We The People

I’m having issues with Congress’ involvement in baseball’s steroids/hgh issues. This is not to say that i fully agree with how MLB has handled anything up to this point (the whole turn a blind eye to make money and only go as far as you can get away with method). I definitely am in the “baseball spent way too long pretending nothing was happening” camp and hold MLB decision makers and team owners primarily responsible for turning a blind eye to the happenings of an era.

However, members of the congressional committee and other lawmakers keep insisting that they are opening their investigation in order to protect children and young athletes from causing irreversible harm to their bodies. Thus my issue: can anybody honestly say that the biggest threat to our youth today is performance enhancing drugs? Is anyone prepared to defend such ludicrous assertions against the threats of a pathetic health care system, poorly funded schools, teen alcohol and tobacco abuse, or even depression/eating disorders/self image issues? Please...

A Scientifically Verified Statement

Feeding cats wet cat food who are used to dry kitty chow makes for stinky evening in trailer...

busy day makes for sleepy kerry...

Slowing Down to Learn Gratitude

I was sick today. Not the puking all over the place kind, or the phlegmy kind. Just the out cold on the couch all day long kind. I don’t think I’ve slept so much in a long, long time. Missed out on church, football, and Mardi Gras goodness with erin. Poo...

It did get me thinking, however, how fortunate I am that other than a few tough days with allergies now and then or the occasional flu bug, that I really have much to be thankful for in the health category.

I know that others are not so fortunate. How tough it must be to have a body that gets in the way of “normal” functioning. To have social events and getting out ‘n about as exceptions to the norm and not part of daily life.

So tonight I am grateful...

not on the clearance rack...

I watched “The Constant Gardner” this evening. Every time I watch it, I end up feeling like a slacker. I mean, honestly, what have I done to become more involved in the hideous injustices of the world. Would I be willing to set so many comforts aside and dive head-long into what appears to be a winless battle. If only big drug companies were the only naughty institutions and people out there... How does one start to not just say they care or throw $20 here and there, but actually start to live in such a way that good is perpetuated...

or maybe i’m just scared of what it will cost...

All in a Day's Work

I spent the day outside in shorts and a t-shirt. Incredible. Never, ever, in my life did I ever think that I would see weather like this in February. The cats sure ate it up too. I had dreams of watching the T-wolves game with them tonight. Unfortunately they’re a bit tuckered out...

today's reality check

certainty is a farce

Lent

So I usually don’t do this whole Lent thing. Really, in my mind, it seems rather arbitrary that I should just pick something to give up and do my best to spend the next few weeks being a good boy about it. It really is tricky business. I can’t give up something that is too special or too important, because I would hate to actually sacrifice something that would make me live differently. I can’t give up anything too mundane, for then I’m not really trying and really just “giving” something up to feel like I’m a part of the giving club.

For example: I could give up television for the next few weeks. But then I would actually have to miss shows like Lost and March Madness and other things I enjoy watching. I could add a bunch of exceptions into the mix, like allow those things I really do care a lot about and let’s not forget ESPN and such. But really all that I am left with is a watered down commitment to not watch public television, the shopping network and that channel that only comes in spanish anyways. Thus, I have created the latter category: giving something up to feel a part of the club. Who knew this whole spiritual thing could be so much work?

Now don’t get me wrong. I really do like the idea of discipline and the power that the lack of something can have on how we reshape, refocus and reorient our lives. So this year I’m going to, gulp, attempt to try things a bit differently. Instead of temporarily removing something from my life, I am going to add to its abundance.

This Lenten season, I will be adding words to my daily life. No, I’m not writing a book, an essay or even a shopping list. I’m talking about this here thing we call blogging. For the next few weeks I will be undertaking posting as a way of taking from the myriad of events/thoughts/etc that compose my life and throw some variation of such into cyberspace in order to learn a little bit more about myself through the process of addition. And lookey here... day one is in the books :)

The Rich Young Man - Wealth

Jesus makes a point of mentioning in this story that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. This leads to Peter’s exclamation of ‘who then can be saved?’ Talk about a tricky situation. Jesus was starting a movement. Neither he nor his disciples and followers had substantial personal resources to call upon as support was needed. If I were starting a movement, there is little doubt that my first round of propaganda would be delivered to persons of substantial wealth.

Yet Jesus talks about the Kingdom as being structured differently. The emphasis is not on survivability, nor the wealth that a person can bring to the table. In fact, quite the opposite is asked: that one abandons their wealth and redistributes all of it and then comes and follows Jesus.

‘Who then can be saved.’ This phrase still messes with me. Is Peter implying that the rich somehow seem to have the advantage in most things and not comprehending the upside-down reality of the Kingdom? Is being ‘saved’ and experiencing the Kingdom of God the same thing?

I live in the world of disaster recovery. The very existence of this work is dependent on the goodwill and engagement of countless others. Essentially my job is to help people help people, and I do not see how this could be possible without the generosity, energy and presence of others from all over the country. So many others have taught me what it means to follow Jesus, money included. Many people have asked me why I continue to live off of stipends and per diems instead of accepting reality and getting a ‘real’ job. My inability to reconcile wealth and kingdom is definitely part of that answer.

my life

if it wasn’t enough that I find it borderline absurd that I live in a camping trailer in a cow pasture in mississippi, I now have a cat who has taught himself to play fetch...