I can't believe
It's so hard to find someone
To give affection to
And from whom you can receive
I guess it's just the draw of the cards
In matters of the heart - Tracy Chapman "Matters of the Heart"
It's one of the topics most sung about. Most talked about. Most dreaded yet most desired. It's love.
I don't understand human romantic love in many ways. It gets messy. It gets complicated. It's often full of games. It's often overloaded with others' opinions about what should and shouldn't be. I'm often told I'm smart and have good insight, but I must admit that while I thank God that that may be true (sometimes my common sense meter runs low), I am still naive when it comes to romantic relationships in a lot of ways. I idealize it often and think it should run a certain way.
I don't like the games some people play. If we like each other, why do we have to wait 3 days after the first date to call again? Why exactly can't we just hang out socially without calling it a date? Or should we call it a date to say there's mutual interest? How much communication is too much? How little is too little? Will you run off because sex isn't in the picture for me? Would you run off it it were and we did it (you got what you were after)?
And what about someone you like telling you that they can only be your friend and nothing more. They would like to be in a relationship with you but feel that you're "too good" for them/they're not relationship material...only to have them turn around with a new lover 3 weeks later. If this happens once you may blow it off. But when it happens 3 or more times, you start to wonder what's wrong with you personally that someone hasn't told you about when all they keep saying is how great you are and anyone who can't see that is immature/dumb/not worth your time.
And yet alone I still sit. They go off and have their relationship. They have their ups and downs. They have their fun. I still edge closer to adopting 10 cats.
I guess I feel that there shouldn't be any guesswork involved in this. I understand courting and dating. I know about wooing. Is it better to do some nice gestures while still making it flat-out clear that you're interested, though? What's with the playing hard-to-get? Maybe a little chase, but...doesn't that lead to disillusion once the relationship starts and those sweet things fade away? Granted, there can (and should be) new sweet things, but...I don't know. All I know is that I feel if you like someone, just ask them out. Get to know him/her. Or get to know him/her and then ask them out.
I guess I keep putting up human interactions against how Jesus loves me. I always come up short that way. It's not hard with Him. There was/is never any guesswork involved. I know that it's because that's the best love I'll ever know and it's perfect, but this should still be a little easier on this side of eternity.
I've been around the world and known many people. I've had successes, failures, and blessings. But I still ask this same question: Why does it seem so hard? Do I still have to be matured? Is something really wrong with me that I'm missing? Am I that bad of a person? I mean I see people who are jerks 24/7 who are in relationships, but that's neither here nor there.
So, I'll continue to wait. I've nothing else left to do but that.
This is sprung from someone I liked who told me that they weren't looking for anything serious at the time we were talking. Three weeks later somehow a committed "so in love" relationship happened and now they're moving far away. We're talking from late July 'til now. And no, I'm not the one in the relationship.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Racism Ended on 11/4/2008 at 11 p.m. EST!!!!
Of course it hasn't ended. I was kidding. It will end on 12/2/9845.
When I think about Tuesday night in Alexandria, VA, at a sports bar/grill with two coworkers and 80% of the patrons and staff being Obama voters, it made my heart proud to know that people believed in a message of change and rejected fear, choosing faith, belief, and hope instead. Over 63 million people chose this. Some of the others chose that too but felt McCain could offer the changes they sought. Some votes on both sides were cast based solely on race, without ever looking at issues, researching them, and making a decision that way, which is ignorant and wrong.
All day long I had been nervous. I casted my ballot that morning and thought, "If nothing else, I never thought I would be able to vote for a viable black candidate for the U.S. presidency in my lifetime. Thank God for at least that much." (I know he's not fully black or the we-shall-overcome-Black American (as I am) because he's half American white, and half direct East African, raised in white and Indonesian cultures, but as we all know in this country, he's black.) I was nervous that this thing wouldn't come through. I honestly thought that America, being mostly white, wasn't honestly ready for a change like this racially. I thought that blacks wouldn't come out to vote (again). I thought that the more racist McCain supporters would vote just to keep Obama away. But when VA was projected for Obama with 94% of precincts reporting (go Northern, Tidewater, and Buckingham County, VA!), I said "That's it! He needed VA or IN or NC to go over the top. " A few minutes later, California closed their polls, and if all held constant as expected, he won. CNN later confirmed it. The restaurant cheered. I cried. I never, ever thought this would happen in my lifetime. I called my segregation-era parents and aunt (in NC). My mom was on the verge of tears. My dad was actually crying. My aunt could hardly speak on the phone. A random guy saw the televisions from outside the restaurant and ran in and yelled "Yeah!" I only regret that we hadn't watched the results in DC to walk over to the White House.
Some of my friends who aren't minorities were questioning why I was shocked. "All the projections showed it." I guess I can't explain it. I just personally felt that the country might not be "there" yet. It's like Whoopi Goldberg said, (paraphrase), "All my life I've felt that America was the place to become anything you wanted to be. Out of anywhere else in the world, for me to "make it," it would be in the U.S. But after Tuesday, I finally feel like I can put down my suitcase." For elections, America made me prouder than they did in 2000 (when Florida pissed me off), and in 2004 when Kerry was chosen as the nominee (who I felt was chosen just to have someone who wasn't Bush running). What was meant by that last sentence was the I was NOT proud then.
I see this as a new beginning for many people, not just black people. Not just some black men who hopefully will start taking more pride in themselves and being men, and not hypermasculine stereotypes who aren't in touch with themselves. I see a new beginning for anyone who's ever been downtrodden, that they too can achieve greatness. Great is what you're meant to be, if you didn't already know. On NPR they were interviewing a Nigerian journalist who said that the world was watching the election. Specifically in Africa, they are proud. Not just because he's part African, but because African politicians are often arrogant and self-serving (well, moreso than American politicians). For them to see someone who is a minority in our country (with its shameful history on race relations) achieve success with a majority of the people behind it says a lot to anyone who may be underfoot of someone who doesn't care about them as a leader. You can be heard. You WILL be heard. And there is hope, even for Africans under dictatorships. There's hope for anti-communists in China to keep fighting. There's hope for Myanmar. There's hope everywhere. It CAN be done.
There's hope for Civil Rights. In the 20th century, it may have started with women getting the vote. It was taken over by the struggles of blacks from way back in Reconstruction onward to the 15th Amendment, onward to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The fight isn't over. Civil Rights, to me, was more than about blacks. Granted, it's greatly helped me and helped me define who I am in this country and should never be belittled, forgotten, or squandered. It's just that Tuesday night seemed to signal a further progression with it for me. Obama seems to inspire so many to want more out of their country....and life. I felt awakened by listening to what he had to say. I realized that there can still be hope for change. There can be real change. And it's not up to the leader to produce it - it's up to us. Like Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." There's work to be done. There's more to this than race. His victory is our victory. It's America's victory. We got to a point with Susan B. Anthony. We got to a point with King. We got to a point on Tuesday. We move forward from here. Civil Rights has expanded now just like it expanded before. Who will be the next group to achieve equality? Well, from 1919/1920 to 1964 we have about 44 years. From 1964-2008 we have 44 years. However, in both cases, fights for equality were occurring while their successes were achieved. So....it seems like from 1969-2013 is 44 years. Gays, maybe 2013 is a good year? :-)
I know that will anger some of my fellow Christian readers, but face it guys, legally denying rights to someone based on who they have sex with (and some aren't even having sex, but just are someone who they didn't choose to be) is all kinds of wrong. Spiritual/Religious counterpoints aside, it's not fair. You're telling me that if you were to come out as gay 30 years ago, and your family disowned you because of it 30 years ago, that it's right that they can come and take what you've built up over the last 30 years with your lover of 20 years while he/she is left with nothing after you die just because they're family? You were dying in the hospital and your lover wasn't allowed into the room because he/she isn't family, but the family who disowned you chooses to not acknowledge your existence until it's time to collect on what you've left after your death. That's right? No, it isn't. Marriage is another blog and this one is long enough already, but I'll just ask why or what entitles benefits to favor marriage versus not being married? Legally, what if people choose to not get married but want to be committed but want the same entitlements?
Finally, can we end partisan politics? I gave up on partisan politics in 2004 when I dropped out of the Democratic Party. No one party is better than the other. Our country is in peril and we need to work TOGETHER to rebuild it. You won't agree with everyone all the time. You won't like everyone all the time, but we all live here and need to make it better as God allows. I understand that people want to have a political identity, but after seeing what people can do to political parties, I think it's time we take a step back, work, and reevaluate where we are and where we want to go. A truly viable third party (or more) may come out of this, which takes us back to partisan politics. Sigh. Anyway, it started on Tuesday. It may take years, decades, or even scores to get us to the next "point of change" but we will continue to evolve. Not all change is good. And every change is met with opposition. I just hope and pray that we got this one right this time, and that his failures (he will fail on some things, and succeed on others) will be outweighed and outshone by his successes.
This will not be easy. It will be a long road ahead, but we have to remember this night. Remember how we felt in that moment. It starts here. Don't give up. Keep trying. Keep moving ahead. Don't drop out of the race. Like Condoleeza Rice said, Americans will always go for that "more perfect union" status. We probably won't get there as we are fallible humans, but darn it we'll keep trying.
For those who would see us fail, I'll pray for you. You can't stop progress. Sure, you can stifle it some, but it will come! For those who said "I don't think America will elect another black president after Obama's done in 4 years' time, because the nation will be worse off" please reread your words. If he's proven nothing else this time around, being black has nothing to do with his failures or, arguably, his successes. People should be judged on their merits and actions. You can argue that the best indicator of what someone will do is by looking at what they've already done. That holds true in some cases. But what about people changing/evolving? You're telling me that people can't be convinced of the better choice as they continue living and (hopefully) growing? If you were judged on all your past decisions and that was used as a barometer for someone to ultimately count you out, would you like it? Wouldn't you say that things can change and people can too? I'll pray for you, too, because we have too much at stake to lose as a nation to remain isolated and divided. I'm not saying blindly follow. Object when you feel led to do so. Question what you don't understand or disagree with. I plan to do all of that. For those of you who laugh at those of us who chose hope and a campaign built around that message, I call you out on being a phony. You had to have hope that your candidate would win. You built up hope around that. You too have a hope for a better America. So do I.
Pray for Obama and his advisers. Pray for this nation. May God be with us. God bless America! Love wins at the end of the day. Grow from love.
When I think about Tuesday night in Alexandria, VA, at a sports bar/grill with two coworkers and 80% of the patrons and staff being Obama voters, it made my heart proud to know that people believed in a message of change and rejected fear, choosing faith, belief, and hope instead. Over 63 million people chose this. Some of the others chose that too but felt McCain could offer the changes they sought. Some votes on both sides were cast based solely on race, without ever looking at issues, researching them, and making a decision that way, which is ignorant and wrong.
All day long I had been nervous. I casted my ballot that morning and thought, "If nothing else, I never thought I would be able to vote for a viable black candidate for the U.S. presidency in my lifetime. Thank God for at least that much." (I know he's not fully black or the we-shall-overcome-Black American (as I am) because he's half American white, and half direct East African, raised in white and Indonesian cultures, but as we all know in this country, he's black.) I was nervous that this thing wouldn't come through. I honestly thought that America, being mostly white, wasn't honestly ready for a change like this racially. I thought that blacks wouldn't come out to vote (again). I thought that the more racist McCain supporters would vote just to keep Obama away. But when VA was projected for Obama with 94% of precincts reporting (go Northern, Tidewater, and Buckingham County, VA!), I said "That's it! He needed VA or IN or NC to go over the top. " A few minutes later, California closed their polls, and if all held constant as expected, he won. CNN later confirmed it. The restaurant cheered. I cried. I never, ever thought this would happen in my lifetime. I called my segregation-era parents and aunt (in NC). My mom was on the verge of tears. My dad was actually crying. My aunt could hardly speak on the phone. A random guy saw the televisions from outside the restaurant and ran in and yelled "Yeah!" I only regret that we hadn't watched the results in DC to walk over to the White House.
Some of my friends who aren't minorities were questioning why I was shocked. "All the projections showed it." I guess I can't explain it. I just personally felt that the country might not be "there" yet. It's like Whoopi Goldberg said, (paraphrase), "All my life I've felt that America was the place to become anything you wanted to be. Out of anywhere else in the world, for me to "make it," it would be in the U.S. But after Tuesday, I finally feel like I can put down my suitcase." For elections, America made me prouder than they did in 2000 (when Florida pissed me off), and in 2004 when Kerry was chosen as the nominee (who I felt was chosen just to have someone who wasn't Bush running). What was meant by that last sentence was the I was NOT proud then.
I see this as a new beginning for many people, not just black people. Not just some black men who hopefully will start taking more pride in themselves and being men, and not hypermasculine stereotypes who aren't in touch with themselves. I see a new beginning for anyone who's ever been downtrodden, that they too can achieve greatness. Great is what you're meant to be, if you didn't already know. On NPR they were interviewing a Nigerian journalist who said that the world was watching the election. Specifically in Africa, they are proud. Not just because he's part African, but because African politicians are often arrogant and self-serving (well, moreso than American politicians). For them to see someone who is a minority in our country (with its shameful history on race relations) achieve success with a majority of the people behind it says a lot to anyone who may be underfoot of someone who doesn't care about them as a leader. You can be heard. You WILL be heard. And there is hope, even for Africans under dictatorships. There's hope for anti-communists in China to keep fighting. There's hope for Myanmar. There's hope everywhere. It CAN be done.
There's hope for Civil Rights. In the 20th century, it may have started with women getting the vote. It was taken over by the struggles of blacks from way back in Reconstruction onward to the 15th Amendment, onward to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The fight isn't over. Civil Rights, to me, was more than about blacks. Granted, it's greatly helped me and helped me define who I am in this country and should never be belittled, forgotten, or squandered. It's just that Tuesday night seemed to signal a further progression with it for me. Obama seems to inspire so many to want more out of their country....and life. I felt awakened by listening to what he had to say. I realized that there can still be hope for change. There can be real change. And it's not up to the leader to produce it - it's up to us. Like Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." There's work to be done. There's more to this than race. His victory is our victory. It's America's victory. We got to a point with Susan B. Anthony. We got to a point with King. We got to a point on Tuesday. We move forward from here. Civil Rights has expanded now just like it expanded before. Who will be the next group to achieve equality? Well, from 1919/1920 to 1964 we have about 44 years. From 1964-2008 we have 44 years. However, in both cases, fights for equality were occurring while their successes were achieved. So....it seems like from 1969-2013 is 44 years. Gays, maybe 2013 is a good year? :-)
I know that will anger some of my fellow Christian readers, but face it guys, legally denying rights to someone based on who they have sex with (and some aren't even having sex, but just are someone who they didn't choose to be) is all kinds of wrong. Spiritual/Religious counterpoints aside, it's not fair. You're telling me that if you were to come out as gay 30 years ago, and your family disowned you because of it 30 years ago, that it's right that they can come and take what you've built up over the last 30 years with your lover of 20 years while he/she is left with nothing after you die just because they're family? You were dying in the hospital and your lover wasn't allowed into the room because he/she isn't family, but the family who disowned you chooses to not acknowledge your existence until it's time to collect on what you've left after your death. That's right? No, it isn't. Marriage is another blog and this one is long enough already, but I'll just ask why or what entitles benefits to favor marriage versus not being married? Legally, what if people choose to not get married but want to be committed but want the same entitlements?
Finally, can we end partisan politics? I gave up on partisan politics in 2004 when I dropped out of the Democratic Party. No one party is better than the other. Our country is in peril and we need to work TOGETHER to rebuild it. You won't agree with everyone all the time. You won't like everyone all the time, but we all live here and need to make it better as God allows. I understand that people want to have a political identity, but after seeing what people can do to political parties, I think it's time we take a step back, work, and reevaluate where we are and where we want to go. A truly viable third party (or more) may come out of this, which takes us back to partisan politics. Sigh. Anyway, it started on Tuesday. It may take years, decades, or even scores to get us to the next "point of change" but we will continue to evolve. Not all change is good. And every change is met with opposition. I just hope and pray that we got this one right this time, and that his failures (he will fail on some things, and succeed on others) will be outweighed and outshone by his successes.
This will not be easy. It will be a long road ahead, but we have to remember this night. Remember how we felt in that moment. It starts here. Don't give up. Keep trying. Keep moving ahead. Don't drop out of the race. Like Condoleeza Rice said, Americans will always go for that "more perfect union" status. We probably won't get there as we are fallible humans, but darn it we'll keep trying.
For those who would see us fail, I'll pray for you. You can't stop progress. Sure, you can stifle it some, but it will come! For those who said "I don't think America will elect another black president after Obama's done in 4 years' time, because the nation will be worse off" please reread your words. If he's proven nothing else this time around, being black has nothing to do with his failures or, arguably, his successes. People should be judged on their merits and actions. You can argue that the best indicator of what someone will do is by looking at what they've already done. That holds true in some cases. But what about people changing/evolving? You're telling me that people can't be convinced of the better choice as they continue living and (hopefully) growing? If you were judged on all your past decisions and that was used as a barometer for someone to ultimately count you out, would you like it? Wouldn't you say that things can change and people can too? I'll pray for you, too, because we have too much at stake to lose as a nation to remain isolated and divided. I'm not saying blindly follow. Object when you feel led to do so. Question what you don't understand or disagree with. I plan to do all of that. For those of you who laugh at those of us who chose hope and a campaign built around that message, I call you out on being a phony. You had to have hope that your candidate would win. You built up hope around that. You too have a hope for a better America. So do I.
Pray for Obama and his advisers. Pray for this nation. May God be with us. God bless America! Love wins at the end of the day. Grow from love.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Television Meme
Thanks to Tony for this meme!
- Back in the Day: 5 TV Shows You Loved As A Kid
- Thundercats
- She-Ra
- Voltron
- Garfield & Friends
- V (anyone remember that one? I was, like, 5 and wasn't scared!)
- Who Would You Do?: 5 TV Characters You Would… (Well, It’s Self-Explanatory)
- Keith from Six Feet Under
- Wolverine (shut up) from X-Men (yep, the animated series)
- Sven from Voltron
- Dion from Clueless
- Trey from Noah's Arc
- Wow: 5 TV Moments You Still Remember (And Probably Won’t Forget)
- Last episode of Friends when they turn in their keys
- Last episode of Frasier when Niles and Frasier have their last scene (I actually welled up)
- Kirsten Cohen's scene before she's committed to rehab on The O.C.
- Last death montage of all the main characters from Six Feet Under
- Last scene at Babylon on Queer as Folk
- Last episode of Friends when they turn in their keys
- “Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs”: 5 TV Theme Songs You Know (and Love) By Heart
- The Facts of Life
- Gimme a Break
- A Different World
- Family Guy
- Friends
- Eh: 5 Shows You Just Can’t Get Into
- Lost
- Grey's Anatomy
- Weeds
- Iron Chef
- So You Think You Can Dance
- This Is An Environment of Welcoming, and You Should Just Get the Hell Out Of Here: 5 TV Characters You Could Do Without
- Marissa (The O.C.)
- Ruckus (The Boondocks)
- I can't think of any other characters I could do without. Marissa was just awful.
- That’s What She Said: 5 Quotes That Still Resonate
- How are you still single? - Monica, Friends
- That's it. Cry for me. Cry for Stewie. Life isn't what you thought it would be. - Stewie Griffin, Family Guy
- Fuck dem uppity niggas, always talking 'bout readin' and eatin' right. If I want high blood pressure, that's my business - Woman at the R. Kelly trial on The Boondocks
- Ma'am, why do you support R. Kelly? 'Cause he good! - Same woman
- Whatever Peter Griffin said to argue that he hit a man and not a woman on an early episode of Family Guy
- Gimme More: 5 Shows You Can Never Get Enough Of
- Family Guy
- American Dad
- The Simpsons
- 30 Rock
- The Office
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Hungry, I come to You for I know You satisfy..."
When people ask me how I'm doing lately, I respond that I'm working, trying to get back into working out regularly (never take a break from that, y'all, because it's hard to get back into it), and planning to move to L.A. by the new year. If they ask why, I launch into my dream (ever since I was 11) to be a working actor. There's a lot of reasons why I never pursued it, but the most important one being a sucky reason; not trusting God enough to make it happen.
It's interesting. I'm pursuing acting opportunities in the area now through my church. I've been invited to audition for upcoming ongoing productions. I think there's a Christmas play too. Yes, audition. They're serious. They audition for the choirs, praise teams, and the orchestras too. If you can't make it, then maybe you can serve in another ministry. See, I thought that I had to get refresher experience, then audition. I was holding myself back because I was scared. Yes, I'm scared. There, I said it. However, not having a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind, I move forward. Like Georgia O'Keefe said, "I've been absolutely terrified every single moment of my life, but that has never stopped me from doing anything I've ever wanted to do." It's not that bad, but you get the point.
I've even asked others for advice in this area. I asked an actress on a television show for her opinion and she gave it, but also told me that if my heart is set on moving to L.A., then do it. I asked another friend and I'm awaiting his response, but for all the "asking" I'm doing, is it worth asking? I keep hearing and seeing God saying, "But what did I tell you to do?" Sometimes the people you love the most will subconsciously try to hold you back. For instance, my dad asked me if I had three years of savings saved up before I moved out there. Um, okay. Not six months. Not a year. THREE years. I know he loves me, but that was blatantly trying to hold me back through fear. It made me laugh.
It's like this (this thought came to me last week), if God places a dream in your heart, and you can see through the dream to see how you can be a blessing to Him and others because of it, it's not up to us to decide how it will be accomplished. He'll work that out. It's just up for us to be in the place where He can bless us. So, if He's standing to the right of where you're standing, guess who has to move to the right?
I'll try to make this the last time I "talk" about this. When I'm "doing it," it'll be a much more exciting blog. So, I continue to work, work out, look for apartments in L.A. and jobs in L.A.
It's interesting. I'm pursuing acting opportunities in the area now through my church. I've been invited to audition for upcoming ongoing productions. I think there's a Christmas play too. Yes, audition. They're serious. They audition for the choirs, praise teams, and the orchestras too. If you can't make it, then maybe you can serve in another ministry. See, I thought that I had to get refresher experience, then audition. I was holding myself back because I was scared. Yes, I'm scared. There, I said it. However, not having a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind, I move forward. Like Georgia O'Keefe said, "I've been absolutely terrified every single moment of my life, but that has never stopped me from doing anything I've ever wanted to do." It's not that bad, but you get the point.
I've even asked others for advice in this area. I asked an actress on a television show for her opinion and she gave it, but also told me that if my heart is set on moving to L.A., then do it. I asked another friend and I'm awaiting his response, but for all the "asking" I'm doing, is it worth asking? I keep hearing and seeing God saying, "But what did I tell you to do?" Sometimes the people you love the most will subconsciously try to hold you back. For instance, my dad asked me if I had three years of savings saved up before I moved out there. Um, okay. Not six months. Not a year. THREE years. I know he loves me, but that was blatantly trying to hold me back through fear. It made me laugh.
It's like this (this thought came to me last week), if God places a dream in your heart, and you can see through the dream to see how you can be a blessing to Him and others because of it, it's not up to us to decide how it will be accomplished. He'll work that out. It's just up for us to be in the place where He can bless us. So, if He's standing to the right of where you're standing, guess who has to move to the right?
I'll try to make this the last time I "talk" about this. When I'm "doing it," it'll be a much more exciting blog. So, I continue to work, work out, look for apartments in L.A. and jobs in L.A.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
California Love (and Dreamin', and Plannin')
Well, my third trip to California was as eventful and fun as normal. This was my second time in Southern California. Every time I'm out there, I say, "I could really live here. I don't want to get back on the plane. I should stay out here. I should LIVE here!"
Well, I thought about it. I thought I had wanted to move to L.A. since 2001, but my cousin Angie reminded me that it's been since 1996 or 1997 when I was looking at colleges (Hello, La Mirada, CA) that I wanted to move out there. I didn't apply there because my parents said no. Virginia Union worked out well in the end anyway. But still, what's the deal with not moving out there?
Fear. Laziness. Whatever you want to call it. Well, after this trip (now that the excitement is dying down and I can think clearly), I've come to realize that if I want it, I need to go for it. I need to get a job and have savings and just go. If God wills with life, health, and strength, just do it, right?
In my small group/Bible study/social guys group, we're studying Esther. One thing that keeps popping up in my mind from her story is "Just Do It!" She was facing possible death, but went to the king to risk her life for the lives of her people. She broke tradition and just did it, even though her voice shook (I'm sure) and she might have been quaking. Just do it.
I've discovered in my late twenties that I'm finally feeling like I'm coming into my own. I'm doing, saying, and experiencing things that I'm grateful to experience. I'm growing up, so to speak. Who I was last year is not who I am this year. I pray that it continues to improve.
So, thanks to everyone (including everyone I met) who made the trip a wonderful event, successful, fun, and exciting. Most thanks to Kareem and Ben for showing me L.A. in "style." :-)
Well, nothing left to do but do it to it, right?
So, like Esther, I have to try it. If I perish, I perish. (I pray that I won't though.) Hey, God places dreams in our hearts for a reason. It's not to just sit there and wonder "what if...?", either.
I'm taking the first step...
Well, I thought about it. I thought I had wanted to move to L.A. since 2001, but my cousin Angie reminded me that it's been since 1996 or 1997 when I was looking at colleges (Hello, La Mirada, CA) that I wanted to move out there. I didn't apply there because my parents said no. Virginia Union worked out well in the end anyway. But still, what's the deal with not moving out there?
Fear. Laziness. Whatever you want to call it. Well, after this trip (now that the excitement is dying down and I can think clearly), I've come to realize that if I want it, I need to go for it. I need to get a job and have savings and just go. If God wills with life, health, and strength, just do it, right?
In my small group/Bible study/social guys group, we're studying Esther. One thing that keeps popping up in my mind from her story is "Just Do It!" She was facing possible death, but went to the king to risk her life for the lives of her people. She broke tradition and just did it, even though her voice shook (I'm sure) and she might have been quaking. Just do it.
I've discovered in my late twenties that I'm finally feeling like I'm coming into my own. I'm doing, saying, and experiencing things that I'm grateful to experience. I'm growing up, so to speak. Who I was last year is not who I am this year. I pray that it continues to improve.
So, thanks to everyone (including everyone I met) who made the trip a wonderful event, successful, fun, and exciting. Most thanks to Kareem and Ben for showing me L.A. in "style." :-)
Well, nothing left to do but do it to it, right?
So, like Esther, I have to try it. If I perish, I perish. (I pray that I won't though.) Hey, God places dreams in our hearts for a reason. It's not to just sit there and wonder "what if...?", either.
I'm taking the first step...
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The nerve!
While riding Metro today I saw a new ad from them. The ad read, "PlanBdextrious: The ability of having an alternative route home planned in the event of an unforeseen circumstance on the Metrorail system."
The audacity of their arrogance! Plan B? Yes, everyone should know an alternative route home; however, when the route home is nothing but the Metrorail and possibly a car to get to the station, what the heck do you need a Plan B for?
How about not having a grossly inefficient and ineffective public subway train system? How about THAT, WMATA?! How about the Orange and Red lines not breaking down in some fashion every day? How about more than 4 cars on the Blue line? Jerks!
The audacity of their arrogance! Plan B? Yes, everyone should know an alternative route home; however, when the route home is nothing but the Metrorail and possibly a car to get to the station, what the heck do you need a Plan B for?
How about not having a grossly inefficient and ineffective public subway train system? How about THAT, WMATA?! How about the Orange and Red lines not breaking down in some fashion every day? How about more than 4 cars on the Blue line? Jerks!
