as i laid in bed last night, i felt a gentle touch on my shoulder and i opened my eyes to see a dark figure over me. i was startled. it took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and i realized it was just the curtain fluttering around the room in response to the oscillating fan.
the books that always leave the deepest impressions on me are the ones with an unexpected twist in plot. its not unlike being acquainted with someone, then learning something new and unique about them. it suddenly makes the person so much more multi-dimensional.
in the summer heat, brendan spends most of his time at home shirtless. it's kind of funny, in a cute way, because it's so unlike him. i arrived home from work yesterday to see him frying up some taters barechested. seemed kind of dangerous.
being a person of faith, from a family of faith, it's difficult for me to digest the cultural difference that exists between my mom and me. lately, i've been particularly embarrassed when she writes things like "God is good!" and "PTL" (jesus-jargon shortform of 'praise the lord') and "trust in HIM!" on my facebook profile. i feel that if i was not religious myself i would be able to filter out her comments as "that's just how religious people talk". but i can't just disregard it since, i too am religious and i don't talk that way. i partly feel i worry that i'll get clumped into the same category as her by others, when i feel we're very different. the discomfort i feel is probably how a lot of folks feel about their parents parents talking about sex. it's awkward and it feels inappropriate. her freedom of speech makes me cringe and i just can't understand her candidness, and in many cases her point of view. i find the faith experience to be a lot more visceral than that. it's not words, it's not grabbing onto a rope that will pick you out of the mud and place you in the clouds above the muckiness of life. i guess i feel that faith is more subtle than that, and as a result i prefer to be more subtle in my speech. sometimes it feels like the problem with the old adage "treat others as you would want to be treated" is flawed since how i want to be treated is different to how someone like my mom wants to be treated ("PLT jan, PLT!"). i kind of wish that it included instruction on how to deal with major differences in perspective. it's cultural, it's generational, it's world view, it's painful.
the books that always leave the deepest impressions on me are the ones with an unexpected twist in plot. its not unlike being acquainted with someone, then learning something new and unique about them. it suddenly makes the person so much more multi-dimensional.
in the summer heat, brendan spends most of his time at home shirtless. it's kind of funny, in a cute way, because it's so unlike him. i arrived home from work yesterday to see him frying up some taters barechested. seemed kind of dangerous.
being a person of faith, from a family of faith, it's difficult for me to digest the cultural difference that exists between my mom and me. lately, i've been particularly embarrassed when she writes things like "God is good!" and "PTL" (jesus-jargon shortform of 'praise the lord') and "trust in HIM!" on my facebook profile. i feel that if i was not religious myself i would be able to filter out her comments as "that's just how religious people talk". but i can't just disregard it since, i too am religious and i don't talk that way. i partly feel i worry that i'll get clumped into the same category as her by others, when i feel we're very different. the discomfort i feel is probably how a lot of folks feel about their parents parents talking about sex. it's awkward and it feels inappropriate. her freedom of speech makes me cringe and i just can't understand her candidness, and in many cases her point of view. i find the faith experience to be a lot more visceral than that. it's not words, it's not grabbing onto a rope that will pick you out of the mud and place you in the clouds above the muckiness of life. i guess i feel that faith is more subtle than that, and as a result i prefer to be more subtle in my speech. sometimes it feels like the problem with the old adage "treat others as you would want to be treated" is flawed since how i want to be treated is different to how someone like my mom wants to be treated ("PLT jan, PLT!"). i kind of wish that it included instruction on how to deal with major differences in perspective. it's cultural, it's generational, it's world view, it's painful.
we're leaving for syracuse in 3 weeks today! then, then next day, we'll board a plane to costa rica! man, we really need to get planning our intinerary and booking hostels. with the short turn-around, we're really underprepared, but it's also kind of fun!
representing the white race...
a man with a monkey for a face.
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