Ramblings Etc.

Leaving Tumblr

Hello everyone,

I’m writing to tell you that I’m leaving the Tumblr world and going to Wordpress. If you’d like to follow my blog there go to http://reallyideal.wordpress.com . 

TTFN

Modern Screwtape

My dear Wormwood,

            This is a note of congratulatory greeting to our council of gentle devils for what is quite possibly our most excellent victory yet. Since the beginning of our enemy’s offensive in the dominion of our father below we have had no weapon against that most insidious of Christian virtues known as “charity.” I speak not of the charity on the individual level that convinces some of our enemy’s minions to forgive those who have committed evil against them. I am speaking of that great horror to our cause, which causes men to behave as if they actually like their fellow man. This sentiment has been disastrous for us in our past plans. It is the reaction from which spouts all sorts of harmful deeds to our cause, that of giving alms to the poor, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and all other such nonsense.

            This is what began to loosen our stranglehold on the Roman Empire and all such empires since. In fact, it is the main reason that these bodies have largely ceased to exist in the modern world. It is the very opposite of our most excellent tool of human destruction, pride.

            However, after so many utter failures we have finally devised the downfall of this general type of human charity. It undermines the entire foundation of our enemy’s realm that his early followers leaned on, yet it is as old as the apple itself.

            Instead of encouraging all the normal vices that we have leaned on so heavily such as greed, anger, malcontent, lust, etc., we have begun a grand new strategy. The simplicity of it is positively delicious.

            Long ago, when our father below saw that the march toward liberal democracy was in fact inevitable, he began to put his plan into motion. We tempters now encourage this “love for man.” At first, even to my ears this seemed preposterous. But we have devised such a cunning scheme that we have now tricked our prey into “loving” their fellow man while completely divorcing from it the “love” of their creator.  How have we done this?

            According to so much modern thought, each man and woman on the earth now is said to have some kind of intrinsic value that is bestowed at birth (notice the at birth statement) by western human civilization. This, while not completely against our enemy’s wishes, confuses the issue and leads our prey to ignore the source of their supposed value altogether. The downside of this is that we become more limited in our ability to cause misery in the mortal life, but if our plan succeeds we have secured an abundant harvest for our future table.

            Now that I have expounded on the plan on a large scale I will divulge the small scale. This attack is two pronged. The obvious is that we ensnare those desperate mortals who are in need of sustenance and whatnot while eking out their miserable existence on Earth but we also capture the heart of those “helping” their fellow man. This is where the true genius of the plan is. We now have the opportunity to breed an almost unheard of type of “sinner.” While playing on the supposed worth of man we cause such pride that what might have once been an indifference to our enemy can actually turn to a loathing and anger against him. This process begins first when our prey sees the depth of human suffering and blames our enemy, a very clever misdirection. Then as they see what the work of their hands creates, namely a comfortable life for those they are helping, they begin to take more and more pride in their deeds. The next phase is to get them so wrapped up in their work that they have little time for anything else. Tempters are being trained to lead our prey to believe that if they don’t do it, then no one else will. While nearly guaranteeing their place on our menu this also removes much of the original pleasure that they took in doing this type of work in the first place. The final stage is when they become, as the humans say, “burnt out”. Not only do they despise the work, because it is never done (our enemy himself said that this work would not be finished) but because they resent even more the one who let this happen and forget us entirely.

            The only downside in creating these types of excellent fare is that they dance the line between our enemy’s camp and our own. Any ideas such as “love” or “value” naturally incline themselves to the enemy’s ideals and he is always seeking new inroads into the minds of our charges. This is precisely why we must take great care to keep them focused on themselves, not on our enemy or even those they are helping. The risk here is one worth gambling on, since the beginning of our war, the greatest sinners and the greatest saints have always been made of similar stuff and must be handled with great care in either case.

           

            Your affectionate uncle,

                                                Screwtape

I’m in no way trying to put myself on the same level as Lewis, one of the great apologists and fiction writers of the last century, but I think this medium is an appropriate one. Also, I hope that imitation is indeed the greatest form of flattery. 

I know my views on this topic are severe, but I feel that this deserves a severe response. I hope you don’t completely throw away the idea even if you completely detest this post. 

Cheers.

Thoughts from a Suitcase

It’s so funny and odd and great and confusing when the direction of your life takes a sharp change. 

For a good portion of my life I’ve always wanted to try out the whole “living out of a suitcase” thing. And, more or less, I’ve done that for the past four months.

There are some things that are not so good about it, and not everything is for everyone. However, I know that, for awhile at least, it is indeed for me. I enjoy the ability to throw everything I need into a suitcase or into the trunk of my car and to move onto something new. The freedom in that is excellent. 

Now, we’ll get into the meat of this post. I have several friends who, after I’ve spoken to them on the phone, seem to be discontent. They now have families, solid jobs, and security. However, with all that, there is still that hidden strain in their voices that only those close to them can pick up. I’m initially puzzled by this because they are truly beginning to live the “American dream.” House, wife, 2.5 kids, dog, picket fence, etc. etc. It’s only after taking some time to pray and talk to my dad that I truly realize that when you have something great in your heart security is really more of a hindrance than a perk. 

Part of me certainly wants to find a girl, a good job, and settle down to our own little corner of the American dream. But my spirit rebels against this idea. Not that security and family are bad or evil, quite the contrary, but for me… now… it’s just not the vision. It rebels because there is something else in my heart, an itch that I’ve had to scratch since I took my first trip out of the country when I was 14. But its not just a desire to travel, to see the world, it’s something else too. A desire that I can’t totally articulate. Somehow, while listening to the “Last of the Mohicans” soundtrack it seems to become clearer, if not just as difficult to describe.

It is a huge comfort to me that while in this time of transition in my life, graduation from college, job seeking… whatever may come, the only person that really has to be okay with what I’m doing (other than Christ) is me. I don’t have a car payment, mortgage, or even a significant other to influence that decision. Those things will likely come eventually but for now, I love the season I’m in. 

I want to see change. Not the silly political rhetoric of change, but to see the light in someone’s eyes when they dying of thirst and are given a cup of water, the gratefulness when someone is given a hot bowl of food on a cold night, or a blanket, or a book, or shoes, or a hug, or ANYTHING. I want to see the change when God shows himself through simple acts like this and the light of understanding pierces hearts.

I want to see the naked clothed, the hungry fed, the thirsty sated. I want to see opportunity given to those who do not have it. However, this desire does not come from a socialistic idea of equal things for everyone. It comes from the heavy understanding of how much I have been given. Not my material wealth or my mental abilities, but the sheer fact that I have been given GRACE.

GRACE is a gift that I can never give some one else, not in the way its given to me. But maybe, just maybe, I can do other things to show others the grace that has been given to me and they can receive the same thing. It’s so wonderfully frustrating that the greatest gift I’ve ever received is the only one that is impossible for me to give someone else. I can only, through my abilities, talents, and opportunities (products of said GRACE) show others the source. 

“The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. 

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway” 

-Mother Teresa 

Jesus is my inheritance but not my inheritance to keep, but to give, however possible. 

…To be continued…

Been a Long Time

So… It’s been forever since I’ve blogged, it’s time to get this started again. I’ve had a bunch of random stuff floating around in my head so this is just gonna be a shotgun blast of thoughts. I hope you enjoy. 

If you would like me to expound on any of these topics, just let me know. 

1. France was excellent. See me for more information.

2. I feel like I’ve been in a season of transition for the past year and likely will be until at least 2 years from now… And I like it. 

3. Everyone should learn how to live out of ONE suitcase. 

4. The few things that make me go 0-Angry in 2.1 seconds are being hit in the head and American politics. 

5. I have a natural and hopefully somewhat irrational distrust of attractive women. 

6. I find it amazing how Jesus can make my brain experience a moment of full spectrum emotion with a single word. 

7. I hate shallow conversation. 

I intend to start blogging more often again. But here is something that I wrote the other night. TTFN

I believe that one of the most beautiful things to God is when you begin to find Him more attractive than any future prospect. Whether that prospect be a spouse, a meaningful profession, or even heaven itself. 

What a travesty it would be to be desirous of a heaven absent of God or to imagine a prosperous and meaningful life devoid of the God who gives purpose and beauty. 

Would you rather live in a run down shack with God or a grand mansion without him? Not that these things are mutually exclusive, but our culture has so decorated itself with pursuits of purpose and meaning, challenges, triumphs, and general interest in ourselves that some of us have lost the desire to be bare before God. Just Him and us, not thinking of the future, nor the past, but simply being and in that, being with Him. 

Response to Teen Mania Documentary

I was asked to comment on the recent documentary by MSNBC of Teen Mania’s Honor Academy by the ORU school newspaper “The Oracle”. Here are the questions they asked me and here are my responses. 

I’m publishing my answers here first because I don’t trust journalists. Even ORU journalists. 

1. What is your connection to Teen Mania Ministries?

I spent 3 years (August 2006- August 2009) at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. The first year was in the basic “internship” program when I worked for the Global Expeditions call center. I spent my time at work calling students who had expressed interest in going on a mission trip with GE. I spent the remaining 2 years in the Core Advisor program. This consisted of leading, mentoring and teaching a group of first year interns though out their time at Teen Mania. I have been on 4 different mission trips with TM to Russia (’03), Botswana (’04), India (’07), and Alaska (’09).

As of now, I have very little connection with Teen Mania. Since graduating from the program in 2009 I have been to a few Acquire the Fire conventions but have not done much involving Teen Mania.

2. What was the purpose of your being there and what did you get out of your time at Teen Mania?

My original intent for going to the Honor Academy was to spend a year learning about and getting closer to God however I could while also serving God though participation in the ministry of Teen Mania.

My first year there I was able to come to grips with some very difficult things that had happened to me early in my life. I learned that the things that all the bad things that I had been through were not God’s purpose nor were they my fault entirely. After being able to let some things go, forgive myself and forgive others for those things I was finally able to pursue God in a way that I never thought possible. I was able to gain more understanding from the Bible, relate to and understand teachings more clearly both within the HA and at my home church in Texas, and gain insight into what God’s plan might be for me in my life.

The remaining two years, as a Core Advisor, I was able to help other interns along the same journey to the best of my ability. There were times during these two years that were my hardest and I failed at being a good leader more than once. But these times most often led me to understand my need for the leadership of Christ in my life more deeply and caused me to seek Jesus more fervently. Even during the times I disagreed with Teen Mania I was able to learn from my thoughts. I was always able to go to someone in leadership, either a Dorm Director or someone in leadership of my program with my doubts or disagreements. They did not try to shut me down or simply tell me that I was wrong. They listened, pointed out the holes in my logic at times, pointed me to scripture, or sometimes we even greed to disagree.

            There were things about the Honor Code there that I disagreed with but I knew that I was making a commitment only for the time I was there and not for the rest of my life. If I wanted to follow those specific principles forever was my choice and through my time at the Honor Academy I was able to reason out my stances on a lot of issues such as drinking, divorce, doctrine and many other things, both by myself and with help from mentors and teachers.

 

3. Have you seen the story “Mind over Mania” that MSNBC put out?

Yes

4. If so, what was your response to it?

At first, it made me angry but then I gave it some more thought and I can understand some of the pain that these girls were feeling. However, even though I can understand where they are coming from, I don’t agree. Yes, there are similarities between Teen Mania and a cult BUT I feel there are many good things that come out of a time devoted to serving the Lord and pursuing him. Sure, some of Teen Mania’s way of doing things seem extreme but the purpose behind all the Life Transforming Events (LTEs) and even every day life at TM are designed to help each participant know God and themselves more fully.

One of the main things that made my experiences at Teen Mania good was that I always had friends that I could reach out to, both my peers and people in leadership. I’m naturally a loner so for a while it was difficult for me to reach out to other people. Yes, there are strict consequences for breaking the Honor Code, which I learned in my own way, but the point of the Honor Code is to create an environment most conducive to seeking God and knowing him more. 

5. Do you feel that there were any points addressed in the documentary that did or did not reflect your experience while at Teen Mania? Can you give examples of each?

            Yes. The most used clips were that of an LTE called ESOAL (Emotionally Stretching Opportunity of a Lifetime). During these 3-4 days, each participant (and no one is required to go through ESOAL) is pushed to their physical and emotional limit. The point is to come to the end of yourself and allow God to show you what you are capable of with him. I participated in this event 3 times and was able to discover truths about myself and God which I still regularly remember and treasure. However, from the documentary, they show so many clips of ESOAL that it looks like that is the main part of the internship when it is really only 3-4 days our of an entire year.

            Secondly, they tell about these 8 signs of brainwashing but completely neglect to show how any of the scriptures that Teen Mania uses (such as “beat my body” 1 Corinthians 9:27) are in fact Biblical. Teen Mania utilizes such scriptures to show the necessity for a Christian to live not by the whims and wishes of their body but instead to be obedient to God and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

            One of my loved ones once accused me of being “brainwashed” by the Honor Academy. However, the Bible tells us to “renew our minds” (Romans 12:2) and to not compromise with worldly things. This is the truth TM seeks to convey and they do it very effectively. Some might say that their efforts are overzealous but it was what I needed to begin to gain control over my body and seek first the Kingdom of God. They take scripture literally and form the program accordingly.

            I think these two things sum up my frustrations with the documentary however I feel that the whole documentary was the worst kind of journalism there is. It was constructed by putting piece-meal quotes from participants and leaders of the Honor Academy together along with somewhat disturbing images from a small part of the program together to make Teen Mania look like some crazy Christian boot camp. This is not true. There were no interviews with graduates from the program who think that Teen Mania was a valuable life experience such as myself or many of my friends.

6 . Do you know of any responses that have taken place as a result of the feature?

            There are few responses that I know of. First is that many alumni of the HA, including myself are trying to get more involved however they can with the ministry. Also, I know from staff members who were in the program the same year as me, that Teen Mania is rethinking and reevaluating its approaches to some issues to see if change is needed and are responding accordingly if they see a need.

            Also, I believe that Teen Mania itself is putting together its own documentary but I have no specific details.

Final thought:

My time at Teen Mania was possibly the most formative and important 3 years of my life. Sure, there were some patterns of thought that I unlearned. The Teen Mania “bubble” inadvertently teaches you to think that many people, even other Christians don’t understand the crisis that the world is in and are not following Jesus like they ought to. While this assumption has some merit, I learned upon leaving the HA that there are many good Christians who have never been nor will ever go to the HA and they are living a Christian life nonetheless.

However, for the most part, the habits and the ways of thinking I developed (and despite what the video says, were not forced on me) have been incredibly valuable; such as a commitment to integrity, discipline and other things.

I wouldn’t trade my time at Teen Mania for anything. 

Change is Coming

In the past few days I’ve felt change coming. I don’t know exactly what the change may be but I feel its going to be significant.

For the last few years I have been all but sure that I was destined for international politics, at least for a good portion of my life. I’m not so sure anymore. 

It’s not that I think I don’t have the ability, its more of what I really want. I’m not sure I want to work in politics, mediating in the quarrels of men. 

I want to make a difference, not that the above is inconsequential but I’m not sure if that’s the difference I wish to make. I want to do something with eternal implications. Maybe that’s through the political route… maybe not. 

I want to do development work, but not simply to help men with their worldly well-being. I want to feed the hungry but not just satisfy their bellies. I want to give them something to drink but not just quench their parched throats. I don’t just want to bring hope for today and tomorrow but for all time. 

I don’t have the tools to do this on my own. Jesus Christ is the only one who can and I know this all too well. 

Does this mean I’ll go into ministry? No idea. Honestly, that’s not all that appealing to me. Does this mean I’ll stick with politics? No clue. Also not all that attractive.

So, where does this leave me? Well, right here I suppose. It seems to be counterintuitive, doing something eternal with corporeal tools.

But anyway, Here am I LORD, use me. Your kingdom… your will. Not mine. Whatever may come, not my destiny but your destiny for me. That’s what I desire, at least the part of me that matters. 

.Amen.

Thoughts on 9/11 and More

I remember exactly where I was on 9/11/2001 when I heard that the World Trade Center had been hit by an airliner. I was sitting in Latin class (yes, Latin) in eighth grade at Trinity, Mr. Hill was teaching. 

At that point I knew very little about Muslims, Islam, or the Middle East. I had seen the crazy people on TV burning American flags. Who was I to think that they could strike New York (and the world) in such a dramatic and forceful way. I mean, these people are just fanatic right? Fanatics yes, but there is no just, that was proven that day. I remember hearing about another attack on the Pentagon, and a semi-thwarted attack that left another airliner downed in a field. I remember seeing gas prices go through the roof (at that point, through the roof was $2.50, ahhh how times have changed). I had no idea that 9/11 would change my world significantly for the next decade (and perhaps the rest of my life). I remember not being able to go through the gate for the first time as a non-passenger, when liquids became restricted on flights, and when many other things changed. I also remember the flash pan of patriotism that lit up in the ensuing days after the attacks. That was the last time when I can remember that the United States were actually united. 

Now, ten years later, I do believe that we are significantly better off (as in safer) than before. However, we’re still waste deep in two wars, pushing through some of the worst economic times since the Great Depression (with no relief in sight), and all this with one of the most dysfunctional governments (whether you’re a conservative or liberal, I think you can agree) that this country can remember. And yes, I said government not administration. My point here is that although I vehemently disagree with many policies that have been produced by the Obama administration, it takes two to tango. So, are we better off? In some ways, most certainly, in others absolutely not.

It is my personal belief (yes, personal) that it is time to draw America’s current foreign policy to a close. What do I suggest that we do? Follow the original mandate of the ‘War on Terror’. Congress’ original approval for the use of force was against those which “planned, authorized, committed, or aided” the 9/11 attacks. Sure, al Qaeda is not completely wiped from the face of the Earth, but its supposed membership is now down to less than 500 (if sources can be believed). The mission was not to create new little democracies, it was to fight terrorists. Period.

Maybe I’m too much of a cynic, but I doubt that democracy is something that can be imported. It’s like giving a toddler ‘freedom’. Sure, he can do whatever he wants, but he now also has to be responsible for feeding himself, cleaning himself, finding somewhere to live, putting himself through school, etc. Yes, the metaphor isn’t perfect but I hope you catch my drift. Forcing democracy on a people who have never known a government besides for a totalitarian one is a recipe for disaster. It took democracy millennia to take hold in the Western world, and even when it did, it began through blood in almost every case (bar the UK, sort of). Not only that, but the movement began within the country, not by an invading force. The West went through everything from the Dark Ages to the Enlightenment before democracy took hold. Am I saying that all societies will naturally become democracies in the long run? No. The west had many things working for it that lent itself to this, the main one being the freedom and expansion of thought. This was done in pubs, universities, and in other places. Many of the failed states we see today are devoid of development as a whole, much less smoking rooms and universities. Main point, you can’t force democracy, it has to be a grass-roots movement. I’m very interested to see where Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya will be ten years from now.

Now that I’m completely off point, I think I’m finally able to come around to the main idea here. 9/11 was a tragedy, in more than one way. First, around 3,000 people were murdered in the attacks, not to mention emergency workers. Second, more and more people continue to die in wars that have been waged as a direct result of 9/11 (I’m not endorsing a pacifist point of view here, just hear me out). Third, an even larger wedge has been driven between the powers that are traditionally Christian and those that still are Muslim and this gap is only continuing to grow. Fourth, there has been distraction from other incredibly significant world problems as we have focused on war. 9/11 killed about 3,000 people. About 20,000 people per day die from poverty related issues (sickness, lack of clean drinking water, starvation, etc.) Does anyone but me see where our foreign policy could be skewed? Maybe I’m just not patriotic enough. Well, so be it. 

I am speaking as a Christian first and an American second. As a Christian I (we) have a mandate to care for the poor, sick, elderly, etc. Are we doing this? To some degree, yes, and doing it well. Is there more we can do? Absolutely. As Americans (or even as wealthy Westerners for all my European friends) do we have a responsibility to care for our less fortunate members of mankind. I would say, no, as members of sovereign nations we do not, but as humans we ought to think very carefully about how we treat our fellow humans, across the sea and here at home. In the US we often speak about “human rights”, what about the rights that are being denied other humans? Are we willing to help? We should be. 

I dare you to forgo 4 coffee drinks per month and adopt an Indian orphan. Or take a less expensive vacation and send money to drill some wells in Africa. I dare you. Do it from altruism, do it from guilt, do it from pride, your motivations are between you and God. Get informed on some good charities; a few good ones are charitywater.org, adventconspiracy.org, invisiblechildren.com, and numerous other ministries such as OneHope(.net), Gospel for India (gospel4india.org). Just google “charity” and I’m sure you can find something. We live in a world where you can feed a person across the world with nothing but your couch, a cup of coffee, a piece of plastic and a computer. 

Now, I’m done with my rant. It kind of got away from me a bit. But oh well. I hope you enjoyed it, but even if you didn’t, I hope it will provoke you to do something meaningful with your life. I’m trying to do so with mine, sometimes with more success than others. 

Be blessed friends. 

Thoughts from Half a World Away

Well, I’ve been in Strasbourg now for almost a week. The time has flown by but has also crawled. I know that if anyone has gone through a significant change of scenery in their life,  you know what I’m talking about.

Strasbourg is beautiful. The picture I posted is from Place Kleber, right in the heart of downtown. I sat there and ate a baguette and listened to some street performers. :) Europe is so different but very much the same as the US. They have boatloads more history though, thats for sure. I’m pretty sure Place Kleber is older than the US itself. 

Despite the beauty and all the new things. It’s always difficult to get used to new things, especially when there is a language barrier… Oui… je parle le francais, mais pas tres bien. Oh well, thats why I’m here any way. 

Many of the comforts of home and of ORU have been replaced with new uncertainties and anxieties. Even going to the grocery store has its challenges; thinking in Euros and not dollars, talking to the cashier (who probably thought I was an idiot), and other things. Then the whole school thing, it took me an hour to find the right building at Strasbourg U, and then the office was closed. Hahahaha. Oh well. 

Anyone who knows me pretty well, knows that I like to have things pretty well laid out and I like to be in control. Well, that’s not really working here. God is continually reminding me that he is in the driver’s seat, as much as I don’t like to hear it. Despite the discomfort, I’m incredibly grateful for a God who not only crosses borders, but was already here waiting for me when I arrived. It’s been hard, but I know that things will get better. And later (even on this trip most likely) I’ll be faced with things that make all of this look easy. Thank you Lord, for everything. 

More blogging from Europe to come. 

Just Some Thoughts

Time at home has given more more than ample time to think about some things. So here goes the brain spill, some personal some not.

Politics:

It seems like we’re pretty much screwed no matter who’s in charge. The elephants want one thing, the donkeys another. None, from my limited point of view, seems to be all that good for anything in the long run. Mainly for them getting elected to another term. Where have all the statesmen gone? The men who cared more for the country than for their party line or their next election. Integrity? I feel the word is far gone, much more the definition. Cesspool is more of what we have here. I’m not so bold as to infer what the founders would say, but I can guess at least the expressions on their faces. *shakes head*, *tightens jaw*, *pounds fist on table*, *curses under breath*, *puts face in hands*. Nothing good I would bet. 

Life: 

There is much more to life than the everyday. But the everyday is what makes the majority of life. Life is much more slope than it is peaks or valleys. The peaks make the climb worthwhile I suppose and there is much to be learned in the valleys. However, the slope is where the metaphorical rubber meets the all too real road. And to try to be avoid being totally cliche, the path determines the destination, not the other way around. Our choices are who we are. We are what we do. Even if those choices are/were/could be/might be/ought to be predetermined for us, it remains true. We are who we decide. No matter how tragic or not your life may be, some (most likely many) choices will still be left for you to make. There will always be factors that determine how or why a decision will be made, but the biggest factor is your character. How much does who you are determine your choices? How much do your choices determine who you are? I hope to not be mastered by my circumstances but to master them myself. It’s hard but worth it to not always choose the most expedient way.

That brings me to my final blurb.

God:

Beyond anything else, I’m glad to have a forgiving God. A loving Lord in Jesus Christ. An ever-present comforter in the Holy Spirit. Despite my ignoring them, spurning them, or following them. He is still there. For so much of my life my biggest fear has been to be a disappointment. To myself and to God. Its so hard to realize that there is no such thing in his eyes, and who really cares what I think anyway? Well, I do I suppose, but if I can be happy with myself, who really cares what the rest of the world thinks? Since I know I can’t be a disappointment, that frees me to do so much, even to be a slacker. But it motivates me to go beyond what I would even do to make myself happy. Sometimes it makes me want to return the great gifts I’ve been given because I know I can never be worthy of such pricelessness. Thankfully, they are mine to keep but not to give back. Only in my most insane moments would I want to return them anyway, but I think that you almost have to be insane to fully appreciate them. I’ll work to keep myself just unhinged enough to understand the little bit that I need to understand to keep hiking the slope. (Ha, did you see that? Tying it all together :) ).

So. Here’s a small taste of what’s been going on in my mind for the past week. There are many other thoughts that are most likely not worth putting into print but here you go nonetheless.