the power to choose...

I found out yesterday morning that I'll not longer be "required" to take graduate classes that I don't need in order to continue working with the program at UAB. This is a huge relief and answered prayer for whatever time I have left here! I still have to finish one paper, but that will be IT! I feel it's important, also, in that it will hopefully help out others that are already here or will be in the future... mainly by allowing for some type of assessment that will allow their time and money to go toward activities that are in their best interest.

Derita Ratcliffe is our new Associate AD and I have to give mad props to her for listening, having an open mind, and doing some research to find out what options are available. I think she's a blessing to the Athletic Department, especially our little world in the Strength and Conditioning Program. I think these somewhat minor changes will allow more flexibility in the program that will contribute to many other good things for staff and athletes (in my opinion).

Hope you're all well out there...

waiting...

It's been a few days since I've felt compelled to post. I don't have some great feeling of inspiration, but I figured I'd put down a few thoughts, anyway.

I've said in various settings that I relate to Abraham's story in many ways. One of the things I see in his story is a restlessness that echoes in my life. There were times in his journey with God when he was told to go and God would show him the place. After a time, it seems, Abraham got antsy and felt like he was supposed to be somewhere else or doing something else and, so, he took off. I wonder how his story might have been different - how God would have responded differently and how Abraham would have, in turn, responded - if he had ignored those urges to move on, to seek for something else "out there" that he felt God surely wanted him to find.

I find myself in these times of restlessness a lot... in retrospect, I wonder how things might have gone differently if I had spent more time waiting, listening, watching. Coming to another similar place, I'm trying to make that decision. But how do I know if the paths that avail themselves are paths to be taken or paths to ignore? I know from experience and from His promises that God's going to work regardless. He's going to be there about His business wherever I may find myself. But I'm going to try to wait for His peace before making another move.

pick out a good one...

I posted the other night about ending up almost in the middle of a knitting group at the public library. This morning, an experience on the opposite end of the spectrum for the library. I came in, picked a different spot in the "Plaza" area at one of the pub/cafe tables next to a window. As soon as I sat down and pulled out my laptop, the gentleman on the couch, who was enjoying the day's newspaper, buried his pinkie finger in a nostril... ... ... you never really know what you're gonna get (thanks, Forrest Gump) even at the public library. So, while you're at the library this weekend picking out a good read, beware of those who might be picking out the best of, well, something else.

Heading to Montgomery in a little while for the Crawfish Boil at the Ledets'! Hope you have a great weekend!

knitting...

I decided to pop into my local library to unwind and check my email and such. They have this new area that's a coffee shop, reading area, bookstore, lounge, etc. Pretty cool, and better than just sitting at a boring ol' table surrounded by the shelves or in a cubicle. So, I plopped down in a comfy lounge chair and got out my laptop and started doing important things... like checking on my Mafia Wars situation on Face Book and stalking some of my friends... and I realized after a short time that I was about to be an observer of a knitting class of some sort. So, now I'm sitting here watching a gathering of around 15 knitters ranging in age from around 6 to somewhere around 70 years. Some grandmothers, moms, and kiddos, being taught to knit by a couple of (what appear to be) 20-somethings. I'm not really into knitting, but it's not a bad distraction... kind of neat, actually, to have their chatter and yarning (or darning?) in the background. I guess it's really in the foreground. I didn't mention that the chair I plopped into earlier is actually facing their grouping of chairs and couches. And I just learned that there are (at least) two styles of knitting... English and Continental. Call me a Renaissance man.

Here's to hanging out at your local library... if you haven't in a while, stop by and say hello. Or, maybe, just eavesdrop on a knitting class while you're running your errands for The Godfather or stalking those special someones.

Hope you're able to let out a sigh of relief now that tax season is over and that you have a great weekend coming up! I'm going to be enjoying the Ledet's Crawfish Boil down in Montgomery this weekend and plan to visit with my old crew at Landmark on Sunday.

balance...

So, no deep thoughts for today... just commenting on the fact that my boss waved bye on her way out the door at 3:30pm today while I was working with my last group for the day (that just finished right before 4pm). Oh... she got here at 11am and I got here at 6:30am. And this is no rare occurrence. Okay... that's all.

expectations...

I had a good, relaxed Easter weekend... got to share in some new experiences for Holy Week (one with my mom and older sister)... and spent some time helping a brother out as he continues to prepare for his driving test (a little adventure!).

Just as Easter weekend left the disciples with a mixture of awe, hope, and uncertainty for the future, I face the coming weeks and months with a somewhat renewed sense of peace that is accompanied by twinges of doubt. I've been hoping for some opportunity to move on from the transitional role I've been in since early last year, yet I find myself still dangling resumes in front of uninterested opportunities. I still wrestle with which path to follow, if I am to have a choice. That's ironic... I'm wrestling over choosing between options that don't really exist at the moment. Typical, I guess.

As I shared with a friend last night on the phone... one thing's for sure - something will happen. Ha. I'm more at peace with God than I've been in a long time in some ways... not as burdened about following, about having to prove myself, etc. But I'm still restless and unsure about how to actually make a living and be responsible with that. I'm still looking for coaching jobs, but I'm also more open than I've been in a long time to allowing God to move me back into ministry/missions. There may be a new opportunity for that in the near future and I'm excited about exploring that and other possibilities to serve in the kingdom in more "traditional" ways.

Fat and Greedy...

This is what I think most often any time I think about the problems of extreme poverty and hunger/starvation in our current world state. And it's not just the U.S.A. I think of... but so many countries that want to be like us. We, in our luxury and excess, have fostered so much of the greed that exists in the global picture. No, I don't think others' greed is completely our responsibility, but, if we're honest with ourselves, we have to take a chunk of the credit... and our own greed is definitely our responsibility.

And it's not just governments and international economic policies and aid plans I'm frustrated with... look at the wealth and influence in American churches and tell me there's not more we can do in the world than build bigger churches (and bigger homes, and nicer cars...). Read the words of Jesus. Don't dodge them or explain them away we've been taught. Read them and let them hit you, for once, right between the eyes. When He says, "Don't worry about your life... sell everything and give it to the poor... and follow me," let it sink in for a bit.

Our response to the current economic situation shows our true colors. A Biblical perspective one can gain from reading for such a situation is that people sell (at least some) of the things they have to meet the needs of those that have not so that all are accounted for. Our response? Cut giving, hold on tighter, and prepare to pistol-whip anyone out there who wants (in reality or in our delusion) to take what we have.

I realize there are real logistical problems for actually getting monies and aid to the people that really need them... but can we at least allot for what's needed and then work on the logistical problems as we go?

How hard would it be (aside from the extreme paradigm shift) to refocus our country's ingenuity, manpower, and resources to such ventures rather than the business of weapons and war and making sure our wealthy get their bonuses?

Okay, I know I've been ranting and I know that the many issues I've directly mentioned or alluded to are complex. Before you judge or go to bashing... I would ask that you'd, in the least, read through the Gospel of Luke (just happens to be my favorite... you can read any you like) and honestly ask yourself where you'd stand in relation to the words of Jesus when he talks about the rich and the poor... the powerful and the powerless.

A step further, and maybe that which would require the lest effort, watch the movie, "The Girl in the Cafe." I watched it last night and it got my wheels turning again on the topic (especially since the G20 just met recently).

More challenging reads, in more ways than one, would be Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" and/or Jimmy Carter's "Our Endangered Values." You don't have to agree with everything in these books... but at least hear them out and listen to the staggering figures related to our budgets and world need and how the way things are can't keep working (if you can say they ever really did work well).

Yes, it's Good Friday... Easter Morning is just around the corner. While I reflect on the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus... that he came to preach the good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor... I can't help but think that His mission, in this regard, should shape ours.