This Is Not The End

RICO

Came across this video while looking for some happy christmas stuff.

didn't find what I was looking for...
...but glad i found it.


RICO from Jeremy Snell on Vimeo.

...wisdom

If The World Ended

So as you know, the world is ending.

Some say really really soon.

Some say later.

Either way, people handle crazy stuff in different ways.  Ignore it, make fun of it, take it seriously and go into their underground forts.

Me?  I guess if I had a fort, I might go into it...just in case.  But I don't have a fort.  So.....getting on with it...

Stuff like this causes me to reflect.  Take inventory of what I have and what I believe.

So here we are.

I believe in the God of Israel and in Jesus his son.  I believe in His love for us.  And I trust what the bible says in Matthew 24:36 NIV "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

So the end most likely will not happen on the 21st.  But it could happen on the 22nd!

Anyway, that's not the point of this post.

The point is if the world ended...if I died tomorrow, I have much to be thankful for.

I have a wife who loves me and believes in me.  She sees things in me that no one else sees and somehow brings it out of me.  She is strong and passionate.  She is kind and tender hearted.  When she dances...when I think of her dancing, the world slows down for those few short minutes.  I feel like angels stop to watch her.  And I am so blessed...lucky to have her.

I have two children who mean the world to me.  As I see them growing, I marvel at the miracle that they are.  That only a few years ago, they were not even here.  They were a hope...they were a dream my wife and I had...and now they are here...more incredible than we could have ever imagined.  When they smile and laugh it is magic.  They try to dance like their mother...and that is magic, too.

I have a lot more to be thankful for.  For family and friends, for being able to see the world beyond the US and for seeing that as bad as we think our problems are, it cannot compare to what others face daily.

So when the end comes...
...when ever it comes...
I can at least say that I've lived a good life and I am blessed.

See you tomorrow!

The Rebel Jesus

This song cuts me to the heart.  Especially the 3rd and 4th verse...

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

Powerade was enough

So I biked in to work again today.  It's the Friday after Thanksgiving and there was very little traffic.  Either everyone is at the malls or they are at home sleeping off the meal/s they had yesterday.

Anyhow...after I got to the office, I went over to the gas station to get a sports drink (cause that's what athletes have to do after they do their...athlete-ing). 

Powerade was on sale. 2 for $2.50

So I got one red and one blue.

As I was walking back to the office, I saw my buddy Steve at the bus stop.  He said he was listening to the LSU vs Arkansas game (I should've asked him the score)...on a new walkman that he got (which is cool cause his other one got stolen). 

I say, "Hey that's cool.  You want one of these (Powerade's)?  Red or Blue?"

He takes the blue and says thanks.

After short meeting, at the office, I go back to the gas station and pick up a 3 spam musubi's.  2 for me, 1 for Steve.  With my musubi's in hand, I walk back to the bus stop and offer one of them to him.  "You want one of these?"

I expect him to say yes and thank you as usual.

But he says, no.  He's fine.

It's not that he doesn't like them.  I've gotten some musubi's for him before.

"Ok," I say, "take care."

And as I'm walking back to my office with Steve's musubi, I wonder if he was too proud to take it?  I wonder if he doesn't like to just take and take and take.  I wonder if he'll receive things that he needs...but for the things that he doesn't...he won't.

I look at him and ask myself: What does he want out of life or does he have everything he wants?

I wonder.

But for today all he wanted was a Powerade...and that was enough.

Random thoughts while riding to work

So today is Wednesday.  I usually try to ride bike into work.  Not sure exactly how long it is has been since I started, but it has at least been a few months.  It's getting easier.  Now that's not the same as easy.  Just not as hard as it was when I started. 

But it has gotten to the point where my mind can wander to other thoughts than, "Crap. I am so tired" or "Should I just turn around and drive to work?" or "I wonder if my wife would pick me up from here and take me the rest of the way..."

So here's some randomness...

1.  All you cars shouldn't bang me.  You know why?  Me using less gas getting to work means there's more gas for you!

2.  Wow, gas is $3.99 now!  Maybe me riding to work IS helping?!?!?  Gas has gone down.  That fact is indisputable.

3.  I love it when cars cut in front of me only to be waiting at the stop light for me when I pull up. <-- insert heavy sarcasm

4.  It is very fulfilling when I pass cars in traffic.  I take it to mean that I'm getting into better shape.

5.  Thank you all the cars and drivers for not banging me.  My wife and kids thank you as well.

6.  I wish PRP would start a bike lane campaign. <-- not really.  and I didn't think that up while riding.  Just while typing.

Ok, that's all.  I'm pretty sweaty and tired and am still typing on this keyboard.

Laters...

Paula Fuga & Mike Love - Misery's End

Really like the feel and groove of this song.  Just thought I'd share.  Enjoy!