Everyone dreams of that moment when the world suddenly jolts into intense clarity. It is the american dream to be successful, to find importance in ourselves and our surroundings. When reflecting on the american dream we notice the black an white blueprint for success. A wife and kids, a quiet life in suburbia where you drive a nice 15 minutes to your 9-5 job that pays handsomely and then you come home to beaming faces sitting in the front porch swing below the century old maple trees.Ok so maybe I just described "Leave it to Beaver" but let's be honest, how much has really changed since then? Maybe it is a loft in NYC instead of quiet suburbia...Maybe it is two dogs instead of kids or maybe it a flight attendant instead of a 9-5 blue collar job. Taking all of this into consideration, regardless of how different it may appear on the outside, it is still the same life. No matter how the outside appearance changes it will always be the "American Dream", a dream and never reality. As long as we follow this blueprint of success we will never be satisfied because the American Dream is based on a mindset but instructs us to achieve this mindset through material objects. This can't happen, it's impossible, the physical whorl will never satisfy us. God made us in his image, there is a part of us that is beyond this world that needs more than this world has to offer. To truly be satisfied we have to accept Christ into our lives. Let me clarify that I did not say "Fill your lives with religion" or "monotonous rituals". Instead fill your life with the essence of christ, the core of his teachings, fill yourself with love.
I have spent my life pursuing the same goals as everyone else. That is what I was taught and that is all I knew until several months ago when I started to entertain the thought of jumping. I didn't have suicidal thoughts, it was society that I wanted to leave. For a while and even today I think that to leave society it requires a physical detachment and at 2am I will find myself sometimes looking up airline tickets to random places around the world. What's holding me back? Well, it's the love. Breaking from the flow of society may be the first step to gaining satisfaction in life but that is not the end. The second part is more important and far more complex. We must focus our energy, our lives on love. Relationships, compassion to those who are nameless, noteworthy and even nasty. Love bridges all conflicts, all obstacles. What can keep us from being satisfied is we love others. If we invest our lives into loving our family, our friends, our children... we won't have time for the other nonsense that fills our lives. Traffic jams and fights and political poppycock will become obsolete things of the less noble past. If we love, the American Dream will become a reality and we will transcend all of our expectations of happiness.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Remember and never forget
Saturday- Today we left Schongau and headed for Munich. Heidi(the GPS) did a wonderful job again and got us right to the Museum Doors. We entered the Neue Pinakotech and let me tell you, it is one beautiful museum. There were so many greats, Matisse, Klimt, Picasso, Rembrandt, Goya, Gauguin, Monet...and I saw Van Gogh's SUNFLOWERS:)))))))) It was amazing to see all of these famous works in person and to see such a range in content and style. I will always cherish that visit. After that we headed in to town to look for a Jack Wolfskin T shirt and it was crazy! The entire city was a sea of red (Bayern) and small islands of blue (Chelsea) due to the Euro Futbol Champions Finale that night. People were wasted at lunch, screaming, cheering and singing. It was a little scary but invigorating at the same time hahaha. (This game is like our superbowl.)
After we left the city we headed to the outskirts and a town called Dachau. A once prsoperous artist community this name now instills great saddness in the masses of the world today. Dachau was the site of the first concentration camp opened under Hitler's rule. It housed over 32,000 prisoners ( only designed to hold 6,000) by the end of the war. Walking in I felt as if my own freedom were being stripped. It is amazing how tangible the fear and evil is that radiates from this place. I felt more scared than sad, the terror....it's unparalleled. I entered the maintenace building, built by the prisoners, and walked through the same door that over 60,000 jews, homosexuals, catholics and other "inferior" groups passed through. Passing through each of the monochromatic rooms I read of the horrors that occured, each room containing progessivley worse attrocities. Prisoners were forced to count lashings as they were whipped, and if they lost count or there words were slurred with pain, they had to start back at zero. Guards stole caps and through them over the fence, forcing their owners to retrieve their caps and then they shot them as they climbed over the fence. The empty exspanse that was once the yard where they conducted role call was probably the most intense space in the camp. The desolation and coldness of this area, even the blazing may heat was unreal. You could imagine the hours that passed as the multitude of prisoners were forced to stand, some falling dead of fatigue and exhaustion. I will never forget this visit.
That night we stayed in Rothenburg, which is a beautiful bustling city located on the banks of the Danube. I wish we had more time to spend here. ON the way back from supper I heard singing in a church and walked up the steps to peer in. A lady saw me and in a flurry I was pulled in and she was talking to me hurridly in german. Bewildered I told her I only speak English, and with a kind look on her face she explained to me the service, handed me a candle and told me to go to the altar and speak with the Lord. Now I havent metnioned this prior to now but I had the goal of going to a german church service but had overslept last sunday. I know without a doubt that God led me up those stairs and gave me a chance to experience it. I haven't felt so alive in a long time.
This was an unforgetable and absoulutely amazing trip.
After we left the city we headed to the outskirts and a town called Dachau. A once prsoperous artist community this name now instills great saddness in the masses of the world today. Dachau was the site of the first concentration camp opened under Hitler's rule. It housed over 32,000 prisoners ( only designed to hold 6,000) by the end of the war. Walking in I felt as if my own freedom were being stripped. It is amazing how tangible the fear and evil is that radiates from this place. I felt more scared than sad, the terror....it's unparalleled. I entered the maintenace building, built by the prisoners, and walked through the same door that over 60,000 jews, homosexuals, catholics and other "inferior" groups passed through. Passing through each of the monochromatic rooms I read of the horrors that occured, each room containing progessivley worse attrocities. Prisoners were forced to count lashings as they were whipped, and if they lost count or there words were slurred with pain, they had to start back at zero. Guards stole caps and through them over the fence, forcing their owners to retrieve their caps and then they shot them as they climbed over the fence. The empty exspanse that was once the yard where they conducted role call was probably the most intense space in the camp. The desolation and coldness of this area, even the blazing may heat was unreal. You could imagine the hours that passed as the multitude of prisoners were forced to stand, some falling dead of fatigue and exhaustion. I will never forget this visit.
That night we stayed in Rothenburg, which is a beautiful bustling city located on the banks of the Danube. I wish we had more time to spend here. ON the way back from supper I heard singing in a church and walked up the steps to peer in. A lady saw me and in a flurry I was pulled in and she was talking to me hurridly in german. Bewildered I told her I only speak English, and with a kind look on her face she explained to me the service, handed me a candle and told me to go to the altar and speak with the Lord. Now I havent metnioned this prior to now but I had the goal of going to a german church service but had overslept last sunday. I know without a doubt that God led me up those stairs and gave me a chance to experience it. I haven't felt so alive in a long time.
This was an unforgetable and absoulutely amazing trip.
Friday, May 18, 2012
A day from a dream
Friday – Today was another day made magical by God; His creation, His ideas and His uncanny ability to hold off bad weather. We left Lindau this morning and rounded the eastern tip of the Bodensee into Austria. Following the alpine road we wound through lush green valleys full of towering Hemlocks, hills studded with small villages and aquamarine rivers tinted by the stone that the water falls over. The sheer size of the mountains took my breath away. Snow glistened on the multiple facets of these stone giants. We entered Hogenshwangau and the two castles, Schloss Newschwanstien and Schloss Hogenshwangau sat on the ridges above us. Newschwanstien looks like a page torn out of a fairy tale. The white towers reach into the sky and are sharply contrasted agains the green of its surroundings. A wooden bridge spans the gorge beside the castle and the roaring lacht falls can be seen over 200 feet below. Turrets grace every corner of the castle’s keep and the walls seem to meld right into the stone outcropping it is built on. N.S. was built by King Ludwig II who was eccentric to say the least. The man was captivated by myths and fables and was even declared insane right before he drove the country into bankruptcy. He mysteriously ended up dead in a lake two days after his diagnosis WITH the physician who diagnosed him. Murder or suicide??? Ludwig had stories illustrated in murals along the castle walls, each depicting a strikingly handsome tragic hero who many believe he identified with himself. Although he only spent 172 in the castle he did not refrain from adding any luxuries. He even had a scene form Richard Wagner’s musical reconstructed in his castle.(It is speculated that him and Wagner were lovers and that his homosexuality is what categorized him as insane) Regardless of Ludwig’s long line of blunders it is clear that his castle is more magnificent than any before it. I felt like I was in a different world, I can’t imagine how he must have felt, knowing that every mile of the distant lands that can be seen form the windows was his and at his disposal. After viewing the castles we headed into the nearby town of Fussen, where we strolled through the Altstadt and shopped. It was amazing how close the alps were to this brightly colored town. There were a lot of outdoor gear/sporty stores which I enjoyed looking in and I’m sure they’ll come in handy when I live here someday….
From Fussen we headed north and are now in Schogenau. It’s a nice town, quiet, but very charming. We ate supper at this old house and were on like the 4th floor in the attic. You could look down though an opening and see the staircases cross haphazardly, it was really neat. I have never seen such a huge wine collection, there must have been over 100 and they were all unique to a particular region which I thought was cool. Tomorrow we’re headed back to the Art Museum in Munich and we are visiting Dachau, it will be an emotional day for sure. I pray that I have the ability to fully comprehend the range of events that took place and the chain of events that led to such a tragic period.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Happy Father's Day
Thursday- Good afternoon, it is quarter til midnight here and I have had a looong day so I’m going to make this recap short and sweet. Woke up this morning and toured Konstanz. Something seemed fishy at about 10:30 when none of the shops were opened. Come to find out it is Father’s Day….Happy Father’s Day!!! Whooo….yeah…..the Germans really celebrate their papas. The banks are closed, the stores are shut down and the streets are filled with people… now don’t get me wrong, I love people but I’m not too big on crowds and today was a crowded kind of day. We left Konstanz for Mainau, the island of flowers and butterflies but had to bypass that stop due to CROWDS. We headed down the north bank of the Bodensee to Meersburg, a stunning little seaside city that falls in terraces to the water. I got some great pics of Burg Meersburg, the oldest castle in Germany and we enjoyed a Swabian meal from the porch of a café on the sea side promenade. From Meersburg we continued to Lindau and let me tell you, nothing compares to the beauty of this place. It’s a small port on the eastern tip of the Bodensee that looks out on the water. Directly across the lake are the Austrian and Swiss Alps, still snow covered. Hundreds of sail boats dart across the crystal clear waters in the afternoon sun. Over the past 6 days I have seen more terrain change and land diversity than anywhere else in the world, all within a day’s drive form each other and some within sight of each other. It really is spectacular.
Lindau
Hohenzollern Castle
Sigmaringen Castle
Lindau
The Austrian Alps
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Just to put a few places with the names....
Ulm Cathedral, Tallest
Steeple In the World
The Crucifiction In St. Josephs
A wasserfall in the Black Forest
The Black Forest
Harburg Castle
ENO at Harburg:)
Chastan Hohenzollern ??? It has a nice ring to it....
Wednesday- Today we left Ulm after another delicious meal. Pancakes with powder sugar, assorted cheeses and fruits and hot tea…. Enough to make any of pavlov’s dogs’ mouths water…bell or not.
We had designated today as our Tour de Castles of sorts. Heading south west our fist destination was Lichtenstein Castle, built and named after the book “Lichtenstein”. Now we had prepared ourselves for some dreary weather because the forecast had shown 50’s and rain but so far the day had been unexpectedly nice. However, when we reached the base of the castle a dark boiling wall of clouds could be seen approaching fast across the valley. When we came into view of the Castle it took really surprised me. The structure was much more majestic an impressive than I had expected. Built on a spire of rock that jutted out of the valley below, the castle, small as it was, stood atop the spire and almost glowed in the sunlight. Did I say sunlight? I meant snow. YES, SNOW. That dark mass of clouds had brought not rain but snow and I’m not talking a flurry….It was coming down in blankets. Instantly I became a little kid, I was fascinated once again with God’s unquestionable uncertainty. I laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. I was dancing in the snow at a castle in Germany in May! What an amazing amount of impossibilities! Descending the mountain we continued south and within the hour our next destination came into view. Now Lichtenstein may have been perched on a spire of rock but Burg Hohenzollern was sitting upon a whole mountain overlooking the Neckar Valley. For a second I fell into the fantasy of my childhood and I truly believed I was finally going to Hogwarts. We toured the chambers of Hohenzollern and I have concluded that I will trace my lineage back and find my relation to the Hohenzollern and thus inherit Burg Hohenzollern. I also concluded that after seeing the treasury I would spend my afternoons in the castle keep strutting around in an ancient golden laurel wreath with a diamond studded snuff box in hand…just for fun.
The last of our castle sampler was Schloss Sigmaringen. Located on the Danube River Sigmaringen sprawls out on the Cliffside. The beautiful tan stone gleams with a rosy vigor in the afternoon sun ( between the intermittent snow showers of course). From Sig we hoped on the road and drove through what may questionably be the most beautiful stretch of country I have ever seen. The Danube river valley/gorge is flanked on both sides be rock faces and fingers that jut up out of the tree line and shine white in the afternoon light. A castle sits atop almost every pinnacle of stone and villages dot the river’s edge. It was a backpacker and climber’s paradise. Miles of wooded land and untouched meadows called to me and my eno but alas! My time is ticking…. We reached the Klauster Beuron Abbey after the closing time but lucky me the doors were open. Now I have seen some ornate frescoes and architecture in my time but I have to say that the Duomo of Florence and St. Paul’s Cathedral have nothing on this place. Ever surface of the arched sanctuary was covered in flowing white vines that twined around columns, split, leafed and blossomed. Cherubs filled the corners and sat among clouds with outreached arms. At the altar a fresco of Jesus crowning the Virgin Mary stood center while two sculptures, one of St. Paul and the other of Joseph stood to the left and right. I sat in reverent awe at the skill of the artist who molded this place and at the skill in the Creator who molded this world. I realized as I looked around that nothing was duplicated. Every flower, cherub and vine was unique, just as everything in this world is unique. The room began to fill with attendees and I realized that a service was about to commence so I bowed out graciously and we headed for the Bodensee and Konstanz. (If I had any knowledge of the catholic traditions or knew any German I would have stayed for the service because I think that would be phenomenal to participate in a worship service 5000 miles from home, in a different language, with complete strangers yet brothers in Christ. And he, don’t we all speak agape?)
I am now in Konstanz, which is on this massive lake called the Bodensee. The Bodensee lies between Germany, Switzerland and Austria and it has an unexplainably warm climate that allows fruits to flourish along with a variety of moderately tropical plants and animals. The local food is greatJ I had my first schnitzel tonight with some delicious spatzle (regional dish consisting of fettuccini like noodles in a crème sauce) and some locally brewed beer. Well, that is up to date… Its after midnight here so I better hit the sack. Goodnight!
A night in the Fishermens' Quarter
Tuesday Night-Tonight we got back to Ulm around 4ish. I was pooped and with the defeat of the art gallery fresh on my mind I had little desire to do much of anything. After a brief rest we decidied to head off to old Ulm for a little exploration and food. Behind the ancient walls fortifying to tightly packed streets we walked around between the half timbered houses. It was beautiful, the streets paralleled a small river and the houses all leaned over it, in a very venetian style. Water wheels churned and candles flickered in some the waved glass windows. Our search for food ended at a small house butting up to the river, I had to stoop down to walk inside (the place was 400 years old) but the experience was phenomenal. The restaurant was in an old house in the fishermen’s quarter, and it served a variety of Swabian meals. Everything was spiced heavily, soaked or tenderized. Oh and don’t forget the beer, there is always beer.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Munich! Munich! How thou bustling streets impress me...
Tuesday- Today we got an earlier start and grabbed a pastry on the way out of Ulm. We headed down the autobahn to Munich and arrived around 11:30. We rushed through the Altstadt and barely made it in time to see the Glockenspiel (a huge 2 story clock depicting a German duel and dance) at the Markenplatz. The city center was bustling, full of every demographic. I really like Munich because it is a nice mix of old and new. There are contemporary building nestled between cathedrals that are 500 years old. Although the contrast is stark it adds unique character to the city. We went to the city market and wow….it was cool. There were tons of stalls selling vegetables and fruits, hundreds of varieties that I had never heard of, and lots of meat and cheese stalls too. We then headed north to the Hofbrauhaus, the most famous beer hall in Germany where we sat back and soaked in the Ompah band while sipping on a Pilsner. Then we walked across the city to the neue pinokatech, an art museum that houses some of the most notable European artist of the last millennium. IT WAS CLOSED. Queue the rain( literally ). Extremely disappointed, we hailed a cab and returned to the car. I am now back in Ulm, and I think I may go explore the old city some tonight. I have found that Germans lifestyles are very similar to Americans but they seem to have one thing right that we don’t…they know what’s really important in life and they take time to enjoy it. I hope that if I bring anything back, it is that mindset. Well, goodnight….sleep tightJ
A very good start
Hallo! (That’s german for “Hello”)
So I am writing this blog as much for my benefit as any because I won’t be able to remember all the fine details in 5 years and maybe this account of my adventures will keep the memories fresh, (so look at this as being my pensieve just minus the magic and other cool stuff.)
Friday/Saturday- The flight here was flawless, no delays or layovers and the distance wasn’t even that bad. We flew from PTI to Washington then to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt we left United and boarded Lufthansa to fly south to Munich. I must say that Germany first impressed me in its airport bathroom where I discovered that they have solved the age old problem and have invented the perfect urinal. No backsplash or anything….absolutely beautiful. After meeting up with Meems, Peeps discovered that his luggage was MIA. We leave, slightly flustered, but still excited. Thanks to peeps we grabbed the keys to a shweet BMW Xi “Wagen” and headed west to our first stop, Ulm. Ulm will be our hub for the next few days as we venture into the German Countryside. Centrally located, Ulm has some merit of its own; Home of Albert Einstein and the World’s tallest steeple. Once we arrive we eat dinner on the Danube and hit the sack. With one hour of sleep after the past 40 I am wiped out.
Sunday – Let me just say that if you ever travel to Germany make sure you have all that you need on Saturday because come Sunday the country goes on lockdown ( how the Sabbath should be treated everywhere.) Excluding the masses exciting the churches I saw very few people today. We explored the Ulm Cathedral, full of towering columns and stained glass dating back 7 centuries, and then got in the car and drove west. We stopped in Tubingen, a small medieval town nestled between two rivers and guarded by the magnificent castle perched on the crags above. The town was divided by a large hill (where the castle sat) and was connected by a cool tunnel. The Altstadt (old town) was full of stucco and half-timber buildings that dated back several centuries. It is crazy to think that almost everything I touch here is older than anything in the United States. The castle was open for touring (exploration) and it even was holding archery classes. From Tubingen we headed towards the black forest. Taking the BF Crest Trail (a lot like the Blue ridge parkway) we meandered through dense hemlock Groves and across the Hornburg, one of Germany’s tallest peaks. Once on the other side we reached Mumilesse (a small mountain lake rumored to house water spirits). Descending from the mountain tops we spotted a “wasserfall” and…. I had to stop hahah. At the end of the BF crest trail we entered Baden-Baden, a spa town built in the late 1800’s and still a prominent hangout for the region’s snots. With no interest in a couple of hot springs we crossed the Rhine into France. It was crazy, there was no border patrol what so ever. We just slid right in…and back out. Paris was another 500km, and I didn’t really think of anything else worth seeing on a tight schedule…Back to Ulm for the night.
Monday- Today we got a little earlier start but it was quickly forfeited by our lengthy breakfast (over here they almost sanctify meal times, they are a time of extended socializing, hearty meals and great beer). Once we were back in the car we headed north on the Autobahn. We were flying! (so I thought, until I saw cars passing us at blistering speeds….150mph+) When we reached Rothenburg I thought I must be dreaming. It was that fairy tale town, you know like the Shire meets Tuscany? The Altstadt is completely untouched by time, the streets are lined with half-timber houses equipped with geranium filled window boxes. The Town is surrounded by a Rampart/Wall and river. Although it is like a relic among ruins it is completely inhabited. We visited the Cathedral where the reliquary of the Holy Blood resides and some of St. James’ remains if I’m not mistaken. The cathedral in itself is gorgeous with its ornate stained glass and vaulted ceiling. We also shopped at the Christmas market which was cool… Meems could’ve spent eternity in it. After eating a snowball (signature Rothenburg treat) we headed south down the romantic road past rolling fields and hamlets to Harburg. Once there we visited the Harburg Castle that loomed over the town and I even got the chance to throw up my ENO for a little afternoon rest. As the sunset we returned to Ulm, ate supper at The Einstein Restaurant and now I’m sitting here at 2 am writing this.
I hope y’all are all doing well and I will see you soon!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
"I'm so humble"
One of the virtues that is easily overlooked is humility and it is overlooked by definition. When considering humility in our daily lives we need to look at our motivations; are they selfless or are they designed with us in mind? Do I attend Church or volunteer at Crisis Control Ministries because I love Jesus and want to serve or is it because I want to say "Look at me, look at how great of a Christian I am!"
There is a critical fault in our thought process that is groomed and perfected throughout our lives. This idea of self recogniton reaches it's culmination during your senior year of high school when colleges and scholarship organizations ask you to list all of your achievements. Now I am not saying that you shouldn't be proud of the good things you do but don't let that pride be what makes you perform the action. Let the pride come as a result, as a product of the satisfacton you get from helping others.
If we boast our humility then we are not humble at all, we are the inverse of humble. How do we expect anyone to want to join the Church if from the outside we look like a group of pious, hypocritical nags? I dont think I would want to enter any sanctuary filled with vultures like that. I am not just attacking the church, I am attacking myself. I think every once in a while we all need a sobering moment where we realize how insignificant we really are. We have to be brought down out of the clouds, low enough that we can see the land spread out below us, the big picture. We are as important as the whole we create and as insignificant as the singular we try to be. This post is my brick, bringing me to reality. What's your brick? Are you holding it? Or ignoring it? Are you convincing yourself that you're recognition is as important as the work you did to recieve it? Let go of the weght, actually, throw it out of the basket and watch as your hot air ballon falls below the cloudline. I promise the view is much better below the clouds than in them.
There is a critical fault in our thought process that is groomed and perfected throughout our lives. This idea of self recogniton reaches it's culmination during your senior year of high school when colleges and scholarship organizations ask you to list all of your achievements. Now I am not saying that you shouldn't be proud of the good things you do but don't let that pride be what makes you perform the action. Let the pride come as a result, as a product of the satisfacton you get from helping others.
If we boast our humility then we are not humble at all, we are the inverse of humble. How do we expect anyone to want to join the Church if from the outside we look like a group of pious, hypocritical nags? I dont think I would want to enter any sanctuary filled with vultures like that. I am not just attacking the church, I am attacking myself. I think every once in a while we all need a sobering moment where we realize how insignificant we really are. We have to be brought down out of the clouds, low enough that we can see the land spread out below us, the big picture. We are as important as the whole we create and as insignificant as the singular we try to be. This post is my brick, bringing me to reality. What's your brick? Are you holding it? Or ignoring it? Are you convincing yourself that you're recognition is as important as the work you did to recieve it? Let go of the weght, actually, throw it out of the basket and watch as your hot air ballon falls below the cloudline. I promise the view is much better below the clouds than in them.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
A few not so final words....
So after reading Lefty and Mallory's blogs I couldn't resist throwing in my two cents. I feel like we're giving a toast at a wedding or something but who knows.... they say the third time is the charm and this is the third post about you leaving so......
I'd like to start off by saying I am so glad you two are leaving.
Take a second to read that last sentence again, yeah, you read it right. I am so glad you two are leaving because wherever you are headed there is another person like me who needs two amazing people like you. I could be selfish and bitter but why would I want to constrain the possibilites of two of the most faithful and inspiring people I have ever met.
That other person somewhere that is self righteous in what he does, he needs you to clarify what life is really about. That guy who comes to church because it's the right thing to do, he needs you to fuel his spark into a flaming passion. That boy who is fighting with his bestfriend and feels like he's just lost the world, he needs you Kim and the comforting conversation you so willingly give. That youth who is looking for a place to fit in needs you Tom to show him that he needs to create his own niche and discard conformity.
I can honestly say that if I hadn't become a part of MCUMC youth I wouldnt be the guy I am today. If I hadn't met you two and realized how radical your faith is, I would have then never have wanted the same. I wouldn't be going to Clemson, I wouldn't think about backpacking 24/7, I wouldn't have a strong desire to continually serve, I wouldnt know what it means to have blind love. There is a part of me that has been shaped by you two, and it's one of the things I am most proud of.
I pray that wherever you go you will be blessed in the most amazing ways. I realize you are standing on the map and in every direction things look fuzzy, and that can be scary. Think about it this way, the most amazing feats in history occured from chaos. To build something great and new you have to start from scratch. The Creation, the flood, the twelve tribes of Isreal, the resurrection, they are all some of the most chaotic moments but look what God made out of them. Take the leap, and laugh as you jump, becasuse life is gloriously unexpected.
I hope this chapter in your life has been memorable and I can't wait to see where the story continues.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
-C. Swizzy
I'd like to start off by saying I am so glad you two are leaving.
Take a second to read that last sentence again, yeah, you read it right. I am so glad you two are leaving because wherever you are headed there is another person like me who needs two amazing people like you. I could be selfish and bitter but why would I want to constrain the possibilites of two of the most faithful and inspiring people I have ever met.
That other person somewhere that is self righteous in what he does, he needs you to clarify what life is really about. That guy who comes to church because it's the right thing to do, he needs you to fuel his spark into a flaming passion. That boy who is fighting with his bestfriend and feels like he's just lost the world, he needs you Kim and the comforting conversation you so willingly give. That youth who is looking for a place to fit in needs you Tom to show him that he needs to create his own niche and discard conformity.
I can honestly say that if I hadn't become a part of MCUMC youth I wouldnt be the guy I am today. If I hadn't met you two and realized how radical your faith is, I would have then never have wanted the same. I wouldn't be going to Clemson, I wouldn't think about backpacking 24/7, I wouldn't have a strong desire to continually serve, I wouldnt know what it means to have blind love. There is a part of me that has been shaped by you two, and it's one of the things I am most proud of.
I pray that wherever you go you will be blessed in the most amazing ways. I realize you are standing on the map and in every direction things look fuzzy, and that can be scary. Think about it this way, the most amazing feats in history occured from chaos. To build something great and new you have to start from scratch. The Creation, the flood, the twelve tribes of Isreal, the resurrection, they are all some of the most chaotic moments but look what God made out of them. Take the leap, and laugh as you jump, becasuse life is gloriously unexpected.
I hope this chapter in your life has been memorable and I can't wait to see where the story continues.
-C. Swizzy
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The only moment we have
Ninety percent of our media focuses on the atrocities of the past or projected events that have yet to come. How high was the gas four years ago, how high will it be in 6 months? What we did wrong in the Vietnam war, the possibility of a cold war with Korea. What more is the past than a written history, unalterable and gone? What more is the future than unwritten possibilities, flighty and unconstrained? How can we affect the future or the past, how can we possibly remove ourselves form the one moment, at which we are currently living, and alter something that is not ephemeral? The past and present are concepts, nothing more. Time is only present in the present, all else is speculative.
I say we abandon our concern for everything but the present. I realize that this would be an extremely difficult task but wouldn't the reward be amazing? This abandonment, I believe, is the way that we can adopt a Christ-like life. If we had no prejudices from the past, no bitterness towards history, how kind would we be? Hate and anger are deep rooted emotions, If we remove ourselves from the past couldn't we remove these emotions? If we had no fear of financial decline, if CNN didn't predict the housing market to drop, if the thought of college loans didn't loom over our heads how many more dollars would we give to the homeless? How many more minutes would we spend with our family rather than on our fiscal responsibilites? How much more of our life would we spend outwardly living rather than inwardly dying? Satan wants us to be concerned with our own well being, he wants us to remeber past wrongs. He wants us to be wrapped up so much in our past failures and future pitfalls that we miss the moment we are in. Each moment we miss accumulates into hours, days and years. Before we know it we have missed our lives becuase we have been too busy looking behind and ahead.
It will be a tough transition but one that will be worth it. I am living in the moment, I want to experience life and the world around me. I don't want the extra luggage of worrying about what isnt even here. I don't want to miss out on the plan that God has for me. I'm living in the only moment I am guaranteed, now.
I say we abandon our concern for everything but the present. I realize that this would be an extremely difficult task but wouldn't the reward be amazing? This abandonment, I believe, is the way that we can adopt a Christ-like life. If we had no prejudices from the past, no bitterness towards history, how kind would we be? Hate and anger are deep rooted emotions, If we remove ourselves from the past couldn't we remove these emotions? If we had no fear of financial decline, if CNN didn't predict the housing market to drop, if the thought of college loans didn't loom over our heads how many more dollars would we give to the homeless? How many more minutes would we spend with our family rather than on our fiscal responsibilites? How much more of our life would we spend outwardly living rather than inwardly dying? Satan wants us to be concerned with our own well being, he wants us to remeber past wrongs. He wants us to be wrapped up so much in our past failures and future pitfalls that we miss the moment we are in. Each moment we miss accumulates into hours, days and years. Before we know it we have missed our lives becuase we have been too busy looking behind and ahead.
It will be a tough transition but one that will be worth it. I am living in the moment, I want to experience life and the world around me. I don't want the extra luggage of worrying about what isnt even here. I don't want to miss out on the plan that God has for me. I'm living in the only moment I am guaranteed, now.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
R.I.P Societal Norms
This weekend I went to Acquire the Fire, a massive youth rally held in the Gboro coliseum. Let me start off by saying that it wasn't one of those feel good services that tells you that you are doing a great job and everything is just fine. No, it was full of passion, truth and fervent joy about our Lord; about how we can better serve him, become better christians and create a better world. It was an amazing experience and I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it. Today I want to talk about killing, and some of the things we need to kill.
1. Normality
2. Cool
The weekend's theme was "I'm not normal" and as christians that should be our motto. God calls us to be the light and yet statistically in this day and age we are no different than those who are not christians. How can we be a light against the darkness if someone can not see the difference between dark and light...are we really a light at all? I want to restate something that I mentioned a long time ago, we can't get aloof because we think we ARE the light. We are just fragments of glass reflecting the true light, Christ. Once we have identified that we are not the christians we are meant to be we need to investigate and find the root of the problem. NORMAL. That's our problem. The christians of the first century were stoned, flogged, and verbally abused for following christ. They were passionate, faithful and full of joy.... doesn't sound like us, does it? The difference....alot of things, the key factor? They didn't care about being normal, and normal runs our life. Problem # 1 solved : Kill Normal.
Problem # 2 is a sub-section of problem # 1 but in a way it is much harder to kill than normality because COOL is the reason we want to be normal. Cool it the epitome of normal, it's the bees knees, it's acceptance...it is human nature to desire it, and we have to fight it. Cool is everywhere, it is in skinny jeans, a pack of cigarettes, a new pair of nikes and a 2012 mustang. We can remove these desires, these false idols, without too much damage to our life. We just have to live a little more simply and live counterculture but the hardest part about killing cool is that the "church" has become cool. So how do we kill cool without killing the church? A simple mindset change is all that is required. Keep in mind that this change will be simple but definitely not easy. We must remove the social aspect from church, filter out the feeling of superiority and view church as a place to serve God and carry out his works. We need to go to church because we want to serve the Lord, not because it is cool. If you lived in a country where Christianity came with a death sentence would you still sneak out and go to church? Would you still read your Bible? Would you still give your life to Christ? Does God have your heart or have you given it to the world, to pleasing others, to cool?
Cool lives in my life, he is at my side when I'm looking at that new shirt or saying what I need to fit in. As of today I'm killing cool. I'm going old school, so old you may call it ancient. I'm going 1st century. I am killing cool and I'm not looking back. I'm going counter culture in the name of Christ.
1. Normality
2. Cool
The weekend's theme was "I'm not normal" and as christians that should be our motto. God calls us to be the light and yet statistically in this day and age we are no different than those who are not christians. How can we be a light against the darkness if someone can not see the difference between dark and light...are we really a light at all? I want to restate something that I mentioned a long time ago, we can't get aloof because we think we ARE the light. We are just fragments of glass reflecting the true light, Christ. Once we have identified that we are not the christians we are meant to be we need to investigate and find the root of the problem. NORMAL. That's our problem. The christians of the first century were stoned, flogged, and verbally abused for following christ. They were passionate, faithful and full of joy.... doesn't sound like us, does it? The difference....alot of things, the key factor? They didn't care about being normal, and normal runs our life. Problem # 1 solved : Kill Normal.
Problem # 2 is a sub-section of problem # 1 but in a way it is much harder to kill than normality because COOL is the reason we want to be normal. Cool it the epitome of normal, it's the bees knees, it's acceptance...it is human nature to desire it, and we have to fight it. Cool is everywhere, it is in skinny jeans, a pack of cigarettes, a new pair of nikes and a 2012 mustang. We can remove these desires, these false idols, without too much damage to our life. We just have to live a little more simply and live counterculture but the hardest part about killing cool is that the "church" has become cool. So how do we kill cool without killing the church? A simple mindset change is all that is required. Keep in mind that this change will be simple but definitely not easy. We must remove the social aspect from church, filter out the feeling of superiority and view church as a place to serve God and carry out his works. We need to go to church because we want to serve the Lord, not because it is cool. If you lived in a country where Christianity came with a death sentence would you still sneak out and go to church? Would you still read your Bible? Would you still give your life to Christ? Does God have your heart or have you given it to the world, to pleasing others, to cool?
Cool lives in my life, he is at my side when I'm looking at that new shirt or saying what I need to fit in. As of today I'm killing cool. I'm going old school, so old you may call it ancient. I'm going 1st century. I am killing cool and I'm not looking back. I'm going counter culture in the name of Christ.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Boiling Point
I've come to accept that the world isn't fair. There has to be a winner for there to be a loser, a first for there to be a last. But in what parallel universe does coming in first justify getting valued last. After working hard for the past 4 years in high school, placing in the top twenty and maintaing a 4.8 weighted gpa I recieve less accolades than another student with lower credentials due to their race and or income level. I support making the playing field equal for all aspiring students and sadly our country has deep rooted prejudices that have caused c ertain requirements to be placed on opportunities to ensure that aid is given fairly. The issue arrises when the balance is over-righted and it becomes just as unfair as it was in previous eras but in the opposite direction. Our mindset has become SO politically correct that universities and buisnesses overlook the total quality of their applicants in order to maintain ethnically and socailly balanced statistics.
We are a nation founded on capitalism and a free market which is slowly dying, (ironically it has a positive correlation with our economy) and the question must be raised, Why did we change? A capitalist society allows for a natural filtration system to occur, placing like qualities together, promoting strong and healthy buisnesses and phasing out the weak. Would you ever see a MBA or NFL team turn down a star athelete because he would "disrupt their ethnic ratio". No, you wouldnt and if you did you would call them a pansy team with no hope of success.
I am not advocating for a complete abandonment of needbased scholarships and aid but I am asking that universities and businesses take a look at how far we've come and possibly reign in their policies, allowing us to regain a balanced medium. I am asking that they view me as a student based on my achievements,my failures and my character instead of my skin color and how much money my parents make.
We are a nation founded on capitalism and a free market which is slowly dying, (ironically it has a positive correlation with our economy) and the question must be raised, Why did we change? A capitalist society allows for a natural filtration system to occur, placing like qualities together, promoting strong and healthy buisnesses and phasing out the weak. Would you ever see a MBA or NFL team turn down a star athelete because he would "disrupt their ethnic ratio". No, you wouldnt and if you did you would call them a pansy team with no hope of success.
I am not advocating for a complete abandonment of needbased scholarships and aid but I am asking that universities and businesses take a look at how far we've come and possibly reign in their policies, allowing us to regain a balanced medium. I am asking that they view me as a student based on my achievements,my failures and my character instead of my skin color and how much money my parents make.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Is anyone there?
High School is riddled with its climaxes and rock bottoms. We face adversity every move we make. Someone tells me I'm not good enough, not strong enough, not rich enough and even not poor enough almost every day. I'm pretty sure that alot of the difficulties I face on a day to day basis are unnecessary but no matter what I do they still occur. That is just life. BUT the point of difference occurs when we decide how to face the adveristy. Courage is needed, fearlessness is necessary and hope is vital. These three traits can not be mistaken with the lack of fear or overshot optimism. To have courage, hope and to be fearless means facing your "Goliath", being scared, and then..... not running away, but pulling back the chords of the sling-shot. The second easy mistake to make in facing our adversaries is to believe that these traits are solely created by ourselves. That is a lie. David didn't face Goliath alone, he had God on his side. God gave him the courage he needed, the fearlessness, the hope.
As we face our everyday challenges we need to call on the strength and help of God. We need to place our trust in our creator, because ALL THINGS happen through HIM.
Also, I am a strong believer in wingless angels, those people in our lives who stand up for us no matter what. My parents, my church family, my family, my friends.These people have a purpose to fill in our lives, just like we have a purpose in theirs. There's a saying that "Friends are the family you get to Pick." Choose friends that encourage you, help you grow, support you and love you in the best and worst of times. In return, be that friend to them also.
Here's a verse I really like, plus it's my favorite number...
Proverbs 17:17
Go check It out.
As we face our everyday challenges we need to call on the strength and help of God. We need to place our trust in our creator, because ALL THINGS happen through HIM.
Also, I am a strong believer in wingless angels, those people in our lives who stand up for us no matter what. My parents, my church family, my family, my friends.These people have a purpose to fill in our lives, just like we have a purpose in theirs. There's a saying that "Friends are the family you get to Pick." Choose friends that encourage you, help you grow, support you and love you in the best and worst of times. In return, be that friend to them also.
Here's a verse I really like, plus it's my favorite number...
Proverbs 17:17
Go check It out.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Give It a Chance
For me, last friday night was full of new experiences. I was invited to a friend's 18th birthday party. Due to her heritage and the date, she decided to base her party on the Chinese New Year. We were instructed to wear red and gold, the lucky colors, we removed shoes when we came into the house and her family even came over to prepare an authentic chinese meal including traditional birthday and new year dishes.
Me being as white as white can get, the Chinese New Year experience was very new to me. The week before the party I was apprehensive about a variety of things, what the food would be like, the traditional formalities that would be used, and also the fact that the other people going werent really good friends of mine.
As the night progressed I quickly lost all nervousness. The oppurtunity to emerse myself in another culture was really awesome. I learned the meaning behind all the traditions and even found out what my name is and what it means translated in chinese. We made our own spring rolls, ate with chopsticks, ate birthday noodles ( which are really long, spicy noodles that represent long life), greeted each other in chinese and laughed, we laughed alot. Oh and the part about be standoffish towards the other guest, I couldnt have been more wrong. I have gone to school with the group of people there for 10 years or more but have never given them the credit they deserve.
It was a learning experience, and I am so happy I was included. I could have easily have chosen to skip the party and give into my apprehension but I didn't. Now I know I need to give everything a fair chance, because who knows when you'll stumble into something wonderful.
Me being as white as white can get, the Chinese New Year experience was very new to me. The week before the party I was apprehensive about a variety of things, what the food would be like, the traditional formalities that would be used, and also the fact that the other people going werent really good friends of mine.
As the night progressed I quickly lost all nervousness. The oppurtunity to emerse myself in another culture was really awesome. I learned the meaning behind all the traditions and even found out what my name is and what it means translated in chinese. We made our own spring rolls, ate with chopsticks, ate birthday noodles ( which are really long, spicy noodles that represent long life), greeted each other in chinese and laughed, we laughed alot. Oh and the part about be standoffish towards the other guest, I couldnt have been more wrong. I have gone to school with the group of people there for 10 years or more but have never given them the credit they deserve.
It was a learning experience, and I am so happy I was included. I could have easily have chosen to skip the party and give into my apprehension but I didn't. Now I know I need to give everything a fair chance, because who knows when you'll stumble into something wonderful.
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