My family got home on Monday evening and I nearly lost it when I saw them. Absence still makes the heart grow fonder and that saying is definitely not going anywhere anytime soon. They traveled for the weekend to Arkansas to see my cousin-in-law graduate high school. So proud of her and excited to see what she accomplishes with her bright future!
Looking back, I should have gone to be there, too. The defense that I presented to myself at the time was that I had to work Saturday and the trip back from Houston wouldn't have been nearly as gruelling as a trip back from Arkansas to be back here in time to catch some "Z's" and clock in for an "all day-er."
I really missed them, though, and I realized I should have tried a little harder to go with them. The Dave show was great, and even though I got to meet really cool peeps--oh, and b-t-dubs, I no longer am confused about whether or not it's okay that I'm in my 30's and still a DMB fanatic--being there was a little...hollow. Bethany and I always go there together unless it's part of a special trip and I'm visiting my brother in Virginia or what not. Whenever it's just in our normal setting here in Texas and the band is coming to Dallas and we're like, "Are you off? I'm off. Hmm. I know! Let's go!" Beth is always coming with me and this year she didn't and I was just sitting there thinking, Man. What am I DOING here?
Do you ever get worked up for something and reach the point of delivery and it just wasn't what you thought? It kind of makes you realize what you wanted ain't really what you wanted, huh? That's kind of where I was. The wacky thing about it is that my love of the show all by itself wasn't hindered. I was exactly where I wanted to be. It was in the juxtaposition of either me being at the show or me being with Beth that I saw there was no question where I belonged. I already knew it. I just forgot it.
I told you earlier that I've been thinking a lot about change. I can see it coming. I'm reminded of it whenever something like this happens; when I remember what's important to me and it happens often enough to where I no longer need a reminder at all because I'm living out that change with everything that's in me every day. And if that's the case, whew, change is a good thing.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Old friends
Welp. I'm literally sitting in my car--yes, posting a new entry from my phone. G'head and laugh. I did. I just shipped something I sold on eBay from my favorite shipping center. And now I'm about to make my way down to Houston for the show.
As I tend to do, I've gone back and forth with wondering if I should feel bad that I'm still as loco for seeing these guys as I was when I was in my 20's or if I should be okay with it. I mean seriously, remember Jimmy Fallon on Fever Pitch when his girlfriend sees him on telly at the Red Sox spring training with all the other fans? The dude is completely unintelligible. At one point he puts his face right in front of the camera and tries to get something out about how excited he is to be there but it ends up coming out as complete gibberish. So, I wouldn't say I LOOK like that but that's absolutely how I feel inside.
It's gonna be a great, great show. I'll be sure to post something later about the experience!
One thing I will say on the front end is that to watch them is like--have you seen those car decals that say something like, "I'd rather be fishin'?" I'm sure you have. I could easily imagine the band feels that way about what they do so strongly that they'd have the phrase "I'd rather be gigging," tattooed on 'em. It's so cool to watch.
All right catch y'all on the flip flop!
As I tend to do, I've gone back and forth with wondering if I should feel bad that I'm still as loco for seeing these guys as I was when I was in my 20's or if I should be okay with it. I mean seriously, remember Jimmy Fallon on Fever Pitch when his girlfriend sees him on telly at the Red Sox spring training with all the other fans? The dude is completely unintelligible. At one point he puts his face right in front of the camera and tries to get something out about how excited he is to be there but it ends up coming out as complete gibberish. So, I wouldn't say I LOOK like that but that's absolutely how I feel inside.
It's gonna be a great, great show. I'll be sure to post something later about the experience!
One thing I will say on the front end is that to watch them is like--have you seen those car decals that say something like, "I'd rather be fishin'?" I'm sure you have. I could easily imagine the band feels that way about what they do so strongly that they'd have the phrase "I'd rather be gigging," tattooed on 'em. It's so cool to watch.
All right catch y'all on the flip flop!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
From the phone!
I still make myself laugh sometimes. A lot, actually. When I started my blog, I also downloaded the app for my phone. So that I can publish blogs on the go! Like a bawss! But then I didn't use it. At ALL. So a few days ago while deleting a bunch of apps that I never use anymore I decided to delete this one. I said, "Meh. I've never used this one even ONCE. Dudn't (No, that's not a typo, all my non-Texan audience) make much sense to keep it!
Now I'm sitting in front of Auto Zone waiting for it to open. I thought it'd be totally fun to post a blog from my phone while waiting. But I had to download the app for my phone again. Insert the moment that made me laugh at myself.
This was fun! I think I'm gonna keep it this time. What's your record for downloading and deleting the same app?
Now I'm sitting in front of Auto Zone waiting for it to open. I thought it'd be totally fun to post a blog from my phone while waiting. But I had to download the app for my phone again. Insert the moment that made me laugh at myself.
This was fun! I think I'm gonna keep it this time. What's your record for downloading and deleting the same app?
Friday, May 11, 2012
Let the summer classes begin.
I've been working on my homework for my new class that I'm taking and I just wanted to take a little break and do a quick blog post. No big experience in my life to report or anything like that. I guess that's kind of what a blog is all about, right? There will be times where there is something big to say, something big that happened, something exciting to report; and then there'll be times when I'll just be "checking-in."
I will say this, though. Lately I've been thinking a lot of the existence of change. Boy that sounded very "at arm's length", didn't it? Lemme bring it a little closer. There's a side of me that has had to accept my weaknesses; the things I don't like about myself; the ways I wish that I was different. Then there's another side of me that is constantly working to strengthen those areas I'm weak at; in other words, a refusal to accept my weaknesses. Interesting that the two coexist, isn't it?
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, but I do know it's time to get ready for the day's activities. Selah talking to herself in her crib for the past 15 minutes tells me so.
What? Pick up where I left off sometime soon? Okay! Ciao!
I will say this, though. Lately I've been thinking a lot of the existence of change. Boy that sounded very "at arm's length", didn't it? Lemme bring it a little closer. There's a side of me that has had to accept my weaknesses; the things I don't like about myself; the ways I wish that I was different. Then there's another side of me that is constantly working to strengthen those areas I'm weak at; in other words, a refusal to accept my weaknesses. Interesting that the two coexist, isn't it?
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, but I do know it's time to get ready for the day's activities. Selah talking to herself in her crib for the past 15 minutes tells me so.
What? Pick up where I left off sometime soon? Okay! Ciao!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Be-boppin'.
I was be-boppin' around a few days ago. Everyone's be-boppin' looks a little different; so if you're interested in what mine looks like, next time you see me just ask. Anyway, whilst doing so, a memory came to me out of nowhere of something that happened to me a couple years ago that was rather staggering. When it happened, I told a friend about it; but now that I have a blog, and the memory is fresh on my mind, how cool would it be to share it with everybody?
First a little bit of stage setting. I was working for Capital One at the time. There was a video that was shown to us called "Art of Possibility." It was of the motivational-faire as the title does a great job of suggesting. In it the musical conductor Benjamin Zander and his wife use the craft of directing a symphony to show a lot of elements that exist that are related to leading a group of individuals no matter what setting you're in. It was shown to us obviously as a motivational tool to do just that: to help us see the ways they were sharing and how they can be used in our setting at the bank. I liked it, personally. I can picture anyone reading this stifling laughter as you read this next part because you know me even just a little bit.
I liked it because it talked a lot about thinking positive and teaching others to do the same thing. I liked it because it introduced some neat insight and philosophy that were, on the surface not terribly earth-shattering; but to me....uh, earth-shattering. Things like--and I'm paraphrasing here--the orchestra with all the noise it's making between the multitude of individual parts coming together for the audience's enjoyment and what you have is a guy standing in front of the whole group waving a stick around who doesn't make a sound. And I also liked it because of the different ideas that spoke to my life and the things I know I'm weak at.
Another prop on the stage of this story: I've always loved Micah 6:8. You know the, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God," one. I love it because of the way it contrasts the extreme notion of what the people thought God wanted in the immediately preceding verses to the simplicity of what He actually wants in that verse. I'll let you read those on your own, but suffice to say they were even under the impression that God wanted them to kill their own kids!
Okay back to my story. I watched this video as Mr. Zander told a funny tale about Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. For me it was like when you watch a movie and out of the entire two hours there's one scene in it that you can't let go of. I mean, I took. That line. With me. For the next week. EVERYWHERE. I'd wake up in the morning with that line ringing in my ears. Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. Over and over and over again. Two reasons why: First, I tend to take myself too seriously. And second as great as that line was, I felt there was something missing from it. Something crucial. But I just didn't know what.
I started to forget about it. Not altogether, just a little bit. One day I had a training class that I had to go to in Longview and I got there super early for some reason. So I sat in the parking lot catching up on my reading and out of nowhere, Micah 6:8 came to mind and I wanted to read it again. So I went there, read it, and was all, "Yup, it's still an awesome verse." (As if that would ever change, right? Riiiiight.) I just so happened to have The Message with me as well; and one of my favorite things to do is take a verse that I like and see how Eugene Peterson thought it should sound in his famous paraphrase. Here's what I read:
"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple:..."
When I got to the "act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" part of this text, for some reason I started reading in slow motion; I guess because of the impact I knew it would have on me. The severity of the impact is what I had no idea of but was about to find out:
"Act justly...'Do what is fair and just to your neighbor.' "
"Love mercy...'Be compassionate and loyal in your love.' "
"And walk humbly with your God...'And don't take yourself too....' "
WHAT?! You have GOT to be kidding me! I had just started to forget that idea and now for it to show up of all places it's here?! And I was even a little glad that it wasn't replaying over and over because of that crucial missing part that I still haven't a CLUE what it's supposed to be. This is just lame! Lame, lame, lame, la.....
"...too seriously--take God seriously."
The crucial missing part. My bottom jaw was in my lap as I sat in my car. So there I was for the next however long with it once again replaying over and over and over in my head. This time I didn't mind, though. This time it was complete.
First a little bit of stage setting. I was working for Capital One at the time. There was a video that was shown to us called "Art of Possibility." It was of the motivational-faire as the title does a great job of suggesting. In it the musical conductor Benjamin Zander and his wife use the craft of directing a symphony to show a lot of elements that exist that are related to leading a group of individuals no matter what setting you're in. It was shown to us obviously as a motivational tool to do just that: to help us see the ways they were sharing and how they can be used in our setting at the bank. I liked it, personally. I can picture anyone reading this stifling laughter as you read this next part because you know me even just a little bit.
I liked it because it talked a lot about thinking positive and teaching others to do the same thing. I liked it because it introduced some neat insight and philosophy that were, on the surface not terribly earth-shattering; but to me....uh, earth-shattering. Things like--and I'm paraphrasing here--the orchestra with all the noise it's making between the multitude of individual parts coming together for the audience's enjoyment and what you have is a guy standing in front of the whole group waving a stick around who doesn't make a sound. And I also liked it because of the different ideas that spoke to my life and the things I know I'm weak at.
Another prop on the stage of this story: I've always loved Micah 6:8. You know the, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God," one. I love it because of the way it contrasts the extreme notion of what the people thought God wanted in the immediately preceding verses to the simplicity of what He actually wants in that verse. I'll let you read those on your own, but suffice to say they were even under the impression that God wanted them to kill their own kids!
Okay back to my story. I watched this video as Mr. Zander told a funny tale about Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. For me it was like when you watch a movie and out of the entire two hours there's one scene in it that you can't let go of. I mean, I took. That line. With me. For the next week. EVERYWHERE. I'd wake up in the morning with that line ringing in my ears. Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. Rule #6: Don't take yourself too seriously. Over and over and over again. Two reasons why: First, I tend to take myself too seriously. And second as great as that line was, I felt there was something missing from it. Something crucial. But I just didn't know what.
I started to forget about it. Not altogether, just a little bit. One day I had a training class that I had to go to in Longview and I got there super early for some reason. So I sat in the parking lot catching up on my reading and out of nowhere, Micah 6:8 came to mind and I wanted to read it again. So I went there, read it, and was all, "Yup, it's still an awesome verse." (As if that would ever change, right? Riiiiight.) I just so happened to have The Message with me as well; and one of my favorite things to do is take a verse that I like and see how Eugene Peterson thought it should sound in his famous paraphrase. Here's what I read:
"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple:..."
When I got to the "act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" part of this text, for some reason I started reading in slow motion; I guess because of the impact I knew it would have on me. The severity of the impact is what I had no idea of but was about to find out:
"Act justly...'Do what is fair and just to your neighbor.' "
"Love mercy...'Be compassionate and loyal in your love.' "
"And walk humbly with your God...'And don't take yourself too....' "
WHAT?! You have GOT to be kidding me! I had just started to forget that idea and now for it to show up of all places it's here?! And I was even a little glad that it wasn't replaying over and over because of that crucial missing part that I still haven't a CLUE what it's supposed to be. This is just lame! Lame, lame, lame, la.....
"...too seriously--take God seriously."
The crucial missing part. My bottom jaw was in my lap as I sat in my car. So there I was for the next however long with it once again replaying over and over and over in my head. This time I didn't mind, though. This time it was complete.
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