The feast day is on May 28th. She was born in Quito, Ecuador of noble spanish parents. She was an orphan but later on raised by her elder sister and her husband. She was very religous but became. very solitary in her sisters home. She started to eat very little amounts of food and would only sleep 3 hours a night for the longest time. St.Mariana had the gift of prophecy and performed miracles. She offered herself as the victim of the sins of the people and later died on May 26th.She is known as Mariana of Quito and is often called "the lily of Quito." She was canonized in 1950.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Pleading with God!
I. Sodom and Gomorrah- The wickied cities that God wanted to destroy.
Genesis 18:16-33
16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and [a]mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19 For I have [b]chosen him, so that he maycommand his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” 20 And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD. 23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not [c]spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do [d]such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth [e]deal justly?” 26 So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will [f]spare the whole place on their account.” 27 And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have [g]ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. 28Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 And he said, “Now behold, I have [h]ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” 32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 19:1-29
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and [a]bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.” 3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people [b]from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may [c]have relations with them.” 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8 Now behold, I have two daughters who have not [d]had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them [e]whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the [f]shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in [g]as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against [h]Lot and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their[i]hands and brought Lot into the house [j]with them, and shut the door. 11 They [k]struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway.12 Then the two men said to Lot, “Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who [l]were to marry his daughters, and said, “Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city.” But he appeared to his sons-in-law [m]to be jesting.
15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the [n]punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the [o]hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. 17 When they had brought them outside, [p]one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay [q]anywhere in the valley; escape tothe [r]mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the[s]mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) [t]that my life may be saved.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this [u]request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called [v]Zoar.
23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the [w]valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the [x]valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a [y]furnace.
29 Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the [z]valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Visited by Strangers!
I. Hospitality-a solemn obligation of Biblical times.
II. Isaac- Meaning "laugh" in Hebrew. He is Abrahams and Sarahs son.
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too [a]difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, [b]at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
A) I picked this verse because this shows how he is telling us we have to trust and believe in him.
I. Hospitality-a solemn obligation of Biblical times.
II. Isaac- Meaning "laugh" in Hebrew. He is Abrahams and Sarahs son.
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too [a]difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, [b]at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
A) I picked this verse because this shows how he is telling us we have to trust and believe in him.
Genesis 18:1-15
1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
A) This shows how God can do miracles in life by bringing in another beautiful human being to this world.
Genesis 13:2
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.Genesis 17:17;17
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
A) This verse shows how people might think stuff is impossible but everything is possible with God.
Genesis 18:12
12 Sarah laughed [a]to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Lectio Divina
1. Lectio: "What does it say?"
- I personally think it says that we should follow God's plan for us. He has great things in mind for us and we shouldn't ignore him.
2. Meditatio: "What does it tell me?"
-It tells me that no matter how old/young you are or where you're at, If God calls on you to do something for him, do it. Let's say if God called on you to save all his people from a disaster and you do, something great could happen after that.
3. Oratio: "What does it make me say?"
- It makes me say we should all follow the word of God and please him. Don't deny him, because if you do, he'll deny you too. Denying God is like denying $1 million, even though God means more to me than that.
4. Contenalatio- "To think about."
- Now stop and think...Are you willing to give yourself to God when he calls on you, or will you reject him? Are you willing to sacrifice anything God tells you to? Just ask yourself "What would Jesus do?"
LISTEN TO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU IN YOUR HEART.
- I personally think it says that we should follow God's plan for us. He has great things in mind for us and we shouldn't ignore him.
2. Meditatio: "What does it tell me?"
-It tells me that no matter how old/young you are or where you're at, If God calls on you to do something for him, do it. Let's say if God called on you to save all his people from a disaster and you do, something great could happen after that.
3. Oratio: "What does it make me say?"
- It makes me say we should all follow the word of God and please him. Don't deny him, because if you do, he'll deny you too. Denying God is like denying $1 million, even though God means more to me than that.
4. Contenalatio- "To think about."
- Now stop and think...Are you willing to give yourself to God when he calls on you, or will you reject him? Are you willing to sacrifice anything God tells you to? Just ask yourself "What would Jesus do?"
LISTEN TO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU IN YOUR HEART.
The Sign Of The Covenant!
I.Circumcision- The removal of the foreskin of the penis.
The Covenant of Circumcision
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”
19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.[d] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
A) I picked this verse because this is a great example of how God wants us to work our way up to something and not just to expect that whatever we desire will come by itself.
I.Circumcision- The removal of the foreskin of the penis.
The Covenant of Circumcision
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”
19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.[d] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
A) I picked this verse because this is a great example of how God wants us to work our way up to something and not just to expect that whatever we desire will come by itself.
We're Each Called To Do Something In Life.
We are all special in our own, unique way. God gave each of us our own talents so we could all be different. "Some are born great. Some of achieve greatness. And some, have greatness thrust upon them." -William Shakespeare. Anyways, onto the point.
Acting means everything to me. I've been acting since 5th grade. When it comes to auditioning for plays, it's not as easy as it looks.
Since 7th grade, I've gotten all the main parts in the plays. I thought it was just luck, but it wasn't. Last year in 8th grade, I got a call back to go to Dallas to act in front of HUNDREDS of acting agencies. But in order to go, you had to pay $975. That's A LOT of money. So what I did was turn it down. Shocking right?
A few weeks later, I met one of my mom's friends. I told her how I was in love with acting and wanted to become an actress. The next thing she told me was that she works as a director/agent for actors. She told me she would love to work with me and be my agent. What a coincidence! I turn down Dallas for acting agencies, and then I'm talking to an agent without even realizing it.
See, God has everything planned out for you. If you don't get exactly what your aiming for as a goal, don't be upset. God has even BETTER things planned out for you. You may be good at a lot of things, but God wants you to walk down a certain path. I'm given the opportunity to live my dream, but look at me. I'm choosing to live my childhood in high school. Someday I'll take the chance though.
Acting means everything to me. I've been acting since 5th grade. When it comes to auditioning for plays, it's not as easy as it looks.
Since 7th grade, I've gotten all the main parts in the plays. I thought it was just luck, but it wasn't. Last year in 8th grade, I got a call back to go to Dallas to act in front of HUNDREDS of acting agencies. But in order to go, you had to pay $975. That's A LOT of money. So what I did was turn it down. Shocking right?
A few weeks later, I met one of my mom's friends. I told her how I was in love with acting and wanted to become an actress. The next thing she told me was that she works as a director/agent for actors. She told me she would love to work with me and be my agent. What a coincidence! I turn down Dallas for acting agencies, and then I'm talking to an agent without even realizing it.
See, God has everything planned out for you. If you don't get exactly what your aiming for as a goal, don't be upset. God has even BETTER things planned out for you. You may be good at a lot of things, but God wants you to walk down a certain path. I'm given the opportunity to live my dream, but look at me. I'm choosing to live my childhood in high school. Someday I'll take the chance though.
God calls everyone to do something. If you aren't meant to be a designer, maybe you're meant to be a model. All I'm saying is, do NOT give up hope on something you REALLY want to do. If Abraham gave up hope on God, do you think he would've became a great nation and a blessing to the world?
Something Inspiring...
Be the shining light in God's perfect world.
What I thought was inspiring was that one man, lead all of God's people into the promised land and was made a great nation. To me, that's inspiring. One man made a great nation. Abraham was 75 years old when he left Haran. 75! At the age of 75, I probably wouldn't be able to walk across the heat of that desert.
And what else is inspiring is how God has everything planned out for you. He has your WHOLE life planned out. He knows what's going to happen next, and he knows the ending to YOUR story. I think it's inspiring how God can remember everything about everyone's life. He can keep track of a BILLION people's lives all at once. I may have gotten a little off topic, but I'm just writing the things that I think are inspiring to me. (:God is the only person who knows EVERYTHING about you and what you're going to do next. Only him.
You are God's world.
Live with it. Laugh with it. Love with it.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Time To Reflect..
-I think God said those words to him because he wanted to keep his people safe and create a better nation for them.
2. If you were Abraham, would you be willing to lead all of God's people to The Promised Land?
-I don't know about you guys, but I definitely would because it's God! He's your creator, so why ignore him and deny his request?! I mean, without God, obviously we wouldn't be here. So, I would lead his people because if you deny God, he'll deny you.
3. If Abraham didn't lead God's people to The Promised Land, do you think life would've been different?
-Well, honestly, who knows. I mean, yeah maybe. Like, the whole Bible could have probably been written a different way! Think about it. (;
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Lectio Divina: Ch. 2
Lectio
This whole section is about how the descendants of Israel got started. It all started with Abraham to Jacob and from there on out.
Meditatio
God wants us to know that he all has a plan for us. That we need to trust in him. We are all going to do great things in some point in our li
fe no matter how early or late.
Oratio
We all know that we're scared. Take all the predictions of 2012 for example. What if we wanted kids. Will we be saved like Noah did? What if we wanted to do something very helpful in our lives spiritually?
Contemplatio
(The picture says: Be still and know that I am God)
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still; Be speechless
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still, Be still
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still; Be speechless
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still, Be still
He said that the first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way of prayer but the passage should not be too long.
The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.
The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.
The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from within. Obviously this transformation will have a profound effect on the way we actually live and the way we live is the test of the authenticity of our prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of God into our daily lives.
These stages of Lectio Divina are not fixed rules of procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer normally develops. Its natural movement is towards greater simplicity, with less and less talking and more listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to dissolve and the Word is revealed before the eyes of our heart. How much time should be given to each stage depends very much on whether it is used individually or in a group. If Lectio Divina is used for group prayer, obviously more structure is needed than for individual use. In group prayer, much will depend on the type of group. Lectio Divina may involve discussing the implications of the Word of God for daily life but it cannot be reduced to this. The movement of the prayer is towards silence. If the group is comfortable with silence, more time could be spent resting in the Word.
The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in relationship with Christ for many centuries and in our own day is being rediscovered by many individuals and groups. The Word of God is alive and active and will transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive what God wants to give us.
Inspiration...de Sister Anne!
The fact that Abraham would give up anything for God inspires me to do something just a little different than what you might expect me to say.
This inspired me, if I have children of my own, to do my all for them. To do my all for me, and to do my all for THE BIG DADDY IN THE SKY!
That's just in general. The message I conceived is just too powerful. I can't help but think about it over and over in my mind!
When I think of this message i think of this song from the Mary Poppins Broadway musical. :)
Mary Poppins Lyrics
[MARY POPPINS]
Anything can happen if you let it
Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it
Doesn't have to be so
BERT] You may find a you there that you never knew was yours [BERT & MRS CORRY] Anything can happen [MRS CORRY] Raise the curtain Things you though impossible [BERT & MRS CORRY] Will soon seem certain Thought at first it may sound clownish See the world more upside-downish Turn it on its head then pirouette it [BERT, MRS CORRY & LAMP-LIGHTERS] Anything can happen if you let it [MARY POPPINS] If you reach for the stars All you get are the stars But we've found a whole new spin If you reach for the heavens You get the stars thrown in [ALL] You get the stars thrown in If you reach for the stars All you get are the stars But we've found a whole new spin If you reach for the heavens You get the stars thrown in Anything can happen if you let it Life is out there waiting so go and get it Grab it by the collar, seize it by the scruff Once you've started living life you just can't get enough Anything can happen, it's official You can choose the super or the superficial Sally forth the way we're steering Obstacles start disappearing Go and chase your dreams you won't regret it Anything can happen (Anything can happen) Anything can happen [MARY POPPINS, JANE & MICHAEL] Anything can happen [ALL] If you let it
Chicken Soup for Sister Anne's Soul (Haha)
1st Chair
When you see this chair it may not strike you as important. For me, it marked the beginning of confidence, a new start, and a new perspective on life.
To everyone, everyone is another soul on earth. We may know them, or we may not. It's funny how we can actually look similar to God.What does that mean? Pfft, no one knows. He may be a ball of fufu for all we know. However, under the circumstances, we are genuinely like God. We have talents, a soul, and a unique body unlike any other organism on this earth. Unfortunately, we organisms are classified from scales to charts, up and down, why? Because we're different...In a good way! It's not every day that you see an ambidextrous person in class or a contortionist bend backwards like Elastagirl from the Incredibles. We have our own talents and, for some reason, mentality. We have certain "fortes."
My one big forte is the forte of my voice, and in case you don't know what "forte" means, it means BIG, HUGE, loud? Yea, loud. This year was the first year I auditioned for all region choir. That's why that chair is important. I stayed from 4 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon to sing in front of a pink board for three measly minutes. 3 minutes of GLORIA! I was shaking and nervous. Oh, no what am I going to do?!
117. That was my number. It's kind of funny. 7. 7 is symbolic for...something related to God. I guess it was my lucky number. :) I was born in July, there's another seven. I first started singing in a public audience at seven years old. OKAY, so seven's an awesome number for me, seven is-seven is cool.
So, they call my number and I was happy they said it calmly. I HATE LOUD NOISES. Whenever they called out the numbers it was SO loud. I was about to find and punch Barney in the gut. Kind of ironic, I'm PRETTY loud. Anyways, waiting for my time was terrible. When I finally got to stand in front of that pink board, I panicked and grabbed my blanket. Comfort, warmth, mmmm.
Here's a little need to know. I stopped singing in fifth grade because of a bad experience in a recital. My voice shakes and since it has been developing I've been ashamed of my once angelic voice. Please don't ask me to sing. I swear I won't do it. At least in front of the class. ON THE SPOT.
Back to the story, I was shaking all throughout the songs! AUUUUUUGh! I messed up... I came out crying, telling my whole life story to my fellow Loretto students who auditioned. My mom comes and sees me. Never in my life has she ever been so supportive of me. She believed in me. She knew I did well. I just wanted to go home. She gives me a hug and I feel better. Later we got to a party. I spend some time with Joey and we catch some frogs and taught little Pogi some tricks. :)
8:44 pm and I decide that it was time to call my teacher to see if I had made it or not. I kept reminding myself that I had three more years left.
The following phone conversation is almost exactly quoted directly:
*Teacher picks up on FIRST ring*
"Mr Hernandez?"
"Yes, hi, Leanne...." all melancholy :(
"I was nervous!"
"Well, let me just say that it was tough competition."
"It was!"
"And, it was so hard that..........................................you got first chair."
EXPLOSION! I bested in all region choir?! AHHHHHHHHHH!
Let me just cut to the chase. All of us are special and are called to do something. We are expected to play by our strengths. This time in my life marked a day when I realized what part of me I had that God had, and that I CAN be a light to the world. Also, God always prevails in the end and works in a way where he IS there for us and all things lead up to the best for us. That's how my life was connected to this section in Chapter 2.
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