A perfect moment

For some these happen far to few, I've started to believe that they actually happen all too often, and we pass them by obliviously. It takes a certain about of focus, training your heart to be tuned to the things that matter. Regardless, when you are in those still moments when the world stirs with color and your heart calms its a God given moment of peace. I had one of those this morning.

Imagine that feeling, its a stormy night, you are tucked into your bed with a good book. Your room, unfortunately, doesn't get enough heat, so you wrap yourself in more blankets than usual. The rain hits the roof. The soft drowning of rain rattling on the roof offers a security and comfort from the storm outside. Hold that feeling.

I woke up this morning avoiding the fact that I needed to ride my bike for a few hours this morning. I had been up the night before skyping with China, that coupled with me not being a great morning person made for a reluctant bike ride. I got dressed and set off on a cool crisp overcast morning.

Here is where God showed up on my ride. I turn down seaview road, heading down the bluff. Its been a light drizzle all morning, raindrops have formed on my glasses. I'm going down hill, so i lean forward and let gravity carry me down the road. That's when it happens. The skies opened up a little more and it rained. Just pouring on me. But. it was magical. My ears were covered by my skullcap and all I could hear was the patter of rain on my helmet just like being inside your room in a storm. It was just me, the wind, my bike, and the road. The world was quite. I wasn't tired, I wasn't hungry, I wasn't worrying about getting into work, I wasn't cold or hot, I was just calm and at peace.

I turned off of Seaview right into golden gardens. Usually a spot of commotion and people. No one in sight. The beach was the picture of peace and quietness. Large flocks of birds were skimming the water as I rode by. Everything was amazing.

God gave me a moment of peace this morning. Gifts like these are unexpected and beautiful. I pray your heart is open to the moments He has for you.

Thanks for reading

Follow up @ 4:19pm
AND now the weather is sunny and gorgeous!

Soundtrack to Your Life

Spontaneous post.

I'm sitting in a hotel room and One Republic "Good Life" just came on my itunes. There's alot in life that seems to encapsulate the moments and times in life that are memorable. I don't think much can capture the mood, the feeling, the memory of those times then music.

Whether its a roadtrip, a mission trip, a period of school, a girl, music reminds us of those times. They bring to the table a eternal bookmark that can place us back in those shoes.
You'll remember her name, the way you felt when you would see her, the high of that winning season, the nights walking out on the promenade in France, the times sitting out late at night tossing jokes into the night, late night talks on the front porch swing, how God touched you through those people...You'll remember your life, as it should be remember.

In the moment. Let music touch your life.



Valkyrie Missile


Angels and Airwaves


Running the neighboorhoods every morning south of Caltech, Pasadena CA. Summer 2007!

Liking Seattle (updated)

I like talking with the ducks at greenlake.
I like driving the I5 bridge and seeing a mountain range on either side.
I like running the burke-gilman to Gasworks and sitting on the wall.
I like driving the west seattle bridge on a sunny day (its looks like you are driving into the sky at one point)
I like my room, you should too.
I like the Arboretum and jumping off the freeway into the water.
I like mount Si on a clear day.
I like the ferries and the islands.
I like the five weeks of cherry blossoms.
I like my church.
I like swimming across greenlake after a long run on a hot day.
I like warm summer nights with any of the following...
....Long walks singing to an ipod
....Sitting on a roof checking out the stars
....driving nowhere with the windows down
....hunting puddles
I like Skipping rocks at golden gardens
I like finding random cool restaurants
I like biking to the market on a Saturday morning, buying lunch then catching the Bainbridge ferry for the day
I like looking over the rail on the Aurora Bridge
I like school play grounds and going on their slides
I like driving to work on a beautiful sunny day - downtown Seattle rising over the horizon - a sea plane passes overhead and lands in Lake Union
Compline at St. Marks on a Sunday night

more to come

Invictus

I'll keep this short and sweet...hopefully.

I'm in China right now and I just finished the novel Invictus. I'll admit I choose it because I had watched the trailer for the movie. However I want to take the time to emphasize how remarkable a story this book tells.

Being born in America in the mid-eighties does not render me the proper perspective on humanity at large. Indeed my understanding of the world was limited to the quaint peaceful American life granted me in the Pacific Northwest. However, that being said, it is with the utmost importance and enthusiasm that I recommend this book.

Life in South Africa, prior to the mid-nineties was not quaint and peaceful by any means. Apartheid rule in South Africa dictated every aspect of racial segregation and discrimination throughout that country. The reality that racism was prevalent in modern society confounded me. What more, the man of Nelson Mandela, what he did, how he did it, and the manner in which it came to fruition, is beyond comprehension and simply remarkable.



And it is a true story. Mandela revolutionized revolution. His revolution did not destroy the enemy and start from ground zero, no, he united his country. He upheld black aspirations for freedom and equality while addressing white fears and indeed redeeming them in the eyes of the world. Mandela united a country on the brink of war. I realize this sentence may not hold a tremendous weight in the mind of a secluded and ill-educated person, much as I was before reading this book. However, this story, what is represents, holds the utter most fascination and respect for humanity that I can remember feeling.

Please take the time to read this book. If you were ever looking for a inspirational book that touches the very heart of our humanity. This is it.

Things on the mind - A scaled down depiction of life of late

Spent Saturday (the whole day) in Vancouver BC for the Olympics! What what! From start to finish, an absolutely ridiculously amazing day. Including, but not limited to -

- Getting my first speeding ticket, which was reduced because I pulled over before the cop could put the radar gun down (I am a nice guy)
- Being held at the border for 40min while car was searched. FYI have cash and a place to stay when crossing border. Or be prepared to lie and say so.
- Purchasing American flag and wearing it. The entire day.
- Meeting people from across the world! 16 different flags we saw and documented with a photo of us and them.
- Canadians! Okay, this is worthy of a side note.

NOTE: Canadians are the nicest people ever! Honestly so helpful and kind. While we were filling the role of being the stubborn and obnoxious Americans, they were nothing but friendly and excited to meet you. Okay not always, at times we did get some negative attention, but more often then not the person who was chanting F&*% America would turn around and high five you and say you were awesome. Honestly! Who does that!? Canadians do!

- Leaving that wonderful city at 1 am, catching the last Sky train out of the city. We were ducking the gate as they closed the station.
- Driving to and realizing aldergrove crossing was closed.
- Drived through Abbortsford to make Sumas crossing
- Reaching home in Seattle at 530 am and sleeping!



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I've got an audition today. I'm really excited for it, its the first one in a long time. Its for a part in this non-union tv show. I am playing a guy named Christopher. Here's his description;

"Christopher Marigold: (23: Caucasian) He is fit, handsome, well dressed and
always put together. Chris is the youngest Marigold son. He is a talented pastry chef who is on the fast track to success, with his good looks and innovative approach to cuisine. He's a bit metro-sexual, very confident and is die hard into the "green" movement."

Pretty awesome huh? Im way excited and can't wait, wish me luck!

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I've been going through a bit of a rough patch with my faith as of late. But Christ has been peeping through the darkness in different spots as of late. My time in China has really been messing with my social clock and solitude in Christ. I'm working with it, but appreciate any and all prayers. Christ is my lord and savior no matter what. I need to get through this and continue with the man he has/is making me into.

In my weakness he is strong, i just need to call on Him.

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:3-4

A Great Life

What is a great life? Aside from the subjective nature of how each individual can determine the merits of their own, that is to say enjoyable life - Where does that leave one who stares into the deep vastness of the future before them?

There is substance in enjoying the now, i fully agree. Carpe Deim - I've always been a fan. What makes a life deviate the normal path of ordinary, and set out the unfamiliar one of the extraordinary.

I will tell you. Risk

Will you fight for that life? For that opportunity? For the chance of being something extraordinary? You will have to fight, to give yourself to it. You've heard it before, but maybe not like this.

Fight, Risk, Challenge, sacrifice - This is what you will face.



I've never felt that I was much of a fighter. With work, school, love, family even my faith. But I want to fight for my life. Its the only one I have. I'm almost a quarter of a century into it. I am going to stop wasting time.

Searching for Pandora

I want to write something captivating right now. A sentence that draws on the essence of adventure, of beauty. Something that illustrates the culminating series of events that leads me down a path of life that ultimately leaves me feeling that this is where I belong.

But I didn't major in english.

Do you feel like you were meant for more? Have you ever watched through the window of your life and wondered, could I do that too? Do I want to? What if my life was meant for greatness and I, being weak willed, let greatness fall through my fingers, without ever trying to hold onto it.

For myself, these shouts of ambition and greatness are usually quickly quieted by the calming voice of faith, reminding me that, to be content with what you have is to live a life devoted to God. Whether this notion is true or not, i just can't accept it.

I'm not content with my life, albeit i enjoy it immensely, I'm not content with working into obscurity, living in the mundane and repeatable. I want to be apart of something great, I want to inspire, to challenge myself. I want to look out and answer the question of "Could I do that?"

One single thing worth fighting for.

I want to sift my fingers through this world and grasp onto the beauty of it, to hold it close to my heart and cherish it.

There is a place out there, i believe it, where beauty is all around you. You find it, everyday. Every second of life, every breath you take. You come alive when you find what you were meant to do, your place in this world.

Some find it, some make it. Faith-reason-people, would tell you that making it is the test of character for any person. I disagree.

I can't find it here. Indeed I don't want to. I'm sitting at my desk, on a Monday morning, dreaming of flying. Of fighting. Of loving. Of being.

Of my Pandora