Tuesday, August 29, 2006
A Note From Your Contributor
This blog has been editted to reflect better judgement and the influence of a very sensible wife. We, the management, hope that our previous post has not offended anyone too much and hope that you continue to read our "Blog". Thanks, and have a nice day.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Must...Focus...
I have had a long day. Tomorrow will be longer. 17 hours, roughly.
But right now, I am in the library, listening to lectures by the good Doctor, and trying to complete proofreading exercises.
And as much as I want to finish the exercises...I cannot seem to finish a paragraph. I did just finish a shift at Starbucks, so the caffeine might have something to do with it. I don't usually have things with caffeine while working anymore...it kept keeping me up till 1 and 2 in the morning...which is hard when Aiden wakes up by 5:30, 6 in the morning.
Sigh.
On a slightly fun note...though it wasn't the dramatic liberating moment I was anticipating, I have apparently turned in my two week notice at Starbucks. I hadn't realized that I had done so...but thats fine with me. No more coffee for me. I am actually not on the schedule after this week. So its time, finally, to get another extra job. A couple hours of tutoring history or something of that nature. But no more Starbucks!
But right now, I am in the library, listening to lectures by the good Doctor, and trying to complete proofreading exercises.
And as much as I want to finish the exercises...I cannot seem to finish a paragraph. I did just finish a shift at Starbucks, so the caffeine might have something to do with it. I don't usually have things with caffeine while working anymore...it kept keeping me up till 1 and 2 in the morning...which is hard when Aiden wakes up by 5:30, 6 in the morning.
Sigh.
On a slightly fun note...though it wasn't the dramatic liberating moment I was anticipating, I have apparently turned in my two week notice at Starbucks. I hadn't realized that I had done so...but thats fine with me. No more coffee for me. I am actually not on the schedule after this week. So its time, finally, to get another extra job. A couple hours of tutoring history or something of that nature. But no more Starbucks!
Waiting on the World...
to Change?
Sigh.
John Mayer has captured one of the central flaws of my generation in a song.
Seriously...Sigh. I am depressed everytime I think about this song--which is unfortunate, because musically its quite nice. But the lyrics that are oh-so-easy to sing-a-long with are...evil. That's right...evil...EeeeeVIL ("pinky finger to the lip" evil).
Alright...I'll retract the "EVIL" branding. The lyrics are not diabolical. They're just kinda sad and pathetic. And its receiving the sort of buzz that old rallying songs used to receive--like the Beatles' Revolution.
"it's not that we don't care, we just know that the fight ain't fair"
I mean, what is that? The only hopeful part about the stupid song is that this is the tried and true way to NOT impact the world...so hopefully my kids will be running things and John Mayer's kids will be singing songs about them for years to come.
Apathy--the new rejection of the system!
I hope that John Mayer is being cleverly ironic; singing a song about how the world behaves--and challenging it by singing a song "lauding" its vices...but I don't have much hope for that kinda of clever song-writing.
Sigh.
John Mayer has captured one of the central flaws of my generation in a song.
Seriously...Sigh. I am depressed everytime I think about this song--which is unfortunate, because musically its quite nice. But the lyrics that are oh-so-easy to sing-a-long with are...evil. That's right...evil...EeeeeVIL ("pinky finger to the lip" evil).
Alright...I'll retract the "EVIL" branding. The lyrics are not diabolical. They're just kinda sad and pathetic. And its receiving the sort of buzz that old rallying songs used to receive--like the Beatles' Revolution.
"it's not that we don't care, we just know that the fight ain't fair"
I mean, what is that? The only hopeful part about the stupid song is that this is the tried and true way to NOT impact the world...so hopefully my kids will be running things and John Mayer's kids will be singing songs about them for years to come.
Apathy--the new rejection of the system!
I hope that John Mayer is being cleverly ironic; singing a song about how the world behaves--and challenging it by singing a song "lauding" its vices...but I don't have much hope for that kinda of clever song-writing.
A Good Action
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Why is History Important?
We had our first "High Table" session this past Tuesday. The "High Table" references the tradition at Oxford and, essentially, its where the Dons sit. Its the High Table, and the students sit at the regular tables. Well, our High Table draws on that tradition, because its for us, the teachers; notably our time at the High Table is not just meal-time, but is a session for us, the tutors.
Its a lot of fun.
This time we talked about Genesis. Mr Bartel led it, and the question he asked was a variation of the question I asked in the title of this post...What is the point of memory?
Now...recreating our discussion would be neither interesting or helpful. But it was, I think, a worthwhile question...and I keep thinking about it over 24 hours later--which is always a good sign.
So...why is memory important? What is the point of history? I can (and did) give the typical historian's reason for the importance of history...but why do we want to keep what happened so long ago fresh in our minds? Why does God make that important (there are numerous references to the heritage of Faith and the history of God's faithfulness throughout the Scriptures)?
Ultimately...why do we want to know our history?
I know what you're thinking; "Chris, I don't want to know our history...its boring and I have better things to do."
I say that's a bunch of bunk. You have been taught wrong. Your teachers have failed you, and you should file a complaint. Better yet, read more and go back and teach in their place--so that your children won't be ruined like you were ruined. But I digress.
You DID and probably still actually DO want to know your history. Why do I know this to be true? Because, unless you're truly braindead and insulated from all society, you go to the movies, you watch TV and you read books. Why do you do these things?
Is it because you literally have nothing better to do with your time? With the exception of reading books, that's patently false.
Or perhaps you think that you are drawn to these stories for some inane reason, that stands alone, unconnected with the rest of humanity, time, space, etc? That's also quite wrong.
No--you interact with those stories because you want to know. You want to touch the stories that tell us who we are and what we are becoming. And that is exactly what history is--you just don't know it yet.
You go in search of those stories because when you see Tom Hanks pinned down on that beach in Saving Private Ryan you feel something stirring inside you that touches something you don't quite understand...but whether you know it or not, it connects you with the men that endured that awful morning. They were men, and you are man (in the genus sense). And when you hear their stories...you begin to perceive a little bit of your place in time, space, etc. You connect--and that matters almost more than anything else. In connecting you are reaching into the soul of humanity...and in the soul of humanity vaccum left by our separation from God. There resides the question that moves all other questions. When you delve into these stories, or better still into history itself, you hit upon a direct line to your heritage as Adam's offspring...and you connect once again to the ancient relationship between Creator and creation.
If that's not worth studying...I don't know what is.
Its a lot of fun.
This time we talked about Genesis. Mr Bartel led it, and the question he asked was a variation of the question I asked in the title of this post...What is the point of memory?
Now...recreating our discussion would be neither interesting or helpful. But it was, I think, a worthwhile question...and I keep thinking about it over 24 hours later--which is always a good sign.
So...why is memory important? What is the point of history? I can (and did) give the typical historian's reason for the importance of history...but why do we want to keep what happened so long ago fresh in our minds? Why does God make that important (there are numerous references to the heritage of Faith and the history of God's faithfulness throughout the Scriptures)?
Ultimately...why do we want to know our history?
I know what you're thinking; "Chris, I don't want to know our history...its boring and I have better things to do."
I say that's a bunch of bunk. You have been taught wrong. Your teachers have failed you, and you should file a complaint. Better yet, read more and go back and teach in their place--so that your children won't be ruined like you were ruined. But I digress.
You DID and probably still actually DO want to know your history. Why do I know this to be true? Because, unless you're truly braindead and insulated from all society, you go to the movies, you watch TV and you read books. Why do you do these things?
Is it because you literally have nothing better to do with your time? With the exception of reading books, that's patently false.
Or perhaps you think that you are drawn to these stories for some inane reason, that stands alone, unconnected with the rest of humanity, time, space, etc? That's also quite wrong.
No--you interact with those stories because you want to know. You want to touch the stories that tell us who we are and what we are becoming. And that is exactly what history is--you just don't know it yet.
You go in search of those stories because when you see Tom Hanks pinned down on that beach in Saving Private Ryan you feel something stirring inside you that touches something you don't quite understand...but whether you know it or not, it connects you with the men that endured that awful morning. They were men, and you are man (in the genus sense). And when you hear their stories...you begin to perceive a little bit of your place in time, space, etc. You connect--and that matters almost more than anything else. In connecting you are reaching into the soul of humanity...and in the soul of humanity vaccum left by our separation from God. There resides the question that moves all other questions. When you delve into these stories, or better still into history itself, you hit upon a direct line to your heritage as Adam's offspring...and you connect once again to the ancient relationship between Creator and creation.
If that's not worth studying...I don't know what is.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Por Que?
Yes, the question is..."Why?"
Why...why do we spend the months before the child arrives "child-proofing" our home with little extra latches and locks on all sorts of things he is not supposed to get into, because they will kill, maim, cripple, poison, or generally cause harm to him. And now, though his inability to discern what objects/chemicals represent a true threat to his person has NOT increased, one of his toys is a lock and latch board...with various locks and latches for him to play with and learn to handle.
So...we spend money buying locks and latches. And now, we are teaching him to make those locks and latches a waste of time and money. Why?
I think my wife was just trying to make it harder for me to open cabinets in my house.
Why...why do we spend the months before the child arrives "child-proofing" our home with little extra latches and locks on all sorts of things he is not supposed to get into, because they will kill, maim, cripple, poison, or generally cause harm to him. And now, though his inability to discern what objects/chemicals represent a true threat to his person has NOT increased, one of his toys is a lock and latch board...with various locks and latches for him to play with and learn to handle.
So...we spend money buying locks and latches. And now, we are teaching him to make those locks and latches a waste of time and money. Why?
I think my wife was just trying to make it harder for me to open cabinets in my house.
I know I've said it before...
but my job is great.
No, seriously, my job is incredible.
We are only doing orientation stuff and I am wildly excited about this job. How many job's orientation weeks involve hours of discussions on the nature of education, the importance of the tripartite soul, and the value of self-examination/critical thinking, etc.? Haw many work places are filled with people that care passionately about the subjects of their labor?
I used to think those questions were cheating. Obviously discourse is not central to every job, but surely people don't settle into jobs that they are either indifferent towards, or even despise, I thought to myself.
Oh, my naive self.
But now...wow, do I have a good job. I'm happy.
No, seriously, my job is incredible.
We are only doing orientation stuff and I am wildly excited about this job. How many job's orientation weeks involve hours of discussions on the nature of education, the importance of the tripartite soul, and the value of self-examination/critical thinking, etc.? Haw many work places are filled with people that care passionately about the subjects of their labor?
I used to think those questions were cheating. Obviously discourse is not central to every job, but surely people don't settle into jobs that they are either indifferent towards, or even despise, I thought to myself.
Oh, my naive self.
But now...wow, do I have a good job. I'm happy.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Being Dad
Its ironic.
Aiden has been a real trooper. He's been lugged halfway to kingdom come by two crazy parents experimenting (from his point of view) with all the possible ways they can mess with his sense of a schedule. They have been quite successful, stretching him to the very limits. He has had some meltdowns along the way, but overall, he's been amazing. The hardest part has been sleeping.
For some reason, he can actually fall asleep...until we come to bed. And then he wakes up. And he cries. He won't stop crying. And he stiffens and arches and cries. Its not pretty.
But it is ironic.
Well, tonight is the night before I go away for a week to try and love kids whose parents were too selfish to love their own children. I will be the first to admit that when its 1 a.m. and I should have gone to sleep a couple hours ago and Aiden decides to declare WWIII, I am not often happy. But...tonight...it was a little different. Now, to be clear: I am not a saint (as if that needed saying); but it occured to me as he began to cry and I realized that sleep was not to be quite yet...how can I love other people's kids in the hard times if I cannot love my own during his? I need to be patient with him and find out what's wrong with him...not merely get mad and go sleep on the couch to avoid his moments of crying (something I frequently do actually do).
So I have been sitting with a kid who is (thank God!) not crying, but won't let me put him down for about half an hour now. He's just holding me...as if that was the reason he was crying to begin with; he wasn't where he belonged, in Daddy's arms. And in a sense...that's true. He wasn't, and now he is...and things aren't so bad afterall.
Being a Dad can be tough...I have never been as tired as I have perpetually been over the last two years...but there are undeniable perks.
Aiden has been a real trooper. He's been lugged halfway to kingdom come by two crazy parents experimenting (from his point of view) with all the possible ways they can mess with his sense of a schedule. They have been quite successful, stretching him to the very limits. He has had some meltdowns along the way, but overall, he's been amazing. The hardest part has been sleeping.
For some reason, he can actually fall asleep...until we come to bed. And then he wakes up. And he cries. He won't stop crying. And he stiffens and arches and cries. Its not pretty.
But it is ironic.
Well, tonight is the night before I go away for a week to try and love kids whose parents were too selfish to love their own children. I will be the first to admit that when its 1 a.m. and I should have gone to sleep a couple hours ago and Aiden decides to declare WWIII, I am not often happy. But...tonight...it was a little different. Now, to be clear: I am not a saint (as if that needed saying); but it occured to me as he began to cry and I realized that sleep was not to be quite yet...how can I love other people's kids in the hard times if I cannot love my own during his? I need to be patient with him and find out what's wrong with him...not merely get mad and go sleep on the couch to avoid his moments of crying (something I frequently do actually do).
So I have been sitting with a kid who is (thank God!) not crying, but won't let me put him down for about half an hour now. He's just holding me...as if that was the reason he was crying to begin with; he wasn't where he belonged, in Daddy's arms. And in a sense...that's true. He wasn't, and now he is...and things aren't so bad afterall.
Being a Dad can be tough...I have never been as tired as I have perpetually been over the last two years...but there are undeniable perks.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Royal Family Kids' Camp
I will be gone this week, working at the Royal Family Kids' Camp hosted by our church. In the meantime, my family will be enjo-I mean struggling with my absence. So please keep them in your prayers. Sheri is getting ready to return full-time to the nursing program (year two) at Biola, and is very excited about getting geared up for that...and it would be easier to do that if she weren't flying solo for the week before classes start. Aiden is gearing up to run around the house and have a great time...and it will probably be easier to make messes now that there aren't four hands/eyes/feet etc to prevent him from wreaking havoc. Seriously though, just keep them in prayers, if you would, that they will be safe and have a really great week together. And if you remember me, pray for me. I have been sick this last week, and this coming week looks to be rather tiring. Pray that I can stay healthy and be energetic for the kids, and that the kids themselves will be touched by the love of Christ throughout the week.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
El Gran Tiburón Blanco
I have a sort of...morbid fascination? with sharks. And recently, I have had the opportunity to watch some documentaries on Great Whites. I am creeped out and awe-struck all at once.
I believe, almost actually, that I will die by shark...if only because I am more afraid of sharks than almost anything else on the earth. Not wimpy afraid, a a girl and a spider...I am just in awe of how fantastically lethal a Great White Shark is.
One of the highlights of my life was seeing a Great White Shark (lets face it, the Celebrity of the Shark world) face to face...with a very important, and thankfully very thick piece of glass between us. She was like nature's version of a stealth bomber. You could see her when she was directly in front of you, and then she would disappear once she had passed even a few feet away...only to glide back into your line of site a few moments later. The other fish didn't disappear. Just the Great White. And the symmetry of her lines...I have never seen anything so deliberately built for hunting and killing. There were other sharks in the tank with her...they looked like regular fishes in comparison to the Great White. It was amazing.
I loved it...but I cannot understand the guys that go out (as the guys in the documentary did) and stand in a little motor boat throwing blood and meat into the water, and using a stick or a line to tempt Great Whites to get right up next to their miniscule boat and start thrashing. Crazy. Insane. Remember the famous line? "We're going to need a bigger boat." I watched two crazy people do their best to tempt the most lethal creature in nature as it tore a 500 lb seal to ribbons. The shark was over two tons! And their cameras captured the whole thing...the seal is just floating around, looking for something...the water looks nice enough...and then, from beneath the seal, a dark shadow starts to appear...and by the time you can make out exactly what it is...its too late. Death has literally just swam up and eaten you. Yeah, I wanna go out in a dingy and take pictures of THAT. Crazy!
I can imagine the discussion on one of those boats...they're talking to the camera..."Observe the shark, stalking its prey...so naturally capable of killing it seems effortless. It stalks the deeps, nature's Stealth Bomber of the depths...(psst, Larry...the Shark is getting a little too close to the camera...) See the ultimate predator as it rips into its victim, its awesome jaws sawing through thick layers with an efficiency not seen anywhere else in nature...(Larry...now he's getting too close to the boat...pssst--Larry...start the engine! No gas? The shark bit the propeller and now it won't spin?...he's left the seal...what's he doing?) See the shark abandon his kill, seemingly interested in something els...!(Larry...why is the shark moving back towards the boat? Larry?!?!) *crash* See how the shark explores the intruders to his domain...(What do you mean "there's water in the boat"? What?!? The Shark has cracked the hull of the boat? *crash*)" A new voice finishes the segment..."See the shark as he re-establishes his complete dominance of the sea, conquering even those land dwellers reckless enough to tempt fate and the shark with their lives..."
Yeah...I wouldn't be in that boat. Still, I am convinced it'll be sharks that finish me off in the end...With my luck, I'll end up eating some Shark soup at a restaurant some day and choke to death...and prove myself a rather ironic prophet. At least my tombstone can read:
"Christopher Leigh; Husband, Father, Son. Death by Shark"
I believe, almost actually, that I will die by shark...if only because I am more afraid of sharks than almost anything else on the earth. Not wimpy afraid, a a girl and a spider...I am just in awe of how fantastically lethal a Great White Shark is.
One of the highlights of my life was seeing a Great White Shark (lets face it, the Celebrity of the Shark world) face to face...with a very important, and thankfully very thick piece of glass between us. She was like nature's version of a stealth bomber. You could see her when she was directly in front of you, and then she would disappear once she had passed even a few feet away...only to glide back into your line of site a few moments later. The other fish didn't disappear. Just the Great White. And the symmetry of her lines...I have never seen anything so deliberately built for hunting and killing. There were other sharks in the tank with her...they looked like regular fishes in comparison to the Great White. It was amazing.
I loved it...but I cannot understand the guys that go out (as the guys in the documentary did) and stand in a little motor boat throwing blood and meat into the water, and using a stick or a line to tempt Great Whites to get right up next to their miniscule boat and start thrashing. Crazy. Insane. Remember the famous line? "We're going to need a bigger boat." I watched two crazy people do their best to tempt the most lethal creature in nature as it tore a 500 lb seal to ribbons. The shark was over two tons! And their cameras captured the whole thing...the seal is just floating around, looking for something...the water looks nice enough...and then, from beneath the seal, a dark shadow starts to appear...and by the time you can make out exactly what it is...its too late. Death has literally just swam up and eaten you. Yeah, I wanna go out in a dingy and take pictures of THAT. Crazy!
I can imagine the discussion on one of those boats...they're talking to the camera..."Observe the shark, stalking its prey...so naturally capable of killing it seems effortless. It stalks the deeps, nature's Stealth Bomber of the depths...(psst, Larry...the Shark is getting a little too close to the camera...) See the ultimate predator as it rips into its victim, its awesome jaws sawing through thick layers with an efficiency not seen anywhere else in nature...(Larry...now he's getting too close to the boat...pssst--Larry...start the engine! No gas? The shark bit the propeller and now it won't spin?...he's left the seal...what's he doing?) See the shark abandon his kill, seemingly interested in something els...!(Larry...why is the shark moving back towards the boat? Larry?!?!) *crash* See how the shark explores the intruders to his domain...(What do you mean "there's water in the boat"? What?!? The Shark has cracked the hull of the boat? *crash*)" A new voice finishes the segment..."See the shark as he re-establishes his complete dominance of the sea, conquering even those land dwellers reckless enough to tempt fate and the shark with their lives..."
Yeah...I wouldn't be in that boat. Still, I am convinced it'll be sharks that finish me off in the end...With my luck, I'll end up eating some Shark soup at a restaurant some day and choke to death...and prove myself a rather ironic prophet. At least my tombstone can read:
"Christopher Leigh; Husband, Father, Son. Death by Shark"
Friday, August 11, 2006
The crisis of reality...
Sad day, really. The political world was getting all geared up for a regular rhetoric hoedown. The talking points were ready, and history and fact were all limbered up to be distorted past recognition...and then those pesky terrorists had to go and validate everything!
The only question I have is this...how can a political party survive when this is how they behave when a moderate leader of their party (a man who was actually a VP candidate only 6 years ago!) cannot keep the support of his home base, but instead loses to a proclaimed supporter of appeasement and inaction? Its almost as maddening as Mike Wallace's revealed lack of moral conscience...apparently, if a madman is interesting enough, the situation changes.
Here's my real problem; we need a second voice. We need a debate. We need a left to my right. But the people leading today's Democratic party are insane. They have no depth perception...they are shallow and simple-minded fools that attribute everything to greed and believe everything can be solved if only we redistribute enough wealth. They cannot grasp the concept of people willing to destroy the world over an idea! There are strands of the old debate in that thinking, but the problem is the old Left did understand that social reform was only part of the answer: sometimes force is required. FDR got it. Truman got it. Kennedy even got it (to some extent--the Cuban Missle Crisis was his moment in the sun). Carter, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, et al; they don't get it. Some on the right seem to want to embrace Lieberman as if he was the long lost son of the Republican party--he's NOT, but at least he's a balanced Democrat who has a healthy perspective of the way the world is presently. Cutting him out is a message to the rest of the Democratic party--and to the nation: the Liberal Left no longer has a handle on the reality of the situation, and they cannot be trusted with the leadership of this nation. They will allow desperate men enough room to grow until we can no longer challenge them without cataclysmic results.
Beware America. I know I sound dramatic...but this is one of those delicate, dramtic moments in history where the wrong choice in something as trivial as a national debate can cost the world a price too high to pay.
The only question I have is this...how can a political party survive when this is how they behave when a moderate leader of their party (a man who was actually a VP candidate only 6 years ago!) cannot keep the support of his home base, but instead loses to a proclaimed supporter of appeasement and inaction? Its almost as maddening as Mike Wallace's revealed lack of moral conscience...apparently, if a madman is interesting enough, the situation changes.
Here's my real problem; we need a second voice. We need a debate. We need a left to my right. But the people leading today's Democratic party are insane. They have no depth perception...they are shallow and simple-minded fools that attribute everything to greed and believe everything can be solved if only we redistribute enough wealth. They cannot grasp the concept of people willing to destroy the world over an idea! There are strands of the old debate in that thinking, but the problem is the old Left did understand that social reform was only part of the answer: sometimes force is required. FDR got it. Truman got it. Kennedy even got it (to some extent--the Cuban Missle Crisis was his moment in the sun). Carter, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, et al; they don't get it. Some on the right seem to want to embrace Lieberman as if he was the long lost son of the Republican party--he's NOT, but at least he's a balanced Democrat who has a healthy perspective of the way the world is presently. Cutting him out is a message to the rest of the Democratic party--and to the nation: the Liberal Left no longer has a handle on the reality of the situation, and they cannot be trusted with the leadership of this nation. They will allow desperate men enough room to grow until we can no longer challenge them without cataclysmic results.
Beware America. I know I sound dramatic...but this is one of those delicate, dramtic moments in history where the wrong choice in something as trivial as a national debate can cost the world a price too high to pay.
High on Life!
A little extreme I suppose...I sound like one of those insane inspirational speakers, or something.
But I am notably better tonight than I was last night.
You see, I hate being sick. And last night...I was sick. Fever of 102, aching pretty much everywhere...I wished I was dead. Being sick doesn't reflect well on me...it makes me seem...ill.
I much prefer this current state. Wide awake at 2 AM and wanting to post on my blog, watching history documentaries on Churchill and Roosevelt. Much preferable to wishing I could disappear into the folds of my couch just so I would stop feeling the way I felt.
Of course...I could probably avoid being sick if I went to bed now. I leave with this final thought...Churchill was a giant to Roosevelt's ant-like character. Governments trade in PR but could become legendary if they affected real change. And late night television is unique in its ability to be simultaneously interesting and inane.
See...I get a new job, I like my life a little more...I start blogging more. Now if I get more readers...I might start believing I got the job because the world needed my blog. And they do...oh they do...
Wow...I'm tired...
But I am notably better tonight than I was last night.
You see, I hate being sick. And last night...I was sick. Fever of 102, aching pretty much everywhere...I wished I was dead. Being sick doesn't reflect well on me...it makes me seem...ill.
I much prefer this current state. Wide awake at 2 AM and wanting to post on my blog, watching history documentaries on Churchill and Roosevelt. Much preferable to wishing I could disappear into the folds of my couch just so I would stop feeling the way I felt.
Of course...I could probably avoid being sick if I went to bed now. I leave with this final thought...Churchill was a giant to Roosevelt's ant-like character. Governments trade in PR but could become legendary if they affected real change. And late night television is unique in its ability to be simultaneously interesting and inane.
See...I get a new job, I like my life a little more...I start blogging more. Now if I get more readers...I might start believing I got the job because the world needed my blog. And they do...oh they do...
Wow...I'm tired...
Crash
Wow.
I had heard it was a good movie on the issues of racism and prejudice. I had no idea it actually WAS a good movie on those issues.
It was fantastic. So broad in its scope...so deep in its details. Just a really great film, with complex irony and level upon level of introspection.
I probably sound lame...but it was refreshing to see such a great representation of the problems that really DO affect us on a day to day basis. There is racism, as Crash presents it, everywhere and at work constantly. This is because we all work with people different from ourselves...and specifically when it comes to the issue of race, we have prejuidices in mind that we must decide to overcome (if we are to be good people) or are influenced by (if we allow our natural inclinations to rule us). There is a reason mankind divided when God introduced differences into the equation. We don't like to understand those that are not like us.
But the thing I think I saw best represented in Crash was the nature of racism. Racism comes about as a result of all those other issues (prejudices, stereo-types, history, etc). But at the moment, when the man or woman is acting on those racist emotions...he or she is not so different from any other bad man or woman committing an offense against another person. The only difference is the racist has, as his reason for acting against the specific individual he is acting against, race as a motivating factor. Still there are degrees of racists. They do not automatically become that special type of racist that would put entire races into concentration camps. The average racist is merely a man behaving badly towards a person or people of a particular race that he has (for one reason or another) decided is inherantly less good as a result of being "that race" (clearly a fool's opinion...but that's what a person acting on racism is...a fool--or at least, foolish).
The really interesting thing is...this reveals just how universal racism can be. These predispositions are everywhere. Its nearly impossible to avoid...because we ARE different, and when people differ from each other, they notice those differences and attribute problems to the presence of differences (whether there is a relation or not).
I don't know. I realize that this is a jumble of thoughts. I really appreciated the movie and I think that if the discussion on the issues of race were approached with a better understanding (an understanding akin to the understanding that I think the makers of Crash have) we would get further in bridging the gap between our differences.
I had heard it was a good movie on the issues of racism and prejudice. I had no idea it actually WAS a good movie on those issues.
It was fantastic. So broad in its scope...so deep in its details. Just a really great film, with complex irony and level upon level of introspection.
I probably sound lame...but it was refreshing to see such a great representation of the problems that really DO affect us on a day to day basis. There is racism, as Crash presents it, everywhere and at work constantly. This is because we all work with people different from ourselves...and specifically when it comes to the issue of race, we have prejuidices in mind that we must decide to overcome (if we are to be good people) or are influenced by (if we allow our natural inclinations to rule us). There is a reason mankind divided when God introduced differences into the equation. We don't like to understand those that are not like us.
But the thing I think I saw best represented in Crash was the nature of racism. Racism comes about as a result of all those other issues (prejudices, stereo-types, history, etc). But at the moment, when the man or woman is acting on those racist emotions...he or she is not so different from any other bad man or woman committing an offense against another person. The only difference is the racist has, as his reason for acting against the specific individual he is acting against, race as a motivating factor. Still there are degrees of racists. They do not automatically become that special type of racist that would put entire races into concentration camps. The average racist is merely a man behaving badly towards a person or people of a particular race that he has (for one reason or another) decided is inherantly less good as a result of being "that race" (clearly a fool's opinion...but that's what a person acting on racism is...a fool--or at least, foolish).
The really interesting thing is...this reveals just how universal racism can be. These predispositions are everywhere. Its nearly impossible to avoid...because we ARE different, and when people differ from each other, they notice those differences and attribute problems to the presence of differences (whether there is a relation or not).
I don't know. I realize that this is a jumble of thoughts. I really appreciated the movie and I think that if the discussion on the issues of race were approached with a better understanding (an understanding akin to the understanding that I think the makers of Crash have) we would get further in bridging the gap between our differences.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
You just wish...
...that you had my job.
Admit it.
You envy me.
Its understandable.
A beautiful wife.
An amazing son.
Devilish good looks.
Rapier-like wit.
Roguish charm.
I can hear you now; "Why does Chris get all the good stuff?" you ask yourself, bitterness welling up inside you. Shame on you.
Well, let me tell you--though all of the above is true, not everything is easy, even for me. I live in a small, old, and rather rundown apartment (despite our best efforts to make it home...we succeed, but since we can make this place comfy, just think about what we could do with a nice place!) I drive a gas guzzling, frequently broken Kia Sportage...and its white. And, I do live in a parking lot city, which has been forced into existence by man, though nature never intended a city to reside here.
For a while now, I would have been able to add the fact that I, a grown up by most estimations (based, if not on my youthful good looks and energetic enthusiasm, then on my current status in life) work with mostly kids making coffee. Sigh. It was a huge chink in my armor, a glaring fault in the midst of dazzling perfection...that's me.
But no more. I got a full-time new job...teaching...great...books.
That's right.
I read and talk for a living. I read things like LOTR and Mere Christianity. And talk. Hmmm...yeah, there's not much of a downside to that (grading papers not withstanding!)
I guess I cannot blame you for envying me. I envied me until I got this job.
This is so cool!
Admit it.
You envy me.
Its understandable.
A beautiful wife.
An amazing son.
Devilish good looks.
Rapier-like wit.
Roguish charm.
I can hear you now; "Why does Chris get all the good stuff?" you ask yourself, bitterness welling up inside you. Shame on you.
Well, let me tell you--though all of the above is true, not everything is easy, even for me. I live in a small, old, and rather rundown apartment (despite our best efforts to make it home...we succeed, but since we can make this place comfy, just think about what we could do with a nice place!) I drive a gas guzzling, frequently broken Kia Sportage...and its white. And, I do live in a parking lot city, which has been forced into existence by man, though nature never intended a city to reside here.
For a while now, I would have been able to add the fact that I, a grown up by most estimations (based, if not on my youthful good looks and energetic enthusiasm, then on my current status in life) work with mostly kids making coffee. Sigh. It was a huge chink in my armor, a glaring fault in the midst of dazzling perfection...that's me.
But no more. I got a full-time new job...teaching...great...books.
That's right.
I read and talk for a living. I read things like LOTR and Mere Christianity. And talk. Hmmm...yeah, there's not much of a downside to that (grading papers not withstanding!)
I guess I cannot blame you for envying me. I envied me until I got this job.
This is so cool!
Coolest Starbucks Moment Ever
I have been meaning to relate this...its one of those moments that you have to hold on to, to keep you from going nuts in the midst of making 4000 Carmel Fraps a night...
So, we have this regular named Nick. Orders a Iced Venti Vanilla Latte, with 4 shots and whipped cream. As with all regulars, I like to be generous and also like to chat from time to time. One night, during the recent crazy heat wave, he came in, ordered the usual, and while waiting for his drink, I noticed that he had a cigar in his shirt pocket. We were talking, and he said that he enjoyed sitting, on occasion, outside, drinking his coffee and smoking a cigar. I said that, yes, that's good way to spend an evening, and that was the end of our discussion.
Couple weeks later...
Another, quite similar night, Nick the regular walks in and orders his usual. I am once again on the bar, and so I masterfully put his drink together. While I am topping it off with whipped cream, he asks me if I enjoy cigars. I say, yes, I have enjoyed them when I have smoked them (which is rare, but I have enjoyed them every time). He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out an extra cigar and hands it to me, and tells me that he remembered talking with me and that I had mentioned how nice it was to sit, drink coffee and smoke a cigar--so he brought an extra to give to me! How cool is that?
I have the cigar sitting on my desk, waiting for the day I turn in my notice at Starbucks. Oh, and its coming soon!
So, we have this regular named Nick. Orders a Iced Venti Vanilla Latte, with 4 shots and whipped cream. As with all regulars, I like to be generous and also like to chat from time to time. One night, during the recent crazy heat wave, he came in, ordered the usual, and while waiting for his drink, I noticed that he had a cigar in his shirt pocket. We were talking, and he said that he enjoyed sitting, on occasion, outside, drinking his coffee and smoking a cigar. I said that, yes, that's good way to spend an evening, and that was the end of our discussion.
Couple weeks later...
Another, quite similar night, Nick the regular walks in and orders his usual. I am once again on the bar, and so I masterfully put his drink together. While I am topping it off with whipped cream, he asks me if I enjoy cigars. I say, yes, I have enjoyed them when I have smoked them (which is rare, but I have enjoyed them every time). He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out an extra cigar and hands it to me, and tells me that he remembered talking with me and that I had mentioned how nice it was to sit, drink coffee and smoke a cigar--so he brought an extra to give to me! How cool is that?
I have the cigar sitting on my desk, waiting for the day I turn in my notice at Starbucks. Oh, and its coming soon!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
New Job, New Times
So...
Sooooo...
My how plans can change. God has an interesting way of...shall we say...adjusting our plans as we go.
I have been hired on full-time as a tutor at the Torrey Academy, which functions under the STAR program at Biola University.
This is, really, a dream come true. I actually get to make a living reading books and talking about them. Not much of a living...it is, after all, Christian education, but a living nonetheless. My first full salary position (i.e. not paid by the week or hour, but by on a 10 month schedule).
The only down side, and it really is difficult for me to do, is that I have to resign my position at Santa Fe Springs Christian Middle School.
It is a disappointment...of a interesting nature. I was very much looking forward to the chance to work at that school. Still, I love this new job I have, and I have no doubt it will be ultimately incredibly fulfilling. I just feel bad about having to leave that school with only two weeks before the semester starts to fill that position.
Sigh.
Thank you Lord for the gift of this new job!
Sooooo...
My how plans can change. God has an interesting way of...shall we say...adjusting our plans as we go.
I have been hired on full-time as a tutor at the Torrey Academy, which functions under the STAR program at Biola University.
This is, really, a dream come true. I actually get to make a living reading books and talking about them. Not much of a living...it is, after all, Christian education, but a living nonetheless. My first full salary position (i.e. not paid by the week or hour, but by on a 10 month schedule).
The only down side, and it really is difficult for me to do, is that I have to resign my position at Santa Fe Springs Christian Middle School.
It is a disappointment...of a interesting nature. I was very much looking forward to the chance to work at that school. Still, I love this new job I have, and I have no doubt it will be ultimately incredibly fulfilling. I just feel bad about having to leave that school with only two weeks before the semester starts to fill that position.
Sigh.
Thank you Lord for the gift of this new job!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Been Busy
My last post was hardly an uplifting thought (though, of course, brilliant in its analysis). Unfortunately, I've been busy and the news has been anything but uplifting.
But, I was busy doing cool stuff, and since I am finally done with all that was happening in the last week, I thought it would be nice to finally post about it...Aiden permitting...
***Aiden did not permit...which is why this post, officially created on the 3rd of August is being posted on the 5th.***
So, what have we been up to? Well, we went to a wedding of good friends. They haven't risen from the private state of the newly married bliss (and good for them I say!), so the link does little more than point you in the direction--there's no update.
But while attending that wedding interesting things began happening. Our car decided that we had enjoyed too easy a time with it, having just dropped another $500+ on it, and the compressor for the AC went out. The wedding was in Fresno, during the worst heatwave of this Summer. The temperature in the shade was over 110 degrees, in the sun it felt like you were in an oven. More dear friends came to our rescue (we wouldn't have endured the trek to the wedding if not for their generosity) and lent us their new Toyota Camry. It was a nice ride. The outside world was burning in hell, but we were cruising inside in fantastic cool air, in a very comfortable car.
While out there, we stayed with another dear friend and her family, and as odd as it might sound...sleeping for a night at their house was the closest thing Sheri and I had enjoyed to a getaway vacation pretty much since the October before Aiden was born (well, there was the Christmas after he was born...I am not sure if I count that or not, but its still been about 2 years). 2 years! I cannot stress enough...getting away, even if its not the Ritz, is everything. We stayed in a normal home, ate normal food and did nothing much in particular...and I felt more rested and relaxed coming home to L.A. to go and work that night than I had in nearly 2 years. We are, needless to say, grateful for the haspitality of both a car and a room. They may seem like little things, but we have revived in no small part due to that mini-break of a day and a half outside of the ordinary.
Also, while we were on our mini-break, we managed to visit Saquoia National Forest and see the giant trees. Amazing. Really almost a holy place. God has done some amazing things with this world.
Then, about half a week after that adventure, we embarked on another. A friend from the past (how exciting does that sound?) came to visit us. We hadn't seen her in 6 years, but Kari Kipp is as wonderful as ever, and we had a great week with her catching up and essentially tiring ourselves out as much as possible. We hiked to a "waterfall", otherwise known as the trickle at the end of the trail aka Millard Falls in Altadena, we went to the OC Fair, to Crystal Cove State Beach, to Balboa Island, to San Louis Obispo, to W.R. Hearst Beach, to Pismo State Beach (tried camping...too much sand, too much wind...still got sand pretty much everywhere...), to Cambria, and a few other places. It was a full week. We literally couldn't manage to get up and go anywhere the last day...we were too tired. We had a lot of fun. We hung out with one of my good friends a couple of times, and generally just did as many fun things as we could manage.
We did so much stuff that at the end of the week...all of us were sick. Good times.
So yeah, that's what's been keepin me from the computer and blogging...real life. And its been good. I have become convinced that the surest way to go mad is to NOT plan a regular occasion for walking in the woods. I have also decided that I WILL immerse myself in something NOT related to the city on at least an annual basis...it was too good not to go back.
But, I was busy doing cool stuff, and since I am finally done with all that was happening in the last week, I thought it would be nice to finally post about it...Aiden permitting...
***Aiden did not permit...which is why this post, officially created on the 3rd of August is being posted on the 5th.***
So, what have we been up to? Well, we went to a wedding of good friends. They haven't risen from the private state of the newly married bliss (and good for them I say!), so the link does little more than point you in the direction--there's no update.
But while attending that wedding interesting things began happening. Our car decided that we had enjoyed too easy a time with it, having just dropped another $500+ on it, and the compressor for the AC went out. The wedding was in Fresno, during the worst heatwave of this Summer. The temperature in the shade was over 110 degrees, in the sun it felt like you were in an oven. More dear friends came to our rescue (we wouldn't have endured the trek to the wedding if not for their generosity) and lent us their new Toyota Camry. It was a nice ride. The outside world was burning in hell, but we were cruising inside in fantastic cool air, in a very comfortable car.
While out there, we stayed with another dear friend and her family, and as odd as it might sound...sleeping for a night at their house was the closest thing Sheri and I had enjoyed to a getaway vacation pretty much since the October before Aiden was born (well, there was the Christmas after he was born...I am not sure if I count that or not, but its still been about 2 years). 2 years! I cannot stress enough...getting away, even if its not the Ritz, is everything. We stayed in a normal home, ate normal food and did nothing much in particular...and I felt more rested and relaxed coming home to L.A. to go and work that night than I had in nearly 2 years. We are, needless to say, grateful for the haspitality of both a car and a room. They may seem like little things, but we have revived in no small part due to that mini-break of a day and a half outside of the ordinary.
Also, while we were on our mini-break, we managed to visit Saquoia National Forest and see the giant trees. Amazing. Really almost a holy place. God has done some amazing things with this world.
Then, about half a week after that adventure, we embarked on another. A friend from the past (how exciting does that sound?) came to visit us. We hadn't seen her in 6 years, but Kari Kipp is as wonderful as ever, and we had a great week with her catching up and essentially tiring ourselves out as much as possible. We hiked to a "waterfall", otherwise known as the trickle at the end of the trail aka Millard Falls in Altadena, we went to the OC Fair, to Crystal Cove State Beach, to Balboa Island, to San Louis Obispo, to W.R. Hearst Beach, to Pismo State Beach (tried camping...too much sand, too much wind...still got sand pretty much everywhere...), to Cambria, and a few other places. It was a full week. We literally couldn't manage to get up and go anywhere the last day...we were too tired. We had a lot of fun. We hung out with one of my good friends a couple of times, and generally just did as many fun things as we could manage.
We did so much stuff that at the end of the week...all of us were sick. Good times.
So yeah, that's what's been keepin me from the computer and blogging...real life. And its been good. I have become convinced that the surest way to go mad is to NOT plan a regular occasion for walking in the woods. I have also decided that I WILL immerse myself in something NOT related to the city on at least an annual basis...it was too good not to go back.
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