audioslave trade

two things.

i remember sitting in advanced reporting and writing...or writing for the media...or whatever...staring at the back of a tshirt that the girl sitting in front of me had on. it read: "jeremiah 29:11 - for I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." and all class long, i sat in mild curiosity, wondering which church event, passion conference, or revival this shirt had come from. the clock struck ten fifty and she got up, packed her northface backpack and turned around to leave.

it read: rush 2000.

rush? like for sororities?? does anyone else think that it's oh, slightly conjecturous and a bit emotionally manipulative to try to apply a word from God for an exiled nation to whether freshmen should choose kappa or pi phi on pref day? i was appalled then and continue to be now since i think of that stupid shirt every time i hear that verse. definitely on par with anything benny hinn has ever said (including that bit about the holy spirit machine gun). really.

on a less derisive note...

this morning, i was sitting in my closet spending some quiet time as i try to do every day. my dog, bradley, likes to come in with me and just lay there while i sip, gnosh, write, read, pray, what have you. and i have always interpreted his actions as meaning that he just wanted to be by me, his alpha, at all times. how sweet and loyal and everything else a dog is supposed to be!

so this morning, i forgot to bring in the tea kettle to refill my mug and so when i reached the bottom of my cup, i got up to get more hot water. as soon as i started to head toward the door, bradley jumps up with his ears perked and tail wagging. i open the door, he bolts out and runs into the kitchen. when i reach the kitchen, he is standing by his bowl, eyes intense and body completely still. ignoring this, i refilled my cup and headed back to my closet. bradley followed, laid down and curled up by me as we had been originally. after a while longer, it was time for me to get ready for the day so i picked up my things and stood up. again, bradley (who was completely sleeping and even doing those kicks and pseudo barks that dogs do in REM), did the exact same thing.

to test him, i went back into my closet, stood there for a minute, walked out and started running for the other side of the house. he freaked out and ran after me. as soon as he was in the same room, he turns around and walks out while looking back at me every few seconds as if he wanted me to come with him. i followed. he led me to his bowl.

that was a really long story. and really crazy verb tense issues. sorry. i realized a couple of things. one, bradley is not loyal to me as his leader. he is loyal to me because i have never forgotten to feed him. and more importantly, i extracted a spiritual lesson (go with me here). the thing is that bradley is always like that. he always expects that every time i go to the kitchen, i am going because i either want to give him food, a treat or will make/cook food and drop something. every time i sit on the floor, he runs over to me because he thinks i sat with the sole purpose of petting him. when i go outside, he thinks i am going because i want to play with him.

and i want to be like that with God. i want to absorb the mindset that in every situation, every circumstance, God is just waiting to pour out His blessings on me. that He is ALWAYS for me, always wanting to show me how much He loves me. and not only do i want to think this way, i want to live like it with abandon.

like bradley, except that he has no soul and will not go to heaven.