A Forgotten Story

  
While listening to a recent NPR "World Story of the Day" podcast, I came across a piece of history that I had never learned about previously but was fascinated by...the story of a Polish man who sneaked into Auschwitz during World War II to gain information about the infamous and horrific camp.

Looking Up to Heroes

  
One of the podcasts I subscribe to is a weekly commentary by sportswriter Frank DeFord, who works for Sports Illustrated and NPR.  His most recent commentaries have centered on the subject of heroes in sports, and how people - particularly children - look up to athletes.

On the Bus

  
Two events this past week - riding the bus in Ocean City and renewing my bus pass for the coming semester in Richmond - have made me consider what it means to be a neighbor.

Thoughts from the Road

  
Having completed an extended visit to family and friends in Texas, I come away with numerous reasons to be thankful.

Choosing Teams

  
In a heartbreakingly disappointing public display for Cleveland fans, LeBron James just made history in his unprecedented hour-long television special that announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and play for the next five seasons for the Miami Heat.

Nature at Work

  
This week I have been thinking a lot about a baby robin I came across while taking Penny for a walk.

Focus, Determination, & Perseverance

  
This past week gave several incredible examples of focus, determination, and perseverance from the sporting world, particularly from tennis and soccer.

Dogsitting

  
As I play the role of dogsitter this weekend, I am learning things about my beloved dog, Penny.  Particularly, that she is introverted, entitled, and an elitist when it comes to other dogs.

Pobody's Nerfect

  
Two of yesterday's headlines in baseball have recently reminded me of how much I enjoy this sport and how much I feel that it is full of life illustrations...those two headlines include the retirement of Ken Griffey Jr., and the "almost" perfect game thrown by Armando Gallaraga.

Needing Adoption

I've been thinking about adoption lately.

The Great Tales Never End

One of my mother's most favorite books is "The Tapestry" by Edith Schaefer, which notes how our lives are woven together by God like a giant tapestry. Our most recent small group discussion centered around the story that God is weaving us into and encouraged us to be mindful of His greater story, and it included references to the following passage from "The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tolkien:

"We shouldn't be here at all, if we'd known more about it before we started. But I suppose it's often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually - their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on - and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same - like old Mr. Bilbo. But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we've fallen into?"

"I wonder," said Frodo. "But I don't know. And that's the way of a real tale. Take any one that you're fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad ending, but the people in it don't know. And you don't want them to."

"No sir, of course not. Beren now, he never thought he was going to get that Silmaril from the Iron Crown in Thangorodrim, and yet he did, and that was a worse place and a blacker danger than ours. But that's a long tale, of course, and goes on past the happiness and into grief and beyond it - and the Silmaril went on and came to Earendil. And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We've got - you've got some of the light of it in that star-glass the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on. Don't the great tales never end?"

"No, they never end as tales," said Frodo. "But the people in them come, and go when their part's ended. Our part will end later - or sooner."

Eye on the Ball

Behind our apartment is a neighborhood park with a large open field, a gazebo, a baseball backstop, a basketball court, and a tennis court. Next to the park is an elementary school, and since the weather has warmed up, I get to enjoy the sounds of young children being directed by their P.E. coach everyday as they play games and fitness activities in the field. This past week, the coach has introduced baseball to the children (actually, he's using a wiffle ball and bat, but he's still teaching the basics of baseball). Everyday, the coach starts out repeating the phrase, "Keep your eye on the ball" to the children.

Coach: "Keep your eye on the ball! Keep your eye on the ball! Keep your what?"

Kids: "Eye on the ball!"

Coach: "Keep what?"

Kids: "Your eye on the ball!"

Coach: "Very good, don't forget it!"

The coach then demonstrates to the kids before letting them take turns hitting what happens when you take your eye off the ball. As he swings without looking at the ball, he inevitably hits a weak grounder that fails to go very far. But when he tells the kids, "Now see what happens when I keep my eye on the ball," he hits the small wiffle ball into the outfield, where the kids then scream and chase after it.

Keep your eye on the ball is a baseball principle that I remember learning in my Little League days. It's an important lesson because it's true: when you don't look at the ball, your chances at getting a hit aren't very good. If you're in the field and trying to catch the ball, the results can be quite ugly when you don't keep your eye on the ball. But when you focus on the ball, getting a hit is easier, your hits go farther, and even if you don't catch the ball in the field, you'll probably at least block it with your glove.

Keeping your eye on the ball is not as easy as it sounds. I remember frequently losing focus on the ball in Little League, even when I knew it was what I should be doing, and then feeling terrible about striking out or missing an easy catch. Even the professionals struggle to keep their eye on the ball...one can quickly find blooper clips where outfielders miss an easy pop-up because they lost focus on the ball, and sluggers mired in hitting slumps frequently chalk it up to not being able to focus on the ball at the plate.

It's the same way with life. As a student right now, keeping my eye on the ball translates to maintaining a focus on finishing my semester strong and not getting distracted from my studies. Again, that's usually easier said than done. In my Christian faith, keeping my eye on the ball translates to keeping my eye on the "prize" as the Apostle Paul wrote, not wavering from my faith or allowing the sin that so easily entangles to distract me in my relationship with God. But it's easier said than done...thank God for His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and sanctification!

So as I enjoy listening to kids repeating the phrase, "Keep your eye on the ball," back to their Coach, I will remember that it's a lesson that I should be repeating to myself as well. Keep your eye on the ball!

April Fools

For identical twins, April 1st is a special day of the year. Commonly referred to as "April Fool's Day," the minor holiday allows identical twins the acceptable tradition to switch places and trick people into mistaking their identity. My identical twin brother and I used to look much more alike, especially during our years in elementary school. Several years we enjoyed switching places on April 1st, usually to the amusement of our classmates who were in on the joke. The best part was always the moment when we would reveal we had switched places (or someone would reveal the fact on our behalf), at which point usually our gracious teachers would smile knowing they had been the target of an April Fool's Day prank, and the whole class would erupt in laughter. My brother and I were able to get away with this prank through high school, although today I think we'd have much more difficulty pulling off the prank without considerable effort. I should also note we only pulled the switching-places-prank in classes we shared, with teachers who we felt would take the prank well, in subjects we could both easily handle switching places (for example, I wouldn't have been able to play the tuba and convince our band directors that I was my brother!) This year for April Fool's Day, I'll be far away from having the chance to switch places with my twin brother. Most people I encounter here don't even know I'm an identical twin other than those who I've told, and I'll miss being able to celebrate April 1st with him.

On a similar note, Good Friday and Easter are coming this weekend, and I can't help but think that in the same way that April Fool's Day is a day when my brother and I celebrated the opportunity to switch places, Good Friday and Easter are the days when we celebrate that Christ switched places with us, taking the punishment and judgment we deserved and earning salvation for us through no merit of our own. Not only that, He had the greatest revealing moment of all when He conquered death and rose again, to the shock of the world.

Happy April Fool's Day, and Happy Easter to all!

All Things New

Spring has come, and it is a lovely time of year. There are numerous reasons why I look forward to spring, some of which include: flowers blooming, tree blossoming, birds singing, birds returning, wildlife enjoying the outdoors and introducing their young to the world, the smell of fresh green grass, chilly mornings and warm afternoons, cheery people, spring festivals (including Fiesta in San Antonio), pulling t-shirts back out and dusting them off, the beginning of the baseball season (a hopeful time for Pirates fans!), the push towards basketball playoffs (hopefully a hopeful time for Spurs fans...), the excitement and anticipation of summer break, etc.

While I was recently reflecting upon how thankful I am for the change in seasons, I realized two key reasons why I'm so glad about the new spring season. First, that I seem to find myself always excited and thankful for a change in seasons, whether it's the first taste of spring, the beginning of summer, the beautiful change to autumn, or the welcoming of winter.

My second realization is that I am excited about the new spring season because it represents the beginning of new things. Spring is the beginning of new green growth, of warmer days to come, of new offspring...you get the idea. During a recent bible study meeting, our small group talked about how, as Christians, we despair for how this current world is broken knowing that it is not as it ought to have been before the fall of God's creation. Yet at the same time, we find hope that things can be restored as we are promised that God is making "all things new" in His work towards salvation, redemption, and glorification. As the small group discussion connected in my mind with my recent thoughts about the new spring season, I came away with an even greater appreciation for springtime.

This season, I find encouragement that as I enjoy the "newness" of spring, it is a representation of God's redeeming work, and that my excitement for the new season is just a taste of the excitement we'll enjoy when God has fully made all things new.

Enjoying the Cold

This past week I've reflected upon the cold winter weather we've had this year, and I am thankful for it. I have enjoyed experiencing a full winter season, and despite continual reports from the locals who tell us this is an abnormally cold and snowy winter for the area, I have enjoyed the cold. It's been fun to bundle up and drink hot chocolate on a regular basis, and it's a new experience for us to have to shovel ourselves out of snow and drive down slushy streets.

Thinking about the cold weather, I was reminded of a funny moment during a trip to Erie with my cousin a couple years ago on a cold, windy day in the fall. As we huddled together looking out over the lake, we marveled at a car that passed by with its windows rolled all the way down and its driver enjoying a large ice cream cone. Now that was a guy that enjoys the cold! As we prepare for several more weeks of winter, and as I encounter moments of longing for warmer weather, I'll try to keep the image of our cold-loving Erie neighbor in my mind and be thankful for a full winter season, even as I look forward to sunny spring days.

Unimaginable

After getting frustrated during a visit to the DMV this morning, I was humbled as I considered the devastation in Haiti and how petty my inconveniences really are in comparison to what's going on in a place destroyed by earthquake. It's difficult to imagine what is being described in the news. I can't imagine living in a place where tens of thousands are dead, with many more tens of thousands missing and presumed dead. I can't imagine living in a place where everything that was familiar to me is gone. I can't imagine living in a place where even the limited services you depend upon aren't safe or available, and will likely be unavailable for a long time. I can't imagine living in a place where you fear to be inside a building or shelter, even as you go to sleep at night, because you fear it collapsing on top of you. I can't imagine living in a place where you fear extremely dangerous criminals who escaped prison during the earthquake and are unaccounted for. I can't imagine living in a place where you can't even go to the hospital to receive care because it no longer exists. I could go on, but two thoughts occur to me as I receive news from Haiti. First, I am truly blessed - and truly have developed a sense of entitlement and disregard - to be living in a country and given provisions and necessities that I take for granted everyday. I must be more thankful and aware of this. Second, I don't know what someone like me can do to appropriately respond to those in need. All that I know to do at this point is to pray and trust in an all-powerful God to restore that which is broken as He pursues His glory. I must pray for those in Haiti!

Hello 2010

Another year gone, a new year to come. I'm excited about 2010 and anxious to see what will happen in the next year. I always enjoy the turn from December to January, as it is a time usually spent reflecting on the past year (I'm a sucker for nostalgia, even if from within the same year) as well as anticipating and predicting what is to come (I'm also a sucker for guesses about the future, not necessarily my own predictions but what others think). This most recent new year, however, I feel has been one in which we have been encouraged to primarily view the past year in a negative light while at the same time placing great expectations for things to change or get better in the beginning of a new decade. Verizon Wireless even has an advertisement out that reads, "So long, 2009. Don't let the door hit you."

I won't deny that 2009 brought significant challenges to most people around the world including our own nation. But I also think people are quick to forget that every year - not just 2009 - includes significant challenges and struggles, and that every year - including 2009 - includes blessings and joys as well. Rather than slapping 2009 with a label of "bad year," I'm going to try to remember the great things that happened and give thanks to God for abundantly blessing me without my deserving of any of it. I'm also going to try to remember the difficult things that we've gone through and give thanks to God for His mercy and providence, recognizing that this life was never promised without difficulty or pain. I hope to learn from the past year and look forward to 2010 as a year in which I can hopefully grow. Finally, in reflecting upon 2009 and looking forward to 2010, I hope to be continually reminded that in all things, those that we see as good or bad, God is present, and that it is often in ways unseen or unexpected that God works in our lives for our good. Who knows, decades from now people may look back upon 2009 with changed attitudes, recognizing that the events that took place in the past year triggered changes in their lives that were profound blessings.

So long 2009, and thanks for the memories. Happy 2010!

Thankful

• For my lovely wife and best friend
• For my loving family, even though we're far apart
• For my adorable dog who has forgiven us for making her wear sweaters
• For God's blessings and faithfulness as we've moved north
• For the seasons and holidays
• For shelter, for food, for clothes
• For the gifts and blessings I have been given daily that I don't even recognize
• For leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches
• For baseball, jazz, national parks, and ice cream
• For the church and the communion of the saints
• For school and the opportunity to keep learning
• For study breaks...good music, long walks, movies, board games, snacks, sports
• For apple dumplings, strawberry shortcake, and coconut cream pies
• For a warm scarf and hooded sweatshirts
• For another year of blessings

The Son of Ida

We've been hit by a persistent coastal storm, spun off from Hurricane Ida, that has brought two straight days of non-stop rain and winds. Coming from drought-stricken south Texas, we have thus far been very welcoming of rain that has come our way, but this recent batch of grumpy weather has seemed to wear out its welcome. Sure, it's an inconvenience to have your umbrella give up on you in the middle of a downpour while walking to class. And it's no fun when you have to continually coax your dog to go outside, even though she clearly needs to go to the bathroom, because she hates to be out in the cold rain. But the main reason for our growing impatience for the rain to end is the development of several leaks along the side of our apartment, which we discovered today stem from poor sealing around the windows of the apartment above us. As a result, our furniture has been moved away from the leaky side of the house and crammed together along the opposite wall, we've got a hodgepodge of Tupperware containers and plastic tubs scattered around the floor to catch dripping water from the ceiling, and we're continually wiping off the wet walls, windowsills, and flooring, replacing soaked towels that we've placed along the wall with fresh ones.

I find it amazing how quickly my security in a simple provision I take for granted - the roof over my head - can turn into a discouraging crisis. It's also amazing to me how quickly I can be tempted to fall into despair or grumbling just because a little water is trickling into my living space...after all, I'm a fan of camping and retreating into the elements, right? Perhaps it's moments when I feel like situations are out of my control, including a leaky ceiling I can't fix, that I can learn and reflect upon how I'm living and where my priorities should be.

• How often do I express gratitude for the simple blessings that have been given to me daily, or do I continually overlook them and take them for granted? A roof over my head...regular meals...warm clothes...good health...relative freedom and safety...the love of my family...?
• How often do I consider the needs of those who do not have these same blessings that I enjoy? Do I think of ways to help them? And am I a good steward of these provisions and daily necessities that have been given to me?
• When these blessings are taken away from me (even for just a short time), what is my first reaction? Do I start to stress out because matters aren't in my control? Do I despair and lose sight of all of the blessings that have been granted to me? Or do I trust in the faithful provisions of a sovereign God and rest patiently and gratefully in His care?

Sadly, in many of these questions my honest answers are less than exemplary. But I suppose this gives me pause, recognizing the opportunity for me to change my attitude and to be more considerate about what's been given to me that I constantly take for granted. For now, I'll continue to work on being thankful for the blessings I have, even the rain that waters the ground and makes all good things grow. And I'll try to wait patiently for the rain to end sometime in the next couple of days...when it does, I'll try to remember to be particularly thankful for the sunshine that will emerge.

Tearing Down Walls

I came across an article in USA Today that I really enjoyed, describing the role that an evangelical Lutheran church played in the events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall. I find it fascinating that in a time and place where individual rights and freedoms were stripped and God was considered not to exist, the church became the one place where people felt freedom - the freedom that comes in Christ - and where they experienced the hope and love of God in the community of other believers. One quote in particular gripped me: the church's pastor stated that "in church, people had learned to turn fear into courage, to overcome the fear and to hope, to have strength."

I think this is true for us today, and it is true for the church throughout history. We may not be facing the oppressive threats that those living in communist East Germany faced, but I think that each of us can acknowledge individual fears that we continually face in our lives. I believe that in many ways God uses the community of believers, the church, to give us strength to have courage and hope in His perfect will. As the reverend succinctly stated when asked why the church led the call for peace, "we did it because the church has to do it."

I encourage you to read the article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-11-05-church-berlin-wall_N.htm