Mere Christianity...

My friend Ron lent me "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, which I have been meaning to read for... well, most of my life. While reading it today, I came across a couple of thoughts that I wanted to quote - undoubtedly I'll have another post or two referencing this book, but here's what I'll share for now:

"I have heard some people complain that if Jesus was God as well as man, then His sufferings and death lose all value in their eyes, 'because it must have been so easy for Him'. Others may (very rightly) rebuke the ingratitude and ungraciousness of this objection; what staggers me is the misunderstanding it betrays. In one sense, of course, those who make it are right. They have even understated their own case. The perfect submission, the perfect suffering, the perfect death were not only easier to Jesus because He was God, but were possible only because He was God. But surely that is a very odd reason for not accepting them? The teacher is able to form the letters for the child because the teacher is grown-up and knows hot to write. That, of course, makes it easier for the teacher; and only because it is easier for him can he help the child. If it rejected him because 'it's easier for grown-ups' and waited to learn writing from another child who could not write itself (and so had no 'unfair' advantage), it would not get on very quickly. If I am drowning in a rapid river, a man who still has one foot on the bank may give me a hand which saves my life. Ought I to shout back (between my gasps) 'No, it's not fair! You have an advantage! You're keeping one foot on the bank'? That advantage - call it 'unfair' if you like - is the only reason why he can be of any use to me. To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?" (pg. 58-59)

And also from page 65...

"God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then... There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it."

Update

I'm still alive.

I didn't end up going in to Tsawwassen for job shadowing - I called Paige and told her how crazy stressed I was feeling about some of my school stuff and she said "don't worry about it! We can reschedule for January!" (After all, this wasn't required, it was just something I wanted to do).

So I felt better.

Today, I worked on my directoral project for "The Tempest" and then Gabby came over to study for our Stagecraft final. I can do this.

And then I watched last week's episode of "The Office" again because it is SO freaking funny. Sometimes you just need a little light-hearted escapism in your day!

Also, you all need to go to this site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1y64mxm85s

I LOVE Dave Barnes. What a funny guy.

Okay. Merry Christmas!

the Christmas Crazies.

I'm desperately trying to finish off my remaining school work - tomorrow (Tues.) I'm shadowing Paige Hansen at SDSS as a drama teacher (it's recommended that anyone going into education has at least a few experiences in the classroom before finishing TEP, PDP or BEd). Wednesday morning is my Introduction to Technical Theatre final exam... I'm not at all prepared. That night we have the youth Christmas banquet, leaving me little to NO time to work on my final project for my Intro to Theatre class on Thursday morning.

Yikes.

If I can just survive past Thursday morning, my life will be easy, breezy and wonderfully Christmas-oriented. HOWEVER, I literally have no idea how I'm going to get all of this done.

Why not work on it RIGHT NOW instead of blogging? Well, I'm trying to... but every once in a while I become paralyzed with fear and have to resort to sneaking some Reese's pieces or staring at my Christmas tree or venting on a website...

AAAAH.

Also, I've asked Kyle for Christmas movies for Christmas (scrooged, home alone, muppet christmas carol, it's a wonderful life, white christmas, the grinch, elf), but what good does it do me to open a gift that I will not be able to enjoy for a whole 'nother year?! dag nabbit. I still want them, I just want them now so that I can enjoy them. He already tried to buy me one, but I had already bought it for myself... (Christmas Vacation).

Okay, back to the grind. Wish me luck.

my whitt

I'm a tad late. I meant to write this a few weeks ago, but school and rehearsals and, well, life caused me to delay.

My sister, Whitney Shea (Saip) Dyck turned 24 on October 24th - her champagne birthday. It's hard to believe that we're getting into our mid-twenties... I remember sitting on our bedroom floor, making barbie cars out of slippers and wondering what we would look like when we turned 16.

I have lots of memories with Whitt - she has been my "other half" since 1988. From before I can remember I have tried to be just like her... everything from outfits, to hairstyles (pixie cut in grade 5, yikes), to last names... haha. In all honesty though, I don't know who I would be without her. She has played such a vital role in shaping who I am today - she's always been a coach, cheerleader, mentor, confident, supporter and best friend to me, and I can't explain how much she means to me.

So Whitty, happy (belated) birthday. I love you more than you'll ever know.

xo Jay

Day by Day.

I wrote this note for facebook last week, but I thought I'd share it on my blog as well...

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

sometimes I get discouraged. sometimes I wonder why I'm still dealing with these health issues, why God hasn't healed me. but then I remember just how good I have it... just how blessed I am. despite the frustration I sometimes feel, I know that I belong to an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful Saviour.

i love this old hymn. my prayer is that these words would always ring true in my life.

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Give unto each day what He deems best;

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure,

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,

So to trust Your promises, O Lord;

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,

Offered me within Your holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land

this eminent spotlight.

I'm pretty excited...

this coming Wednesday is the first read through of "Girl in the Goldfish Bowl", which is the Morris Panych play that I was cast in at UFV. The cast is only 5 people and, in all honesty, everyone is SO great! (Which sounds conceited, but you know what I mean).

The play is set in 1962, when air raids and the Cuban missile crisis are part of daily conversation.

My wonderful, marvellous, talented friend Gabby Bohmer is the lead - she plays 10 year old Iris - and she is PERFECT for the part. Just an all-star.

Ron Jackson - a very funny and intimidatingly gifted actor - will be playing Owen, Iris' father, who has not worked since World War II (when he accidentally shot himself in the leg while loading a gun), and is completely obsessed with physics.

Rebekah Brisco - what a doll. Lovely, talented and hilarious! She will be playing Sylvia, Iris' mother, who, in an attempt to leave the family, slipped and broke her wrist, and is now stuck in an awkward situation.

Josh Wilson - who I think of when I think of "UFV Theatre". Very talented, and although I was super intimidated by him at first, he's actually very sweet and VERY funny. He will be playing Lawrence, an aimless drifter with an undistinguishable past whom Iris found on the beach and believes to be the reincarnation of her dead goldfish, Amahl ("I named him Amahl because that's where we bought him").

And me. I play "Miss Rose" ("maybe I'll tell you my first name when we've known each other a little longer.....Vivian"). I am the boarder at Iris' house, middle-aged, hopelessly stuck in the war years (for those were my glory days), I spend my days working at a fish cannery, and my nights down at the Legion making out with Veterans "like its VE day all over again" (although you never see it). I have the least amount of lines in the play, but the role is fabulous! (I actually have the most costume changes, which means that I will have multiple dresses made JUST for me!)

It's going to be wonderful. The show goes up in late January and runs until Feb. 6th. You should come see it.

xo - J

Really?

Look out, world. I'm "displeased".

"Hello...Jalen, is it?"

"Yes, hi"

"You've been dealing with this "condition" for a year and a half? hmmm... interesting. Have you had allergy testing before?"

"Yes, a year ago I had blood testing done through a naturopath"

"Oh. Well, I don't care what a naturopath found - do you KNOW of any allergies you have?"

"No... not for sure"

"Alright, let's do some tests then."

(Prick test, right arm foods, left arm contact allergens - 10 minutes of "reaction time")

"According to your reaction, it appears that you're quite severally allergic to dust mites"

"Oh. Is that why my arm is so swollen?"

"Yes. This allergy could be aggravating your skin quite a bit without you knowing it..."

Great. Wonderful.

First of all, naturopathic medicine (if that's what you'd call it - www.eczemanaturalhealing.com) has literally been THE ONLY thing that has had a lasting positive impact on my health (obviously also through God's help and healing), and although it's slow as the dickens (and some days I want to give up) it's effective for long term.

Secondly, my apartment is carpeted wall to wall to wall except in the kitchen and bathrooms... so, thanks so much for suggesting that I not have carpet - super helpful. Also, I don't think covers for my duvet, mattress and pillows are covered under my medical plan, so I'm not going to be able to run down to the store and purchase those anytime this semester, but thanks.

Basically, thank you for making me aware of an enemy that I actually cannot fight right now... except for more frequent dusting and vacuuming.

Pfff. I'm just frustrated. Why does no one respect natural healing? Medical plans don't cover pillow covers or probiotics or enzymes, or ANYTHING that helps me, but they DO cover steroids and cortisone creams and other garbage that has actually caused SO much damage in (and ON) my body. It's dumb. Really stupid.

I had to get that off my chest. I'm not saying that allopathic medicine is bad, I'm just saying that there should be a certain amount of cooperation and respect between the different methods of healing... I'm tired of being made to feel stupid by doctors. I've been dealing with this for a year and a half now and I know a few things about my body that they don't. I have a vested interest in my well-being, and I can't just tell myself "good luck" and send me out the door with a prescription.

Okay. I'm done. Sorry for losing my cool a little bit, but seriously.