May 27, 2009
Why?
Rose has been asking "why" lately.
You have to brush your teeth
Why?
Because there are "buggies" on them.
Why?
Because we ate ice cream today
dat was vewy NUMMY!
"How does it do that? What's that called? Why did you do, say, blink that way Mama?" When the questions are aimed at your own actions or expectations they actually serve as a type of "reminder shovel" causing you to dig up and remember 'why you are doing what you are doing'. A great exercise we all need to do. Example: "Rose sit down on your chair don't stand on it." A simple instruction we all would most likely agree upon. Right? "Why Mama?" This is where our reasoning may differ. Are you most concerned with safety? Are you worried about manners and social norms? Do you think it we need to take the best care of the things we've been given? WHY do you do what you do? I learn something new and great everyday thanks to Rose.
May 22, 2009
May 18, 2009
Purpose
1. I'm not the kind of person that starts a blog post with so...
2. I'm also not the type of person to start a post with an apology for not blogging enough.
But today I'm not feeling like myself....sorry for not blogging and....
So I've been thinking about purpose. In history class we used to make these cards of people and events and the last thing would always be something called the "significance".
People, moments, words, they are not all equal in purpose. Sometimes there are very small things: a small piece of copper that was formed to a bullet is plucked from a mine. The rest is used for making ordinary pennies but that small piece of copper that was pulled out amongst the greater stock; maybe it was loaded; maybe it was fired; maybe it was lethal. And thus it has been injected with meaning.
Have you seen Slumdog Millionare? We like this movie because the boy's life is handed over to meaning. Each memory, Benjamin Franklin, Rama, the song, is recalled and injected with even more, ironic, meaning. Even the most painful memories of his life are injected with more meaning - they informed answers to the million dollar question.
Two things.
First, as a Christian, I think we should be on the hunt for meaning. To me, this is the key to unlocking God's loving purpose for the world. I think that seeking God's meaning for love, sex, marriage, rest, work, parenthood is a lofty but worthy goal.
Second, as a human, I believe we all have the authority to inject meaning in our lives. I'm not sure if there's any other greater purpose for us. That we make our choices wisely, consider what we have, what we don't have, consider how we can use our power for goodness. Are we opperating in a personal economy of scale? Are we wasting our time? Our money? And even better, how can we take something negative and inject positive meaning?
2. I'm also not the type of person to start a post with an apology for not blogging enough.
But today I'm not feeling like myself....sorry for not blogging and....
So I've been thinking about purpose. In history class we used to make these cards of people and events and the last thing would always be something called the "significance".
People, moments, words, they are not all equal in purpose. Sometimes there are very small things: a small piece of copper that was formed to a bullet is plucked from a mine. The rest is used for making ordinary pennies but that small piece of copper that was pulled out amongst the greater stock; maybe it was loaded; maybe it was fired; maybe it was lethal. And thus it has been injected with meaning.
Have you seen Slumdog Millionare? We like this movie because the boy's life is handed over to meaning. Each memory, Benjamin Franklin, Rama, the song, is recalled and injected with even more, ironic, meaning. Even the most painful memories of his life are injected with more meaning - they informed answers to the million dollar question.
Two things.
First, as a Christian, I think we should be on the hunt for meaning. To me, this is the key to unlocking God's loving purpose for the world. I think that seeking God's meaning for love, sex, marriage, rest, work, parenthood is a lofty but worthy goal.
Second, as a human, I believe we all have the authority to inject meaning in our lives. I'm not sure if there's any other greater purpose for us. That we make our choices wisely, consider what we have, what we don't have, consider how we can use our power for goodness. Are we opperating in a personal economy of scale? Are we wasting our time? Our money? And even better, how can we take something negative and inject positive meaning?
May 14, 2009
restaurant.com
Couldn't keep this to myself!! Type in the code "TASTY" at restaurant.com until May 16 and get 70% off of local restaurant gift certificates. This means a $25 gift certificate normally selling on the site for $10 would cost you only $3!
May 13, 2009
Today Rose pretended for most of the day that Leo was her puppy. This may have been the best they have gotten along since Leo's birth. Rose calls Leo in a high pitch voice, "Come on puppy", Leo happily crawls after her to see what excitement lies ahead panting as he goes. This made me think; at this point in Leo's life, he really is much like a puppy!
Observe:
A. Spends most of the day crawling around on all fours
B. Drools
C. Loves to sit at the window to watch passersby
D. Begs for food from the table and often eats off the floor
E. Sleeps in a contained bed
F. Is gated off from certain areas of the home
G. All toilet seats must be left down ... or else
H. I often finding myself having to say "Watch out! He bites!"
I. Evacuating outside would be more potty trained than he is at this point
Awe! We love you Leo!
Observe:
A. Spends most of the day crawling around on all fours
B. Drools
C. Loves to sit at the window to watch passersby
D. Begs for food from the table and often eats off the floor
E. Sleeps in a contained bed
F. Is gated off from certain areas of the home
G. All toilet seats must be left down ... or else
H. I often finding myself having to say "Watch out! He bites!"
I. Evacuating outside would be more potty trained than he is at this point
Awe! We love you Leo!
May 10, 2009
May 4, 2009
Szechuan*
NPR was doing a story on the recovery of Sichuan a year after the earthquakes in 2008. He Wong, 31, was interviewed on his role as city planner to rebuild the area. I was struck by the voice on the other end of the broadcast; his syncopated English sentences were focused and efficient.
He's young, especially for his responsibility. He graduated from the top university in China and was hired in by the city to replace leaders killed in the disaster. Among other things he explained he was responsible to build around a vision of seven values: honor, harmony, identity, safety, livability, and others...
Then he laughed, just as he was explaining the pressures he felt on all sides. It reminded me of other charismatic leaders I've known. Their laughter and ease don't compromise their strength and accomplishment but enhance it. Even the Chinese, who are principally driven to accomplishment, can see sincere laughter as a strength - it's a way of saying stress and sobriety have their effective limits.
I see God's irony in many places. Prayer is sometimes better than action, giving is almost always better thang recieving, laughter sometimes more effective than work, resting scores higher than cramming and thus less is sometimes more.
He's young, especially for his responsibility. He graduated from the top university in China and was hired in by the city to replace leaders killed in the disaster. Among other things he explained he was responsible to build around a vision of seven values: honor, harmony, identity, safety, livability, and others...
Then he laughed, just as he was explaining the pressures he felt on all sides. It reminded me of other charismatic leaders I've known. Their laughter and ease don't compromise their strength and accomplishment but enhance it. Even the Chinese, who are principally driven to accomplishment, can see sincere laughter as a strength - it's a way of saying stress and sobriety have their effective limits.
I see God's irony in many places. Prayer is sometimes better than action, giving is almost always better thang recieving, laughter sometimes more effective than work, resting scores higher than cramming and thus less is sometimes more.
May 1, 2009
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