Fireplaces, Red Wine, and Black Pepper
Today has been a great day. After work, I was able to go ice skating with some good friends and talk for a long time over cups of coffee. However, coming home was almost as good as my time spent away. After being outside in the cold for the better part of the day, I was able to turn on my fireplace, listen to music (mostly The Civil Wars) and enjoy a glass of wine. Coud you think of a better evening?
Oh yeah, I also just finished a true bachelor’s dinner. It consisted of four eggs, some pinot noir (my favorite) and sesame pretzel rods (to dip in the yolks, of course!) And the best part? I used my new sea salt and peppercorn grinders for the first time this evening. You may think it a little strange, but I am borderline obsessed with fresh ground pepper!
All in all, it’s been *almost* the perfect evening. Sometimes, life is so sweet that you just have to share.
I hope you are having a good one, too.
Life as an Adventure
I just finished reading “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer and I must say, it was fantastic. Perhaps it was because I can relate to many of Chris McCandless’ own passions, frustration with society, and love for nature untouched by civilization. And to any who might be interested in a great adventure book, a coming of age tale, or just a story with a search for meaning, I would recommend it.
Below is one of the phrases I found in the book to ring startlingly true:
“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security …but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit of man than a secure future.”
While many critics claim that the life of Chris McCandless was foolish, wasted, selfish, and misguided, it is still one that was lived to the fullest.
It is a sad thing to people sacrifice their dreams and passions for either the sake of comfort or security. These things are often what give our lives the most flavor, the things that break us from the ever-present routine.
I am reminded of another quote I read in a friends blog:
“dream great dreams and find the courage to live them”
-erwin mcmanus
Having dreams, goals, and aspirations is an integral part of being human. Indeed, I would even say that they are a gift of God and to be relished as such.
My 2012 reading list
So here it is, a list I’ve put together of books to read as the year progresses.
It’s nice to finally have some downtime where I can read for enjoyment rather than scholastics. I have already read the first few entries and am in the middle of “Into the Wild” right now.
Let me know your thoughts on any of these books or if you have other suggestions as well!
Hunger games series –Suzanne Collins
The Pearl –John Steinbeck
From Brokenness to Community – Jean Vanier
East of Eden –John Steinbeck
The Brothers Karamazov -Fyodor Dostoyevsky
A River Runs Through It –Norman Maclean
Hatchet –Gary Paulsen
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance –Robert Pirsig
Into the Wild –Jon Krakauer
The Hobbit –J.R.R. Tolkein
Lord of the Flies –William Golding
The Picture of Dorian Gray –Oscar Wilde
Jungle –Yossi Ghinsberg
Congo –Michael Chrichton
The Beach –Alex Garland
The Wounded Healer –Henri Nouwen
Story: The Lost Art
When most people think of the word story, children’s books and fairytales are often the first things that come to mind.
I remember last summer when I was reading through Jack London’s Call of the Wild and White Fang someone made the comment that they were books suited for middle school. Isn’t it interesting that books like these are assigned to our children in schools and then seemingly abandoned afterward? We include reading fiction in our curriculum and then it is often forgotten once we enter “the real world.”
In former times and even in pre-literate cultures today, story plays a vital role in the social life. Indeed the telling of story is an integral part of culture.
Today we have replaced stories with other forms of entertainment such as movies, music, and video games -none of which are necessarily bad things.
However, when we rid ourselves of the spoken and written stories, I believe we are truly missing out. How sad it would be if, as adults, we failed to engage our imagination, stimulate our minds, and explore different worlds through the medium of story.
Besides, reading is a great winter pastime, riding public transit, or slow days at the office (you know you have them…)
Soon to come, my 2012 must-read list!
A Quick Update
Well, I am back. It has been a while, I know…
My life for the past few months has been one of transition. In the midst of finishing up a degree, moving into my own place, fixing up that place, and starting an internship, I managed to squeeze in a bit of time to travel and visit with family.
It is always refreshing to see old familiar faces, to feel the warm welcome of lifelong friends and to be with family.
But I am back now. Although things are still a little hectic, life is beginning to settle into somewhat of a routine –and it is good.
With life in a more settled state has come the opportunity for reflection. That is really why I started this blog in the first place. For me at least, blogging mindset is a contemplative one, much of which is for my own benefit (but I am glad to share as well). I will be back to posting on a regular basis, so be checking back for more.
Holy Community
Every Sunday after church, I have an open invitation to join a friend and his family for lunch. What makes this lunch different is the fact that my friend is part of a large Romanian family that all comes together for one very big, social, and often loud family style dinner. Most of the time I sit there quietly listening and observing the many interactions around me. For the most part, everything is spoken in a foreign language that I am completely unable to comprehend.
However, I am accepted there.
Every week I am the recipient of warm, generous hospitality. Kindness is extended to me often without words. I am pulled into something larger than myself and accepted as one of their own.
There’s something about community between Christians that’s hard to put into words. The extension of hospitality, generosity, kindness, and even love without saying a single word –I imagine it’s only possible among followers of Christ.
Farmer’s Markets
It’s been quite a while since I uploaded any photos, and that’s largely because I hadn’t synced my camera with my computer for a while.
But, it all works out –fall is a great time to reminisce about your favorite things in summer, right?
For me, one of those favorites is the farmers market. I was so fortunate to have 2 wonderful markets less than a mile from my apartment this summer.
With all the sights, sounds, smells, music, and great food, I find that there is so much to take in.
I hope you enjoy the shots.
Fixated
anx-i-e-ty |a ng ˈzī-itē|
noun ( pl. -ties)
a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
I probably don’t need to define anxiety for you to understand what it is. Why? -because it’s something we are all familiar with: it’s that thing that keeps you up at night; the thoughts that ruin (or increase) your appetite for food; the “what-ifs” of tomorrow or the future; or the fear that something horrible may happen.
But why do we worry? I doubt anyone really enjoys being anxious -It’s even well documented that it causes all sorts of health problems!
We worry about certain things, whatever they may be, because we fixate on them. When that small problem is the only thing we can see, nothing else really matters. We lose perspective, even common sense, and our fear and anxiety gets the best of us.
peace |pēs|
noun
1 freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
PHRASES
at peace: free from anxiety or distress.
Peace is the polar opposite of anxiety. The above definition is how a dictionary might describe peace. A Christian, however, may describe peace in a higher sense: “Peace, a perfect calm; a grace-soaked dwelling in God’s presence.” Peace in its purest form can only be experienced when we look to God. Scripture refers to this as “perfect peace”: “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).
So how do we overcome anxiety? We choose what we fix our gaze on. If we continue to stare into the things that stir up anxiety within us, we will only continue to live in that pattern of worry and fear.
We have to shift our gaze to something greater -to God Himself. The lyrics of the old hymn still hold true:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.