Oh, Cos You Know Me So Well..

There are lots of things going on at the moment .. and lots of things I’d love to write about it, but the timing isn’t quite right and the barometer is unsettled. I’m looking forward to time passing enough to be able to write about these things with the benefit of hindsight and discovery.

However, I can write a few, momentary reflections on some things seen and heard lately…that may or may not speak to things current, cos you know me so well.

1. Dave Matthews Band is still amazing live. And there is no more powerful witness in the world to any cause or movement, than a group of friends that stand together to honour one of their own. There are seasons of turmoil, grief and loss – when someone like LeRoi is suddenly gone… and there is a story left behind to be told by those who know him so well, that honours the music, the very being and core of his life, to love on the family of which we are all part, continuing on in the cause we are all living and believing in.

2. It’s someone else’s quote but it’s true “that which has the power to create an over or under reaction in us, usually has control over us, and will force that reaction from us”. If you know me so well, you know that I believe some of the essence of life is learning what to hold on to, what to let go of. There are some things though, that still hold on to me.. by their persistent ability to provoke an unwelcome response in me, because I’m still waiting for the freedom that truth brings. I realised that in some instances, I have laid down my right to write those truths, telling those stories.. because I fear the response. But the response in my spirit to not telling these things.. is much too much.

3. The adventurer in me is not dead, not the creative spark buried under sadness for a time. Cos you know me so well, I can speak to you of high desert plains, mountains, rocks, dry heat and long concrete & asphalt paths carved out just so that I can stand in the middle of nothingness. Stand there and realise how much I loved the unbeaten path, the unfolding day, the clarity of time and space. I am adventure-bound, ready for the wilderness of life again. The spark in me is rising up again, beating and warm within me.

4. Justice and compassion belong together. Cos you know me so well, you probably know that tears come more often now, more easily. The injustice of elderly couples treated with disdain, kids climbing out of the gutters towards the future, that which is lost…. So may my sense of justice not lead me towards rage, and may my sense of compassion still operate with discernment to the way forward.

Music Meme from Marko

hey, in celebration of Marko’s birthday… this meme from his blog.
I expect all you lurkers and fellow bloggers to tag in, no excuses, ‘kay?

Here’s the rules.

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool!

Opening Credits: Brighter Days – Leeland

Waking Up: Different Names For The Same Thing – Death Cab For Cutie

First Day At School: Ruby – Brigitte De Meyer

Falling In Love: Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) – Johnny Cash (no kidding!!!)

Fight Song: Babygirl – Anthony Green

Breaking Up: Four Years – Ivy Rossiter (NZ)

Prom: I’m Leaving It All Up To You – Sonny & Cher

Life: No Sleep – The Cardigans

Mental Breakdown: Supermassive Black Hole – Muse

Driving: No Accident – Bruce Conlon (NZ) (hahahaha, this is hilarious!)

Flashback: Cars Can’t Escape (Rhythm) – Wilco

Getting Back Together: As The Rain – Chris Cope (NZ)

Wedding: I Am Warm And Powerful – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Birth of Child: All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

Final Battle: Little Thing – Dave Matthews ft. Tim Reynolds

Death Scene: Extraordinary Girl – Green Day

Funeral Song: Warning Sign – Coldplay

Remembrance Song: Oh Well – Fiona Apple

End Credits: Distant Sun – Crowded House (NZ)

Great Discoveries, Thanks To Friends.

Not only is this little film iconic in it’s depiction of the pain and struggle of the creative process … but I also think it depicts the true trajectory of what leadership in the 3rd church looks like. Mainly this is inspired from time spent with someone I consider to be the most progressive, insightful & biblical church leader I’ve ever known. Look for more on that story later on … but for now… enjoy!



(ht to brendan smith of stereotype.co.nz)

(ht to dani

Welcome to Soul Pancake. Worth signing up for and definitely having a look around. I haven’t watched all the Oprah interview yet, but I think it’s ingenious, very 3.0 and entertaining if nothing else. Way to enter the spiritual discussion, outside the realms of academia. Of course, the cynic in me wonders how long before it gets swallowed up and overrun by the pious and well-meaning.

Everyone Is Faking It.

I’m convinced of it. Everyone is trying to shoot above their game, to learn as they go on the sly from the ones they have convinced they know what they are doing.

No one really knows what they’re doing – surely the economic crisis is a sign. Cos even those that don’t know anything about money, knew trouble was coming and we ended up there anyway. Will we say the same about the way out? Who knows.

But I know this. It’s okay to fake it. You just gotta know at what point to cut your losses and realise you’re not gonna make it. You just gotta know at what point to just be honest and find someone who isn’t faking it, who can point you in the right direction.

Everybody trades on confidence. Which means that where there is wind, bluster and blow… somebody’s faking it.

What does all this mean? Heck, I don’t know. Just relax, stop taking yourself and everyone else so seriously for a five minute mental health break.

Realise everyone is faking it somewhere along the line. Figure out what you need to keep faking til you get your head around and what you can open the curtains on now. Easy. Nothing to stress about cos everyone’s doing it.

So why don’t you go ahead and stand out from the crowd, whatever that means you have to do?