Thoughts on Power

On our fourth day in Europe my mom and I trekked to Versailles. And when I say "trekked" I do mean "trekked." As we were walking up to the Palace in the pouring rain my mom remarked that it did look quite a bit like the peasants' Bread March. Hundreds of tourists unloaded from the train station, paid exorbitant prices for umbrellas, and flocked toward the Palace at 10 am.

The Palace of Versailles is far beyond the realm of adequate description. Ostentatious doesn't even do it justice. Paris was ostentatious, Versailles exceeded even that. I was disgusted, I couldn't even imagine the sheer repulsion of the peasant women who'd known only their dingy little hovels until the day they stormed this monstrosity.

I began to see that this family truly became imprisoned in their excesses. A part of me pities Marie-Antoinette. I wonder if she married in unawares, or more likely, she didn't really have a choice. Now a truly courageous woman would have stood up to her husband and the excesses of the empire. She took the less honorable route, retreating to her make-believe village to escape the absurdities of her life by enshrouding it in even greater absurdity.

Throughout the day at Versailles I couldn't help but start to wonder what happens to a person's psyche when they are thrust into power. Louis XIV was born into power and his sons afterward. Thus, the dementia of power just compounded and spiraled throughout each generation. Frenchmen vied for the honor of being Valet de Chambre, rising the Sun King in the morning and putting him to bed at night. But wouldn't it be terrible to live without the freedom to go to bed when you wished, the privacy to dress oneself, or to change plans on a whim? In some ways I wonder if the peasants really were freer. They were not slaves to their lives of excess. But still, I guess they were slaves to their hunger.

As we walked for hours all over Versailles, taking in the expanse of the tuilleries and grounds, I began to wonder how much the kings and queens that lived there could really enjoy all that it had to offer. There was so much of it, they couldn't possibly have had enough time to really make all of the little terraces, walkways, and the three palaces worth the trouble. Perhaps if Marie had done a bit more walking around her estate she would have been a bit slimmer.

By the end of the day we were exhausted from walking miles through Versailles. It would have been nearly impossible for us to stay upright long enough to eat in the one of those lovely French cafes. To stave off the impending grouchiness that accompanies a drop in blood sugar, I picked up my favorite French meal from the local patisserie - a simple baguette with ham and cheese. Perhaps one day I'll return to Paris and allocate enough physical stamina to be truly cosmopolitan and eat fine cheese and wine at 10pm. But by the end of our second day there I think we were just happy for the freedom to go to bed early in our budget hotel, unhindered by excess but full of baguettes, and unencumbered by the mental illnesses that saturate the powerful.

Minding the Gap and Other Musings

There is something about the way British people speak that just charms us Anglophiles. I mean honestly, what American girl wouldn't be illogically swept off her feet by a Hugh Grant or Fred and George Weasley? While most Continental Europeans see the British as bunch of uncouth louts, most Americans are immediately won over with their accents and idioms.

For example, the British prefer the term "Way Out" over "Exit." When speaking about this to a young Brit, he explained to me that the word "exit" denotes emergency or fear. A "way out" is simply that - a way out. Now, take the phrase "mind the gap". When the doors open on the London tube this automatic forewarning on the intercom ensures that patrons do not trip off the train. In America we would say "watch your step." But really "watch your step" just seems to be a bit more overbearing, perhaps even a little demeaning - as if every passenger is a clumsy fool waiting to trip and fall and sue somebody. I'm so enamored with Brit-speak that I'm tempted to start using "the loo" and calling up my "mates."

London...my first impressions:

London is an old, old town that has proved resilient through years of turbulent history. I admire that about London. It has weathered plagues, fire, bombings, beheadings, and the perpetual follies of its ruling class. I like how they are steeped in all sorts of quirky traditions, the nightly ceremony of the keys at the Tower, the changing of the guard, the tagging of the queen's swans. The pomp and circumstance is quite amusing. Nevertheless, London flourishes and strives to become as hip and relevant as New York. In the past decade Londoners have watched the growth of new fixtures like the town hall, the Gherkin, and The Shard. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about this unabashedly 21st century architecture standing amidst the old-school landscape - that is until I learned that Prince Charles equated it with a "monstrous carbuncle". So I decided I liked it, just to spite him.


I had expected London to be smaller, quainter. My ignorance slapped me in the face as I realized that London is a major world class city. I find it humorous however that the Tower of London still harbors its ravens in accordance with the old legend that the empire will fall if the ravens are removed. I wonder if the ravens were on holiday in 1776. Do the raven-keepers realize that the empire has already fallen? Maybe they just don't want to be out of a job.

London got me thinking about old age. You know those insecure old people that try so hard to stay young cool but end up failing miserably? You've seen them, they have cheap hair dye and wrinkles flopping over their bikini bottoms. They are put to shame by the more savvy old people, the unabashedly gray-haired retirees who get on Facebook and are off globetrotting in their spare time. This begs the question - What kind of "old" category does London fall into? Is London wearing a bikini at the beach or it is a spry, silver-haired adventurer?

Going to the Dentist

Of all the things we often take for granted one of them is going to the dentist. We hate the dentist, but ever since I traveled to Kosovo and saw the effects of not going to the dentist I've been so thankful for every visit.

That said, I've learned an important lesson in the past week. Always go to the dentist well in advance of the date you leave for an extended trip to Europe. You see, I thought that having cavities filled three weeks before I left would be quite enough time to solve any unwanted complications. Apparently however, when the cavity is deep you will be saddled with prolonged sensitivity and the potential for a latent infection. In short, it's best to go to the dentist months, not weeks in advance of a trip.

So here's the life lesson I'm taking from this. Every aspect of the next three weeks is in God's hands. From my health, to my safety, to my teeth. This past year I have been functioning quite independently of the God who calls us repeatedly to lean on Him. I remember the days in my first two years of teaching when the drive to school each morning was a prolonged prayer session, when early morning workouts were a chance to listen to sermons, when I made it a point to read and study Biblical literature and write pithy theological essays. This year I've been handling my career, my coursework, and my life pretty much on my own. I suppose there have been a few moments when the coaching gig has propelled me into some desperate prayer, but other than that I've taken life into my own hands. I haven't cried out in true helplessness in quite awhile.

Independence, comfort, and safety is always the easy default. Northern Virginia is now my home, classrooms are my sanctuary, debate tournaments are my social life (sad, but true). During the next three weeks I'm leaving that all behind. I am actually quite terrified. You see, planning this trip was a lot more exciting two months ago as I was sifting through travel guides and pricing out flights. Tonight, rather than thinking of this as a grand adventure my mind is starting to parcel through a highly imaginative list of all the things that could go wrong. Getting an abscess tooth is right at the top.

In truth however, I'm seeking out more than castles and museums, I'm seeking a renewed sense of faith. I'm trusting that the trains will run, the planes will fly, and dental emergencies will either be averted or dealt with. I'm trusting that God will take care of me tomorrow, and all the rest of my life.

Back again

Now that grad school is no longer zapping all of my time and energy and I am happy to announce that the next year of my life is going to be entirely devoted to pursuing a variety of eclectic interests that have been postponed in the onslaught of academic accouterments...

In order to maximize the margin in my life I need to consider throwing out some other wasteful excesses as well. In today's Washington Post the Outlook section ran a feature entitled "12 Things We Should Trash." Herein, twelve writers made their case for disposing of various elements of our society - virginity, tactical nuclear weapons, lawns, and many others. I thought this was a good idea and began asking myself what twelve things can I can rid myself of, and what will I add instead?

The first is going to be meat (with the exception of fish). Why meat? There are a variety of reasons people become vegetarian. They believe it's healthier, they believe it conserves energy, or because they oppose commercial farming methods. None of those reasons apply. I am basically doing it because I'm tired of food options. I'm tired of sitting down to eat at a restaurant and getting overwhelmed by the menu. I'm tired of trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. There are so many important decisions in life, why should I waste my mental energy trying to figure out if I want the chicken and rice or the steak? Once you cross all the meat options off the menu it's so much simpler. Life is less stressful with less choices. (that said, I'll eat meat if it is served to me by a host and probably won't forego my mom's hamburgers on the grill)

The truth is we are living in a society with way too many choices. This doesn't just apply to food. I rarely go to Tysons to shop, I like to just walk around and gaze at the mecca of consumerism going on around me. It's way to overwhelming to actually decide on something to buy. I rarely buy books at Barnes and Noble, though I visit nearly every week. There is so much I want to read, I can't pick just one, and I can't afford them all, so I walk out empty-handed.

There is so much I want to do with my life. So many roads to travel and things to learn. I want to take tennis lessons. I want to take a photography class, a creative writing course. I want to go to concerts and Seattle and Texas, and Chincoteague. I haven't even been to Baltimore or Annapolis yet! I love being 25 with a whole lifetime of experiences and lessons still ahead but sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to fit it all in. I don't want to walk out empty-handed from life.

That's why I'm throwing unnecessary stuff out. I don't want to become needlessly overwhelmed. Realistically, I can't have it all. I'll live without Omaha steak.

So True...

"I never know what I think about something until I read what I've written on it."
-William Faulkner

A Life To-Do List

I'm obsessed with lists. During the school year I generally have about three to-do lists going at once, each neatly categorized into long-term, daily, work, and life. I even record tasks on the to-do list after I've completed them for the sheer thrill of being able to cross them off. I even have a summer to-do list and I secretly take it with me on my travels. I just feel better with a list in hand.

Recently I read a book called "If I Live to be 100." The writer interviewed a series of centenarians about their lives. The book inspired me to open my journal from my Senior year of college and review my "Life To-Do List". I've revised it a bit, and added a few more things, but I was also happily able to check off a few more items.

(note: they are in no particular order)

- Go to Japan during cherry blossom season - DONE
- Travel to Southeast Asia - DONE
- Live on a kibbutz in Israel
- Teach English in India
- Backpack through Western Europe - BEGINNING PHASE 1 PREPARATIONS
- Backpack on the Appalachian Trail for at least 3 days
- Drive across America
- Go to Alaska
- Eat bugs - DONE
- Become adept at eating with chopsticks - IN PROGRESS
- Visit Auschwitz
- Buy a hat in Fez (Morocco)
- Ride an elephant - DONE
- Learn to cook exotic foreign cuisine - IN PROGRESS
- Go back to Kosovo
- Help kids in Kosovo go to college - IN PROGRESS
- Grow an exquisite rose garden
- Sing my favorite They Might Be Giants Song in Istanbul
- Ice skate in Central Park - DONE
- See the tree in Rockefeller center at Christmastime - DONE
- Throw a huge reunion party for all my college friends and their families in 20 years
- Learn to speak another language
- Ride and own horses
- Play tennis well
- Go swimming in the ocean at night - DONE
- Find the perfect beach
- Inspire someone to become a teacher
- Run a triathlon
- Go scuba diving in Turks and Caicos
- Learn to surf
- Take art classes
- Take a creative writing class
- Knit socks - DONE
- Knit a fabulous sweater
- Grow my own vegetables
- Have a house in the country with a front porch
- Explore Seattle
- Write and publish a work of fiction
- Get my Ph.D. in something
- Ride the C&O trail from Harpers Ferry to Georgetown
- Ride the entirety of the W&OD - DONE
- Meet the President of the United States
- Become good at photography
- Own a Lab of every color in addition to a Basset Hound and a Saint Bernard (but not necessarily simultaneously)
- Play a historical character at Williamsburg
- See a Broadway show

I guess I've been a bit of a slacker up until now. At this rate I may need to live to be 100 to get it all done...and I'm sure I'll be adding more to the list as we go along.

Coming up next: Things that I done that should have been on my to-do list

Asa and the Idols

Working backwards through 2 Chronicles, we encounter Jehosephat’s predecessor, Asa. This king laid the groundwork for a godly kingdom by removing the foreign idols from the households and public squares.



In Thailand there are Buddhas all over. They garnish the street corners, or sit centrally in the squares and temple complexes across the land. The golden statues even mingle amidst the debauchery in Bangkok’s brothel-laden districts. The offerings of prostitutes, placed hurriedly at Buddha’s golden feet. Inching through traffic on Sukhumvit, the little Buddha sits on the dashboard of each taxi. In the countryside Buddha simulacrums dot the landscape. Sometimes these are very unique, usually they are not quite as shiny, often weathered and cracked, but still, the same idol. The poorest of the poor offer their Orange Crush, noodles, flowers, and incense to these lifeless figurines. If you don’t think about it too much it’s comedic. If you do think about it, it’s incredibly sad.



I wonder if Judah looked like this. Alters dotting the city. Can you imagine the amount of courage it would take to uproot these idols. It’s easy to read 1st and 2nd Chronicles like a history textbook. They leave out the drama, the passion of the story. You must read between the lines.

Can you imagine the repercussions of Asa’s edict? There must have been massive dissent, as there always is when a leader takes away an entrenched practiced. I wonder how much opposition Asa incurred from his advisors, from the wealthy and powerful, from the “old guard,” that saw no harm in these foreign idols? Who did he get to enforce the destruction of idolatry? Was there an “idol police?”Asa, this guy in his twenties, shaking things up! Did he ever second guess himself? In the midst of all the opposition did he ever doubt? How was he so sure of his convictions?
Perhaps that is why 2 Chronicles 15: 7 says “But you be strong, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” The next verse says “He took courage and removed the abominable idols.”

Asa did some amazing things for the Lord. He “took courage.”