0057.

Say what you will about Dave Matthews Band. I've never really been a huge fan. But I like this song.

I really like what the lyrics have to say, and I think the slightly off-kilter music in the verses reflect them. So here's the lyrics.

Just thought I'd post them.

P.S. I went to a Mosque tonight for my Religion class. It was interesting. I'll probably blog more on that when I don't have a 10 page paper staring me in the face....



Lyin’ in the park
On a beautiful day
Sun shine in the grass
And the children play
Siren’s passin’
Fire engine’s red
Someone’s house is burning down
On a day like this

The evening comes and we’re hangin’ out
On the front step
And a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that war song is playin “why can’t we be friends?”
Someone's screamin’ and cryin’ in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is
And if you think about it
Somebody’s goin’ hungry
And someone else is eatin’ out
Funny the way it is
Whether right or wrong
Somebody’s heart is broken
And it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in a lover’s kiss
Like a pretty bird on a breeze
Or water to a fish
But a bomb blast brings the building crashin’ to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is
And if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school
While another’s droppin’ out
Funny the way it is
No matter right or wrong
On a soldier’s last breath
His baby’s being born

Standin’ on a bridge
Watch the water passin’ under me
It must have been much harder
When there was no bridge just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountain, and oceans, and winter’s, and river’s and stars

Watch the sky the jetplanes
So far out of my reach
Is there someone up there lookin’ down on me?
Boy chase a bird
So close but everytime
He never catch her
But he can’t stop trying

0056.

So I wanted to write a blog today, but I'd kind of decided against it since I usually write a blog on Easter and didn't feel like I had anything new to add.

Until about 2pm today.
I was riding with my mom (in the valley) to run errands before getting a pedicure (yay), when I saw something that made me fight back tears.

I'll try to paint the picture for you, because I didn't think I would able to get a good photo of it.

We pulled into the bank parking lot, so I was able to watch further while my mom went inside.

This is what I saw:

An older man, unkempt, with a long white beard wearing dingy flannel and cargo pants. Some sort of hat. I can't picture it well now. He had two flat metal crosses hanging around his neck. Here inlies the interesting part: on his back he was stabling a cross, which i later saw to be dragging along on what I think was a dolly, covered in a sheet on which the face of Jesus was painted. Some stray garments of some sort hung from it as well.

He was trudging along on the grass (or sidewalk, if there happened to be one) in the same direction the cars were traveling, so the first thing the cars saw was a large moving cross with a giant Jesus face covering most of it. You could not see the man from behind. I was able to watch him intently as he gradually advanced in my view from one side of the windshield to the other.

Now, the man simply trudged along, step by step, very deliberately. He said nothing. Better yet, he yelled nothing. He kept his gaze forward and slightly tilted downward. He stopped for a few seconds about every 15 yards or so, perhaps to gather his bearings again before continuing on.

I have no idea how far he had traveled or how far he was planning on going. I have no idea if anyone else even gave him a second glance.
But I wish I could let him know that he touched my heart today.

In the same humble way as Jesus did, without saying a word, he said a thousand words. There were no picket signs or megaphones. There were no war statistics or hellfire speeches. He just reminded everyone of what was happening on that day almost two thousand years ago.

And perhaps no one noticed. (although, how could you not--at least for a second) Perhaps practically no one cared. But I feel like that is an accurate representation of Jesus and how he presented himself to the world. He did what he came to do, with one thing in mind, and he did it humbly. And most people didn't (and don't) care.

I hope that man finds rest today. I don't know if he was homeless; I don't think he was crazy. But if he made no difference to anyone else today, I hope somehow he knows that he affected me.

Thank you Jesus. I could better feel the weight of Your sacrifice today because of the heart of this man.

0055.

Craig's contribution to my paper on how International Business relates to Music Business:

Butternut squash. This vegetable is more than just a tasty treat. It can be used for many practical purposes around the house, such as a doorstop, a hat, weights to lift, a pillow, and many others. The only limit is your imagination!

0054.

Yet another referral.

It's about being willing to be inconvenienced by someone you love (read: wife, husband..God), even if you're willing to die for them. Everyday selflessness vs. the grand gesture selflessness. Great post.

Click here to read it.