happy day of birth

shawna and i just got home from celebrating two of our friend's birthdays.  it was a lot of fun and the time was spent with some truly admirable people.  the kind of courage that it takes to just commit is a courage that i find very little of in me or in most people.  so to be in a group where so many of the people exemplify it on several different levels is a moment that deserves recognition.

birthdays are special days.  it's rare that any kind of gatherings are called in order to celebrate life.  even most birthday parties are not called this way, but when they are (or when you make them that way) it is a genuine 'church-like' experience.  Life is an incredible thing that gets looked over and taken for granted, even more that sight or hearing.  the two guys whose birthdays we celebrated are both people who i like having around me.  they both have a respect and trust for and in God that makes the world a better place.  i believe that is how God designed for it to be.  it is the definition of a living relationship with what is greater than our greatest achievement.  each of these guys live this on a true level.

Thank You & Happy Birthday James and Jon!

forgiveness

today a friend of mine who was admittedly mad at me called, explained, told me he loved me, asked for forgiveness and laid a good foundation for future communication.  it was the most mature act of friendship i've experienced in a long time.  especially after i definitely had some faults of my own.  it was such a rare act of humility, kindness, commitment and friendship.  i hope it emboldens me to do more of the same.

blogs are pretentious...

i have enough opinions.  there is no need for me to post them up anywhere when i'd rather not even have them in my head.  opinions are usually formed around the things we dislike, at least, that's my opinion ... or is in my observation?  either way, who cares.  i'm going to just post things here that i observe, am grateful for and want to remember.

to start it off, today i saw someone follow their convictions to the degree that required backtracking, recommitment, embarrassment, humility, surrender and trust (though not exactly in that order).  it was the exact opposite of laziness.  it was like watching a movie or looking at really good art; the emotions conceived and conveyed burst inside me even though they weren't mine to begin with.

sincerity makes me live my life differently.