Too Much
8 years ago…
After reading numerous studies about the learning process of the brain and how learning things at younger ages is easier, I endeavored to spread myself as thin as possible and learn as many things as possible before I hit that theoretical wall of the learning curve. This led me to take on over 10 extra curricular activities while at the same time trying to balance the course load of the pre-International Baccalaureate Program (read more about the program at Wikipedia). Some of these activities included:
- Ballet lessons
- Jazz (dancing) lessons
- Guitar lessons
- Piano lessons
- Voice lessons (for singing)
- Musical theatre (I was in the Wekiva Riverplayers Anything Goes production)
- President of the Physics Club (despite my dismal grades in the subject)
- Varisty Lacrosse
And let us not forget my work (many jobs held simultaneously)
- Working at Old Navy on weekdays
- Working at Disney on Saturdays and Sundays
- Working at Field’s BMW on Saturday shortly after I went to seasonal status at Disney
Even going through this blog, I can see numerous instances where I overcommitted. For a history major, it seems like I have yet to learn from my mistakes… Read the rest of this entry »
A Morning of Repose
Yesterday morning I missed the bus. As I walked out into the parking lot of my apartment complex, the bus passed by in the distance. I was glad to miss it. Since waking up that morning, I had been praying that I would have time to spend with God before going to class. Missing the bus gave me that newfound free time. I try to have devotional every morning, but it almost never happens: it’s so much easier to spend that extra 30 minutes in bed, drifting in and out of sleep than to get up and begin my morning.
Wanderlust
The tires grip the road, I’m behind the wheel. My car speeds up I-75 on its way to Gainesville. The thoughts cross my mind, “What would happen if I kept on going all the way to Canada? Where does I-75 end? Does it become another interstate in Canada? Would I wind up on the shores of Hudson Bay?” Then the more realistic questions begin to hit: “Would I be able to catch up in my classes? How much would it cost to do that? How long would it take?”
Recently, I have been overcome with a sense of wanderlust, I’m itching to get out and have an adventure. I tell my friends that I want to take a road trip to Zion National Park in Utah and I’m dead serious. Last summer my friend Greg and I went on a road trip starting in Orlando and making stops in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Lafayette, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. We went all over the Midwest and then back again. It was amazing and I am yearning for another equally exciting adventure.
Crying Like a Baby
Up until a few weeks ago, I could not remember the last time I had cried. I think it was sometime in elementary school, maybe 3rd grade. In high school, I discovered that I was physically unable to cry. I understand the unhealthy nature of my inability to cry and I can testify to it too, there were so many times in high school and even college when all I wanted to do was cry and I became so frustrated that I couldn’t.
A few weeks ago, that changed as I broke down and began sobbing, releasing streams of wonderful tears. It was after an amazingly emotional weekend, one that I’ve had friends describe as something that sounded like it was out of a horror movie. It was a terrible, wonderful weekend and I cried like a baby.
Christian Homosexuality
“Being a homosexual isn’t a sin, but having sex with another person of the same sex is.”
“Jesus loves homosexuals; he just doesn’t like it when they have sex with other members of the same sex.”
I thought of these quotes while trying to determine what my response should be towards homosexuality. I didn’t want to come straight out and say, “homosexuality is a sin,” because I don’t think it is. To me, homosexuality is a genetic or behavioral trait where a person is attracted to other members of the same sex either because of their genetic make up, or due to some experience throughout life. I have heard the testimony of homosexual men saying that as youths, they had dreams about other men and not women. This led me to believe that homosexuality is not a choice, at least not a choice for most.
Catching Foxes
“Catch us the little foxes,
the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards,
our vineyards that are in bloom.”
Song of Solomon 2:15 (NIV)
The Adventure is in Getting There
“…there is a lot of stuff I am unsure about right now and it is frustrating that I don’t know the answers.”
The Difference of Fifteen Years
Wait… Those people on the screen, who are they?
Are they the same people that were going to nuke us 15 years ago?
I thought they were our enemies, what are they doing on our overhead screen in church?
Why is our worship leader there with them?
Are they praising the same Jesus we are?
Sleeping In and Other Updates
I thought I should include some other updates about what’s been going on in my life too.
I had a wonderful morning this morning. Aside from the wonderful events of last night still vividly present in my memory, I managed to sleep in by an hour. On most mornings, this would be a catastrophe, but this morning it actually worked out quite well. Here are the reasons it worked out so well:
Encouragement
My comment as found on http://www.ajandkellie.com/ under Kellie’s “Thanksgiving” entry.
Kellie, my name is Nate and I’m a friend of Jordan Wiens (www.wantingseed.com). I have only started reading your webpage recently, but I find it an amazing encouragement in my personal walk with God. It’s so incredible to read how awesome God is, being there for His children especially in their deepest anguish. Every time I read your blog it does wonders for my day, it gives me such a perspective on the many blessings God has bestowed upon me. It’s also incredible for me to see your amazing writing ability even amidst such pain. From the comments I have been reading, it appears that other readers receive the same encouragement from your blog. I just wanted to write to let you know how much of a positive impact your webpage is having on your readers. I’m going to post a link on my webpage (www.themeyerwire.com) so that others may see this amazing example of God at work in your life, and pray for you and Eli. God bless.
