A couple of weeks ago I started pondering who I am.  Lack of identity is part of one of my disorders that I alledgedly have, but I’m not sure that’s the problem.  More likely, it was stimulated by the one year anniversary of my second stay on the psychiatric ward, and subsequently moving in with my parents.  We all thought I’d be there for six months.  Now it’s one year and counting.  I have a degree that I don’t use.  I can only work part-time.  What does that make me?

Truth:  I have no idea.  I’m just taking it day by day.

Three weeks ago my uncle died, and as the family gathered, we had a chance to look at old pictures and reminisce. I began wondering about some of my ancesters.  I specifically wanted to know when my relatives had come from Europe (mostly from Ireland.)  And I have a relative who served in the Civil War at Gettysburg.  So I started doing some poking around on some geneology sites and I am having a ball!  My family is even excited about what I’m doing.  I realized that research is something I’ve always wanted to do and always have loved.  I need a hobby to keep myself busy – this is turning out to be a good one.

Sore Bum from Cycling? Wear Greenknickers! : TreeHugger

I love creative ways to eco-fy your life.

Pollution not just bad, it’s a sin :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Religion

I had heard about this last week, but didn’t get a chance to write about it.  Looking for information tonight, I was really frustrated because once again the media just whacked the whole thing.  It’s not like these are “new”.  It’s just that in this day and age it seems that people need things set before them more explicitly… so there can be no sins of omission.  Jesus spoke of each of these things, and they in fact are all covered in the original 7.  Ignorance in favor of a hot headline is just irresponsible.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

A commenter over on Andrew Sullivan’s blog has some wonderful and relevant questions about prostitution and porn.

Tommy Westphall – A Multiverse Explored

This is a fun map of all the tv shows that are somehow connected to both St. Elsewhere and Homicide:Life on the Streets.  At the end of St. Elsewhere, we find that the whole series was imagined by Tommy Westphall, an autistic child.  On Homicide, they investigated one of the doctors from St. Elsewhere.  Therefore, Homicide is also a construct of Tommy Westphall.  The Law and Order series have featured characters from Homicide, so we can logically conclude that those show are also from Tommy’s mind.

There’s something awesome about people having a hobby that just brings them happiness.

Jan at A Church for Starving Artists is contemplating the seriousness of spiritual formation:

I get depressed when people seem so uncommitted. Many church members attend worship irregularly. There are clearly good excuses (e.g. out of town, sick, Grandmother’s 100th birthday party) and there are not-so-good reasons (e.g. Hillary’s on Meet the Press, Ann Taylor’s having a sale.) Maybe they are committed to God, to following Jesus but they just aren’t committed to their spiritual community. For others “membership” simply means that their names are on a list somewhere and that’s enough.

(See what I mean about being no fun?)

Here’s the thing: I am really fun. Cyndi Lauper fun. I draw the line at certain roller coasters and American Gladiator tryouts but I’m a fairly fun person.

Nevertheless, I’m longing for people in my spiritual community to crave God to the point that they become a committed part of the community. I’m wishing more people made room for their spiritual lives in a committed way.

A Church for Starving Artists: No Fun?

I can identify with this deeply.  At my church I have done two Bible studies since September, each poorly attended.  People say they want study opportunities, but don’t see it through.  Sometimes I want to shake them and say, “Why are you here?  Why do you come to church?  What are you getting out of it? Why don’t you want to know Jesus more?”

For Lent I am doing a study on martyrs and sacrifice.  There is a soup and bread supper before hand, so attendance is usually a little better.  There are a couple of people who are showing great interest in it.  Have to keep that up.