Sports

I don't usually talk about sports, but I have a though so I think I will share. I watched a good bit of the Yankees/Angels championship series and the home plate umpiring was awful. Strikes for the Yankees were balls for the Angels and it just was not very fair.

So I though why not take the subjectivity out of it. Make is laser and automatic. Rather than the umpire determining the balls and strikes, have a computer accurately tell where the ball is. Sports broadcasts right now have computer programs that tell us whether the ball was or was not a strike. Still use the humans for judgment calls, but these basic black and white calls can be made electronically.

Maybe that will help. Then maybe we can move to the speed cameras that Germany uses rather than police pulling people over.

Community

I returned to the scene of many hijinx yesterday. The place known as Messiah College. You see, ten years ago I graduated from there. The campus looks a lot the same but besides that, much has changed. But still it was neat to be back and have so many memories return.

For many years after college, I had always known that I greatly enjoyed college and would have loved to go back, but realized that it wouldn't be the same. I slowly began to realize that what I was missing was the profound sense of community that I had there. I had very deep community as is easy when you live on a college campus with so many people.

Well, I have experienced this since. It was when I went to Germany. Another incredible time where I felt so much community and support through community. My heart longs for community. My soul thrives on community. I think that in some way all of us have this desire. So when and where will community come next. I don't know, but I look forward to it whenever it happens and I look forward to putting effort into it happening again.

Germany

It has been a rough couple of days. I woke up on Friday missing Germany and the people. Usually it hits at moments throughout the day, but to wake up with it on my mind meant that it didn't leave all day.

I had such a community there. One that doesn't exist now. I loved, I was loved. I laughed, I traveled and I lived. Life doesn't stop but it feels like it is going about as slowly as it can right now. It is even hard to contact those people that I miss because I feel like I will miss them more.

There are bright spots and darker spots. This is just a bit darker of a time. But I did get to have fun in a corn maze today. That was cool. Have a good week and if you don't mind. Send up a little prayer for me.

Tunnelwise

Sometimes in life we walk through darkness. It can feel like a tunnel where we can't see light on either side. At times I feel like I am in a tunnel right now. I can catch a glimpse of some light behind me. That light was Germany and is fading. But it is not good to look behind. It is best to stay focused on what is in front of you.

First off because it is dark and you may stumble. But secondly and more importantly, you need to look ahead because you may catch a glimmer of the light at the end of the tunnel. And even a glimmer of that light is infinitely more satisfying than looking behind you at a light.

Let me introduce a third aspect of this metaphorical tunnel. Throughout the tunnel are periodic lights. These happen far more than one may notice, but when they are noticed it pushes back the darkness. The thing about these lights is that you never know if they are the end of the tunnel or not. So it is best to keep your eyes concentrated on this light.

There is a light that I must keep my eyes on.

Oh the joys of life

I found something exiting tonight. At one of my more fav cafes, Prince Street Cafe, they make good coffee with a good atmosphere. As I found out tonight, they also serve you your latte or cappuccino in a mug if you ask them. Most places just give you the paper cup, but I am really enjoying the coffee out of a mug. Props to them.

Resting

Life is full of light and shadow
Oh the joy and Oh the sorrow
oh the sorrow

And yet will He bring day from night
And yet will He bring dark to light

When shadows fall on us
We will not fear
We will remember
When darkness falls on us
We will not fear
We will remember
When all seems lost
When we're thrown and tossed
We'll remember the cost
We're resting in the shadow of the cross
-David Crowder* Band

The cd 'Church Music' is amazing

What a day!

Got to get out on the water today. Man, was it beautiful. Barely a cloud in the sky. I thought that it would be a bit cold, but as I got my arms moving in the kayak, I realized that it was perfect. Relaxing and being on the water is just a wonderful way to spend a couple hours.

It is neat how, by getting out in God's creation, it can refresh you. And that is what I feel right now. A bit refreshed. Grateful for the day.

Fire, Jazz, Cushy chair

Right now I am sitting near a fire, with jazz playing in the background and drinking some coffee. This site could take place in a living room and it would be lovely if it did. But alas this is not. It would also be nice if it was occurring in a small cafe but alas, no. It is occurring in a chain store which does a great job a creating atmosphere even if it is mass produced. (NOT STARBUCKS!)

Either way I am enjoying myself. I am relaxed and it is nice to sit, reflect and type. I urge you to find that place that makes you comfortable, wherever it may be.

It is not good for the Matt to be alone

So I went out on the town tonight. By myself. I went to enjoy a free show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music. A jazz pianist and classical guitar player were performing. The performance hall happens to be downtown close to some art gallaries and cafes. So I got dinner at a cafe and afterwards enjoyed some art and coffee.

Before and during the show I had a periodic thought. Wouldn't it be neat if I ran into a nice lady that I didn't know and we just hit it off and ended up going to a cafe and having a couple hour long amazing conversation. Yeah, yeah, I know, not likely and only happens in the movies. Anyways, it was a thought and hope of mine.

Never did happen, but I still had a very enjoyable evening. Just would really love to have someone to share these types of things with.

So I got a bit wet

Last Friday I had the distinct privilege to go golfing with my brother. Since I hadn't swung a golf club in a year, I went to the driving range Thursday night to remind myself how it worked. A side note...as I was getting my clubs out of the car there was this group of people. It looked like multiple parts of a family. Grandparents, one sons family, another family, but all related. They were getting ready to play mini golf. I realized that I understood what they were saying to each other, yet I also realized that it didn't seem to fit in the states. It was at this time that I realized they were speaking German to each other. It felt so comfortable to hear them interact in German. A nice thing for a guy missing Germany.

Anyways, back to golf. Friday morning came around and we got out on the golfcourse. I was doing okay. Not great, but better than I have done before and the best of us four. It was quite the enjoyable time and I was really enjoying walking the course with my bro. Then some drizzeling rain came. A small shower lasted for about five minutes and then moved on. We though we were okay till we had just finished hole 13. The sky got real dark and huge drops started coming down. By the time that we walked back the the clubhouse WITH an umbrella. We were soaked. Man, we got poured on. But we didn't get struck by lightning which was good.

Still ended up being a great day.

A nice little game

Football is back. The first round of preseason games is happening. Last night the amazingly awesome Ravens took on the interminable Redskins. Just kidding, but the Ravens and Redskins did play. The Ravens dominated the evening winning 23-0. It was enjoyable to see a football game again. The last game I watched at a normal time was about 4 years ago. I have been watching games from Germany 6 hours ahead for the last 3 years. It will be nice to watching the super bowl at 6:30 pm instead of 12:30 am.

So anyway, the Ravens beat up on the Redskins. Game doesn't matter one lick, but I am glad to see the Ravens looking decent already. Should be a good year.

Role Reversal?

I have been hearing many older people talk for years about the younger generation and technology. In many ways I think some of the things said are true, but every once in a while I see something that makes me think differently.

I was sitting in Panera bread on Saturday afternoon. There were not many people there so it was easy to here and notice other things. A bit to my left were a family that were eating. There was a mom, dad and teenage son. The dynamics were interesting. I never saw the mom put down her cell phone or say anything. The dad had his cell phone out most of the time. The son did not have a cell phone.

He was by far the most conversational of the three. He was the most well-spoken and the most interested in talking. The mom did not really pay any attention to anything but her cell phone. I just found it to be an interesting reversal of what we expect. Definitely makes you wonder what technology is affecting in the middle aged generation.

Life and Death

Wow, it has been a looooooong time. Almost long enough for people to wonder if this is dead or not. Even for me to wonder if I was going to end this blog. Well, I am not. Proof...I am updating right now. In fact, I do not know how often I will update, but as for now, I do plan on updating every week. So for you wondering if it is worth reading, at least once a week it will be.

Anyway, on to the time at hand. Monday night, after a day of enjoying nature and kayaking, I returned with my parents and a black snake was discovered to be caught in some netting. I thought that it would be nice to free it. It was dark though and I could barely see the issue whilst shining a flashlight. So I figured that the next morning I would attempt the rescue.

The next morning I went out and started the rescue. I was very careful and tried very hard to be gentle. The snake was remarkably still and I started to wonder about its health or lack of. I did free it, but it had died. I placed it in some bushes hoping that it would heal some and slither away, but it was not to be. Then something interesting happened. I felt a profound sense of sadness.

I wasn't expecting this for although I tried to save it, it was just a snake. But I could not get the fact that the snake had died out of my head all day and I have thought about it today. I realized through conversation that the effort I put into saving the snake had also brought an attachment to the snake. It had been living and I worked hard to keep it that way, but it was not to be. So the effort put in brought a caring spirit along. How much more does that happen for us in relationships with humans? For me, extravagantly more.

Well, that is it for now. Till next time...

Two Things I Like

Happy Birthday, mum!

It is my mom's birthday today. I love my parents and am so thankful for them. God has really blessed me through them.

I also really like the NCAA right now. They are broadcasting every game of the NCAA tourney on ncaasports.com. That allows me, a resident of Germany, to watch the game. It may be late at night for me, but it has been nice to have a taste of the good ole USA. The Villanova/Pitt game was amazing. And I was able to see it. So thanks to the NCAA.

O What a Night!

Yesterday was my day off here in good ole Germany. It was a relaxing day in which I did not know what the rest held. Little did I know that it would turn into a wonderful evening. A group of people were going into Basel, CH to see a movie. I figured that I would join them. So to be in Basel is a good start.

We got into Basel a little early for the movie and I had some time to burn. So when others went to get some coffee, I and a friend went to a nearby pub and enjoyed a pint with good conversation. What a nice way to start an evening. After that I went to the movie of choice which was Slumdog Millionaire. Needless to say, it is a very good movie. The story is good and it is very real. Well done with good acting. I really enjoyed it.

I had gone to see a different movie than the others in the group, so I had about an hour after my movie got out. I decided to walk the streets of Basel. It was really nice and relaxing to walk the streets at night. I made it down to the river and just enjoyed the light reflecting off the water.

It was a great and very relaxing evening. I was glad that it happened even if unexpectedly.

25 things

1. I am currently reading the book 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan

2. My favorite movie is probably Gladiator

3. I don't like tomatoes

4. I don't like to be alone

5. I live with 29 males and 2 females

6. This May it will be ten years since I graduated college

7. I worked once as a tour guide at a potato chip factory

8. In college, I gave a five minute spontaneous speech on the paper clip

9. I don't have a left eye

10. I can enjoy movies strictly depending on where they are shot

11. I have been in 6 major league ballparks in the US

12. I love winter and snow

13. I have been a paid musician

14. I love jazz

15. I have rapped the Lord's Prayer in front of a couple hundred people

16. I like surprises which is why I didn't shake presents before Christmas growing up

17. I wanted to be an underwater basket weaver when I was young

18. 384

19. There are few things I like in the world more than going out to eat with friends and staying for hours

20. I wish that I knew how to shoot poison mouth darts

21. I will pay $10 to see pretty much any live musical act

22. I have driven through six countries in one day

23. I have never been to Colorado

24. My favorite tv show in the States was College Gameday

25. I spend too much time on Facebook

26. I am currently living in the most beautiful place that I have ever lived.

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes...

Christmas is all around me. In beautiful understated Germany with the quaint little Christmas markets and closed stores. The stores closed a bit afternoon on Christmas eve and don't open up until tomorrow morning(Dec 27). It is quiet and just a nice time spent with wonderful people.

Lots of Christmas movie watching has happened. Some wonderful flicks. What is you favorite Christmas movie? Die Hard?

The movies that I can think of that I have watched this year are 'A Christmas Story', White Christmas', 'Charlie Brown', 'Grinch'(cartoon), 'Grinch'(Jim Carrey), 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'Home Alone', 'Santa Clause', 'Elf', 'Muppet Christmas Carol', and I think that's it. All enjoyable watches although some more than others.

Have a great holiday.

Found it interesting

I have always thought that my music listening was a little eclectic, but I have listened to 6 different artist this morning.

Snow Patrol - a hundred million suns
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown Christmas
Ben Folds - rockin the suburbs
Journey
Chicago - chicago IX
Hillsong United - i heart revolution

Just to let you in a bit on my listening these days

Snow nestled hills

Hey all one of you, :-)

I am sitting in here in Germany thinking about life. There are hard times and good times. Sometimes you do good things. Sometimes you hurt the people you care for. Life still goes on and doesn't seem to stop for anything. But man, there are moments that you wish you could take back...at least I do.

This weekend has been a long one. Lonely also. Sometimes the hard times wear on me and I don't feel like I have much left. That is about how I feel. I am tired of being alone. I am tired of not knowing what the next year will bring. Everyone else wants to know, but I can't tell them if I don't know. The uncertainty is hard. We aren't meant to go through this life alone, yet we pull away from each other and hurt each other. We are human, that is going to happen. That doesn't make it any easier though.

Thinking....

War

Tonight I am leaving with our junior class here at school to drive to Normandy. It is a history class trip and I am fortunate enough to go. In preparation for this trip, we have watched a couple different things. The first three parts of Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. Needless to say that watching all this got me thinking about war. The horrors of it and everything. It is going to feel a lot more real when I go to this place. I had the chance to go to Bastogne last year and that was good but hard at the same time.

It will be interesting to see Normandy. To see the beaches that the troops landed on. To see the cemeteries commemorating them. I just found this out yesterday. The largest cemetery there is not the US cemetery. It is the German cemetery. Interesting?

I look forward to this weekend and hope that it will give me a new perspective on the awfulness of war and the sacrifice that these men made.