college station (part 2 of ??)
So far, exactly 21 days into my epic self-actualizating journey, I’ve made it 2.75 hours South of Dallas. At this rate I won’t see Canada for another 231 days or so.
For those of you who’ve had more than two or three conversations with me, it should come as no surprise that I paid the Hendrick fam a visit during my stay. They’ve changed locations and their kids have grown up a little, but a lot of things about this family haven’t changed. The kids are obviously still adorable, Heather’s still writing long blogs that are read by approximately 2% of all Americans, and Aaron’s still fixing things and being handy (like a spiral stairwell, stay tuned for more on that. Another constant with the fam is that they still love me after a year of absence. They love me enough to tell me things that they know I won’t necessarily enjoy hearing.
They lovingly brought up their concern that in my quest for vision, it would be foolish to do it out on my own, disconnected from a loving body of believers. Community. It’s kind of a theme in these parts. They encouraged me to rethink how I was going about this trip.
I did. In my seeking Father and thinking about my current situation, I realized that this trip went from being an idea, something I’d told a handful of people about, to a reality, something I was actually doing. I said from the get go on my trip that if Father told me to stay and hang out in any given city, if He had work for me there, that I’d do it. Well I never thought it’d be the second stop on my trip but it turns out it is. Crazy huh?
So I’ll be hanging out here in the Station (Bryan, actually) for the next _____ weeks/months/whatever. I’m going to pour in to the Body that I was growing in a year and half ago, and I’m going to let that Body pour in to me. I’m going to continue to seek Father for vision and direction for my life while I’m here, but I’ll be doing it in the context of service to the Church and, again, community. After that, who knows? Well God does, and I’m confident that by the time I’m supposed to leave, He’ll have thrown me a bone and I’ll go chasing it.
I’ve been all over the map in my head in coming to this decision, and if you’d like to hear more details (they’ll probably bore you unless you think too much like I tend to) then feel free to give me a call. I’d write it out but then the post would be long and only 5 people would read it as opposed to the 10 that will since it’s this length. So, what do ya think?
this is nice
I really think that living in a big city that forfeits you the ability of seeing sunsets on a regular basis is unhealthy. I’ve seen more beautiful sunsets in the past 10 days of being in College Station than I did my entire year in Dallas. They are so refreshing. In the midst of this hectic, crazy, and often confusing life, it’s so nice to be able to look West around 7 or 8pm to see such beauty. It’s peaceful, and dare I say healing.
So thank you Lord for sunsets and thank you George Bush Pond for your hospitality.
book review vol. thirteen: A Field Guide to Evangelicals and Their Habitat
I came across this book at a Dallas area Half Price Books I visited with a friend. I had no intentions of leaving the store having made a purchase, but upon thumbing through this book I thought it worthy of my $6.47. At first, second, and possibly third glance, I wasn’t sure how to go about thinking of this book. Was it a joke? Was it serious? The cover and certain charts (including the “Common Handraising Postures” chart) made it seem as if it were a sarcastic book, but the content of much of the body seemed too right on to be a joke.
Well it turns out that A Field Guide to Evangelicals & their Habitat is in fact a satirical look at, well, evangelicals. The author, Joel Kilpatrick, creator of Lark News, is said to “attend church regularly for personal fulfillment and new material.” Well having completed the book it is evident that this man does indeed attend church and has a knack for picking up on the humorous nuances that occur across the nation in churches residing under the “evangelical” umbrella, ella, ella.
So after reading this book, not only will you have laughed a lot (assuming you’re one who can poke fun at things that are typically taboo to laugh at), but you will also have learned:
- What evangelicals believe
- How to identify an evangelical on the field
- How to plan and execute a field trip to an evangelical church
- How to talk and act like an evangelical without being one
- Evangelical habits overseas
- How to decorate like an evangelical
- and much more.
Some recurring themes you’ll come across in this book is the fact that evangelicals love homeschooling, eating, and voting Republican. Meanwhile, they hate bars, R-rated movies, and CNN.
Though I did laugh throughout the entirety of this book (less in the “Evangelical Mating Habits” chapter), about half way through I started to question how fruitful it is to go into this much detail poking fun at the quirkiness of the current status of the church in America. Though I doubt anyone reads the book this way, a beneficial way to look at it would be to realize that, though it is a satire, this book does justice to how the non-believing world sees believers. Upon realizing that, if we could strive to be less lame, that, I think, would be fruitful.
I’ll leave you with a few quotes from the book:
[On how missionaries make a living]
“Long-term missionaries spend every third year traveling the US… they also dress in the perceived traditional clothing from their country of service, playing to Americans’ mistaken belief that Third World residents dress in colorful handcrafted garb… missionaries know that if they showed up to preach in an old *NSync T-shirt and ill-fitting swim trunks, nobody would give them a dime”
[On decorating like an evangelical]
“On the wall immediately visible when you walk in, hang a framed cross-stitch or embroidery that reads, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, Joshua 3′. There is simply no substitute for this particular piece if you wish to maintain a convincing evangelical design”
[On greeting evangelicals]
“…offer a standard greeting, coupled with a phrase like ‘God is good’ or ‘Praise God’ or ‘What a blessing’. Give a warm handshake, perhaps pulled into a brief hug if the person is of the same gender.”
[On bars, nightclubs, and poolhalls] (Bold added)
“You will not find evangelicals in places that encourage drunkenness, fornication, dancing, or fighting with pool cues. The only time they might duck into such a place is to hang a poster for a Christian concert or a notice about an alcohol recovery program at their church. Evangelicals don’t want to make the mistake Jesus made in hanging around society’s lowlifes and becoming known as winebibbers and drunkards — a reputation that put a major crimp in his earthy ministry.“
Waco, TX
The first stop of many on my current journey was all of an hour and half due south of Dallas. Many people only know Waco as the city where Baylor University is and the place that 35 and Highway 6 meet. Though that comes close to summing up the entirety of the city, there is in fact a little more to be known of Waco. You won’t learn about these things in this blog, but there is more to be known. What you’ll learn here is things I’ve experienced during my stay.
I’ve split my nights sleeping on the couches and floors of Jessie Epperson Harris, my college roommate (that’s right, he’s got a blog now) and Sam Binkley, my best friend from high school. That picture of Jessie isn’t current, but I couldn’t resist. Believe it or not, he actually looks cooler than that now. I know, it’s a tough cookie to swallow. Sam is the one on the far right of the couch on which I’ve been sleeping.
Last time you heard from me was my first full day in Waco. I’ve done some neat things since then. Arguably the most eventful of which was my visit to Homestead Heritage. Many people visit this place to eat of their tasty, home-grown food or to visit their shops where visitors can buy homemade pots, furniture, blacksmith stuff. I, however, went to visit with people who live in community. Basically, these people live outside of Waco in the country and they live communally. They grow their own food, have church, school, and life together. It’s the kind of thing that most people would look at and say, “that’s weird” or “they’re a cult” but I’d beg to differ. I think they’re cool. Here’s a pic of their mill, which was powered by a water wheel that is slightly visible out the window in the back. The flo. Pretty cool.
Another noteworthy happening that has occurred since my arrival in Waco is the birth of new friendships. I’ve been privileged to meet a handful of people who have really encouraged me and with whom I’d hang out more if I actually lived in this town. Among these fine people are Niki Fullbright and Natalie Adeleye. They are two separate people but from what I’ve observed they function as one entity. I’ve been given the opportunity of hanging out with them two or three times during the past week, and each time I leave thinking about how truly enjoyable the fellowship was. It was to these new but faithful friends I turned when searching for a place to watch the So You Think You Can Dance finale. So thank you friends. I’ve enjoyed you much more than you’ve enjoyed me, I promise.
So that more or less sums up the highlights of my Waco time. The only thing I could speak on that I didn’t would be all the time I’ve been able to spend with Father while here. He’s been showing me some good things and I’m confident He’ll continue to do so. When all these things start coming together and making coherent thoughts, rest assured, I’ll share them. Until then, thanks for reading and Waco, thanks a lot for being so hospitable. You’re not a bad city.
Next stop: College Station, TX!
good to go
If the past few days are any indication of how the rest of my journey will be, then I’m sad to say these trip updates will occur a lot less often than I’d like. However, so long as I’m able to find a Panera Bread in any given town, I’ll be all set. Thank you Panera, for offering free wi-fi. It is greatly appreciated.
So I started living out of my car on Friday, the 10th. I feel this somehow adds some legitimacy to my having modeled for Vagabond Clothing Co. I packed my car (who will be henceforth referred to as Skylar) in such a way as to allow maximum comfort in the front seat while utilizing ample amounts of storage space in the back seat and trunk, and keeping the most visibility out my rear view mirror. I believe I’ve succeeded. I like to keep the front seat open so I can give people rides. This has already proven a fruitful idea.
The contents of what I’ve packed include: clothing for all seasons, a sleeping pad, a sleeping bag, a pillow, a towel, a washcloth, toiletries, books, two packs full of climbing gear, one bouldering pad, a frisbee and a slackline. All the essentials. Oh, and my purse which contains the things that I keep with me at all times: books I’m currently reading, my laptop, a rain jacket, a long sleeved shirt, a headlamp, a camera, speed Scrabble, and a hacky sack.
And now, for some FAQs:
So where are you now? I’m in Waco. I’m staying with one Jessie Harris, who left town last night and will return on Thursday evening. This is of course not a problem because my good friend Sam Binkley also lives in Waco, and is apparently, at present, carrying a broken phone. I’ve not been able to get a hold of him. So Panera Bread it is.
Where do I plan on going? Ultimately I’d really like to make it up in to Canada. Will that happen? I don’t know. I’m basically just hanging out from city to city and enjoying whatever the Lord throws my way. If I feel like he tells me at some point to stop traveling and invest in a particular location, or to go back home, or to do some other option I’m not creative enough to muster up, then I’ll do it. I think it’ll be a good time, whatever happens.
Why are you doing this? Good question. There are a few reasons as to why I’m doing this. One being simply that I will likely never again in life have an opportunity to take such an adventure. Another reason (and this one satisfies the spiritual types) is I’m seeking vision in — and for — my life. I’d be doing this whether I was traveling or not. I long to have something in my life that I know Father gave me to run towards. Right now the only thing I know that I ought to be running towards is Him. That’s a great start, but that can manifest itself in so many different ways. I want to discover, by seriously seeking the face of God, what he created me to do. I’m not naive as to think I’ll have this all figured out in three months from now, but I want to be closer to it by then.
Where will you sleep? If I’m in a city where friends or acquaintances reside, then I plan on sleeping on their couch, floor, or yard. This applies to your acquaintances too. Got people in the western half of the US? Feel free to tell me. If I find myself in a city where I know absolutely nobody (and I expect this to happen many times), then couchsurfing.com will help me find a place to sleep. Check it out. It’s a pretty sweet thing.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for you now. I could certainly go on (I’ve got nothing but time), but I bet you’re tired of reading at this point… assuming you made it this far. Next stop: College Station.
book review vol. twelve: Serve God Save the Planet
I bought this book after it was brought to my attention with a high recommendation from Allen Duty. You may recall the title from the review on the Duty’s blog. Well now I’ve completed the book and it’s my turn to give my two cents.
There is no question that at this point in history, the scientists, environmentalists, conservationists and preservationists have successfully informed the public of the deteriorating state of our world to the point that it is now very chic to be (or at least to appear) green. Some people are legitimately doing it, others fake it - not unlike claiming the name of Christ. Matthew Sleeth and his family are doing it. This gives him credibility in writing a book on the topic.
One of the biggest points that Sleeth gets across in this book is the fact that a part of obeying certain well-known commands from scripture (i.e. “Love your neighbor”) includes living in such a way that minimally impacts the environment, both for the benefit of future generations and those living in today’s third world countries. He teaches that our motivation for living green ought to be love, which comes from the Lord. That’s true, and it’s something that I’m sure a lot of people need to hear.
However, I came into this book already believing that it is our duty as believers (not to mention humans) to live modestly, and even sustainably. Though this book did open my eyes to a few areas where I could reduce my impact on the environment, most of what he taught I either already knew or could have figured out without too much thought. Now that isn’t to say I’m practicing it, so it’s good for me to hear, but still, it was less practical than I’d hoped.
I was also pretty disappointed with most of Sleeth’s references to scripture and how he used them to make the point he was making. I found the majority of his arguments far from convincing. To say that you are experiencing “the peace that surpasses all understanding” because you were gardening with your wife just like God created you to… come on, that’s weak. And I’m pro-gardening and certainly pro-wife.
In his defense, Sleeth did have a nice little collection of pages there in the appendices that were a lot more practical than the 200 pages that precede them. Unfortunately I found even those to be lacking. The theme of what he taught was to pick the appliance that used the least energy when purchasing new ones, and to make sure to turn things off when they aren’t being used.
So thank you Allen for the book recommendation, I appreciate your thinking of me. But to my readers: I don’t recommend this book to you unless you truly feel at a loss as to where you stand on environmental stewardship. If you find yourself unsure of what our role as believers is, then by all means pick up the book. I’ll let you borrow mine. If you think you’ve got a pretty good grip on how we ought to treat our world, and what motivates us to act that way, you don’t need to read this book. What you do need to do is check out the Supercinski’s blog, where they’re doing a series on getting greener. I do recommend this, and I strongly believe it will not be a waste of your time.
year in review: the Dallas year
I’ve been thinking about how I wanted to approach this post for a while. I decided I’d go with a couple explanatory sentences, followed by a couple introductory sentences, followed by a list of things I’ve learned this past year in Dallas, and conclude with some more sentences, only they won’t be explanatory or introductory, they’ll be the opposite… conclusilatory.
Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for the duration of this past year know that I’ve not been madly in love with my time here in Dallas. Hopefully you don’t think I’m depressed, because you’d be wrong, but if you thought I wouldn’t move back to Dallas save the Lord speaking it over me in three consecutive dreams, then you’d be correct. I decided about 3/4 of the way through my stint here that it would behoove me to pen some of the things that I’ve learned while living in the Big D, so as to ensure that my time here was not spent in vain. My friends, I give you the list (in no order of importance):
- I am able to support myself. For the first time this year I’ve lived without any parental subsidization.
- Living in a place for any amount of time and not being plugged in to a solid church is something no believer should have to be a part of. It makes things way harder than they ought to be.
- I don’t like bars. They’re lousy places to hang out, for about ten different reasons, yet it’s where people my age want to hang out.
- Work doesn’t have to suck.
- No matter how terrible you think your geographic location is, if you have people around you who you love and who love you, you’ll be good to go. You’ll think sometimes you’re not, but you really are. People are so precious.
- If I had to take a college class on how to get around downtown Dallas, I’d fail, no question.
- Traffic, though detrimental to the environment, is otherwise only as bad as you make it. However even if you normally make it a pleasant thing, you’re allowed a slip here and there. (Not sure what was going on the day I took that picture above, streets are never that clear).
- The Lord’s ancient work is taking place all over the world, including in hundreds of places throughout any given community. It’s easy to miss when you aren’t living in the Spirit, but it is so sweet and refreshing when you do spot it.
- Regardless of your situation, how sorry you’d like to feel for yourself, or how angry you are at either society or God, the fact remains that though your circumstances have changed from previous times when things were “better”, Jesus hasn’t. It’s no less accessible during your bad times than your good ones. He still longs for you to know him way more than you yourself want to know him.
- When you find people you like, you should hang out with them. I believe that.
- People in this generation (both believers and non-believers) long to be around authenticity. They can tell whether or not you’re being real.
So there you have it. A list of eleven things I’ve learned (or relearned) during the past year. Nothing novel, nothing profound, but lessons nonetheless. I’ll close with another list of sorts, a few thank you’s to people who’ve made me like Dallas way more than I ever thought I would. You are the people who will make it hard for me to leave. If it weren’t for you guys, I’d have no problem in the world washing my hands of this city. So thank you to Jon, Mikey, Colby, Laura, Rachel Reed, Nat-town, Hannah Morgan, Antwan Contrerras, Hunter Lott, Ford James, David Foltz, Keith Peeler, all the iW people, and Louie. I appreciate you guys and girls more than you’ll ever know (especially those of you who don’t read this blog and have no idea you’re on this list).
So farewell Dallas. I’m sure you won’t miss me, and rest assured, the feeling is mutual.
I love this man
So much has happened since my last post. I should have posted at least two posts between that one and this one, but our internet went out for a while. So I’ve spent the past three or four hours sitting at my machine playing catch up. 225 post labels, 22 emails, 10 blogs, 5 facebook/myspace friend requests, and 4 facebook/myspace messages later, I’m ready to go. That whole labeling the posts thing… I hope someone uses that at least once. It took forever.
Friday was my last day of work. I spent the first half of my shift training the girl who is taking my position (she’s putting the women back in women’s wear). I spent the second half of my shift being hilarious with my beloved staff members. We took funny pictures. One of them was exceptionally awesome, but only you facebook savvy people will be able to see it. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Saturday was great. Not working on a Saturday. Just like it ought to be.
Sunday is when the party began. I was given the AMAZING privilege of hanging out with the man pictured above: Peeps. You may remember me talking about Peeps. He’s the m I worked with back in China, summer ‘05. I could go on and on about how much I admire this man, but suffice it to say that he is, to date, one of my top five most influential people I’ve ever met. He looks more like Jesus than just about anybody I know. He is a humble servant and I am truly honored to have known him, and even more honored to have hosted him this weekend.
Goodness. I just love that guy. One of my favorite parts of his visit was when he met Mikey and said, “Oh man, I heard so much about you two years ago” to which Mikey replied, “I’ve heard so much about you for the past two years.” So true. So great.