The Super Bowl has become a staple of pop culture in America. The grand finale for crazed fans to pack the coliseums to watch their favorite gladiators do battle on the gridiron. It’s the start of a new year of commercials and the kickoff towards the next season and the upcoming NFL Draft. It’s the Super Bowl and anyone, who is anyone, watches…except me this year.
The entire week leading up to the big game I grew more and more distraught over missing a good portion of the game for a youth group night. On a side note, the moment I did turn on the game…the power outage happened. I pouted like a five year old not getting his way in the toy aisle. Think about it, it’s the Super Bowl, who doesn’t watch the Super Bowl?
Amidst my angst and animosity in the days leading up to kickoff I was asked to take part in a skit with two other core adults for the Jr. High group. The skit would take place the same night of the game, which was an unexpected and much needed surprise. It was a skit that highlighted a teenage girl who attempted to make time for her faith, but struggled with the onslaught of pressure from a close girlfriend persuading her to go to a party. She fit God into her life when it was convenient for her and her schedule. Here's the kicker though... I was asked to be Jesus. How's that for karma?
The girl in the skit was asked why she couldn’t come out to the party, what she was doing and why she was being so weird, but she was too afraid to share what she was doing…praying. She made up an elaborate story, lied about what she was doing and put aside what was important for something “better” and more “fun.” How fitting that it was the night that I was all worked up for missing the first half of the game here I am playing the part of Big Gunz in a skit about prioritizing our life?
It was a humbling reminder, and a figurative quick kick to the face, that I still struggle with, like many of you, where I allow pride and self-interest get in the way of what matters most. Living a moral life, spending time serving others, etc. Just a couple days prior I had thrown a pity party for one, because I would miss out on a couple funny commercials and a touchdown or two and then I was asked to play Jesus in a skit about prioritizing our lives.
There's those subtle reminders we get when are besides ourselves, holding ourselves back from being a better person, a more supportive friend, the best son or daughter, you get the point. Where we get so caught up in what we think is most important, but really, in the grand scheme of things, fails in comparison of being able to spend more time with your family, to be able to give your self and time by bringing up arms or losing yourself in prayer. It's those simple reminders from God, life, an angel, whatever you believe that reminds us are true purpose among the chaos and grime of life and that's to love.
Until next time...
2.10.2013
Grocery Shopping From Someone Else's Cart
Imagine shopping at the grocery store like you most likely do every week. Think about the list you write out or that's temporarily engrained into your mind. Am I out of milk? Do I need toilet tissue? How about more hummus? You venture through aisle after aisle and toss the items into your cart. The pile of groceries gets higher and higher as it consumes your germ infested metal cart you picked up in the parking spot beside your car.
The other day I was shopping at the grocery store and I saw the most bizarre occurrence. This gentleman walked away from his cart to search for items and as his back was turned this old lady - the typical purple haired lady that stood four feet tall, just able to see over her cart - parked her cart next to his and began picking items out of his cart. She surveyed the scene as she delicately placed items out of the way as she dug deep, every few seconds looking up to see if he was coming back. I was amazed by the buffoonery. It was as entertaining as it was joyfully intoxicating as I slowly moved in to get closer to the action. He would occasionally drop an item off at his cart as she stood near the cooler and when he'd walk away, his back turned from her, she'd go back at it and pick out items until he took his cart and walked off.
It's funny how a once self reliant society, forced to fight the good fight to get somewhere, has transformed into reliant of everyone else and dependent on getting it now. Entitled to the sweet rewards with half the labor. With the rise in technology and the demise of personal accountability, there's a direct association with the animosity we see on the roads, the discontent in our conversations and such hurtfulness broadcasted on the news. We've become accustomed to having items emailed to us and received in seconds. We are told that we can "get it your way" and have a million and one experts advertise their thoughts to us.
Like the lady in the grocery store, we've become too impatient to actually take the time to go about our way and achieve everything that we've put on to our figurative shopping list of life and accept that it might take some time. The woman, much like a lot of us, took a short cut to get things done quicker, but didn't even consider the effect it had on others, let alone how much time it would have taken to just push through it.
It's no surprise to me today in my life that I've grown so impatient and weak of heart that I often forget that in time good things happen, especially in terms of conquering even the weakest moments in my life. That if I trust in the Lord, through the good and the bad, I'll be able to follow that righteous path set forth. It is a simple, yet daunting task, to humble my heart and open my eyes to what it is I'm called to live out in my life. Just focus on the next three seconds and allow things to happen as they come, but never losing faith in what it is I'm to do.
This lesson I learned in the grocery store was a wonderful for me to think about as I prepare for Lent. A time in which we are called to give of ourselves in prayer, alms giving and fasting. To fast from the things that take us away from growing closer in faith and those things we consume our lives with the most. To give up alms so that we love others, by putting them before our own selves and to always give thanks through simple conversations with the Lord in prayer. It is in Lent that we remember that we're called to put to rest our pride and give thanks for what truly means most: life. The life that was sacrificed that we may live and the life that we've been called to live out. That instead of growing jealous and picking and choosing from what's in someone else's cart, we give thanks for the things we've been given and that we've collected in our own. That we humbly open our hearts for a Love that is so great. So pure. So authentic. For now is the time we focus on all the things we have jotted down on our shopping list and we fine tune the things we really think we need on it.
(This sounded so good in my head, but...)
Until next time...
The other day I was shopping at the grocery store and I saw the most bizarre occurrence. This gentleman walked away from his cart to search for items and as his back was turned this old lady - the typical purple haired lady that stood four feet tall, just able to see over her cart - parked her cart next to his and began picking items out of his cart. She surveyed the scene as she delicately placed items out of the way as she dug deep, every few seconds looking up to see if he was coming back. I was amazed by the buffoonery. It was as entertaining as it was joyfully intoxicating as I slowly moved in to get closer to the action. He would occasionally drop an item off at his cart as she stood near the cooler and when he'd walk away, his back turned from her, she'd go back at it and pick out items until he took his cart and walked off.
It's funny how a once self reliant society, forced to fight the good fight to get somewhere, has transformed into reliant of everyone else and dependent on getting it now. Entitled to the sweet rewards with half the labor. With the rise in technology and the demise of personal accountability, there's a direct association with the animosity we see on the roads, the discontent in our conversations and such hurtfulness broadcasted on the news. We've become accustomed to having items emailed to us and received in seconds. We are told that we can "get it your way" and have a million and one experts advertise their thoughts to us.
Like the lady in the grocery store, we've become too impatient to actually take the time to go about our way and achieve everything that we've put on to our figurative shopping list of life and accept that it might take some time. The woman, much like a lot of us, took a short cut to get things done quicker, but didn't even consider the effect it had on others, let alone how much time it would have taken to just push through it.
It's no surprise to me today in my life that I've grown so impatient and weak of heart that I often forget that in time good things happen, especially in terms of conquering even the weakest moments in my life. That if I trust in the Lord, through the good and the bad, I'll be able to follow that righteous path set forth. It is a simple, yet daunting task, to humble my heart and open my eyes to what it is I'm called to live out in my life. Just focus on the next three seconds and allow things to happen as they come, but never losing faith in what it is I'm to do.
This lesson I learned in the grocery store was a wonderful for me to think about as I prepare for Lent. A time in which we are called to give of ourselves in prayer, alms giving and fasting. To fast from the things that take us away from growing closer in faith and those things we consume our lives with the most. To give up alms so that we love others, by putting them before our own selves and to always give thanks through simple conversations with the Lord in prayer. It is in Lent that we remember that we're called to put to rest our pride and give thanks for what truly means most: life. The life that was sacrificed that we may live and the life that we've been called to live out. That instead of growing jealous and picking and choosing from what's in someone else's cart, we give thanks for the things we've been given and that we've collected in our own. That we humbly open our hearts for a Love that is so great. So pure. So authentic. For now is the time we focus on all the things we have jotted down on our shopping list and we fine tune the things we really think we need on it.
(This sounded so good in my head, but...)
Until next time...
1.20.2013
A Mango For Your Thoughts
I learned a valuable lesson while at the grocery store the other day. It came to me by way of a mango mistake in the produce section. Upon noticing a sale on mangos and the onset of the flu I had to get multiple mangos for the vitamin C. In my hurried hysteria I grabbed the juiciest of tropical green goodness and delicately placed them all into one produce baggie. As I twisted it closed to place into my cart the entire bag ripped and the mangos, five of them, all broke loose from the bag quicker and louder than students busting loose from school for the summer. They crashed into my cart, clattering about as they knocked over cans of soup and the rest of my flu survival kit items.
In a graceful, and refined way, I glided across the shiny linoleum floor of the produce section away from the loud racket much like that of orchestrated choreography seen in an episode of Dancing with the Stars. As my ballroom routine came to a close I looked around to see if anyone had seen what I had done and just as I came to, I noticed a woman pushing her cart down the aisle that dead ended into where I was.
"Nice one," she called out as she applauded my blunder. "We've all done that before."
"Agreed. We've all done it," chimed in another lady from the other side of the fruit aisle. "But nicely done to come back from it."
Through the next three days of laying on the couch that scene kept playing out and got me thinking:
How often do we try to pile in too much into our day, our week, into our life and yes into our plastic produce bags, only too just have everything come undone and end up crashing down on us? Whether it's pushing ourselves too hard and we become ill or we hold in so much stress and anxiety only to just freak out. We all have fallen victim to such an unfortunate break.
We forget to just take things three seconds at a time. We tone out advice from scholars that remind us to "simplify, simplify, simplify." We ignore that "the ill-tempered stir up strife, but the patient settle disputes (Proverbs 15:18)" or that we are called to "rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12)."
For me, it took mangos gracefully interrupting a couple shopper's midday grocery experience with a produce dance party and three days of laying on the couch to think about it. Next time I'll know not to shove too much into such cheap plastic, but also the next time that I'm filled with a quirky concoction of emotions - at work, when life throws down the hammer or if I'm struggling with five large mangos - I can be that sea of calm in a storm of chaos. Unfortunately it took unplanned mango madness and a bit of humility for me to learn this lesson.
In a graceful, and refined way, I glided across the shiny linoleum floor of the produce section away from the loud racket much like that of orchestrated choreography seen in an episode of Dancing with the Stars. As my ballroom routine came to a close I looked around to see if anyone had seen what I had done and just as I came to, I noticed a woman pushing her cart down the aisle that dead ended into where I was.
"Nice one," she called out as she applauded my blunder. "We've all done that before."
"Agreed. We've all done it," chimed in another lady from the other side of the fruit aisle. "But nicely done to come back from it."
Through the next three days of laying on the couch that scene kept playing out and got me thinking:
How often do we try to pile in too much into our day, our week, into our life and yes into our plastic produce bags, only too just have everything come undone and end up crashing down on us? Whether it's pushing ourselves too hard and we become ill or we hold in so much stress and anxiety only to just freak out. We all have fallen victim to such an unfortunate break.
We forget to just take things three seconds at a time. We tone out advice from scholars that remind us to "simplify, simplify, simplify." We ignore that "the ill-tempered stir up strife, but the patient settle disputes (Proverbs 15:18)" or that we are called to "rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12)."
For me, it took mangos gracefully interrupting a couple shopper's midday grocery experience with a produce dance party and three days of laying on the couch to think about it. Next time I'll know not to shove too much into such cheap plastic, but also the next time that I'm filled with a quirky concoction of emotions - at work, when life throws down the hammer or if I'm struggling with five large mangos - I can be that sea of calm in a storm of chaos. Unfortunately it took unplanned mango madness and a bit of humility for me to learn this lesson.
1.06.2013
An Angel on a Park Bench
We all have had moments when we had an angel appear in our lives. Maybe during one of those whoa moments where you knew you had an angel on your side. Like the moment you swerve to avoid hitting something in the road, a split second decision you made where you were amazed you could even think to do that. One of those moments where you could say you had your guardian angel with you.
I've felt bored these past couple of weeks. Bored with the thought of what is and wanting what could be. Bored thinking about the adventures - work, spiritual and fun - I want to be out doing, while tired of planning the ones I will set out for this year, just not during these winter months. I've felt smothered, and weighed down, by the confines of an office. Scared by the reality of not being able to explore as much as I should. Explore the world, explore the depths of my desires, explore my life and its purpose.
It was my goal this weekend to spend my entire Saturday hiking. It was to become my day to turn off my phone as quick as I could turn off my brain from anything that wasn't related to the trail and the world around it. I had longed for a day where it was me alone on the trail, engulfed in God's pure joy and the simple beauties that is nature. My mind raced with thoughts of future trips. I day dreamed, like a five year old, about how cool it would be to star in a survival/ adventure documentary that would be a mix of 180 Degrees South and a show on NatGeo, with a soundtrack reminiscent of the "I'd Rather Be Hiking" mix from my iPod.
As I was hiking along a portion of the trail I had come across a fellow hiker - which will be another post soon - and we shared a refreshing conversation about simplifying our lives and exploring more of what life has to offer, as we hiked along together. As I listened to her speak so passionately about wanting to set off on more adventures and her desire to enjoy exploring life in general, I caught my mind wandering off on things in my own life. Mainly the sense of boredom, but mile after mile I became deep in debate in my head about where it is God wants me to be and where I want to be. I thought about the lessons I'm supposed to be learning from it and Him, and if I'm even heading in the right direction...and then it hit me. I found my angel.
There it was, a snowman angel sitting on a bench out in the middle of the trail. On the particular path I was following sat passionately an angel to greet me along my journey. It was a simple reminder that regardless of where we think we are or how we feel we are doing there is always an angel there to walk with us along the way. The simple gesture to help us remember that God is there with us every step of the way. Whether we get it right or not, whether we are close friends or a voice from far off in the distance. He is everywhere. Walking along the trail with us as we follow the path before us. Sometimes we need to be reminded that and for me it came in a life size snowman angel waiting for me along the trail.
Until next time...
I've felt bored these past couple of weeks. Bored with the thought of what is and wanting what could be. Bored thinking about the adventures - work, spiritual and fun - I want to be out doing, while tired of planning the ones I will set out for this year, just not during these winter months. I've felt smothered, and weighed down, by the confines of an office. Scared by the reality of not being able to explore as much as I should. Explore the world, explore the depths of my desires, explore my life and its purpose.
It was my goal this weekend to spend my entire Saturday hiking. It was to become my day to turn off my phone as quick as I could turn off my brain from anything that wasn't related to the trail and the world around it. I had longed for a day where it was me alone on the trail, engulfed in God's pure joy and the simple beauties that is nature. My mind raced with thoughts of future trips. I day dreamed, like a five year old, about how cool it would be to star in a survival/ adventure documentary that would be a mix of 180 Degrees South and a show on NatGeo, with a soundtrack reminiscent of the "I'd Rather Be Hiking" mix from my iPod.
As I was hiking along a portion of the trail I had come across a fellow hiker - which will be another post soon - and we shared a refreshing conversation about simplifying our lives and exploring more of what life has to offer, as we hiked along together. As I listened to her speak so passionately about wanting to set off on more adventures and her desire to enjoy exploring life in general, I caught my mind wandering off on things in my own life. Mainly the sense of boredom, but mile after mile I became deep in debate in my head about where it is God wants me to be and where I want to be. I thought about the lessons I'm supposed to be learning from it and Him, and if I'm even heading in the right direction...and then it hit me. I found my angel.
There it was, a snowman angel sitting on a bench out in the middle of the trail. On the particular path I was following sat passionately an angel to greet me along my journey. It was a simple reminder that regardless of where we think we are or how we feel we are doing there is always an angel there to walk with us along the way. The simple gesture to help us remember that God is there with us every step of the way. Whether we get it right or not, whether we are close friends or a voice from far off in the distance. He is everywhere. Walking along the trail with us as we follow the path before us. Sometimes we need to be reminded that and for me it came in a life size snowman angel waiting for me along the trail.
Until next time...
1.01.2013
I Know I'm Not A Manly Man, Which Makes Me More of a Man Than You
The word man is defined as: One possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood(2)obsolete: the quality or state of being manly: manliness.
Many people have their own definition of what this word means and what it entails "to be a man." Others believe that they are the definition of what it means to be dubbed: a manly man. We envision that burly stead to have the swagger of Frank Sinatra, the charm of every Disney prince, the sense of adventure of Hemingway, Jesus' abs and discipline, the stories of the Dos Equis guy and the beard of Zeus or that of Allan from The Hangover. That's a lot for us men to aspire to, especially in an era that is calling for true manliness.
Last week at work I made a sad attempt of being a "man" by attempting (strong emphasis on attempt) to put together a bookshelf in my boss' office while she was out on vacation. The gigantic feat of masculine proportions was time consuming, horribly confusing and clearly suited for someone of much more exuberant manliness than what I brought to the tool box. It was an epic fail on my part and I fell victim to the manliness roadblock of an Office Max shelving unit.
As I reflected on the sad attempt of manliness I realized that I had been humbled to the tenth degree by such an easy task. I loathed the bastard bookshelf for hours as it stared at me every time I passed by her office door. It sat, scattered in her office, boasting its conquest over me as I'd pace by during the afternoon. It celebrated its victory over me each time an office member would walk by her office to see it sitting on the floor in pieces and come into my office asking how I was progressing with the project after I had raised the white flag in defeat.
It was then that I realized that one skill that trumps any attribute of what we claim creates "manliness," is humility. The ability to accept defeat, but press on. That moment where you can say I messed up or I am not able to do this. It is in humility that we are better equipped to forgive, to lead others and to move on from the hardships that arise, like failing at putting together a simple bookshelf. That was when I realized that I know I'm not a manly man, which makes me more of a man than you...But I'm still working on the humble part though, but aren't we all. I think another thing I'll work on in this New Year is my humility, because in the wise words of a dear friend, "I am the humblest person I know."
Until next time...
12.27.2012
The Flannel Sheets Effect
Life is full of tiny delights. Those little things that we find joy in. The blessed Eucharisteo moment that brightens your day. That particular moment when others look at you funny, struggling to grasp why you’re smiling like a goober because of how much you enjoy the soft touch of that fleece sweatshirt you have, the fact that you’re all smiles because you had a Snackpack for lunch on or that you’re all misty eyed because you’re awestruck by the sight of falling snowflakes. It’s those simple pleasures like a beautiful wake up, a hot shower to start your day, the rising sun as you drive into work or nailing that presentation at work. It’s those defining moments that makes you full of joy, but in the grand scheme of things aren’t really anything to anyone.
For the past month and a half I’ve wanted to buy flannel sheets to snuggle up into during the cold winter nights. Santa’s little messenger, and secret shopper – a.k.a my Mom – instructed me not to make my purchase as “Christmas is right around the corner.” To my dismay, on Christmas morning, there they were a brand new set of tan flannel sheets. On a side note, do you know how you know you’re getting old? You express your appreciation for a gift of flannel sheets with the joyful glee and giddy exuberance of a five-year-old if he were to open up that new G.I. Joe or Xbox game. As we concluded our Christmas morning routine I quickly threw those puppies into the washer and had ‘em on my bed within minutes of getting back to my apartment.
You see, for me, there is nothing better than new, clean sheets. To kick it up a notch, there’s no greater feeling than hopping out of the shower, drying off and getting into clean sheets; preferably still warm. Needless to say I slept like a baby that first night.
The point is, we all have our own definition of joy. We find joy in different things in our lives. As we enter into these cold, dark winter months and look down the road towards the ever popular, and emotionally divided, Valentine’s Day, it’s those simple pleasures that will keep us going. Those are the things that will fuel the fire as we kick the Winter Blues. What’s yours? Where do you find that joy in your life that makes you smile and it brightens your day? As we prepare to begin the new year let's take a moment on what will fill our lives with joy and our next year with hope.
Happy New years and get a pair of flannel sheets...you won't regret it!
Until next time...
For the past month and a half I’ve wanted to buy flannel sheets to snuggle up into during the cold winter nights. Santa’s little messenger, and secret shopper – a.k.a my Mom – instructed me not to make my purchase as “Christmas is right around the corner.” To my dismay, on Christmas morning, there they were a brand new set of tan flannel sheets. On a side note, do you know how you know you’re getting old? You express your appreciation for a gift of flannel sheets with the joyful glee and giddy exuberance of a five-year-old if he were to open up that new G.I. Joe or Xbox game. As we concluded our Christmas morning routine I quickly threw those puppies into the washer and had ‘em on my bed within minutes of getting back to my apartment.
You see, for me, there is nothing better than new, clean sheets. To kick it up a notch, there’s no greater feeling than hopping out of the shower, drying off and getting into clean sheets; preferably still warm. Needless to say I slept like a baby that first night.
The point is, we all have our own definition of joy. We find joy in different things in our lives. As we enter into these cold, dark winter months and look down the road towards the ever popular, and emotionally divided, Valentine’s Day, it’s those simple pleasures that will keep us going. Those are the things that will fuel the fire as we kick the Winter Blues. What’s yours? Where do you find that joy in your life that makes you smile and it brightens your day? As we prepare to begin the new year let's take a moment on what will fill our lives with joy and our next year with hope.
Happy New years and get a pair of flannel sheets...you won't regret it!
Until next time...
12.20.2012
It's The End Of The World & I Almost Forgot To Pack
How fitting is it that a day before the end of the Mayan calendar, and the end of the world, I would watch The Bucket List? It was playing in the cardio theater at the gym during my morning workout. As some prep for the dooms day scenario, and businesses bank on their marketing campaigns, I spent the six a.m. hour pondering the meaning of my life, and what I have accomplished up to this point, from the likes of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
Think about it though. If the world did in fact end on 12-21-12, would you be alright with the life you've lived and the legacy you would leave behind (for no one)?
Today, I frequently reflected on those two things. First, I thought that if it did take place where would I go, what's my plan of attack and am I prepared? Secondly, with all that I've done thus far in my life am I alright with accepting that it could be my last day? Of course the answer is NO! We all want more time on Earth to see, do and accomplish more. But, if these ancient savages are correct, and tomorrow is indeed a culmination of every Hollywood dooms day flick, my answer is YES. Bolded, underlined and italicized, that is a YES. I can accept that it could be my last day.
Yes, because I've loved and been loved. Yes, because I've climbed a dozen physical mountains and thousands more mentally, professionally and spiritually. Yes, because I tried to put other before me and saw the beauty in years of serving others while leading mission trips, service projects and other opportunities. Yes, because I have been blessed to travel to over ten countries. Yes, because I have faith in what is to come next for me.
Sure there's more I'd like to achieve in my life, and things I wish I had done when it presented itself to me, but I believe I made the most of what I had...did you? If not, why is that?
I think that's a beautiful thought to ponder tomorrow and as we prepare for Christmas and a new year. Whether we buy into tomorrow's "significance," or not, have we lived the life, and left the legacy, that we have wanted. That we've been called to live.
See you tomorrow!
Until next time...
Think about it though. If the world did in fact end on 12-21-12, would you be alright with the life you've lived and the legacy you would leave behind (for no one)?
Today, I frequently reflected on those two things. First, I thought that if it did take place where would I go, what's my plan of attack and am I prepared? Secondly, with all that I've done thus far in my life am I alright with accepting that it could be my last day? Of course the answer is NO! We all want more time on Earth to see, do and accomplish more. But, if these ancient savages are correct, and tomorrow is indeed a culmination of every Hollywood dooms day flick, my answer is YES. Bolded, underlined and italicized, that is a YES. I can accept that it could be my last day.
Yes, because I've loved and been loved. Yes, because I've climbed a dozen physical mountains and thousands more mentally, professionally and spiritually. Yes, because I tried to put other before me and saw the beauty in years of serving others while leading mission trips, service projects and other opportunities. Yes, because I have been blessed to travel to over ten countries. Yes, because I have faith in what is to come next for me.
Sure there's more I'd like to achieve in my life, and things I wish I had done when it presented itself to me, but I believe I made the most of what I had...did you? If not, why is that?
I think that's a beautiful thought to ponder tomorrow and as we prepare for Christmas and a new year. Whether we buy into tomorrow's "significance," or not, have we lived the life, and left the legacy, that we have wanted. That we've been called to live.
See you tomorrow!
Until next time...
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