Girl on a Mission

Blog On

2007-08-28T01:26:00.000-06:00

Check out the new blog at www.tiffanystanley.blogspot.com.

Saying Goodbye

2007-08-21T16:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my last day at Warren Village. This girl on a mission will soon have a new mission. It has been a wonderfully exhausting, indescribably fulfilling two years. I know Beth, our new US-2, will carry on the work of the Village in a beautiful way. The hands that serve may change, but the serving remains.

I have been inspired by my residents, alums and co-workers. The Village people (ha, ha) have spoiled me the last two weeks with cakes and presents and go-away festivities. Still, it occurs to me that I can't just go away. No one ever really leaves Warren Village. It's a family. As a resident recently wrote, "It takes a village not only to raise a child...but to raise a person."

To close, I wanted to offer up the Prayer of Oscar Romero, written by Bishop Untener. I think it says what I want to say way better than I could say it:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

Amen.

Thank You to the Bon Voyage/Birthday Bash Attendees

2007-08-21T16:22:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with Jonny B and I before we take off and leave the Mile-High City. No street does a bar crawl justice like Colfax Avenue. Jonny B--good luck in the U.K.!!!!

Thank You to My Girls

2007-08-21T16:15:00.000-06:00

Emily, Jenn, and Anne Cary--my birthday week has been fantastic, but they made my 24th one of the best ever. Dinner at Panzano and drinks at Peaks Lounge. I cannot believe I can't take these ladies to Massachusetts with me. Really, truly, words will NEVER express how much I love you three.

Thank You to Dorothy

2007-08-21T16:10:00.000-06:00

One of my wonderful Warren Village volunteers gave me the best going-away gift ever. Her husband attended Harvard and he passed away just three years ago. Watching my mom, I know how hard it is to give away someone's possessions after they die. The material things take on a whole new meaning. Dorothy has made me eternally grateful by giving me her husband's jacket--bought in 1955. I will treasure it forever.

Thank You to Brian

2007-08-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Brian for taking me to see the Little Mermaid's Pre-Broadway show for my birthday. Every little girl born in 1983 loves some Ariel and Sebastian. I think Tina took me to see it at least five times in the theater. Brian--it has been my pleasure to get to know you. I don't know many 6'3" Georgia boys who knit and make gazpacho. Geez, my timing sucks.

Thank You to the Gathering

2007-08-21T15:54:00.000-06:00

I have been very blessed to have been a part of a small group at Pathways for the last two years. The Gathering was a huge part of making Denver my home, not just a stopping place. It is where I found other believers. It is where I found friends--male and female. It is where I found Marc. And Stephen. :) It is also where I found a Denver family, one to laugh with and cry with, fight with and love. On August 15, the Gathering hosted a going-away Agape meal for my last Wednesday. I was so surprised at the big turn-out: oldtimers and newcomers, familiar faces and ones I haven't seen in way too long. They also surprised me with gas money--totally unexpected, but totally needed. I have loved being a part of this group, and I will miss it way too much in Boston.

Tiff's Colorado Trivia

2007-08-20T12:54:00.000-06:00

People should know these things got started in Colorado:

Chipotle

The Fray

Crocs (Ugliest shoes ever)

Plus, Colorado inspires music, like John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High," and the song "America the Beautiful," which was written on a trip past Pikes Peak.

Plus, Don Cheadle went to East High School, located right in my neighborhood

New Favorite Verses...at least for the next 20 minutes

2007-08-08T14:12:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.

Psalm 119:32 (NIV)
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.

August!?!?!?!?

2007-08-02T13:14:00.001-06:00

Why is August already and how did this happen?

In 15 days, I will be 24 years old.

In 18 days, I will no longer work at Warren Village.

In 25 days, I will no longer live in Denver.

In words from the sage writers of Grey's Anatomy and into the mouth of Meredith Grey:

"We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?"

Harvard T-Shirt Goes to Mt. Harvard

2007-07-31T15:16:00.000-06:00

(I signed the register as a South Carolinian. I felt we were a little under-represented.)

Two weeks ago, I climbed one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners, Mt. Harvard (14,420 ft). It's the third highest mountain in the state and the fourth highest in the contiguous United States.

It's not the prettiest mountain or even the hardest of climbs, explained below in a quote from The Harvard Crimson:

"[...]despite its height, climbing up Mt. Harvard is hardly a death-defying experience. 'It's an undistinguished lump on a fairly undistinguished range; it just happens to be very high,' says John C. Reed of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver. Reed, who has climbed the mountain once, describes it only as 'a long walk' of about three or four miles. Nor is the view from the mountain especially scenic, compared with Colorado's other 54 mountains above 14,000 feet. 'In terms of being spectacular, Mt. Harvard would not be really high on the list,' Reed says."

Regardless, Stephen and I had a great time backpacking and camping and hiking. Besides, who can resist a cheesy photo of a Harvard t-shirt at the top of Mt. Harvard (even if you immediately put on eight layers of clothes afterwards because it's freezing up there)?

Views

2007-07-31T15:10:00.000-06:00

We are goofs

2007-07-31T15:02:00.000-06:00

Sunscreen in my eye is no fun.

Chillicothe UMC

2007-07-30T13:56:00.000-06:00

During the summer, Warren Village becomes overrun with youth groups on their annual mission trips. As much hard work as it is to supervise people doing manual labor, the experiences always remind me of what's important. Sometimes living in a city and doing the work we do, I can lose track of where I come from and why I started doing this in the first place. A vital part of who I am comes from spending part of my high school summers fixing up houses in low-income areas with a South Carolina program called Salkehatchie.

This past week, we were blessed (and I really mean that) to have a group of 50 teenagers come help us out from Chillicothe, Missouri. From the way they talk about their town, I was reminded a lot of Red Bank and Lexington. The kids and leaders worked extremely hard and got so much done for us. It's awesome to be accepted and to become an honorary member of their mission team, and to be reminded of what it really means to do mission in community. In the midst of overwhelming change and further pursuit of ministry, I feel revitalized.

So thanks to Chillicothe United Methodist Church, Greg and Jenny Hughes, the other leaders and the whole youth group!!!

The Beginning of an Ending

2007-07-24T14:30:00.001-06:00

Yesterday marked my first sleepless night over the upcoming move. I hit the pillow and my mind starting making mental to-do lists in overdrive. The girls in my accountability group threw me a little impromptu going-away surprise last night, since it was the last Monday we could all be together before I leave. I'm horrible at goodbyes and prefer to live in complete denial of change until it smacks me in the face. I guess the gesture of a "going away" celebration did smack me around a little. I'm calmer this morning, but a little paralyzed with all there is to do.

Today, my class of US-2s made the GBGM front page. It's a little article I wrote up regarding our end term and next steps. The link is here:http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=4615

And just as good things are coming to an end, other good things are commencing. Here's the article about the new class of US-2s (two of which are coming to Denver!): http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/pr.cfm?articleid=4613

August 20 is my last official day at Warren Village. Scary.

Mara and Neums ENGAGED!

2007-07-10T17:32:00.000-06:00

Mara (part of my BFF Georgia Girls) just called me via a very fuzzy transcontinental cell phone connection. We kept getting cut off, but we stayed connected long enough for her to announce that she and Neumann are engaged! Mara's traveling through Europe for the summer with her graduate program in architecture at Georgia Tech. I haven't gotten all the details yet, but suffice it to say, Neums flew to Europe and proposed somewhere in Sweden (I think). The two of them definitely belong together. They were best friends for years before they ever dated. Finally, they both realized they should be together. I'll never forget when Mara told me she was in love with Neums for the first time...I almost drove my car off the road en route to the USC v. UGA game. Anyway, I couldn't be more excited. Geez...another best friend bites the dust, I mean...um, gets engaged. :) I'm just going to drink a lot at all their receptions...oh, wait, missionaries aren't supposed to say things like that.

Carter Can!

2007-07-10T13:33:00.000-06:00

Warren Village is being featured on the HGTV show "Carter Can." They're redoing our Big Kids room. It's amazing what a TV crew and a bunch of hot carpenters can do to the chaos level of the Village. Madness, I tell you. Madness everywhere!

Relevant

2007-06-28T12:44:00.000-06:00

My friend Jimmy, who I met at the FTE conference, recently posted this quote on his blog (check it out at http://jimmymccarty.wordpress.com/). Jimmy commented that the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., are as prophetic today as they were in 1967 when he spoke this message at Riverside Church in NYC:

"It is with such activity in mind that the words of the late John F. Kennedy come back to haunt us. Five years ago he said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Increasingly, by choice or by accident, this is the role our nation has taken: the role of those who make peaceful revolution impossible by refusing to give up the privileges and the pleasures that come from the immense profits of overseas investments. I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered…The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just…A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: “This way of settling differences is not just.” This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation’s homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom….Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies…"

"Travel - I've had my share, man/I've been everywhere"--Johnny Cash

2007-06-26T13:53:00.000-06:00

Well, I haven't been everywhere, but the past two weeks have felt like it. I just completed my three-city tour of the U.S., with stops in New York, Boston, and Chicago. The first week was my US-2 endterm in New York City, in good ole Alma Mathews house. It was a time of reflection, joy and bittersweetness, as we US-2s said goodbye to our programs and each other.

Then, I flew into Boston for a whirlwind trip to find a place to live. Mission Accomplished! After 10 meetings with potential roommmates and apartments, I think I have finally made my choice. I want to give a big thanks to Ben, my wonderful host for most of the trip--and thanks to Amy F-F for making it happen! The second half of that stay was at an Episcopal monastery, which provided much needed silent retreat, even if I didn't get to take advantage of all the "retreating" that was possible. But that's ok--I have an apartment and I didn't lose my mind. Done. And. Done.

My final destination was the FTE conference in Chicago (or actually Evanston if you want to get technical about it). The conference was great, but I have to admit that I was a little done with traveling and small talk by that point. I wasn't much of a joiner. I'm just introverted enough to have needed a little more down time. I still got a lot out of it, despite United Airlines canceling my first flight and losing my luggage. Then, they delivered my luggage way later than they promised. Surprise, surprise. Yeah, wearing the same clothes for three days...joy. I guess I'll have to figure out a way to get around that pesky 3 oz. liquid thing next time, so I can just check the bag!

All in all...good times and good people. Glad to be home...at least for two more months. :(

FTE Fellowship

2007-05-31T11:23:00.000-06:00

I just received word that the Fund for Theological Education has named me a 2007 FTE Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellow, which will help even more with my living expenses for next year when used in conjunction with my Harvard Fellowship. Not only is this such an honor and great news, I'm also in very good company. All the recipients must be incoming M.Div. students, and we all must have served in a faith-based volunteer capacity for at least a year. More interesting than that is that all 10 recipients are female. I think it just adds to the fact that, on the whole, women now slightly outnumber men in seminaries these days. So, take that church patriarchy and the "stained glass ceiling."

Well, it's about time...

2007-05-31T11:12:00.000-06:00

Disney's next animated film will finally feature its first black princess. Just fifteen years ago, Disney released its first movie with a non-white princess in the form of Jasmine in Aladdin. Then came Pocahontas and Mulan. So, now a new princess will join the eight others in Disney's little multi-million dollar, "every little girl's fantasy" line-up. At least more little girls will actually see themselves represented. Now I won't comment on the fact that this latest princess is a "frog princess," which could be a very bad idea, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Here's a link to an article about it: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17524865/

Anxiety

2007-05-29T13:18:00.001-06:00

It finally occurred to me the other day that I actually am going to Harvard, and that I actually am moving to Massachusetts, and that I am actually going to have to leave this place. It's not that I intellectually did not know this was going to happen--it seems it just finally decided to sink into my consciousness.

Then I freaked out.

So, over the last week, I have been praying and meditating and doing all these things to dig into the anxiety. I feel much better today. I wanted to enclose these two prayers because I think they relate to what I've been feeling, and probably what others are as well. On that note, if anyone likes to pray, then throw one in there for me!!!!!!!

I Teeter on the Brink of Endings by Ted Loder

O God of endings,
you promised to be with me always,
even to the end of time.
Move with me now in these occasions of last things,
of shivering vulnerabilities and letting go:
letting go of parents gone,
past gone,
friends going,
old self growing;
letting go of children grown,
needs outgrown,
prejudices ingrown,
illusions overgrown;
letting go of swollen grudges and shrunken loves.
Be with me in my end of things,
my letting go of dead things,
dead ways,
dead words,
dead self I hold so tightly,
defend so blindly,
fear losing so frantically.
I teeter on the brink of endings:
some anticipated,
some resisted,
some inevitable,
some surprising,
most painful;
and the mystery of them quiets me to awe.
In silence, Loard,
I feel now the curious blend of grief and gladness in me
over the endings that the ticking and whirling of things brings;
and I listen for your leading
to help me faithfully move on through the fear
of my time to let go
so the timeless may take hold of me.

Prayer by Howard Thurman

“Give me the courage to live!
Really live – not merely exist.
Live dangerously,
Scorning risk!
Live honestly,
Daring the truth –
Particularly the truth of myself!
Live resiliently –
Ever changing, ever growing, ever adapting.
Enduring the pain of change
As though ’twere the travail of birth.
Give me the courage to live,
Give me the strength to be free
And endure the burden of freedom
And the loneliness of those without chains;
Let me not be trapped by success,
Nor by failure, nor pleasure, nor grief,
Nor malice, nor praise, nor remorse!
Give me the courage to go on!
Facing all that waits on the trail –
Going eagerly, joyously on,
And paying my way as I go,
Without anger or fear or regret
Taking what life gives,
Spending myself to the full,
Head high, spirit winged, like a god –
On…on…till the shadows draw close.
Then even when darkness shuts down,
And I go out alone, as I came,
Naked and blind as I came–
Even then, gracious God, hear my prayer:
Give me the courage to live!”

Amen.

More West Slope

2007-05-29T12:48:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of May, I had the amazing privilege of speaking to a women's gathering on the Western Slope of Colorado. I traveled to Paonia, CO, and took a scenic drive down I-70 and McClure Pass. I was especially excited to see the hometown area of my bf Emily, who was born and raised in Crawford, CO. Paonia reminded of the embracing hospitality of small towns, and was so grateful to the ladies who put me up in a Bed and Breakfast and took me out to dinner. I really felt at home.

This trip was even more timely, as the drive took place over May 9--the anniversary of my stepdad's death. I like to retreat during this time even year, to reflect and honor his memory. I was wary of traveling to speak over such a vulnerable time, but it turned out to be just the thing I needed. It's funny how we are often given what we need even if we can't see it. The drive through the mountains was a perfect way to commemorate Sonny's life. I felt his presence with me the entire way--so fitting for someone who loved the great outdoors as much as he did. The town and church, with their vestiges of home, comforted me.

In times of brokenness, God often gives me much more relevant things to say regarding the issues we deal with at Warren Village. I empathize so much more with my residents when I remember my own broken self and my time of grief. Like Ted Loder wrote, "What can I believe, except what Jesus taught: that only what is first broken, like bread, can be shared."

Some verses used during talk on brokenness:

Psalm 51:17(NIV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 147:3(NIV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Jeremiah 2:13 (NIRV)
"My people have sinned twice. They have deserted me, even though I am the spring of water that gives life. And they have dug their own wells. But those wells are broken. They can't hold any water."

Psalm 34:18(NIV) "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Isaiah 58:12(NIV) "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

West Slope Excursion

2007-05-29T12:45:00.000-06:00

That's how we roll

2007-05-29T12:07:00.001-06:00

Here's Colleen, Em and I hanging out with Colorado State Representative Terrance Carroll. Terrance didn't think I would really stick his picture on my blog, but of course, I had to prove him wrong.