Black Equals Laugh

We approached the mall, pulling slowly in to the parking lot as we noticed the line of people waiting out in front of the door. It was slightly below 40 degrees and I couldn't help but smirk at the crazy people willing to wait for the mid-night black-Friday opening. We drove all the way around the mall and found one other door with another line and security guards checking their watches. What was more was the juggler on stilts entertaining the crowd. We decided to just sit patiently in the warm truck and figured we'd mozy on in when the line of people had made their way into the mall.

As 12AM hit the clock and the sliding doors open, people RAN into the mall as if door buster deals were gone yesterday! We laughed, walked up and made a beeline for the restrooms. Not a single department store was open, but almost all of the mall-shops were. Starbucks sat at the center ready to take on the nut-jobs who needed their coffee. And the stilts guy was joined by two buddies for more amateur juggling.

Ironically, as suspected, none of the stores had limited supply of their big-black-Friday sales. From 12AM to 10AM would be buy one, get one frees, 50% to 70% off and perky high school- college kids ready to take on the next 12 hours.

We took our time, went to all the stores without any dramatic gift in mind. We picked out Wall-E figurines, a few stocking stuffers and even a couple t-shirts for ourselves, drank a cup of coffee, cheered for the stilts guy and left a couple hours later when frankly, we were over it.

On our way home, we drove by Best Buy and I got a good laugh. Why? Oh, you can imagine: tents, lawn chairs, blankets, and insane people waiting for the big opening of Black Friday in all it's glory. What was the item this year? HA. Cyber Monday came soon enough for me.

It's Christmas Time!

~MotoBlur Picture~

astounded by thinking

i have not written much in the last month. but certainly, as the holidays have come upon us, and with so much on the mind, i have spent time thinking and perhaps in some way, preparing. and so i move forward. tis' the season could not come at a better time, for thankfulness and praise are two of the greatest gifts we can give. should it lift another, it is good.

there is something to be said about fascination. defined by the dictionary: to be fascinated is be drawn, attracted to, held attentively to a unique power. it arouses curiosity and allures. i do not believe that it is something that we ourselves can create, but rather, something "out there" that demands our attention...and as such, we are blown away.

mystical does not begin to describe the object of fascination and would it not be plausible that what draws a human being is something more than what the physical senses can experience?

this christmas, i am overwhelmed by what i see around me and how it draws me outside myself. it is as if i am peering beyond the flesh and blood that covers the earth, it as if i can see the inside of all that exists and it is beautiful, for it was made to glorify that which Created it.

i am grateful for that which allures me, demands my pause, and focuses my contemplation.

Home From War, Not a Bed In Sight

When I Came Home is an interesting documentary about the state of homeless veterans in the United States. It mostly covers one man's experience in New York and it's a little over an hour long, but I encourage you to watch it when you have the time this week. It was made pre-Obama election, 2008 is the last date on it, nevertheless: you can watch the complete film: CLICK HERE.

This Week

While I realize my commentary for the month of November has been short, there are a few articles I want to direct you attention to....more to come soon.

**Lou Dobbs, the last of the original CNN anchors has resigned his position with the Network.

**Carrie Prejean is in the news again, and this time with a book. And she completely made a fool of herself on Larry King Live. Seriously, Larry, inappropriate?! Someone drag her out of the spotlight please.

**One Third of the homeless in the United States are veterans. This is an outrageous reflection on the Militray's post-treatment of it's men and women who've served tirelessly.

**Vangaurd Journalism on Current TV produced an interesting piece on the porn industry and it's web development ideas in a slumping economy. While I am not a fan of pornographic content, I thought that the outlook of this piece, focusing on the business and techonolgy was very well done.

**Rolling Stone did an interesting article on the new Lady Gaga video release. According to the talented, creative and shocking star: her inspiration had many inspirations including Alfred Hitchcock and she took time to work with Frances Lawrence from I Am Legend.

**And while Pluto still might not be a planet, it's back in the game as Wired Magazine talks about scientists love for it.

Happy 40th Birthday!

In honor of the Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary (and as a proud American), I thought I would share one on my favorite characters. Certainly, as a child, I thought he was the funniest, and now, so many other reasons to love...Oscar the Grouch. Wink.



*Little known fact: as I've just recently learned it, myself, Aerosmith covered Oscar's song...how much COOLER does that make Oscar?!

November 1st

Given that today is "All Saints Day" I thought it might be appropriate to note something of worth that happened on this day in history.

For starters; "All Saints," while established in 609 or 610~ was not officiated as November 1st until over 200 years later under Charlemagne. The history of this day was designated by the Pope to celebrate the saints and those of Godly character. How ironic and fantastic the celebration comes after a night that was meant to ward off evil. In tune with such recognition, I would venture to say that one the saints that I have great respect for would be Saint Patrick. Yes, it's true, I am Irish, but Patrick was not....however, he was held captive by the Celtic peoples in Ireland. After he escaped, he attended seminary, traveled and became a Catholic clergy. But it did not stop there: he returned to the people who had enslaved him and offered them a new perspective and beauty to life. How wondrous is this story?

In 1512; Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel was revealed for the public to see. Not only is it considered one of the greatest works (if not THE greatest) of the Renaissance period, but it was created under great frustrations. Not only is he have thought to have stood for most of the work on a scaffold, but he painted by method of "fresco"...the paint was applied to a damp canvas of sorts and the color would often dry quickly as a result, re-mixing the colors each day could be a challenge because should it the mix of color not be exact, Michelangelo would have to tear the layer and re-apply. The work took almost 5 years to complete.

...and these, friends, are events to celebrate and start this month, this winter, with a positive note....

A Few Things

Over the past month, the focus of my blogs has been that of the beauty in suffering. Ironically browsing the web has brought me to a few items, worth noting, in tune. Take a look.

--James Nachtwey is a name I have only learned recently. He has been a photojournalist known for his graphic images of war torn and devestating places. His pictures tell and heart-wrenching story, on that I hope will inspire your prayers and activism.

--Relevant Magazine recently addressed how to get through those times when it seems our faith has faded. Perhaps b/c of our society, our job, our relationships, whatever the case may be, neverthless, the concluson was encouraging.

--A young woman in Cuba is living in hiding as she boldly blogs her thoughts about the governement for which she has grown up under. Her words make a strong impact:

"No one knows better the mechanisms of censorship in Cuba that few writers in the national newspapers. The press here has become a profession that requires measurements lurid adjectives, weigh the issues and often hide personal opinion in order to keep a job. It's a life decision to be a journalist from the official media, I know, but I also know some who have been caught in the intricacies of complicity, waiting for that day when they can write what they think."

--And finally friends, i leave you hope in the world...

carving soap (~part 2)

"suffering often indicates that god is setting us free from something" (jacobson/coleman)

"how many of the most significant moments in your life came not because it all went right, but because it all fell apart?...It's strange how there can be art in the agony." (bell)

has that which you've suffered forced your honesty? perhaps you have finally had to take a look at your life and say: the plan did not work, the future must look ever so differently. and could it be that, simultaneously, you have no idea what exactly how it will turn out from here. my friends, you're not alone and it is not for nothing. not this time. not any time.

some weeks ago, i mentioned that i'd heard rob bell speak on this very topic of suffering. he noted that,

"suffering...compels us to eliminate the unnecessary, the trivial, the superficial." (bell)

the sculpture, he said, knows what to take away when creating a masterful art.

so i ask, in all your agony, what must you eliminate, so that the beauty of all that's in you will shine through? perhaps, your most glamorous moment is in the midst of your deepest struggle. and perhaps when you emerge, you will have shed your skin of a dissatisfied life.

failure provides us with an opportunity: to learn, to evolve into who we are meant to be...to grow. may i suggest, ever so boldly, that

"the failed pieces are essential." (bell)

and in the mean-time, know that you, that we are not alone: and isn't that what we desire, to know, to feel that we are not alone in our mess and that it may become something more than for nothing? a community built around suffering ironically, brings greater love and peace among enemies than any other possible commonality.

what's more, friends, is this: the Divine, in all His glory, experienced blood, pain, and agony as if to tell each human being, "i know how you feel."

trust, that, above all.

U2 Should Have Seen it Live

The crowd's voices began to rise with anticipation as U2 walked toward the stage. The twitter remarks went ballistic with excitement, and so- in all their glory, began a beautiful serenade live from YouTube.

First of all, the fact that technology has given the gift of live concert viewing is, in itself, incredible. But beyond that, I find it fascinating that U2 gave it's fans a chance to get a little more connected, as many may have missed opportunities to physically attend this year's 360 World Tour.

The concert opened up with Bono's vocals easing into the song, "Breathe" and continued non-stop for close to 2 and half hours, ending beautifully with "Moment of Surrender."

In tune with their humanitarian spirit, the band pointed to many peaceful leaders around the world that have made a difference~ such as Nelson Mandela, and a special tribute to Aung San Su Kyi, who has been the focal point of persecution by Myanmar forces. Bono even tacked on a rendition of "Amazing Grace," as if in a state of worship. It was beautiful.

This certainly was the closest I have been to a real concert by U2, and certainly plan an appearance in the coming future. I was impressed. In all his thank you's; Bono thanked and asked the crowd to pull our their cell phones, in an attempt to joke, he said, "I'll text ya later," but with the intention of a final, and cheesy wave of lights....which actually, turned out to look like a city at night or perhaps, even more, a constellation...a patter of stars in the sky.

The Rose Bowl stadium, and its sea of fans made the live streaming experience truly unique.

Vincent

A bit of Tim Burton's creativity...for Halloween....(wink)