The wind outside is blowing, but in a special way. It ebb’s and flows like an ocean breathing. As I sit in my chair, listening to a music playlist I designed for writing, I can’t help but stop moving my fingers and listen to the wind-dance happening right outside. If I were tired, it would lull me to sleep. I could easily be transported to a beach-side house, reading my book to the sounds of the waves breaking over the sand. Continue reading “Even in the Storm”
Father’s day. It’s a ridiculous day every time I celebrate it…because it reminds me of how I should be living each of my days. It’s the age old critique of any holiday, “Why don’t we act this way all year round?” This especially comes up during Christmas. And yet, whenever Father’s day, or Mother’s Day rolls around, I feel the same way. I ask reflect on myself and say, “Why haven’t I been appreciating him/her every day? Why hasn’t that been a priority?”
I am blessed. Russ Peterson, married my mother, Sharon, and made me, so that I could grow up in a household that didn’t conform to the ‘Father’ my father saw when he was a child. My father made a choice, to be different. To be compassionate, yet firm. Honest, and maybe a little blunt, ha. To be loving, and to make sure he said it. To make sure, he said, “I love you.” I grew up knowing that. I grew up with a deeply Christ-centered man. A man with more layers than is seen, more emotions than are always expressed, and more “Father” than he was shown. He sacrificed for me and my sisters. So much sacrifice.I love my Father, because he points up and says, “That’s my example.” And I want to someday be able to do the same thing.
Hello everyone, and greetings from New Zealand. It’s raining here quite heavily, and thought this would be a good time to finally update you on my progress here. A lot has happened since my last update, and I feel that I have failed to clue you in. This is partially due to my laptop failing on me, and partially because I have been very busy.
First on the update: I have been accepted to the Maxim Internship. For all my American friends, this is not what you may think, and I do not work for the magazine. Let me make that quite clear, ha. The Maxim Institute features a very prestigious internship in the summer months (December-Feb), and then a semeser internship (March-July). The internship is esentially a ‘think tank’ that “produces research and informed analysis of contemporary issues; develops and promotes sound public policy; and communicates research findings and policy initiatives to the decision-makers and leaders of today.” (http://www.maxim.org.nz/about_us/overview3.aspx).
Second: Now that I am in the internship, I live in the 
intern house that Maxim has provided for us. The house is on the North end of Wattle Bay, and comfortably fits me and the other 5 interns. The internship is a communal experience and also includes lectures and practical experience. I have been blessed to experience the internship due largly in part to the extremely generous donations by alumni and other donors. I am reminded everyday of the incredible opportunity I have to create change here in this country. I only hope that this internship can prepare me for working with this country’s people in a compitent and lasting way. The outside views from the intern porch also continue to remind me of God’s incredible creation and force me to take a break every once and a while, stop, and reflect. Always important I think.
About the Maxim Institute internship from Maxim Institute on Vimeo.
In the internship, I will be working with an organization named, “Te Whakaora Tangata,” which is the same organization that I have been volunteering with every other Saturday in Clendon. With them, I will be spending time with the people in that area, helping them, and providing services. In doing this, I will hopfully then be able to record their stories, and fulfill the need of someone hearing them and listening to them. By recording their stories, we can become better at what we do and thus offer more efficient services. Also, I feel it is an increbile service to listen to someone who feels invisible to the listening ears of their society. I can’t wait to get started, and in fact, I am quite eager to finally begin engaging.
Like I have stated before, I will be attending this internship until July, and then I will be looking for work in NZ as well as a flat to live in.
That will be all of the current updates about me at this point. I hope it hasn’t been too boring. Any prayers being sent my way would give me much joy. I love and miss you all and I pray that you will continue to work in making the area where you live into a much better place for everyone.
Eric Peterson
It is an empty feeling not having anyone around after you’ve gotten used to having people around. As of Saturday, both of my parents left the state. My dad went to Africa to help with A Light to the Nation’s Crusades, and my Mom took the opportunity to visit her sister in Colorado. As a result, I would be left to myself to care for the house and work on my studies. I was very happy to get to do this.
Saturday night came. I drove into the garage and parked the car. I entered the pitch dark home and looked for a light switch. The immediate feeling was not what I had come to predict: Elation, happiness, freedom to move around, peace. The feelings were closer to: Emptiness, hollow, sad, cold, lonely, lifeless. I took a moment to reflect on why I was feeling this way.
I came to a very simple conclusion. I never want to be alone. The feeling of loneliness was so foreign to me. I had never lived on MY OWN, without anyone, without interaction, in my entire life. In college, I had roommates. On trips I was with friends. At home, I was with family. My life has been defined by those that I love. By those that I surround myself with. My life = community. Without other people in my life, I think that I would become very sad. Some people thrive off of their “ME” time, and I enjoy a little bit myself…but…this was so much different. If I didn’t have my family or my friends with me in this life, I couldn’t do it.
Life was never meant to be lived alone.
This week will be productive to say the least. I know that I will get many things done and feel very accomplished. What I have come to realize in a whole new light is that; those accomplishments are worth nothing to me without someone else to share them with.
Leaves in the Pages 