i decided to play a mixed cd at work today that i made for a trip i took to chicago back in october. ironically its full of songs by band of horses… who will be playing in nashville tonight.
so, every few minutes or so i am reminded of the fact that i WONT be seeing them tonight at exit/in because i was stupid enough to assume it wouldn’t sell out. lame.
join me in mourning, will you?
There is no more inauthentic period of life than dating.
-Dan Allender
[ht: longbrake]
part of me laughed when i read this, because i agree. then, because i laughed, i felt a sense of disappointment that this seems to be the case. inauthenticity frustrates me more than many other things. i think i will battle the tension between hiding and being vulnerable for the rest of my life… and the idealist in me believes that one day there will be someone else who, in this quest to be authentic, will probably prove to me that i am way more of a tool than i’d like to think i am.
and this will be a really good thing.
friday was my first day of work at the new place. it didn’t bother me at all to get up at 5:30 in the morning [AND hadn't gone to bed until after midnight because of being talked into seeing a late night showing of cloverfield...] and drive to work in the 11 degree weather. i already feel like a different person and it’s only just started. several people i know came in yesterday and it was so encouraging to see and serve them. i hope to see more of you soon!
obviously i am not a barista yet, but just being at work felt amazing and i find myself really thinking about where this could take me. what if i really could work for a place like intelligentsia in chicago? that would be so amazing. [and at the same time, what if things take off here in nashville and i can get more involved at crema?] i’ve been reading a lot of coffee publications and everyone who becomes anyone special in the industry started off slinging coffee behind the counter, so i know i am in good company. i am so eager to learn.
Come visit us on Monday! Here is some info taken from the website:
It’s time. Put down the slightly-warmed coffee-O-matic sludge. Wake up! You weren’t meant to be automated, neither was coffee. Discover your passion again. Begin at Crema.
“Crema” is the mark of excellence in the finest espresso. When a shot of espresso is properly created, its rich foam topping is the “crema.” The dream of local Nashvillian and young Italian Rachel, it is an original experience that is the “crema,’ the evidence of an excellent heritage fused with passion for fine coffee. Crema opens January 28, 2008 in the Rutledge Hill district of downtown Nashville, TN (directions).
A portion of all sales on January 28 will be donated to Safe Haven.
Hours are 7AM – 7PM, Monday – Saturday.
Some fun facts for you about the shop:
-A right thing to do is support your local Habitat for Humanity store. We did. Every door in our space is from Habitat. And as many building materials as possible were purchased from the local Habitat for Humanity store.- It’s hard work and expensive to use green materials. So we discovered. But not impossible, even on a small budget we’ve found it possible to think differently. Our counter top is renewable bamboo, we used recycled lumber for the bar structure, and best of all, with every light blazing (22 compact fluorescent bulbs) our total light wattage use is only 250 watts!
We also will be recycling as much as possible, so make sure when you come you use the appropriate trash cans in order to help us minimize waste. Your cups, stir sticks, sleeves, and so much more can be recycled!
i know, i know. another post with politics in it, but this one is different.
call me dumb, but i forgot about early voting. this is really helpful because my job situation is sort of up in the air and i have no idea what 2/5 will look like for me. not to mention the fact that i am still registered in robertson county and will have to drive to springfield to vote [i think]. anyways, hope this is helpful to some of you!
DAVIDSON
Davidson County Election Commission Metro Office Building 800 2nd Ave S. 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Belle Meade City Hall 4705 Harding Road 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Bellevue Community Center 656 Colice Jeanne Rd 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Bordeaux Library 4000 Clarksville Pike 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Edmonson Pike Library 5501 Edmonson Pike 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Green Hills Library 3701 Benham Avenue 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Hermitage Library 3700 James Kay Lane 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
Madison Library 610 Gallatin Pike South 1/16, 1/22, and 1/29: 8-8; 1/17-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/28, 1/30-1/31: 8-6; 1/26: 9-4
this post definitely deserves nothing short of an ‘amen’ [or in my case, a word i uttered but won't post on here].
*one of my old professors at Union who is now at Mercer in Atlanta, e-mailed me this article that he recently wrote for USA Today [congratulations, Dr. Gushee!] and I wanted to put it out there for you all to read because it’s spot-on, I think.
So, I am finally close to finishing Myth of a Christian Nation. Its really great and I would have loved to read it with others because I think the conversation would have been very interesting.
The thesis of his book revolves around the idea that a large part of American evangelicals are guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. I think one of the biggest things I am learning is that American is not, and quite possibly never was, a nation with an inclination towards Christianity.
To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the kingdom of God with a preferred version of the kingdom of the world [whether it's our national interest, a particular form of government, a particular political program, or so on]. Rather than focusing our understanding of God’s kingdom on the person of Jesus- who incidentally, never allowed himself to get pulled into the political disputes of his day- I believe many of us American Evangelicals have allowed our understanding of the kingdom of God to be polluted with political ideals, agendas, and issues. For some evangelicals,the kingdom of God is largely about, if not centered on,”taking America back for God,” voting for the Christian candidate, outlawing abortion, outlawing gay marriage, winning the culture war, defending political freedom at home and abroad, keeping the phrase ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance, fighting for prayer in public schools and at public events, and fighting to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings.I will argue that this perspective is misguided, that fusing together the kingdom of God with this or any other version of the kingdom of the world is idolatrous and this fusion is having serious negative consequences for Christ’s church and for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Just look at what Frederick Douglas said in the 19th century:
Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference- so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked… I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slave-holding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity.
There is a lot more to flush out, but this alone has really created a paradigm shift for me regarding how i see the various slants that politicians take on issues of church and state. Its been really great to know I am not alone in some of my thinking on thisand I really resonate with his words. It isn’t that I’ve suddenly come to a conclusion about the “right” way to vote… because it isn’t black and white. When Boyd preached on this at his [mega] church, 1/3 of the congregation left, which just goes to prove how polarizing this topic can become [...and how certain notions have been ingrained into our minds in such dogmatic ways].
Sometimes I wish I didn’t have the ability to empathize. It makes me more indecisive and also makes me more likely to compromise for the sake of the Other, [which can be good or bad]. But its how I am wired and why I hate labels and [seemingly] perfectly constructed belief systems that don’t leave room for questions or doubt. Basically, what I am saying is that only having 2 options [Republican or Democrat] and choosing to be for or against, is really hard.
If anyone has any thoughts, I’d welcome them for sure. 
feeling overwhelmed.
but in an oh-so-good kinda way.
training/education began over the weekend with a trip to our local roaster’s place. he roasted coffee on the spot for us and we were able to take some fresh coffee home for ourselves, compliments of drew. he spent most of the time talking to us about the process of picking, washing, and roasting. it wasn’t overwhelming at all, but definitely a lot to take in. yesterday we did more basic education on coffee and espresso and… there is a lot i need to know. i bought index cards so i can make notes and study [in typical lacey fashion for anyone who knows me from college] and try to absorb as much information as possible as things get rolling in the next week or so. my excitement is mixed with hesitation because, as usual, the tendency towards self-doubt is tempting. however, the challenge of it makes it all the more exciting and i look forward to taking the barista exam once i get a bit of training done.
i am glad i have a perfectionistic streak, because it will help me pay attention to detail [which there is lots of]. we have a really awesome La Marzocco machine (!) that times our shots, so i will always know if i am doing something right or wrong [and believe me, you can easily mess up a shot and i will explain this later]. from what i can tell so far, the coffee and lattes are amazing. even if i hadn’t been hired, i would be raving about this place because there is nothing like it in nashville… and i already feel a sense of pride in being a part of the team.
that’s a brief update on the job. its the outlet i’ve needed and with getting back into my exercise routine, i feel like the fog is lifting a bit. i am not sure what will come of all the recent changes around here, but i am learning to let go… which is hard and freeing and scary all at once. i feel like i’ve put a lot of searching to rest, which is also good [i think]. there is a lot i don’t know. instead of allowing these things to put walls up, i feel at peace with my questions and am tired of the demands i’ve placed on myself and others to have the right answers [whatever that means]… a lesson learned a little late, but… that’s life. i will pick things back up again at various times along the way, but the pressure won’t be the same, and i am happy about that.
right now the only other pressing thing is determining who i will vote for in the primaries. i know a lot of you may not think its that big of a deal, but i happen to care for some reason or another. its really important to me that i don’t make a reactionary decision based on the current administration. i want to understand my values and how they may or may not be compromised based on the candidate i vote for. the question of WWJD is pretty prevalent in my mind, but this poses a whole other set of issues, because Jesus wasn’t really about promoting earthly kingdoms. anyways. i know the whole system is pretty broken, but i am spending a lot of my free time studying up on issues [and coffee] for the time being. maybe a post to come will deal more with this, but i’d like to wait until i can better articulate my POV.
grace and peace.
