There Are Instances in Life in Which You Must Reassess...

"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand it, we must act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God."

~Soren Kierkegaard

Boom.

I have been struggling lately with trying to "find my purpose" and trying to "discern the will of God" so as to direct my future. I'm kind of dumb, just so you know. The purpose? It's right there in that book. The will? It's also right there. There's nothing to translate (figuratively, of course, it's been translated already) in order to merge it into my life. I think it's a matter of translating my life into it.

~Luke 9:23-24

I really complicate things too much.

And That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles

I've never been on television before, and I doubt I ever will be again. Hopefully somebody benefited from my presence in their home; I didn't get to see it myself.

I did something very...adolescent of me today. On the drive back from C-Town Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" happened to come on. I was driving across a bridge, my windows down, and my stereos at full volume, listening to the busy rhythm guitar and rather repetitive refrain. It was sick (did I use that properly?). I wonder how many people have done that very same thing, and even more so how many have done it in an F-150. I bet a countless number of people have (because I assume if you drive an F-150 then you enjoy a bit of Aerosmith). I think this is a memory I won't soon forget.

I prayed again with HB today. I've really missed doing that over the summer, and I relish those moments, even if they are experienced on the telephone now. There's something--right about worship and prayer, especially with more than one person, and especially with someone so dear to your heart. After all, "where two or more are gathered..."

You know what, have a good day please.

I've Driven Enough Miles Today to Make It to the Ocean

Sometimes I wonder if I don't think enough when I drive. I just drive and drive and I watch nothing as the world screams by me at unusual speeds (because, who went seventy miles an hour seventy years ago?). It's therapeutic though.

But then again, I feel like I think too much during those times. Growing up (of course, I'm still doing that) I've had plenty of driving time, splitting my life between two families, and being devoted to my high school band and whatnot. I think I think more than people normally would because of this; but maybe I've grown a tolerance to driving...

I need to chew my food slower. Taste it. I need to play the piano deeper. Feel it. I need to ride the road lower. Experience it.

Because I think that's something that we too often fail to do with our lives, viz. experience them.


You know, I've never been to a costume party before. But then again, I've been to very few parties at all. But I'm excited. I'm going to be Rick Blaine. But don't worry because I won't bring up Paris. That's poor salesmanship.

Call Me A Conspiricist

Sure, I just made up a new word.

Has anyone noticed the power word processors and internet browsers have to change the spelling of words in the English language? I type something in, a little red linne (like the one underneath that word) appears, and I automatically assume it's misspelled. So I change it to the suggestion it prescribes (considering it is the word I intended).

Maybe someday the tech gurus decide line should be spelled linne, and then we have the older generation speaking vociferously against them, but the younger generation cares little, or they're feeling progressive (sound familiar?), and choose to go along with it.

Oops. I think I might have just slipped something out there...

A Point of Repose

So the the school-day was a bit more difficult today; we have our good days and bad days. Today happened to be one of the latter, especially at the end of the day. But one of the kids said something that really just back-handed me. In that totally awesome way.

I was walking back to the classroom after having chased some kids down to give them some forms I had forgotten to send home with them, when I hear "Mr. Chris!" called from across the street. I look and see one of my students and wave. "Have a good day!" I call back.

"You too, Mr. Chris!"

Appreciating her greeting, I turned to continue back to my classroom. Then I heard another call a couple of seconds later.

"Mr. Chris!"

"Yes?"

"I'll pray for you tonight!"

Chills went up my spine.

"I pray for all of you every night. Thank you!"

I turned back to my classroom with a new energy welling up inside of me. God looks out for us from the most inconceivable angles, and I cannot express how much that little statement meant to me. After all, it's good to know somebody is praying for you because, in reality, we all need it.

Maybe Someday I'll Write Something More Elaborate

Why sit on a train without air conditioning when the next car has it?

Why walk through the pouring rain without an umbrella?

Why take a breath and try again?

Why pursue someone with the knowledge of its unpredictability?

Why put my faith in something the world calls foolish?

Because too much comfort, my good sir (or madam), is deleterious. And because love, my good madam (or sir), is worthwhile.

Experience. Feel. Think.

Grow.

And All the While Eroica is Playing into My Ears

older man enters train, visibly hurting

younger man enters behind carrying older man's bike; his suit and well-groomed demeanor says he has nothing to do with the older man's bike ride

younger man entertains conversation with older man despite younger man's other agenda(s) (his phone remains in hand during the ride)

younger man shares his phone number

train stops

older man gets (limps) off and younger man struggles to free the bike

woman jumps up to hold the "Push to Open Door" button

train remains still

younger man explicitly relaxes and finishes helping the older man

pleasantries explained

younger man reenters the train holding a cut on his hand

another woman offers band-aid for the wound

train moves forward

every face in the car holds a smile

and suddenly my wet socks didn't bother me anymore