I like irony.
Literary irony, situational irony, linguistic irony... I like it just about every way I get it.
And you probably know the old saying, "Revenge is a dish best served cold?" Well, here's a little twist on that: "Irony is a delicious dish however it's served."
But tonight I am pondering a not-so-delicioius irony: the hypocrisy of humanity.
I've seen several things lately that gave me cause to pause & ponder, but tonight took the cake (since I'm using all the eating analogies... I'm not hungry, I promise!).
I was sitting next to my wife, minding my own business, when I noticed that she was slogging through a "fun" (irony intended there) facebook conversation with someone who... Well... Let's just say the irony was as thick as pea soup (there I go with food again!)
As I watched her get increasingly frustrated, a thought occurred to me:
"Why is it that some people claim to be 'friends', but treat you like an enemy?"
She put it quite nicely: "YOU asked ME to be your friend... But you obviously don't consider me one."
No emotion. No drama. (I would've LOADED that with drama, but not Jen!) No hyperbole.
Just a statement of fact so blunt that if it were a knife it wouldn't cut warm butter.
Then I thought a little more...
"Why is it that some people preach tolerance, but only tolerate people who agree with them?"
Isn't that...
Dare I say it?...
Intolerant?
Maybe it's just me, but I find both of those realities ironic.
But NOT in the way I like it.
Maybe you know exactly what I mean?
Realistically, I'm probably just as guilty as everyone else (probably more) when it comes to this issue.
Oh, wai...! Just got word of another situation...
Oh, how fun!
How delicious!!
How ironic!!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
I'm not listenin' ta yew... You Craaasssyyyy!
Nacho Libre may be one of the funniest movies EVER!
There are SO many great one-liners to pull from Nacho, but this particular one stands out more to me than the rest.
Maybe you're asking, "Why?"
If so, you're either a very hearty soul, feel tremendous sympathy for me, a glutton for punishment, or some bizarre mixture of the three.
Well, it's probably NOT what you think.
Comic wit? Yes... But that's not it.
Hilarious accent? Of course... But that's not it, either.
Jack Black? Absolutely... But no.
So what is it, you ask?
It's because of this: it's my 2-year-old son, Judah's, favorite line... And he quotes it PERFECTLY!
Tonight while I was making dinner, he said to me in perfect "Nacho"...
"I'm not listenin' ta yew... You Craaasssyyyy!"
Sunday, February 6, 2011
When Dreams Come True
It seems like most of our life is spent seeking the dreams that burn within us.
Rarely does it seem like we actually experience the fulfillment of those dreams. On those few-and-far-between occasions when do, though, it can seem like a glimpse of Heaven.
I have the incredible privilege of living in one of those small windows of blessing right now. I'm not gonna kid you: it's amazing!
I am not foolish enough to think that it'll last much longer--much less become the norm--but I am enjoying it while I can! After all, once it's gone, it's gone!
I look around & see God doing things that I have looked for & longed for some 10 years or more... and all I can say is, "Wow!"
So, why does God allow these brief, mountain-top views of the world we slog through day-by-day?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?
Well, here's my million-dollar answer: idunno.
But I'm willing to take a crack at it, so here goes nothing (you might say "There went nothing" after you read this).
God is the Giver of dreams and the fulfiller of them, too. (Let's face it: if we can fulfill our dream, it wasn't much of a dream to begin with!) In fulfilling the dream, He develops the dreamer, since we are not ready to play our part in the dream until He has prepared us.
Our preparation is like any growth process, involving both expansion & collapse, tearing down & building... Like breathing: inhale & exhale. Both are necessary. Both are critical. Neither is expendable.
Striving for the dream and fulfillment of the dream are the same way... If all we ever do is strive for the dream, we burn out from frustration, longing, & a broken heart. If, on the other hand, all we ever do is live in fulfillment, we get lackadasical, complacent, & a cold heart.
So, there ya have it... My 2 cents. I'll let you judge whether or not that's a fair price.
Rarely does it seem like we actually experience the fulfillment of those dreams. On those few-and-far-between occasions when do, though, it can seem like a glimpse of Heaven.
I have the incredible privilege of living in one of those small windows of blessing right now. I'm not gonna kid you: it's amazing!
I am not foolish enough to think that it'll last much longer--much less become the norm--but I am enjoying it while I can! After all, once it's gone, it's gone!
I look around & see God doing things that I have looked for & longed for some 10 years or more... and all I can say is, "Wow!"
So, why does God allow these brief, mountain-top views of the world we slog through day-by-day?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?
Well, here's my million-dollar answer: idunno.
But I'm willing to take a crack at it, so here goes nothing (you might say "There went nothing" after you read this).
God is the Giver of dreams and the fulfiller of them, too. (Let's face it: if we can fulfill our dream, it wasn't much of a dream to begin with!) In fulfilling the dream, He develops the dreamer, since we are not ready to play our part in the dream until He has prepared us.
Our preparation is like any growth process, involving both expansion & collapse, tearing down & building... Like breathing: inhale & exhale. Both are necessary. Both are critical. Neither is expendable.
Striving for the dream and fulfillment of the dream are the same way... If all we ever do is strive for the dream, we burn out from frustration, longing, & a broken heart. If, on the other hand, all we ever do is live in fulfillment, we get lackadasical, complacent, & a cold heart.
So, there ya have it... My 2 cents. I'll let you judge whether or not that's a fair price.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
If It's Worth Suffering For, It's Worth Suffering Through
Why do we think that we'll live our dreams without a struggle?
Well, in the immortal words of some philosopher (whose name has escaped me), "I have no idea."
(Okay... I made that up.)
Seriously... I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out, to be honest. But I can certainly tell you a couple things that I've learned on my journey toward living my dreams, especially about the struggles involved.
For one thing, the things I've suffered for are the things I appreciate. Conversely, the things that have come easy I seem not to appreciate--even neglect.
Another thing I've learned is that the struggle is essential to fulfilling the dream. No struggle, no fulfillment. The struggle is the white-hot fire, anvil, & hammer that forge the metal of who God has created us to be. In the military, we put it this way: "The hotter the fire, the tougher the steel."
Here's another thing: when we catch a glimpse of the dream God has for us, the suffering we endure gets put into perspective. If we can just keep our eyes fixed on the prize God has set before us instead of the tumult surrounding us, it will not overwhelm us. In fact, we'll often be thankful for the tumult in the long run. (I didn't say we'd enjoy it, but we will appreciate it's place in our development.)
The thing about suffering, though, is that it doesn't last forever. It's actually quite short-lived. You WILL get through it. And when you get through it, you can look back on the winding path of suffering & enjoy the view.
When all is said & done, the dream & the suffering are inseperable... But a dream worth striving for is a dream worth suffering for.
And if it's worth suffering for, it's worth suffering through.
Well, in the immortal words of some philosopher (whose name has escaped me), "I have no idea."
(Okay... I made that up.)
Seriously... I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out, to be honest. But I can certainly tell you a couple things that I've learned on my journey toward living my dreams, especially about the struggles involved.
For one thing, the things I've suffered for are the things I appreciate. Conversely, the things that have come easy I seem not to appreciate--even neglect.
Another thing I've learned is that the struggle is essential to fulfilling the dream. No struggle, no fulfillment. The struggle is the white-hot fire, anvil, & hammer that forge the metal of who God has created us to be. In the military, we put it this way: "The hotter the fire, the tougher the steel."
Here's another thing: when we catch a glimpse of the dream God has for us, the suffering we endure gets put into perspective. If we can just keep our eyes fixed on the prize God has set before us instead of the tumult surrounding us, it will not overwhelm us. In fact, we'll often be thankful for the tumult in the long run. (I didn't say we'd enjoy it, but we will appreciate it's place in our development.)
The thing about suffering, though, is that it doesn't last forever. It's actually quite short-lived. You WILL get through it. And when you get through it, you can look back on the winding path of suffering & enjoy the view.
When all is said & done, the dream & the suffering are inseperable... But a dream worth striving for is a dream worth suffering for.
And if it's worth suffering for, it's worth suffering through.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Eating Elephants & Climbing Mountains
Somewhere along the way, I got this crazy idea that everything I do has got to be done now.
And done perfectly. Like, perfectly perfect. The first time. No exceptions. And no excuses.
Is it my perfectionism? (I have wrestled with that over the years, but I don't think that's it.)
Is it some character flaw or odd personality trait? (Well, I certainly have plenty of both, but I don't think that's it, either.)
Genetic quirk? (I, uh... Have more-or-less normal parents, so... Probably not.)
Maybe I'm still trying to prove myself to my father? (Nah. Dad's always been supportive of me.)
So... What could it be?
Why do I have this insane desire to get it right the first time or not do it at all?
Why do I get paralyzed pursuing perfection?
Why can't I ever settle for "progress" & "improvement"?!
I mean, seriously: I NEVER get it right the first time! Not even close!
Or the second.
Usually not the third, either.
And then I usually quit.
Why can't I just learn to "eat an elephant" or "climb a mountain" when it comes to those projects & tasks that are clearly big than me?
You know what I mean: you don't eat an elephant all at once (now, that provokes a disturbing visual, doesn't it?!), nor can you climb a mountain all at once, either... You have to take it one bite (for the elephant, obviously) at a time & one step (for the mountain; duh) at a time.
But if you keep biting & if you keep stepping, eventually you get there.
So tomorrow, I'm going to grab a bite of elephant & head off to Mount Everest.
Wich me luck! ;)
And done perfectly. Like, perfectly perfect. The first time. No exceptions. And no excuses.
Is it my perfectionism? (I have wrestled with that over the years, but I don't think that's it.)
Is it some character flaw or odd personality trait? (Well, I certainly have plenty of both, but I don't think that's it, either.)
Genetic quirk? (I, uh... Have more-or-less normal parents, so... Probably not.)
Maybe I'm still trying to prove myself to my father? (Nah. Dad's always been supportive of me.)
So... What could it be?
Why do I have this insane desire to get it right the first time or not do it at all?
Why do I get paralyzed pursuing perfection?
Why can't I ever settle for "progress" & "improvement"?!
I mean, seriously: I NEVER get it right the first time! Not even close!
Or the second.
Usually not the third, either.
And then I usually quit.
Why can't I just learn to "eat an elephant" or "climb a mountain" when it comes to those projects & tasks that are clearly big than me?
You know what I mean: you don't eat an elephant all at once (now, that provokes a disturbing visual, doesn't it?!), nor can you climb a mountain all at once, either... You have to take it one bite (for the elephant, obviously) at a time & one step (for the mountain; duh) at a time.
But if you keep biting & if you keep stepping, eventually you get there.
So tomorrow, I'm going to grab a bite of elephant & head off to Mount Everest.
Wich me luck! ;)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Waiting Game
OK. Confession time.
If you don't know me, then you probably have no idea that I'm a huge Michigan football fan. (If you DO know me, then you probably DO know that.)
The last several years have been HARD to be a fan! It started back during the last several years of Lloyd Carr's regime, when he managed to squeeze annual top-5 recruiting classes into 7-5 seasons that included at least one loss to someone who never should've even been one the field with Michigan. Hello, App State?
It got so bad that I actually went on strike the last 3 years of Lloyd's tenure, refusing to buy any UofM gear (& I'm sure UofM athletics felt the sting of my wrath).
But then Lloyd retired.
And then Rich Rodriguez was hired.
Truthfully, I was super-excited about RichRod (that was, however, before I knew justnhow bad things would get).
Truthfully, I was sad to see him fired (I feel like he got shafted from day 1).
Truthfully, I am ready to see good football in maize & blue again (like something less than 40 points scored by everybody but the Lakeside State School for Girls... Who only scored 38).
Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded Jim Harbaugh. Or maybe Brady Hoke. (But, O Lord, PLEASE not Les Miles!!)
I noticed that Urban Meyer is currently unemployed... I'm just sayin.
So there's only one major bowl game left for the 2010-2011 season: the BCS championship tomorrow night.
But all of us Michigan fans are playing another game...
The Waiting Game.
If you don't know me, then you probably have no idea that I'm a huge Michigan football fan. (If you DO know me, then you probably DO know that.)
The last several years have been HARD to be a fan! It started back during the last several years of Lloyd Carr's regime, when he managed to squeeze annual top-5 recruiting classes into 7-5 seasons that included at least one loss to someone who never should've even been one the field with Michigan. Hello, App State?
It got so bad that I actually went on strike the last 3 years of Lloyd's tenure, refusing to buy any UofM gear (& I'm sure UofM athletics felt the sting of my wrath).
But then Lloyd retired.
And then Rich Rodriguez was hired.
Truthfully, I was super-excited about RichRod (that was, however, before I knew justnhow bad things would get).
Truthfully, I was sad to see him fired (I feel like he got shafted from day 1).
Truthfully, I am ready to see good football in maize & blue again (like something less than 40 points scored by everybody but the Lakeside State School for Girls... Who only scored 38).
Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded Jim Harbaugh. Or maybe Brady Hoke. (But, O Lord, PLEASE not Les Miles!!)
I noticed that Urban Meyer is currently unemployed... I'm just sayin.
So there's only one major bowl game left for the 2010-2011 season: the BCS championship tomorrow night.
But all of us Michigan fans are playing another game...
The Waiting Game.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
1-1-11
Have you noticed how many weight-loss commercials are on TV right now?
Seriously, I don't ever remember a post-holiday surge of focused advertising like this beforeI
It makes sense: we all just chowed on turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, pie, bla, bla, bla... You get the point. So it seems logical that Jenny Craig would trying to make some new friends!
But the voice within us crying, "Oh, my gosh I've gotten fat! I've gotta DO something about this" is not exactly known for its persistence over the long haul. But why do our New-Years' resolutions seem to fall so quickly (and so hard)?
And is it possible that something birthed on the New Year CAN actually survive until February ( or even longer!!)?
Time is an amazingly objective critic and a great revealer of many things... I wish that weren't so true.
One thing is certain: what God does is in NO WAY temporary! Even if it's just "for a season," it's still eternal in its scope, impact, and result.
I'm SO glad that I get to be a part of what God is doing in this season!
Here's to 2011 making an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God!
Seriously, I don't ever remember a post-holiday surge of focused advertising like this beforeI
It makes sense: we all just chowed on turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, pie, bla, bla, bla... You get the point. So it seems logical that Jenny Craig would trying to make some new friends!
But the voice within us crying, "Oh, my gosh I've gotten fat! I've gotta DO something about this" is not exactly known for its persistence over the long haul. But why do our New-Years' resolutions seem to fall so quickly (and so hard)?
And is it possible that something birthed on the New Year CAN actually survive until February (
Time is an amazingly objective critic and a great revealer of many things... I wish that weren't so true.
One thing is certain: what God does is in NO WAY temporary! Even if it's just "for a season," it's still eternal in its scope, impact, and result.
I'm SO glad that I get to be a part of what God is doing in this season!
Here's to 2011 making an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God!
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