Marc Barnes, who pens a fine blog called BadCatholic, has left me sheepish. He posted about a snow day. Just a snow day. And praised it. (Snow When It is White)
Looking at my posts over the last couple of months, I’ve speculated about actors, bashed Coloradoan rappers, evaluated common curse words, praised my favorite rock band… and all throughout mined my own opinions. As well a blogger should.
But you know what? I think based on the blogs I’ve been reading, we bloggers complain too much. Marc's on to something. I’m taking a deep breath. And I’m going to tell you how wonderful my life is.
I’m sitting in a brown armchair, and I’m melting into the cushions. My father’s in a chair next to me, reading the Wall Street Journal. He spent 20 years in the Marine Corps, and four years after getting out received his PhD in theology. He teaches now at the University of Great Falls.
My little brother is playing Journey on the piano, somewhere in the distance. And I must say he’s rocking it. He, my other brothers, and I cruised iTunes today, using the gift cards our parents gave us. I used mine last night, and stayed up till midnight with my new songs from House of Heroes, The Classic Crime, The Beatles, The Almost, and more delightful rock bands.
I look out my window. The skies are painted with white clouds, split by patches of lazy blue. Under them sleeps a hillside with half-melted snow. A quiet little Montana city sprawls some hundreds of yards away.
In a week and a half I’m taking a plane to Kansas City, and from thence to Benedictine College, at one of the best Catholic schools in the country. I’m living the life millions of people would love to have. I don’t want to lord that over anybody, but I cannot deny. This feels good.
I won’t ignore reality, and the reality is that this world is ridden with evil, and that this world is not my home. There is a deeper reality. And the more we ignore it the more we're going to hurt. Abortion. Adultery. Bad entertainment. Drugs. Wars. Hunger. They're all symptoms, and I think they're going to get worse.
But sitting here, in a good home, with a good family, with a good feeling… I can’t help but think everything’s gonna be alright. There’s going to be a storm in this country, and if things keep up it’s going to hurt. But it won’t last. Nothing that bad can last. There will be sunlight through the clouds. I can’t tell you where precisely it will come, but I’m certain. We cannot imagine the things God can do for us. We have barely begun to see what He is. He'll come through, in a way that will blow everyone away. I think I believe that.
Have a wonderful day. Take a deep breath, and make it good and long. And do what you must.
Ain't Christmastime great? And life isn't that bad either. Everyone likes to say that attitude is everything, but I find God likes to remind us that, regardless of our attitude, we have an Awesome God. Sometimes I go for a walk and spend five minutes just marveling at a tree. It's crazy, but it's just one of those things. When we see the poetry of things, it can't help but lead us to God.
ReplyDeletePeace.
I know someone who goes to Benedictine. In fact, I have family in that area. I hate Kansas, but there you go. I think it's easier for me to reflect on God's beauty and not the negativity in the world when I am 'full of grace' as it were.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, guys.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, you're not the only one who likes to stare at trees. One of my classmates found me examining this tiny little icicle, hanging on a tree that had nothing else asides from wood. It unlocks things, doesn't it?
Ranter, I think I understand where you're coming from. There's a certain pressure that lets loose when you're angry or failing at something. And more often than not, when that pressure breaks, it leads to grace. Leastways that's what I observe.