If you haven't heard lately, there has been a news story about a kid that made a crazy hockey shot to win $50,000. If you already know the story feel free to jump to the next paragraph right now. If you don't what happened is this. This insurance company has a contest/raffle at a charity hockey game that they offer $50,000 to a kid if they can shoot a hockey puck from center ice and put it through a hole that is literally only 1/2 inch larger than the puck. They draw this kid's name (Nick Smith). He makes it and wins the money! Only it wasn't him. It was his twin brother. Nick went home so Nate took the shot. The next day the dad comes clean that he sent the twin up there and he returns the money. There is a debate on if he did this of his own free will or if he came clean because some people in this town knew it was the wrong kid and were going to spill the beans anyways if he didn't.
The thing is that now there is controversy that the insurance company should?/will?/might need to?/might want to? pay the kid anyways for making the shot.
While I am not denying the shot was fantastic (you can find it by googling it if you haven't seen it) I don't like where this is going. I don't mind if the kid gets some kudos for the shot; it was fun and he did a good job.
But are we teaching everyone that if you cheat and win money that you should be able to keep the money?
What are we teaching our kids? If the dad truly did return the money on his own you could say good job to him but what in the world was he cheating for in the first place? Didn't he just show his kid that if you find a chance to win money you should go for it even if you aren't being honest? And if you win that money you should take it and run and hopefully you return it later because your conscience is bothering you? And then since you were so "honest" by returning it that it is right that the money should be given to you anyways?
How in the world did this ever become a debate? Why are we teaching our kids that this is in any way ok?
Do we really want to go down this road? Have we already gone down this road by doing this?
I am disturbed that our society holds honesty and integrity in such low esteem that this has ever become an issue. We should be teaching our children and neighbors to do what is right and what is honest the first time, not as a secondary consideration.
Perhaps this is a big reason why the world is in the shape it is today; perhaps this is what has driven the world to be in the shape it is today. While there are good people out there, we have a few too many of this type of thing going on. We should really get back to honor and integrity and honesty before we are the end of ourselves as people.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
saying goodbye
I have felt very different these last few weeks and I haven't been able to figure out what it is. I haven't felt I have been connecting with anyone or much of anything and I hate feeling like this. It is like there is a big hole in my heart and soul and I don't know how to fill it.
As I sit here tonight I reflect and think about the things that make me feel whole. It was a good day today. I got to see friends that I haven't gotten to see a lot lately and we had a ton of fun. It went fast as it always does when you find yourself in good company doing things you love and there lies the rub of what I have been feeling lately.
As most of my friends know I blew out both knees in the championship game of the softball tournament this year. I have been limping around for quite a while now and I know that my knees aren't getting better. While this isn't the first time I have injured a knee it is the first time I have blown out both at the same time.
I look back at the moment it happened with pride because I stuck with it and I gave everything I could to help my team. I never gave up and I always gave everything I had for them. Getting carried off the field after diving the the base to be safe knowing I had done in both knees wasn't a bad way to go. While I feel sorry for those that had to carry me off I am glad I left it all on the field.
I think the loneliness I have felt here is knowing I have no fall softball league to look forward to and possibly next summer as well.
Unlike times before when I hurt a knee and was able to support myself with the other while it healed I have no recourse this time but to limp around equally on both knowing that neither is getting any rest. And with school coming up next week I will not get any rest there either for them.
I also have to face the fact that they aren't healing. That is difficult for me to say but I can write it here and say it again. My knees aren't healing this time. Neither one. They feel just as bad as they did when they went out.
How do you say goodbye to your love? It feels to me that very few people understand the depth of my soul that is carried by playing a game I truly love. A game that I would play every day for the rest of my life and I would be happy doing it. I have friends that love the game but they love other stuff too.
Softball has been the thing in my life so long that I don't even worry about the other stuff as much anymore. It has become that much a part of me.
How do I say goodbye and how do I know if this is the time to say goodbye?
All the elements are in place. My body is wrecked. If I play next year I need new batting gloves and new spikes. I know people that would buy my bats. And I have the opportunity to help coach softball next year which would interfere if I play.
How do you say goodbye?
Is it time to say goodbye?
My friends in Mankato remind me I am getting old. They remind me that the healing time is going to be longer. That to play the game nightly will become a harder thing to do. It was hard 3 years ago when I really started having serious knee problems. They can joke all they want but taking tons of pain meds before every game to get through it without worrying about it has probably worn on my body as well.
Is it time to say goodbye?
How do you say goodbye?
As I sit here tonight I reflect and think about the things that make me feel whole. It was a good day today. I got to see friends that I haven't gotten to see a lot lately and we had a ton of fun. It went fast as it always does when you find yourself in good company doing things you love and there lies the rub of what I have been feeling lately.
As most of my friends know I blew out both knees in the championship game of the softball tournament this year. I have been limping around for quite a while now and I know that my knees aren't getting better. While this isn't the first time I have injured a knee it is the first time I have blown out both at the same time.
I look back at the moment it happened with pride because I stuck with it and I gave everything I could to help my team. I never gave up and I always gave everything I had for them. Getting carried off the field after diving the the base to be safe knowing I had done in both knees wasn't a bad way to go. While I feel sorry for those that had to carry me off I am glad I left it all on the field.
I think the loneliness I have felt here is knowing I have no fall softball league to look forward to and possibly next summer as well.
Unlike times before when I hurt a knee and was able to support myself with the other while it healed I have no recourse this time but to limp around equally on both knowing that neither is getting any rest. And with school coming up next week I will not get any rest there either for them.
I also have to face the fact that they aren't healing. That is difficult for me to say but I can write it here and say it again. My knees aren't healing this time. Neither one. They feel just as bad as they did when they went out.
How do you say goodbye to your love? It feels to me that very few people understand the depth of my soul that is carried by playing a game I truly love. A game that I would play every day for the rest of my life and I would be happy doing it. I have friends that love the game but they love other stuff too.
Softball has been the thing in my life so long that I don't even worry about the other stuff as much anymore. It has become that much a part of me.
How do I say goodbye and how do I know if this is the time to say goodbye?
All the elements are in place. My body is wrecked. If I play next year I need new batting gloves and new spikes. I know people that would buy my bats. And I have the opportunity to help coach softball next year which would interfere if I play.
How do you say goodbye?
Is it time to say goodbye?
My friends in Mankato remind me I am getting old. They remind me that the healing time is going to be longer. That to play the game nightly will become a harder thing to do. It was hard 3 years ago when I really started having serious knee problems. They can joke all they want but taking tons of pain meds before every game to get through it without worrying about it has probably worn on my body as well.
Is it time to say goodbye?
How do you say goodbye?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
lack of consideration
I was driving along today and here comes an ambulance up behind me with the lights on. I do what I am supposed to do and I swing over to the side of the road to let him go through. While it isn't the funnest thing to do it is considerate and also the law. The main reason it isn't fun to do is that I didn't have a lot of room to pull over and they have to bumps on the side of the road to warn you if you are falling asleep and running yourself into the ditch. (I don't know what those bumps are called but I am sure you all know what I am talking about. They make you feel like you are killing the tires of your car with every rotation).
Well up ahead as I start to pull back onto the road I see a car coming from the opposite way and wow, he doesn't pull over at all. He slows down just a tiny bit (it looks like) and kind of drives toward the outside line but he definitely never stops and he isn't even over the yellow line.
It really struck me just then that we have a huge lack of consideration for certain things when they "disrupt" our lives and that is really sad. I can think of 3 or 4 times in the last year alone that I have seen something like this happen for either a firetruck or an ambulance.
These people are not speeding down the highway for fun or because it is a thrill; they are doing their best to serve us by risking their own lives and well-being in order to save others. You can make this argument for the armed forces as well although it has been said many times over and while I feel it is very justified I don't need to rant about something that you can see once a week on a facebook post, a editorial, or on tv.
I realize that there are times when you don't see the emergency vehicle coming; I will admit that I didn't catch on to the fact that there was an ambulance coming up behind me until the last 100 yards or so and I figured it out because I saw some cars pulling over and as I drove by them I checked them in my rear view mirror. But as soon as I saw those flashing lights I hit the side of the road as fast as I could safely do. But this car was coming toward the ambulance. That means that he could see him coming right at him and he still did nothing. (Unless of course he wasn't watching forward and then I don't want to think of what might happen.)
So the ambulance slows down as it passes this guy and when you are going 90+ and trying to weave in and out of traffic I am sure that isn't the safest of things to do even on a sunny dry day like today. Meanwhile I am sure whoever is in the back of that thing isn't feeling well and every swerve is probably making it harder for the medics in the back to do their job too.
Have we ever stopped to think of things like this in our every day lives or do we continually go on our way "blissfully" unaware of what we might be doing to others? Worst case scenario the person dies in the back of that ambulance because of the swerving and the lack of speed they are able to make to the hospital. Scary thought - what if the person that didn't pull over knows and loves the person in the back of that ambulance? They just helped kill someone they care for.
Best case scenario you still gave the driver of the ambulance a mild heart attack because they are trying their best to get to the hospital while not crashing and driving at speeds that allow for insta-injury if something like a deer runs into the road.
The same could be said for fire engines. I see people all the time not pull over for fire engines yet these guys are in a huge (and I mean huge) vehicle trying to swing in and out of traffic and around corners meant for 15 mph not 50 while doing their best to save and rescue their fellow human beings and all the things that we hold dear to ourselves in possessions. Yet people don't feel they need to get out of the way. You might feel a little different if you realize later that they were rushing to your home to rescue your stuff wouldn't you?
It seems to me that while most people are considerate that there are still some out there that need to get a clue. Since when did we become so self-centered that we have no consideration for things like this? A little consideration can go a long way in helping things in the world and we want to be considerate now because you never know when you might be counting on the consideration of others to help you along in life.
Well up ahead as I start to pull back onto the road I see a car coming from the opposite way and wow, he doesn't pull over at all. He slows down just a tiny bit (it looks like) and kind of drives toward the outside line but he definitely never stops and he isn't even over the yellow line.
It really struck me just then that we have a huge lack of consideration for certain things when they "disrupt" our lives and that is really sad. I can think of 3 or 4 times in the last year alone that I have seen something like this happen for either a firetruck or an ambulance.
These people are not speeding down the highway for fun or because it is a thrill; they are doing their best to serve us by risking their own lives and well-being in order to save others. You can make this argument for the armed forces as well although it has been said many times over and while I feel it is very justified I don't need to rant about something that you can see once a week on a facebook post, a editorial, or on tv.
I realize that there are times when you don't see the emergency vehicle coming; I will admit that I didn't catch on to the fact that there was an ambulance coming up behind me until the last 100 yards or so and I figured it out because I saw some cars pulling over and as I drove by them I checked them in my rear view mirror. But as soon as I saw those flashing lights I hit the side of the road as fast as I could safely do. But this car was coming toward the ambulance. That means that he could see him coming right at him and he still did nothing. (Unless of course he wasn't watching forward and then I don't want to think of what might happen.)
So the ambulance slows down as it passes this guy and when you are going 90+ and trying to weave in and out of traffic I am sure that isn't the safest of things to do even on a sunny dry day like today. Meanwhile I am sure whoever is in the back of that thing isn't feeling well and every swerve is probably making it harder for the medics in the back to do their job too.
Have we ever stopped to think of things like this in our every day lives or do we continually go on our way "blissfully" unaware of what we might be doing to others? Worst case scenario the person dies in the back of that ambulance because of the swerving and the lack of speed they are able to make to the hospital. Scary thought - what if the person that didn't pull over knows and loves the person in the back of that ambulance? They just helped kill someone they care for.
Best case scenario you still gave the driver of the ambulance a mild heart attack because they are trying their best to get to the hospital while not crashing and driving at speeds that allow for insta-injury if something like a deer runs into the road.
The same could be said for fire engines. I see people all the time not pull over for fire engines yet these guys are in a huge (and I mean huge) vehicle trying to swing in and out of traffic and around corners meant for 15 mph not 50 while doing their best to save and rescue their fellow human beings and all the things that we hold dear to ourselves in possessions. Yet people don't feel they need to get out of the way. You might feel a little different if you realize later that they were rushing to your home to rescue your stuff wouldn't you?
It seems to me that while most people are considerate that there are still some out there that need to get a clue. Since when did we become so self-centered that we have no consideration for things like this? A little consideration can go a long way in helping things in the world and we want to be considerate now because you never know when you might be counting on the consideration of others to help you along in life.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Street Lawyer
I love John Grisham books. I just read one I hadn't before called "The Street Lawyer". I am going to buy it I loved it so much. It really spoke to me at a time when I was thinking a lot about the topic of it but was unable to articulate it.
The Street Lawyer (I don't want to spoil it for you but want to give a general idea) is a novel about a young lawyer on a fast track to partnership in a major law firm. He is involved in a hostage situation and his life is forever changed. He quits the big firm, walking away from millions of dollars and all aspects of his old life to become a poverty lawyer, or someone who works as a pro bono (free of charge) lawyer for the homeless. It is an amazing story of someone who realizes that there is more out there than grabbing as much money as you can and thinking that society seems to somehow benefit from you making as much as you can. (These aren't actually my words, they are in the book but it is so fitting and accurate of how we sometimes think!)
I know that us teachers don't go into our profession for money, we all say it and it is very true. After all, us teachers under 40 are never going to make a huge sum and most of us will probably stay under 40,000 a year for the rest of our lives. I know that is a lot or a little depending on who you are but considering that we all have to go to college for at least 4 years to be a teacher as well as every 5 years needing to get licensure renewal and continuing education hours it really isn't like we are raking in the big dough. We aren't engineers or doctors or lawyers and we would never see the 80,000 that they do (or more).
You know, the more I look at my life and the more I think about what I just read in the book, I realize that I don't mind scraping by the rest of my life in some ways. I mean, I wouldn't mind a bit more money. It would be nice to not be in so much debt and to constantly live paycheck to paycheck and not be able to go out with friends as much as I would like. But more important than that is coming home to my apartment each day (and I don't forsee a day in the near future that I am not renting) knowing that I am doing what I can to make society better. To help people and to think of more than how much money I can pull in. I will never be able to afford nice vacations, or a boat, or anything like that but you know what? That is ok. I am serving mankind and I think that is more important than making money.
I can relate to the main character in the story in many ways. In many ways, I want to relate to him even more. He made a difference and he walked away from money but washed his soul clean with every day he went in to work. It must be nice to be so clean.
It would be nice if more people out there considered things like this on a regular basis. Maybe we would have less problems in the world if we did.
The Street Lawyer (I don't want to spoil it for you but want to give a general idea) is a novel about a young lawyer on a fast track to partnership in a major law firm. He is involved in a hostage situation and his life is forever changed. He quits the big firm, walking away from millions of dollars and all aspects of his old life to become a poverty lawyer, or someone who works as a pro bono (free of charge) lawyer for the homeless. It is an amazing story of someone who realizes that there is more out there than grabbing as much money as you can and thinking that society seems to somehow benefit from you making as much as you can. (These aren't actually my words, they are in the book but it is so fitting and accurate of how we sometimes think!)
I know that us teachers don't go into our profession for money, we all say it and it is very true. After all, us teachers under 40 are never going to make a huge sum and most of us will probably stay under 40,000 a year for the rest of our lives. I know that is a lot or a little depending on who you are but considering that we all have to go to college for at least 4 years to be a teacher as well as every 5 years needing to get licensure renewal and continuing education hours it really isn't like we are raking in the big dough. We aren't engineers or doctors or lawyers and we would never see the 80,000 that they do (or more).
You know, the more I look at my life and the more I think about what I just read in the book, I realize that I don't mind scraping by the rest of my life in some ways. I mean, I wouldn't mind a bit more money. It would be nice to not be in so much debt and to constantly live paycheck to paycheck and not be able to go out with friends as much as I would like. But more important than that is coming home to my apartment each day (and I don't forsee a day in the near future that I am not renting) knowing that I am doing what I can to make society better. To help people and to think of more than how much money I can pull in. I will never be able to afford nice vacations, or a boat, or anything like that but you know what? That is ok. I am serving mankind and I think that is more important than making money.
I can relate to the main character in the story in many ways. In many ways, I want to relate to him even more. He made a difference and he walked away from money but washed his soul clean with every day he went in to work. It must be nice to be so clean.
It would be nice if more people out there considered things like this on a regular basis. Maybe we would have less problems in the world if we did.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
We are giving millions to who?!?!?
I read an article today that said that another pro-football player got in trouble with the law. Something about how without football he had nothing better to do and he ended up getting arrested. He is number 10 this offseason. Wait, what?!?
These guys are asking for millions of dollars and complaining about it. I realize that everyone wants money and I am not going to say no to a million dollars if someone offers me it but that is 10 people getting arrested in a matter of a couple months while they are asking for a lot of money. Do we really want to give that much money to people like this? Wouldn't it be better to use that money for the good of mankind rather than people who are so bored only a couple months after the season is over that they are getting arrested left and right?
With or without a million dollars, I somehow doubt that most friends of mine would manage to have this happen to them in the same sort of circumstances. Is this a sign of how enabled we have made these people? Perhaps this isn't the best thing. And it certainly isn't people I want as role models for my kids!
These guys are asking for millions of dollars and complaining about it. I realize that everyone wants money and I am not going to say no to a million dollars if someone offers me it but that is 10 people getting arrested in a matter of a couple months while they are asking for a lot of money. Do we really want to give that much money to people like this? Wouldn't it be better to use that money for the good of mankind rather than people who are so bored only a couple months after the season is over that they are getting arrested left and right?
With or without a million dollars, I somehow doubt that most friends of mine would manage to have this happen to them in the same sort of circumstances. Is this a sign of how enabled we have made these people? Perhaps this isn't the best thing. And it certainly isn't people I want as role models for my kids!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
No Football
I keep hearing about the possible football strike. It is all over the sports news nowdays. I like football; I enjoy most all sports and most of my friends are well aware of that fact. And I really do like sitting down on a Sunday afternoon and watching the Vikings, for better or for worse.
But I am kind of in favor of the strike right now and for a reason that isn't what most other people are thinking.
Right now it seems that the owners and the players and even some fans are way up in arms over the football season and how the 9 billion dollars gets divided up and etc. But why are we so involved in a game this way? Aren't there more important things in life? I realize that this is a job for hundreds of people every year and it is entertainment for millions of viewers but aren't our priorities a bit messed up when people are starting to get too involved in this?
Perhaps a strike would be best for everybody in the nation at this point. I realize there is a long time until football season but right now I can see quite a bit of good that a strike would do.
1. The owners and players both might see that the world doesn't need football. Yes, I said it. The world does not NEED football. We love it and I do too but it isn't necessary. The people involved seem to think that the world will end if football doesn't happen. It doesn't help that the media seems to feel this way too and are pushing the same idea. There are sports writers out there begging the owners and players to compromise and play. But they are saying it for the wrong reason. The writers need a job and I am sure they want football so they have a job and I understand where they are coming from but the world doesn't have to have pro-football to survive. Perhaps instead some of these football players may realize that their lack of education has left them a bit behind in the world in other matters and they may see that it is a good thing that they go to college instead of just playing football and being self-centered. And the owners might stop feeding their own massive egos and talking about winning and go back to making the country a better place in the way they earned their millions in the first place and the economy might improve.
2. We don't need football as fans. I realize I am probably going to be blasted by many of my own friends for this statement but we really don't. I said before I love watching but if I don't have football to watch I can easily find other productive things to do for 3 hours of my Sunday. And so can other people. In fact, we do it every Sunday that there isn't football in the offseason. We might just do more of other things that involve friends and family and interaction and that isn't a bad thing. And who knows, we might do things that help this country more than sit in front of a television for 3 hours getting fat because we are eating and drinking while we stare at a tv.
3. The economy. The economy isn't exactly great right now. How much money do we spend on football? Seats go for hundreds of dollars. Season tickets go for thousands of dollars. Hey, what can we be spending that money on instead? How about paying off debts? How about helping the poor? How about making the world a better place to live? There are lots of things that we could spend football ticket money on instead that would be much better for everyone involved. Instead we toss this money during the season at people who really don't need it. If the NFL is trying to split up 9 BILLION dollars and we are responsible for that as fans then we are obviously spending a ton on a leisure situation. With that money we could wipe out a lot of debt in the United States. Not all of it and not at a national level but our own state economies sure could use a good chunk of that if we used it wisely.
4. Amateur sports. Just because pro-football would die doesn't mean football dies. What about high school, college, and other leagues? You know, football played by athletes who play the game for love of the game? As a high school teacher I get to experience first hand during the fall a group of student-athletes who don't play because they are going to make the NFL but play because they truly love the game. They realize that very few if any of them are going to play in college and even less will make it to the pros but they play nonetheless because the sport appeals to them. Just like the softball appeals to me every summer even though my body gets trashed and I spend money instead of make money on the sport. But isn't that the best way to see the sport sometimes? Played by those who aren't in it for a paycheck and fancy cars, houses and women but for those who bring dreams of a fun play and a win? Isn't that an ideal we can all aspire too? Not to mention the positive aspects of team work, integrity, and discipline which sometimes seem to take a back seat at the pro level.
These are just a few quick thoughts on the strike. I love watching football and I really enjoy playing it with my friends. But perhaps the strike isn't a bad thing after all. Not only for football but for all professional sports even. This country has enough stuff going on that a squabble over money by massive egos who bring little intellectual and sensible compassion to the table is really undesired right now.
But I am kind of in favor of the strike right now and for a reason that isn't what most other people are thinking.
Right now it seems that the owners and the players and even some fans are way up in arms over the football season and how the 9 billion dollars gets divided up and etc. But why are we so involved in a game this way? Aren't there more important things in life? I realize that this is a job for hundreds of people every year and it is entertainment for millions of viewers but aren't our priorities a bit messed up when people are starting to get too involved in this?
Perhaps a strike would be best for everybody in the nation at this point. I realize there is a long time until football season but right now I can see quite a bit of good that a strike would do.
1. The owners and players both might see that the world doesn't need football. Yes, I said it. The world does not NEED football. We love it and I do too but it isn't necessary. The people involved seem to think that the world will end if football doesn't happen. It doesn't help that the media seems to feel this way too and are pushing the same idea. There are sports writers out there begging the owners and players to compromise and play. But they are saying it for the wrong reason. The writers need a job and I am sure they want football so they have a job and I understand where they are coming from but the world doesn't have to have pro-football to survive. Perhaps instead some of these football players may realize that their lack of education has left them a bit behind in the world in other matters and they may see that it is a good thing that they go to college instead of just playing football and being self-centered. And the owners might stop feeding their own massive egos and talking about winning and go back to making the country a better place in the way they earned their millions in the first place and the economy might improve.
2. We don't need football as fans. I realize I am probably going to be blasted by many of my own friends for this statement but we really don't. I said before I love watching but if I don't have football to watch I can easily find other productive things to do for 3 hours of my Sunday. And so can other people. In fact, we do it every Sunday that there isn't football in the offseason. We might just do more of other things that involve friends and family and interaction and that isn't a bad thing. And who knows, we might do things that help this country more than sit in front of a television for 3 hours getting fat because we are eating and drinking while we stare at a tv.
3. The economy. The economy isn't exactly great right now. How much money do we spend on football? Seats go for hundreds of dollars. Season tickets go for thousands of dollars. Hey, what can we be spending that money on instead? How about paying off debts? How about helping the poor? How about making the world a better place to live? There are lots of things that we could spend football ticket money on instead that would be much better for everyone involved. Instead we toss this money during the season at people who really don't need it. If the NFL is trying to split up 9 BILLION dollars and we are responsible for that as fans then we are obviously spending a ton on a leisure situation. With that money we could wipe out a lot of debt in the United States. Not all of it and not at a national level but our own state economies sure could use a good chunk of that if we used it wisely.
4. Amateur sports. Just because pro-football would die doesn't mean football dies. What about high school, college, and other leagues? You know, football played by athletes who play the game for love of the game? As a high school teacher I get to experience first hand during the fall a group of student-athletes who don't play because they are going to make the NFL but play because they truly love the game. They realize that very few if any of them are going to play in college and even less will make it to the pros but they play nonetheless because the sport appeals to them. Just like the softball appeals to me every summer even though my body gets trashed and I spend money instead of make money on the sport. But isn't that the best way to see the sport sometimes? Played by those who aren't in it for a paycheck and fancy cars, houses and women but for those who bring dreams of a fun play and a win? Isn't that an ideal we can all aspire too? Not to mention the positive aspects of team work, integrity, and discipline which sometimes seem to take a back seat at the pro level.
These are just a few quick thoughts on the strike. I love watching football and I really enjoy playing it with my friends. But perhaps the strike isn't a bad thing after all. Not only for football but for all professional sports even. This country has enough stuff going on that a squabble over money by massive egos who bring little intellectual and sensible compassion to the table is really undesired right now.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Hobbit like path and a hard heart
I kind of want to re-read the hobbit. I don't own it anymore. I used to have a 4 pack set of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and I enjoyed it a lot. I took it to school one day and then they disappeared.
The reason I really want to read the Hobbit again is because of one part that really seems to put into perspective life for me and others.
There is a part in there that has the dwarves and Bilbo walking down a path. Gandalf has instructed them to stay on the path no matter what. Of course, they end up hungry and thirsty because they haven't brought enough stuff and they are tempted by elves in the forest having feasts. So they leave the path to go find these elves and get themselves in some trouble for it. And that is when Bilbo starts to show his true colours and helps save his companions and so on and so on......
I think my life has been like this in many ways. I know that is probably what Tolkien was driving at and that I am just now figuring it out and that makes me slower than the average but it was really driven home to me the other night for some reason.
You walk down the path of life and you get hungry and thirsty. And you know you aren't supposed to take these detours away from what God wants you to do but it is like you can smell and almost touch the things that life has to offer if you are willing to step from that path. But once you step away you get into trouble.
I think the best part of this is that it isn't Bilbo coming to save us from our willingness to stray (although yes I could make a reference here to Jesus and it has crossed my mind) but it is more to me like God has rebuilt the path so that even when I wander I end up back on the road I am supposed to be going on. Yes, I get some help too. But it is like when I look into the darkness and see something tempting; sometimes I am strong and sometimes not. And when I am not, God is right there building a new path that leads in front of me so as I go along I can step back onto the path and keep going so I will eventually make my destination. I hope that makes sense.
I guess that is rather simple but at the same time it really struck me as an apt reference the other night. I think I like it; as messy and disorganized as the idea is.
I realize that when you get dumped on enough that you tend to get cynical and a little hard of heart. But I am saddened of a situation that happened to me last month. I was planning on attending a get together and due to circumstances beyond my control I didn't make it. Unfortunately, the host of this little party has been rather standoffish to me ever since I missed this party. I have been told that in the past there have been others that have skipped and I realize that the host spends quite a bit of money on this get together. I emailed and also talked to the host in person and explained the situation but they still do not seem receptive to giving me any sign that they understand and forgive my absence. I feel saddened by this fact.
I guess that sometimes when you get dumped on enough you are looking for excuses and when someone gives another you tend to not respond in the friendliest of manners. I feel sad for the host that it has come to that.
I think the lesson there is that the way you look at life is the way you will see it. If you see the world as full of people out to get you, then when something happens you will see them plotting. If you see the world full of good people who make mistakes, it will be easier to forgive them when the unexpected happens. Hopefully we can have more of the latter than the former but sometimes I worry because I see a more "me first" attitude as we go along and I hope that there are still people out there who see forgiveness, understanding, and compassion as some of the most important things in the world. We will see where this develops.
The reason I really want to read the Hobbit again is because of one part that really seems to put into perspective life for me and others.
There is a part in there that has the dwarves and Bilbo walking down a path. Gandalf has instructed them to stay on the path no matter what. Of course, they end up hungry and thirsty because they haven't brought enough stuff and they are tempted by elves in the forest having feasts. So they leave the path to go find these elves and get themselves in some trouble for it. And that is when Bilbo starts to show his true colours and helps save his companions and so on and so on......
I think my life has been like this in many ways. I know that is probably what Tolkien was driving at and that I am just now figuring it out and that makes me slower than the average but it was really driven home to me the other night for some reason.
You walk down the path of life and you get hungry and thirsty. And you know you aren't supposed to take these detours away from what God wants you to do but it is like you can smell and almost touch the things that life has to offer if you are willing to step from that path. But once you step away you get into trouble.
I think the best part of this is that it isn't Bilbo coming to save us from our willingness to stray (although yes I could make a reference here to Jesus and it has crossed my mind) but it is more to me like God has rebuilt the path so that even when I wander I end up back on the road I am supposed to be going on. Yes, I get some help too. But it is like when I look into the darkness and see something tempting; sometimes I am strong and sometimes not. And when I am not, God is right there building a new path that leads in front of me so as I go along I can step back onto the path and keep going so I will eventually make my destination. I hope that makes sense.
I guess that is rather simple but at the same time it really struck me as an apt reference the other night. I think I like it; as messy and disorganized as the idea is.
I realize that when you get dumped on enough that you tend to get cynical and a little hard of heart. But I am saddened of a situation that happened to me last month. I was planning on attending a get together and due to circumstances beyond my control I didn't make it. Unfortunately, the host of this little party has been rather standoffish to me ever since I missed this party. I have been told that in the past there have been others that have skipped and I realize that the host spends quite a bit of money on this get together. I emailed and also talked to the host in person and explained the situation but they still do not seem receptive to giving me any sign that they understand and forgive my absence. I feel saddened by this fact.
I guess that sometimes when you get dumped on enough you are looking for excuses and when someone gives another you tend to not respond in the friendliest of manners. I feel sad for the host that it has come to that.
I think the lesson there is that the way you look at life is the way you will see it. If you see the world as full of people out to get you, then when something happens you will see them plotting. If you see the world full of good people who make mistakes, it will be easier to forgive them when the unexpected happens. Hopefully we can have more of the latter than the former but sometimes I worry because I see a more "me first" attitude as we go along and I hope that there are still people out there who see forgiveness, understanding, and compassion as some of the most important things in the world. We will see where this develops.
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