Hit On at In-N-Out

For those of you unfamiliar with In-N-Out most have two drive-thru lanes to choose from. Tonight I wrongly chose the lane on the right and was accosted by a customer on the left.

“Welcome to In-N-Out. Can I take your order?”
“Um. . .” Do I want regular fries or animal fries?
“I’ll just have an order fries.” Decision made.
“Is that all?” Hmm… I could still switch to animal fries.
No… I just need something to drink, but I already had 2 Diet Cokes today…
“Could I also get a glass of water?”
“Sure.”
I smiled at the speaker because my scant order seemed a bit ridiculous.
A guy in the passenger’s seat of a truck in the neighboring lane smiled back at me.
Uh oh.
“1 order of fries and 1 glass of water. That will be $1.28.”
“Is that really all you’re going to get?”
So truck man wants to talk.“Yeah. I’m not super hungry.” It was a late night snack – not dinner.
“So where are you headed from here?”
“Back to CBU.”
“Do you go there?”
“Kind of.”
I work there, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“Oh, well I live in the apartments right next to campus.”
“Huh. That’s cool.”
Why is this guy talking to me? And why is my car window still unrolled?
Oh good. His truck is moving up. Roll up the window – quick.
And don’t look back over in his direction.
Okay… $1.28. I have a lot a pennies; maybe I can get rid of some.
1…2 ….3… 24…25
KNOCK KNOCK
I jumped.
Are you serious? I can’t believe this guy is actually standing outside of my car.
I politely unroll my window and am doused with the smell of pot.
“Are you single?”
“Yes. But I wouldn’t say that I’m available.”
I’m definitely not available to date you. Call me picky, but I’m just not into scraggly, 21 year old pot heads, but I suppose I should give him some sort of explanation.
“I’m working on publishing a book and I think I’ll be able to market it better being single.”
“So I would be roadblock for you?”
“Yeah… I guess.”
“Well, have a good night.”
“You too.”

He returned to his truck and I returned to my pennies, feeling somewhat guilty for not introducing myself. And I could have been nicer. And… no I won’t feel bad… he was sketchy.
“Hit On” Evangelism is just too tricky.

Dream Job on the 93rd Floor

Her name was Meredith and she longed for a Titanic romance – not one involving a tragic death, but rather one in which she would meet a handsome, young man on cruise ship. She lived down the hall and was hard to love at times, but we loved her anyways. We’d invite her to Bible study and to other Christian events happening on campus, but she always used the excuse that she needed to study. Michigan’s Business School was ranked #1 in the nation and she wanted to be certain to get in.

Every once in a while Meredith and I would talk about spiritual things. She told me that she’d like to read the Bible and explore Christianity a bit, but it wouldn’t be anytime soon. She didn’t have the time; she needed to focus on her studies so that she could get into the Business School. She dreamed of a high paying job and vacations on cruise ships.

Meredith made it into the Business School and even before receiving her diploma she was offered her dream job. After graduation she moved to New York to settle into her office on the 93rd floor. She booked her cruise for the month of September, but she never got to go on it; she never got to meet her Prince Charming. Because Meredith’s dream job was on the 93rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

I don’t know where Meredith stood with God when the Towers crumbled to the ground. And I don’t know where each of you reading this stands with God. But I do know that our time “here” is limited. You’ll always have your reasons to brush God to the side, but those reasons won’t help you on your departing day.

Do you know Jesus?

Have you been brushing God to the side?

How are you doing in loving the people around you?

If you would like to talk more about this particular post, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to dialogue further with you. This post is written in memory of Meredith Whalen.

A Confused Identity

* Please see June 30th's post for background information on this post.

Sunday, January 18, 2004

A Confused Identity

Pen names, a stage name, an alias, all conceal the identitiy of what is real. Hidden behind another name, preconceived notions and misconceptions are laid aside. Finally, freedom is obtained to be anything because nothing is expected. One becomes new, untainted by the past. For the past has faded away and only freshness remains.

Samuel Langhorne Clemons is my hero for he understands my position. I like the brilliancy of writing to write rather than writing to be someone or something in someone's mind. For when one reads and knows not the person behind the words, it is only the words that are heard. And words want to speak without being judged. But eventually the pseudonym becomes someone and a warped reality prevails leaving the truth behind. Is it Samuel Langhorne Clemons or is it Mark Twain? And if he is Mark Twain, then who am I? Goodbye Modesty Blogspot
~Katrina Marie Blank

touche, it is not the writer but the writings that matter here, but if an alias is needed than so be it, for we all enjoyed what you had to say. [estaban}

***********************************
"why not go back to paris and find her?"
"it couldn't work out. . ."
why stephen, correct me if i'm wrong, but i do believe an intellectual decision has been made and with that decision i welcome you to the choice cult. ~ marie

touche marie, i have been outwitted yet once again - stephen

Love at First Sight?

* Please see June 30th's post for background information on this post.

Friday, January 16, 2004

Love at first sight? What do you mean love at first sight? Do you mean the 6'4" model I met at a dance club while I was on Spring Break? Do you mean the guy I stayed up all night with on the cruise ship so that we could watch the sun rise? Do you mean the summer fling that was ignited by Fourth of July fireworks? Or perhaps the stranger who noticed me while I was waiting at the bus stop - the one who came and slipped his phone number into my hand and asked me to call him if I'd like to go out for coffee sometime. Maybe it was the boy who rode my bus in 5th grade that passed me a note asking if I would go out with him. Circle Yes No or Maybe. Maybe it is the man in this story.

It is well past midnight. The others are probably wondering where we are, but I am in no rush to leave. In fact, I wish this moment would never end because I know I'd be happy staying in it forever. And I know you feel the same as you sit just above and beside me gently strumming your guitar. The crashing of distant waves and the crackling of the fire bring perfect harmony to the songs that you sing. The dune enclosed around us bounces the light of the fire into your heart and into mine. With my back against the log, I turn my eyes to the heavens and I see stars I've never seen before. One shoots through the sky, but with this star I don't make a wish, because everything I want is true.

The fire begins to grow faint; only embers remain. So you strum the last strum and tell me that we should probably head back. You pack up your guitar, sad to leave this place behind, but I am still thankful for the walk that remains.

You lead me to the gulf's edge with your guitar in one hand and mine in the other. Careless words may ruin everything, so we choose to only allow are our hearts to speak. Halfway back you set down your guitar and pick up my other hand. Our fingers move about together while the moon shines in your eyes and connects with mine. "There's something I want to tell you. . ." I wait expectantly, but not for the words that follow. "I have a girlfriend."

I never wanted to learn how to play the guitar after that. I didn't want to take away its romance. But eventually I gave in and learned. And romance has been gone ever since.

~Marie

mam that may be the best piece ever loaned to modesty. i had a smile across my face the entire time, and the "girlfriend" line completely caught me off guard. im sure it caught you off guard also. your right what is love at first sight? i personally call it lust at first sight since i think hormones play a bigger part than an instantaneous connection.
-estaban

Fate First, Then Decision

* Please see June 30th's post for background information on this post.

Thursday, January 15, 2004

Fate First, Followed By Intellectual Decision

Call it fate, call it divine appointment, call it whatever you would like. But whatever you call it, somehow life's circumstances have led you to someone. And they will continue to lead you to many different someones. Some will make you weak in your knees, twitterpated if you will, others you will allow to pass by going unnoticed. But when someone does catch the attention of your heart and mind, choice steps in.

Will he have the nerve to pursue this woman? Or will he allow intimidation and fear of rejection stand in his way? And how will she respond? Will she run from him in fear of falling in love and having her heart broken once more? Are both parties ready to be committed to someone else? Has he fallen for whom she really is or has her outward beauty seduced him? Has she fallen for him simply because he is showing her the attention she desires? Or has she fallen in love, not with his accomplishments, but with the man that he is?

Is a relationship even an option or does age difference or life calling stand in the way? And can barriers, such a geographical distance, be overcome? Is the person worth the sacrifice? Is the person worth the effort? Is the person worth taking your own life and intertwining it with theirs? Hopefully some day we will all have the opportunity to say yes to these final three questions, but until then . . .

~Marie

M, so many questions- what happened to love at first site..This sounds more like love after first interrogation, which is love by choice not love by fate. assessing the other person, finding their positives and negatives, seeing if you can live with their flaws and not being able to live without their touch. my friend you have joined the choice cult.

Destiny

* Please see June 30th's post for background information on this post.

Thursday, January 08, 2004

Fate

Swarms of people stream by while I drudgingly wade through the crowd. I glance from side to side wondering if he's passing me by. A few glances are returned, but with each reply I know it's not him. I wonder if he's thinking the same as me, questioning where is this person with whom my life is to be intertwined? Has destiny slipped beyond my reach? We both wish that we would fall upon each other's eyes and simply know the stranger we see, is no stranger at all. We'd halt in our tracks and in silence acknowledge the soul standing in arms length away is finally in reach of a life together. Tears creep from my eyes, for this is the moment of fate that I have been praying for.

The Other Side

The man of wisdom stood before me, speaking words of truth and destruction - the truth of his theology, the destruction of my hope.

"I could have married many different women and still remained in God's will. There's not a 'the one' out there until you've chosen one and then at the words of I do, she becomes 'the one.'"

Psalm 139:16 All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came into being.

Before we even came into being, God knew our life's course. He knows, but amidst his omnisciency, He allows choices to be made. Although there may be a more perfect spouse for everyone in this world, commitment supersedes wandering aimlessly year after year wondering if this will be the year that the most perfect someone will fall into view. The most intimate of human relationships is as the mystery of Christ and the church - a mystery in which glory is given unto God. God is love and a Godly marriage exemplifies Christ's love, as those who live in Him make his love complete.

Yet the "enemy" prowls, perhaps even before the fate of realizing beauty. For it is known that two beautiful people together will bring heightened beauty to this sore-filled world. So as in the movie Serendipity, two individuals on two separate elevators choose the same floor to build their future. But a child of "the enemy" destroys the path of destiny by pushing buttons that delay the meeting until the chance has forever passed. And both are left all alone.

~Marie Devonshire

how eloquently put, but what is the balance between faith/destiny/ and choice m? how far do we let ourselves pursue? Do we sit back and wait for destiny (faith) to drop an open door upon our lap, or do we "seek and (you will) find"? God never told us who to love, but how to love. (love your neighbor as yourself, do unto others...)

Footprints in the Snow

* Please see June 30th's post for background information on this post.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

I was already in bed, but it didn’t take much convincing for me to leave its warmth and to join yours. The temperature outside screamed single digits while our hearts longed for double. That’s why you called. And that’s why I got out of bed. I waited for your knock to confirm the reservation. But you had none and neither did I. The snow wasn’t planned; it simply happened and so did we. Your gentle knock on the door beat through my entire being. A deep breath and a turn of the handle, my heart was awakened.

I stepped outside, but it no longer felt cold for your smile had removed the chill from the air. Instead only laughter and snowflakes remained. Together we made fresh footprints in the snow as we walked to the park. While the world around us slept, our hearts were alive. We sled down the hills, threw balls of snow, and made angels underneath the night’s sky. That’s when I offered you a taste of the falling winter. You were skeptical, but I assured you that it would be fine. So your city lips touched snow for the first time. And then they touched mine.

~ Marie Devonshire

my favorite part is when you said "your city lips", very descriptive. much like hawthorne in 'a blithdale romance'. try clarifying the timeline, also think of other activities because not many people sled at night. i like it though!

(But we did go sledding - on stolen tray's from U of M's dining hall!)

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

"I still play with cardboard boxes." -marie