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| I have a new blogI've decided that Xanga is no longer my blog of choice. I'm trying for something more professional, more generally accessible... and... just different. It's time for a change.
So I will no longer be updating my Xanga. If you want to keep up with me, bookmark my new site:
http://jessicaboling.wordpress.com/
Au revoir!
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| BonhoefferI read this slowly. Chewed on it, and was challenged. See what you think:
God does not want me to model others into the image that seems good to me, that is, into my own image. Instead, in their freedom from me God made other people in God's own image. I can never know in advance how God's image should appear in others. That image always takes on a completely new and unique form whose origin is found solely in God's free and sovereign act of creation. To me that form may seem strange, even ungodly. But God creates every person in the image of God's Son, the Crucified, and this image, likewise, certainly looked strange and ungodly to me before I grasped it. Strong or weak, wise or foolish, talented or untalented, pious or less pious, the complete diversity of individuals in the community is no longer a reason to talk or judge and condemn, and therefore no longer a pretext for self-justification. Rather this diversity is a reason for rejoicing in one another and serving one another.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Another quote from the same work (Life Together) made me think about dorm life – and, more largely, the Body of Christ.
Even in this new situation all the members of the community are given their special place; this is no longer the place, however, in which they can most successfully promote themselves, but the place where they can best carry out their service. In a Christian community, everything depends on whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. The chain is unbreakable only when even the smallest link holds tightly with the others. A community which permits within itself members who do nothing will be destroyed by them. Thus it is a good idea that all members receive a definite task to perform for the community, so that they may know in times of doubt that they too are not useless and incapable of doing anything. Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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| this is me... I think. INFJ - "Author". Strong drive and enjoyment to help others. Complex personality. 1.5% of total population. | Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)(My comments in parenthesis.) creative,
smart, focus on fantasy more than reality, attracted to sad things,
fears doing the wrong thing, observer, avoidant, fears drawing
attention to self, anxious, cautious, somewhat easily frightened,
easily offended (nah, not really), private, easily hurt (not so much), socially uncomfortable (eh, not really),
emotionally moody (not often), does not like to be looked at, fearful,
perfectionist, can sabotage self, can be wounded at the core, values
solitude, guarded, does not like crowds (got that one right), organized, second guesses
self, more likely to support marijuana legalization (what a random thing to put on here, lol), focuses on people's
hidden motives (unfortunately  ), prone to crying (sometimes, but really not that often), not competitive (ohhh yeah!), prone to feelings of
loneliness (uh-huh), not spontaneous, prone to sadness (contemplation, maybe, but not sadness), longs for a stabilizing
relationship, fears rejection in relationships, frequently worried, can
feel victimized, prone to intimidation, lower energy (yeah...yawn), strict with self favored careers:
| psychotherapist,
artist, art curator, bookstore owner, freelance writer, poet, teacher
(art, drama, english -- oh yeah!), library assistant, professor of english,
painter, novelist, book editor, copywriter, philosopher,
environmentalist, bookseller, museum curator, opera singer, magazine
editor, archivist, music therapist, screenwriter, film director,
creative director, librarian, social services worker, art historian,
sign language interpreter, photo journalist, makeup artist, photo
journalist, homemaker | disfavored careers:
airline
pilot, race car driver, businessman, information technology consultant,
executive, administrator, supervisor, bartender, lab technician,
restaurant owner, strategist, ceo, bar owner, marketing specialist,
business consultant (notice the disfavored careers cover everything business or marketing related? haha, so true.) | | |
| The last day of 2007.
Can it already be?
Wow.
What will 2008 hold?
I'm almost afraid to ask that question, although I have no reason to think it will be a bad year. On the contrary, it promises to be a good year... but a year of change. The first half will be familiar. The second half... I don't know about yet.
But God is faithful. I do know that. He will show me what's next when it's time.
For now, January 2008 is what's next. In five days, I leave for Germany again. My last semester at BFA. Wow, that conjures up a lot of emotions. I can't deal with them right now, so I'll just say,
Happy New Year, everyone!
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|  | Currently Watching
Silent Night
By Linda Hamilton, Matthew Harbour, Romano Orzari, Alain Goulem, Martin Neufeld
see related |
2007 Survey1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
That's a hard one. Umm... I went to Italy.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't even remember if I had any last year. So I guess I didn't keep them, if I did. 
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or get pregnant?
No one that's particularly close to me.
4. Did anyone close to you get married?
Yes! Sarah did.
5. Did anyone close to you die?
One of our new dorm students was killed in an accident shortly
before the fall semester began.
6. Travel?
Sicily, Paris, Wittenberg, Heidelberg... those are the places I hadn't been before.
7. Did you move anywhere?
I did! I moved all the way downstairs to a different room in the dorm.
8. What was the best month?
Maybe April. It was good times on spring break and also back in the dorm when we all returned. Sweet memories.
9. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I'm not sure how to answer that.
10. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 17. The day I found out that one of our girls died in a hiking accident.
11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A significant writing project. 
12. What was your biggest failure?
Oh, there are too many to list. Many times I lacked patience, understanding, wisdom... and many times I didn't show love.
13. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just some mild colds last winter and this fall, and a 12 hour stomach bug during the summer.
14. What was the best thing you bought?
Maybe
my old framed print. I bought it at the Kandern flea market for...
uh... more than I thought the lady told me it cost. But I think it was
worth it.
15. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My
wonderful Witt chicks'. They really are just about the most amazing
girls you'll ever meet. Of course I'm not biased or anything.
16. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
My own, as much as anyone else's.
17. Where did most of your money go?
Down the drain in the rotten USD to Euro exchange rate. 
18. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Coming home for Christmas!!
19. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Oh, several. "Home" by Chris Daughtry comes to mind.
20. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Hmm. Neither. But I'm probably more reflective and pondering.
ii. thinner or fatter? A few pounds lighter. (But who knows how long that'll last after my mom's delicious cooking the past few days...)
iii. richer or poorer? About the same, I guess.
21. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Loving people with my actions and my words (in that order).
22. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Looking out for #1.
23. How will you be spending New Year's Eve/Day?
Probably playing Mafia and/or other games with the college/career group at church. Yay!
24. What was an unexpected surprise?
There were several, but none that stand out.
25. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Not that I know of.
26. What was the best concert you've been to this year?
Umm. The BFA Christmas concert?
27. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't really watch TV this year. (Not regularly.)
28. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
No.
29. What was the best book you read?
I really enjoyed I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, but I'm not sure it was the best.
30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nickel Creek. (Okay, so maybe I did fall in love this year...)
31. What did you want and get?
SmartWool socks!
32. What did you want and not get?
"Miss Potter" on DVD.
33. What was your favorite film of this year?
It's a tie between "Miss Potter" and "Spider-Man 3." (No, they are not in the same genre.)
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 (just 3 days ago), and I went out to dinner with my family.
35. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hmm. Not sure how to answer that one.
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Somewhat eclectic and a little artsy, with a touch of Euro (just a touch, mind you!).
37. What kept you sane?
God. My coworkers. My friends. My family.
38. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not sure.
39. Who did you miss?
All my family and friends in the States.
40. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't name a "best" -- I met a bunch of wonderful new people this year.
41. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
That I need to go to God for my affirmation instead of wanting to get it from people.
42. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It's foreign on this side / but it feels like I'm home again (Nickel Creek, "This Side"). | | |
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