Musings on Cleaning

Every once in a while I go on a cleaning spree. I just get the overwhelming urge to do a thorough cleaning of everything. Today was one of those days. And I always feel so much better when I'm done. Everything looks so nice and orderly, and it smells of clean smells-- the pinesol kind, not the bleach kind.

I think perhaps I ought to try this with my life. I think every once in a while my heart deserves a thorough scrubbing; not just the daily surface clean, but a deep clean. I'm sure I would feel so much better afterward. And maybe my life would emanate a sweeter smell to my Jesus.

I miss my African family

Home sweet hut

Pierre at work

Hawaa, proud of the family millet field

Innocent at clinicals

Bruno at home on the well

Berthe and me

Ruth (has one of the most beautiful smiles) and sweet Esther

Twister with the girls

Esther and ever confident Anne (one of my favorite pictures)

Little Dorcas

And spoiled baby Bezalel

Another beautiful African sunset

Sugar and Spice and Cranky Bears

Christen shared this quote found on the box of the Throat Soothers tea that she so kindly offered me:

"A sore, scratchy throat can turn the most even-tempered soul into cranky bear."

Just in case there is any merit in this statement, I'm off to bed after my cup of tea in the hopes of taming this possibly cranky bear back into a sweet-tempered girl.

[Un]pleasantries

After posting this, I realized that it could use a bit of explanation. I debated on whether or not to expound and decided perhaps I ought. This is not directed at any particular person. It is expressing a general dislike for the deterioration of friendships.

"How are you?"

You make the polite inquiry.

I reply in like fashion, and

The empty conversation flows

For about five minutes.

We once talked for hours.

But times have changed--

We sprang forward

Only to fall back again.

Now you're wrapping things up;

Soon you'll walk away,

And I'm sorry to say,

I'm not pleased to make your acquaintance.

"Every act of life is a revelation of character" ~PK, p. 218

Feeling...

... incongruous. I'm sitting here in the student center in my traditional Tchadian dress with my laptop and wireless internet. Earlier today, in the same garb, as I was talking on my cell phone with perfect clarity and no sound delay, I felt almost like an impostor-- like I was claiming two cultures at once.

It makes me think of another very similar inconsistency in my life that I don't as often recognize.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strange Business

I had a very strange voicemail message on my phone earlier this afternoon. It left me quite perplexed. The number from the missed call was the same area code as my hometown, but I didn't recognize it. So I listened to my voicemail in which a nice lady informed me that she was calling about scheduling me for a first interview.

I, not having ever applied for any positions near home, was sure there had to be some mix-up. So I called the nice lady back.

"This is Vivian*."

"Hi, my name is Kristin. I received a call about an interview?" I asked in uncertain tones.

"Yes, we'd like to schedule you for a first interview."

"Oh. What is the name of your company?"

"Banker's Life," she replied, as if there were nothing in the world wrong with the fact that I, the supposed applicant, hadn't a clue as to the name of the company.

"Well, I'm just slightly confused," I began slowly. "I don't actually ever remember applying for a position with your company."

"What's your email address?"

Following a brief period of confusion at the randomness of the question, I proceeded to tell Vivian my email address when she explained to me that sometimes they get resumés from a site online, and if she can look up my email address she can tell if I applied or if her company found my resumé online.

Sure enough, I had never applied. My resumé was somehow chosen from an online database of resumés that I had never heard of. I wasn't even aware that those sites existed until that very moment, in fact.

"Well, we'd really like to get you scheduled for your first interview, and we have an opening this Monday," she said enthusiastically.

"Well, you see, I'm actually in school in Tennessee to finish my nursing degree. So, I'm not really interested in a position with your company at this time. But thank you anyway."

Two things: I'm not sure how my resumé is floating around on some site that I never gave permission to advertise my information, and I find it unfortunate that I received a call for a job I never applied for, and can't for the life of me seem to get a call back on the many positions that I have applied for. But at the end of the day, I remind myself that if God wanted me to have a job right now, He would provide it.

*Name changed