Listening to MC Solaar and Reading about Algerian Emigration

Should be reading, but wanted to post something since it's been at least 35 days since my last post. Hopefully this summer I will be more active, blogging about working for the Sentinel, my tackling of a diverse reading list, and my hopeful attempts at discerning where God is calling me for the next year or so.

For now, I'll return to my research for my historiographical essay about Algerian Emigration and Immigration to France. Here's praying I can make some progress before the weekend so I don't have to spend it it entirely in the books and writing.

Until next time, bonne nuit!

Oh and since I'm going to miss them terribly this summer, here are some pictures of the amazing children I've volunteered with this spring at the Village Center. (Thanks Leslie for taking these!)

Une Nation "Romantique"

Okay, I'll admit it. I've often romanticized France. It's history, culture, language and general beauty often astounds me and draws me in like the warm, sweet fragrance of a fresh baguette.

I often refer to myself as a francophile due to my tendency to obsess over anything related to Paris or France. The 4ft-wide map of Paris

on my living room wall might be the first indication. Spending six weeks in Paris was not nearly long enough to satiate my thirst for une vie francaise.

But alas, I am coming to terms with some of the horrendous fates dealt by the french, especially during and since the colonial years. The racism, misogynistic and ignorant hatred for the "other" by the french is astounding--something my francophile self hates to reconcile.

As an American, I have had to learn the harsh fates dealt throughout my nation's history. I have had to learn how those fates still prevail today. I have had to learn to comprehend and liberate myself from the potential continuance of prejudices and ignorance that will be the demise of any nation. But I have also learned that as a nation we can grow and change. I am blessed to be an American.

And through that blessing, I want others to know that they can experience that same joy if they only acknowledged the problems they must overcome. So, in order for me to make some impact, I must first learn more.

I plan to follow-up this post with more insights into my studies of France's colonial involvement in North Africa and current issues related to immigration and religion. For such a romantic nation, France sure has a lot to get right to really become the republic it thinks it already is.

I fully recognize I am far from an expert on any of these issues, but as far as I can tell no one in America knows they exist even as the romanticize France. I believe I will always love France and hope to live there one day, but it seems only fair to understand the entire beast.

To share my love, here is a beautiful photo of one of my favorite places in Paris, the Rodin chateau (photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs' flickr).

And if you want to read an amazing book about the Veil Ban in French schools, which goes beyond the actual ban into France's problems with racism, gender discrimination, sexism and more, read Politics of the Veil by Joan W. Scott.

Just a short note since it's been awhile...

I can't believe March is more than halfway over. It's been almost two months since I posted anything, so I guess it's time I wrote something new. I wish my posts were as witty and fascinating as Lydia's or I was on an amazing spiritual journey as Sarah is abroad right now, but my meager meanderings will have to suffice if you're reading this.

I just felt like sharing some of the thoughts I've been marinating on the past few days. The Lord has really shown me not only how dependent I am on his provisions, but also that when I am consumed by my own life, He knows just how to rock my world and bring me to my knees because of his insurmountable love for me.

Now would be the appropriate section for me to insert an fitting quote or scripture, but I am lacking in the knowledge right now so I will just share a tweet my good friend Ann Hughston shared with the world earlier this evening that helped me refocus on the One who truly loves me unconditionally although I am completely undeserving outside of his grace.

"If there is nothing in this world that ever satisfies us, then it must mean that we are made for something beyond this world."

I'm not sure whose quote that originally is, even though I've heard it outside of the AH's tweets. But thank you wise soul.

And PS, the wind is seriously howling up a severe storm out my apartment. If I didn't eerily find it calming I'd be pretty freaked out right now.

Some Awesome Sermons

I just wanted to share the awesome sermon Matt Carter gave Sunday at the Austin Stone on Genesis 2:15, 18 about work and marriage. It was something I definitely had not heard said quite before and something I think is really important given today's marital climate--or lack there of.

http://www.austinstone.org/resources/sermons/ It is the sermon from Jan. 24 entitled Genesis: Theology of Work: A Helper Suitable and everyone single, dating, married should definitely listen to it.

I am also eagerly looking forward to watching NewSpring's 10th Aniversary Service online and will share that link here as well. Wish I had been in Greenville this weekend to attend alongside 15,000 others at the Bilo Center.

http://www.newspring.cc/series/thebestisyettocome

Fast-forward 5 or 10 years

The future has been on my mind a lot lately. Probably because it takes a tragedy like Haiti to remind you of not only how grateful and blessed we are to live in such a wonderful and stable country and that we are blessed to help others who are not. As a broke, but blessed grad student, I wish there was more I could do to help Haiti, especially the orphans beyond donating small monetary amounts here and there.

I wish I could share my blessed life and the gospel with those children.

Here's where the 5-10 years fast-forward would help. If only I were a few years older and gainfully employed, aka not still living off my parents, I would wholeheartedly adopt a Haitian child. I often think that there has to be a greater purpose for my french skills beyond being extremely helpful as a tourist.

Right now I hope my language skills might help from a journalistic perspective, covering issues in France and North Africa that get completely slighted by American media outlets. (I may need some Arabic to help there too).

But even better than that, being able to share even a basic french vocab and help a Haitian child is becoming an even stronger desire for me personally. So hopefully in a few years I can help someone and fulfill these future/fast-forward dreams. Until then, I will do everything in my power to help support Haiti as best I can and pursue a life where I can not only share the Gospel with others but fulfill His plan for my life.

Whether here in the South, France or Haiti.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/world/americas/27children.html?pagewanted=2&ref=americas