This is the start
This is your heart
This is the day you were born
This is the sun
These are your lungs
This is the day you were born
And I am always, always, always yours
And I am always, always, always yours
These are the scars
Deep in your heart
This is the place you were born
This is the hole
Where most of your soul
Comes ripping out
From the places you’ve been torn
And it is always, always, always yours
But I am always, always, always, yours
Hallelujah!
I’m caving in
Hallelujah!
I’m in love again
Hallelujah!
I’m a wretched man
Hallelujah!
Every breath is a second chance
And it is always, always, always yours
And I am always, always, always, yours
In the picture above (taken sometime in the late-80′s) you’ll find the two guys I grew up with during those critical teen years. I have so many memories that it is literally consuming my thoughts now that I’ve recently discovered them both on Facebook.
Shamefully, I haven’t spoken with my good friends David Johnson (left) and Jeremey Cross (right) in well over a decade.
There’s a myth that all you need to do is outline your vision and prove it’s right—then, quite suddenly, people will line up and support you.
In fact, the opposite is true. Remarkable visions and genuine insight are always met with resistance. And when you start to make progress, your efforts are met with even more resistance. Products, services, career paths… whatever it is, the forces for mediocrity will align to stop you, forgiving no errors and never backing down until it’s over.
If it were any other way, it would be easy. And if it were any other way, everyone would do it and your work would ultimately be devalued. The yin and yang are clear: without people pushing against your quest to do something worth talking about, it’s unlikely it would be worth the journey. Persist.
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“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” —Albert Einstein
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“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” —Teddy Roosevelt
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“To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.” — Elbert Hubbard
I have always loved sports. One of my favorite claims is that I never played organized sports in school yet I’m able to hang in there with guys that have—basketball, baseball, football, whatever. I’m not all-world by any means, but I have no problem stepping into any game and feeling confident that I won’t be making a fool of myself. I even lettered in college for Intramural Sports (got a jacket and everything!).
This Fall I joined two new athletic ventures. The first was a City Softball League. I’ve only played church ball since college and this was a definite step up in skill level, as well as atmosphere. The second is a Tuesday night basketball group. You have to be 25 or older and from Clinton. Typical players include the police chief, local restaurant owners, and teachers (Everyone there seems to be 6′ 5″ and can drain three’s like Reggie Miller.)
Both of these have been stretching opportunities for me. I’m a pretty introverted, home-bodied kind of guy, but I’ve met some really cool people in the last couple months. It’s funny how simply stepping into a game can build your confidence and increase your exposure to the community around you.
I guess my parting thoughts are to find a game to get into. You can’t see what you’re made of by sitting on the sidelines.
A couple months ago as part of our MuteMath VIP package Jason and I traveled to Grand Rapids to sit on a tour bus and listen to the new album, Armisitce, before it was available to the public. One of the songs that stood out to me was Clipping. I remember distinctly looking at Jason and saying that this is a great song for a church to use leading into a sermon.
It remains one of my favorites on the album, not only because of the great music but because it resonates with me so much.
In the last year I’ve been coming to a point in my life where I just don’t feel like fighting people who disagree with my beliefs—religious, political, sports, whatever. I’m very happy in what I believe, and I’m very willing to listen and learn from others, I just feel no desire whatsoever to fight or argue with anyone, on anything.
I know how it happened. It was a combination of more church infighting, and “christians” acting like tools during the presidential election. I feel passionately about many subjects, but if you’re wanting to fight me on the subject, or threaten to (or actually) leave me because of it… good riddance.
I’m just not sure if that’s a good place to be or not. Seems like I should be more willing to fight for people or ideas. But honestly, I’m not. At least right now.
1. Saw Paramore and Paper Route in concert at the Filmore in Detroit with Jason and Levi. Such a great show! I only wish we had better seats, but I’m sold on Paramore, and Paper Route is better live than I’d even hoped for. I’d go see both of these bands again.
2. Participated in an epic MuteMath concert experience. I’m still putting my review together on this one, but wow. Even after having seen them live 4 times before, this was hands down the best concert I’ve ever been to.
3. Halloween! Tried to watch a bunch of creepy-type movies this month (Zombieland wins hands down), and decorated our porch and lawn. This was the first year we stayed in Clinton and handed out candy. Good times! Tanner went as Harry Potter. Picture to come soon.
I also started playing basketball on Tuesday nights. I hope this Wednesday I don’t feel as bad as I did last Wednesday.
Looking at the calendar, I’m going to have quite a month in November. Can’t wait!
Books Read in October:
Zip.
Zilch.
Nada.
Movies Watched in October:
Zombieland – 5/5
The Brothers Bloom – 3/5
17 Again – 3/5
Sugar – 5/5
Year One – 2/5
Away We Go – 3/5
From Dusk Till Dawn – 2/5
Land of the Lost – 2/5
Shrink – 4/5
Young Guns – 4/5
Where The Wild Things Are – 5/5
Full Battle Rattle – 3/5
Management – 2/5
12 Monkeys – 3/5
Law Abiding Citizen – 4/5
Scream – 4/5
Running The Sahara – 5/5
Scream 2 – 3/5
Rocket Science – 5/5
Scream 3 – 2/5
Fight Club – 5/5
Event Horizon – 3/5
Young Guns II – 3/5
An American Wolf in London – 2/5
The Original Mud Puppy is a 36 year old Christ follower. Father of an amazing son. Husband of a woman that makes me a better person every single day. Book, music, and movie junkie. Avid runner. Part-time cook.
Two creeds that I try to live by are: Stop Existing and Start Living & Love Wins. (more...)
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