the one about Counting By 5's

So there I was, counting by 5's, wondering why I was doing something so meaningless when life-changing stuff was happening all around me.

Last night, I dressed up as Edward Cullen for the Alpha Delta Chi pledge party. Thanks to a very close pretend fiancee of mine, I was all white powdered on my face with plenty of Twilight-vampire-sparkles. Plus, as all my friends know, I've been growing my hair out to Rob Pattinson length. I've never read the books, but after seeing the movie--I didn't make it through the whole movie (before laughing myself to sleep) until attempt #3--I wondered what makes Rob Pattinson so friggin attractive. (Kind of like Hugh Grant. What's the appeal??!!) Anyways, after seeing the film, I deduced that it just can't be his acting skills.

Therefore, it must be the hair. Rob Pattinson-hair has been my new hair goal since the summer ended. To say the least, I looked a lot like him, as evidenced by many sober girls at the pledge party (and many shwasty girls during AGO's weekly Water On The Row ministry) who wanted to take pictures with me.

Remember how I said in my last blog that I need a job? Well, I actually already have one. Except it's miserable. Not that the work environment is bad; it's just that Sam Dawson could do my job just as easily as I could. Remember how he worked at Starbucks organizing sugar trays? That's my job, except I work at a bookstore. (Some of the wisest words ever spoken to me: This too, shall pass.) My task for the day was to prep for store inventory by counting the thousands of pin-on buttons we have in stock. *Shudders at the memory of doing this for hours straight* The most efficient way to do this, I discovered, is to grab handfuls and count by 5's. (Now you know, in case you also are a prole and ever have to perform a similar task.)

So there I was, counting by 5's when I got a text that said my friend in ADX was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery will be next week. I began to wonder Why am I doing something so meaningless when life-changing stuff was happening all around me? Why is life always a fight? Why do so few fight with me?

I struggled to keep my mind on the truth I know in Christ, not to let the worst-case scenario rule. I was reminded of more wise words I read earlier this week: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I still have a paper to write (due tomorrow morning) for a professor who refuses to give me an A on anything, a Dance Company rehearsal in ten minutes, and a redneck-themed invite tonight... on top of all that's going on in my head. I know the mind is the field in which the battle is lost or won. When stress comes my way, I should count to 5 and remind myself of the truth.

A mere mortal

From the City of Angels

Livin his dream