The movie trailer above this post is for the movie "Local Color" directed by George Gallo. It is opening in November nationwide, just not in Nashville. I am trying to get people interested is seeing this film here in the Nashville area, and we are speaking with the director and the composer of this film to make this happen. I have not seen the entire film, so no promises, but it looks fabulous. It deals with a number of themes my wife and I discuss, art, creativity, passion, knowing our own stories and learning others stories. You can become a fan on facebook, and you can send e-mails to the director. The website is www.localcolormovie.com
Enjoy!
Monday, September 22, 2008
obstacles and pain
I recently returned from a weekend filled with mountain biking in North Georgia, in real mountains. OK, not 14,000 ft peaks, but compared to Nashville, Big Mountains! What an adventure, and what pain!
Actually . . . multiple types of pain.
The pain of climbing was intense, it is like your thighs will no longer stay in their skin, your lungs cannot begin to take in enough oxygen to keep your muscles working, and you become incredibly thirsty for water. The pain of falling is very different, it is immediate, crushing and sometimes the true pain from the fall can come much later. The third pain is just the pain of exhaustion, your whole body, and I mean whole body is ready to cry out "uncle"! I experienced all of these pains and all I can say was . . . WOO HOO! That was fun!!
Why do I do it? Why do I look to take on something dangerous, risky, adrenaline filled, and could land me in a local hospital? For me, this is one of the ways I am still asking the very important question - "Do I have what it takes?". It is also where I feel the most alive. Pushing my body to perform and seeing how much it can take.
I feel the need to describe the benefits of mountain biking too. The beauty is spectacular! The first trail we did was a climb of Davenport Mountain. It was 2-3 mile climb and an elevation change of around 800 - 900 ft, to start off. Literally the first .2 of a mile was straight up and I almost lost my lunch. The next .4 of a mile was not much better, and we started to walk because we couldn't climb anymore. Through a combination of riding and walking we finally reached the summit. As we rode the trail on the summit, you could see glimpses of the views from the top, and everything to the right and the left of the trail fell off sharply, so you knew you were on the top. It was spectacular!
The next trail we did that day was a little different. The goal was not to reach a "summit" then descend, it was to descend to the river (Cartecay River) then climb back up. Easier said than done. The downhill sections just before reaching the river were downright treacherous. Some people would have a hard time walking down the trail let alone riding it. Again, the scenery was well worth it. We spent a few minutes on large rocks in the middle of the river just enjoying the rush of the river.
In order for me to experience the beauty I had to endure the pain. Whether we choose the path that we know is difficult and we head straight uphill, or we choose what we think is easier and head downhill there is always a possibility of pain. I will tell you that the biggest bruises I received the whole weekend was on the downhill to the river trail.
In life we can't avoid pain, it is inevitable!
The question is do we try at all costs to avoid it? Do we try to forget, by numbing it or making agreements with ourselves that keep us from doing that again. Like I said in my last blog entry, I learn so much about God when I enter into my story, feel the pain and let Him heal me and redeem me. God fixes broken things!
I can't wait to get back to the mountains!
Actually . . . multiple types of pain.
The pain of climbing was intense, it is like your thighs will no longer stay in their skin, your lungs cannot begin to take in enough oxygen to keep your muscles working, and you become incredibly thirsty for water. The pain of falling is very different, it is immediate, crushing and sometimes the true pain from the fall can come much later. The third pain is just the pain of exhaustion, your whole body, and I mean whole body is ready to cry out "uncle"! I experienced all of these pains and all I can say was . . . WOO HOO! That was fun!!
Why do I do it? Why do I look to take on something dangerous, risky, adrenaline filled, and could land me in a local hospital? For me, this is one of the ways I am still asking the very important question - "Do I have what it takes?". It is also where I feel the most alive. Pushing my body to perform and seeing how much it can take.
I feel the need to describe the benefits of mountain biking too. The beauty is spectacular! The first trail we did was a climb of Davenport Mountain. It was 2-3 mile climb and an elevation change of around 800 - 900 ft, to start off. Literally the first .2 of a mile was straight up and I almost lost my lunch. The next .4 of a mile was not much better, and we started to walk because we couldn't climb anymore. Through a combination of riding and walking we finally reached the summit. As we rode the trail on the summit, you could see glimpses of the views from the top, and everything to the right and the left of the trail fell off sharply, so you knew you were on the top. It was spectacular!
The next trail we did that day was a little different. The goal was not to reach a "summit" then descend, it was to descend to the river (Cartecay River) then climb back up. Easier said than done. The downhill sections just before reaching the river were downright treacherous. Some people would have a hard time walking down the trail let alone riding it. Again, the scenery was well worth it. We spent a few minutes on large rocks in the middle of the river just enjoying the rush of the river.
In order for me to experience the beauty I had to endure the pain. Whether we choose the path that we know is difficult and we head straight uphill, or we choose what we think is easier and head downhill there is always a possibility of pain. I will tell you that the biggest bruises I received the whole weekend was on the downhill to the river trail.
In life we can't avoid pain, it is inevitable!
The question is do we try at all costs to avoid it? Do we try to forget, by numbing it or making agreements with ourselves that keep us from doing that again. Like I said in my last blog entry, I learn so much about God when I enter into my story, feel the pain and let Him heal me and redeem me. God fixes broken things!
I can't wait to get back to the mountains!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
couches and chips
Well it's football time again in Tennessee! I am not saying this because I am a huge UT fan, I just love football. College or NFL, it doesn't matter I love to watch it. There is nothing like a cool autumn day with the windows open, cool breezes, leaves changing and football on TV.
There is a certain comfort to it all.
Comfortable couches, chips and dips and hot wings. Sitting in the comfort of your house and watching the teams play. Watching the teams play! Not engaged in the battle, but simply sitting on the sidelines and cheering (or booing). It is really quite intoxicating, and numbing.
Sunday afternoons for me can be a real joy. I make a chili cheese dip, or nachos and usually a large soda, plop on the couch and watch football, then hopefully drift off to a nice afternoon nap. How awesome is that!
I have to say I got my love for football and the Sunday afternoon routines from my mother. She was the loudest in the family when it came to cheering (screaming would be the word actually). She also took me to the Tampa Bay Bucs games, and High School football games. I miss her so much especially this time of year. I remember one time when I was first married, my mother called me up on Sunday and wanted to know if she could come over to our apartment to watch football, because my dad was out of town. She showed up with a 12 pack of MGD because her doctor said a little alcohol wasn't a bad thing for her.
Good times!
We all look for that comfort. We look for it in food, in jobs, in our savings accounts, and our homes. Look at all the new outdoor living rooms that people are building, you know... outdoor fireplace, couches, tables etc... We all want to be comfortable.
We try to avoid pain and discomfort at all costs.
Recently I had to sit through something very painful and very, very uncomfortable. It was something I chose to do. I want to know God even deeper, and the only way to do that is to reject the comfort of religion, and pursue Him in the nooks and crannies of my life. Sometimes when we retrace our steps we run across dangerous inner city alleys that we do not want to go down. They are dark, scary and we don't really know what we might find there. It might make us uncomfortable!
That is where I want to be, as painful as it is. God is there.
The easy thing to do is to sign up for another bible study class or to volunteer our time at the homeless shelter. Don't get me wrong these things are what we are called to do, and what we need to do. I am saying we can know God in such a deeper way if we search for Him in our stories, and go to those places we have avoided all these years.
I would much rather sit in a cold metal chair in a classroom, that is more institutional than cozy, and do life and explore life with travelling partners than sit on my comfy couch, cheer from the sidelines, numb the pain with food and voyeuristically enjoy the battle.
Jesus chose pain over comfort. For my sake, and my whole life is a response of gratitude.
To God be the glory, Amen.
There is a certain comfort to it all.
Comfortable couches, chips and dips and hot wings. Sitting in the comfort of your house and watching the teams play. Watching the teams play! Not engaged in the battle, but simply sitting on the sidelines and cheering (or booing). It is really quite intoxicating, and numbing.
Sunday afternoons for me can be a real joy. I make a chili cheese dip, or nachos and usually a large soda, plop on the couch and watch football, then hopefully drift off to a nice afternoon nap. How awesome is that!
I have to say I got my love for football and the Sunday afternoon routines from my mother. She was the loudest in the family when it came to cheering (screaming would be the word actually). She also took me to the Tampa Bay Bucs games, and High School football games. I miss her so much especially this time of year. I remember one time when I was first married, my mother called me up on Sunday and wanted to know if she could come over to our apartment to watch football, because my dad was out of town. She showed up with a 12 pack of MGD because her doctor said a little alcohol wasn't a bad thing for her.
Good times!
We all look for that comfort. We look for it in food, in jobs, in our savings accounts, and our homes. Look at all the new outdoor living rooms that people are building, you know... outdoor fireplace, couches, tables etc... We all want to be comfortable.
We try to avoid pain and discomfort at all costs.
Recently I had to sit through something very painful and very, very uncomfortable. It was something I chose to do. I want to know God even deeper, and the only way to do that is to reject the comfort of religion, and pursue Him in the nooks and crannies of my life. Sometimes when we retrace our steps we run across dangerous inner city alleys that we do not want to go down. They are dark, scary and we don't really know what we might find there. It might make us uncomfortable!
That is where I want to be, as painful as it is. God is there.
The easy thing to do is to sign up for another bible study class or to volunteer our time at the homeless shelter. Don't get me wrong these things are what we are called to do, and what we need to do. I am saying we can know God in such a deeper way if we search for Him in our stories, and go to those places we have avoided all these years.
I would much rather sit in a cold metal chair in a classroom, that is more institutional than cozy, and do life and explore life with travelling partners than sit on my comfy couch, cheer from the sidelines, numb the pain with food and voyeuristically enjoy the battle.
Jesus chose pain over comfort. For my sake, and my whole life is a response of gratitude.
To God be the glory, Amen.
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