somewhere a knife.

I
somewhere a sharp knife cuts into the side of an orange.
somewhere the song of a piano plays an unrecognizable chorus.
somewhere someone is looking for something but can't find it.
somewhere questions are left unanswered.

snow falls on the trees and blankets the ground.
it resembles a peacefulness that is strangely unobtainable to many.

the blanket of peace comes up short and my feet are cold.

doesn't it make you feel good? to be lost? and cold? and without answers?


II
somewhere a dull knife splits an apple; core and seeds now exposed.
somewhere the frosting has been licked off of the cupcake.
somewhere an instrument is being tuned to the wrong key.
somewhere a truck passes by on the interstate; as does life.

there is no time for rest. no slowing down.
the snow does not stop coming down - while discontent and frustration freezes the soil.

the blanket of chaos dulls the luster and smothers the fire of life.

doesn't it make you feel good? to be lost? and dreary? and without answers?


III
somewhere a dirty knife penetrates the heart of a pomegranate as the full passion of life is discovered.
somewhere a solution is dancing wildly on the horizon.
somewhere a melody is filling the air with truth.
somewhere rescue is coming.

snow falls on cedars, compelling shelter to be sought.
the warmth of the fire within burns brightly and melts away frozen souls.

the blanket of hope comforts the whole.

doesn't it make you feel good? to be lost? and warm? and without answers?

waiting and hoping and seeking...

living a good story

recently - i finished reading Donald Miller's new book - A Million Miles and a Thousand Years. the essence of this book is 'story'. what kind of story are you living, am i living? the book is full of stories, basically, that discuss and look at what it might be like to re-write and edit one's own life story.

one chapter talked about risk and how overcoming risk makes for a great story. the wheels began to spin in my mind: what risks have i taken? what stories are memorable? here are a few things that came to mind... most of which my (or may not) be risky - but they are not what i would think of as normal... so thus maybe, perhaps they are good stories?

• Exploring and climbing into an abandoned barn - only to realize once inside i couldn't get out.
  
• sneaking out of billy's grandparents house by climbing out second story window - trying rope to bed
• Seeing George Brett play baseball up close and personal.
  
• riding around in the trunk of a car all night - returning to campus - only to go back out and drive all night around Lexington, KY with Jay Pope.
• Midnight impromptu dance party with friends in a field off the highway, as These Are the Days by 10,000 Maniacs played on the car stereo.
  
• Driving west and attending film school in Los Angeles.
• Successfully creating, pitching and producing a tv show.
• leaping into a new profession as Youth Director.
  
• Driving 6 hours to 'see about a girl'... a year and a half later, marrying that girl.
• My wife and i taking up running.
  
• Jen taking me to an Explosions in the Sky concert in ghetto Cleveland
• Taking the youth group on many trips and adventures: retreats, mission trips and the like.
  
• going with my parents on a makeshift family history tour - traveling to Randolph, NY + Crestline, Ohio and many places in between, interviewing people and videotaping the entire event.
  
• Family vacations @ Lakeside.
• Starting our own photography business.

these aren't examples of great stories - but they are just a glimpse of a few of my stories. some were risky... some were not so much. thinking about them compells me to make new ones.

Donald Miller - A Million Miles... review

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I cam upon this book at just the right time. I've been fascinated by the idea of 'story' as of late - and A Million Miles and a Thousand Years is about just that: story.

Donald Miller is a good story teller - in person and in word form.

Admittedly, i haven't read Blue Like Jazz - his most notable book - but this book seemed to grab my attention more.

Basically Miller lays out in creative form the need for 'story' in the lives of humans... and if given the chance - how many of us would change our very own story?

If we could all start over and give our lives a 're-write' how would things be different? I was whimsically challenged by this book... if nothing else - to take more risks... to make my story memorable (something you can't do while sitting on the couch).

It was an easy read and i could probably read it again. it's not that anything profound was really shared - lots of movie vs. real life comparisons - but it was gently inspiring.

Miller writes in a conversational tone which i enjoyed.

View all my reviews >>

wait.

After the seas are all cross'd, (as they seem already cross'd,)
After the great captains and engineers have accomplish'd their work,
After the noble inventors, after the scientists, the chemist, the
geologist, ethnologist,
Finally shall come the poet worthy that name,
The true son of God shall come singing his songs.
~from Walt Whitman :: a passage to india


wait.
[advent.]

Advent: Wait... the prince of peace is coming.

The Missing Peace from Tim Beck on Vimeo.