A simple note to get started - these are my thoughts and feelings, not my expertise and knowledge.
I had not read the Bible in a long, long time. Maybe a month, maybe six weeks, but I was/am in a period of my life after reading three of Rob Bell's books, especially Velvet Elvis - which is so beautiful - where I did not want to read God, but I wanted to wait on God in a different way. And for the most part, this has been a happy time of life, and I do feel moved by God's spirit in it, without literally intending to read God's words in anything but my heart.
However, I missed reading the Bible, and did feel like I was missing out on wisdom that was beyond my day to day experience. The Bible is a history of the Jewish people and the Jewish man Jesus of Nazareth, and as much as I believe in God's power to intervene in daily trials and circumstance, I do not know anything really about Jewish religious thought and spirituality without it.
So as a change of pace this morning, I flipped to somewhere in the Old Testament - I normally go to Psalms or Proverbs here, but I wanted something that I hadn't read in a while. I honestly think I got something I hadn't read ever - the 3rd quarter of the Book of Joshua. I thought, "Oh, great," when I started out, "here's another chronology of names and people going to war with one another." I do not like to think about war in the Bible. Victory, yes. War, no. But I read it, convinced by countless past experiences that it would be the right thing for me to read that day based on instinct.
Of the 5 or so chapters I read, the verses below stuck out to me. I loved several things about them -
One, that here is a people being given a gift, and they are whining about it.
Two, Joshua does not put up with this; It is the land they were given for a purpose.
Three, the purpose is bigger than the people, and it requires their work to yield the full inheritance.
Four, they are a strong and powerful people who are not supposed to conquer iron with iron. Instead, they are working with their own unique inheritance (the wood and forest) to overcome a material that is arguably, physically, factually speaking, stronger.
I think when I came back to the Bible I was feeling a little bit let down by myself for not keeping up with it more. From this reading, instead of staying let down, I came away with the opposite impression - that I am powerful and my inheritance is not someone else's might, but my own ability to accept the gifts God offers me for what they are and develop them into what God has intended them to be.
I know the Bible is not a fortune cookie or a divination cup. It's a renewal of the spirit that will never leave us. It will pursue our purpose as clearly as Joshua was able to point out the destiny of the people of Joseph.
Joshua 17:14-18
New International Version (NIV)
14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”
15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”
16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment
18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Inspiration
I have recently admitted to myself that I am the kind of person who is impressionable. I think I take this to be a good thing. After all, as much as I have changed as I grow, I don't believe I've really ever denied who I am fundamentally, and many of the beliefs and values I hold are enduring and steadfast views I've been passionate about in the long term.
But in being impressionable, I both need and benefit from inspiration. A good speech will get my heart pumping, as will the right set of lyrics to a song or the role modeling of someone who I admire or would like to emulate. Sometimes it's corny, and other times it's profound, but I do well to have a rallying cry in the back of my mind as I start my work day or work out.
I've been blessed to be able to share so much of my inspiration already through writing this blog. Day in and day out, whether I am feeling particularly good, bad or indifferent about life, I've been able to sort that out here.
But in realizing the importance of little inspirations in the way I conduct my life, I want to pass some of these little nuggets along, so that they might make others motivated or just happy.
Here are a few of my favorite calls to action from some awesome people:
Nelson Mandela
"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death."
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
"I am the captain of my soul."
"When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat."
Jillian Michaels
"A bad day for your ego is a great day for your soul."
"Selfish isn't a dirty word. It means we take care of ourselves and are able to give back."
"Thriving. That's fighting... Surviving is barely getting by."
And this kid:
But in being impressionable, I both need and benefit from inspiration. A good speech will get my heart pumping, as will the right set of lyrics to a song or the role modeling of someone who I admire or would like to emulate. Sometimes it's corny, and other times it's profound, but I do well to have a rallying cry in the back of my mind as I start my work day or work out.
I've been blessed to be able to share so much of my inspiration already through writing this blog. Day in and day out, whether I am feeling particularly good, bad or indifferent about life, I've been able to sort that out here.
But in realizing the importance of little inspirations in the way I conduct my life, I want to pass some of these little nuggets along, so that they might make others motivated or just happy.
Here are a few of my favorite calls to action from some awesome people:
Nelson Mandela
"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death."
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
"I am the captain of my soul."
"When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat."
Jillian Michaels
"A bad day for your ego is a great day for your soul."
"Selfish isn't a dirty word. It means we take care of ourselves and are able to give back."
"Thriving. That's fighting... Surviving is barely getting by."
And this kid:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Consequences
I wrote a song! Finally!!!
It just came out of me, in five minutes, Taylor Swift style. It's in the Sunrises, Sunsets, and Other Inspiration section if you want to check it out.
I am not sure what chords I am playing in, nor what key I am singing in, if any, but I enjoy it a lot. And don't worry, it sounds all dark, but it is just about the fierce urgency of now (channeling Barack Obama) and how in life we're constantly going one way or another, and never standing still (even when chosing to stand still). That kind of realization creeps me out, and it was the first thing that came to my mind when I got out my guitar tonight.
I think the instrumental and vocal inspiration also came from this song a bit. You'll have to hear me wailing to get what I mean, but all in good time...
It just came out of me, in five minutes, Taylor Swift style. It's in the Sunrises, Sunsets, and Other Inspiration section if you want to check it out.
I am not sure what chords I am playing in, nor what key I am singing in, if any, but I enjoy it a lot. And don't worry, it sounds all dark, but it is just about the fierce urgency of now (channeling Barack Obama) and how in life we're constantly going one way or another, and never standing still (even when chosing to stand still). That kind of realization creeps me out, and it was the first thing that came to my mind when I got out my guitar tonight.
I think the instrumental and vocal inspiration also came from this song a bit. You'll have to hear me wailing to get what I mean, but all in good time...
Greenie, greenie jelly beanie
We had a blast in Vermont.
When I think of Vermont now, I will think of four things:
1) Green
There are hippies. There are leaves. There is recycling.
2) Mountains
I do not think anyone in living in the valleys of Mt. Mansfield or anywhere else in Vermont would stand a chance against a zombie invasion. I imagine the zombies would be like a stampede of wildebeests over those mountains.
3) Water
Even the lake seemed too wet. Hence the green.
4) Dairy
Cabot cheese. Ben & Jerry's. Cows. Chocolate. Overload.
Once again, S and I packed a week-long vacation into a 22-hour period of time, and we managed to be well-fed, well-rested and eager for more at the end of it. Well, given the threat of zombies, maybe not too much more, yet. We'll wait until it's winter and we are strapped into our snowboards for the quick get-away.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Spring fever
Is it too late to catch spring fever? Because I think I've got it.
The sound of birds chirping in my ears, sunshine in the first time for forever, and the inexplicable urge to jump up and down, outside, all day, even though its a work day. This is what happens in New England when spring doesn't show up until summer. Spring fever hits late.
I almost entitled this post "Karma" though, because today it feels like there is some good chi floating around. Here are some examples:
1) S got to test drive a GT premium. And got the dealer to lower it's price to the cost of a regular GT!! We'll see...
2) S also has a working computer again for the first time in two weeks, and he has the day off after having to work overtime this past weekend. So the mood of S (and therefore the mood of D) is at a near all time high.
3) D found a discounted room in Stowe, Vermont for Memorial Day Weekend. What's so great about Stowe? It was one of the first east coast areas to let boarders on the mountain. And it's beautiful this time of year too!
4) D and S are going to explore Stowe and Burlington in four days, in addition to visiting the Burton Flagship store, where there will be S and D's favorite things - free food, drink, and snowboards! Ah.
5) Free substance abuse webinar tomorrow on a really interesting topic (I know - "I am nerd, here me roar!"). But this also means that I get to get my geek on while working at home tomorrow. There's almost nothing better than that.
6) I got treated to lunch and complimented on my proposal (for a conference, not a marriage, mind you!) by my boss and his wife.
Need I go on?
Today is a good day. A funky day. A day I hope extends at least until this long weekend I hear we are having to celebrate the start of summer!
The sound of birds chirping in my ears, sunshine in the first time for forever, and the inexplicable urge to jump up and down, outside, all day, even though its a work day. This is what happens in New England when spring doesn't show up until summer. Spring fever hits late.
I almost entitled this post "Karma" though, because today it feels like there is some good chi floating around. Here are some examples:
1) S got to test drive a GT premium. And got the dealer to lower it's price to the cost of a regular GT!! We'll see...
2) S also has a working computer again for the first time in two weeks, and he has the day off after having to work overtime this past weekend. So the mood of S (and therefore the mood of D) is at a near all time high.
3) D found a discounted room in Stowe, Vermont for Memorial Day Weekend. What's so great about Stowe? It was one of the first east coast areas to let boarders on the mountain. And it's beautiful this time of year too!
4) D and S are going to explore Stowe and Burlington in four days, in addition to visiting the Burton Flagship store, where there will be S and D's favorite things - free food, drink, and snowboards! Ah.
5) Free substance abuse webinar tomorrow on a really interesting topic (I know - "I am nerd, here me roar!"). But this also means that I get to get my geek on while working at home tomorrow. There's almost nothing better than that.
6) I got treated to lunch and complimented on my proposal (for a conference, not a marriage, mind you!) by my boss and his wife.
Need I go on?
Today is a good day. A funky day. A day I hope extends at least until this long weekend I hear we are having to celebrate the start of summer!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Hammer
It dawned on me that I want to be here:
Only problem?
There looks like here...
...right now.
Yikes.
But I'm stubborn. So I went there anyway.
Every once in a while I get fixated on something and can't let it go. Snowboarding is like that for me right now. I'm serious. I have flashcards about halfpipe tricks, and I know the seasonal geography of most places on earth according to when you can snowboard there. I might go crazy from now until December. Just might.
I think it started when I wasn't terrible. I guess I assumed because I run into walls in everday life that I wouldn't stand a chance on a snowboard. I gambled paying for a weekend pass last year before setting foot on a board. I earned the nickname "snowbunny" from a colleague at work who could not believe I was even trying this.
But then one day, S and I decided to go up the mountain, after zero-to-ten-percent success in the beginner's area. I realized that day, already on the mountain, that I was supposed to be riding goofy. Too bad the board I'd rented for the season was set up for a regular rider. So it was another uphill battle, which lasted half of the season, for me to stop riding fakie (backwards) and actually look where I was going. Though I must say, during that time, I learned a mean toe edge that S is still jealous of, and I learned how to properly fall on my butt (the trick is to fall and roll, fall and roll.)
Next big trick was going from beginner to intermediate. I had a moment of truth when I looked down Big Blue and could not see the bottom of the mountain. I felt like I might as well be orbitting the earth, ready to drop, and I thought I was going to die before I got down that thing. But in time, Big Blue gave me the chance to get my heel edge down, and by the time I switched back to the beginner slope, I was carving and accelerating on purpose. It was a turning point.
Now I just want to be back there. I've heard that the best thing for new riders is to ride in any and every condition, and I just want to have at it.
Until then, ugh, there's so much time, but there's also - hey - summer. Summer's good too.
There looks like here...
Yikes.
But I'm stubborn. So I went there anyway.
I think it started when I wasn't terrible. I guess I assumed because I run into walls in everday life that I wouldn't stand a chance on a snowboard. I gambled paying for a weekend pass last year before setting foot on a board. I earned the nickname "snowbunny" from a colleague at work who could not believe I was even trying this.
But then one day, S and I decided to go up the mountain, after zero-to-ten-percent success in the beginner's area. I realized that day, already on the mountain, that I was supposed to be riding goofy. Too bad the board I'd rented for the season was set up for a regular rider. So it was another uphill battle, which lasted half of the season, for me to stop riding fakie (backwards) and actually look where I was going. Though I must say, during that time, I learned a mean toe edge that S is still jealous of, and I learned how to properly fall on my butt (the trick is to fall and roll, fall and roll.)
Next big trick was going from beginner to intermediate. I had a moment of truth when I looked down Big Blue and could not see the bottom of the mountain. I felt like I might as well be orbitting the earth, ready to drop, and I thought I was going to die before I got down that thing. But in time, Big Blue gave me the chance to get my heel edge down, and by the time I switched back to the beginner slope, I was carving and accelerating on purpose. It was a turning point.
Now I just want to be back there. I've heard that the best thing for new riders is to ride in any and every condition, and I just want to have at it.
Until then, ugh, there's so much time, but there's also - hey - summer. Summer's good too.
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