Speaking of So You Think You Can Dance, they certainly do make dancing look easy. Even the b-boys who do the flips and flares, they do it like someone flipping pancakes on Sunday morning.
Being at the beach the last few days has been fun. I love the fact that every restaurant you go into they have TV's with a surf film playing. You could almost bet on your life on it. After spend a little time watching these guys it is easy for me to start thinking, "That doesn't look so hard."
Amy and I spent a few hours riding bikes along the beach this morning and there weren't that many surfers out there making surfing look easy. Maybe a third would fall off their board before getting very far on the wave and another third would have to stop because of potential collision or not timing the wave right.
I have heard a few times that in order to become an expert in something, any activity, you need to do whatever that activity is for 10,000 hours. That is a very long time! If you were to do one activity for 1 hour everyday (without stopping) it would take you 27 and 1/3 years to become an expert. 27 years is a long time!
It is about at this moment in my thought process that I start to get overwhelmed at the thought of putting 10,000 hours into anything. What if I pick the wrong thing to put my time into? What a horribly fretful question, but its what I have been living in. I don't recommend putting too much effort into fretting, after all...I don't want to be an expert at that and I doubt you do either.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
a day away
Trying to do this while without a computer isn't easy!
One thing that I have been really inspired by recently is So You Think You Can Dance. The folks who put themselves on that show have given their lives to dancing and excelling at it.
If others could only put themselves into their gifting as much as these dancers do, I think that the world would be much less broken as it is now...if I could put as much effort into my gifting as they do, then I think I would be a much more effective person.
Effort. Effective. What a fortuitous concept. As much as there is truth to these words they can also become an enemy. So often in my
spiritual life and relationship with Christ I want and expect growth and progress. But is this what relationship is based on? Is this what relationship needs; a constant goal setting, performance based reality.
No. 'Goals' and 'performance' and 'effectiveness' are words used in a world that require results. These are not relational words. And so there is a place for them as we go about work that we are designed for but when we come to relationships we must change our posture. Now we must love in the face of imperfection and have patience in the presence of inefficiency. We must seek to integrate this relational model at as many opportunities as possible into the world in which we work and strive and achieve. Without this we have lost purpose altogether.
One thing that I have been really inspired by recently is So You Think You Can Dance. The folks who put themselves on that show have given their lives to dancing and excelling at it.
If others could only put themselves into their gifting as much as these dancers do, I think that the world would be much less broken as it is now...if I could put as much effort into my gifting as they do, then I think I would be a much more effective person.
Effort. Effective. What a fortuitous concept. As much as there is truth to these words they can also become an enemy. So often in my
spiritual life and relationship with Christ I want and expect growth and progress. But is this what relationship is based on? Is this what relationship needs; a constant goal setting, performance based reality.
No. 'Goals' and 'performance' and 'effectiveness' are words used in a world that require results. These are not relational words. And so there is a place for them as we go about work that we are designed for but when we come to relationships we must change our posture. Now we must love in the face of imperfection and have patience in the presence of inefficiency. We must seek to integrate this relational model at as many opportunities as possible into the world in which we work and strive and achieve. Without this we have lost purpose altogether.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Aaaagghh!
I really didn't think this would be that hard, what gives? I made it to day 3, now I'm shooting for 4 straight days.
What makes this even more difficult is that I am going on vacation this week to San Clemente then to Seattle/Portland for some weddings, so we'll see how well I do. I downloaded an app onto my itouch that may be able to help me a bit!
Gotta run!
What makes this even more difficult is that I am going on vacation this week to San Clemente then to Seattle/Portland for some weddings, so we'll see how well I do. I downloaded an app onto my itouch that may be able to help me a bit!
Gotta run!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Saved by the minute
Who would have thought that 3 days would be such a struggle?
But here I am writing just before midnight. My wife and I were attending a party tonight of a friend who just graduated with a PhD in Psychology. What a crazy accomplishment! Our friends husband gave a speech and reviewed some of what it took for her to achive this great feat: 330 credit hours and 85 classes over 6 years. Talk about a commitment to the long haul!
Getting a PhD takes a lot of hard work and determination and it also has a support structure. Part of the purpose of this task of mine is to do gain discipline in the areas of my life that have no motivation beyond whatever benefits I receive from the task itself. I am in school right now and there are a lot of external factors that motivate me to do well.
As a positive motivator I will graduate one day, walk across a stage and have people cheer for me, get a piece of paper to put on my wall, etc. There are negative motivators as well: getting on academic probation if I perform poorly and getting bad grades in various classes, being thought less of by professors or classmates, etc.
However, this is something that has no benefit outside of the intrinsic value of the act itself. There is something to be said about people who can really accomplish personal goals without external factors weighing in on motivation. And while I don't believe that there is anything that can truly be disconnected from outside influences, it does make it hard when there is 'less' of an obvious 'gain'.
Just some late night thoughts.
But here I am writing just before midnight. My wife and I were attending a party tonight of a friend who just graduated with a PhD in Psychology. What a crazy accomplishment! Our friends husband gave a speech and reviewed some of what it took for her to achive this great feat: 330 credit hours and 85 classes over 6 years. Talk about a commitment to the long haul!
Getting a PhD takes a lot of hard work and determination and it also has a support structure. Part of the purpose of this task of mine is to do gain discipline in the areas of my life that have no motivation beyond whatever benefits I receive from the task itself. I am in school right now and there are a lot of external factors that motivate me to do well.
As a positive motivator I will graduate one day, walk across a stage and have people cheer for me, get a piece of paper to put on my wall, etc. There are negative motivators as well: getting on academic probation if I perform poorly and getting bad grades in various classes, being thought less of by professors or classmates, etc.
However, this is something that has no benefit outside of the intrinsic value of the act itself. There is something to be said about people who can really accomplish personal goals without external factors weighing in on motivation. And while I don't believe that there is anything that can truly be disconnected from outside influences, it does make it hard when there is 'less' of an obvious 'gain'.
Just some late night thoughts.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Inspired
Two days! Celebrating the small victories is important. :)
Listening to: Gungor, "Beautiful Things"
I am so inspired by some of the things that people are doing in this country to pursue Christ with all their hearts. I saw an interview both with some of the members of Gungor and Shane Claiborne. Some are living in intentional community, sharing possessions and bathroom space. Some have moved to different parts of the country to plant churches. I always end up asking myself: Am I called to live a life similar to what these folks have chosen?
No! In fact Shane Claiborne says it best (who quotes someone else of whom I don't know their name), "Everyone can ask...how do the gifts that I've been given intersect with the brokenness of the world that we live in?" This opens the door to for all of us to pursue that piece that we bring to the pie, that part of the body that we operate.
What part of the body am I? How do my gifts intersect with this broken world?
I am still figuring it out...and I think it becomes clearer everyday as listen to the Lord's still small voice, pursue education and positions to influence others...but I think it is important to ask yourself if you are pursuing this in your life or are you letting life slip away.
Listening to: Gungor, "Beautiful Things"
I am so inspired by some of the things that people are doing in this country to pursue Christ with all their hearts. I saw an interview both with some of the members of Gungor and Shane Claiborne. Some are living in intentional community, sharing possessions and bathroom space. Some have moved to different parts of the country to plant churches. I always end up asking myself: Am I called to live a life similar to what these folks have chosen?
No! In fact Shane Claiborne says it best (who quotes someone else of whom I don't know their name), "Everyone can ask...how do the gifts that I've been given intersect with the brokenness of the world that we live in?" This opens the door to for all of us to pursue that piece that we bring to the pie, that part of the body that we operate.
What part of the body am I? How do my gifts intersect with this broken world?
I am still figuring it out...and I think it becomes clearer everyday as listen to the Lord's still small voice, pursue education and positions to influence others...but I think it is important to ask yourself if you are pursuing this in your life or are you letting life slip away.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Gah! Starting over already
Okay, I need to make this brief so I will be motivated to write tomorrow.
I missed two days! Well, today is Wednesday and I last wrote on Saturday so if you want to get technical, its 3 but I think I am going to leave Sundays as optional (a good practice of Sabbaths).
Well, I guess if I knew that I was going to do this perfectly then I wouldn't need a lesson in discipline would I? A few things I learned:
P.S. I think I am going to look for a counter to keep track of the days in a row that I blog (Sundays are optional of course ;) ).
I missed two days! Well, today is Wednesday and I last wrote on Saturday so if you want to get technical, its 3 but I think I am going to leave Sundays as optional (a good practice of Sabbaths).
Well, I guess if I knew that I was going to do this perfectly then I wouldn't need a lesson in discipline would I? A few things I learned:
- When I write long sections I feel that I (A) need to write a long post every time or (B) I have earned a few days off.
- I am such a perfectionist that I feel like I need to write a long entry.
- I procrastinate if I don't think I have enough time to write an entry that is long enough or if I don't think I have enough time to write as much as I have going on in my head.
- I use the amount of time I have (or, really, don't have) as an excuse to not write.
- My brain doesn't think "everyday", it thinks "how much did I do last time?"
P.S. I think I am going to look for a counter to keep track of the days in a row that I blog (Sundays are optional of course ;) ).
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Day 2:
Can you believe it? I woke up this morning and already I was trying to fins ways of avoiding sitting down are writing. It doesn't take long for the excitement to fade off.
See, that's the thing about passion. Well, if your anything like me. I can get excited about something one day and then the next day be completely disenfranchised with it. It isn't this way about everything. There are some things that I might be consistent about for a week or a month. But once the magic fairy dust of "a good idea" wears off then it takes a lot of gumption, gusto and hutzpah to keep the gears going. Sometimes its boredom but sometimes whatever the task may be, it can just get hard.
Why am I so fainthearted? What gives someone that drive to achieve, accomplish, and overcome against all odds? Don't judge me for what I am about to say...my wife and I have been watching So You Thing You Can Dance for the past several seasons. It really is incredible what some of these people can do! Incredible footwork, amazing power moves, and very high jumps. But this doesn't come in a day. Watch the first few episodes of any season and you can tell who practices and who doesn't.
I was at Vrooman's bookstore on Colorado boulevard in Pasadena yesterday and was flipping through Katie Couric's new book The Best Advice I Ever Got. She quotes Apollo Ohno (2004 Olympic gold medalist sprinter) as saying (and this is not a direct quote), 'It's not about the 40 seconds of the race, Its about the four years of training leading up to the race.' I am sure there must have been times when Apollo didn't want to train, but he forced his body into this habitual rigorous exercise and one day at a time became an Olympic gold medalist.
The Apostle Paul in the Bible talks about 'running the race of faith'. We often talk about this as a marathon, not a sprint. A lifetime of devoted action does not happen in one day, a week, or a month. It happens every single day. There is so much more on my mind about this...but then what would I say tomorrow? :)
See, that's the thing about passion. Well, if your anything like me. I can get excited about something one day and then the next day be completely disenfranchised with it. It isn't this way about everything. There are some things that I might be consistent about for a week or a month. But once the magic fairy dust of "a good idea" wears off then it takes a lot of gumption, gusto and hutzpah to keep the gears going. Sometimes its boredom but sometimes whatever the task may be, it can just get hard.
Why am I so fainthearted? What gives someone that drive to achieve, accomplish, and overcome against all odds? Don't judge me for what I am about to say...my wife and I have been watching So You Thing You Can Dance for the past several seasons. It really is incredible what some of these people can do! Incredible footwork, amazing power moves, and very high jumps. But this doesn't come in a day. Watch the first few episodes of any season and you can tell who practices and who doesn't.
I was at Vrooman's bookstore on Colorado boulevard in Pasadena yesterday and was flipping through Katie Couric's new book The Best Advice I Ever Got. She quotes Apollo Ohno (2004 Olympic gold medalist sprinter) as saying (and this is not a direct quote), 'It's not about the 40 seconds of the race, Its about the four years of training leading up to the race.' I am sure there must have been times when Apollo didn't want to train, but he forced his body into this habitual rigorous exercise and one day at a time became an Olympic gold medalist.
The Apostle Paul in the Bible talks about 'running the race of faith'. We often talk about this as a marathon, not a sprint. A lifetime of devoted action does not happen in one day, a week, or a month. It happens every single day. There is so much more on my mind about this...but then what would I say tomorrow? :)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Beginnings
Good Morning. :)
It wasn't too long ago that I realized that I have a small discipline problem. It's not so much that I am irresponsible or lazy. It isn't lack of desire either. But when it comes to doing something everyday to build momentum towards some end or goal I have trouble. Allow me to give a more specific example.
When I was 14(ish) I visited Montana on a summer vacation with my family. My mom grew up and went to college there and we happened to visit an old friend of hers. While we were at her home I happened to eye a guitar she had laying around. I told my parents that I would like to learn how to play guitar. Low and behold, I walked out with one of her guitars! She graciously "lent" me her guitar and I have it to this day.
Yet I couldn't get motivated to practice. I even took lessons at one point, but it never caught on. It wasn't until my brother decided to pick it up several years later and learned some "cool music" that the guitar got some decent use. And it wasn't until then that I thought I didn't really want him to get the best use of the guitar and so he taught me a few things and showed me how to really get going.
I find myself in this situation now as I feel the pull to write. I think might like writing and I think I might be good at it, I just need to DO it. I even tried to start a blog that required writing everyday but I couldn't do it. In part because of personal issues (I actually hope to continue the journey at some point) but partly because I didn't have the discipline to get something posted everyday (or even every other).
So this is my attempt to build a little consistency and discipline in my writing game. There won't be much consistency to each blog, I am almost certain they won't really relate to each other. You can plan on getting whatever happens to be running through my head that day. And perhaps musings about discipline and what it looks like with writing. Ideally, one day this blog won't be necessary at all and I can focus my energy on something a bit more coherent.
Until tomorrow...peace.
It wasn't too long ago that I realized that I have a small discipline problem. It's not so much that I am irresponsible or lazy. It isn't lack of desire either. But when it comes to doing something everyday to build momentum towards some end or goal I have trouble. Allow me to give a more specific example.
When I was 14(ish) I visited Montana on a summer vacation with my family. My mom grew up and went to college there and we happened to visit an old friend of hers. While we were at her home I happened to eye a guitar she had laying around. I told my parents that I would like to learn how to play guitar. Low and behold, I walked out with one of her guitars! She graciously "lent" me her guitar and I have it to this day.
Yet I couldn't get motivated to practice. I even took lessons at one point, but it never caught on. It wasn't until my brother decided to pick it up several years later and learned some "cool music" that the guitar got some decent use. And it wasn't until then that I thought I didn't really want him to get the best use of the guitar and so he taught me a few things and showed me how to really get going.
I find myself in this situation now as I feel the pull to write. I think might like writing and I think I might be good at it, I just need to DO it. I even tried to start a blog that required writing everyday but I couldn't do it. In part because of personal issues (I actually hope to continue the journey at some point) but partly because I didn't have the discipline to get something posted everyday (or even every other).
So this is my attempt to build a little consistency and discipline in my writing game. There won't be much consistency to each blog, I am almost certain they won't really relate to each other. You can plan on getting whatever happens to be running through my head that day. And perhaps musings about discipline and what it looks like with writing. Ideally, one day this blog won't be necessary at all and I can focus my energy on something a bit more coherent.
Until tomorrow...peace.
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