Today

~A few minutes less late to work than normal
~Honeybake deli takes 25 minutes to fill my order, making a two-year-old appear proficient in swabbing champagne mustard.
~Introduction to letterboxing: http://www.atlasquest.com/.
~Raspberry cocoa isn't ambrosia after all
~My electrifying stage presence at voice class (i.e. most everyone else is nervous) motivates an unexpected invitation to be a back-up singer for a number in Cypress College's Latin concert next month. I never anticipated belting out "amor, amor, amor" in front of a crowd.
~Socks soaked through twice from parking lot floods
~Free wireless internet, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, and "The Great Debaters" with Denzel Washington courtesy of my local library
~Am so grateful, once again, for my apartment

Heading home now!

"In Me" by Casting Crowns

This song has been a blessing to me this past week. The line "How refreshing to know You don't need me; How amazing to find that you want me" sums up much of what I learned during my time of unemployment.

"In Me"

If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

-Chorus-
Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If You ask me to run
And carry Your light into foreign land
If You ask me to fight
Deliver Your people from Satan's hand

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
And to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory

-Repeat chorus-

February Blues

This past week as been quite busy as I have started an exercise class with a couple of my friends, driven to Pasadena twice to visit the grandparents, and continued with voice class, church, swing, etc. Being busy helps fill up the extra brain wattage, but is sure draining. I have a three-day weekend coming up that is filled with meeting friends in Santa Barbara, Santa Paula, Moorpark, and Fillmore. I'm also still attempting to sell Ugandan necklaces as a fundraiser for Grandma's House of Hope (www.grandmashouseofhope.org) and invite people to attend the Retro Prom on February 19 as a fundraiser for the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. If you are interested in either, please let me know. It has been a long few days but filled with worthy pursuits. Work is still rather slow as I finished my first round of project ideas and have yet to pick up steam for another one. My pick-me-up for the day was hearing that Jeremy won the first round of his Lion's Club speach contest. It wasn't really a surprise except that I thought the speech was this evening. Cheers!

Continuing to absorb information and stories about the vast levels and incidences of pain, suffering, and cruelty that people inflict on each other also drains me considerably. At times it is difficult for me to juggle the range of my thoughts. How can I spend a half hour trying to figure out what items in my wardrobe could possibly qualify as "retro" for this fundraiser when it does not really matter. Who am I trying to impress? Rather, what rule am I trying to follow? I do not know how one could conduct humanitarian work without the hope of Christ. Even now I do not understand how God allows humans to hurt each other so deeply. I've been studying Isaiah 58 again, which is my career chapter, and I know that His heart is for the oppressed. These are questions with which I have been struggling for several months and may continue to ask my entire life (which is a relatively short period of time). Theories aside, the best examples of healing in my limited experience, do come from His love. I will continue to pursue this (His) way.

Back to the basics

There has been much on my mind of late, but they are the sort of topics that require all or nothing posts: relationships, suffering, destiny, complacency, age, etc.

Yesterday my Grandpa was placed in a nursing home. Evidently this is a facility with an exceptional level of interaction and care, and he does have his own room. I hope that the benefits of social activities (on which he thrives) will overcome his discouragement (and other emotions that I'm sure I'll discover on future visits).

Since I moved to Orange County I've tried to volunteer for various endeavors to no avail. Strangely enough, I have filled out three volunteer applications but nothing has come of them so far. However, I have fallen into two minimal commitment causes. The lesson here is to ask God what He wants you to do instead of trying to rush out and save the world.

I also realize every week how blessed I am to have a job that I somewhat enjoy. There are boring days, but I like it overall. It also has loads of perks: tons of vacation time, 35 hr. work week, flexible hours, fun staff. During the boring times I am reminded of how necessary it is for me to have purpose in my work. That purpose is preferably humanitarian in nature. I don't think I could work solely for a paycheck. My time is too precious to me; I'd have to move to Europe where they get loads of holiday. Americans work too much to earn money to buy things they do not really need. It astounds me how quickly my apartment has filled with minimal expense. Imagine if I was an avid shopper! Of course, I'm fond of stuff, especially items that are visually appealing. That's why I have to curtail the accumulation habit.

I hope that I get to the point one day when God does not have to constantly remind me to come back to the basics. I'm so easily distracted.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Highlights of this past week:

The copious rain

Living alone in my apartment (this makes it to the top of the list quite often)

Spending time with Donovan on Saturday

Seeing my aunt and uncle

Watching a 3D movie for the first time (for only $5)

Being paid to attend a training on personality (though the material was subpar)

Finding vibrant flowers for Beth's 18th birthday

Being reminded that I need to let go and let God

Finally getting a few pictures from Thanksgiving

Thanks for reading. I appreciate your time!

Jeremy Brooks

And check out the site: www.yourdailyjingle.com.