A new look

Having somewhat settled into life back in DC, the next obvious thing to do was to update the blog.  But because I am:

1) technologically slow
2) somewhat lazy when regarding said technology

I...

3) decided to keep the blog address (hydeparkheroes.blogspot.com) as it is and just change the title and pictures.  Nifty!

The main picture you see here at Capitol City was taken last night, as the last few guests of a small "welcome home" party grilled, talked and watched the sun set and the moon rise.  It was pretty breathtaking, if I do say so myself.

And I have a feeling that our life here, especially in the next few years, is going to be breathtaking as well.  From new jobs (me with inmates, M with economists), to a new apartment- and hopefully someday soon a new home of our own- to old and new friendships, the whirlwind has already begun.  But in a city and among a population that likes to pride itself on how busy they are, what does it mean to live well here, to work for and create calm and peace in every day life, and to live intentionally in relationship, where most people have a deeper relationship with their blackberry or iPhone?  I think we have a lot to learn.

And one last thing.  You'll notice that the title of this blog is Capitol City (hence the picture), not Capital City.  Though both could work in this particular context, because I'm always trying to make the world a better place, I leave you with a link concerning the difference between the word "Capitol" and "capital."  It's really not that hard, people.  Thanks, Grammarist.

It's good to be home.

All That's Left

All that's left now in our apartment is a blow up mattress, a couple pairs of shoes, some clothes and odds and ends that will make it in the car for our travel across country.

As much as we have been looking forward to this move, it's hard to believe it's actually here.  Driving down Lakeshore one of the last times yesterday, I was struck by how much we don't deserve any of the amazing blessings that have been given to us, especially in these last few weeks.  How many times did we doubt that something would work out?  How many times did we (ok, maybe I) question if God really wanted us back in Washington, DC, as nothing seemed to be coming to fruition?  How many times did I wonder if He would really provide for all of our needs?

And now we're here, on our last day in Chicago.  While I've been preparing and hoping, I will still be sad to leave many things of this city behind.  An amazing community group (and three of our favorite kids in the world), an incredible job and rent about half the price of what we'll pay in DC.  Even the skyline, the lake, the views will be something I no doubt reminisce on, as I look out at the squatty (though beautiful) DC skyline. 

There's still quite a lot to get done today.  Bank run, cable box return, POD pick up, final car packing and clothes washing, plus my last day of work.  But tonight we will make sure that we celebrate this city that has been home for the last 22 months, that has been a place of education for both M and me and- most importantly- a place of substantial, beautiful growth.

And finally, it's official

Well, it's official.  M and I are moving back to Washington, DC!

Today, M accepted a position doing his "dream job," and I accepted a position last Friday working for an organization I'm really excited about as well.  It has been amazing to see these things come together in just a matter of weeks.

And the reality is that- while we've worked hard and done our "due diligence"- we also know that we have been blessed beyond measure in getting both of these positions.  As I've said before, the health and wealth gospel that so dominates even mainstream American churches tends to make us think that if we love God then He's going to bless us with a job, a happy family and a white picket fence. 

How wrong we are to believe that this is the case.  God doesn't promise us material blessing.  He promises us more of Himself.

It is with that perspective that we are, therefore, overwhelmed (in a very good way) by what we have before us.  And we are so thankful that we have this opportunity.  Next weekend, July 2nd, we'll trek halfway across America, back to our home of DC.  Sure, we don't know yet exactly where we'll be living, but hey, that's minor, right?  We'll finally be able to take a couple of days off and enjoy the Eastern Shore, and will end our "holiday week" with M's family in Alabama.  And then, once again, the hard work of laboring with Him to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, will start again.

Now, what to do about the name of this blog...

My Proudest Moment

On Friday, the Breakthrough Youth and Family Services had its 10th annual Youth Awards Night.  Dinner under a tent, a robotics demonstration, artwork, dance and drums, the night was absolutely awesome for the 450 or so friends, family, youth, volunteers and donors who showed up.  As a tutor myself on Thursday afternoons, I was excited to celebrate the hard work of our kids.

And yet the thing that struck me the most about the night wasn't the awards or the cute dance or the great bucket drummers.  It was this video, "My Proudest Moment" (which I actually didn't get to see until today).  Watching it reminds me of the wonderful work that Breakthrough is doing.  That God is doing through Breakthrough.

My proudest moment?  Being even just a tiny, itsy-bitsy little part of the work that God is doing in this community and in these kids' lives.

A HPH take on the Royal Wedding

Did you hear?  Prince William married his long-time girlfriend, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton!!!  I know, I was completely shocked when I heard it, too; I mean there had been NOTHING on the news for weeks, no months, about the blessed event.  And in true British royal style, a small, intimate affair was completely pulled off without even a hint to the mass media.  Yet again, the royal family has succeeded in keeping their laundry (dirty or otherwise) out of the public eye.

Right.

So what did we here at Hyde Park Heroes think of the wedding?  I'm so glad you asked!  Because I am a true connoisseur (yes, that's spelled right) of all things royal as of, well, yesterday, I thought I would fill you in on my thoughts on the matter.

1.  It's a ghost!

When Kate first stepped out of her hotel into her sweet ride, I thought "Oh, she's borrowing Grace Kelly's dress!  What a symbolic gesture to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who care more about this wedding than the Brits do!  And what a great way to save cash in troubled times!"  Upon closer examination, of course, I realized that while the dress did look strikingly similar to the former Queen of Monaco's 1950s look, Kate's dress was beautiful in and of itself.  I really do mean that.  And of course showed a lot more skin.  Which is always appropriate for a wedding, right?  I mean have you ever seen "Say Yes to the Dress"?  Especially that see-through "looks like lingerie dress" that all the Jersey girls love?  Classy.  We've come a long way in 50 years...

2.  Can't see the forest for the trees

While I like to think that the trees that were brought into Westminster Abbey made the whole affair look a little more, well, "British country shabby chic" I would have been SO PISSED if I was one of the guests who had flown in from Lesotho or Israel or the Jersey Shore or wherever and was stuck looking at a stupid British tree.  Wow, it's a oakus maximus.  How thoroughly boring.

3.  Not his best side

I get that dear William isn't supposed to watch his bride walk up the aisle (which, good Lord, took long enough!  Get there already!)  Unfortunately, it also gave us a 3 1/2 minute view of his bald spot.  Poor guy; each day he looks more like his fuddy duddy father (are you allowed to say that about the future King?  Of course!  That's why we fought the revolution!)  Someone get this man some Rogaine! 

4.   See no evil, hear no evil...

I literally laughed out loud when I saw this picture.

Not because kiss one and two were both slightly awkward, but because of the priceless face (and hand placement) of the little girl on the left.  Poor thing, it was so loud!  And besides, she's only like what, four?  Enough with all the pomp and circumstance already.  Someone get that girl a lollipop.

5.  I think someone wore this to prom

I'm sure Pippa is a nice, sweet, ladylike young woman, even if her name is horrible.  But I'm also pretty sure that I saw this very same dress at our high school prom in 2000.  Is she going retro?

______________________________

Ok, ok, I've been a little harsh (and I haven't even mentioned the ridiculous fascinators worn by some members of the royal family).  But when we spend so much time thinking and talking about one royal wedding, we're inviting in a few snarky comments.  That said, it truly was a beautiful day and, hopefully, a sign of good to come for the royal family.  More importantly, I think it would do us good to remember the words of the Anglican priest who gave the homily:

Every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future. 

Every wedding is about more than who wore what, what the flowers looked like or the hats that someone wore.  Every wedding reminds us of our place in creation.  Every wedding reminds us of the gift of oneness.  And ultimately, every wedding reminds us that we are the bride of Christ.

Now to pick out my tiara...

If You had been here...

As of late, I've been struggling with a few specific issues where reality has not lined up with my expectations.  Frustrated, tired and ready to just give up,  my mentor encouraged me to turn again to the story of the death of Lazarus.

In case you don't remember the story (found in John 11), Lazarus- the brother of Mary and Martha- was ill.  The sisters, knowing the healing power of Christ, sent for Jesus.  But instead of immediately coming to their aid, Jesus takes his sweet time, eventually showing up after Lazarus is dead.

Mary and Martha are pissed (that's the Liz translation.)  First Martha confronts Jesus: ""Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."  Then, a little later, it's Mary's turn: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 

The Gospel tells us that Jesus was deeply moved by Mary's weeping (apparently Martha's matter-of-factness was less moving), and upon seeing the dead Lazarus, Jesus himself weeps.  Eventually, we see that Jesus wakes Lazarus from his slumber, and lots of people believe.  Yay!

 
But the part that really hit me this time isn't the healing; there is something about the words of both Martha and Mary that sum up almost exactly how I feel about some of the things I'm struggling through right now: "if YOU had been here, my brother would not have died."  It's the feeling of, "Come on God, you're the ONE PERSON who can do something about this!"  "If you really loved me, this wouldn't have happened/been happening."


But what does Christ do?  Wave his magic wand? (Well, eventually, yes.  But that's not the point.)  He, first and foremost, meets each woman where she is- validating their frustrations and standing with them in their struggles.

I think sometimes when I struggle with things that I know God could do something about, I miss the part in the middle where Christ enters in with our sufferings.  That he literally wants to mourn with us.  I'm so quick to have him "work His magic" that I forget that a big part of real relationship is allowing Him into these horribly intimate moments of despair and hurt. 

And then I see His words at both the beginning and end of the passage: "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him" and Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

I have to believe that the experience of frustration has some sort of purpose in producing belief.  I don't really understand it completely, but I can't deny that it's very clearly there.  There is something to be said about believing we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and, ultimately, as Jesus himself says in this passage, rest in the promise of life eternal: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."


I've been reminded and encouraged that Christ wants to enter in with us in our times of pain.  Not just so He can "make it better" but because this is what real relationship looks like.  And at the same time, I'm encouraged that He does sometimes do things to help our unbelief, to encourage us to trust and believe more deeply in Him, His providence and His grace, ultimately pointing to the greatest thing He ever did, laying down his life for us. 

A Big Week

 

We'll be spending Monday night through Sunday morning in DC.  It's a big trip.

M was recently selected as a Presidential Management Fellow, and this week is the three day job fair (hard to explain exactly how this works, but it's not just a normal job fair- people are actually interviewing you and hiring you, if not on the spot, then within a week or two.)  And since it overlaps nicely with Easter- when our favorite church has our favorite service (and it also happens to be M's birthday), I get to come along, too!

It's a big week.  The reality that we will be moving back to DC once M graduates is finally really sinking in...and I honestly can't hide my excitement.At the same time, there are a lot of unknowns- what exactly will M be doing?  What will I be doing, besides basking in the glow of being back in DC?  Where will we live?  How muggy and hot will it be this summer in DC?  You know, life-changing questions.

So if you're the praying type, we would definitely appreciate your prayers.  Not just for a safe trip, but for a successful trip.  That those positions M is most interested in would also be the most interested in him.  And that, ultimately, he would be able to use the skills and abilities he's been given to make our country a better place. (Cue cheesy, patriotic music. And a few waving flags.)