Thoughts on Contentment

Remember how I told everyone to be excited the last time I wrote a blog? Well, I apologize for being anti-climatic. To be honest, I forgot my password for a while. Typical. But don't worry. I've recovered it, and now I'm ready to write blogs that will blow your mind. Possibly.

I suppose I should get down to it.

I am an extremely cynical person sometimes. I hate the sound of my sarcasm, yet I continue to act as if I'm better than whatever it is I'm complaining about. Right now, I am cynic toward the general education classes I am bogged down with. Chemistry for Living, for example, is a 100 level science course, yet the last average test grade in the class was a 66%. What does that tell you about the teaching? Now, I'll be honest, I probably could have studied. However, a 100 level science class that I wouldn't even be in if I weren't attending a liberal arts university should not be so hard that the average student test grade is a D. Mine was lower than this in case you were wondering.

I am pissed with not only Chemistry, but all of my other "graduation requirement" courses. The only class I am happy to be in right now is Digital Video Production, a major class. A class that actually pertains to something I want to pursue outside of college. I find myself looking forward to more media classes next fall, and anticipate the end of this semester.

But with the loss of these dreaded classes also comes the loss of many great things. This is the last semester I will ever have with my girlfriend, Allison. (side note: we both agree that girlfriend/ boyfriend sounds like middle school vernacular, and tend to avoid using those terms at all costs). I am grateful for the time I have with her now, but at the same time, I am rushing to finish this semester. I sometimes find myself looking for the future plans instead of living in what God has provided for me today.

Some of you may be able to relate.

I am slowly realizing (only through the weight of God) that being cynical and complaining about my current state of classes completely hinders the other amazing opportunities and experiences God is providing for me. My cynicism does not solve my problems; it only veils what God is trying to share with me during my time right now.

i live on a wing with a bunch of guys at Taylor University. Tonight, a majority of us got together to share communion. Before we actually had communion, guys were given chances to share ways in which God has been working in their lives lately, and what they're learning through these experiences. As my friends were all sharing, I realized something semi-profound. I won't always be able to sit down with twenty other guys to share burdens/ praises, and have communion together. This then lead me to think about Allison, and how I will never get back this time with her to enjoy her company at Taylor. This time is precious. And I have been complaining it away.

Sometimes we need to examine absolutely everything, and take a minute to stop and breathe. It is in these breaths were we can realize God's ultimate work in our current lives.

Matthew 6: 25-27

Nothing Special

I've been reading many blogs from friends who have important things to discuss, and ideas they strongly want to communicate. And then I realized a majority of my blogs really have nothing worth responding to. So, new years resolution number one: write blog entries that encourage interaction and valuable discussion. (This entry accomplishes neither of those objectives, but simply serves as a foreshadowing of what's to come). Excited? You should be.

Certainly not Indiana

I slept in today until 12:45. I was running on 3 hours sleep, because I had to catch a 7:00 am flight out of Indy yesterday. When I woke up, I remembered I was in Provo, UT.

It is very surreal. I'm actually here. I walked outside this morning (or afternoon) and instead of seeing corn, I saw a massive mountain landscape. It is absolutely gorgeous. This geological change is refreshing, but the corn is nice too.

I'm looking forward to the few days ahead of me. And Cafe Rio for lunch at 3.

The Goings On

I didn't pass out of any French classes. I wasn't really expecting to, but I thought there was a slight chance I would. It's ok though. I'll just have to take some summer classes to graduate on time (if I want to study in L.A. for a semester).

I interviewed Dr. Cramer today about the values of music from a Christian perspective. He said something that really resonated with me... The evangelical sub-culture of this generation has cheapened music and is constantly trying to imitate what Christians call "secular" music. Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has de-valued the extremely real struggles everyone faces on a daily basis. The simplistic lyrics and easy chord progressions do not fully examine life in its entire struggle and beauty.

There are Christian artists, and then there are artists who are Christians. To me, it seems these so-called "Christian artists" attach themselves to teaching a watered-down Sunday school version of the gospel through blantantly uncreative lyrics. They model themselves off of the "cooler secular/ mainstream" groups of the time. Where is the originality and the strive to create something different? Where is the strive to search for that beauty God has laid before us to discover? Artists who are Christians, on the other hand, do not categorize themselves as writing CCM. They are believers who create innovative music and share on a relational level their familiar struggles with faith and life in general.

Then there are bands such as Radiohead. Not Christians. But is there value in their music? Absolutely. Not only is the music they create an extreme example of God-given gifts, but Thom Yorke's usually melancholy and hopeless lyrics examine the reality of life's dark side. Who can say they have never struggled at all? Just because Radiohead is a "secular" group does not mean they cannot relate to Christians in a very real manner.

What is the deal with the word "secular" anyway? Only Christians use that term, and when they do, they separate themselves from the rest of society. Aren't we all created in the image of God? Many Christians may believe it is a good idea to separate the "filth of mainstream" from "the great moral values of Christianity", but we are creating a division.

The beauty we speak is universal. There is beauty and value to be found outside of this box we have created for ourselves.

Time

I think it can make or break us.

Patience

I completely lost it today when I pulled my new-ish phone from my pocket and realized there was a giant crack in the screen. The weird thing is, the crack is inside of the screen. I have never dropped this thing; I've only kept it in my pocket. I am baffled, and pretty pissed. What does LG stand for anyway? Low Grade? (i couldn't think of anything better)

Three projects are due pretty much before I leave next Thursday morning for Salt Lake. They all involve other people, which is annoying because I can't just tackle them myself; I have to contact these people, set up times that work for everyone's schedule, and go from there.

On a brighter note, Airband will be over after tonight. I'm looking forward to it. It's been a long haul, and I'm excited to perform, but I'm kind of Airbanded out.

Listen to me complain. Wow.

I think I need patience. A lot of it.

Well...

The fire alarm just went off.