeed in the classroom, but I know I’ll learn from my mistakes to ultimately become a better teacher and a better person.

The Call to Teach

Since at least my sophomore year of high school, if not before, many close family members and friends would tell me that I would someday end up teaching—just like my Grandpa, just like my Mom, and just like my Dad. I denied it for a couple years, but during my senior year I decided that I wanted to pursue education. So I signed myself for education classes, but began to doubt this choice, being persuaded that there were other things I could do and other careers I could pursue that were bigger and better than being a teacher. However, I've come to realize that at this point in my life there is no greater call on my heart than to teach. And what a journey it’s been thus far, and will continue to be.

This semester I've been required to immerse myself in a classroom to observe and participate; I have been placed in an 11^th grade English class at a local, small Christian high school (and not the one I went to). This requirement has been stressful because it’s an extra 3+ hours a week I’m busy—which while taking 17 credit hours, having extra time commitment for orchestra and labs, and trying to work around 25 hours a week is a bit difficult—but it’s definitely been worth it. Mostly because it has probably been the most influential factor in removing many of my doubts about going into education.

This confirmation came in the form of several small moments of epiphany while in the classroom. The first was on one of my very first days observing; I was talking to the classroom teacher who was telling me about his journey through college and teaching at different schools around the country and even around the world. He began to say something about what techniques and types of lessons work better here, compared to other schools he taught in, and I began to realize that although I already knew it intellectually, practically speaking teachers always have to be on their toes. They have to go through a lot of their higher education learning all about learners, new educational research, school contexts etc. in order that they will be able to plan lessons well, so everyone can learn, and maybe more surprisingly, so that they can respond during class and react effectively if the class period is not going as planned.

My second moment really holds the weight of my call to be a teacher. Nothing really special happened to bring this about, I was just grading papers and listening to the teacher’s conversation with the students as they worked and thought “I could do this for the rest of my life.” And that wasn't a depressing thought, like I've chosen to be stuck doing this, but it was a thought full of great hope—I get to share my love of chemistry or my love of writing (or both!) with all kinds of students. I can teach them all about the interworkings of an atom or the interworkings of a sentence simply for its own sake because I truly believe that it is important to be at least a little bit experienced in most academic fields.

Although I’ll probably never go on to get my PhD in chemistry and do a bunch of experiments and research, that doesn't mean that one of my students can’t. The class that I teach could have that much of an impact on someone, hopefully from a combination of efficient and passionate teaching that overflows from my love for students and my love for chemistry. I know I’ll run into students who don’t understand the purpose in learning chemistry, but I’ll strive to show them how it’s one of the most beautiful studies of God’s creation—displaying the complexity of design and the complete order set up in the world.

The call to teach is much more than learning about pedagogy and lesson planning, more than sharing a love for a subject area. It is a call to be a light in a dark world. It is a call to serve the students and the community in the best way you possibly can by not only sharing valuable academic information but also by taking a personal interest in the lives of these students. If I think back to my time in grade school through high school, and even now in college, there have been so many teachers who have impacted the way I think, the way I act, and my spiritual life more than I ever thought possible simply because they cared for me as a person. They gave of themselves to come alongside me and help me learn, but also to help me grow as a person by investing their time and energy into building relationships and giving advice. That is something I’ll forever be thankful for and something I hope I can do in my future classroom as well.

Standing on a Yoga Ball

            Sometimes life is a struggle. Standing on one of those yoga exercise balls is also a struggle. Therefore life is like standing on a yoga ball. For all of you familiar with logical syllogisms, I know that is technically a fallacious syllogism because there is an undistributed middle term. But I still think it is a helpful analogy to consider when pondering the complexities of life.

            How do you stand on a yoga ball? Is it even possible to get your feet planted on one without falling over first? Honestly, I have no idea, I've never tried actually standing on one. Many people thought I was really good at it though, due to a few of my senior pictures (right). Everyone was so impressed with how coordinated I was, until they found out that I was really standing on one of the red cement balls outside of Target. Cool photo op, but it wasn't exactly hard to stand on. It just took a bit of balance.
            Balance. What a lovely idea. Life is all about balance-- something I've been realizing more and more lately. You've all heard the phrase "too much of a good thing" and it's very true. Some parts of my life are truly amazing and it feels like I just want to spend all my time doing them (spending time with my friends, listening to music), but if that was actually all I did, I'm sure I'd get a little fed up with even my closest friends and listening to music would lose its appeal. On the flip side, if these thing were completely eliminated, my life would be significantly sadder.
            It's all about finding time to be social and time to be alone. Time to work hard and be productive, but time time to relax and de-stress as well. Not gorging myself on food when I actually do come home, but also not forgetting to eat because I'm so busy. Sleeping long enough to function, but staying up late enough to get homework done. These are all practical balances*; they are all also balances that I struggle with on a day to day basis. But the more abstract balances are the ones that pique my interest even more.
            How do we pursue knowledge while acknowledging that we will never be able to know and understand fully? How do we act to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, while acknowledging that this world is so broken that we will never be able to see it in its fullness in the here and now. It is already here in the church, but not yet here in its fullness**. Why do we strive so much to get to know other people, when we know that we can't solve the mystery of another person? As my religion professor says, "A mystery is different from a problem; problems get solved, mysteries get explored." Balance, that's the answer. 
            Don't lose the mystery of life. Don't ignore the mystery; don't be consumed by it. Balance these extremes. Life is one big balancing act; I feel as if I'm already up there on that yoga ball. It gets hard to keep everything in check, but it is possible! It can be done. I can't tell you how to balance your schedule or your checkbook and I also can't explain the balance found in the most accurate answers to some of life's hardest questions. But I can encourage to strive for that balance, it makes things a little bit easier. I myself am still trying to find that optimum balance. I come tumbling off that yoga ball way too often, but each time I do I learn what not to do next time. And though I may never perfectly get the hang of it, I'm always improving. Always searching, always learning, always weighing the options. Always balancing. 

*I find that this reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, one of my favorite passages. I often find myself taking great comfort in the fact that my time is not my own. It is a gift from God, and I should be a good steward of it, but what God has ordained to happen will happen. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 reads as follows:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

**I kind of derived this idea from a prayer said to be written either by Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador or as a reflection on his life and work there. It has been a very influential poem in my life and goes by many different names: "Prophets of a Future Not Our Own" or "It Helps Now and Then" or "A Step Along the Way." No matter its title, the message is very moving and the poem itself is eloquently worded. It really is quite beautiful. If you haven't read it, you can find a copy of it to read here.  

Instead of an About Me Section

         I am not in the mood to discuss anything deep at the moment. That's not to say I'm in a bad mood, but after several hours of classes and many more hours of homework, my brain is a bit burned out in the intellectual realm. So I think I'll go for something a little different this time.
         You can really learn a lot about a person from some of their favorite things. Hence the "25 Things About Me" Facebook notes and the awkward small talk conversation go-to "So, what kind of movies do you like?" or something of the sort. But to me, each piece of pop culture, art, poetry, or each hobby and past time reveals a bit more about the person than meets the eye. I've been struggling to come up with an About Me section for this blog lately, so I think a bunch of mini-lists of things I like will work even better. Enjoy!

Favorite Songs (at the moment):

• "She's Always a Woman" by Billy Joel
• "All Will Be Well" by the Gabe Dixon Band
• "Hey Pretty Girl" by Kip Moore

What I'm Currently Reading (or trying to...):

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Three Random Things I Have an Affinity For:

• Owls
• Nutcrackers
• Peace Signs

Best Advice I've Ever Received:

"Serve God; enjoy life."

Television Shows I Think Are Worth Watching:

• Bones
• Doctor Who
• Broadchurch
• The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Feeling:

Taking a walk late at night, in the autumn-- the glorious moon shining bright, the wind gently blowing my hair, leaves rustling a bit, enough chill in the air to make me pull the sleeves of my hoodie down over my palms. Perfect.

Most Loved Piece of Clothing (right now):

This new 60's-ish long sleeve dress my Grandma bought for me!

I pretty much love dresses in general. Too bad they're super hard to play cello in.

This Year's Favorite Verse:

Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Four Good Poems/Sonnets You Should Check Out:

• "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
• "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon (Lord Byron) 
• "The Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra Brooks Welch
• "The World Is Too Much With Us" by William Wordsworth

And here's this. Just because I think the 'Keep Calm' stuff is cool and I'm such a nerd. So best of both worlds in this one!

And What of Things We Cannot Describe?

           I am a lover of words. I have always enjoyed writing and my love of it grows more every day. I haven't always been so keen on reading, but I slowly am learning to love it too; you can't have one without the other. For as long as I can remember, whenever I find an idea that really interests me, I have these one-sided dialogues in my head to expound on the interesting thought. These speeches to myself eventually evolved into this blog, to describe and share ideas and events that pertain to my life-- and hopefully to others' lives as well. But every once in a while I'll run across something that I can't accurately describe. It's not just that I am incapable of forming the right order of words (although sometimes that may be the case), but instead that I will have stumbled upon a part of being human that cannot be done justice by words alone.
            A few days ago I tried to make a couple of lists; who doesn't love a good list, right? I tried to describe a person's essential being: their personality, likes and dislikes, quirks, associations, everything in a mere 20 items. Sure, you can do that, but it seems a bit cruel-- taking everything you love about yourself or another person and reducing to simple words. While I can pick a bunch of adjectives that describe me to some extent, I can't fully encompass my "me-ness" (or "human-ness" if you prefer) with words alone. It's some combination of words and thoughts and feelings, interactions and associations, environment and choices. Each person is indescribable. 
            Are you jumping on my We Can't Describe Everything boat yet? No? How about another example. Though many have tried and a few have come close, analogies, metaphors, and eloquently worded sonnets cannot quite describe the first time you hold hands with someone. Clichés like having your heart skip a beat and having butterflies in your stomach are well known for a reason. They are close to describing the feeling. But there's still something missing. It's exciting and terrifying, lovely and comforting, and pretty much every other emotion you can throw in there. But you can't wrap up every feeling and every thought of that moment with words.
            And what about music? I can feel a piece of music. I can play it. I can (and do) get emotionally invested in it. I can tell people how amazing and awe-inspiring it is. I can learn the history behind it. I can analyze it. But I can't begin to describe it. If I could transfer all the hours of rehearsal-- individual and communal, filled with frustrations and triumphs-- to you through my words, I would. If I could bring you on the emotional journey of the piece by talking you through it, I would. But the reality is, I can't. You have to listen to it for yourself, and that's the beauty of it. I can't describe it.
             So what do we do with these things that humans cannot describe with words? We innovate. We create new words and phrases that get us one step closer to fully describing said things. More art (that also cannot be described) is made, but it helps us to understand life a bit better as our minds make connections. Most of all, we try. Whether success or failure awaits us, we try to share our experience in this life with others through words. That's the mystery and the balance of it all. We use words to describe, but also to describe that we cannot describe.

You Are a Walking Contradiction

           Seriously, I don't mean to insult you, but everyone I've ever met is in one way or another a walking contradiction. And this is not a bad thing. Similar to almost everything else in life, everyone falls somewhere on a broad spectrum: I know people who are basically the physical embodiment of irony and others whose personalities seem to be 99% consistent. It's such an interesting part of being human-- to have two integral parts of your personality and preferences be totally contradictory and even oxymoronic. 
           Maybe an example or two will help explain what I mean. Some people thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, nature and hiking and all, but are very mechanically or technologically inclined. Others long for a sense of community and a place to belong, but don't really like being around people that much. I think everyone at some point wants to stand out enough to be noticed and different, but fit in enough not to be considered the weird kid. But as I get older and have met more people I've begun to realize that not caring what other people think about you is one of the world's best stress relievers. Anyways, my point is that everyone has these strange little quirks that contradict each other, but work.
           Personally, I see these in myself all the time and can't help but wonder how my mind doesn't beat itself to death because of the way it disagrees. I will sit still through a two-and-a-half hour opera, anxiously anticipating each new part of the story and each beautiful musical aria, but I get fidgety as all get out and can't wait for the end of an 90 minute movie (it depends on the movie, but for the most part this is true). I am a city girl at heart, yet I know the words to every Top 20 country song from 1999 to the present. I chose to commute to college, but I hate driving. I am one of the most literal people on the planet, but my use of the word "like" rivals that of a Valley Girl (okay, maybe it's not that bad, but I catch myself using it more than I should). 
           That turned out a bit more autobiographical than I had originally planned, but I suppose you got a glimpse of the specific examples that puzzle my brain. Additionally, although it may be a stretch, when you dig a bit deeper, I think some of these blatant contradictions actually work well together and are even sprung from the same desire. The desire to be respected drives people to try their hardest, but not look like they're trying too hard. The desire to have control of one's life can actually cause out of control reactions; for example, life happens and someone loses a relative or a job. They feel like they have no control, so they turn to over-exercising, or reckless behavior, or calorie-counting because it is something they can control. Same desire, contradictory behaviors. I could probably come up with more examples, or try to verbalize some other related thought, but I think I shall leave you with this: You are a walking contradiction. Embrace it. Embrace everything that makes you, you. Even if we can't figure out how it works, embrace the contradictions.

Back to the Beginning

           I was recently reminded of the spark that started this blog. Recently some close friends and I went to see Monsters University; the Pixar short beforehand brought me back to last November. I took my brother to see Wreck-It Ralph for his birthday, and the short before that movie was fantastic. I guess I wasn't the only one who liked it that much; it was so well done that it won an Academy Award.
           The short film was called "Paperman" and yes, if you haven't seen it, you should watch it before you continue reading. The film begins with a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman who "meet" (in passing) on a train station platform. He is clearly enamored by this beauty, but misses her as the train departs before he could say anything. The only remnant of this meeting is a lipstick-stained paper from the woman's file folder that she left without... Jump forward a bit, and at work the man spots the woman in a building across the street. He tries desperately to get her attention, waving and turning all the forms on his desk into paper airplanes to get her to notice him. The paper runs low until he only has the lipstick-stained paper left. That too is turned into a plane, but to no avail. 
           As he leaves his office building and tries to find the lovely woman, he finds only the lipstick marked airplane, and thrusts it into the air. It lands in an alley where the rest of his planes had landed. They all begin to move-- carrying the man along the streets toward the train station while the one with the lipstick goes after the woman. She sees it, and recognizes it, then begins to follow where it flies. In the end, the two of them are brought together at the station platform and are then seen chatting at a coffee shop, along with the airplane bearing the lipstick mark between them.
           This short had a profound impact on me. Aesthetically, I liked the cool CGI but 2D animation and the fact that it was in black and white (except for the lipstick stain, which I'm pretty sure was red). But the typical, predictable, but touching movie love story was really what got me. From the audience's perspective, these two are clearly meant for each other. He begins to realize it, and she might see something there too, but day-to-day life and their circumstances keep them apart. But, he kept pursuing her, like a gentleman. She carried on with life, but when she saw that lipstick-stained airplane, she went after it too. I guess what I most took from it was that what is meant to happen, will happen. You just have to give it time, but never give up hope. When things are looking down and you're frustrated, that's alright. It's a part of life to be frustrated and disappointed; just don't stay there. Never forget how wonderful the lessons God has for you to learn are, how much He and others around you love you, and how all things work out in the end. Only time will tell.
           And thus, through my recent movie-watching experience, I was brought back to the beginning. Back to the moment where I knew I needed to start a blog, to record all sorts of wonderful thoughts like the ones I had on this short film. It might not have been much, but it was the spark. And I am thankful for it. Who knows what I'd be doing with all the random thoughts I have otherwise.

[If you haven't seen the "Paperman" short, you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL-7Xo5QPeY . It looks best if you turn the 3D off in the bottom right corner. All rights belong to Disney/Pixar and all their writers, directors, animators, etc. who worked to produce such a beautiful short film.]

The Valley of Writer's Block

           There I sat for the 8th consecutive day, computer on lap, putting all of the cognitive power I could muster into a blog post. Sitting there, staring at a blank page, wishing all the thoughts bouncing around in my head would bleed through my fingers, onto the keyboard and into the ever-expanding realm which is the internet. As my eyes became bleary and my slightly frizzy hair held up by a hair-tie and pencil began to descend, framing my face, my words still could not escape my mind. The page was supposed to be filled with brilliant insights, deep thoughts, and well-formed opinions. Instead it felt as blank as the stare I had upon receiving a calculus test on infinite series and sequences. 
           It was then I realized I had fallen into the Valley of Writer's Block. A place that exists only in my imagination, but can be stumbled into quite easily. Who knows why it happens, or why it happens when it does, but I recently have been found at the bottom, searching for coherent thoughts and  eloquently linked words, but finding none. "The Pit of Writer's Block" may be a more appropriate name for this place of mental frustration. Either way, there's only one way out.
           To escape this valley, this state of mind, all one must do is write. Begin the slow crawl upwards, out of the valley by composing some piece of writing. It's fairly likely that this first attempt will be terrible. In all honesty, it'll probably be absolute rubbish. But it's a first step. You've now got a solid foothold and can begin to haul yourself out of the valley and onto bigger, better, and more thought-provoking compositions. The thoughts that make you think "I should write that down! That was golden!" will return-- slowly but surely. And the drafts you composed on the way out can always be revised and made shine like a diamond in the rough. 
           Here's hoping that I've safely broken free and will not be returning to said valley anytime soon. Here's hoping that when I do return, say when there's another 10-page paper to be written, that it'll be easier to get out due to experience. Here's hoping that those who may be stuck in the Valley of Writer's Block currently find the will power to keep writing and get out.

Fiction Touches Reality

       Growing up in an era where all forms of media and pop culture were so accessible made it easy to find movies and television programs that had wonderful plots and relatable  characters. Part of what I think makes fiction so incredible is how the product of someone's imagination can connect to the audience. And we, as the audience, begin to get attached to fictional characters. This happens to me, to some extent, in nearly every piece of fiction I encounter. Even more than just relating with the characters, sometimes I think I begin to "look up" to these characters, as if they were real people who could teach and mentor me. However, I've realized that just because they aren't real doesn't mean I can't learn from them. Looking over the items of pop culture that have grown close to my heart over the years, I found four characters who have influenced me most and will probably stick with me longest.

Wendy Darling (Peter Pan, 1953)
       

       When I was little I loved Wendy simply because she was the girl who accompanied Peter Pan in some of his adventures in Neverland. In fact, I was very envious of her for that reason. She was the girl who believed in fairies, in Peter Pan, and in Neverland. She was the girl who with a little "faith, trust, and pixie dust" soared past Big Ben to the second star to the right, meets all the Lost Boy's in Hangman's Tree, and is rescued from the grasp of Captain Hook. Now that I'm older, I appreciate Wendy because she is given the chance to stay a child forever (which may often sound appealing), but accepts the call of adulthood. She embraces its virtues head-on, but keeps a little piece of that child-like wonder and magical belief in her heart.

Laura Holt (Remington Steele, 1982-1987)
       The idea of this character is truly brilliant: a woman private investigator who no one would give a second thought to because she was a woman. So she invented a man to be the name of her company, while she did all the investigative work. Brilliant. Until a mysterious man rolls around and assumes the role of Remington Steele and she is forced into a P.I. partnership (but that's a blog for a different day). Laura Holt is first and foremost, clever. She is a strong, independent woman, but doesn't step over the line into full-on feminism. I love how quick-witted and intelligent she is, but also how caring she is. Plus she has gorgeous hair and a cool hat. She is the kind of person I think I want to embody the most of the four: brilliant, resourceful, determined, loving, faithful, passionate and kind-hearted.

Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones, 2005-Present)

       Brennan (aka "Bones") is one of the most unique characters I've ever seen. She is a genius-- like IQ through the roof with 3 Ph.D.'s. She had traumatic teen years and is also quite socially awkward, but at times it's humorous. It is ironic that a woman who knows so much about science, and can figure out so much given someone's bones cannot grasp sarcasm or a widely known pop culture reference. What I do admire is her tenacity for truth and her ability to reason well. Also, I especially like that I, as the viewer, can see her character grow so much over the course of nine seasons. She starts out being this very rigid and bitter, hard-science-only, emotionless investigator. As the seasons roll by, she begins to empathize with the victims and their families, learns how to compromise and conjecture, and ultimately is in the process of really learning how to love her partner (both work and romantic partner), Booth, and her daughter.

River Song (Doctor Who [New Series], 2005-Present)

       River Song. I've only recently been introduced to this character (unlike the others who I've "gotten to know" quite in depth for the past 5-15 years). I was immediately intrigued by the character, and not only because her story is so crazy and slightly confusing. River is just a cool person. She's mysterious and beautiful, sassy and charming. Others have described her as "like a female Indiana Jones" and I mostly agree. She can stand up for herself (and I think she enjoys the feeling of a gun in her hand a bit too much), but she trusts the Doctor with every fiber of her being, even though she knows that trust could one day kill her. Aside from her personality, I think she dresses really unique and elegantly and I love her curly hair! All in all, River is a great balance of classy and on the edge of scandalous, and of fierce and tender. 

Grand Rapids, the Beautiful

           I am and always will be a Grand Rapidian at heart; I was born and raised here and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Grand Rapids, Michigan is a lovely city (and I'm not just saying that because I live here). I don't know if I want to live here forever, but I would not be opposed to living in GR my whole life. For those of you who are from Grand Rapids: here's my take on the best parts of the city. For those of you not from GRap, here's some reasons that I absolutely love my city.

• ArtPrize: A city wide art-festival that showcases art in all its forms from artists in all walks of life. It literally takes over the city from the middle of September to the first week in October. One of my favorite times of the year (the weather is more or less perfect in the fall) and a lot of the art is really cool. Some of it is interactive, which is really fun to play with; some are the most detailed and gorgeous paintings or sculptures you've ever seen; and of course some of it is just weird, but variety is the spice of life, right?
• It's (more or less) affordable! As a Dutch-by-culture college kid with a less than exciting assortment of employment, I love the fact that you can get by in Grand Rapids on not a ton of money. Granted, you could spend a fortune if you wanted to, but places like the GR Symphony and Opera, the GRAM (Art Museum), even Celebration Cinema offer moderate to awesome student discounts. A lot of restaurants have half priced appetizers during "Happy Hour." Some things, like Ice Skating in the winter and Swing Dancing in the summer at Rosa Parks Circle are free! If you know how to get around and where to get good deals, you can have a great night on just a few bucks.
• Local gems: Every city has it's locally owned businesses-- restaurants, coffee shops, stores, attractions that you as a customer just fall in love with because of their uniqueness. They make you proud to be from such a wonderful community that can produce places like these. Some of my favorite places in Grand Rapids: The Bitter End  Coffee House, NW side of town on Fulton-- it's a teeny little shop, but the coffee is amazing and the atmosphere is one of the best in town-- plus it's open 24/7. The Electric Cheetah, a buzzing restaurant in East GR on Wealthy Street that serves delicious sandwiches (mainly, but they have lots of other things) with an urban feel AND 28 flavors of root beer. Robinette's Apple Haus is an orchard on 4 Mile that has some of the best cider and donuts I've ever had, which are especially good on a cool fall day. That and the giant pumpkins, corn maze, huge plastic-y apple sculpture, and old house turned gift shop full of trinkets make this one of my favorite autumn places. John Ball Zoo is exactly what you think it is: a zoo-- it's pretty large and has some fun stuff like a zip line and monorail (well the monorail is coming soon). Olga's Kitchen, although I've only ever eaten appetizers and soup at Olga's, their "snackers" are one of the best things I've ever eaten. They definitely make the trip to Gaslight Village worth it (while you're there be sure to check out Jersey Junction for ice cream!).
• I've only listed a few of my favorite places to visit in Grand Rapids; there are many many more, and there also a bunch of places and festivities that I've never been to, but want to go. Like Sanchez Tapas Bistro, the Grand Rapids Art Festival, Marie Catrib's, Madcap Coffee, etc. [Update: As of 7pm, 8 June 2013, I have been downtown for Art Festival and it's super cool!]

So go check these places out! I don't think you'll be disappointed! Also, have I missed anything that makes Grand Rapids so fabulous? Let me know!

Just for copyright purposes: I do not own the photo at the top, I just found it on Google images. All credit goes to Cory Smith, the photographer. Here is the link just in case: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nightfoxphoto/4796938755/ .

Possibilities

        The "Multiverse" theory of time travel/ the universe in general posits the idea that there are an infinite number of parallel universes. Every single decision you make alters the future of the current timeline; everything from eating Froot Loops for breakfast instead of Rice Krispies to deciding to move to Finland to pursue a career instead of staying in your hometown. If time travel were possible and this multiverse theory proved to be true, you could go back in time and literally do anything. This would cause time to continue on in a new timeline totally different from the one the traveler came from, although that one would still exist in a parallel universe. Although it would technically exist, the traveler would never be able to return to his or her original time line. But, with an infinite number of parallel universes to try, there's got to be one close enough (maybe one where you just end up a half inch shorter or something).

        So now go with me, for a moment believe that this is true. There are an infinite number of you's and me's in an infinite number of parallel universes running on an infinite number of timelines. What are some of the other me's like? So long as my family tree survived long enough for me to exist and all my ancestors met at the correct time and place to get my DNA 100% correct, I'm out there in all different kinds of situations. And I find that fascinating- wondering what all the other potential me's are like.

        In one, all of my grandparents decided to move to Morocco and my parents met and got married there and I'm some sort of Moroccan-European modern poet. And in another, I'm studying inner city development in Pennsylvania while living in a quaint, but roomy house with my best friends and earning my black-belt in jiu-jitsu. In a third I could be exactly where I am today, but with different people making a big impact on my  life (for good or for bad I don't know).

        If given the choice would I choose one of these alternate timelines to live in? One where I could pick and choose everything to be just the way I wanted? The selfish part of me says "Of course." If I could have the "perfect life" with the job, school, car, house, and relationships that benefit me most, why wouldn't I want it? The part of me that looks at the grand scheme of things cannot take what I, one human, want and change everything that God has put in place in the whole of the universe to make myself happy. What if having the house and car I selfishly want causes some to go without food and clean water? I couldn't do that with a clear conscience. I believe we are living in this universe, in this timeline for a purpose. Although it may not be clear in my life, or in your life, yet: He has a grander plan. So be content in this universe that God has so carefully put together and given to each and every one of us.

When Nostalgia Sets In

            Reflecting on the past is normal; getting nostalgic over the past is also normal. I don't know how good it is to seriously dwell on the past for extended periods of time, but I do think reflection and nostalgia help our brains process what has happened and is happening. I never really realized how nostalgic I get until recently and thank goodness I'm not the only one! I'm still pretty young so I haven't experienced a ton, but I have lived long enough to build up a solid foundations of good memories. When I hear a phrase, a voice, a song that I remember or smell a familiar scent, etc.-- it takes me back to that time. And that is when nostalgia begins to set it.

            How is my first year of college over already? It feels like it just started a few months ago. Albeit, it was definitely not the year I had envisioned when this all started, but in some ways it was so much more. I got to hold on to a few of my closest friends and met some really awesome people. Which sounds so cliché, but it’s true! Words cannot possibly describe how much I've grown to love these people and what kind of influence they've had on me. Now that we've all (mostly) parted ways for the summer, I've started to remember how many good life choices I've experienced with everyone. I'll hear a lil bit of the Lord of the Rings music and I'll be there: watching the Return of the King, eating ice cream, wading in the water, and doing gymnastics in the grass. Or I'll ride with my sunroof down and smell the fresh night air... and I'll be back driving a car full of people back to Calvin after a spontaneous trip to get bubble tea. And then I'll start to miss that and those people.

            Going to my high school's orchestra concert also sparked some of this nostalgia inside of me. For the most part, my orchestra experience in elementary through high school was great. Granted, there were times I kind of wanted to throw my cello at a wall and give up on orchestra, but I'm glad (now more than ever!) that I didn't. Being back in the 5-12 concert venue made me realize just how blessed I was. Memories from middle school orchestra music filing "parties" and skipping AP Calc (with permission of course) senior year for full orchestra rehearsal came flooding back. I got real nostalgic. College orchestra is probably the best thing that happened to me at Calvin, but there's something about high school orchestra that I miss dearly. Knowing everyone's name and being so close knit with the whole orchestra is something that can't really be achieved in a college setting. More than the atmosphere I began to really miss the people I got to make music with-- and all the fun experiences we had together, like festival and after-festival-out-to-eat experiences.

            I hope that I have many great, fun-filled, good-life-choice-filled years ahead of me in college and beyond. But sometimes it's fun to look on the past and remember. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me and the people around me. It's literally so exciting to get to fellowship with beautiful people and see how they are really going to be make a wonderful impact on the world. Maybe nostalgia isn't such a bad thing after all. Maybe it lets us pick things from our past and use them to influence our future. Maybe it's best to remember the past and look forward to the future at the same time.

Remember

Since I have a Calc exam in just under two hours, this will be quick... Finals week is stressful! I've found myself studying for hours and still feeling like I remember nothing from the whole semester. I think it is good to stop every once in a while and remember:

You are NOT your GPA. Sure, it is important to some extent but it does not define who you are. Do your best, put forth effort, take care of yourself, and care for others. Let what happens happen. 

Look for the positive. Maybe through the struggles, academic or otherwise, you'll learn something about yourself, who God is forming you into, and His plan for your life.

Learn from your failures. Use them to improve both your strengths and your weaknesses. Don't get discouraged because something doesn't go as well as you were hoping. Pick yourself back up and try again.

Be still. Be still and know that He is God. (And that we are not). Papers, projects, speeches, juries, tests, exams do not determine your identity. He uses all of them to work in and through you in some way. He has a plan-- a plan to give you hope and a future.

Let Him have the reins and do your best to follow His voice. Everything will be alright in the end.

A Nerd's Escape

            18 years old and finishing up my first year of college. It's a weird feeling; sometimes I feel really like "18! Holy cow, I'm an adult!" and sometimes it's more like people telling me, "18!? You're such a little baby adult." Either way, the end of the semester is super hectic. I'm convinced there's not enough hours in a day to do everything, even if I cut out eating and sleeping. And I know that anyone who went to college or just knows anything about college knows this, but it's definitely something you really learn from experience.

"I have how many papers to write? Wait and you want me to do visual presentations on top of them? Plus, I should probably practice for that concert on Sunday (because I haven't all semester)?  Oh, and regular assignments too? Then you want me to spit out everything I've learned all semester onto a final exam for three hours? Who's smart-aleck idea was this? But wait, there's more! I only get a week and a half to do all of this? AND I get to work a part-time job? No, that's not overwhelming at all."

            I really want to escape from all the schoolwork and pressure; just go and eat some good food, watch a movie, and maybe stargaze a little bit with my friends. Not much sounds better than that. I can come up with a few comparable (albeit impossible) alternatives. I had an epiphany and figured out why fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy stories are so popular. They are an escape from the real, the literal, the possible, to the imaginary, the unreal, the impossible.

            Who wouldn't want to go exploring all of time and space with a mysterious man with two hearts who has lived over 900 years? In a police box that's actually a time machine, nonetheless. Sounds like the perfect escape to me. I may be just beginning my journey down the Doctor Who road, but I can see why it is so popular (and has been on television for 50 years! That's a long time.). There is so much history and humor and emotion associated with the Doctor. I had seen a couple dozen episodes of Doctor Who at the time when I fell in love with the show. At the end of an episode entitled "The Rings of Akhaten" the Doctor gives this speech that reveals just how old his soul is. The whole thing is pretty long, but I do want to give you a little snippit:

"I have lived a long life, and I have seen a few things. I walked away from the last great time war, I marked the passing of the Time Lords, I saw the birth of the universe and I watched as time ran out. Moment by moment until nothing remained—no time, no space, just me! I walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by the mind of a mad man and I have watched universes freeze and creations burn. I have seen things you wouldn’t believe; I have lost things you will never understand." 

            He might have a bit of a god-complex going on, but when you boil everything down, he knows he's not God. The Doctor has such an old soul, and I think that-- in combination with his quirks and humor-- is what's really attractive about the show and the character. Just in this scene you can feel the weight of his loss and his pain poured out in every word. He began to share just a piece of what he's experienced with Clara, his new companion, and being a new watcher of the show myself, it felt like I was kind of in Clara's shoes.

            Who could pass up an experience like this if given the chance? I don't think I could. It might be risky, but it would be exciting and... there's just something about sharing a part of someone's life that is mysterious and amazing. Not like in the marriage context, although that's good too, but just being a friend to someone. To be able to be part of someone's life. Being able to make them smile and share in their excitement and joys and sorrows. We all need companionship, and if it happens to be with a Time Lord with a British accent, then so be it. Find a friend.  Find an escape.

PS- That was a lot of me ranting, sorry! Also slightly sorry about the total nerd-fest over how awesome Doctor Who is... but not really. It is a splendid show! Call me a nerd, I don't really care.

Charming Cellos

              The days directly following big events kind of depress me; everything that I've been looking forward to and preparing for is suddenly gone. Although the finished product is often super amazing, it feels kind of sad that it's over. For the past 4 months, I had been looking forward to last Saturday. This past Saturday was the premier of Calvin's Charming Cellos in our Cello Cabaret.
              I was very hesitant to get involved in it at first, because I didn't know if I could handle the time commitment and didn't want to be judged because I'm not exactly the most amazing (or dedicated) cellist out there. It's not that I'll flake on what I've committed myself to, I just don't have the passion to go and seek out tons of opportunities to play. I'll do my best with what I'm involved in for sure, but I'm definitely no genius cellist. But, with the influence of a few lovely cello ladies, I decided to be a part of it. Who could pass up an opportunity like an all cello recital?

All 12 of us!

            The concert opened with the Klengel, and it was amazing. Just the effect of having 12 cellos playing all together was awesome, even while on stage it was hard not to get distracted listening to the beauty of it all. I think my favorite part was the fact that it encompassed wide range of technical ability— everyone from cello enthusiast to cello prodigy.
               Then came the Vivaldi. Surprisingly, I don't have much to say about it... other than we gave it our best shot! Overall, I think it was one of the best times we had ever played it. Even better was the fact that I got to meet and get to know some really quality people through the process. Rehearsal usually isn't my favorite thing; it's tiring and sometimes frustrating. These rehearsals were so much fun though, even if I was tired and frustrated— we grew together as musicians and as people and we had fun doing it.

Vivaldi Cellists after the Cabaret.

                For the majority of the rest of the concert I got to listen to the great amount of talent that was found onstage playing Bach, Led Zeppelin, Popper, Metallica and so much more. I do have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the rendition of Bad Romance. Cellists, being clever characters, always have to throw in a twist. To the audience's surprise, the song ended out with a chorus of kazoos played by the rest of us Charming Cellos hanging out on the balcony. It probably sounded terrible, but the audience's reaction was highly entertaining.

             The program listed "You Know What" by "You Know Who" as the second to last piece. Every cellist despises Pachelbel's Canon in D, but we decided to make the best of it and maybe poke a little fun at it. Filled with dragging chairs, a little heckling, Jesus Loves Me, bridesmaid-type entrances, cello being played like a violin, and interpretative dance this number was definitely not run of the mill. It was pretty funny and the perfect segway into Nearer My God to Thee. The traditional hymn in a cool new arrangement was really powerful and left you to revel in the glory of cello.
            I honestly loved every second of it. I'm not a natural performer, but getting to play with these amazing people helped calm the nerves a bit. I know some better than others, but I think that all of them are talented people and am really blessed to get to know them and perform with them. There's a sense of unity between us all, even though we're all super different. It's like we're all one big cello family! I am thankful now more than ever that I play cello; all the fun little things we've done and the friendships formed have made this year a little easier. And I can't wait to see how God is going to use us individually and as a group of cellists, with or without music, for His own glory.

Namaste

Namaste is a traditional Indian greeting that many people understand to be the equivalent of “Hello.” From what I have read recently, it conveys so much more meaning than that, though. Shane Claiborne, in his book The Irresistible Revolution, mentions that from his experience working in Calcutta, namaste means something along the lines of “I see God in you” or “I honor the Holy One who lives in you.” Yeah, go ahead and point out that the Hindu gods/ Buddha are not the one true God. I understand, and agree, but I think the meaning behind the idea of namaste is an incredible one, no matter the deity being spoken of.

In The Valley of Vision (a collection of Puritan prayers) there is one prayer called “The All-Good” that talks about God’s goodness to us, and the goodness of His divine will, even when we don’t recognize it. Suddenly, another connection appears—“My God, thou hast helped me to see… that it is an amazing thing to see Deity in a creature, speaking, acting, filling, shining through it…” How beautiful it is to see God in someone, indeed!

All humans were created in the image of God. That is something that gives me hope: God loved humanity enough to set us apart from the rest of animal kind and put the image of Himself in us. And if you look, you can clearly see God in other people. Their talents and abilities clearly reflect how God has blessed them. Moreover, their personality reflects the image of God. I love being able to see how she sweetly and endearingly shows God’s love to everyone around her, how he has such startling and true insight into people and life, how she can use logic and reason in such a skillful way that makes her argument strong, how he can take something chaotic or broken and innovate a way to make it beautiful and functional. I see God in them.

"To love another person is to see the face of God." This quote from Les Miserables adds another dimension to the whole seeing God in a person idea. It is through loving one another that we truly see God in a person. Selfless love, like the love Christ had for the Church, really enables us  to see them for who they are and see God in and through them. 

Even after all of this, I still can't define word for word what it means to "see God" in another person. My guess is you can't either. But we feel it; intuitively our being knows what it means to see God in someone. It's one of those mysterious balances in life. We know what it means, but can't verbalize it. Even if we can't, at least having it stretch our minds and make connections with our lives is a wonderful place to start. Namaste.

Ordinary Radicals

               What is this thing we call “culture”? And why is it important to everyone, but especially Christians? In the broadest sense, this is what I spent my first Interim thinking and talking about. I know that I was drawn to that class for a purpose; God needed my eyes to be opened a little further and my horizons to be widened a little more. It was the gateway to a changed way of thinking.

                So what is culture? Culture is a neutral thing in and of itself, although many Christians (and others) misuse the term to mean “what is wrong with the world.” It encompasses high culture—going to the symphony, art galleries, opera, museums; ethnic culture—the foods, traditions, etc. that pertain to certain ethnic groups; political culture—the view and values held in high esteem in the realm of politics; and the most obvious branch: pop culture. Pop culture is all the music we listen to, everything we watch on TV or in the movie theatre, every book we read, and all the websites we browse. Everything comes from somewhere, everything has a purpose. Everything points toward the future. People often fall into the trap of just condemning culture as terrible or mindlessly consuming culture. When we stop making our own culture, stop questioning the culture, stop trying to break the status quo, we fall into having a certain view and interpretation shoved down our throats. Our eyes and minds are numbed to the world.

                And so, culture touches more than meets the eye. It fully includes the environment, stereotypes, the food we eat, the fuel we put in our cars, the advertisements we are bombarded with and so much more. We live in a fallen world. Every one of these areas mentioned have been twisted and distorted by sin. Culture contains both very good and very bad, truth and untruth, wisdom and folly mixed together. I learned I needed to… Wake up! To see the world around me as it is; to reorient myself to engaging culture and choosing to embrace the pieces (however unpopular) that bring about the Kingdom.

                This is where the idea of ordinary radicals comes in. Ordinary radicals are people who see the upside-down world (upside-down in comparison to how things should be) and make a choice to never stop inquiring and never settle for the world’s idea of success. They take righteous risks in attempting to fulfill the Lord’s call in their life. Whether this risk is job-sharing, befriending a social outcast, or standing up against social/political injustice, the Kingdom is being pursued. These people are humble, live simply, abound in generosity and hospitality, and all in all look like “Martians” in comparison to the general public. They have ridiculous joy because “We have hope beyond ourselves.”

                The values I listed are wonderful things, and are all things I want to embody, but putting them into practice and connecting them with food, the environment, community, ethnicity, advertising, etc. is where things get tricky. Over Interim we compiled a list of many practical ways to challenge the normal way of the world. I do want to mention a couple things that I think are great ideas, and a couple more things that I plan on putting in to practice as soon as I can:

Consuming consciously, buying food from local farmers/ organic farmers, being engaged in a community, recycling, spending real quality time with family, teaching kids (if you have them) Kingdom values, starting a garden, using eco-friendly products/fuel, getting to know your neighbors, carpooling, having block parties, having a clothing exchange, shopping at thrift stores, connecting with intentional communities, buying fair-trade products, having potluck meals.

Buying local and organic produce (when possible), learning to cook real food from scratch, learning to sew and knit, eventually getting a more eco-friendly car, trying to reform my mind into living a more simple life, attempting to glorify God and bring about shalom on the earth with my every action.

Almost of all these ideas were sparked by an Interim 2013 class, “Culture Making in the Empire,” taught by Rob & Kirstin Vander Giessen-Riestma at Calvin College. Additionally, these themes and discussions were based off of the books: Engaging God’s World: A Reformed Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living by Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Everyday Apocalypse by David Dark, and Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire by Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat.

Mixed Signals

           No, this isn’t some whiny blog post about unrequited love or anything like that. This is me, actually considering the importance of signs, symbols, signals, etc. I first stumbled upon this idea when I realized the “math” class I was taking hardly used numbers anymore. It is more a mix of variables (letters), Σ, e, ∞, θ, ln, π, and ⌠. After developing basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry skills, I (more or less) understand and can use these symbols in calculus to some extent. Let’s suppose that, although I don’t see any evidence for it, there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Would the most intelligent mathematician from another planet be able to understand my work? Even if our understanding of calculus was the same, he (or she… or it) would be totally lost because the symbols we use would not be the same.

            I also noticed this phenomenon while sight-reading The Semiramide Overture in orchestra (pretty cool piece, by the way). What are musicians actually doing when they read music? To the outsider, it looks like staring at a piece of paper with little black dots attached to sticks on a set of five lines—with some funny looking b’s (♭) and hashtags (#) thrown in the mix. Each little dot corresponds to a note, and the flats and sharps tell you how to manipulate that note to the correct pitch. Would the most proficient musician from thousands of years ago be able to sit down play a piece given the music notation we have today?

            Is anything actually as it seems? Is there anything that doesn’t need interpretation? Honestly, I don’t know. Everything we experience is picked up by one of our senses, but only has meaning because our brain interprets the signals. The feeling we call love is, in part, a confluence of chemicals in our brains: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, etc. This is not meant to downplay love by any means. It is a beautiful gift from God, and without God there could be no love, even with all the chemicals in the world. However, it is amazing that we can figure out what signals our brains that we love someone! This is only one example of how reliant we are on the interpretation of signals.

            I guess it just surprises me how much our brains do for us, that we don’t even realize. On top of the involuntary interpretation of bodily signals, we are also able to use our brains to decode outside signs. Like reading a book, driving a car, playing a game, or playing an instrument. The amount of things we are interpreting at one time is, to me, astonishing.