A study in sociology

The other day some friends took love and I as well as another accomplice to a little shindig. Out of our group I was the only one that had ever attended one such gathering previously. It was really just a study in sociology, how do we respond and interact with those around us and what kind of people does one such event attract? All of these questions were about to be answered.

As the time drew near for the event to start people were milling about, finding there seats dressed in the traditional garb of belt buckles and rebel flags consuming overpriced cotton candy. As the lights dimmed at Kemper Arena we all took note of those around us. Sitting above us was a crew of cowboys with their lady friends hanging off of their beer breath and lewd comments, to our left a group of about 4 couples and a few singles who appeared to be quite chill and rather satisfied to just be there. We'll talk more about the interesting dynamics in this group later. Meanwhile, the people in front of us were a mystery. There was a man who appeared to be mid-thirties, a woman he was obviously with and a few children between 12 and 14 to the right of the happy couple.

As the music started we all rose to our feet to sing not the national anthem, but another song that I am proud to say I was the only one in our party who knew every word. This is where our study begins.

Proud to be an American rang clearly through the stadium, the cowboys behind us sang out in joyous song reminiscent of some drunkards in an Irish Pub ready to dance a jig on the table tops. The best part was they re-wrote it to suit their own view of the country in which we live. "From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee..." "F--- TENNESSEE!!!!" Classy. I liked it. We need honesty in one such study. Tell me more...

Through out the event all kinds of interesting things were observed...the earlier mentioned intriguing dynamics of the group to our left took centerstage at intermission when most of the group left save two people. The two were a man and a woman sitting apart from eachother and seemingly there with their designated significant others...both of the said others stepped out of the stadium for whatever it is that we do at intermission...during this break the guy who's lady friend was now absent slipped into the seat recently vacated by the left over woman's male homie...he settled in, put his arm around her and started ferociously making out...as I'm sure you can imgine my shock was through the roof...how far we were from IHOP...I forgot about the world...I didn't remember...I'm more sheltered now than when I was homeschooled...someone help me...Jesse noticing my gasping and choking tried to get out of me what could be causing me such distress...I simply patted his arm and just said "Thank you for loving Jesus."

The woman in front of us with her boyfriend? Husband? Significant other...and children was an avid Grave Digger fan and screamed obscenities at any other vehicle vehemently waving both middle fingers in the air...upon one of the aforementioned children getting her attention by saying "Mom, could I have some money for soda?" our group, most-likely in shock...began to uproariously laugh, gasp, weep between the porch and altar and pray in tongues simultaneously, blowing our cover and violating the prime directive therefore invalidating any research we may have previously gathered...oh well, that's why we all work at the bookstore. Here is to redneck events everywhere, may they live on in our hearts as fond studies of the human condition.

The Biggest Assault on Self

So, I'm getting married in a matter of months to the most amazing human being I have ever been blessed enough to stumble upon. When daring to embark on such endeavors it is recommended to seek wisdom from those that have gone before you. In this case my love and I are doing a little premarital counseling with an amazing couple from our church. We've only met once so far, but the things they said just hit my heart and the realizations that we both made were stunning.

For a while I was so cool with the idea of not getting married, I thought I might be celibate (don't laugh, I'm fully aware that I am only 20). But, while my other friends always seemed to be chasing the wind of relationship I was content to be just me and Jesus, I may have had a crush or two, but at the end of the day He was always more than enough. So, when I started to fall in love with this one, I battled inside myself about it being just me and Jesus and is that better, is that more of death to self, to be single forever, to possibly spend every moment in solitude with the King.

As time progressed I realized that this man was created for me and I was created for him-this would fulfill a dream of God's heart, but the question still remained, is this scorning the good for the best? Will I die here and become the consummation of a dream? No, I won't, but we will, my life is no longer my own, it always belonged to Jesus, but now it also belongs to this one, I can't really do anything apart from him, I'm not talking things like mow the lawn, go out to eat or hang out with people, I'm talking about real things. Move somewhere new, get a new job, buy a new car, I can't do these things independent of him because that is not the way God designed it. God designed marriage to be the biggest assault on self, to attack the secret "golden calves" in our hearts, and this is true. Our marriage counselor said it best when he looked at me and said "You will be crucified on this cross..." and he pointed to my love. I will die. It's already been difficult at times, but at the end of it, I don't think that there will be anything more beautiful.

a mission to the starry stars

How many beautiful voices never get "heard"? How many walking artforms never get "seen"? If one would simply take a swift round-a-bout view of our world they would quickly notice that a large portion of its populace is driven to becoming famous. The two major routes taken by the general masses are Rock-stardom or the ever loomin Stage. The problem is that so many people don't get to the spotlight. They never find the right place or the right time. Most of the time they have pretty good acting skills and a lot of times they have voices that woo the world. They just never make it all the way. So, I wonder, how many beautiful voices are out there that never even have an oportunity to ring out? How many good acting skills never see the light of day? It just hit me when I was watching this random opera show on cable at the girls house. I wasn't really "watching" it. Some girl turned it on and now one turned it off. Really. I wasn't watching it. I just saw it. C'mon. Well, it hit me anyway. There's a lot of really talented people out there who never get a big shot, or even a medeocre shot. What exactly did God have in mind? Hmmmmm....I wonder.....Hmmmmmm.............dot dot dot.