The Sublime Roundabout

Thanksgiving is here, and aside from the turkey (provided free from my employer) I have much to be grateful for. Here's a brief list of some of the things I can think of... 1. Family. By family I mean those who live with me in my house and those who are far away. My wife, who loves me in spite of myself. My children, who are so happy and loving and wonderful. My parents, who give of themselves to get me where I am and where I need to be. My brothers and sisters, who have become wonderful men and women of faith. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces , nephews, grandparents - I have been blessed and I am grateful. It's a privilege to be associated with you in any way, and I hope I am worthy of you. 2. Friends. Some friends are like stars in the sky, distant yet constant. Some are like shooting stars, brief yet majestic. Some are like a campfire, warm and inviting. Some are like a rock, steadfast and immovable. All leave impressions on me and have shaped me into who I am now. 3. Health.

If you would have asked me what I wanted to be when I was a senior in HS I would have said an OB/ GYN . Some parts of the job are less appealing, but the idea of helping women bring children into the world is infinitely interesting. The Lord had other plans for me, and they caught up to me despite my best efforts (not unlike Jonah...) In signing up for the military, I wanted to be trained as a hospital corpsman. These are the rough equivalent to the combat medic of the Army. My thinking was that it would be good experience for my eventual medical training. There were no positions for this job available when I signed up in the Construction Battalion (the SeaBees - Hoo -rah!). This decision put into effect a course of action that has led me to where I am today. In the SeaBees , I was introduced to the world of construction and design. I have grown up in a home where I was constantly in contact with construction - my father, grandfather, and even great-grandfather were plumbers and work

First off, let me state in the name of full disclosure that I personally feel that one's personal level of spirituality has little to do with their activity level in an organized religion. It is the quiet inner peace that is sought after, which is most often found while one is alone and meditating. Having said that, I feel that there is a definite connection between people, culture, civilization, and religion that is desirable and even necessary. Historically, religion consisted of certain rites, rituals, celebrations, ceremonies, and stories that were designed to instill a sense of awe and reverence, teach young people relative to cultural norms and traditions, and to appease the Higher Power. It was assumed that, for whatever reason people could influence this Higher Power to intervene on their behalf in an effort to ameliorate unfavorable conditions. As people's minds were free to meditate on the great mysteries, increasingly elaborate and intricate models were utilized to

I can envision a world where there is no money. Really, it's not that far away... When was the last time you actually used cash? And really, the bank notes that we call cash has only the value assigned to it based on a psychological measure that is at times very arbitrary... I get paid via direct deposit and never see my money. It's given and used electronically. The only time I actually even write a check is to pay tithing or pay random people (piano lessons, for example). Other than that, it's all debit card and direct deposit. Money is a surreal thing, an electronic transfer... What capitalists fail to recognize is that it is not the accumulation of wealth that perpetuates our society - it's the distribution and flow of wealth. Thus, having more people with greater amounts of discretionary income allows for a stronger base for the economy - more people buying more, creating jobs and demand for goods. One person with all the money can only buy so much before it become

I appreciate people who think. I appreciate more people who can think for themselves. I respect people who can dream. I revere people who can take those dreams and put them into action - making the world a better place. I am not sure why, but I keep getting little ads on the right side of my screen from people who want me to download something from Ayn Rand. I find it amusing because I am morally repulsed by Ayn Rand and everything she stands for. I find her views repugnant in the extreme. And yet, there the ads are, like a constant thorn in my side. The kind of extreme capitalism that Ayn Rand and her followers promote results in the very worst kind of humanity imaginable. This kind of narcissistic objectivism allows for only the promotion of one's own self interest and views others not as people but as tools. This is the same kind of thinking that led Hitler and his regime to come to view Jews as expendable. Rationally, people who are unproductive and unuseful are a drain on th

1. I love these candies. I know they are gross. I know that they are rotting my teeth out of my head. But I like them so much... I am not addicted - I only have one or two per day. And I don't know why I like them, but I do... 2. I do water aerobics every Tuesday and Thursday evening after work. Ammon and I go work out with the ladies at the pool. And you know what? I like it. I do! So many times I have been to the gym or whatever and I feel like I am part of some kind of fashion show or something. But not with these ladies. They don't care. They don't! They just think it's cool that I show up with my boy and do it. Yeah, I have no pride... But Ammon and I have fun. That's what it's all about, right?!? 3. This one might be close to an actual addiction. I love Dr. Pepper. I know it's not good for me. I know I shouldn't drink it (kidney stones, caffeine addictions and headaches, empty calories, etc). But I do. My wife won't let me have it, so if we&#

I wish I had a great deal of faith. I love the story of Peter and Christ walking on the water. Because I am weak. Because I falter. And because I ultimately must also rely on Christ. The last little while has been tough for me personally. My strength falters. I am weak and impatient. I want things done my way on my time frame. I struggle. I resist. I know in my brain that things will work out. Things always have. Things always will. Of that I mentally and intellectually have no doubt. But there are times when I take my eyes from the Lord and view the tumult and the bank account and the loan payments and everything and I start to falter. Why? Why do I allow place in my heart for the enemy of my happiness? When I trust in the Lord, I am blessed in all things. Why, then, do I falter? Why does my heart harden? Why cannot the things I know penetrate? In all this, I am grateful for an eternal companion who loves me and is patient. She is my strength and my soul and my song. I love her. She

So, we did it! Today is a great day for Americans, for citizens of the world, for freedom loving people everywhere! I am so proud to be American! Ah! I can't tell you the smallest part of what I feel. I heard a woman on the radio this morning telling her son, "You can be anything you want. Even the president of the United States." It hit me because I had dreams when I was a small child of being the president of the United States. As I grew older and more cynical, I learned what it takes to get to be able to become the president, I gave up on those dreams. I am grateful that Mr. Obama did not. When Dr. King spoke about his dream of the world where children grow up and are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, he was talking about our day. Dr. King, your dream lives on!