More from community psych...

Excerpts of my response paper to this week's readings on "Community" in my community psychology course...


What I sensed in all of these writings is a profound absence of understanding of how community among Christians may or should be different than community in a general context. Yes, I need to understand community theory, what works, what does not, and to utilize such knowledge in my personal and professional life to create places of living and learning that are safe and accepting. The Church (the entire body of believers) and the church (local, congregational) have much to learn from the body of research as presented in the text and by the other writers. The articles even highlight one amazing community of faith, L’Arche, which has done community well, in my opinion. However, I feel a loss that Christ followers do not seem to be analyzing the meaning of Christ’s claim, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matthew 18:20).” What implications does the fact that my God is not passive, but active and involved, have in my community?

On another note, I think that Christians in the field of psychology must embrace that a self-sacrificial model seems most in keeping with Christian theology and Biblical precedence. Although our hope for wellness for the least of these is noble, if we conceptualize healthy communities as only those that are centrist and well balanced, we are missing a large part of the Christian narrative, suffering. It is good to work to bring others out of suffering, but there also appears to be a calling to subject ourselves to it so that we may better grow and become closer to God. It is a privilege of those with power (not authority) to avoid suffering for a life of comfort, and if all we have to offer those in suffering is comfort and not communion, then we have missed the message as believers.

I am reminded of the Pargament predictors for psychological well-being: sense of efficacy, sense of meaning and purpose, and sense of social support. It seems that all of these could be the result of healthy community. However, if we looked at each of these factors, we may find that the poor, the sick, the mentally retarded, and so on are doing on the whole much better than the affluent of our nation and world. I experienced much deeper connection in my small, undereducated, mixed class community of origin that I have seen in the suburbs. I feel that if Christians could humble ourselves to integrate into these communities by relinquishing our power and privilege, then we could make greater strides toward health than by trying to boost others to our level of consumption and achievement.

Considering that I feel called to return to rural East Tennessee to practice psychology, I must consider what being in community means for me. My goal is not to turn these rural communities into affluent enclaves. Rather, strengthening the already positive qualities that exist in these communities essential. Self sacrifice, meaningful work, and giving of self are evident in the daily lives of many in these communities already. I must learn to give of myself in a way that does not feed my narcissism and power, but that gleans just as much from those I serve as I have to offer.

I'm such a slacker..

Okay, so my life has been CAR-AZY busy lately. It wasn't this busy when I had three jobs, an internship, and was getting my Master's degree. (Why did I do that? That's a sign of illness, really.it.is.) But, because of said busyness, I am sitting at home on my lazy hoohah while Mr. GoingApe is at church. I felt guilty for a moment, avoiding the two most important people in my life: Kevin and God. But, that moment passed and I'm thoroughly enjoying being in my pajamas at noon with morning breath, body odor, and a messy apartment.

I even read a trashy novel. I really hate what Jennifer Apodaca's horribly popular books have to say about life, women, men, and oh just about everything else. But I READ THEM ANYWAY! Something inside of me really wants to be a blonde bombshell with silicone (or are they saline?) boobs that only thinks about sex and solving really poorly written murder mysteries. (Every woman reading this just cringed and now hates me and every man just smiled, not so secretly) I don't know if society put it there, or maybe the gender biased Southern upbringing I had caused it. But...I DON'T CARE. So, I will continue to (not so secretly, I guess) read her trashy poorly written novels. But I will only buy them secondhand or check them out from the library...I will not buy them new and support this whore writer propogating misideals about women and men to another generation(What? I'm not that shallow!).


Okay, Off I go to shave my legs.

Some things never, ever change...

Pigpen Wishy-Washy: 65%, Mental: 78%, Physical: 65%

Perhaps the most aptly named character, Pigpen is shrouded in a permanent cloud of dust and dirt. It's not his fault, he just attracts the stuff and ends up contaminating everyone nearby. There's plenty of guilty pleasure in getting yourself covered in mud, though.

Link: The Peanuts Character Test written by timberlineridge on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Kitty Cats

Ninjanun got me thinking about my kitties. Here they are, in all their expensive glory.

Pippin lays claim to yet another box. "I am king of my castle," he roars!

Pippin asleep on my feet. His sweet looks are deceptive.

Oogie strikes a pose.

Evidently, it's her only pose.

Sigh...

Right now, in this moment, I desperately want to quit graduate school. I hear this is the reaction of nearly every student that graduates from the Master's program and comes into the Psy.D. program who is intent completing the degree in 4 years rather than the customary 5 years. Oh, I know I won't. I know it would take several more moments of desperation for me to give up. But today, on less than 5 hours of sleep and a weekend full of non-fun things to do, I want to go back to bed and say "Fuck You" to everyone.

But, instead, I'll go brush my teeth and put on some semblance of clothing. I'll go to my fucking research meeting, and then my group for ethics will come to our apartment, then I'll make a phone call for my grad admissions job to some grad school hopeful. Then I'll finish this damn psych eval for a client. Then I'll grade midterms and reaction papers. Then I'll go to bed, wake up Saturday, have brunch with friends, and finish the above tasks and do more homework. Then I'll go to bed, wake up, go to church, and come home and finish whatever isn't done. And probably waste time being a whiny baby on this blog.

Yesterday I was in financial aid, and the nice administrative assistant said, "You're right, you shouldn't have a hold on your account for an exit interview. It says here your expected graduation date is two thousand and TEN!" I about passed out. 2010...2010...That seems SO far away....