Who I Am

OK, I'm finally blogging again. Don't know why I haven't found the motivation to write for a while.

I've been stuck in a struggle to figure out whether I want to write more like Theodemos, and share my deep and genuine thoughts, or whether to take Mike's approach and keep it fun and personal.

One of the things I enjoy most in life is having long conversations about the Spiritual, Philosophical, and Scientific interpretations of the universe we live in. It stimulates my mind and is something I'm passionate about. Some of my favorite memories come from these moments of sharing ideas and ideals.

My dad and I would lay awake for hours in the woods, staring at the stars and discussing the vastness of the universe. We have different viewpoints about many things. We've never seen eye to eye on matters of politics, but in those chilly nights under a curtain of twinkling lights we both knew that agreeing who should be president didn't matter so much as the wonder we shared about who we are and why we're here. In those moments I found the joy of open dialogue rather than passionate debate. I also grew to own my faith and learned to share it openly with others who did not share it.

My mom and I would talk about God until the late hours of the night, and sometimes even the early hours of the morning. I wanted to hear all about my maker and savior, and even at a young age would discuss the meaning of various scriptures. I see now that those engaging dialogues were teaching moments the Lord was using to mold my mind and heart. He was working through them and helping my mom to raise me in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

I'm not just a serious guy though. I'm downright silly if you catch me at the right moment. I usually let my shyness hide that, but ask my wife what home is like and more likely than not, she'll mention we share a lot of laughter.

I'm still the little boy enjoying my adventures in the woods with my buddies. I love thinking back to all the hikes, campouts, mountain climbs, snowshoeing, rock hopping, river swimming, running, golfing, and snow caving we've shared together.

It's also true that sharing our experiences is what makes them so much more wonderful. I get a kick out of reading Mike's, and Jim's daily thoughts and what they've been up to. In fact, I'm sure Oswald Chambers would likely say it's in the sharing of the mundane and ordinary events that you find your real friends.

Anyone can enjoy the mountaintop, but I know Trent is important to me when I think it's cute that Carson has fuzz growing on his head. I know Mike is a great friend and brother when I laugh at his story about how he's "daddy" when Becky talks for Lily and "papa" when Becky talks to Lily. I see how grateful I am to have added Jim to my "inner circle" when I enjoy his memories of childhood in Maine and how everything seems so different now that he's gone back as an adult.

I guess I'm the serious and the silly guy, and will have to give myself freedom to write about both. Today I will think about whether the mainstream media in our nation is biased to the left or whether I am biased to the right (is it both?) and I will enjoy a homemade cinnamon role. I will try to keep my commitment to spend time in God's word and in prayer and I will see an old friend who is in town. I will be upset that our world is so materialistic we seem to have forgotten what Christmas means and I will play a computer game.

I am serious and silly, and I love both worlds.