!!!Joyspired!!!

((Joyful+Insipred=Joyspired))

Today is a drop dead glorious day-

outside in the world/sky/atmosphere

and inside in my heart/mind/froliccontrolcenter.

Shoot my goodness I feel overflowful with joy!!!

This morning started with a meeting with my spiritual director Sum Yu.

It was the fourth time we've met and she is an absolute gem.

It was such a good time to reflect on the things I am learning, 

and trace the specific ways that Lord has answered 

my prayers this semester. 

I'm growlearning so much!!

:::

~God's forgiveness is stronger than my ability to fix myself~

 ((which is like negative weak in comparison))

~There is SO MUCH FREEDOM in this forgiveness~

John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free you are free indeed." 

~He cares about my whole self, all of my heart, and not just the "spiritual" things~

~Relating to God special and deserves specific time~

~Intentional quiet time listening in God's presence is so fulfilling and peaceful~

The last week and a half have been a huge time of cross-reflection. 

((Pish Posh Spaghetti Squash)) I didn't spend very much time reflecting/preparing for Easter 

which makes me sad

but I am thankful for the ways the reality of Christ's death and forgiveness

 have continued to rock me post Easter. 

((WOOT WOOT halla halla))

BeautiFULLY

The theme of beauty has been a hidden theme this week. 

Phil Wickham's song "Beautiful" was on my heart from worship this Sunday

and my senses have been overwhelmed by the sensational weather that has encompassed these past days.

Today, I had a class session with Dr. Reynolds on Anna Karenina. 

We talked a lot about author Leo Tolstoy's notions of beauty and the body. 

Reynolds asked several members of our group what they thought of themselves, what they think that others think when they see them passing by. 

It was interesting to hear their responses, and think of what I myself would say.

Words like "generic" and "short/tall" and "plain" were thrown around. 

As I listened to him remind us that we have been created in the image of God, both in 

SOUL and BODY, 

I realized something...

My notions of beauty are a snatch off. Like a mega snatch. 

In my tendency to be optomistic , I have always justified the parts of me that I don't believe to be beautiful by focusing on the parts that I think contain beauty.

I even do this with other people, categorizing certain people as being more or less beautiful than others. 

I feel like such a tool. 

Reynolds went on to say that even if someone was the all out UGLIEST member of the human race, the angel Gabriel would still look at this being in absolute wonder. 

We are all made in the image of one so incredibly beautiful. 

The people I look at are all incredibly amazingly breathtakingly beautiful. 

Both inside and outside.

That means that all of myself is beautiful. Fully. 

Beautifully.