hotokegi's Xanga

this is not a fairy tale

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:56:52 GMT

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/10/this-is-not-fairy-tale.html

would you correct them?

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:30:19 GMT

Lately, work has been extremely busy. Working in excess of 80 hrs/wk. While the doubling of my paycheck is nice (though it's not time and a half), I'm absolutley exhausted. It's beyond physical exhaustion, to the point of mental exhaustion, and making stupid mistakes. My brain is just not functioning sometimes.

Case in point ...

Yesterday at church, I did the usual social butterfly thing that is necessary for the sake of building community. Saw one person that I didn't know well, but I was convinced that I knew who she was. I not only called her by name, but I introduced someone else to her. Background and all. There was nothing about the interaction to make me thing I was mistaken.

Later last night, it suddenly dawned on me that I mistook her for someone else. That wasn't who I thought it was. I did know her and I know who I mistook her for. But obviously not well enough to prevent that mistake.

One of my more embarassing moments. Not cuz I merely called her the wrong name, but because I kept going with it. Introduced her to someone else. Gave (the wrong) background info.

Needless to say, once I realized the blatant mistaken identity I asked on of my roommates for her phone number, left a message apologizing for that mistake. Fortunately no one was hurt (I think), but it was extremely embarassing.

However, as I was dealing with my embarassment, a question came up ...

Why didn't she correct me? It would have been much less embarassing if she had stopped me and corrected me. While the shame is on me for making the mistake, she could have stopped the bleeding by correcting me.

So, balancing with my embarassment is my wondering, why didn't she correct me? Would you correct someone in this situation?

good intentions

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:40:57 GMT

So, I'm in a role on my project where the hours are long, and it's been really hard on me. My roommates and friends observe my hours and encourage me to just go to bed or just take a break or stop working so hard.

While I understand and respect their intentions, and while I never want to be in this position again, it doesn't show an understanding of the need to fulfill commitments we've made.

But it also got me thinking, there are many times in life where we say something that is very well-intentioned, but don't communicate sympathy or empathy.

Suck it up.

Just pray about it.

I'll pray for you.

something doesn't sound right

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 23:45:30 GMT

Statements that reveal a problem ...

(at Charminar, outside a Muslim mosque)
me: "Where is that music coming from?"
friend: "It's prayers"
me: "Oh, it's the time of day for them to pray now?"
friend: "Yeah. They pray by yelling into a microphone."

(at Hindu temple)
me: "So, your gods Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahman, do you all believe they were real historical figures, or something like spirits."
friend: "Well, the stories handed down from long, long ago, umm, hmm, actually, how do you view Jesus? It's pretty much the same thing."
me: "I don't think it's exactly the same thing, but I understand what you're saying."

(subject line of spam email)
"Christian? Single? We have the solution"
really? there's a solution? what's the problem?

how's the weather on your high horse?

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:55:29 GMT

So, lately, I've been making a few trips to Orlando for work, in light of who my client is. One of the things I do not enjoy about the trip is the volume of kids running up and down the aisle. Don't get me wrong, I love kids. But in a crowded place where there's no options for where to go and take a nap or do work? But kids will be kids. In fact, I love how one of my favorite executives in my firm called it ... flights to Orlando are flying school buses.

But what bothers me more than a full flight being half kids is the other half being businessmen. For some reason, businessmen think that because they fly every week, then they're entitled to everyone on the plane catering to their needs. Latest example, a guy gets on the plane 15 minutes before departure and is fussing because the overhead space over row 1 is taken and he either has to put his bag in the back, or check it. This is a really big issue for him. Somehow waiting 5 more minutes to get his bag in Chicago is going to kill him. I'm sorry sir, these families on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World should have realized you'd be coming late and they should have put their bags in the back to make room for you.

Then I get to Chicago. Get in line for a cab. It's a really long line, but it's a peak travel time for the week, and the line is moving fast. Eventually I get to the front of the line. Then some lady comes running up and mouthing off at the attendants of the taxi stand. "I travel all over the world! And when I get to my own %$!$#@ home city, I have to wait 25 minutes for a cab! I travel all over the world!" Really? You travel all over the world? Wow, I bet you're the only one in line like that. My trip to India tomorrow must be a mistake. I'm sure it's Indiana. But if it is India, then wow, I'm entitled to never wait in line again after I get back. Cool.

All that to say, why are we (yes, first person plural) like that? Why do we think that we are the most important person in the world? Why don't we realize how inconsiderate and disrespectful that can be to others?

It's funny how, when talking about homeless ministry with people, we tend to be hesitant to give too much to the homeless out of fear of perpetuating a sense of entitlement. Yet, it seems like we ourselves know all too well this sense of entitlement.

star wars spoof

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 15:50:50 GMT

for the star wars fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQqFKkQbKlA

truth hurts, truth frees

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:02:06 GMT

Are we failing those we love when we avoid telling them the truth?

one example: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/05/obese.kids.ap/index.html?section=cnn_health

You could certainly generalize that question and apply it to many other situations.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:11:57 GMT

Happy World Refugee Day

don't touch them

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:55:07 GMT

fine, mercy now, I'll make a new post ...

so, I was having breakfast yesterday with a few guys who live on the streets. I've met both of them before, and was introduced by their real names. but I learned their street names yesterday. Cavemen and Mummy. anyway, so I'm chatting with them. they're chatting up a storm. Mummy is applying for a job as a dishwasher for $7.50/hr. Caveman really needs some socks. They're loving having someone there who's not looking down on them, listens to them, treats them like real people (in their words). And it's also neat what I'm learning about them, too.

However, they're taking a lot of my time. I would like to go to Sunday school, the service, etc. I keep looking over to the person that told me about the homeless ministry, but she keeps walking by. Eventually, I grab her, and mention that it would be helpful to have someone else there to chat with them. "Oh, you're not supposed to sit down and chat with them. You're only supposed to get them some food and be done with it."

That was one of the more discouraging things I heard yesterday. if no one sits down and chats with them, who would tell them that they're real people? how would I know to encourage Mummy in his job search? how would I know to get Caveman some socks?

can you please pass the gravy?

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:09:55 GMT

To follow up on a previous post ...

The homeless share the same aggrevation over all the restaurants that throw away food. I was having breakfast with a homeless man this morning and as he phrased it, "They'd rather line a landfill with it than give un-sellable food to the homeless."

Practical things we can do ...

Though people are naturally resistant to helping someone who hasn't showered in 3 months and has half their teeth left, we can step in and be the middle man. For example, one fellow in our church works at a Starbucks in a welthy neighborhood nearby. Starbucks throws away their pastries and sandwiches at the end of the day because they're not fresh anymore the next day. So, he collects them and brings them to the church for the homeless that stop by.

Anyway, I was just encouraged to hear that man's faithfulness.