Verbing

It’s 3:35 AM right now and it’s the first time I’ve stayed up since school let out. Oh yeaaah.

For those who are mildly interested and the slightest bit curious, here’s a short update about my summer thus far: interning, 9-5PM, M-F and I am SO. TIRED.

But! I’m learning a lot, meeting great people, and keeping my brain from a summer stupor so it’s been good! 

Anyway, I guess I wanted to use this post to get a few words of unwisdom out there. 

1. God is a very gracious teacher. 
2. Scramble with Friends isn’t worth it. You just end up looking for the same words over and over again and then you get stuck. And then you either win with the same score or lose. with that same darn score.
3. The ability to play music is one of those things we should cling to very, very desperately.
4. Choey already got this one, but to emphasize! definitely DOCUMENT. Pictures, journal entries — even Instagram! Life is so fast.
5. Eat more greens. And don’t substitute ice cream and Cinnamon Toast Crunch for meals. 
6. Get involved, be involved and stay involved. In college, in high school, in..adult life too, I guess.
7. Get a camera. 
8. Surround yourself with extraordinary people. Extraordinariness rubs off, did you know?
9. High school friends are just as precious and invaluable as college friends. 
10. And one thing to pass to that one, elusive, possibly even nonexistent high school senior who may be reading this is that freshman year — freshman year of college — only happens once. There’s this nagging feeling at the back of my heart and mind, like I could’ve done so much more. So I will as a sophomore! But as a freshman…well, this is what I have to show for it ahah. And I hope it’s okay. 

05.23.12.

Mustard colored walls; graffitied doors; burned out lights; thinned carpets. As unappealing as all this seems, this was a familiar sight. A familiar, fond sight.

Singing carries from the bathroom; blasted music sounds from down the hallway; accusatory yells and laughter erupts from the neighboring rooms; calls for people ring throughout the floor. A delightful sound.

Aromas of coffee and tea; odors of sweaty, just-came-from-the gym boys. Tastes of the newly opened care packages and hugs and tackles of friends.

This was home away from home.

05.06.12.

It hit me late last night that Abba Modern was special, like more special than I had already thought special. There are questions at times that I answer with, “Oh, I’m with Abba,” or “Yeah, I’m in Abba!” But this is so special! Because the word Abba is in essence, God. So to say, “I’m with Abba,” is also to say, “I’m with God.”

And it’s so true.

Because God, our Father, Redeemer, King, Counselor, is with this group always, for it says in the Bible, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20).”  

If you’ve followed my past posts about Abba Modern, you’d (hopefully) know how much I’ve learned and grown through this group. Hip hop v. contemporary, bodily technique, practice environment flexibility, keeping up with Group Me texts. Dance worship, costume correctness, emotional movements, humility on stage.

But above all else, beyond the artistic elements and relational connections, I have been refined and challenged spiritually. And this refinement did not come in traditional form, but just from being inspired.

So, Abba Modern, thank you for the memories and the lessons. Thank you, directors, for being so firm in faith but ever so gentle in your guidance. Thank you, Bea, for being a caregiver; for loving on every heart, whole or broken; for being joyful and true in Jesus’ name. Thank you, Greg, for being an inspirer; for praising His name in everything you do; for being a leader in your humility. Thank you, Sammy, for being a visionary; for being constant despite the changing world; for breathing God’s name into dance. Thank you, seniors: Christina, for your childlike faith and for loving me in the most embarrassing ways possible; Victor, for your enthusiasm and for being so good-natured (and sometime scary) with jokes and pranks; Justin, for your faithfulness and for your “tender, soft voice”. AAAAND thank you, Abba Modern, for doing across-the-floors full out; for bringing snacks to nearly every practice or fellowship night; for whacking or quoting “Mean Girls” whenever possible; for being obnoxiously loud while walking to the RSF at night; for being sassy; for touching each other’s feet while barefoot yourselves; for finding ridiculously embarrassing pictures of each other on Facebook; for dancing on cue whenever “Starships” comes on; for always remembering to pray for those who were sick or stressed; for always making an effort to come to practice or fellowship no matter how late; for getting excited about friends who were curious about God; for sharing your lives; for laughing out of joy during prayers; for crying for the Lord during performances; for trusting.

I am floored by the passion, the heart, the faithfulness, and the joy.

So I dedicate this post to Abba Modern, the group that so enthusiastically support my Tumblr and Facebook status endeavors.  

“30 likes and reblog” and now, a video.