one man's trivia is another man's wisdom

Things I am very bad at:
-Showing up at weddings (sorry to all those whose weddings I've missed. Trust me, it'll be hard to get me to even my own someday...)
-Living a disciplined life.
-running (I hate it. so much.)
-math (kind of. there was a time that I was very good at math, I don't know what's happenned...)
-driving. dude. seriously. there is a reason I don't own a car.
-keeping in touch with people... consistently. (I am working on this one.)
-not making jokes or laughing when I feel awkward
-moving on... I'm kind of a dweller
-understanding politics on my own (I need good teachers)
-being a grown-up. WIERD.
-dealing with other's inconsistency. which is quite hypocritcal of me, I do realize.
-remembering that I want to have pictures of things.


... yeah. hahaha. I've got my faults. good thing there's this little thing called grace in my life.
I've just been thinking a lot lately about some of things and how they've been used in my life to teach me different lessons. It constantly amazes me how very good friends can be okay with me flaking out (okay, not entirely flaking out, there usually is a reason... which is usually YouthWorks) on their weddings- I mean, that's a huge day to miss. I'm amazed at the love they show me. I also recently got in a car accident... in a company vehicle. That sucked, but again, I found grace in the midst of it.
I think if I was good at everything... or even good at lots of things, I'd miss out on some of the most amazing things in life- being offered mercy, grace and compassion by the people around me.
Thank you friends for your love.

farewell.

As I sat and listened to President Bush give his farewell address last night I felt such a sense of… ethnocentrism, understandably, in his words. Don’t get me wrong- I am not one to bash Bush, I don’t know enough of politics or the inner workings of government to be anything but thankful for the opportunities living in America affords me. But I do know something of people… and of humanity… and have consistently found myself frustrated by an American close-mindedness to realize that we are part of something bigger. President Bush talked of Americans he had met along the way through his presidency who are doing amazing things, in and for this country. He talked about how he sees the good in this country in those people- resiliency and hope… and I can’t help but think those are not traits of strong Americans- those are the traits of a strong person, those are traits that bring about the good in humanity. When we are able to come back from pain and suffering, leaning on the hope that things can and will change- or in my ideal world, leaning on the hope that Christ is moving within our midst working through each up and down of life… that is when humanity is its strongest- not just America.
Yup. those are my thoughts...

a wink and a nod.

I've been thinking a lot lately about people. About the way people treat each other. The way I treat others. About the way people look at each other- or don't look at each other as they walk down the street. I do a lot of walking down the street these days... and sitting on the bus or the train, and its sometimes very sobering to watch the world around me and realize how much I add to the lack of interaction.
I've been thinking a lot lately about need as well. What are our needs? Food, shelter, water? What about relationships? Do I really need to invest and make friends in the city? Or is it okay to wait until my dearest friends come from near and far and just enjoy the times they are here? What are my needs?
And all this thought about people and needs has me taking in humanity in a different sort of way than I usually do. I offer a smile more often. I try to say hello to those who don't look away from me. I offer my seat on the bus to those who could use it more. I take my headphones out and my nose out of my book and take a good long look at the world around me.
Its wierd, but I think just those simplest acts- smiling at someone as you pass them on the street, talking to the crossing gaurd at the bus stop, giving your seat to the woman with too many bags in her arms... these are the things that set us apart. Its not carrying my bible around everywhere quoting scriptures... instead, living life with joy and love and compassion, KNOWing the bible and not being afraid of truth.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35