Actions Define You
If you had called me a runner just three years ago I would have called you a liar. I didn’t run. I didn’t jog. I didn’t even want to think about running. But then one day, something was different. I bought the shoes and started. And I kept at it. So much so that one of the questions people will ask me on Sunday morning now is, “How far did you run yesterday?” They know because I run every week. It’s an expectation because it’s who I have become. My consistent, frequent actions have defined me in a new way.
Jeff Goins made the comment recently that “writers write.” That goes for just about any label. Runners run. Musicians make music. Readers read. Speakers speak. Parents parent. Friends befriend.
The definition of me as a runner stands in stark contrast to my self-applied label of “writer”. I could even throw in “friend.” These labels mock me because in my heart I know actions define. I don’t write. I scribble from time to time. But I don’t put in the metaphorical effort of pounding the pavement mile after mile in the cold, the wind, and the rain. I label myself as a friend but I don’t put out much effort to invest in the lives of my friends. Read more
Memories of my Dad
Sixty-nine years ago today, my father was born and it’s been just over 20 years since he died. After recent conversations and events, I have been reminiscing and sharing different memories about him. Listed below are some of the stories I’ve been told, memories I have, and things I learned from him.
- He was a mechanical engineer and wore a pocket protector to work everyday. He always had a mechanical pencil and a felt tip pen with him. My brother and I probably destroyed quite a few of his pens over the years. A few years ago, I saw a fellow student with the same pen and I practically snatched it from their hand. It took me back to my childhood and reconnected me in a small way to my dad.
- My mother tells the story that when he showed up for their second date, he was wearing overalls. That was also the first time he met her mother. He was not a redneck, he just did his own thing. When he got married, he had 30+ dress shirts. That way he only had to do laundry once a month. Read more
Running into Uncertainty
Photo courtesy of Picture This / Patty
I read an interview with Jonathan Fields about his new book Uncertainty. He said most of us don’t like uncertainty because it causes fear and anxiety. So we avoid it at all cost. I’m typically the guy with the plan. I like routine. So when I encounter times of uncertainty I often try and negate the effects or get it over with as soon as possible.
The last few weeks I have been more upbeat, for good reason. I’ve got new friendships, I’m training for a marathon, and I’ve got creative outlets outside of my day job. At the same time, I have run into a great deal of uncertainty. Each of these new things in my life also come with its own set of uncertainties. Read more
You Can’t Bash Script Real Life
I had an epiphany this weekend. I was on my way to see a movie with some friends and had a 30 minutes so my brain began processing the week. My thoughts quickly went to one of my friends. We had some hard conversations that week and I was thinking about the next time we’d see each other. I thought through what I wanted to say and anticipated their reactions. I worked through various scenarios and looked at the probable outcomes.
Then it hit me. I was trying to script my life the way I script my work. With my job, I have to think through all the possible outcomes of a function based on the input given. If I get malformed data I’m not anticipating, then the script fails. Other times, the script may not fail, it just doesn’t give the results I was looking for. Read more
Changing Behavior vs Changing Who You Are
Photo by Lynn M Reid
I was talking with a friend recently and they mentioned I can be brooding. First, I had to look up the word to make sure I understood what they were saying. The only time I’ve heard the word used is with regards to teenage vampire movies. I googled the definition and my heart stopped.
Showing deep unhappiness of thought
Their assessment was spot on. Others have made similar assessments. I see the glass half-empty. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can see the 50 different ways an event will fail. Read more
Analog Artistry & Memories of my Grandmother
Over the last few months I have been wanting to get back into more analog hobbies. Growing up, both of my parents were weavers and we would go to the occassional fair and show off our work. I remember one time when we were living in Illinois, they let me demonstrate and I had a newspaper reporter asking me questions for his article. My dad did some woodworking when he had the time. My mother also did needlepoint and quilting.
I enjoyed weaving but I have never had the patience for stringing a loom. So recently, I have been trying to think of a way to make a modified Navajo loom that could be strung quickly but also have the advantages of treadles, the pedals or levers that separate the threads. I haven’t worked out all the ideas and I’ve been wanting to start on something. Then the other night I was over at a friend’s apartment and she pulled out a blanket she was crocheting. That got me thinking. My grandmother used to crochet. I tried to have her teach me a couple of times but I just never got it. Despite my previous failures, I figured with YouTube I could learn this time around. Read more
Ambassadors that Get in the Way
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,” the apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth.
Ambassadors are chosen and sent to places with different languages and cultures. They are not residents, but are visitors in a foreign land. Some serve in places that are hard and the people hate the ambassador’s home country.
There are differences between terrestrial ambassadors and Christ’s ambassadors. Both are chosen, but as Christ’s ambassadors we cannot turn down an appointment. We are called to places regardless of whether our country has an embassy there. But even in our own country we are called to hard areas to be ambassadors. It might be the inner city, the suburbs, apartment complexes or even the country-side. Read more
That Song Takes me Back
Attribution: minds-eye
I bought the latest album from Mercy Me this week. There’s one song that has really resonated with me. The rhythm is infectious plus the content of the song hits where I’ve been for the last year or so.
When life won’t play along, and right keeps going wrong, and I can’t seem to find my way
I know where I am found, so I won’t let it drag me down, oh, I’ll keep dancing anyway…
I might bend but I won’t break, as long as I can see your face
There are many things in my life recently that haven’t played out like I thought. There are days when the disappointment and frustrations feel overwhelming. But this song and others like it remind me of the promises of scripture. Read more
Busyness & Community
Photo courtesy of mknobil
My small group befriended a refugee family from Nepal about a year ago. We partnered with World Relief to help the family make the transition to American culture and help them with their English. We offered to meet with them twice a week. For several months, we would have a couple different people each Thursday evening and Saturday morning go and work with the family. Last summer, we all got together and took them to the zoo. Another weekend we took them to the mall. Hindsight, I think we overwhelmed them with the mall. But they still talk about going to the zoo.
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Laughter and Good Friends
I’ve had the great privilege the last two nights to spend time with good friends and just laugh. There are times when friends get together and the emotional walls are there. There are conversations, but you realize they can only go so far. And then there are times when it seems like everyone drops their guards for a few minutes. The conversations flow easier and usually at some point the laughter starts. It’s even better when there is that one person in the group who has an infectious laugh. Everyone will get themselves under control and that one person will lose it again, which causes the whole group to start laughing again. Read more
