Ok Nicolas, I’ll take up the challenge. Without much thought put into it, here’s my top 50 songs. I didn’t take the time to put them in order so all you get is alphabetical. And yes, mine are better. I just saw a duplicate, but I’m not doing it again.
I, like Chelsey, have been on holidays and have not posted anything regarding Earth Day. I don’t want anyone to think I’m not concerned about the issue or that I am not interested in this whole gridblog thing, so a few weeks late, here are some thoughts. By the way, I don’t know what Blair’s excuse is, he’s probably driving somewhere in his Ford Excursion throwing cans and Mcdonald’s wrappers out the window running over trees and small defenseless animals and doesn’t have time for us anymore…
Earth day. Just a few random thoughts. My thinking is still changing on this, mostly molded by my friend Gene. He was green before Stephane Dion and Al Gore made it cool, and even eats Tofu which apparently gives you ooooodles of carbon credits. For over a decade now he has been challenging me to evaluate my choices when it comes to what I purchase and how I spend earth resources. Like many of us, and like many things in my life I have noticed that these sort of “environmental” choices are a constant balancing act where irony abounds. Gene & I have often talked about the irony of him being so passionate about saving the environment while working as a carpenter, a job which requires wood of course, which requires the cutting down of trees, which is okay in moderation but the way we do it these days isn’t so great for mother earth. There are other issues in his life I would love to talk about to distract from all the same types of things that I have in my life, but I’ll stop with that one example. Oh ya, I should mention the Volkswagon thing too…
As Cyrus mentioned, I am attracted to the idea of living simply. This idea, out of a Mennonite cookbook is what started Gene down the path many years ago.
I am attempting to make small but consistent choices to live more “simply” than I have. For now my sacrifices have been fairly inconsequential – things like different lightbulbs, recycling and smaller cars/truck don’t seem to be things that make a huge difference, but it’s a start and I’ve definitely moved from where I was 10 years ago.
A big issue that is related is generosity. For me a big part of the reason I want to try and make some of these “simple” choices is so that I have the opportunity to be generous. This has little to do with environmentalism, but can bring about the same results. The fact is if I choose a Corolla instead of an SUV it will save me a ton of money, if I make a second choice to give some of that money away, there are multiple benefits. Now if I made the choice to ride my bike? That’s a double choice because that includes the whole exercise issue, so let’s not even go there. This idea of simple generous living applies to a lot of areas. The tough areas are places like my aforementioned fair trade coffee, which is a great idea but it did cost me about 4 times as much as Maxwell House. This does not make me generous but rather drives me deep into my Scottish heritage.
Anyway, I agree that we need to open our eyes to taking care of the earth as Christians and as humans, I agree that the extremes of this issue are not where we should be and that they often hurt real progress, and I think much of this is simply a selfishness/greed issue… like lots of other things it’s not that hard to know what to do, it’s the do that I have trouble with.
Chelsey? Blair?
Generosity has been front and center for our family the last few weeks. New babies seem to bring out the best in our friends! It’s humbling the number of times we have been offered love by the people around us – we simply say thankyou, but times like this it almost gets to be too much (almost – we also know we need the help). I can’t think of another life experience, where I’ve experienced generosity and love like when our church and friends have shown up after we had our two kids.
Meals have been delivered, phone calls made to check in, Elijah taken for play time, the dog has been walked, and walked again – our freezer is full from good friends who have lightened the load for weeks and maybe months ahead. Oh ya – can’t forget the encouraging comments on the blog – fuel for late nights and discouraging parenting moments.
It’s a reminder of one of the best parts of being part of a loving church community, a reminder of the good that comes when relationships are worked on, a reminder of the important things in life, and an example of a time when life seems “rightly” lived – this is how it’s supposed to work I think!
Thanks everyone – I just hope we are ready when our turn comes to give back to you or to whoever we’re traveling with… our prayer is that we will be available.
A couple of quick thoughts about the idea of generosity – something I think about an awful lot actually.
-Generousity really does bring joy. It’s likely one of those things that you have to figure out for yourself, but I really do enjoy giving stuff away. I don’t think that’s because it’s my love language or something like that either (although that book does make a lot of sense by the way), I really do think I get as much or more joy out of the money I give to Dave as he does. (had to put a plug in for you Turner).
- Generosity has nothing to do with amount. Greed doesn’t either. Nor Materialism. I feel like that theory is a bit shaky because I’ve always known excess, but I still think it’s true.
I’m just back from a very late and quite discouraging hockey game so I will leave it at that, and look forward to your thoughts. Goodnight.
Are we up for another one folks? Brian’s jump into the subject of generosity got me interested… anyone want to join us this Friday with some thoughts about what that topic looks like in your life? Maybe a story of a generous act to you or by you this week? Maybe you want to be generous and give Dave some money for the ACC this Friday?
I love this topic, and look forward to reading some thoughts on it… Brianne with her new blog will post some good stuff for sure…
Well it appears that everyone but Steve was scared off by my choice of topic for the Gridblog this week, but he wrote a heck of an article – you really should go read it.
Living In Light Of Eternity – Steve McMillan
Well they were a tiny bit late to the party, but it’s always open… thanks for your thoughts friends, sorry I missed you…
Back from the dead… or living in light of it – Chelsey
Death. – Nic (gotta love that title)
Stacey has joined us… Gridblog: Seize the Day
It seems like it’s been forever… but Jason has joined us with some good thoughts on the topic.
Sounds morbid. I guess talk about death always is. “Sieze the day”: the mantra for hyper overachievers. I know what they’re saying, and I want to take advantage of my days and life is short and all that, but it doesn’t always foster a healthy attitude of contentment – and justifies some not so good behaviour in my opinion. Of course contentment and laziness or apathy are streets of the same neighbourhood.
I can’t help but think of my Grandma. She’s been talking about dying for about 10 years now. For a while there every time I went to visit she would give me something from her house – trying to clear it out so there was less to fight over after she died I guess. She gave me my inheritance a few years ago, a set of dominoes, – actually sent it home with Tara because I refused to take it, but she has been making preparations for a long time. Some of it is I think growing old is hard. Losing your hearing, not being able to move like you want to and your body shutting down, there is nothing easy about that, and I don’t pretend to have a clue. It’s not as hard to think about trading it in for something new after 85 years or so.
At the same time, there is the life journey of people of faith – you know the kind – people of real faith, a longing to move further, to go beyond, to leave behind the questions of this life, to see Jesus face to face. We have lots of sayings to describe it, and it seems to be matched up with a desire to make a difference on the way, but basically those who struggle to follow Him for year after year also seem to have this want to die and get there.
For me it applies itself in a couple of different ways.
First it gives my life perspective. We all die, and in fact we are all dying – the rate is the only question. Growing old does inspire me to live more full now. It also helps balance things – makes me think about what is important to my grandparents now. It’s all about the people in their life plain and simple – it really is. It also gives me confidence. In the middle of my questions about faith and how it should work itself out, this is where it matters – a way to face the biggest questions, a way to hope. Living in death’s light: maybe not so morbid after all.
1 Corinthians 15 (New Living Translation)
51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[g]
55″Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Living in light of death” or “Carpe Diem” or “Sieza le day” or “In Remembrance”
If it pleases the masses… I would like to suggest a topic for discussion. Chelsey, I like the idea of talking about morals, but I thought this week, because of Remembrance Day, it might be appropriate and beneficial to talk about death and our response to it, or perhaps more positively life and “life abundant”. John’s post about the recent death of Kellock Jones inspired me – as did her life. Whether you want to talk about “carpe diem” or a near death experience, or how suffering changes the way we live, or just reflect on the idea of Remembrance Day or the people who died in wars fighting for our country, whatever you choose will be great.
If I may make a suggestion and a humble request – in honor of Remembrance day – let’s not talk about our opinions on war and whether it is appropriate. There are times to tackle that discussion, but out of respect for people made tough choices (which I hope I never have to tackle) and who fought and died, and their families who survive them, I think we should save topics like Irack and Afghanistan for another day and time…
I look forward to sharing on this topic… I’m aiming for before Friday.
I hope Laura doesn’t mind me posting her reflections of India. There are lots of good things I could say about Laura like having patience to live with her 3 boys and their adventures or how good a friend she is to my Mom & Dad, or her hospitality – but most people reading this have probably experienced it. Thanks for sharing these Laura.
Tim
I am not a part of a Heartwarmers team but here are a few reflections of my trip.
It was a trip where “Trust” was a big factor. I learned to trust God more than ever. I am a person who likes structure and being able to control the environment I am in. Flying, airports, taxi drivers, being in a country where you don’t speak the language, all things I had no control over. Structure, schedule, time– India will teach you flexibility in these areas.
I am not an adventurous person so the streets of Delhi and Calcutta were overwhelming. The people, people, people everywhere! I remember being downtown Calcutta with Wilf looking for something Wilf remembered on his earlier trip and the people just got me, I told Wilf I needed to just get out of there and he was nice enough to take me back to the hotel(although it meant riding on the subway again and making our way from their back to the hotel). And we made it fine.
I remember hanging on to Wilf’s belt as we walked down the street in Delhi and Calcutta so he didn’t loose me.
I remember being in a taxi and praying for God to take care of us after Wilf says” This isn’t the way I remember to Swami’s ” but we made it.
I remember walking the streets of Delhi and being hounded by people who want “to help” but actually were lying straight to your face about where things were.
We met Ray and Ellen at the airport in Shillong. A sense of calm came over me then. It was very interesting in Shillong to be with them and watch them reconnect with people from 40 years ago. Walking with them as we went from one of their old houses to the other and to hear stories of the time there was wonderful. They have touched the lives of so many over there. It is true about Ray being in “his element” over there. Many people see Ray as the quiet type, not so in India. He never quit talking. It was amazing to watch! And Ellen, she is “mom” to so many people there.
I didn’t get to experience Imphal and the wonderful people I have heard about from there. But did get to experience Aizawl and the people there. It was wonderful.
Market was another thing. Wilf again in his element in the hords of people.
Ray and Ellen are amazing people and it was a great time to spend 3 weeks with them and a Christmas with them.. Times I will always remember fondly and hope to return some day to hang out with them again.
Laura
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