Friday, February 8, 2013

7 Quick Takes

1.
I really like this new music from Gray Havens, and right now it's free! I especially like the Narnia-inspired "Silver" and the sweet, upbeat "Let's Get Married". "Where They Go" is good, too.

2.
I've been trying the Couch-to-5K program. I'll probably write a longer blog about it sometime, but right now I have to say that it's the most sensible start-running program I've ever encountered. I'm beginning to hope I might be able to become a runner without injuring myself! (Injuring myself is what I normally do when I think, "hey, I should go for a run!" I start out too fast and my body says, "hey, idiot, knock it off!")

3.
Something else I want to write a blog post on sometime is the difference between reading scripture and hearing scripture. I've become fonder and fonder of listening to the Bible. It seems to seep into my heart in a different way when it comes through my ears (sorry, that's a terrible mix of the metaphorical and the literal).

But reading it engages my attention, too. Just differently. I've been trying to figure out what the difference is. Anyone have any thoughts?

4.
You've probably seen the beautiful animated short "Paperman", but what you might not have seen is this sharp analysis by Lars Walker. I had the same problem he did with "Paperman"'s narrative arc, and I like his solution to the difficulty.

5. Lent starts next week! I'm just saying.

6. Actually, my preparations for Lent this year feel really different, because this is the first year I'm preparing for Lent as an Altar Guild director. Yes, I'm figuring out what I'm going to take on personally for Lent, what sort of fast I'm doing . . . but I'm also collecting last year's palm crosses to burn for Ash Wednesday and making sure our priest's Lenten chausible is ironed and that we have people signed up to serve at the various Lenten services . . . it's a really different perspective on the season.

7. I really like being a part of our church's volunteer staff. Talk about work worth doing! All of our lives are part of the life of the church, but getting to participate in the actual church-service-related work makes it all feel so much more literal than it usually does.

I'm not expressing that well, I don't think. I guess that means I need to think about it more; muddled expression usually means muddled thought. But there is something so good and sweet about liturgical work, and I'm sure there's some connection between that work and my day-to-day life as a Christian. Some connection between washing the chalice after communion and washing the dishes after my family has supper.

I just need to ponder it a bit more, I think.


More Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

6 comments:

Carly said...

I've been wanting to give the Couch to 5K (is it telling that just misstyped "couch" as "cough" before I caught myself) a try the more I hear folks talk about it.

I've NEVER been a runner, but I have this longing in my heart to do it - I've previously just shoved that feeling down with more ice cream in the past.

I'd love to hear more about your experience with it!

Faulkner's Ranch said...

I've heard GREAT things about the Couch to 5K program. Might have to check it out once I get the all-clear to start working out again :o)

Jessica said...

"Some connection between washing the chalice after communion and washing the dishes after my family has supper." Never thought about drudgery like that before. Wow. That really puts things in perspective. I'm gobsmacked, in a good way.

Jessica Snell said...

Carly and Kelly Jo - that's it then, I *will* post more about C25K! :D

Jessica, thank you so much. I wish I had more thoughts to flesh out that concept, but I feel like I'm only really beginning to ponder it seriously. Love to hear your thoughts on it!

Bethany said...

I like your thoughts on church work--have you read Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris? It deals with the connection between liturgy and women's work and you remark on the connection between washing up after dinner and washing the chalice reminded me of it.

Jessica Snell said...

I haven't read it, but thank you for the recommendation, Bethany!