university squirrels

Life at a university never ceases to be interesting. Today, I saw a squirrel on my way to class. That's not so unusual, I suppose, but the fact that he was just hanging out on the back tire of someone's bike is what caught my eye. Wish I'd had a camera out and at the ready to catch Mr. Squirrel's circus act.

The squirrels on the grounds of the university are innumerable. I couldn't even say how many I see in a day, but it feels like a thousand.

I live in a place where people are very eco-minded. There are recycling receptacles all over the place, especially at bus stops. Plastic brags about being "natural" and "compostible"; labels feature words like "organic" and "locally grown"; local businesses put bowls of water outside for passing dogs to take a drink from; bike helmets come in all sizes and colors to suit your tastes.

As a body, the students, faculty, and staff, being so ecologically minded as they are, are nice to the squirrels. I have not yet seen anyone feeding them by hand or anything, but they also don't taunt, chase, or kick them. The squirrels, it would seem, have become accustomed to the large bipeds that live amongst them, even around noontime when the bipeds can be seen in large numbers, snacking on granola and sipping smoothies. The squirrels have discovered that generally the large, colored quadrupeds whose feet are black and spin rather than "step" also seem to stop and let them go first, almost like a Chinese friend holding the door open and gesturing while saying "please, you first". The squirrels have run of the place.

Given that there is now nothing to fear from the two most obvious "dangers", the squirrels do tend to run willie-nillie throughout the place, carrying the large acorns that have begun to fall shoved into their tiny rodent mouths. What is amazing is this: they are no longer afraid. The squirrels have lost their instinctual fear of people and cars, to some extent, and now live as though nothing bad will ever befall them.

Interesting, isn't it, how lax or lazy we can become in an environment we perceive as safe? Much like the university squirrels, I came home and forgot about the battle that rages around me. It's not that I stopped talking to the Father or lifting up friends, but I didn't do it in the voracious way I often did in China. I forgot to "clean" my rooms with Thoughts and actions. I walked into class thinking nothing of it, forgetting to ask Him for favor and protection. I became like the university squirrels... too lax to realize that there is real danger all around me. So I turn to the Father and ask, would you teach me, again, how to pr? How do I pr in this context, in this new life? He has the answers I'm looking for.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm...

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints..."

a short thought on discouragement

I just came home not long ago from a few years out of the country. I suppose the people who generally read this blog already know that. I just came home, and that means adjustment, re-culturation (is that the right word?), transitioning into life in America and away from the support system I've had and known. It means being back in the middle of family instead of a satellite member. It means many things.

Recently, I've had some troubles. My car hit a couple "bumps in the road," in the figurative sense. It was troubling given when the trouble happened and given the adreneline rush that followed. But when I told a friend, she remarked, "Welcome to car ownership!" I think I may have teared up at that point.

This weekend I had piles of reading to do, most of it for one class in particular. Then, a prof emailed on Friday announcing another ~70 pages of content that needed to be read for Monday. I lamented this fact, being a slow reader already. A different friend said, "Welcome to life as a student!"

Yesterday, I had to take a take-home quiz. It wasn't so bad... it was for a 101 class, so it should be pretty simple, and it was. I was thankful. But there was a section on the quiz that the prof hadn't covered in class. A whole section. In the grand scheme not a big deal, but for me who tends to stress if I don't know exactly the right answer, it was... well... stressful, if I may be a bit trite. Yet another friend said, "Welcome to grad school!"

I'd like to say for the record, "Welcome to [sth]" as a response to someone's troubles is not at all helpful. Not even a little bit. In these three cases, I actually found it hurtful. It's hard to adjust to these new things. Let me just admit it in cyberspace-- I'm having a hard time adjusting. (Now that everyone in the world can potentially know this, I'll move on.)

When a friend rejoices, we ought rejoice with him, yes? And when she weeps, we weep with her. I may not have been "weeping" in the literal sense, but I was having a particularly difficult time in those three instances, and instead of understanding or comfort what I got felt like a slap in the face. It probably was meant teasingly or to be funny or "to lighten the mood." It wasn't taken that way.

I guess since the 3 people who've said these things to me don't read this blog (that I know of!) I feel free to share. Maybe I oughtn't feel so free. But just a word to the wise: don't say things like "welcome to..." when someone's facing troubles. If you don't know what to say, it's best just to say nothing. At least that's the way I see it.