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| "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." -2Timothy 1:7
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear
involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." -1John 4:18
"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" -Matthew 6:17
I really needed these verses. My parents are in Mexico, so I'm in charge of packing up all of the important goods in the house and keeping it together for the siblings. Feeling a bit surreal, so it's pretty easy for us to just veg in front of the TV's 24/7 coverage of the fire. It's a very bizarre situation... it's just waiting... and praying... most of Encinitas has been evacuated, but we're still waiting for news.
We sing the worship song "Holy Fire" so often, which is a prayer for God to "burn away" our desires for anything that is not of Him. It's humbling right now to realize how little those words have meant to me, because I really didn't want God to empty me of all things. I think that there is a peace now, but still... prayer is always helpful. :)
PS: I haven't been using my cell phone because they ask for us to use them as little as possible (so that emergency workers can have clearer communication). I will definitely call people back as soon as I can. :)
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| Driving my sister home from San Dieguito Academy (my alma mater) is always an adventure. She hangs out with a quirky group of kids from her journalism class... so I'm getting used to driving home barefoot musicians, anarchists, botanists, tap dancers, and whatever other kids that she deems odd enough to get a ride home with us.
Usually, they all blend together. They reek of patchouli or armpit, and say very cliche things about the government and high school. But she has a new friend: Erick... and he always has very interesting anecdotes for me. Today's example:
Erick: Erin, do you know a guy named William Scott?
Erin: No, why do you ask?
Erick: I think he was your age. Anyway, his brother got scurvy!
Erin: What...? How?!
Erick: Somebody dared him to only eat tic-tacs for a month, and he got scurvy after two weeks!
Robin: How sad... what happened?
Erick: I don't know... he just has to eat a lot of fruit now...
Robin: Is that why you're wearing that shirt? (his shirt has a graphic of a lime with teeth)
Erick: No, I just like limes with teeth...
I about died laughing, but Erick seemed to think that I didn't understand the gravity of the situation. Moral of the story is: limit the tic-tacs if you don't want scurvy!
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| Charger victory!
Whew... this was a fun day.
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| Meet my new best friend:
Actually "best friend" might be a little generous, but I did get to have coffee with the lad (and a few other close personal friends). I was at my friend's work (a coffee shop near LMU), and that's when George Michael Bluth (or Michael Cera) walked in. Apparently his friend works at the coffee shop too, so he comes in often! Anyway, my friend saw me staring at him all starstruck... and she's met George Michael enough times to be unimpressed by him. So she taps him on the shoulder, and says:
"This is my friend Erin, she's very nice... but I must warn you that she thought that Superbad was childish and overrated."
He laughed awkwardly and then proceeded to make awkward conversation (just like George Michael!) With that kind of an introduction, it's easy to see why we became such fast friends. My biggest problem is that this young man curses a lot, and is apparently making a film that's raunchier than Superbad... and such ridiculous behavior made it difficult for me to resist yelling "Aw- come on George Michael!" (ala G.O.B. from Arrested Development)
We'll see how this friendship works out.
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| Man! This has been a crazy week! God totally blessed me with a temporary job training interns at UCSD (they're going to start a center for citizen peacebuilding up there), but it has been a little stressful. I'll be happy to get back to the YMCA where I can just watch toddlers toddle and clean up their messes. Our house has also been something of a hotel this summer; everybody from my sister's Italian godfather (in town because he's a horse trainer at Del Mar) to my dad's high school ethics teacher (who is also an Irish priest in town to preside over the marriage of a seemingly scandalous couple) to my brother's homeless hippy friend (who is now living at Chipotle, where he got a job).
Now, our house is empty... and I must say... it's a blessing.
Actually, I find that when I have less stuff to do, I worry about stupid things. My greatest fear of late? That my little sister will become a stoner. Seriously! I've always joked about stoners in Encinitas, but I forgot how ridiculous it is! Examples:
- I was buying brownie mix the other day, and the clerk gave me an explanation on how to properly add the "special ingredients" so as not to get a gross flavor/ruin the weed.
- Yesterday afternoon, I took my dog to dog park... and all of the people there were just smoking out and giggling about their dogs.
- The other day we ran into my old/Robin's current art teacher who offered us to partake with him in the splendor of his joint.
- When I applied to the YMCA, the application had this as a question: Except for offenses pertaining to marijuana, have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?
I know that she's a good kid, and that Jesus is a great anti-drug. But you know... I'm paranoid. The funny thing is that my brother is paranoid too. He drills her about her drug habits, and he always sounds like Gob from Arrested Development when he does. The conversations usually go like this:
Kevin: Robin! I see that you're back from your friend's house... are you ADDICTED?!
Robin: To friendship?
K: I mean, are you using... like... drugs?
R: No *laughs*
K: This is not a laughing matter okay? DON'T SMOKE POT!
R: Okay *still laughing*
K: No matter who offers it to you, don't smoke pot okay? Even if Erin or I offer you pot, I want you to call the cops on us, okay? Stop laughing! Stop it! Kids do pot only when somebody that they respect offers them pot, and what if one day I did offer you pot? Huh?! Would you call the cops, even if immediately after I asked you NOT to call the cops?! Stop laughing! What if Pastor Ryan offered you pot?! Would you take it then?!
R: *laughs and walks away*
K: Good job Rob... that's the best anti-drug...
Whew... life is weird.
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