It was such a joy going to TLR yesterday.
We had a guest speaker who basically discussed the wisdom in living life intentionally. One of his talking points captured me and I haven't really been the same ever since.
His argument was that in the end, once we're long dead, our life will be summarized in one sentence. That is, everything we've ever done and everything we've ever lived for, whether we like it or not, will be captured in a sentence. For instance:
- George Washington was the father of our country.
- Harry Truman dropped the atomic bomb.
- Rosa Parks refused to move to the back.
- Lady Gaga...well I don't even want to go there.
Anyway this concept was leveraged to draw attention to the fact that our lives are worth something. After all, who wants to be remembered as "Best Tequila Drinker" or "Most awesome money spender"? This isn't to naysay anyone who likes tequila or spending money. But it is a challenge to evaluate whether or not those things are worth devoting one's life to.
As I started exploring this thought, I started to wonder why people don't take this more seriously. It's reasonable to believe that everyone wants to be remembered for something good...but why don't people take greater initiative...doing good? Shouldn't those things be logical?
For me, I tried to remember what have I done that leaves any sort of thumbprint in anyone's life--and I couldn't think of anything. Talk about fail.
But then, Gracefully, I started to recall that within this quirky collection of personality is this innate desire to simply be sincere. And, for those who have been run over by it, apparently it's something else.
Anyway, the speaker closed by saying the main difference between people who are deemed great and those who would be consider "nobody" is simply the fact that great people do great things.
So what am I doing great today?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
wide angle lenses
One of the most enjoyable things about my new job are the people that I work with.
One of the guys, Jeremy, has one of the most colorful personalities ever. He's quite intelligent yet has a very great mix of charisma that makes him both a joy to talk to and to work with. Jeremy, like me, is also quite into numbers.
This is important because the other day, while we were having lunch, we started talking about the gross uneven distribution of wealth at our company. Recently there was an initiative to raise extra capital for the company but along with that extra capital came a way for members of the executive team to also find ways to make an incredible amount of money. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Jeremy just wanted in on some of the action. He admits pretty freely that he is quite satisfied with how much he is getting paid, but would LOVE to have got in on the overnight wealthy train the e-team was riding [for the record these guys make MUCH more than little peasant fred; whose salary, extrapolated, would be standard entry-level 30k+].
I'm writing all of this down because a very important thought emerged from this casual conversation. I was left thinking..."where does that come from anyway?" In other words, everyone would love to have more money (even those with a lot of money), but where does that desire for more come from? Is it innate? Is it learned from culture? Is it uniquely American?
This train of thought becomes especially dangerous because there quickly reaches a point where someone can discipline their own appetite; that is, the "I want" slowly transforms into an "I need" and the implications are devastating. Every bad verb feasibly occurs after this transformation.
Not always of course. And very rarely does it happen overnight. But, just like a cancer, the appetite grows until it starts to wholly consume everything that's in its path. Tragic.
How does one set up safeties to guard against this?
Perspective change.
Specifically when the focus shifts from this life to more than this life.
One of the guys, Jeremy, has one of the most colorful personalities ever. He's quite intelligent yet has a very great mix of charisma that makes him both a joy to talk to and to work with. Jeremy, like me, is also quite into numbers.
This is important because the other day, while we were having lunch, we started talking about the gross uneven distribution of wealth at our company. Recently there was an initiative to raise extra capital for the company but along with that extra capital came a way for members of the executive team to also find ways to make an incredible amount of money. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Jeremy just wanted in on some of the action. He admits pretty freely that he is quite satisfied with how much he is getting paid, but would LOVE to have got in on the overnight wealthy train the e-team was riding [for the record these guys make MUCH more than little peasant fred; whose salary, extrapolated, would be standard entry-level 30k+].
I'm writing all of this down because a very important thought emerged from this casual conversation. I was left thinking..."where does that come from anyway?" In other words, everyone would love to have more money (even those with a lot of money), but where does that desire for more come from? Is it innate? Is it learned from culture? Is it uniquely American?
This train of thought becomes especially dangerous because there quickly reaches a point where someone can discipline their own appetite; that is, the "I want" slowly transforms into an "I need" and the implications are devastating. Every bad verb feasibly occurs after this transformation.
Not always of course. And very rarely does it happen overnight. But, just like a cancer, the appetite grows until it starts to wholly consume everything that's in its path. Tragic.
How does one set up safeties to guard against this?
Perspective change.
Specifically when the focus shifts from this life to more than this life.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunday Night Thoughts
It's been quite a long day.
Although I really love serving at my church, I'm quickly approaching the point where I think I'm beginning to get burned out. I've been up since 6 AM this morning (had to be at buckhead at 6:30 AM) and am still here. I was able to see my falcons completely demolish the cardinals in between but that's neither here nor there (;
One thing I found myself thinking about today was what life was all about anyway. Andy was teaching out of the book of ecclesiastes today and obviously it had me thinking in that direction. If you've never read the bible or don't really believe any of it, ecclesiastes is a really interesting book that can be read by itself; it's basically a collection of parting thoughts as a great king sees the end of his life is near. The main thesis in the book is that everything in life doesn't really amount to anything; rather the collection of life, as we know it here, seems to point to something/someone much more eternal.
For me, believing in God makes the most sense because life seems way too uneven.
- People who study hard in school end up with low paying jobs while those who cheat are making money hand over fist.
- Individuals get promoted based on favor and appeal (and often times under the table agreements) rather than based on work merit.
- Infidelity.
- Financial misfortune for those who have been faithful while fortune awaits the corrupt.
- Drunk drivers take the most innocent of children while molesters live to see more than a century's worth of history.
And yet, in much the same way it doesn't make sense that all of these things exist seemingly going unreconciled, one of the main tenets of Christianity fixates on this unevenness; it's essentially the reason Christians are able to distinguish themselves as children of God. Truly understanding how radical that concept is is what fuels much of my faith to persevere through said unevenness of life.
Anywho as I sit writing this I can't help but think about the direction my life is taking. After all, the value in understanding a principle is completely in the application right?
Yum.
Although I really love serving at my church, I'm quickly approaching the point where I think I'm beginning to get burned out. I've been up since 6 AM this morning (had to be at buckhead at 6:30 AM) and am still here. I was able to see my falcons completely demolish the cardinals in between but that's neither here nor there (;
One thing I found myself thinking about today was what life was all about anyway. Andy was teaching out of the book of ecclesiastes today and obviously it had me thinking in that direction. If you've never read the bible or don't really believe any of it, ecclesiastes is a really interesting book that can be read by itself; it's basically a collection of parting thoughts as a great king sees the end of his life is near. The main thesis in the book is that everything in life doesn't really amount to anything; rather the collection of life, as we know it here, seems to point to something/someone much more eternal.
For me, believing in God makes the most sense because life seems way too uneven.
- People who study hard in school end up with low paying jobs while those who cheat are making money hand over fist.
- Individuals get promoted based on favor and appeal (and often times under the table agreements) rather than based on work merit.
- Infidelity.
- Financial misfortune for those who have been faithful while fortune awaits the corrupt.
- Drunk drivers take the most innocent of children while molesters live to see more than a century's worth of history.
And yet, in much the same way it doesn't make sense that all of these things exist seemingly going unreconciled, one of the main tenets of Christianity fixates on this unevenness; it's essentially the reason Christians are able to distinguish themselves as children of God. Truly understanding how radical that concept is is what fuels much of my faith to persevere through said unevenness of life.
Anywho as I sit writing this I can't help but think about the direction my life is taking. After all, the value in understanding a principle is completely in the application right?
Yum.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
the other end of relationships
I had a chance to meet up with a former colleague today at Starbucks.
I've never really known this person too well. We've always been pretty casual acquaintances at best but nothing too great. For some reason today he decided to confide in me.
I discovered that lately he's been having a "sex buddy" relationship with an asian girl. They talked about how the sex was great and that whenever they hung out it was awesome. He went into detail about how he found her at the perfect time because she had freshly decided that she was going to start rebelling against her parents (and thus the promiscuity I suppose).
He went on to state that he was starting to develop feelings for her and that she was doing the same. However, when he swung for the fences and asked her out, she told him that they could never be an item. In her culture, unless she dates someone of the same nationality, it would be a very big problem for her family.
He was stunned obviously and didn't really know what to do. I told him that what she said was really truthful and that I respect her for being straight up instead of leading him on.
Anyway, the reason this is noteworthy to me is that I was really surprised by how this guy didn't see it coming at all. When a relationship begins with the physical aspect, the foundation is built on something incredibly uncertain. Now, I don't want to pretend like I'm some relational mastermind (I couldn't attract a fly right now), but I have had enough that I can form some conclusions.
1) The best relationships really are ones that are based on solid friendship. These are the least awkward because there's a natural building of trust that only compounds.
2) The relationships that last are the ones where each person truly looks out for the other. This is way easier said than done. After all, everyone always thinks they're right and it's so difficult to intentionally be humble yourself for the other person--especially when they're clearly the one at fault.
3) All relationships are best evaluated based on the direction that they're headed; not where they're currently at.
For whatever it's worth, I truly hope that this relationship ends up with some resolution. Either they'll have to stop having sex or they'll end up hating each other. Unless of course they learn to love one another such that their devotion to one another is unquestionably strong. It is only then that the girl's family will no longer view him as an American; but rather as a son.
Love wins every single time.
I've never really known this person too well. We've always been pretty casual acquaintances at best but nothing too great. For some reason today he decided to confide in me.
I discovered that lately he's been having a "sex buddy" relationship with an asian girl. They talked about how the sex was great and that whenever they hung out it was awesome. He went into detail about how he found her at the perfect time because she had freshly decided that she was going to start rebelling against her parents (and thus the promiscuity I suppose).
He went on to state that he was starting to develop feelings for her and that she was doing the same. However, when he swung for the fences and asked her out, she told him that they could never be an item. In her culture, unless she dates someone of the same nationality, it would be a very big problem for her family.
He was stunned obviously and didn't really know what to do. I told him that what she said was really truthful and that I respect her for being straight up instead of leading him on.
Anyway, the reason this is noteworthy to me is that I was really surprised by how this guy didn't see it coming at all. When a relationship begins with the physical aspect, the foundation is built on something incredibly uncertain. Now, I don't want to pretend like I'm some relational mastermind (I couldn't attract a fly right now), but I have had enough that I can form some conclusions.
1) The best relationships really are ones that are based on solid friendship. These are the least awkward because there's a natural building of trust that only compounds.
2) The relationships that last are the ones where each person truly looks out for the other. This is way easier said than done. After all, everyone always thinks they're right and it's so difficult to intentionally be humble yourself for the other person--especially when they're clearly the one at fault.
3) All relationships are best evaluated based on the direction that they're headed; not where they're currently at.
For whatever it's worth, I truly hope that this relationship ends up with some resolution. Either they'll have to stop having sex or they'll end up hating each other. Unless of course they learn to love one another such that their devotion to one another is unquestionably strong. It is only then that the girl's family will no longer view him as an American; but rather as a son.
Love wins every single time.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday Night Thoughts
Today I had the responsibility for filming 4 different church services.
It's been quite the ride. My day started at 6 AM and was still continuing past 6 PM--at a church. I didn't feel overly creative with any of my shots; I just kind of did what seemed natural. One thing happened today that I really can't stop thinking about. It was from Andy of course but he just kind of spoke spontaneously this morning and it so thoroughly piqued my interest.
Anyway, here it is:
Think about the person you love most. Anyone in the world you love more than anything/anyone else. Think about how much you love them.
Is it possible that God loves you more than you love your most treasured person? Is it possible for God to be capable of loving even more than us?
What would our life look like if we really believed that answer was yes?
Wow.
It's been quite the ride. My day started at 6 AM and was still continuing past 6 PM--at a church. I didn't feel overly creative with any of my shots; I just kind of did what seemed natural. One thing happened today that I really can't stop thinking about. It was from Andy of course but he just kind of spoke spontaneously this morning and it so thoroughly piqued my interest.
Anyway, here it is:
Think about the person you love most. Anyone in the world you love more than anything/anyone else. Think about how much you love them.
Is it possible that God loves you more than you love your most treasured person? Is it possible for God to be capable of loving even more than us?
What would our life look like if we really believed that answer was yes?
Wow.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Monday, September 06, 2010
Re-thinking Tunica
Waiting at the smallest airport I've ever been to to ride the smallest planes I've ever seen to leave one of the smallest cities I've ever visited.
It's been quite a ride.
This trip had been planned for quite some time now and there was much excitement leading up to the trip. A large majority of my family would be here. It would be great. Yet I remained apprehensive because I'm not one for casinos or gambling in general. But I persisted with open expectations.
The whole concept of casinos in general continues to impress me.
[I just looked over to y left and I saw a cockroach walking by the dead carcass of a grasshopper. Awesome.]
If ever there was a concentration of everything tempting in life it would be in casinos. Anyone who loves food would love casinos. There are buffets overflowing with delicious food everywhere you go. It was incredible. If money is more your thang the sky is limitless when it comes to unearned potential. Entertainment never ceases as there are scantily clad women everywhere as well as live bands wherever you go.
Yet, everynight as I casually strolled through each casino I was filled with a profound sense of concern. The people that fill these places are all searching for something...but do they know what it is they're searching for? Fun. Money. Happiness. A good time. Whatever. Are casinos where they're really found?
I ate my hearts content and even won a few dollars. But everytime I would "hit big" I would never be quite satisfied. Taking hand after hand was really great...but it's never quite enough.
I only wonder if everyone who mindlessly kept pressing "repeat bet" at the slot machines felt the same thing? Who knows.
As I await for them to call my number here at the airport I can't help but think about how much potential there is for me to return here one day--except with a different Purpose.
It's been quite a ride.
This trip had been planned for quite some time now and there was much excitement leading up to the trip. A large majority of my family would be here. It would be great. Yet I remained apprehensive because I'm not one for casinos or gambling in general. But I persisted with open expectations.
The whole concept of casinos in general continues to impress me.
[I just looked over to y left and I saw a cockroach walking by the dead carcass of a grasshopper. Awesome.]
If ever there was a concentration of everything tempting in life it would be in casinos. Anyone who loves food would love casinos. There are buffets overflowing with delicious food everywhere you go. It was incredible. If money is more your thang the sky is limitless when it comes to unearned potential. Entertainment never ceases as there are scantily clad women everywhere as well as live bands wherever you go.
Yet, everynight as I casually strolled through each casino I was filled with a profound sense of concern. The people that fill these places are all searching for something...but do they know what it is they're searching for? Fun. Money. Happiness. A good time. Whatever. Are casinos where they're really found?
I ate my hearts content and even won a few dollars. But everytime I would "hit big" I would never be quite satisfied. Taking hand after hand was really great...but it's never quite enough.
I only wonder if everyone who mindlessly kept pressing "repeat bet" at the slot machines felt the same thing? Who knows.
As I await for them to call my number here at the airport I can't help but think about how much potential there is for me to return here one day--except with a different Purpose.
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