Manchester Remembers...

Manchester Remembers. It's a phrase I've seen a lot of today. It took a few minutes to click, but then I remembered. A year ago today, a terrorist set off a bomb in the Manchester Arena, killing himself and 22 others, as they were leaving an Ariana Grande concert. There were quite a few events around Manchester today in remembrance. I have lived in Manchester for almost 9 months now, and it is one of the most interesting and best places that I have ever lived. The people that I have met are wonderful, and I enjoy seeing the worker bee symbol, literally, everywhere. The worker bee symbol showed up during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, but since last year it has become a symbol for unity and strength. A year ago I didn't yet know that I would be living in Manchester. I knew I would be somewhere in The United Kingdom, but two days after the attack I found out that the church where I am working now wanted to interview me, and then in early June I got the official word. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in the attack last year, it's hard losing loved ones in any circumstance, but I can't imagine the pain of losing someone to such a horrible act of violence. From what I have experienced, Manchester knows how to pull together, and I love it here, and it will be very hard to leave. Manchester Remembers, and I will remember Manchester.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Last night, May 6th, at St. Chrysostom's Church, we had an evening celebrating Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It was really interesting, because in the Lutheran church, we talk about Mary a bit, when the angel Gabriel comes to make his big life-altering announcement and then she's mentioned a few other times in the Gospels, but other than that, she pretty much fades into the background, so I've never really known a lot about her. In some Anglican churches here, Mary is a central figure, and in the church where I work, the month of May is referred to as Mary's month. Having an entire evening devoted to her was a new thing for me, but it was a lovely service, and I did get to hide behind the altar table and run the slideshow, and no one even knew I was back there until the end, when Father Ian, in his thank you's, announced that I had been the one running the slideshow :) So it was interesting to know why Mary is revered more in some denominations, and I'm glad I got to be a part of that.

Thoughts and Stuff

A year ago today, I had just found out that I was going to be serving in the United Kingdom this year, I had just officially met almost everyone in the YAGM United Kingdom group, and I was standing by a pond discussing The Chronicles of Narnia with Grace, who I had just met. It was our first conversation ever, and it was actually before either of us knew that we were both going to be living in Manchester this year. We then left the pond, got taken to whichever airport we were flying out of, I got on a plane back to Montana and started the process of trying to figure out what this year was going to mean for me, personally.

I'm not really sure when I decided that I was going to learn how to be more vulnerable this year, but that has been happening. Tomorrow marks eight months since I arrived here, and it's been great. I've made friends, and learned new things, and I've been opening up, mostly with my YAGM United Kingdom cohort, about things like depression and things. Homesickness has never really been an issue for me. I mean, sure, I miss the people and places that I am familiar with, but I know that I am going to see them again, and return to them eventually, so it's not a big issue. However, most of you know that my Mom has been recently diagnosed with cancer, so I am feeling kind of torn at the moment. I know that it's not practical to feel guilty, I know that she has a good support system at home and I know that I will be back home in three months from today, on July 23rd, but it is hard being so far away from home right now. But I have faith that everything is going to turn out okay. 

Vulnerability is an interesting experience. It's scary, and I still am not very good at it, in situations where I am supposed to share my feelings I am usually one of the last ones, if not THE last one to do so, but I also have less secrets, which is freeing. Going home is going to be interesting. I am the same in a lot of ways, but I am also different in a lot of ways, so we'll see how that plays out. A year ago today I could not even begin to imagine what my life here was going to look like, and here I am with three months left. So if you need be, I'll be over here in Manchester, keeping things interesting :) 

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite times of year. Jesus risen from the dead! We get to say "Alleluia!" again. We get to sing happy songs again. We get to do the things that we gave up for Lent again. And....chocolate for days! And bright colors. And flowers. And also bunnies. And spring time. Easter gives me hope. It's important. And Jesus rising from the dead is kind of a big deal :)

Jesus

I find Jesus fascinating. I find some of the things that some people do in the name of Christianity totally hypocritical. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was friends with everyone. He was friends with tax collectors, and prostitutes, and other kinds of people. I can't say for sure, but I am pretty sure that Jesus wasn't caucasian, he was Jewish, and he was also like, "Love your neighbors as yourself." And I am pretty sure that referred to ALL the neighbors, not just "certain neighbors", but ALL the neighbors. I try to lead a life worthy of following Jesus. I fail more than I succeed, but someday, maybe, I'll get there.

Life

Life is a beautiful, chaotic mystery. It is amazing and sometimes it tears me apart. It is a contradiction. Sometimes it makes sense. Most of the time it doesn't make sense. There is a difference between living and existing. I choose to LIVE.

A Well-Read Woman is a Dangerous Creature

Reading is very important to me. I love reading books. All kinds of books. Fantasy. Sci-Fi. Historical Fiction. I'm not much for non-fiction, but sometimes I come across non-fiction that doesn't bore me. There are so many great books out there, and I am not sure I am going to live long enough to read all of the books on my list, but I'm going to try :)

"One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us."-Cassandra Clare