Today is Memorial Day. That means that it is officially summer! It is currently 86° and sunny—perfect weather for the picnics and pool parties being held on this national day off. Of course, I am at the office today… go figure.
Very appropriately, I just finished cataloging several books on WWII. As I flip through them, glancing at the pictures, all I can see are the faces. Men, women, children… innocence, evil, determination… every aspect of humanity stares back at me from the black and white pages. They had Pearl Harbor; we have September 11.
Patton said that war is hell. Anybody who has ever experienced it, even second-hand, as I have, has to agree. It used to be swords and horses, now it’s missiles and planes, but the devastation is the same. Those who endure it deserve our honor and respect. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” and we must never forget such a sacrifice.
If you see a military veteran, thank them. Even the elderly gentleman selling poppies outside of Walmart—they are our nation’s greatest treasure. Billie didn’t come back, and Jae wants to go back again… Every time I hear a jet or heliocopter, or see a tank on a town common, I pray for our military. They're just as human as the rest of us.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Skipping Church
I did not go to church today. I know, you’re probably gasping in shock. The truth is, I do occasionally skip services. My faith is without a doubt the most important thing in my life, but sometimes “my faith is better served away from the rabid crowd.” I am not advocating skipping as a habit, but I do it myself every once in a while.
The church that I currently attend is within walking distance—which is the primary reason I chose it. It is as stereotypical a Baptist church as you could ever find. The congregation is healthy enough, not dying, but not exploding with growth either. I always know exactly what to expect when I go there and have yet to be surprised. I doubt I missed much this morning.
Growing up, I lived at church. My previous ecclesiastic experiences have left me somewhat burned and I often find myself resenting the trappings of religion: the PowerPoint, the offering plates, the sermon illustrations… I love the Lord, and I love the people, but sometimes I resent the accompanying paraphernalia.
This morning, I woke up exhausted. It was already 80-something degrees out and my knee was killing me after riding in a car all day yesterday. These are not excuses, but they are reasons. When I know that I would be unable to fully worship in a corporate setting, I stay home. So this morning, I slept in and had an extended personal devotional time, both of which were incredibly refreshing.
The church that I currently attend is within walking distance—which is the primary reason I chose it. It is as stereotypical a Baptist church as you could ever find. The congregation is healthy enough, not dying, but not exploding with growth either. I always know exactly what to expect when I go there and have yet to be surprised. I doubt I missed much this morning.
Growing up, I lived at church. My previous ecclesiastic experiences have left me somewhat burned and I often find myself resenting the trappings of religion: the PowerPoint, the offering plates, the sermon illustrations… I love the Lord, and I love the people, but sometimes I resent the accompanying paraphernalia.
This morning, I woke up exhausted. It was already 80-something degrees out and my knee was killing me after riding in a car all day yesterday. These are not excuses, but they are reasons. When I know that I would be unable to fully worship in a corporate setting, I stay home. So this morning, I slept in and had an extended personal devotional time, both of which were incredibly refreshing.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Here Comes the Bride Just Like the Other One
Today, I spent about eight hours sitting in a car in order to spend about an hour sitting in a church and about half an hour standing in the sun. Why would I do such a thing, you may ask. I asked myself that same question approximately two thousand times today.
The occasion was that of a wedding. A wedding is a peculiar beast. Supposedly, it is a celebration of two people’s love and dedication to each other. In actuality, it is an archaic social contraption, which legitimizes the transfer of property and power between families. The majority of a wedding ceremony is designed to satisfy medieval and Victorian guidelines of reasonable decorum.
Don’t get me wrong—I love to celebrate with my friends who decide to enter into honorable marriage. However, weddings and marriages are two very different things. A marriage is a sacred union that occurs when a man and a woman become one, for better or worse, till death do us part. A wedding is a display of wealth and copulation to society.
This is why most weddings are fundamentally the same. Oh sure, each may have a unique element (generally, the color of the bridesmaids dresses—teal or pink). These affairs usually cost at least several thousand dollars, but may never actually be paid for, thanks to the modern invention of credit cards.
So… congratulations to Karl and Liz! Your wedding was lovely and we all wish you well as you seek to combine your respective familial and financial obligations.
The occasion was that of a wedding. A wedding is a peculiar beast. Supposedly, it is a celebration of two people’s love and dedication to each other. In actuality, it is an archaic social contraption, which legitimizes the transfer of property and power between families. The majority of a wedding ceremony is designed to satisfy medieval and Victorian guidelines of reasonable decorum.
Don’t get me wrong—I love to celebrate with my friends who decide to enter into honorable marriage. However, weddings and marriages are two very different things. A marriage is a sacred union that occurs when a man and a woman become one, for better or worse, till death do us part. A wedding is a display of wealth and copulation to society.
This is why most weddings are fundamentally the same. Oh sure, each may have a unique element (generally, the color of the bridesmaids dresses—teal or pink). These affairs usually cost at least several thousand dollars, but may never actually be paid for, thanks to the modern invention of credit cards.
So… congratulations to Karl and Liz! Your wedding was lovely and we all wish you well as you seek to combine your respective familial and financial obligations.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Pomp and Circumstance
My little brother is graduating from high school today! I am so proud of him and so sorry that I could not be there. Some times, living halfway across the country really stinks. Other times, it rocks.
Graduation is one of the modern constructs of society that signifies progression. It declares to the world that you have sufficiently BSed your way through a contrived academic system over the past four years to achieve mediocrity. This effort entitles a person to participation in a ceremony, during which they can expect to be exposed to several thousand germs.
Not that I intend to demean the accomplishment. I know that James worked very hard to survive in the harsh high school environment of drugs, sex and vampirism. I am certain that he savored each moment of commencement and will cherish each word spoken by people whose names he will forget very quickly. All that really matters is the hot robes and funny-looking hats, the only vestiges of the former golden age of education.
The next time you hear that same lame recording of classical music that all high schools (and most colleges) are required to use, think back upon your own graduation. Try to remember the special day—assuming you weren’t sleeping or strung-out. If it is possible to conjure fond memories, enjoy them until you remember what it was really like.
Graduation is one of the modern constructs of society that signifies progression. It declares to the world that you have sufficiently BSed your way through a contrived academic system over the past four years to achieve mediocrity. This effort entitles a person to participation in a ceremony, during which they can expect to be exposed to several thousand germs.
Not that I intend to demean the accomplishment. I know that James worked very hard to survive in the harsh high school environment of drugs, sex and vampirism. I am certain that he savored each moment of commencement and will cherish each word spoken by people whose names he will forget very quickly. All that really matters is the hot robes and funny-looking hats, the only vestiges of the former golden age of education.
The next time you hear that same lame recording of classical music that all high schools (and most colleges) are required to use, think back upon your own graduation. Try to remember the special day—assuming you weren’t sleeping or strung-out. If it is possible to conjure fond memories, enjoy them until you remember what it was really like.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Home Sweet House
Earlier today, someone said to me, "you are where you live." I have already been recently contemplating the concept of Home and what it means to a person. To some, their dwelling is merely where they keep most of their stuff and occassionally sleep—these people would probably find their true home to be elsewhere, such as an office.
Where you live really does say a lot about you and where you are in your life. For instance, it would be unlikely for a family with several children to live in an apartment. Similarly, a socially active extrovert would not likely live in a cabin in the woods. If you live with roommates or alone instead of with relatives, that also says a lot. (Most generalities do not apply to New York City or other such evil metropolises.)
A few years ago there was a tv show called "Get Packing" which was quite short-lived and with good reason. The two contestants each had a few minutes inside someone's house to learn as much about them as possible and pack a suitcase for a weekend getaway... the person then chose his/her date based on the contents of the suitcase and how well the contestants had guessed his/her personality based on his/her house. The interesting thing about the show was how exactly precise or widely inaccurate the contestants could be.
If you look around my current apartment, I'm sure it would tell you a lot. A poster from my favorite film is framed and hanging in my living room. Most of my furniture is second-hand. I have two separate organizers for my shoes (one for dress shoes and the other for street shoes). There is usually a pile of dishes in the sink. Currently, there is only one toothbrush in the holder on the bathroom counter.
When I was growing up, my family moved around a lot. A lot. I hated it. Now that I'm out on my own, I would like to put down roots somewhere. Not necessarily here, where I am at this moment, but I do not enjoy a transient lifestyle of only a year or two in a town. I think that my generation has had it with the gypsy ways of our youth—parents moving around, parents moving out, parents provided by the foster-care system...
We young people have multiple, significant obstacles in our way, but we'll make it. We have to. I would want my kids to go to the same school for their whole education and not have to constantly make new friends. I want to be able to actually buy a house, instead of just renting. I want to invest in that house and make it a home for myself and for the family I hope to have someday.
Where you live really does say a lot about you and where you are in your life. For instance, it would be unlikely for a family with several children to live in an apartment. Similarly, a socially active extrovert would not likely live in a cabin in the woods. If you live with roommates or alone instead of with relatives, that also says a lot. (Most generalities do not apply to New York City or other such evil metropolises.)
A few years ago there was a tv show called "Get Packing" which was quite short-lived and with good reason. The two contestants each had a few minutes inside someone's house to learn as much about them as possible and pack a suitcase for a weekend getaway... the person then chose his/her date based on the contents of the suitcase and how well the contestants had guessed his/her personality based on his/her house. The interesting thing about the show was how exactly precise or widely inaccurate the contestants could be.
If you look around my current apartment, I'm sure it would tell you a lot. A poster from my favorite film is framed and hanging in my living room. Most of my furniture is second-hand. I have two separate organizers for my shoes (one for dress shoes and the other for street shoes). There is usually a pile of dishes in the sink. Currently, there is only one toothbrush in the holder on the bathroom counter.
When I was growing up, my family moved around a lot. A lot. I hated it. Now that I'm out on my own, I would like to put down roots somewhere. Not necessarily here, where I am at this moment, but I do not enjoy a transient lifestyle of only a year or two in a town. I think that my generation has had it with the gypsy ways of our youth—parents moving around, parents moving out, parents provided by the foster-care system...
We young people have multiple, significant obstacles in our way, but we'll make it. We have to. I would want my kids to go to the same school for their whole education and not have to constantly make new friends. I want to be able to actually buy a house, instead of just renting. I want to invest in that house and make it a home for myself and for the family I hope to have someday.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Plan
I am a planner. I know, you’re probably like “DUH!” But really, I like having a plan. I like knowing what to expect and having a reaction prepared. Hope for the best and plan for the worst is how I tend to operate. Some things in life simply cannot be foreseen and that is when an emergency evacuation plan comes in handy (or at least that’s what they tell you during fire drills).
There’s an old saying that no plan survives the battlefield. We all know that history is written by the winners and I am tired of being a loser. Just ask any of the non-famous generals… losing is not fun. You probably don’t know who these guys are because they lost and I am not going to live my life that way.
Now, I will not make “the classic villain mistake of explaining my dastardly plot to you,” and you will not get me monologuing. However, I do intend to plan my play and play my plan, of that you may be certain. It is too easy to cast the loser as the villain, even if that is not the case—that will not be my fate. As far as I'm concerned, there's always a plan.
There’s an old saying that no plan survives the battlefield. We all know that history is written by the winners and I am tired of being a loser. Just ask any of the non-famous generals… losing is not fun. You probably don’t know who these guys are because they lost and I am not going to live my life that way.
Now, I will not make “the classic villain mistake of explaining my dastardly plot to you,” and you will not get me monologuing. However, I do intend to plan my play and play my plan, of that you may be certain. It is too easy to cast the loser as the villain, even if that is not the case—that will not be my fate. As far as I'm concerned, there's always a plan.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Little Things
Life really is about the little things. Someone once said that if you don't believe in the power of little things, you've never had a mosquito in your bedroom. Pretty sure I just made that up, but it sounded good, right?
Each day is comprised of little moments that add up. I savor getting a funny text from a friend and sipping my Mountain Dew. Indeed, when the big, important parts of life fall apart, the details are sometimes all that get me through the day.
I tend to notice the details and pick up on the tiniest hints. They can sometimes send my whole existence spinning, and not always in a good way. A friend's silence can be deafening. Seeing a name mentioned on facebook can blind me... Right about that moment, I need to remind myself that there is a bird singing outside my window and the sun is also shining through it.
Each day is comprised of little moments that add up. I savor getting a funny text from a friend and sipping my Mountain Dew. Indeed, when the big, important parts of life fall apart, the details are sometimes all that get me through the day.
I tend to notice the details and pick up on the tiniest hints. They can sometimes send my whole existence spinning, and not always in a good way. A friend's silence can be deafening. Seeing a name mentioned on facebook can blind me... Right about that moment, I need to remind myself that there is a bird singing outside my window and the sun is also shining through it.
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