Elizabeth Elliot On Loneliness

I'm not sure if I've posted this before or not, but I came across it again today. Didn't know if someone might read this who needs it. I think we could all benefit from this reminder from time to time.

Be still and know that He is God. When you are lonely, too much stillness is exactly the thing that seems to be laying waste to your soul. Use that stillness to quiet your heart before God. Get to know Him. If He is God, He is still in charge.
Remember that you are not alone. “The Lord, He it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee neither forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage.” (Deut. 31:8) Jesus promised His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always.” (Matt.28:20) Nevermind if you cannot feel His presence. HE is there, never for one moment forgetting you.
Give thanks. In times of my greatest loneliness I have been lifted up by the promise of II Corinthians 4:17-18, “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” This is something to thank God for. This loneliness itself, which seems a weight, will be far outweighed by glory.
Refuse self-pity. Refuse it absolutely. It is a deadly thing with power to destroy you. Turn your thoughts to Christ who has already carried your griefs and sorrows.
Accept your loneliness. It is one stage, and only one stage, on a journey that brings you to God. It will not always last.
Offer up your loneliness to God, as the little boy offered to Jesus his five loaves and two fishes. God can transform it for the good of others.
Do something for somebody else. No matter who or where you are, there is something you can do, somebody who needs you. Pray that you may be an instrument of God’s peace, that where there is loneliness you may bring joy.

It's getting about time...

The closer I get to graduating from college the more I have this deep need/desire/hunger/longing to do certain things. Among them:



TRAVEL.

I really, really need to walk the streets of London and Paris, and eventually South Africa. I can settle with Europe as a start. I watch the travel channel and can’t believe I’ve never seen these places with my own eyes. It’s getting about time to go…



PERFORM—PROFESSIONALLY. (OR ATLEAST SHOW UP AT SOME AUDITIONS.)

I’m really ready to see if I have what it takes to perform in musicals and see if anyone is willing to pay me to do it. I’m not sure if they will…since I’ve never tried, how would I know? But I do know that the judges at VTA see some kind of casting potential…and I got callbacks from 8 companies last year at SETC…and I feel like I’ve honed my skills a great deal over the last year…ah! I want to try! It’s getting about time to try…



HAVE A FAMILY.

Ok, ok, this is more on the backburner, since it is #3 on the list and all. But I do so desperately want to be a mom. I know that may sound trite…but there are so many aspects of life that will be deeply fulfilling when I’m a wife and a mother. I know in committing to marriage and parenthood I’ll be giving up a lot of freedom but It’s getting about time to begin thinking like someone less selfish…




READ AND WRITE WHAT I WANT.

The more I do journalism/public relations style writing the more I like it. But I am so excited for the day when these are no longer homework assignments. What will I write when I no longer get a grade for it? And will someone want to hire me because they like the way I write? Who can say. It’s about time to see…








And, do all these for the glory of God, where true fulfillment abounds.

snapshots from fall of senior year

In "Parade" I played a 13-year-old girl working in a pencil factory in the early 20th century. We tried to make this picture look period...

We visited the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago and picked out our very own harvest decoration. It was so fun! I did have a little buyers remorse though...I picked my pumpkin out FAST...but I still love it. I'm loyal.

Leslie and I decided to hike Peaks of Otter a few weeks ago. It was the perfect weekend to go as the leaves had turned but not fallen. Just gorgeous.

Halloween '06. This was the 2nd party we went to. Most of these friends I met while working in the theater in Pigeon Forge this summer. They are great great great. 

If someone had written me as a character...

Up until recently I was never the kind of reader who compared her heroines to herself. This was until a friend of mine told me I was the 3-D version of one character, Elizabeth Bennett, from Pride and Prejudice. He was so confident in his analysis that I felt a great need to read the book. I was flattered, on the whole, that he thought I had the personality and social skills of Elizabeth. In the novel she’s not perfect but she’s well-spoken, convictional, funny, and smart.
I’ll take that.
But after reading the rest of Austen’s lovely novels I have come to decide that I am not a carbon copy of Elizabeth. Unfortunately (I suppose that adverb is debatable) I found that I identified with Emma in some ways as well. So, ideally, I would like to think that I’m 99% Elizabeth, but I think its more like 60% Elizabeth and 40% Emma--with a smattering of Carrie Bradshaw mixed in--the TBS version of course.