Monday, November 24, 2008
My wife
It's raining
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
One
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday Quarterback
Life comes at you pretty fast. Sometimes it hits you so hard you become scared to death that you're going to make the same mistake again so you become so overly cautious that you become a prisoner to fear. This morning I was taking care of Benjamin. He was on the changing table getting a fresh diaper. I took my eyes off of him for literally 3 seconds or less as I put his diaper in the trash can next to the changing table. When I looked back he was in mid air falling face first towards the floor. I'm not exaggerating when I say I saw it all in slow motion. So many thoughts ran through my head in that half of a second. He hit the ground with a thud. We were both frozen for a second. Both of us scared out of our minds. He started crying. I picked him up and felt a way I have never felt before: useless, worthless. What had I done? How could I have left him unprotected for so long. I was just inviting him to get hurt. Why wasn't I fast enough to catch him? Why don't we have the floor in his room made out of safety mats. I second guessed myself for hours. He was fine. No injuries. He was shaken up for maybe ninety seconds. I was shaken up for the better part of a day. I wouldn't take my eyes off him for a second. "I need to grab a tissue, you're comin with me". I second guessed myself halfway to insanity. I grabbed the fear that stemmed from that fall and covered myself with it like a blanket. That episode today is just one example of the many I have from the past few months. Lately I've had days where I've been a poor husband, father, son, co-worker, and friend. I've let people slip my mind, given half hearted efforts, and have kept silent when I should have expressed my thoughts. I've taken the easy way out. I have withheld the love that my incredible wife deserves. I've taken things out on the wrong people.
I wish I had some incredible insight to redeem all of these thoughts. At least a poignant lesson learned. I don't. I guess what I'm searching for is a way to take the lessons from these mistakes and then leave the regret and second guessing behind. To man up and apologize, make amends and avoid repeating a mistake without being held prisoner by the fear of doing it again. For some reason the only thing that calms my heart right now is this: God is good. I have never felt the truth of that statement more than now. I'm not even sure what exactly that means and I think that may be why it rings so true to me right not. It is vague but it is true. It is all encompassing yet precise. God is faithful when I am faithless. He is patient when I fail. He is loving when I ache with brokenness. He is stern when I am wrong. He is right and just in the face of my trespasses. He is gracious in the midst of my sin. How does that relate? I don't know. What does that solve? Nothing right now. That's all to this story. No happy endings. No sweet redemption. Yet somehow a light in the distance. A reason to press on.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Where have all the leaders gone?
Politics makes me laugh. Only because if I took it serious I would curse until I cried. I hate when people talk about "the good old days" because normally they weren't that great, we've just picked out the best part of those days to remember and have forgotten all the bad. The world of politics used to be even worse than it is now. In the debates of the old days candidates would even go after the integrity of each others wives. I don't want us to go back to that but there are things that I would love to see again. Passion and vision to name just two. Watching the speeches and debates from our presidential candidates this year makes me nauseous as they squabble over how to fix the symptoms of our societies greater problems and ignore the problems themselves. What happened to speeches like "We have nothing to fear but fear its self" and "ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country"? What happened to leaders making it their mission to put a man on the moon or end the cold war before we had it all planned out. What if President Lincoln had said "well I want to free the slaves but I'm just not sure about the logistics of it."? Anyway, here are some quotes from one of my favorite American leaders, Robert F. Kennedy. Yes he was far from perfect just like every man, but I would love to hear this kind of talk in today's politics:
The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use — of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public.
"I Remember, I Believe", The Pursuit of Justice (1964)
Gross national product measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.
Speech at the University of Kansas at Lawrence (1968-03-18)
(I would encourage EVERYONE to take two minutes and listen to the larger audio clip of this on youtube.com at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e51JnJPPY0E talk about stirring the heart!)
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation”
A revolution is coming — a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough — But a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.
Speech in the US Senate (9 May 1966)
Victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. What has violence ever accomplished, what has it ever created? Violence breeds violence, retaliation breeds retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our souls. For when you teach a man to hate and to fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color, or his beliefs or the policies that he pursues, when you teach that those who are different from you threaten your freedom or your job or your home or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies. Our lives on this planet are too short, the work to be done is too great. But we can perhaps remember, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life, that they seek as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, surely this bond of common fate, this bond of common roles can begin to teach us something, that we can begin to work a little harder, to become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again.
"On the Mindless Menace of Violence", speech, City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.
(And maybe my favorite):
First is the danger of futility; the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills -- against misery, against ignorance, or injustice and violence. Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and 32-year-old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal. "Give me a place to stand," said Archimedes, "and I will move the world." These men moved the world, and so can we all.
"Day of Affirmation", speech, University of Capetown, South Africa (1966-06-06)
Erwin McManus - Uprising
"This is how life is supposed to work. It's an adventure, a journey, a trek filled with uncertainty, excitement, and risk... ...the longing to be alive is drowned by lesser ambitions. We just want to make it through the day, survive, make ends meet, go through the routine, and then exist rather than live... ...We merely exist and think we are alive. We have traded the authentic for the imitation... ...We pursue wealth, power, success, pleasure and endless experiences just to feel alive."
"We simply accept that this is just the way it is. We surrender ourselves to the mundane."
"So many of us have abdicated our passions for obligations, as if passion is a luxury for the young, and we must all grow up one day... ...we make acting like an adult synonymous with living apathetic lives."
"It has never been God's intention to move us toward apathetic living. He desires that we live passionate lives in Him." (italics added by yours truly)
"One of the odd characteristics of sin is that it is a free act that enslaves you."
"Adam and Eve's birthright was a life of freedom and pleasure. Yet with so much to discover, so much to experience, and so much opportunity, they chose to hang around the one tree bearing the one fruit that was forbidden them." (that one is just hilarious)
Those are just a few tasty tidbits from the beginning of the book. I'm not even halfway through it but so far I would recommend giving it a read.
All quotes from Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, Erwin McManus
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Callahan, California
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Robert Redford and Fleeting Potential
I'll admit that the movie was heavily layered with political and ideological agendas, but I don't think these were the main points of the movie. Well maybe they were, but I still chose to ignore them and focus on the subplot carried by Robert Redford and Andrew Garfield. Redford plays an older Poli-Sci professor, who after just one look you can tell possesses heavy doses of wisdom, insight, and discernment. Garfield plays the college kid who is squandering loads of potential partly because of the cynicism he has developed against the system, partly from laziness, and partly because Redford hasn't sent him straight yet. Redford calls Garfield into his office early one morning, the wisdom flows, the potential is prodded, and a brilliant series of scenes ensues. If I knew anything about technology I would magically cut out all scenes void of Redford and just watch the abridged version of the movie over and over. Of course it's probably best to see the movie as a whole first. At least once. Maybe.
I think the movie struck such a chord with me because I'm about to turn 27 years old. Yes I know I'm still very young. But when you reach 27 no one refers to your potential anymore. It seems that by the time you reach 27 potential is either realized or lost. If you're going to do something special, most of the time, you've already got a good head start by this age. I used to have people tell me about my potential all the time. Teachers, college advisers, employers, people at my church. Now? Nuthin... Crickets.
However, I must admit, deep down inside, in places I don't talk about very often, I still harbour a glimmer of hope that those people were right. I still dream that it's not too late. Something in me still yearns for more. Maybe not more but certainly better. I'm not dissatisfied with my life or circumstances by any means. I have an incredible wife, an amazing son, some great friends, I'm not rich in American terms but I live pretty comfortably, and I have the opportunity to make choices about my future. But still, I want to do GREAT things and be someone GREAT. Do you know what I mean? Is it just me? I think this is ok to say out loud. Do not mistake that statement for desiring adulation, because that is not greatness. These days people are adored for taking steroids and hitting a ball really hard with a stick. No, I don't seek the adulation of crowds, but to do and be something great. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. After all, if we do not dream of greatness, if we strive for the mundane, or set our hearts on mediocrity, what kind of life is that? I yearn to right wrongs. I desire to fix that which is broken. I pray that God would use me to further His kingdom. I long to be a better father and husband. I wish to be the friend that is called on when someone is in need. I don't think this is bad. I wonder if there is any of that old potential left in there to live up to these desires.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Barnes & Noble
So I went to Barnes & Noble.
I forced myself to fore go the clearance rack for brevity's sake. After ten minutes in the store (no exaggeration) I had twelve books for consideration. I knew that the gift card was only enough for two paperbacks... except if I chose from the large "buy two get one free section". So, I headed to the Cafe to sort through them and see who would make the cut. I scrounged the change to get a tall coffee and sat down at a table. I read the back covers to see if I could eliminate any right off the bat. Nope. I read the endorsements on the first pages to see if they would rule any out or solidify any into a definite spot. "ooh Andrew Peterson likes this one." "Oh but RICH MULLINS endorsed this one." "uh oh Joel Osteen loves this one." Just Kidding... I would never accidentally choose a book that Joel Osteen likes. Anyway, no luck. I was going to have to do this the hard way; read snippets from each book to see which ones grab my attention. So I did. All of them were pretty interesting but I managed to whittle it down to five. It was an easy decision after that. Three of them were from the "buy two get one free" section and everybody knows that three books are better than two (unless they're by Joel Osteen). So, I reluctantly shuffled around the store replacing the books that didn't make the cut. I offered each one a heartfelt apology and a little encouragement. "Sorry bud, it's not that you're not good, but I only have so much room on the gift card. Keep your chin up, maybe it'll work out next time." I'm almost positive I heard Jack London sniffle a bit and I'm pretty sure Brendan Manning rolled his eyes at me. I averted my eyes from countless captivating titles on the way to the check out line. "Stay focused Brad, you've made your choices, these are good books." Waiting in line I realized something about my choices that I had not planned. If you know me well you might know that three of my biggest passions and favorite reading subjects are; God, the environment, and outdoor adventures (my wife and son are obviously two of my greatest passions but there are no books about them). In my hand I held Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul - Erwin McManus, The Green Book:The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a time - Rogers and Kostigen, and (to replace my stolen copy) Into the Wild - John Krakauer. On my way out of the store I smiled because I thought it was a funny coincidence.
Today I realized that it was no coincidence. I have been praying for God to rekindle the passion that has been dying in my heart. Not specific passions but passion in general. The kind of passion that I talked about not long ago in my post "Come let us meet together". Passion for life, enjoyment of life, to step from the mundane into the glory of God and all He has created. I see it as no coincidence that I bought those three books. This rings especially true as I dive into Uprising, which starts with a section about passion, the death of it, the death it causes, the reasons for it, and how to recapture it.
You would think by now that I would know that there are no coincidences. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer though. I wonder how many more times God is going to have to pound that into head my head? (That there are no coincidences, not that I'm dumb.)
-Brad
Monday, June 16, 2008
Sometimes the truth hurts less
The Pastor of a church that I visited recently was out of town so they had a guest speaker. This speaker was open about his desire to be a full-time minister and his disappointment that it hadn't happened yet. The sad thing was that it was very obvious why he hadn't gotten any calls yet. He was a horrible speaker. It was painful at times. Sitting there trying to encourage him telepathically... "wait finish that thought", "ouch bad illustration move on, move on" "are you still on the same topic? tie this together please", and "not so much with the jokes, humor is not your spiritual gift". Public speaking was definitely not his gift. He has spent years of his life having people do the "nice" thing: encourage a dream that is doomed to fail. Throughout seminary, evaluations by his denomination and chosen ministry group, and countless "tryouts" for different ministry positions no one has been kind enough to say "you have many gifts but this is not one of them" This can be done very gently, tactfully, and in an encouraging way. He can be lifted up by the acknowledgment of the gifts he does posses (maybe he's better at one on one counseling or ministry organization), be given guidance on how to start focusing on those gifts, and encouraged to continue passionately pursuing God's work in these new areas. It would have saved so much pain, frustration, and questioning God on his part. I know, I've been in his position before. Not to his extreme. I hadn't laid down an entire decade of time and effort before I realized that people were just being "nice". But it still hurt more and it hurt longer in the end. The embarrassment of realizing I had been a public train wreck on numerous occasions coupled with the thought that I might have been hindering people's ability to connect with the Lord was a blow that stung for years to come. Yes I realize that we aren't the ones that do God's work but He does His work through us and many times in spite of us. I am aware that just a few examples from the Bible are God using a drunk, an adulterer, a murderer, a man with a speech impediment, and my personal favorite... an ass (donkey for those not raised on the KJV). But God has also given each of us specific talents, gifts, and abilities (sorry if that's redundant in your eyes) to do His work. Why is it a bad thing to point out those gifts and encourage people to focus more on those instead of the gifts they wish they had? So tell Mrs. Crabblebottom "We really appreciate your willingness to serve but we feel your gift of an outgoing and cheerful personality is stronger than your alto and we would love if you would be one of our greeters instead of singing in the choir" or tell Mr. Featherton "Thank you for your enthusiasm, we feel your ability to entertain kids would be a huge help in our childrens ministry and we can't really afford to have you break anymore of our brand new sound equipment while working on our tech team." Ok maybe phrase that one a little different but you get what I'm saying.
--Brad
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Posers Anonymous
While we're on the subject of things that take me off the hipster list...
I'm getting tired of "indie" films. Yes they were all the rage for me years ago around the time of "The United States of Leeland" and "Garden State" but it's time to let the fanfare subside. I'm not sure how most of these movies can claim to be "indie" anyway, with big name stars, huge budgets, and massive hoopla leading up to a national release. So they may not be released by a "major" production company, big deal. I think "indie" films should stray from the beaten path. Quirky films with dark comedic undertones pointing to a nihilistic worldview have become the norm. It's tired. Lay it to rest unless you have something above average to offer. For now I'm going back to movies like Rocky Balboa, the new Die Hard, and the new Indiana Jones. No they weren't awesome but at least they had taken a long enough break for me to become nostalgic about them.
I guess I'm not that cool... or maybe I'm so cool that I'm just ahead of my time. No probably not.
--Brad
Come let us meet together
For I am a man of many false conclusions and I seek the wise counsel of Good friends on my quest to correct these fallacies.
Not that we may glory in our triumph of greater wisdom, nay we shall never reach the pinnacle for which we strive
But it is the journey that makes a man.
For a man may stumble, lose his way, or grow weary but it is he who continues that truly lives.
Too many of my generation have laid down in the face of hardship. Too many have fallen without the will to get up again. Too many have given themselves to a life of mediocrity, which is no life at all.
Not that we must climb the Everests, win the championships, brave the arctic winters, or break the banks of this life to stave off mediocrity. No. To be a true friend, to love our wives, to have compassion on those less fortunate than us, to raise our children well, to help those in need, and stand firmly and with a strong voice against injustice these are things that make men great.
Man cannot do these things without passion.
So come, let us meet together and speak passionately of things that stir our hearts. For I do not fear the likes of death and the loss of fortunes, but I pray against the loss of hope, heart, and passion.
--Brad
Monday, May 26, 2008
OUT THERE
It was a tough thing to do. That hat served me well for over seven years of my life. We braved rain, snow, dirt, sun, and everything else together in numerous states, and five different countries. We spent tons of time together OUT THERE. Time will only tell if this new hat has what it takes to fill old faithfuls shoes. But I digress. I drove into the mountains turning the music louder the further I got from civilization. Windows down, sunroof open, cheap cigar ash flying and i was feeling alive again. I just drove for hours. I wanted to see every mountain and stream I could think of within driving distance. I did. I drove too long. Dusk was fast approaching. I knew exactly where I was going to camp and I knew I wouldn't reach it until after dark. This didn't stop me, nay a lesser man may have turned back to his comfortable bed in the face of making camp in the dark, but not me. I high-tailed it to camp and missed the last lingering light of the sun by a mere twenty minutes. I got out my flashlights and stumbled off into the woods. Normally this would be a horrible idea but I know every step of the trail by heart and it's right next to a stream that flows under the bridge that I parked next to so there wasn't much chance of getting lost. If you lose your bearings all you have to do is walk down the stream until you hit the bridge, take a left, and your back where you started.
First things first, I collected wood and fashioned a crude fire ring. Fire is a vital part of a good camping trip in my book. The boy scouts would have been proud. It was going in mere minutes. Then came dinner. Delicious Ramen Noodles. The breakfast of champions. Then came... nothing. Yes nothing. That's the beauty of it. Firelight throwing shadows like slow motion dancers, the rush of the river behind me, the fireflies that seem to be talking in a mysterious language of flashing lights all around me in the woods, and nothing to worry me. I don't get stressed out very easy. If you ask my wife she will undoubtedly say that I don't worry enough. But OUT THERE, out where people used to live, out in the great outdoors, what worries I have melt away. I sat for some time by that fire. I couldn't tell you what I thought about most of the time. I don't believe I was thinking about anything most of the time, but it was refreshing. I feel close to God OUT THERE. It's like things are quiet enough that you finally notice He is sitting right next to you the whole time. When the sun came up the next morning I walked up the river to my favorite spot. There are two large rocks jutting out into the river, one from each bank, and they barely miss each other in the center and overlap each others span just a little bit. In this spot right where the water picks up speed in the narrows and snakes through the rocks is the perfect seat. Carved into the rocks is a natural recliner where I sat for hours in the sun. I skimmed through the current issue of Outside Magazine (always a good read), read The Good Book, and did alot more of nothing. After a little exploration I got back in the car to head home with a smile on my face.
The city can really get me down. The traffic, the gas prices, the politicians, the sensationalized (I don't think that's a word) news, the bills, the daily grind, the noise, the pollution, the waste, the constant displays of mans depravity, my sinful reactions to it all, I could go on for paragraphs. It all seems so broken. Honestly I'm not a strong enough man to deal with it most of the time. But sometimes, just every once in a while, when I leave it all behind, if I can get OUT THERE even just for a day, It makes me want to try again. It reminds me that one person can change things. Sure only one person usually makes small changes. But the thing about big changes, sweeping changes, things that change the world, is that they are almost always made up of many small changes.