For some reason known only to our dearly demented Higher Being, I’ve had (am having?) (will have?) some weird experiences and unusual perspectives. I have friends all over the planet, with whom I cannot easily go and drink beer.
So, in “Sarah’s Journeys” I will tell my stories, publicly in byte-sized chunks.
For old Friends. For new Friends. For Friends I haven’t yet met. Peace.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> WHO IS SARAH <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:
I hate the name Sarah. I never really thought of myself as “Sarah,” but since people rarely called me by my name, it didn’t matter. Once I became a hip and cool teen, I adopted the nic “SAM” in some circles. After all, my initials at the time spelled SAM. But a few years later I got married and my initials changed, so I went back to thinking of myself as ‘SARAH’. Yuk.
What’s wrong with ‘SARAH’?
Father Abraham’s Wife didn’t have any faith. She didn’t believe in God’s Promise. She met and heard the messengers of God, she heard the blessing that God would bestow upon her and her husband… And She Laughed. This was not the happy laugh of Yay!-How-Wonderful!, it was the cynical You’ve-Got-To-Be-Kidding me laugh that comes out when you’re too angry and unbelieving to cry and you know you shouldn’t hit someone. She spent her entire life following her husband around on his ridiculous mis-adventures, without ever really believing that the promise God had made to her husband would come true.
– until it did.
Then, she died in the wilderness.
The last laugh was on her.
I always hated that story. And I was named for it. But then, this spring, I realized something:
I AM SARAH.
Her story could have been mine. It is mine. I carry the same feelings. I’ve had the moving mis-adventures. And I don’t really believe that God will ever deliver on that promise made to my husband, and I’m so angry and faith-less about it that it’s not worth wasting tears on the matter. But who knows… Maybe God will have the last laugh. I can only hope.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ABOUT THIS BLOG <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:
This Blog has a few categories that might be of interest. I write because it helps me remember who I am and what I believe. I post it publicly because my stories, my mis-adventures, may be interesting or even helpful for others. If you don’t find them interesting or helpful – don’t read them.
My writing mulls over some of the following matters:
FAMILY - I have one. It’s not easy having one. In fact, I think part of me died when I found out I was pregnant. This is where I talk about the pain and joy about being married and having children… in a poor urban environment.
GOD - I’m a Christian. I guess. Some days I’m better about being a Christian than others. Some days I believe that God created me, that God redeemed me, and that God is with me… but other days I just skate. This is where I talk about Faith Matters.
PHILADELPHIA – I live here. I love it. I hate it. I’m still not sure how long I’ll stay… but here I am. Some parks are the most wonderful on Earth. Some parks are where toddlers get shot in drug trafficking cross-fire. This is where I’ll tell you about this city, it’s neighborhoods, and it’s people. For better or for worse.
PoliTicks – [Politics = Poli (many) Ticks (bloodsucking parasites)] I was raised in the greater Washington DC Metro area, I am the daughter of a political scientist, and was a student of Sociology and Theology with emphasis in cross-cultural studies. I cannot help but rant about the pros and cons of being an American in today’s increasingly globalized culture. This is where I rant about such things – in a mentally compartmentalized petri dish representing the kind of throat culture I cannot share at the office.
SARAH’S JOURNAL - I truly believe that when we step back and consider our situations, when we step OUTSIDE of ourselves for a moment and try to look AT ourselves, we then can obtain a healthier perspective on that which might be frustrating us. This perspective allows us the freedom to return to the situation – rested. – with a better idea of what’s going on. – with goals and objectives. – with greater peace of mind. Journaling is a spiritual thing. This is where I write about my life, my sorrows and my joys.
SLUMMING MY FAITH – This is where I tell you MY story about being a Christian in Germantown, where I live. I’ve only been here 1 year an I’m trying to figure out how to get out of the God- Damned City… but I know that this city is NOT Damned. There is love here. God is here. I am here. My husband and children are here. And I need to figure out how to have faith here, too.
… then, there’s the Q ARCHIVES – which is where I moved all my old “Finding Q” Blogger Posts. There are some golden nuggets in there, but most of it is an online journal about day to day crap from the difficult time of transition that God dragged me through to get me here.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ABOUT ME <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:
I have a strange story, which I will not tell tonight. But here are the basics:
Personal Details:
- Married
- Mother of Two Sons (9 & 11 yrs)
- Liberal Arts Education & Business Work Experience (go figure)
- White Girl in a mostly Black Neighborhood in Philadelphia
- Lower-Middle Class (our combined income is approx. the average American income)
- Somewhat Dissatisfied, Restless and Annoyed
- We just moved (back) to Philadelphia last summer and we’re probably here to stay
Places I’ve Lived:
- Arlington, VA
- Leesburg, VA
- St Davids, PA
- Norristown, PA
- Conshohocken, PA
- Pasadena, CA (two apartments)
- Grafton, MA (two apartments)
- Philadelphia, PA
Places/Things I’ve studied:
- Eastern University (Psychology, Sociology, Theology)
- Fuller Theological Seminary (Biblical Studies/Theology)
Work Experience:
- Human Resources (Large & Small Businesses)
- Financial Management (Small & Medium Businesses and two Universities)
- IT Project Coordination (for K-12 Consultation)
- Registrar Office Grade Recorder (at Fuller Theo Sem)
- Today… I’m the Executive Assistant for Finance and Operations at an area University.
Denominations I’ve Participated In:
- United Methodist
- Charismatic Bible Church (non-denom)
- Assembly of God
- Brethren In Christ
- Mennonite (Californian Flavour)
- New England Baptist
- and now I’m back to that Philadelphian Brethren community.
- I like most Catholic and Episcopalian Theology, but I’ve decided that the Anapabtists get my vote.
Odd Factoids:
- I’ve rented apartments for 12years, but have always wanted a garden. This year I’m renting an apartment with a yard from a landlord that doesn’t mind if I play in the dirt. FINALLY.
- My dad was once a cop, my mom was once a CIA agent, my brother is an FBI agent and my sister teaches public school music. But, I’m a green party pacifist and the breadwinner for my family.
- I was recently baptized in the Wissahickon River… which is apparently where the earliest documented American Anabaptist Baptisms took place. (I didn’t find this out until AFTER I got dunked, but iz vry kewl.)
- In order to remain sane, I garden, knit, do crosswords &/or soduko, quilt, sing & play mandolin.
- We have two cats, named Zippy (Zipporah the Wonder Cat) and Mocha (the most laid-back cuddle kitten on the planet).
- My sons are the most incredible, intelligent, handsome and wonderful children on the planet. (Sorry folks. Your kids are inferior to my kids.)
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ABOUT MrsQ <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:
MrsQ is dead.
Sort of.
Once upon the time, I took upon myself the mantle of MrsQohelet. I like MrsQ, but a few things transpired that caused me to let her go. Firstly, I realized that internet anonymity is not healthy. Protecting personal information is one thing, but hiding behind some kind of warped virtual super-hero-internet-persona isn’t. Secondly, My mrsqohelet email was confusing for folks, as my last name isn’t Qohelet, and at a glance people wondered why I’d be Mrs Go Hel Et… (yes, a Brazilian Friend asked. Can’t blame her.) Thirdly, I’ve moved to yet another city, and whenever I move I tend to close out the old email persona and birth a new. Don’t ask me why, as I really don’t know.
But most importantly, I got tired of identifying myself as my husband’s wife, the tag-along to his old persona (which he has since dropped), and the matriarch of the ancient. It’s too limiting. It isn’t what I am now and doesn’t represent what I’m doing now.
I still like “MrsQ” and still use her login at various sites. But I am no longer The Great and All-Powerful MrsQohelet…. I am now my own self: Sarah.
