Ease

I read an ebook this week entitled, "What Matters Now." It's a collection of micro-essays (200 words) from a variety of authors: Seth Godin, Dave Ramsey, Tom Peters, Tim Sanders, and many others with whom I wasn't familiar.

I recommend it (it's a free download from Seth Godin's blog), but one essay grabbed my attention and has yet to let go.

EASE

by Elizabeth Gilbert

We are the strivingest people who have ever lived. We are ambitious, time-starved, competitive, distracted. We move at full velocity, yet constantly fear we are not doing enough. Though we live longer than any humans before us, our lives feel shorter, restless, breathless...Dear ones, EASE UP.

Pump the brakes. Take a step back. Seriously. Take two steps back. Turn off all your electronics and surrender over all your aspirations and do absolutely nothing for a spell.

I know, I know – we all need to save the world. But trust me: The world will still need saving tomorrow. In the meantime, you’re going to have a stroke soon (or cause a stroke in somebody else) if you don’t calm the hell down.

So go take a walk. Or don’t. Consider actually exhaling. Find a body of water and float. Hit a tennis ball against a wall. Tell your colleagues that you’re off meditating (people take meditation seriously, so you’ll be absolved from guilt) and then actually, secretly, nap.

My radical suggestion? Cease participation, if only for one day this year – if only to make sure that we don’t lose forever the rare and vanishing human talent of appreciating ease.

...that's the book for me.

After 33+ years in church, hundreds of sermons, Sunday school classes, Jesus camps, and quiet times, I must confess I've not read every word in the Bible. It seems strange to me that I've claimed this book as a guide for life, yet I haven't read the darn thing.

That being said, my New Year's Resolution is not marking off "Bible Read Daily" this year. As a kid/teen/college student I tried the "read the Bible in a year" a number of times with little success. I never made it past the mid-February, Book of Numbers hump. I blame Pagiel son of Ochran.

What I am playing around with is changing my approach. Instead of looking to the Bible primarily for what it can do for me (though I believe it has plenty of utility for this purpose), I'm heading a different direction. Instead of scripture reading being a daily task, chore, homework, or check box, I want to enjoy the read. I want to experience the Good Book like it's a good book.

So I've picked up a chronologically-organized Bible in an attempt to read it the way I've read Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or the DaVinci Code. Like a novel, with characters and plots and bad guys and morally grey good guys and kings and battles and special effects and whores and murderers and excessive alcohol use and peace and hope and love.

I'm a spurt reader, often putting in 6-8 hours into a book on a business trip, then leaving the book sitting near my bed at home for 6 weeks, unopened. I expect I'll read this one the

same way. Maybe I'll finish it in a few months. Maybe it'll take me longer than a year. Maybe I won't finish it at all. No matter.

My wife shared a blog post with me last week by Michael Spencer that was particularly helpful, and I'd recommend reading the entire article here. In it, he captures some of what I'm wrestling with.

Changing how I think about the Bible has been the most significant thing in my own experience with Jesus. In my formative years, we carried Bibles and quoted the Bible, argued about the Bible and used the Bible to prove we were right...

It’s not a dictionary, or an encyclopedia, or a manual of how to do or fix things. It’s God’s story, and our story, and God’s story again. It’s a story you believe and join. It’s not a chart of the future or the past. It’s the truth of life. It’s deep, but not like engineering schematics are deep. It’s deep like the best novels or the best poetry.

So that's where I'm headed -- to experience this story like a story. Wish me luck.

Favorites of 2009

Looking back at a few of my favorite things of the past year.

Favorite Snack Combo

Cinnamon Teddy Grahams + Almonds

I've been a fan of Teddy Grahams most of my life; I picked up almonds more recently. I randomly put them together (ala the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercials with the cavemen combining chocolate and peanut butter) and experienced a heavenly snack.

Favorite Brothers

Tie: New Super Mario Bros. & The Avett Brothers

I didn't game much in 2009, but I've been loving the New Super Mario Bros. Wii game I received for Christmas. It also reminded me that I've been playing Super Mario Bros. games for nearly 25 years (yikes).

The Avett Brothers 2009 album, I and Love and You, is just good. Go listen to it. My favorite line so far: "Decide what to be and go be it."

Favorite Album:

DMB - Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

2009 was a resurgence for my purchasing of music, partially due to the Amazon MP3 store and a great group of albums this year. U2, Brandi Carlisle, Weezer, and Jay-Z all had great 2009 albums. I'm defining favorite as "what stayed in our car's CD player the most this year." Dave Matthews won hands down.

Favorite New TV Show

Flash Forward

With all due to respect to Glee and V, I've enjoyed Flash Forward the most of any new show on television. I'm a sucker for innovative story telling and time-shifting narrative. Flash Forward has both.

Favorite "New to Me" Food/Drink

3-way tie: Coffee, Hummus, Homemade Guacamole

I somehow made it through college and helping raise two babies without resorting to coffee. I'm not sure what I was afraid of. It's tasty.

Favorite Movie Experience

"UP" in 4 Recliners

I didn't really have a favorite movie this year, but Janelle and I watched "UP" with the Creach's this past summer at the AMC Mainstreet 6 Theater in Kansas City's Power & Light District. With a full menu, servers bringing food, and reclining seats (complete with vibration and in-seat speakers), it was awesome.

Favorite Book

The Power of Less by Leo Babauta

Do less. Get more done.

I also recommend the authors blog, Zen Habits.

Favorite Blog

The Art of Non-conformity by Chris Guillebeau

The author this blog is a life-hacker of sorts (some similarities to Tim Ferris, author of The Four-Hour Workweek). He questions conventional wisdom, which I love. Also check out my review of his recent e-book, A Brief Guide to Early Domination.

For those who can't get enough of stuff Brian likes, see my Favorites of 2008 and A Few More Favorites from that year.

I Heart Seattle

I ran across some travel journal notes I'd taken on our trip to Seattle this past spring, so I've converted them to blog form -- mainly for myself to help remember the trip.

WEDNESDAY

Fish Throwers - check

It's "As Seen on TV." They yell the fish, throw the fish, catch the fish, sell the fish. Since the media wasn't around (I guess my camera phone didn't count), the staff weren't quite as "on" as I've seen them on television. But is was fun nonetheless.

What I wasn't ready for was "Rabid Fan," a gentleman with a notebook containing each fish thrower's photo and autograph. He was asking who was working today in an attempt to fill out his book. I intially wrote him off as a weirdo, as I'm not a fish market superfan., but quickly realized that I have plenty of "weirdo-ness" myself about other topics, events, and celebrities that many would find lame.

Sleepless in Seattle Reference #1

Janelle is a big fan of the movie, so it was fitting that our first Seattle meal together was at a restaurant from the film. The food was good (fresh seafood is my all-time favorite), and the view of Puget Sound was beautiful.

Starbucks Run #1 (of many)

I've already consumed more Starbucks coffee this week than in my entire life before this trip. I've become a fan. We visited the very first Starbucks (1971) and ordered something coffee-sounding that ended in "-ocha." I'll expect to be a pro by the time we leave, and probably suffering from extreme caffeine high.

Hotel + Mall + Sleep

I purchased a much-needed jacket (it's colder than expected) and hit the bed early. We had started the day at 2:45 AM Pacific Time, so 7:30 PM seemed like a good time to get some sleep.

THURSDAY (aka Nerdfest Day)

Sleepless in Seattle Reference #2

Before the nerdfest began, we spent some time on Alki beach in West Seattle (apparently it's the location where Tom Hanks and the kid are flying a kite towards the end of the movie). Beautiful place with a view of the city.

Nerdfest #1: Science Fiction Museum

I liked this museum, but felt that I didn't know enough about the source material to truly love it. It is well done and had an impressive amount of nerdy eye candy -- especially for Trekkies. I particularly liked the R2-D2 and Death Star models.

Nerdfest #2: Experience Music Project

Holy crap. I could have spent days in this museum, listening to every song and reading every plaque in this incredible place. It was a sensory feast, visually, audially, and tactilly. An entire room is devoted to Jimi Hendrix (who I learned this week is from Seattle), and similar displays on the grunge movement of the early 1990s (my favorite retro music era).

The experience also included sound rooms for guitar, piano, drums, and vocals. I spent a few minutes banging on the drums (it's been awhile) and got revitalized. For anyone who loves music, this is a must-see.

Nerdfest #3: Nintendo of America Headquarters

I previously blogged about this experience here. Recap: It was fun.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Mars Hill Graduate School

Janelle had interviews on Friday morning, so I went off on a self-guided walking tour of downtown. I rode the Space Needle, enjoyed more Starbucks, and walked back to Pike Place Market to watch more fish throwing. Lots of walking in a very walkable city, and I took a bunch of fun pictures. Here's one:

The remainder of the weekend was a fast-paced, exciting, mind- and heart-bending time of learning. Mars Hill Graduate School is a special place, and I'm excited for Janelle as she pursues her dream. I'm also selfishly excited for me, as the school does an incredible job of including spouses in the process. If we do this thing, I'll be able to sit in on her classes free of charge any time my schedule allows, and I can participate in a special council devoted to spouses of students.

(Editor's note: Janelle was invited to attend graduate school at MHGS. The current plan is a move to Seattle in 2010, with school starting in the fall.)

Is this heaven? No, it's Gotcha!

My favorite part of Halloween in Columbia is trick-or-treating downtown. And the highlight of the evening is a visit to Gotcha.

For those unfamiliar, Gotcha is a costume shop in downtown Columbia, owned and operated by a gentleman I've only known as "Arrow." As one might imagine, the shop is extremely busy on October 31, as college students and others are completing their outfits for upcoming parties.

Here's the scene:

We walk into Gotcha, fighting the crowd a little to get in the door.

Arrow yells, "Make way for the important people!" in reference to Blake and Madilyn as he makes the 30 people in line scoot back two steps to make room.

"Hey, it's Bumblebee and Hermione!" (they were mis-identified as Harry Potter and a Power Ranger in many of the other stores) "Come get some candy! Happy Halloween!"

At this point it is important to define "candy" in Gotcha terms. We are not talking about tootsie rolls or smarties. The kids' eyes opened wide as they looked upon a basket full of king size candy bars. Blake grabbed M&Ms. Madilyn beamed at her choice: a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup 4-pack.

As we walked out the door, I had trouble composing myself. It was an emotional experience for me.

In a world where kids (particularly once they grow past the cute baby and toddler stages) are typically ignored, mine were declared the important people by a store owner who surely had much more important things to do on his most profitable day of the year. For 2 minutes, Arrow made them the stars of the show.

Arrow's "let the children come to me" selflessness surprised and overwhelmed me. But why? Because I think love and acceptance is reserved for more "Christian" environments like home or church (often neither lives up to that billing)? Am I surprised that God can love on my kids in a downtown costume shop? Do I think the lavish generosity of chocolate is somehow different than or separate from God's gift of grace?

I'm not sure about answers to any of those questions, but I do know this: My children experienced unconditional love this Halloween. Not at a church-sponsored, anti-Halloween "Fall Festival," but among the plastic vomit, inappropriate costumes, and half-drunk college students at Gotcha.

A glimpse into heaven, Gotcha style:

Blake Chandler, Imagineer

Blake Chandler, age 6, has the most incredible, active, creative imagination of any person I've ever met. He has invented animals (Titanicsaurus), planets (Solarspace), and entire galaxies (including 'Galaxy of the Innapropriate' where the inhabitants are never clothed).

In Blake's kindergarten class this week, another student made the statement that "imagining is stupid." Blake vehemently disagreed, and made a point to share his feelings that "Imagination is Awesome!" on our drive to school this morning.

His invention of words from age 2-6 could have filled poetry books, upstart small businesses, and website URLs -- if only we had captured them more agressively.

He is rarely daunted by what others would consider the "rules" of physics, time, and space. And his arguments are compelling to the point that I'm beginning to believe him and have attempted to minimize boxing him in with my small view of reality.

His current school library book is entitled Imagine a Night. One particular page grabbed my attention and hasn't let go. It's a perfect example of Blake's answer to the "Do you think we could ever _________ ?"

His response: Sure!

imagine a night...

... when you might find

that gravity

doesn't work

quite as you expected.

It just makes me laugh.

I don't know what it is, but "professionally-produced" (term used lightly) signs with obvious errors or misspellings make me laugh. Here's one I ran across a few weeks ago.

Bendaroos: They're awesome!

I've had the pleasure this fall to share in the "take the kids to school" task with Janelle. I didn't realize what fun little conversations can be had in a 6 minute drive from our house to the school.

One day last week we discussed TV commercials:

Madilyn or Blake (I forget, which): I want (some toy) because I saw it on a TV commercial.

Madilyn: It is cool to have things that we see on TV.

Me (in fatherly tone, capturing teaching moment): You know kids, that's the reason they make TV commercials - to make you think you want things.

Blake: I do want things!

Madilyn: And Dad , if we didn't have TV commercials, we would never know what Bendaroos are.

Me (stupidly): What are Bendaroos?

Madilyn: They're awesome. And they're only $19.95!

New and Improved ... fork?

Finally, someone has improved the design of the fork. I've been searching for one that was not only stronger, but also tougher (two vital fork qualities) -- now I've found it.

I can sleep again.

It does make me wonder, though, if the purchaser of the 600-piece plastic fork box was somehow influenced by the blatant marketing declaring these forks different in some way to the last 50 years of plastic forks.

I have to admit, if they were on a Sam's Club shelf next to plain old forks, I'm going with stronger and tougher every time.

Chip clips make me happy

Do you ever avoid doing/buying something, and then when you finally do you ask yourself, "Why in the world didn't I do that weeks/months/years ago?"

We've had a lack of "chip clips" in our house for quite awhile. There was a daily struggle to determine which bag of chips or other food were "chip clip worthy." It consisted of a tiered system of criteria that looked something like this:

1. How many chips are left? (more chips = more loss if they go stale)
2. How new is the bag? (new chips gone stale seems more wasteful)
3. Which chips am I personally more likely to eat (for me, Santitas got the clip before Lay's)
4. Which chips taste OK stale? (Doritos are passable; chewy pretzels are not)
5. Which chips cost the most to replace if thrown away? (I'm looking at you, Gardettos)

Also, it seemed the number of chip clips dwindled year to year. We received a bunch for our wedding (granted, that was ten years ago), and we've picked up a couple along the way -- including a random clothespin here and there. But items like this have a way of disappearing or finding other uses. One currently clips the Costco-sized bag of cat food in the garage (Otis does not go for stale food. Also, see #5 above.), and others end up clipping various bags inside the refrigerator or around the house.

Of course, every time I fought through this decision tree I asked myself the question, "Self, why don't you buy some chip clips?" But the feeling soon passed, and it never happened to occur while at the store.

Then something very special happened. I was in Wal-Mart and happened to think about this issue. I sprinted to the chip clip aisle (ok, it's not an entire aisle - but there are options) and made this vital purchase. It has changed my life.

I am a rich man. Rich with chip clips. Now every bag of chips, no matter its race, creed, color or flavor, is properly clipped and fresh for eating at our leisure.

Chip, chip, hooray!