The Countdown

San Francisco, see you in 2 days.

Co Co is Krispy?

The other day, I was watching Conan when a Rice Krispy commercial popped up and got me thinking how similar "Snap" and O'Brien look-the red, exaggerated combover,the clownsize feet... An impeccable match, right?

S-H-I-V-A-S-H-A-N-K-A-R.

so andrew and i have this tradition... it's called SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE! and it happened... TODAY. it has to be the most amusing, awkward, hilarious t.v. moment of every year. i mean seriously, where else can you watch hundreds of socially inept, lanky, genius middle schoolers compete for a trophy that will shoo them into Harvard?! this year's winner was KAVYA SHIVASHANKAR. congrats! you should start receiving offers from colleges as of monday.

It's the Africa in Me.

Never have I wanted to be somewhere so desperately.

Africa my Africa,

I dream of you.

Trust Fall.

Change has always invigorated me. Training wheels to two-wheelers. Passenger to driver. Suburbia to city. Broken to redeemed. I am who I am because of the change God has placed in my life. Without last summer, I would not be impregnated with a passion for politics. If I had not lobbied against child soldiery in northern Uganda, I would never have known Christ’s calling on my life. Devoid of Christian High School, I would not have the beautiful friends and mentors I have today. If change has been such a positive element in my life, why has it become my biggest fear?

For the past year, all I have wanted to do is move out, head off to college, and experience change. Moody Bible Institute. New friends. Chicago. A completely alternative lifestyle. But now, as I prepare to spend the entire summer in California and with less than 100 days left until I move to Chicago, all I want to do is cling to today. I don’t want to leave my family, high school, church, or friends. Life is so comfortable. I want things to stay the same, unchanged.

I’ve always thought it important to embrace faith- to allow God to write my life story and mold me into me. But recently, I haven’t trusted God the way I should. I’VE been making the calls in my life. I haven’t been surrendering. I haven’t let Him be everything. So Jesus, as hard as this is for me, I give you my future. I completely trust that You are going to make something out of my life and use me to further your Kingdom. I believe you’ll use San Francisco and Chicago to grow me. I know Your unrelenting love is going to see me through. It always has…

So go ahead. CHANGE ME!

The chaiwalah has done it again!

Slumdog Millionaire

the. best. soundtrack. ever.

it is written.

Perspectives

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

-Howard Thurman

go life.

Where the WILD THINGS are!

Nothing excites me quite like this movie!

Today was Beautiful.

Today was beautiful.

I woke up with the sun,
beams of light flooding from the skylights.
Mocha Frappes at Cappuccino’s with beautiful friends.
Ran in the Rain.

Started a new John Piper book.
Lunch with dear friends from California;
no one understands my passion for ministry like these two…
Talked about love.
Talked about peace.

Feasted on frog legs for the first time.
Learned about the Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Reimagined the world.

Good Friday Service. Thank you, Jesus!

Sang with Andrew Bird, RadioHead, and Death Cab.

Made a new friend.

Reminisced with old friends.

Italian food with beloved friends.

Jessica's surpise 18th birthday party.

Couldn't stop smiling all day long.

I Heard You're Scheming New Pyramids...

"Make a plan to love me...sometime soon."

-Bright Eyes

Clarity is all I Crave

If only there was a blueprint to follow...

If only my future was transparent...

No Love Lost

Love wins.

Chicago or Bust!

5 months til move in!

A Note to Future Self

Dear Meredith,

It is important that you recognize your innate quickness to run. Whenever you sense things moving towards a stand still, you head off in an entirely new direction. You'll do anything to keep moving.

Your soul desires motion. Your spirit craves action. And not just any action, meaningful action. This will always serve you well as you seek to create, advocate, and lead. But you must be cautious. You grow bored far too quickly. Often, you look toward the next hill before you finish crossing the present one. You have a history of sprinting from one thing to the next. Sometimes, God calls us to stay put for a while, however. Metamorphosis takes place in the context of relationships, and relationships take time.

I know the future excites you. You want to leave this place and start a life of your own. But don’t forget the past or who you have become because of it.

Don’t run,

Meredith

Ready to Throw in the Towel

i suffer from...

S. E. N. I. O. R. I. T. I. S.

College, SAVE ME!

And one day, they will know the reason for the hope that we have.

hunger. war. disease. lust. the six year old sex slave in mumbai. loneliness. murder. deceit. the power hungry dictator. divorce. hate. cheating. jealousy. insecurity. vain conceit. the woman dying of aids. slander. jihad. the lawyer who lies to get ahead. drug abuse. false idols. famine. the widow in the house next door. stds. heartache. tolerance. poverty. homosexuality. abortion. free sex. child soldiery. genocide. the orphan. depression. the single mom struggling to pay rent. alcoholism. suicide. violence. porn. homelessness. prostitution. racism. infant mortality. the man with no hope, no sense of purpose.

this world is hurting.
this world is confused.
this world is failing them.
this world needs
the hope, the joy, the love, the peace solely found in
Jesus.

The World is Full of Beautiful People

People, total strangers, make me smile.

:)

So this one time, I'll be like Bradley Hathaway...

He's so swanky
With his s.w.a.n.k.y. cars and his swanky Gucci cuff links...
He hangs out in all the s w a n k y restaurants with the swanky politicians and t.v. personalities.
He goes to a swanky law school and comes from a swanky family.
He is so SwAnKy.
At night, he parades through the streets of Paris, sipping on Bellavista Franciacorta champagne and dreaming of his artsy girlfriend.
When people ask him who he is, he says:
I am a Harvard student.
An ambassador's son.
I have fine things.
But most importantly,
I am SWANKY.

She's so artsy
In her artsy clothes (from an a r t s y thrift store).
In her back pocket, she carries an artsy book
where she writes artsy poems and draws artsy pictures for her swanky boyfriend.
She is so a.r.t.s.y.
The art seems to flow from her mouth when she speaks.
She talks of artsy people, such as Georg Baselitz and Robert Hass.
She goes to all the artsyyy coffee shops in Manhattan to listen to all the indie bands and drink all the artsy drinks
none of them
M
O
C
H
A
frappuccinos.
When people ask her who she is, she says:
I am a vegan.
A poet.
Photographer.
Music lover.
But most importantly,
I am ARTSY.

They are lovely.
He is European. She is American.
He speaks four languages. She speaks Brooklynese.
He has blonde hair and blue eyes. She, brown hair with green eyes.
He likes the operas. She likes indie rock concerts.
He's clean cut. She's trashy.
When people ask them who they are, they say:
We are driven.
We are different.
We are distant.
But most importantly,
we are LOVE.

January, You Were Good to Me.

5 Reasons I had love for January

1. I discovered Stars! No band can stand beside them. They are U.N.T.O.U.C.H.A.B.L.E.
2. I finished Redeeming Love, the read of a lifetime.
3. She gave me a double snow day! (Hooray for Swiss Miss and snow angels!)
4. My dance team was smokin at competition. It was ONLY the dance of our lives!
5. I GOT INTO MOODY!

Pray for Their People

After one and a half years of relative calm during the negotiations, LRA forces have now resumed systematic attacks, causing panic throughout the region. Since September, the LRA has abducted close to 500 children and brutally massacred over 1000 people in the DRC and South Sudan. News of new attacks and abductions is now reaching us almost daily.In December, the Ugandan government – with the backing of the US government and direct support from the Congolese and South Sudanese – responded with a surprise offensive on the LRA’s bases in the Congo. Though the attack was reportedly aimed at capturing Kony and delivering a “final blow” to the LRA, it indiscriminately endangered abducted women and children and has failed to meet its objectives. Moreover, it sent LRA forces on a new rampage of violent attacks throughout the region. Though the military operation continues, the chances of it successfully capturing Kony are slim. Ugandan forces are chasing small bands of LRA fighters and abductees, without the capacity to effectively locate and apprehend top LRA leaders. In the meantime, children in LRA captivity and civilian communities in the area are paying the price.

Please pray for the children of Northern Uganda. Their lives are a living hell right now. Pray for their protection. Pray for their salvation. Pray for peace.

So Surreal

I step outside. A white layer of snow blankets the ground beneath my feet, sending chills up my spine. As I stand there, my breath meeting the crisp air, I find God's promise of sanctification ever so much more meaningful. He is sanctifying me today. RIGHT NOW! Cleansing me. Making me white as snow.

Have mercy on me, O God,according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart,O God, you will not despise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 51

The Light of Son

"Christianity is a lot like the sun, not that I just see it, but by it I can see everything else."

C.S. Lewis

Je změnit.

"We must become the change we want to see."

Gandhi

Dear Mr. President

Dear President Obama,

I'd like to extend a heartfelt "Congratulations" to your entire family. What an honor and a privilege it is to serve the American people as the 44th President! Mr. President, I promise to consistently pray for you. I respect you and I sincerely wish you the best of luck in the upcoming months. May God grant you extraordinary wisdom as you lead this country and may He put a hand of protection upon you.

Your Constituent,

Meredith Frank

“Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."

1 Timothy 2:2

And you will see the world when you look in my eyes.

someday...

i will backpack south america.

yes,yes.

s.o.m.e.d.a.y.

Peace out, '08.

9 LEGIT things (NOT resolutions) to do in '09

1. MIKA. music. video. enough said.

2. Eat popcorn with chopsticks.

3. Get into Moody.

4. Order dork? NAH!
5. Watch more "Arrested Development".

6. Pierce my nose.

7. Apply for "The Amazing Race" with Flapjack.

8. Pick up the guitar.

9. Read more Piper.

Anxious

...................

It's eating me alive. I'm being strangled by the straight jacket that is apprehension. I've waited nearly 6 weeks now. What's another 12 days?

Countdown to College (in Chi-Town?)

One Semester, 78 Days,546 hours, 32,760 minutes until GRADUATION!

None But You

Whom have I in heaven, but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26 (RSV)