As I grow in understanding of life -- myself, God, and how we are related -- I realize that writing is such a great outlet to express the experiences and dimensions of it. When I think about all the feelings, the emotions, the relationships, and the truths, it’s amazing to see how we view it is a whole; that all the dimensions of life are somehow harmoniously integrated – it just makes sense. As humans, we can all relate to the fullness of life, from climbing Mt. Everest to walking to work in the morning. Life is whole, both complicated and simple, especially when we stop and reflect on it. Though I’m not the most eloquent writer, I do enjoy writing more now I see it as a means to absorb life, to see life, and at the base, to understand life. For me, to understand life is to know the origin and creator of it. That life is intimately tied to God.
Perhaps the best way to express life is found in poetry. The approach connects me with the bouncing thoughts that go in our mind, that is life. At times, continuous thoughts enter our mind, but for the most part, I believe jumping, bouncing thoughts go through our head. We leap from thoughts to feelings, from feelings to memories, from memories to knowledge…all the while it converges on something conclusive yet open-ended. At the end of the poetic piece, something broad and deep is conveyed to the reader. It satisfies in an expressive and conclusive way, but still continues forward – it is open-eneded. At least, that’s how I view poetry and its relation to life.
Girls have weakness for romantic comedies. Well, I admittedly have a weakness for glory movies. I just finish watching Miracle. I tell ya, nothing inspires and invokes dreams like glory. For those of you who have seen it, I love how the movies talks about how the game gave the country belief, connecting it with President Carter’s speech that Herb heard on the radio. Yeah, it’s cheesy. It might be even exaggerated. Nonetheless, I take the movie in context, as given and conveyed by the director. It speaks about how continual failures lead to despair, where one expects less from the future instead of more. With despair, any hope and faith left is rather empty, unless seemingly small, yet symbolically large reverses this outlook. These events inspire, renew, and restore hope in something positive for the future. I also love how that belief was restored through a community, a family, and a body – the USA hockey team. Yes, it speaks of identity founded not on the name on the back of a jersey or the team you once played for; rather it is founded on the importance of team and present. It prioritizes the team, the body, over the individuals. I tell ya, these movies tap into the emotions of a man. The sense of adventure where perseverance and never giving up culminates in glory! Glory baby! Glory!
Alright, I’m not going to say it’s a healthy viewpoint. As a believer, I know it’s sort of skewed picture of life, especially one that leads to an unhealthy perspecitve. Not all of it, but the idea of leaving everything on the line and it ALWAYS ending up in glory. I tell ya, most of us don’t leave everything on the line, and that’s okay. Some of us may leave it all on the line, and not get that glory, or anything period. Thank goodness it’s not about what we do or what we get it, but it’s about something that has been done, someone that has been glorified, and somehow we are miraculous included. “Boys, now that is Miracle!”.
Man, I could go on and on with the parallels, and at the same time, go on and on about how it contradicts with the Godly perspective. But I’m going to keep it simple tonight and just enjoy it. At least I can rejoice in the USA hockey team, and taking that from the movie. In the same way, I can also always rejoice in the life conquered and life given through Christ.
Good nite ya’ll…
gear
Often times, we talk about taking risks in life. We do so when we invest in the stock market. We do so when we defend justice and truth. We do so when we ask somebody out.
For believers, we view risk as living sold out for God, committing to daring and impractical acts for God through faith. Risks can definitely be illustrated in this manner, but for me, as of late, the initial risk, in its seedling form is just placing hope in God. This is to hope in God, before taking any action or doing anything. This may be risk at its core. As we observe, experience, and process life, do we continue with the same recklessness and abandonment as the days of our youth? Now that we have experienced more pain, more disappointments, more frustration...leaving us with scars, do we plow forward and continue to hope, or do we place restrictions to shield us from feeling more pain, perhaps distancing ourselves with other people’s pain. Are we willing to risk immersing ourselves into the falleness of humanity, yet still hope in God?
I only write this because I do feel for myself that the greatest risk is to have hope: stretching out with expectation and in doing so, allowing myself to be vulnerable to disappointment. The hope that rejects the apathy of this culture, and in its stead, takes on the passion and love of God.
….just something I’ve being thinking of….at least as I evaluate myself…..it's far easier to not care or to care at lesser level....to just look at my life and somewhat at God....much harder, much riskier to look at life through the eyes of those in pain, those who are lost, those who are suffering...and place faith with hope in God ....it's more complicated, more tiring...heck..i honestly rather just think about the new fork on my bike or my upcoming vacation plans....just thinking..not saying we shouldn't enjoy life, but we also shouldn't shield ourselves of it either.....just thinking....i'm tired....go to bed now...
gear