It's just a game...

January 6^th 2007 (approximately 10:08 p.m.)

“No more than an extra point.  This will give Dallas the lead…

Romo’s the holder, Gramatica sets.

 Here’s the snap, the spot,

 ROMO CAN’T GET THE SPOT DOWN!

Romo’s gonna run it in! He’s gonna get the down!

 No! He’s not there! 

Unbelievable…”

That moment was a turning point in my life.  Many reasonable people will say that no sporting event should ever be responsible for such a statement.  But as I walked through my friend’s basement, looking for something to hit – being thankful the next day that I was not in my own house – I received an epiphany.  A proclamation that I had heard many times over, a statement that used to make my blood boil, was now one of comfort: “It’s just a game…” 

I truly believe there is not a more inappropriate thing to say to a sport’s fan than those four words.  And I’ll be perfectly honest, the emotional attachment and resonance that occurs between a spectator and a sports team is incredibly illogical.  Yes, the investment almost never matches the return – yes this love is unrequited, but that doesn’t mean one has to be insensitive.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.

Although those embittering four words feel cold and empty, they also provide a well-needed perspective, which has been quite humbling.  Nearly four years have passed since that fateful night, and I must admit I have yet to fully embrace the “It’s just a game” attitude, and I’m not sure if I exactly want to - that would force one to sacrifice genuine fanhood.  But I still must remind myself of those words at the beginning of every season, in each moment of each game.  I must guard myself from inevitable heartbreak.  Will a Dallas Cowboys’ championship satisfy my desires?  I can only answer the question with another question:  Will there be another season?  Will there be new players, new faces, new circumstances?  Such a mistress will always prove faithless…

Music 'n film

This is video is from "A Take Away Show."  These Parisians have a whole series of indie rock bands playing songs in public. One gets to see the purest elements of both music and filmmaking, it's great.

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Gettin' Murried!

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to be a groomsman for my longtime roommate and great friend, Mr. Andrew Oberbroeckling.  I’m a big fan of weddings, and I view them as a commissioning service of sorts.  My favorite part of any wedding is when one person reminds us all that the bride and groom are better serving God together than apart. 

The ceremony though, was beautiful and God definitely blessed the day: near perfect weather, good friends/fellowship, and Katelynn and Obi looked amazing together. This was also the first time I got to participate in a wedding, so seeing all the inner workings gave me a few ideas for my own wedding:

5. I want the song “2 Become 1” by the Spice Girls to be played at least once during the ceremony, while I wink at my father-in-law to be.

4. Age restrictions for the flower girl and ring bearer.  Must be older than 25.  I might have to sacrifice on the ‘cute factor’ but this is necessary.  With children, there are just too many things that could go wrong.  I’m running a tight ship here.  And if there’s anyone crying over a spilt basket of flowers, peeing their pants, or picking their nose - it’s gonna be me.

3. This one is directly inspired by Obi, who hand built his arbor (it was stinkin’ legit).  But I’m going carve and craft all the chairs at my wedding, and then have a “You-Sit-On-It, You-Buy-It” policy.  We all know religious studies/literature majors make zero dollars.  How else will I be able to provide for my family?  And don’t mind the shoddy craftsmanship – that was done on purpose.

2. I want an outdoor wedding in the winter, with a two hour long ceremony.  That way I can find out who my real friends are.  (Sorry grandparents)

1. The one presiding the wedding must say when reading the vows, “Do you take so-and-so to be your such-and-such… (and such)… [and then say at the end] for reals though, do you?”  I just think that an actual articulation for the option to deny would take a lot of the pressure off.  And I’m a pretty impulsive guy, so in case it just doesn’t feel “right” I can always take the cake and bail.

And... I think this post will secure me celibacy for the rest of my life…

The Brother’s Karamazov: Or Why I Will Never Be a Novelist

I enjoy stories.  I love to hear them and love to tell them both, through writing and conversation.  I wrote a lot of short stories in elementary school, and wanted to become an author of some sort.  In middle school I found out I could be funny when writing, and wrote mostly for the sake of making my friends laugh.  Needless to say, much of it – or rather all of it – was terribly inappropriate, which exponentially increased through high school.  Going into college I still wanted to be a writer, but I heard through the grapevine that your average author just doesn’t make the dolla dolla bills, so I decided to major in something more practical – journalism. 

(Side note: It was eventually brought to my attention, that apparently journalists don’t make the dough either, and that’s when I said screw this, I want to make the big bucks, so I changed my major to Religious Studies.)

Well, over the years I realized that all I wanted to do was to reflect the glory of God’s blessings back to him.  So whenever I write nowadays I always want to maximize the skills that God has given me, while aligning myself with truth.  And that is also the standard I have set for other’s creativity.  Whether it be films, books, or music, I will always be intrigued by things that are skillfully made and take full advantage of their medium as they glorify God.  I believe that art and entertainment fall on two extremes: they are either masterfully and creatively made, but are lacking in any substantial spiritual content, or there is such content, but is made so generically and uninspired that many dismiss it without a second thought.  (Sorry Christian pop-music, it’s just never gonna work out between us.)  And so that has been my goal, and the dream of becoming an author has never left me.  That is until I finished “The Brothers Karamazov” by the great Fyodor Dostoevsky.

This is a novel that I’m pretty sure every novelist, Christian or not, wishes they could write. Even if they could write a story that was half as great, they would be creating something monumental.  The story centers on a set of brothers who have essentially been abandoned by their wicked father, who has forsaken his paternal role as to pursue more carnal desires.  The main character is Aloysha, the noblest of all the brothers. He is a Christ-like figure, revered (albeit at times mockingly) but not necessarily respected by those around him. Dostoevsky does a masterful job placing the reader in the middle of the family interactions. Tragedy strikes, and we are thrown into a nightmarish but realistic world of human depravity.  What makes this book so amazing is FD’s ability to capture the inner workings and psychology of the sinner and the saint, a world that is both full of despair and continual hope, and the way that we as fallen creatures can only be redeemed by the grace and mercy of Christ. 

If I had the skill, my desire would be to write in such a way where it would not only glorify God, but also have literary merit.  And I (did) desire that because I just hadn’t come across many works that had done both effectively… they are few and far between.  But I believe that Dostoevsky has set that standard, I need not try any longer, for all other works do (and will) simply pale in comparison…

(*sigh) Yeah I know… except for the Bible.

The beginning of things

I did a little research and found out there are over 125 million blogs!  Compared to the 7 billion people in the world I suppose that’s a relatively small sample of human lives.  (And by research I mean I just made those numbers up, cause it's absolutely impossible to even know how many people are on earth anyways.  Not every nation has a census!)  But regardless of specifics and facts, the truth of the matter is that there are many people out there with many stories and an infinite amount of opinions.  So why this blog? Why me? Why now?  Well I don’t know.  And those questions are dumb.  (I do find it ironic that such questions are postured with humility.  I mean let's be honest, we all know you're going to spend the next three paragraphs trying to convince us to read your blog...)

Well guess what!  I'm going to do it in only one paragraph!

I only write because God has blessed me, and has done so in ways I have yet to recognize or fathom.  Some may look at you or me and say, ‘that’s a pretty ordinary life,’ but in all humility I must disagree, for I see everyday how God works in my life, in ways that are beyond ordinary, and always full of grace. And through His grace I will sift through the life He has set before me, to see the world from the perspective of salvation that rests alone in His son, Jesus Christ.  In other words, what you can expect from this blog are views on what I enjoy, what I have been blessed in enjoying – that being film, literature, music, sports, friendships, and everyday experiences – all of these encompassed by my ultimate passion: serving Christ, and thus loving Him and His creation with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.