What would you do with free money? Go to Arbys.

There are some things I learned living in Los Angeles. One: Never fall asleep on the beach on your side for four hours, your tan will be henious. Two: Avoid the 405 freeway like you would avoid Sadaam Hussein's sons in a dark alley. Three: Always use an alias. Four: Never leave your purse or bag in your car, you will be sorry.


Well, it's been a year and a half since I have lived in L.A. and essentially I have succesfully been able to implement three out of the four lessons. However, last week, while I worked out at my gym, I opted to deviate from my normal routine and quickly stuffed my purse underneath the seat as opposed to putting it in the trunk of my car. Bad Decision. Terrible in fact. After my work out (which was a pathetic one to make matters even worse) I came out to my car to see glass shattered and of course, my purse, with all my belongings -- wallet, id, credit cards, debit card, business cards, gift cards, LIP GLOSS -- all gone with the wind.



Now, somewhere in this city, someone is driving around with everything that identifies myself as me and the ability to purchase until their hearts desire thanks to my large credit card limits. And, to my brother's utter dismay, they now know where I live and work and obviously where I work out.



So, immediately I called my debit card and had them shut it off right away. I asked them if the card had been used in the last hour or so and the woman on the other end said "yes, they just spent $122.97 at Arbys. "

Ok, let's pause here for a moment.

Arbys? Really? As the thief, here you are on your little joy ride. You have a purse with four credit cards, amazing lip gloss, and gift cards up the wazoo, and what do you do? You opt for the best thing you can think of? And that's Arbys? You broke someone's car window out for a roast beef sandwich ... at ... Arbys?

This little episode has given creed to the fact that so many people out there have such a small conscience that doing something such as vandalizing, stealing, and sending another person's life off course is totally warranted by the fact that they simple wanted some greasy food. It's scary that people are out there like that. What's even scarier is this is such a "minor" offense these days. For example, my rooommate was recently hit by a drunk driver and could have easily have been killed. All because some guy and his girlfriend had several cocktails and they could not be bothered to call a cab. Again, its frightening that so many people are out there with no conscience whatsoever.

Anyhow, it's amazing how paranoid I am now about losing my purse. Even though I still have nothing in it besides my passport and my debit card (still have not replaced my favorite lip gloss), I am constantly guarding it and hiding it in the deepest corners of my trunk should I ever have to leave it in the car. I guess if anything, it's another lesson learned! However, I'm still annoyed.

Yesterday, as I was standing in line at the DMV for an hour and a half getting my new license, I just kept thinking to myself, those jokers better have at least super-sized their dang roast beef combo. I mean, Arbys? I think I might have felt better if they would have gone to Wendys. At least they have Frostys there.

Not mine.

The new year has brought along not only a new number to try to remember to write on documents, but also fresh new struggles, lessons, and revelations.

Only 20 days into 2008, and already so many revolutionary changes have taken place in my life and the lives of those around me. Time seems to pass without me knowing it, and reflecting back to where I was a year ago feels like I am trying to reflect on a entirely different life. Seriously, who was that girl back in 2007? And why did her hair look like that?

But in all seriousness, with so much going on -- moving, new friends, family moving to town, etc. -- processing change requires inward reflection and time and unfortunately, as one can see by the lack of writing within the last couple months , I have let life here on earth spin me into a frenzy of busyness. This tends to happen when I'm not careful, and it is almost scary how easy I get caught up in "life" causing me to fail to live "LIFE," the real life that has an eternal shelf life.

Back during my time at the Institute, one of the main things that was engrained in my head was the fact that all things are made through Him, by Him, and for Him. So, our lives, our possessions, our jobs, everything should reflect this fact. However, in our consumer-driven society that we are saturated in, this principle largely falls on deaf ears. Yesterday at church, our pastor discussed the fact that we tend to worship the given as opposed to the giver, lending to lives that are lived entirely out of selfish-ambition under the guise of being "devoted followers" of the cross.

It really is frightening to think about how little I actually live out the idea that everything I have and will ever have, is never mine to begin with. This life, this physical body, this mind, this soul, does not belong to me. Wielding selfish control of anything is a direct slap in the face to the Divine Giver and the antithesis of His gracious personality.