|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Uncle DavidMy sister had a baby on Thursday. William Henry Luke. 7lbs 10oz. Perfect in every way.
Funny how babies change things. This most basic human endeavor - to procreate - somehow leaves us never the same. You bring a life into this world. A soul. To borrow from an infant dedication, "there will never again be a time when this child does not exist." That's powerful. That's a huge responsibility. This child will live forever, and you have the charge to guide them towards God. And they are completely helpless. They come into life with literally nothing. No possessions, no relationships, no agendas, no knowledge, no abilities, no cares, no worries. Somehow along the way they will get wrapped up in life, and find their own way. Eventually they will have children of their own, which is the best you can hope for out of life I think. And one day you die, and they live on. And their children have children, and we keep going. But for now, they need you, and you readjust your life to fit them.
Thinking like that seems to put it in perspective. All this crap we get tied up in. These things we try our best to do and protect and maintain and achieve. Somehow, an infant just wrenches you back to the core of life. Someone needs you ultimately. Totally. In every way. It's hard to think of anything being wrong with the world when you are holding a sleeping newborn.
Maybe that's what the world needs. More infants. | | |
| Sunday nights make me pensive.
I suppose it has something to do with it being Sunday and the natural emotional spiritual high, a second day removed from the everyday, the threshold of starting a new week, reflecting on the past week. It usually ends in me thinking about the big picture, and wishing for something i don't have.
I've been working a lot recently. Very non-stop. It should all slow down in about two weeks, but I'm pretty worn out. I get a little tired of people asking me why i work so much, telling me to go home, asking if i got any rest. I know they mean well, but I'd hope they know me well enough to realize I only push hard to get done what has to, not because I am an over-achiever. That's hard to explain though.
A friend of mine from high school is getting married this month. We've grown apart some I guess, since he didn't even tell me he got engaged until about 4 months after it happened. I hate that. I hate that geography and time separate good friends.
Sometimes I can pull myself out of the muck of life and take a look around, and i don't seem to like what i see. there are some good patches, but mostly it's just messy. lots of selfishness, egos, lying, miscommunication, poor choices, bad judgement, naivety, conceitedness, immaturity, wasted opportunity. i'm the chief of sinners, but i want to be the one at the back of the pack, that everyone has to take sympathy on and help learn that there's a better way to do things, that gets the life talks all the time because i just don't get it. that is cynical and constantly surrounded by realists. instead, it's the opposite. everyone needs the life talks, and sometimes i find i'm giving them. we need help.
maybe i just need a change of scenery. matt says familiarity breeds contempt. perhaps it's true. perhaps nampa is where i should go.
do they have sweet tea in idaho? | | |
| Happy New Year2008 doesn't seem like it will be too exciting.
Hmm. Thats an odd way to kick it off. But 2008 doesn't hold a lot of unknowns.
2007 was very full. PR, M7, B3 Dedication, masters, 2 shows, TNT, baccalaureate, new york city, camps, 26, new office, new job, NYC, wedding videos, masters, funeral, Dallas, church, a musical, homecoming, masters, new townhouse, thanksgiving, show at the acuff, christmas.
This year, same job, same office, same townhouse. less trips. more work. new marketing plan. theatre. church. finish the masters. become an uncle. try harder. be a better person. a better friend. a better Christian. just live better.
ok so the uncle thing is kinda exciting. :) but otherwise, just seems to be about the same. i like variety, and i guess i just don't see much in what's ahead.
ah but odds are it will be a great year. lots of stuff i can't even see coming. i feel good about this year, in spite of my reservations. like something big is coming. i dunno.
2008. welcome. happy new year.
 | | |
| I hate when things don't work like they should.
Yes I mean the little things, like when a computer won't work, or the car breaks. But what I really mean is the big things in life. When systems or organizations are broken. When potential is just wasted away by spending energy on the petty, trivial, or just plain asinine. For example:
- A teacher with a great space at her fingertips, kids who have potential, and yet is running a program into the ground.
- A school that moves painfully slow into the future, kicking and screaming, dwelling on the petty and insignificant, micromanaging and overworking. Putting too much effort into some things, while ignoring the present need and what really matters.
- A class that is taught poorly but doesn't need to be. Unfair practices. Lack of examples. Nothing hands-on.
- Immaturity that leads to misunderstanding, then hurt, then anger. A lack of acceptance for the way things are.
- A leader who has a very low emotional intelligence, and a system that can't recognize that.
- A church that doesn't embrace opportunities, that loses members in the shuffle, that is letting facility and budget dictate programming.
- Blindy enforced rules and policies, without consideration of the larger picture, or the calling.
- Financial systems that don't benefit the customer, that could care less about the very ones who keep them in business.
- The medical industry that hasn't figured out marketing, and surely won't, because there is no serious competiton.
It boggles the mind that places we could go, if only we'd step out of the way.
| | |
| Well, I made it. It's almost the end of July, and I'm still alive. A lot has happened this year. It's one of those seems-like-it-went-by-fast-but-not-really things. I did one play, one musical, M7, B3 Dedication, TNT, Baccalaureate, New York City, birthday, summer orientation, NYC, and KY camp, all while taking masters classes, switching departments and offices, and trying to buy a new house. I'm tired.
My great aunt died today. I wouldn't say we were close, but I knew her, and had spent time with her, so I'll miss her. Death is always a complex, difficult thing. It feels unnatural I guess. There's been a lot of death lately it seems. A friend of my brother-in-law. Son of a co-worker. I guess it comes in waves.
I think my church has more problems than I realize, or would admit. I enjoy it, but there seem to be growing fundamental issues that aren't being handled. That makes me sad. If we are the body...
Familiarity breeds contempt. Well played MT.
I've changed my mind about St. Louis. I think I might spend more time there some day.
So what's left? President's dinner, MHR party, new logo, homecoming, homecoming and homecoming, plenty of design work, PR groups, fall musical, moving to a new place, and the birth of Christ, among other things.
Here's to 2007, part II...
| | |
|
