Still Livin' The Dream

I had a wonderful day today with my daughter, Bentley (a.k.a. "The Beebs", a.k.a. "Beebers", a.k.a. "Bee Baas"). We turned on the new La Roux album and danced for about an hour (not an exaggeration). We then sat on the ground and rolled a racket ball back and forth. I actually really enjoy rolling the ball back and forth. Don't get me wrong, I like dancing with her too (until I'm exhausted) but there is something about throwing the ball that gets this big little boy excited. After we rolled the ball we layed on our backs and I threw the ball in the air. This only lasted a couple of minutes as she was too antsy.

At about 5:30 or so she said she was hungry so I asked her if she wanted to help me shuck corn. She replied yes even though she had no idea what I was talking about. Leaf by leaf I pulled back so she could grab ahold of it and she pulled them off and piled the husks in a pile on the kitchen floor.





5 corn on the cobs went into a pot to boil and we went out, threw some burgers on the BBQ, swept the deck and watered the plants.

Finally the burgers were ready as well as the corn so we saddled up the highchair and served up the food. I asked her if she'd like to watch a show while we ate and of course "yes" was her reply. I asked myself, what would be a good show for us? I was hoping for a cartoon but had to settle with A-Team. Lets just say A-Team is a little much for a 23 month old little girl (I wish I had a photo of her face as the A-Team played. She stopped mid chew and watched as the tyrant in the show shot guns in the air and yelled at the helpless towns people.). We then moved on to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. That was boring and by the time it actually started playing we were done eating and it was almost 7 - BATH TIME!

Bath time was cool until she dumped a cup full of water in my lap. I have to admit there were a couple of times that I had to take a breath due to the fact I just wanted to ask her why she was being so difficult but then I did the math - tub full of water + tired 2 year old = water everywhere and crazy dad. Duh.

7:15, dance party again but this time its a "Diaper Dance" and she was on her own while I cleaned up some things. It was at this moment that I was struck by a profound thought - don't leave her to play by herself. I would have all the time I needed to clean up after she layed down for the night. Seize the moment, there are a limited amount of Diaper Dances and pre nigh-night routines, don't let this on slip away. I walked over and turned the music off and asked her if she'd like to read a story in her Bible with Dada. "Yes" was again the reply. I love cuddling with her on our two seater couch. She lays with her binky and bobby (bunny) near the back rest cushions and I lay on the outside and read her Jesus Storybook Bible. We read about God's creative power and how He made the world and everything in it and how he loves, most of all, His children.

7: 40 and off to bed and I rocked her in the rocking chair that is in the corner of her room. We prayed for a number of people as she said their names. I set her in her crib at about 8 and kissed her head goodnight.

See, I told you, I'm living the dream.

Trading The Beautiful For The New

I read a really interesting blog post by Dori Monson where he asked a very provocative question. It was a question that I believe put into question the richness of our culture... at least the future richness. Here it is...

"It's one of the most famous photographs ever. On V-J Day - August 14th, 1945, a joyous sailor dipped down a nurse in Times Square and kissed her.

The picture was featured on the cover of Life Magazine. One of the central figures in that photo - kissee - Edith Sharin - died Wednesday at the age of 91.

But that makes me wonder: with newspapers and magazines struggling as industries, and as they move to digital platforms, will our generation produce iconic, lasting photographs?

Some of the most famous images were taken long ago. The Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima, the napalmed child in Vietnam, the Beatles crossing Abbey Road... I can't cite too many iconic photographs from the last decade. The Falling Man on 9/11 being a notable exception.

In many, if not most, events, video has replaced still photos as the chronicle of the moment. What do you think, especially with newspapers and magazines dying, will the years to come produce memorable, lasting still photos?"

The idea of losing the iconic photograph rummages up the feelings of movie "The Last Samurai". Are we willing to trade the beautiful for the new?

2010 World Cup

Football (soccer) is definitely what planet Earth is playing. When I look at the Teams & Groups tab for the World Cup, there are countries from Uruguay to the Ivory Coast to Cameroon playing!

I think I secretly find some satisfaction that the USA is just mediocre. Don't get me wrong, team USA is MY team!!! I just wonder if its not an accurate picture of world competition when the USA dominates the Olympics in basketball, or even the fact that we say the New Orleans Saints are the best Football team in the world (this year). I mean, who else is even playing football in the world? Doesn't say much to me really.

But when the World Cup happens, thats when the countries of the world really put their chips in the pot and we see who has what it takes. In these arenas and on these fields it doesn't matter who has the biggest nuclear arsenal or the greatest GDP. What matters is who will be standing in the end.

The Odd Drivers

Two kinds of drivers always catch my attention:

1. The driver with a million bumper stickers on the back of their car (their bumper if you will). Mostly these are left leaning political stickers. It always cracks me up, especially when the stickers are way out there.

2. The driver with a million stuffed animals in their rear window dash. I don't know how someone begins collecting stuffed animals and putting them in their car but its always an odd sight.

Deer And Shiny Things

I wonder why we get stoked about deer and shiny things. Hmm.

Harry Potter vs Wal-Mart

Why doesn't the mainstream Christian culture call for boycotting Wal-mart like they did Harry Potter? Thats just plain shameful.

Among others:

http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/

http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php

The Gentle Bite Of Apathy

I was listening to the News on the radio today while driving home when a story came on about a woman who was shot to death by her son-in-law. They announced that they were going to air the woman's 911 phone call that was recorded just moments before she died. They advised that it would be disturbing.

All in a split second my sense of being overwhelmed by the darkness that looms so large in the world began to argue with my desire to confront suffering and evil in the world. Normally my desire not to hide my face from the reality of evil would prevail but not this time. I chose to turn the radio off. And only moments after I turned it off I felt the strangest sensation. It was so much easier to sit in silence than to listen to the voice of a desperate woman pleading for her life.

It was then I realized it... apathy, in that moment, was the best feeling in the world. It was like taking a drug and easing into a false reality. Similar to the way a hypothermia victim longs to sleep or how a drowning victim peacefully and willfully slips away after their struggle for air is conceded. Apathy is cunning and woos, yet its bite is poisonous.