Well

So let's go ahead and establish that I pretty much stink when it comes to keeping up with the blog. Yeah 2 months since my last post. I guess I need to get more organized or something, or somehow avoid being so easily distracted. It really is amazing how easily we are distracted as humans. Now I'm not saying that we don't become engrossed in some projects, even sometimes to the point of shutting out the rest of the world, which is also not healthy.

The paradigm that I have wrestling with for a long time now is that of balance. I suppose this subject was brought to my attention a few years ago when I was working almost full time, enrolled full time at graduate school, and my wife and I began a family. I felt as though I could not put as much focus and attention into any of these three areas as was needed, let alone any sort of social or recreational life, without neglecting one of the others. Oh, and carving out additional time for personal scripture study and prayer time aside from what scripture I was studying in school, I'm sorry to say, rarely happened, and if attempted usually turned into "wake up drooling on the pages of my Bible time."

So, what to do with such a quandary? Should I sacrifice my family and job in order to succeed in school? Focus only on a corporate career and chalk my calling, the reason I was in grad school, as a "lost in translation moment" between me and the Almighty and hope that the job would provide enough lifestyle for my family they would excuse me working 60+ hours a week? Should I focus on my family putting in a half-hearted effort into school and work? The answer to all of these is no! For sanity I began compartmentalizing each area of my life, but doing so did not settle well with my conscience.

Separating that which is sacred and that which is mundane seemed to be the antithesis to what God has called us to do and what Jesus modeled in his earthly life.

That was it! I began realizing a pattern in Jesus' life as I studied scripture for school. Jesus worked hard, but still surrounded himself with friends, every interaction was an opportunity to be reminded of the work of our heavenly father, and perhaps the most important thing to realize in our hustle and bustle life, Jesus frequently took time to get away from everyone to rest and pray. I realized that the only way to achieve balance in life, and to invest our best into every situation, is to rest and talk to our creator no matter how hectic life gets. After all, scripture tells in Matthew 6:33 "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (The Message)

This is still a work in process for me, but I'm getting better every day.

Peace

In response to my post.

Well, well, as you can see it has been quite some time since I have posted anything on this blog. I was a bit disheartened when I found out that only those with a Blogspot account could respond to the posts. However, I found that some of you are still clicking on the links and are finding nothing new. Out of courtesy, I thought it wise that I should at least respond to my own questions.

Let me preface by stating that I have heard people claim that perception is reality. Whereas that may be the case within one's own brain, I do not believe that is the case in relation to society. One can perceive one to be something that is completely wrong because a misunderstanding.

In response to my questions:

I tend to agree with Justin Martyr who was known for finding something good in every circumstance and happening. In the case of major natural disasters, acts of terror, the senseless killing of babies, and of any person for that matter, I do not search for good in those happenings. Those are events that are caused by evil and are treated as such. 

As an example of how I do put this idea into practice, I had been on the road quite a bit one day for work and had more places to go, but had to come back by the office to do a few things. When I got back in my car to leave, it cranked, went about 2 feet and died, and would not crank again. Sure this was an inconvenience that caused me to rearrange my schedule, and sure it cost me money that I didn't want to spend. However, what I found to be positive about this ocurence was the fact that my car didn't stop working while I was 50 miles away visiting someone in the hospital, nor did it die while I was driving on the highway, which could have easily happened since it was an electrical issue.

I don't try to make all of life out to be lollipops and candycanes, but I see no sense in wasting time and energy complaining and obsessing on the negatives of such occurences.

The people that I encounter that seem to be angry about everything remind me of a Bush song from the late 1990's. One stanza of the song reads, "Do you feel the way you hate? Do you hate the way you feel." It appears to me that most anger at the world stems from an anger fostered by something that they dislike about themselves. I also believe that their anger limits the potential in which they can achieve. What I mean is, many people have much more potential, and can acheive wonderful things in life, yet they allow their anger to hold them prison from ever realizing that potential. 

Through Your Eyes

Now that we have the time and place set for The Undercurrent, I would like to get your thoughts on a few things.

First, when you look at the world, what do you see wrong with it?

Second, what do you see right with the world?

Last, in your opinion, is society improving or degrading.

Leave your answers in the "comments" section.

After some comments are posted I will post my answers to these questions and from what resources that I pull from.

Time to start

I am happy to announce that The Undercurrent will have its first meeting Wednesday July 2nd and continue on every Wednesday thereafter. The middle school age set will meet from 6 pm to 7 pm and the high school age set will meet from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm in the modular at the northeast section of St. Andrew by the Sea located at 17263 Hwy. 180, Gulf Shores, AL. Of course, on this blog you can leave a comment to a post at any time and I will respond as soon as I get a chance. Selah.

Welcome to The Undercurrent in Gulf Shores, AL. The Undercurrent strives to be a place that allows conversation over diverse sociocultural happenings, world events, and personal experiences to take place without judgement. Every gathering will end with biblical interpretation of the topic discussed. The gathering place and time will be announced soon.