The Blaine Dive of Death

I'm watching tv after reading my text book FOREVER. In a few minutes the showboat, stuntman David Blaine will lower himself five stories on a wire in a stunt called the Dive of Death. Supposedly, he's starved himself, and been sleep deprived too to make it more difficult.

After reading about Medieval Mystics, I associating Dave as a postmodern solipsistic ascetic. Instead of devoting his fasting or hardship to God, he wears himself out for publicity and fame. Instead of identifying himself with Christ in his suffering, David furthers his career with it... or we shall see. . .

Stunt Update: David just jumped 44 feet on a wire then swung around. After an odd camera cut, the announcer informed us he disappeared into the night. The crowd seemed perplexed. An odd display. Maybe I misunderstood his intent and it was planned as the David Blaine "Career Dive of Death," because that was totally a waste to watch. Or perhaps, it just didn't translate to television. A postmodern vapid center I suppose.

things I've loved this week

Italian bread with garlic butter

Palin's new hair (just kidding)

M & M's

My free book from NavPress (how did I get on that list? I hope I get more books! How cool.)

New friends on facebook. I love friends.

Baking chocolate chip cookies

Napping near Pam as she read her homework (Wednesday was fun.)

Helping in my daughter's kindergarten class-very rewarding

Making new friends at my school. Very nice people. I do love that.

Hugs and kisses from my kids and husband. Priceless.

HOW TO: Keeping naked men from chasing the kids in your yard

1. Preemptively--- Keep careful watch of the people in your neighborhood, and if possible know them by name.

2. If you suspect that anyone will remove pants and underwear, carry the cordless phone with you, or buy a clip for your belt loop.

3. Have the police on speed dial. (Remember they won't think of it as a 911 emergency, so input the local phone number.)

4. If the perpetrator ventures into your yard, use the element of surprise and barge out your door yelling at him and waving your phone. (Sometimes they think it's a gun, which is nice.)

5. Flip out! As you yell, act crazy, and yell a lot about calling the cops. (Yes, it's probably just a threat, because they would not get there in time, or bother helping you, perhaps. But, if you sale it hard enough, WITH PASSION, the "perp" will likely believe you.)

6. Be very brave, because children should be protected.

7. This worked for me, but it might not work for you. I don't own a gun. I'm considering a tazer. You may need to consult a professional, or go with your gut.

faltering and learning

If we can learning anything at all... it is that mistakes, errors, suffering, do-overs, all these things, produce character and growth.

Otherwise, we remain like infants in EZ chairs with remote controls. A life of easy, and of ease produces really nothing at all. Nothing much good. Really nothing of eternal value either.

I wonder if the American way of life is too soft, and that in some real way it, and not war, or something else, will be the end of us. What a strange irony. I don't mean the "end of us" in any physical sense, as doomsdays as that sounds, (read: dramatic. People DO love that, though). I mean, on the inside, from which we live. We make our decisions from that spot.

We falter, and then we learn. It's simple really. It's just not very pretty.

Janie asked

(fictionalized)

Janie asked, "Why did he die? God could have saved my brother. . ."

"you miss him"

Janie asks, "Can you help me understand? Of all the people. . . Why does God seem to take the good ones? He had just adopted a little Chinese baby with his wife. They struggled so long to have children. He would have been the best father. . ."

"it feels like a mistake"

Janie asks, "How am I suppose to reconcile the God I know with something so reckless?"

"your heart is broken"

Janie says, "Yes. But I feel like I don't have the right to admit that, not really."

"you have to forgive"

Janie asks, "What? Forgive? Who?"

"God"

Janie asks, "No. God can't be forgiven if he doesn't do wrong. What are you saying?"

"you have to forgive God for braking your heart"

Janie asks, "It's my view of him?"

"It's an offense you perceive and you are stuck"

Janie says, "I know God is good."

"But you don't trust him with your heart, not at the moment."

Janie says, "No, he seems too wild."

"you think he's careless"

Janie says, "Yes."

"he's not."

Janie says, "He doesn't make sense, not lately."

"He doesn't make sense when we want him to, sometimes."

Janie says, "But he is good. I mean, I do know that. I just don't see it sometimes."

"but he is good"

Janie asks, "How can you know?"

"you suffer first"

Janie says, "I don't like the sound of that."

"then you see him for who he really is"

Janie asks, "Does it always have to hurt?"

"yes"

Janies aks, "Then why do it?"

"because then you will be like him"

Things you said about a mission

You said

I was on a dangerous mission.

I was wishing

You hadn't say that.

Later.

But, then again.

I wanted to be very-

Cool.

At the time.


Dangerous,

In all the perilous ways,

you meant.

Not the hip, pop culture ways.

Unless, one counts being

counter-counter-cultural,

before everybody else

figures out how to.


Everyone is starting to think

Life is a movie staring them.

But reality is a story staring God.

How tricky

At the plot's climax

When it turns out

You are not the protagonist

after all.


It's a dangerous mission

To break the bad news

And call it Good News,

Even if it can save some one

From him self

He will probably only

Just hate you

For trashing his movie.

I'm... seriously... almost famous

We're all almost famous. Those mathematical 6 degrees of separation are not too far for any of us. It can be creepy to think of it sometimes.

I shook President Clinton's hand one time, no twice. This was when he visited my university. It was also before the Monica news broke. I started washing my hands more after that media frenzy. The "I know someone that knows someone" thing is really true. We've all been close to greatness, infamy, or something of that sort.

It was super fantastic to read Michael Hyatt's blog yesterday. His "From where I sit" blog is awfully amazing. For those of you unaware or illiterate, Michael is the CEO of the world's most successful Christian publisher Thomas Nelson. Hyatt gave great advice for first time authors (that would be me) so, obviously, I read it. Lo and behold, he listed my agent as one of three noteworthy agent bloggers to read. That's some nice street cred. Surprisingly my thought wasn't to have that feeling like, gosh, gee, I almost know him, (in a weird way).

Instead, I thought about how gracious people can be. Chip MacGregor is a talented, gracious agent who, obviously, takes a few charity cases. I'm working on some cool things, and, sometime soon we're going to see what deals we can swing. No matter what happens, I hope the same graciousness, the same goodness will be imbued into the character of my projects, because that is what matters most to me. All that other "being famous" stuff, or whatever you could try to call it, it's a means to an end that doesn't count for things beyond a short end.

Just today I was reading my Christian Spiritual Direction book assignment for grad class, and it actually said how you introduce yourself shows the self you want to live out of. This is really an attached self, a part of who you are. Mainly this is a false self. The things we have and do are not us at all. It is only the us that can be found in the identity with Christ that becomes the true self. Not a diminished self, but a fully human self, body and spirit.

I am famous, you could say, with Christ, but not almost famous. I'm awash in abounding love.