Updating can be tough.

That said, here goes. I'm shocked to see that Thanksgiving is finally here. It is a little disappointing because I thought our working out would be further along although it feels like we've been doinig it a lot longer than we actually have. Not much has been going on lately. It has been lots of fun to play soccer on Mondays and Wednesdays and even more fun to play kickball on Thursdays. The Kicking Friends are having an amazing season so far and have won every game which we have played. We have a perfect record either because we actually beat the other team or we won by way of forfeit. I'll take the 'W' anyway we can get it.

what I have enjoyed most lately is just being more active. I got into the habit of doing lots of nothing and now I'm changing that by using intramural games and general working out which has been wonderful. Besides that, everything is pretty normal. Work is going very well and it keeps me busy. I have enjoyed the new staff this year and stay motivated by giving myself new challenges.

Spiritually, I'm doing pretty well. I have, mostly, felt good in this area all of my life although at times, I found myself lacking. Things are going well. I'm still enjoying the new church and exploring my faith through study. Hopefully I continue in this way and that my faith grows with me.

for now, I will call it a night. I realize I'm lacking details however my mind isn't ready to focus on specifics. I have much to share and so I'll save that for a little later. Till then...

oath of the green lantern (Hal Jordan)

In brightest day,
In blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power
Green Lantern's Light!

garage sales and landfills

I heard something rather thought provoking today. This summer I started going back to church at a place called The Village. So far, it's been a wonderful experience and all the people I have met there are sincere, genuine, and kindness. I love the passion that the leadership exhibits for their work. Their passion carries into their words and pulls on my brain and causes me to do a far amount of thinking.

Today the message talked about money. The thing that really got me though was this:

"Everything you own will end up in a garage sale or a landfill".

But...what about our stuff?

We love stuff. I love my stuff. I don't "need" my stuff but it's nice to have. Growing up, I was never the kid that got the cool thing right when it first came to market. I always quietly envied those kids that were lucky enough to have the "cool" toy/gadget/item. I know now, that it was dumb but as a little kid, it's hard to not want want want because all the commercials I saw as a little kid told me to do just that. Advertising is great at what it does. The pictures, the sounds, the actors, the words...it all says buy me, you need this, be happy with this.

When Matt said the inspiration for this journal item, it made me laugh and then very pensive. Buy the hot new item only to have it replaced in 6 months by the bigger better product. I really enjoyed thinking about my stuff in this way. It makes life so much easier to be free from feeling like I need that super awesome gadget.

Brad Pitt had a very insightful line in the movie, Fight Club, "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need." It's right there...whether the author intended it to be that way, Matt could have quoted the movie and it would have fit the theme.

I look around at the clutter of my life, the excess stuff I have accrued during the 25ish years I've been on the Earth and I realize that I could do with a lot less. I read a flyer today on decluttering and it spoke to me more today than it would have on any other day. I need to declutter my life and I'm not only referring the physical things I have. I'm talking about all of it. The junk, clothes that I never wear, movies I don't watch, books I don't read, mind I don't challege, stress I don't unload; I need to shed some baggage and breathe easier. It won't be easy and it will take time but I'm ready to take the plunge.

What do you have in your life you could stand to unload? Is someone dragging you down? Are there too many things on your plate that keep you from handling anything well? Do you worry about silly small things because there is too much to handle? I plan on spending some solid time this week looking in a mirror and see what is staring back at me. There are things I need to tend to and tend I will. It's been a nice weekend, but now I have work to do. Rest easy all...this week is going to be busy.

The pinnacle of greatness

I was just watching the Basketball Hall of Fame and was so moved by seeing those people, people at the top of all the others out there. Jordan, Robinson, Stockton, Sloan, Stringer...they are the best at what they do. I want to put more thoughts down but lack the words and time to put down what I want to say.

It is a great feeling to see such amazing talent, used to the full potential. Regardless of the vehicle, using our gifts given to us is what makes us the stuff of legends. Congratulations to the Hall of Fame players. I am in awe of what they have done, what they do each day and what they will continue to do with their legendary status.

Thanks for the inspiration.

The title of my blog (changed since this post)

I spent a good amount of time looking for a decent title to give my blog and had the hardest time thinking of something clever and catchy. I wanted to give it something meaningful but also something that described me since this blog is comprised of my thoughts. Several of my friends have taken to joking with me and calling me Captain America. This seemed silly but the more they kept at it, the more I got used to the idea and realized what a compliment this became for me.

Courage, Honor, Loyalty, Sacrifice appeared in a comic called The Chosen.

I liked the sound of saying these words allowed and the feeling that I got from looking at what each of these words means. Courage - facing danger or pain without showing fear. Honor - evaluation of a one's trustworthiness. Loyalty - commitment, the act of binding yourself to a course of action. Sacrifice - endure the loss of or a loss entailed by giving up something at less than it's value.

Each of these words has a powerful meaning and when you imagine one human as the embodiment of all these rolled into 1, it is difficult to come up with an actual person. Instead, we get a man like Steve Rogers (Captain America).

I by no means think I am each of these characteristics but I do feel like working each day to make sure I get close to this ideal. It's not a catchy blog name but I think it does the job.

Refresh/Recharge

I must always remember to take some time for myself and recharge so that I can be the person that I am needed to be. I forget this at times but the person I need me to be needs rest.

I have so many sporadic thoughts right now and can't write them all out. To tomorrow, with a clearer head and enlightened perspective.