Sydnie's Final Swim Lesson

Critique by Creating

So it's our final day in North Carolina, soon to return to work and the summer heat of Orlando.  This here post in many ways is something I've been dwelling on for about a year (disclaimer: that doesn't mean it will be profound).  I was looking back over some "journal" entries from about this time last year (we were in NC as well) and I wrote about wanting to become "anti-being-anti".  Let me explain.

Give a guy some books, a little experience, some graduate work and a blog and you have a dangerous combination, particularly when the subject is that of the Christian faith.  Why?  Because it is so easy to become rooted in an "anti-everything" mentality.  This happens when one thinks they know best and need to point it out to anyone who will listen.  Of course the thoughts are not worthy of enough of true publication, so enters the medium of "blog" whereas anybody can spout off about anything they wish.  No one to critique.  No one to edit.  No one really to answer to.  Just pure, unadulterated opinion.  Trouble is, that type of behavior is too EASY.  Anyone can spout off.  Anyone can point out what is wrong with a church, system, people, etc.  The real work comes when you try and create something that is better.

So it was about a year ago I found myself realizing how I easily gravitated to being the "blogger" and person who could resort to "anti-ness."  There's no brilliance there.  Any quasi-educated guy with a comptuer and an internet connection can do that.  I felt the conviction to be a person who works towards a better reality, and not simply railing against anything that sets me off.  I don't know how well I've done, but it's been a thought I have not been able to shake. 

Jump ahead to our recent trip to Mexico with our high school group.  We spent half our time doing deconstruction work (tearing down an old house, smashing walls, etc.).  Though this was work, and tiring work at that, it wasn't that difficult.  Anybody with some energy and a sledge hammer could do it.  And this type of work went relatively fast.  You could see the progress after just a few hours.  The other part of our time was spent doing construction.  Here we mixed concrete (by hand) and worked on the foundation of a new building.  This was slow, painful, skilled work.  You couldn't just run around knocking things down.  You had to have a plan.  You had to seek the counsel of others.  You needed other people.  The difference between "deconstruction" and "construction" has stuck with me because of this experience.

Today I still find myself prone to "deconstruct" because that quite frankly is the easy work.  I want to be the type of person who "constructs" and builds a better reality.  This seems the "way of Jesus."  Sure, identify what is wrong in our world, church, culture, etc.  Have opinions.  But don't stop there.  Be the type of person who works towards change and offers a solution, not just the identification of the problem.  In closing, I came across a quote from the artist Michelangelo (if it's not from him that's okay, it's still a good quote)--

We should be people who "critique by creating."

On a lighter note:

Happy Father's Day.  Being a dad is quite cool.  I highly recommend it.  I've posted our latest "family" pic in honor of the day.

Peace.

Wednesday in Boone

Greetings from God's Country.  Posted some new pics under "Boone Trip 2006" for you to peruse.  Absolutely beutiful afternoon and evening up here today.  Spent the morning in town at The Mast General Store--bought a new purse (and no, this is not Heather writing), collar for Caspian and hiking socks for Heather.  Hit up Stick Boy Bakery for the greatest cookies, scones, cinnamon rolls and soups I've ever had.  Thoroughly enjoyable day. 

You'll notice in some of the pics that Sydnie has taken up impersonating Caspian.  Her latest thing is to sneak up on you and start licking you.  Hope she doesn't do that with strangers.  Could be strange.  People thinking, "I wish we had known each other better, this is a little awkward."   Anyway, she is acting like a dog, and Caspian wants nothing more than to get up on the couch and act "human."  Aren't you glad you know all this?  Why are you still reading?  You must really be bored.  Just kidding. 

Well so much for a "deep" post.  That will have to wait until later.  For now just enjoy the pics.

Peace.

Testing out new software

Seeing if my new handheld application works

We might just stay...

I love it here.  Not to brag (at least not a whole lot), but I am writing this whilst overlooking the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Boone, NC.  The windows are open.  The temps are in the 60's.  We arrived last night for a much needed week of rest after the mission trip last week.  It's just Heather, Sydnie, baby II, Caspian and me.  I will try and post some pics, but the dial-up access is a bit of a hangup.  We had a great time today strolling around Bass Lake and the Moses Cone trails.  Sydnie is loving being up here.  Just been chilling out and reading (got a class on the Psalms to work on this week). 

Couple links of interest.

booneweather.com

Rob Bell article in Chicago Sun Times

Check out the pics entitled "Boone Trip June 2006" to your right.

Peace.

Greetings from Acapulco

So I finally found internet here on our missions trip.  We have a team of 25 (20 students & 5 leaders) working at Casa Hogar, which is an orphanage.  We arrived here Sunday afternoon, though we were supposed to arrive Saturday afternoon.  Our flight out of Orlando was delayed about 7 hours, so we missed our connecting flight in Houston.  Contintental put us up at a dive of hotel for the night and then got us on two different flights to Acapulco.  Needless to say we were exhausted and a bit frazzled, but we made it.  It´s been great to be here.  The kids at Cas Hogar are amazing.  They are so loving and appreciative.  During the morning hours we´ve been working on demolition and concrete work.  Back breaking.  Our group has worked very hard and have been easy to deal with.  Tomorrow is our free day so we are heading to a water park, McDonalds, the market, dinner and then the famous cliff divers.  Should be fun.  Nothing like guys risking their lives for our entertainment whilst wearing a speedo! 

Well now that I´ve located the ¨¨internet cafe¨¨ I will hopefully post some more this week.  I miss Heather and Sydnie in a big way!  Thankfully when I return we leave for Boone, NC on Monday for a week of vacation (just us).  I´m thinking the weather may be better there than it is in Acapulco in June. 

Well that´s about all for now.  Thanks for your prayers.  Peace.

Welcome Charlie!

4 (great friend/college roommate) and Jen had their first baby this week, Charlie Payton.  Congrats to them!  Another UConn fan has entered the world.