Break the Cycle
As I write this, all I can say is my heart is very, very heavy. I’m not really writing this post to convince anyone of anything, or to try and make a point. I guess I’m just writing this because I needed to get my thoughts down and express it somehow.
What happened today in Connecticut was despicable. It was fucking heinous. When I first heard/read the news, I couldn’t even process what had just happened. It doesn’t even seem possible. But the sad matter of fact is, this isn’t exactly an isolated event. People are killing people every damn day. It’s truly sickening.
I’m not here to talk about gun control. I’m not here to talk about media bias based on demographics and social status, nor do I want to get into the question of “why would God let such a thing happen?”. I’m not here to talk about any of the causes, but rather I simply want to discuss just the effect.
Kickstart the Heart
This past weekend I embarked on a multi-hour road trip with some friends. Of course this type of setting is extremely conducive to good conversation, especially among those you know and trust. Two of my fellow travel mates are husband and wife, whom already have one toddler son as well as another child on the way. At some point during the excursion home, I asked verbatim: “So when did you experience that moment where you looked at your son and thought – ‘Holy crap, I love this kid!'”? …Eloquently worded, I know.
Soul Music
I’m not going to get into a discussion over the supposed controversy of Rob Bell. All I’m going to say is that he’s said some things over the years that have eloquently expressed exactly what I was learning, feeling, and experiencing. This video was, and still is, a prime example of that (in all it’s internet-uploaded, copyright-infringing glory).
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/20900973 w=600]El-Oh-El
I’m not going to lie to you. I generally consider myself to be a witty guy. Not to say I deserve my own comedy special but I love laughing and making people laugh, and I’m OK at it (most of the time). That might be hard to grasp for those that don’t know me personally, since I’m not inclined to try and make readers of this blog chuckle since this serves more of a space of contemplation than comedy – so I don’t blame you if you disagree. But you’re going to have to take my word on this one. (Side note: I don’t have a bucket list but if I did, trying my hand at an open mic stand-up would be on there) (Side note #2: The use of the acronym “LOL” or worse, it’s phonetic usage as a word – “LAWL” is a huge pet peeve of mine) (Side note #3: How do you like all these parentheses? PEMDAS, eat your heart out)
Heck even my own Mother doesn’t believe it. My favorite sister told me that our Mother said to her in disbelief : “I heard people think your brother is funny… I don’t see it”. It’s understandable since I’m not really the type to tickle the funny bone of the woman who reigned over my childhood with an iron fist. I kid of course, she still reigns over my adult life too.
When I Grow Up…
lowercase gt
It’s been somewhat of a mixed week. There have been a turn of events that were a bit sobering (to varying degrees), both directly involving me and of those around me. But rather than dwell on those things, I’m going to jump back to a simpler, happier time: my childhood. Specifically I’m going to list (in no particular order) some of the films that were very influential on me, however brief or elongated it may have lasted.
- Rad
This film made biking the coolest thing in the world. After seeing this film (and developing a crush on Lori Laughlin before she became Aunt Becky), I started trying to jump my bike, racing down hills, standing on the handlebars and basically every other action that would have horrified my mother had she known. All without a helmet, of course, cause no-one wore those things in the 80s and 90s. Rad!
Gifted Thought 