Saturday, February 13, 2010

Being domestic today.

After working out at the YMCA (1 hour treadmill, weight circuit, swimming, jacuzzi), I baked another loaf of bread. 

Here's the recipe. 

Here's a pic.

 

Too bad we don't have smell-o-vision on the internet.
  Notice wine glass in the margin.  Must keep the chef happy.

Also started another massive pot of chili in the crock pot.  I made the recipe on this up.  Someday I'll post it.  It's pretty traditional except it has a pound of hot Italian sausage in addition to the ground beef.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Who's this guy???

A typical baby boomer, ultra-previleged, white middle class, suburban male.

Looking back and looking around right now it's amazing how privileged and blessed by grace my existence has been.  Emphasis on the grace.  I have not deserved or earned ANY of what I've enjoyed.

From the beginning I was doted on (ask my sisters) by parents and grandparents.  When this happens expectations become distorted.  The world revolves around me.  That's the way it's always been.  Whatever I want I'll eventually get.  It may take some effort on my part occasionally, but that just makes things interesting.

So after a life of achievement and success there came a time of realization of what my life really amounted to.  I had felt I was an pretty 'ok' person.  Tried to be helpful and kind when it suited me.  And it seemed like it suited me fairly often.  But it was always from the excess.  The part that was left after I consumed as much as I wanted. 

But looking back and seeing my life through God's eyes was a total shock.  I'd been maneuvering and manipulating people and situations all my life for one purpose.  To satisfy the spoiled little child that was me.

This revelation happened after a catastrophic motorcycle injury accident.  I had been riding (with abandon) for over 30 years when two weeks after completing a solo motorcycle trip from Key West, Florida to Anchorage, Alaska, I had an accident that broke the right femur in three places and destroyed the ligaments in the left knee.  

So after months of immobility, and isolation, and limitation, and constant pain (and I was highly pain tolerant from distance running), I had a trip back to Carolina to see my parents when God began to show me what a total disaster my life had been.

I had the feeling that the Alaska trip had been a disaster but I wasn't sure why.  I had accomplished the objective, right?  But what was the objective?  Just to get from one place to another?  No.  Use your skills, determination and perseverance to over-come obstacles?  Yes. But to achieve what?  To prove what?

I knew the answer once.  But even that came too easy.  I didn't appreciate what it was.

What is the answer?

Stay tuned.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Welcome

A quote that's been attributed to J.R.R. Tolkien: "Not all who wander are lost."

This blog is about a journey and life.

I don't claim to be an authority of anything.  Just a fellow wanderer who has found a few things by the grace of God. 

I'll supply some background about where I'm coming from in future posts.  I just wanted to set your expectations (preferably low) before you spend much time on this.  There lots of more talented bloggers you can read.  I feel a little presumptuous to even imagine I have something worthwhile to say.  But you decide.