influence

Quick blog, go!!

My mind has been blown, literally. After nearly 2 years of college, I finally get it. I understand everything, it seems, and I know my purpose. I have confirmation about my studies, aspirations, goals, etc.

To be quite honest, I haven't enjoyed most of my classes up to this point. Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Anatomy, and whatever else have been classes that I hardly enjoy. It didn't make sense or seem useful, and they didn't tie together very well until about an hour ago.

As a Kinesiology student, I've taken such classes against my will. The most recent class, Physiology, is different though.

During today's muscle physiology lecture, it all made sense. Not only did it tie together what I've learned in the past from school, but it made so much more sense out of the rest of my life.

I realized where I went wrong in my running and how I could improve it. I learned how to be a better shoe salesman. It rekindled my passion for studying exercise. And I learned more about God's infinite wisdom in his perfect design of Creation.

It's almost as if I see the world through different eyes now. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. The complexity is awe-inspiring. The fragility of movement, of life itself, is impossible. The sheer magnitude of our coordination and brainpower is beyond human comprehension. Our brains cannot fathom what our brains do, nor understand.

I find it odd that in a single moment, life can make so much more sense to me. How could I be so influenced by a single lecture, on muscles?

What a blessing it is to see Creation through the eyes of the Creator.

the importance of favorites

I, like most others, have a list of my favorite things. No, it's not written down anywhere; it's all in my head.

What if you experienced your favorite things at all times, in all places, in every situation? What would your life be like. Mine would be pretty cool, at least for a couple days.

To start out with, I'd probably be in Oregon, at Ecola State Park (pictured below) on the Pacific edge of the state. It's quite chilly there, so I'd be wearing some nice Nike stuff to keep me warm.

There I would find myself quite thirsty, and I would quickly resort to drinking unhealthy amounts of Arnold Palmer Tea inside Bonefish Grill, where I would eat Diablo Shrimp Fettucine.

Keep in mind all of my favorite people are with me (family, friends, kelly). The more, the merrier, right?

Back in Portland, Oregon (where we happen to be staying/living) MuteMath would play a show that we attend, front row. Obsessed with their music (particularly that which they haven't released), I would listen to their song Work of Art constantly.

Later, I end up watching Burn Notice and Burn Notice only during my TV time. Still drinking Arnie, eating DSF, listening to MuteMath, in Oregon, wearing only Nike, with tons of people, petting a cat.

Looking at my life from this point, I think I would love this for all of 10 minutes. It's clear to me that I would grow tired of such an experience very quickly. The more I experience my favorite things, the less I enjoy them. What's the problem? There are a few.

1. There are too many other things we enjoy that we miss out on when we are doing only our favorite things.
2. Constant repetition strips away meaning from our favorite things.
3. The enjoyment never lasts; we are never fulfilled by the meaningless, fleshly things we love in life.

The world of our favorite things is inherently unsatisfying and imperfect. Nothing we produce on our own can ever last in and of our own power. When we lack variety, we lack vitality. When we lack the Divine, we lose eternal pleasure.

This is why the things God has given us last and provide the eternal pleasure, satisfaction, and perfection that we so desire. He is perfect, and everything He has made. The earthly institutions of His Kingdom (marriage, worship, etc.) sustain us because only they bear life.

I don't know exactly what Heaven will be like. But this I do know; it is the perfect, favorite place of my soul, where I will live with my Creator.