Heather Holleman's Blog, page 141

A Podcast I’m Loving: This Cultural Moment

My friend recommended a podcast called This Cultural Moment –a collaboration between John Mark Comer of Bridgetown Church in Portland, USA and Mark Sayers of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia–that I love.

I finished the first season and so appreciated how the hosts both articulate so much of what’s happening in the culture while also providing hope as they fortify listeners in how to engage a post-Christian cultural moment.

The Unbelievable Thing I Said in Class

As I went about my lecture in class, I mentioned something about keeping a journal in college and how I reread those pages even now as a 44 year old. I noticed that a student had brought in his own journal to record insights or special memories. I made a joke about how I cannot believe I made it this far based on how foolish I was freshman year of college. I made so many mistakes! I made so many poor decisions! On and on I went. I concluded by telling them that it all worked out in the end. I read those journals now through the lens of someone who has been married 20 years and who has raised two daughters. I did survive college. They will, too.

The class stared at me in shock. Their faces looked both horrified and confused. What did I say? Was I bleeding out of my head or something? What was happening?

Then one student raised his hand. “What a minute,” he said. “Wait. Are you seriously saying you’ve been married 20 years?” He paused. “That means you got married when you were 25 years old. That’s insane. I’m almost 25.”

The class erupted in agreement. Marriage at 25? To one person, forever! This is crazy! That’s too young. Why did you marry at 25!? Why?

I told them that, at least in the south, some of my friends were engaged right out of college. They couldn’t believe it. I told them that I thought 25 was a little late. I was getting old. They laughed. I asked them when they thought a good time to get married was, and they again looked confused. Maybe never. At least in the late 30’s.

It’s a different world. I spoke for a moment about not regretting marrying “so young” because we grew up together and experienced life together. A student said, “But it’s the same person. Forever.”

I smiled and said, “Yes. The same person. Forever.”

Day in the Life

I love teaching on the college campus. If you’re wondering what a typical Monday looks like, I’ll tell you. The day always begins with coffee, Bible reading, my prayer journal–a must to survive! After getting my children situated for school, I’ll drive to campus. I’m currently listening to the podcast called “This Cultural Moment.” It’s excellent!

The day began with a special treat: I ran into another faculty member. We chatted on a campus bench before her 9:00 AM class. Students streamed passed us and busses exhaled at their stops as we talked. Talking to other professors means we’ll inevitably swap teaching stories, but we also talk about our families, what we’re learning, and any new ideas we’ve had lately. I love being around creative and intelligent people. I always learn something new!

Then, I rushed off to my office to return several emails to provide feedback on student writing, write recommendations, or advise students. I share an office with two colleagues, so I love catching up with their life and work.

I met with three different students: one readying herself for medical school applications who needed help with her personal statement, one seeking personal, career, and class advice, and one wanting to talk through the sequence of his next essay. If you’re thinking about a career in teaching, let me prepare you: you’ll interact with many people in a day, and each conversation matters deeply. This is why you keep alert with snacks and coffee in your office!

Then, I walked through the sunshine to my teach my advanced writing classes in a building across campus. Each class is 50 minutes long and involves lecture, discussion, and writing. Of course, I always plan a “Name Game.” Today we talked about the highlights of our weekend and then worked on advanced grammar skills to hold the attention of the reader. When I leave class, I love it when students follow me out to talk about whatever is on their mind.

Then, it’s back home to greet my children and prepare dinner. I normally just have a few minutes to transition home. During the week a paper is due, students will email more frequently, so I devote more time in the evening to helping students improve their writing. Often, former students will email with writing questions or help with their resumes, and if I have the energy, I’ll answer a few of these before bedtime. So that’s my Monday! If you’re wondering when I blog, it’s whenever I have a free moment! I’m writing now before I clean the dinner dishes.

On Tuesday, I’m home writing, and I schedule ministry meetings in the afternoon. And that’s a day in the life.

A Cry of the Heart Answered 40 Years Later

I experienced the oddest but most powerful memory yesterday. I sat in our church’s sanctuary for the orientation for a food-packing event with Feed My Starving Children, a Christian non-profit that packs meals to send to starving children all over the world. I learned about how to pack at my station to make a meal to save a child’s life: the vitamins, the dried vegetables, the protein powder, and finally, the rice. I learned about where the food would go and the number of children it might feed.

But while we watched a video showing starving children, and then pictures of them months or years later after surviving on the meal packs from Feed My Starving Children, a vivid memory flashed through my mind. I was four years old, and I was watching television with a babysitter while my parents were out to dinner. A commercial came on–the first of its kind I’ve ever seen. It was, of course, Sally Struthers in her plea to save the Ethiopian children. As a four year old, watching other children starving to death on the television impacted me so deeply I remember feeling sick inside. I couldn’t stop crying about those dying children. When my parents returned home from their evening out, I remember my mother comforting me, but I just kept saying something like, “Can’t we just send them a pear?” I thought of the fruit I enjoyed every day. I thought of those children as I went to bed and as I moved on into a regular kindergarten day. But I never sent a pear, or anything else. I felt powerless and overwhelmed.

Although as time went on my husband and I supported children through various ministries, I never became involved with direct hunger relief as an adult. But as I sat in the sanctuary with my hair net on, ready to pack meals, I remembered that feeling I stored away as a little girl. I could now do something. I could now use my grown-up resources and wisdom to do something and choose organizations that knew how to actually get nutritious food to children. How far we’ve come in studies of nutrition! How far we’ve come in resourcing the right people on the ground to avoid corruption to get food to children. I especially noted the way Feed My Starving Children customizes their mobile food packs to feed children suffering from intestinal diseases when they can only digest certain foods or for babies ready to transition to solid foods.

I praised God that He directed me here at such a time. It felt like a fulfillment of a forty-year old ache that I hid away all this time. And now, onward! Onward to donate, to pack food, and to do what I now know I can do.

Little Sleep

When you have teens, you might feel like you did when your children were toddlers. You lose sleep! You stay up to make sure they’re OK. And if you host sleepover parties for all the friends, you may not really sleep at all. It made me laugh to think that these two seasons of life feel so similar. Both require a little extra grace for all.

“Because I had to write it.” –Ray Bradbury

My oldest daughter loves the public library. She likes to roam and find books, and this I love about her. She finds a Ray Bradbury book to read again since it’s been so long, and while she plucks Fahrenheit 451 from the shelf, I pick a collection of his short stories. I love what he writes in the introduction:

“Every story here was written because I had to write it. Writing stories is like breathing for me. I watch: I get an idea, fall in love with it, and try not to think too much about it. I then write: I let the story pour forth onto the paper as soon as possible.”

I think some of us hide stories within that we must write and we must pour forth as soon as possible, but for some reason, we don’t give ourselves the time and permission to do so. Well, I hope you will.

Maybe, like Ray Bradbury, we should try not to think too much about this idea we have. Maybe, like him, we should just write.

4 Very Easy Dinners

It’s been such a busy past few weeks, so I’ve found myself so thankful for some very easy dinners (three invented by my husband). If you have limited time, try some of these:

Buy a bag of cooked and frozen grilled chicken strips. Or cook all your chicken on the weekend, and slice and freeze until ready to use. This same bag of cooked chicken can make the following: 1). Chicken Caesar Salad (use bagged salad from Trader Joe’s–my favorite!–and add in some peas and sliced onion. This will take you 5 minutes). 2). Chicken Tacos. Heat your chicken strips, heat soft taco shells, heat up black beans, and serve with salsa, cheese, and lettuce. 3). Chicken Parmesan. Cook pasta, heat chicken. Place chicken under the broiler with fresh parmesan and mozzarella. Serve with heated marinara sauce.

#4. Soup and Sandwich / Salad: When you’re tired of variations of the chicken theme, don’t forget the delicious boxed soups from Trader Joes (we love the roasted red pepper). Serve bowls of soup alongside grilled cheese sandwiches that take only a few minutes to make. For healthier folks, you can eat your soup alongside a tossed salad full of veggies.

So you have four nights of easy meals. For the other nights, try fish (so fast under the broiler–either salmon or cod) with some steamed broccoli and rice, the ever-popular Breakfast for Dinner (omelets or pancakes), or pita pizzas (use pita bread for crust!). So there you go! I hope this helps your meal planning for next week.

Something Unique

Today I thought about dactyloscopy–the art of fingerprinting. Penn State requires fingerprinting as part of our clearances to work with children, and since I’m volunteering at the local high school for a writing conference, I traveled for fingerprinting today.

It’s truly amazing if you think about it. I learn that your fingerprints are more unique than your DNA. No two people ever, in the history of the world, have been found to contain the same fingerprints.

There’s truly no one else like you! It’s amazing to think about. You leave your own mark on the world, literally.

Stop and Marvel

As I walked back to the parking garage after teaching classes yesterday, I felt the weight of a long day upon me. I could hardly put step after step.

But then, I hear the giggles and cooing of two college girls who had their phones tilted down towards a little squirrel who sat perched on a column. I stopped and watched. Then I added my own giggles into the mix.

The squirrel just sat by us and methodically and greedily munched an apple. We could pet him if we wanted to. I didn’t feel so tired and gloomy anymore. Instead, I felt awash with wonder. The squirrel event felt so whimsical–a key feature of living with flair!

I briefly considered that I was in the presence of the celebrity squirrel, Sneezy. You haven’t heard of Sneezy? You must know Sneezy! Sneezy lets Mary Krupa make little outfits for him and dress him. You can see all the photos on his Facebook page if you don’t believe me. It’s here: https://www.facebook.com/SneezySquirrel/. I love the photo of Sneezy with a top hat and cane. Here’s a peek below. Mary takes these photos and doesn’t edit them at all. The squirrel is really wearing the hat and holding the cane!

Photo by Mary Krupa of Sneezy the Penn State Squirrel

You can read more about Mary in a news report from Penn State here. The fact that I know about a celebrity squirrel–and that I perhaps encountered him (but upon closer inspection, I do think they are different squirrels!)–counts as living with flair today.

In Just One Generation

Something strange has been happening to me. I’ve been praying like never before in my life for a great revival in the US among young people. Are you doing the same thing? Mostly, I pray about deception, fear, and anything that blinds their eyes to who Jesus really is. It’s an odd feeling to want to prayer so fervently. It makes me think we’re all due for another Great Awakening.

But this morning, I discovered a sobering verse that fueled my prayers more than ever. In Judges 2:10-11, we read this: “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals.”

Can you believe it? In just one generation? The new generation described here “did not know the Lord” nor anything about His work or great miracles. How could that be? How in the world would an entire generation forget about the parting of the Red Sea, the manna, the quail, the commandments? How could they not even know the stories?

It reminds me of the day I played some of my favorite songs for my students. So many of them had never heard the music–whether Dave Matthews or Phil Collins or anything I might play from the early 90’s. It’s like their parents never introduced them to it, so it became lost. They didn’t know the words or the melodies. I feel that’s true for so many children and teens in our communities. They don’t know the music of the gospel. They don’t know the words.

I felt a fresh zeal to keep speaking about the things of the Lord, to teach His word wherever I go, and to think of new ways to impart truth to the next generation. Join me!