Friday, May 25, 2007

Lyrically speaking...


"The gate is wide, The road is paved in moderation,
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground, You're safe and sound and until now, it's where I've been'
Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, your love, that cuts the strings
So long status quo, I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was, Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
I am small and I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all, I say your name
Just your name and I'm ready to jump, even ready to fall
Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?
I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me, that changes everything"

-Nichole Nordeman, "Brave"


Happy Friday campers! Hope everyone is gearing up for the big holiday weekend. We actually don't have any plans-just cleaning (b/c my Mom is coming next week) and we may hit the beach again. Otherwise it is just relaxing to think about 3 days off of work - actually I will have 4 because Tuesday I have that doctor's appt. and I will be off that day too. So, it is a beautiful forecast for the weekend and I am pumped. Last night I was so bummed that it was Thursday and not Friday that I couldn't get myself to do anything productive- I was a couch potato.

So, I have to share with you something that broke my heart yesterday. I was sitting in a waiting room thumbing through the nearest magazine when I stumbled upon an article about a soldier who recently passed away in Iraq. Apparently the reporter had interviewed the man 4 days before his death, the article began with stories from the soldier concerning the missions he had been on and his photographs of certain experiences. He told about the first person he had killed and about recurring nightmares and so forth. He had been a pastor at some point and then had went into the National Guard and after his second tour in Iraq he had denounced God after seeing so much devastation and had begun to study philosophy. It was a very interesting article and very detailed - I was so moved by it I was literally sick to my stomach. My heart was just breaking when the writer was speaking of his death by a sniper shot 4 days after the conclusion of the interview. In an email to his wife a few days before he had written a message that told the story of ancient Roman warriors and how brave they were and how honored they were even when they came home carried on top of their shields as opposed to carrying their shields in front of them. He asked his wife to love him the same whether he came home to her or was carried home "on his shield". She wrote a response asking him what was wrong, etc. but he had been killed. It was just so painful to think that this is a current story- that this is what is going on with people in our country today and Americans overseas. It just affected me so much and I was sick over it all day. I didn't get to finish the article but what I read before I had to leave was about how fallen soldiers must have extra security at their funerals due to so many anti-war opinions. At this soldiers funeral a pickup with anti-war signs and a driver yelling out the window swerved to hit the herse on the highway. It was a powerful article and it is just consuming my mind right now. This woman who lost her husband received his laptop that contained writings and journals made by her husband shortly after. The army had completely erased the harddrive for security purposes. I can't help but cringe everytime I think about it and how often this happens. This was the first time I have felt like I was part of the country that was at war. I don't know about everyone else but in my safe little corner of the world I tend to block out many of the things that trouble me. Mostly I blocked out the war because I hate to hear the death reports on the news every morning and I hate the politics. But I am ashamed that I havent let it upset me before I read that article. At the end of the article it gave some recognition from the wife that in the last few weeks before his death the soldier had made references to himself being ready if God should call him home and noted him having found a peace with his anger toward God.

I guess at this point in time with what our country is facing in the war and in politics all we have to lean on is prayer.

"As we sing to you, in our praises make your home
To my audience of one
You are Father, and you are Son
As your spirit flows free, let it find within me
A heart that beats to praise you.
And now just to know you more, has become my great reward
To see your kingdom come and your will be done
I only desire to be yours, Lord"

-Big Daddy Weave, "Audience of One"

On a ligher note:

Some Memorial Day BBQ rules: (thought this was cute)

We are about to enter the summer and BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity, as it's the only type of cooking a 'real' man will do, probably because there is an element of danger involved.

When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of eventsareput into motion:
Routine...
(1) The woman buys the food.
(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makesdessert.
(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a trayalong with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to theman who is lounging beside the grill - cold drink in hand.Here comes the important part:

(4) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
More routine....
(5) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
(6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. Hethanks her and asks if she will refresh his drink while he deals with the situation.

Important again:
(7) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
More routine....
(8) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins,sauces, and brings them to the table.
(9) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:
(10) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
(11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off."


Its funny because it's true - not just in BBQ - I am sure that we have all felt before like we have to do EVERYTHING...


Have a safe and happy holiday!

-L