Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The last few lines of this always get stuck in my head, making it one of my favorites.

Its funny, at least to me that is, that this poem always pops into my head while I’m running on the trails near where I grew up in the winter. And since I’m out in the freezing cold, like a lunatic, my mind sometimes relies on great writers to rationalize what I’m doing.

Check out what goes on in there:

You see, I love running, and I ‘ve dedicated sooo much of my life to it I don’t know who or where I’d be without it. It’s a talent God has blessed me with. Its something I try to use to glorify Him. The best way I know to do this is to make the most of the talent He has given me, and simply become the best runner I can…all along the way giving Him the praise for any, if there be any, “successes.”

Sometimes I get caught up in trying to, make the most of running, and be fast that it takes over my life a little, and that gets scary because I don’t mind it. I don’t mind dedicating my life to this ONE TRUE THING. This one thing that seems to be the most authentic, powerful, and meaningful way I connect to, learn from, and worship God. The trouble is that I have to stay focused on God, and be dang sure that running is not becoming my “god.” This usually requires large amounts of prayer for me.I often try and bargain, promising that if I become really fast I will tell everyone I know about Jesus, and naturally people will listen, simply because I am so fast. Probably a little theologically immature on my part but slowly, I’ve come to realize there is great influencing power in the way I live my life, and for now at least God is okay, I think, with letting running be a humongous part of my life.

But it can’t BE my life, we’ve decided (God that is), because  I don’t think that’s giving Him enough. Some day there will be more to me. I really wanna help people in a direct way. serve them heal them love them, with physical therapy, with whatever money/resources I have, with  the passion I currently bring to running. One day. I promise. I’ll get there.

As for now though, I’ve got other promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep.  Promises to myself to see this thing through, this running thing, and that means lots of miles, lots, and lots of miles to run. So, while I take a moment to stop and think on this snowy evening I’m not quite sure where running will take me or how far I can get, but I know I’ve got enough dreams in my heart to get me there. Lord willing, that is.

p.s.

I completely understand if all of you out there think I’m crazy/idiotic/just plain stupid for using this work of Frost’s to talk about running. I know it has so  much more to offer. I know.

I’ve got to be a little creative, though; if I have any hope at all of getting people to read about my running these days.

Or maybe some people will try to defend their “useless” habits. Either way my goal here is to generate some thought about intentional living, and at least nail down an explanation for the weird ways some of you spend your money and your time.

Alrighty here we go…Volume One of the useless things people do:

1. Make their beds. Some say neatness is a virtue, but so is using you time wisely. All I can say is  a). you are just going to be messing that bed again in a few hours and b.) how often are you near your bed that seeing it made gives all you neat freaks out there a nice warm tingly feeling inside? I will concede that  making your bed might be appropriate when entertaining company so as to nicely round out the rest of your recently tidied up living quarters.

2. Wear/buy/dream of owning Ugg Boots. Over-priced? Yes. Ugly? Yes. Practical? Occasionally, but why not just opt for the not-so-brand name boots that are about a hundred times cheaper?

3. Video games. I’ll be the first to admit that I, from time to time enjoy a little partaking of a video game here and there, and I’m especially fond of guitar hero/rockband and the wii, but I think if we all take a  hard look deep down inside ourselves we can see that video games are  completly useless.  Do you have so little imgaination that it takes a  $300, $400, $500 box to keep you entertained? Video games are addictive too making them especially effective wastes of time. Some may say that video games help them relax and get to know people…to them I say put the controller down and really get to know your friends. There is a great way to do it and its completety free…its called intelligent converstaion. Oh and relax? yea right… just look at Randolph. (If you do not know Randolph just picture any other gamer you know who constantly yells/throws things/gets bulging veins on their neck from “relaxing” with their video games.

4. Buy Dvds. Why pay $10-20 for a movie you’ve already seen and will most likely see on t.v. in a couple months? Nowadays with the internet, library, and redbox you can watch almost any movie/ new release for free or $1. Think of how many people you could help with all that extra money saved. Maybe you have a few favorite movies you keep around because you like them so much. I’ll give you a pass here… sometimes you just NEED to see a movie fifty times. Be careful though, if you have a conscience you might want to shy away from watching too many movies on those slightly shady internet sites.

5. Invest emotion into football games. Yes you may be from Cleveland, but that does not make you a Brown. You are just a guy with nothing to do on Sunday. You don’t actually know Winslow, Edwards, or Quinn, and no I’m sorry but you  can not hold your own out there with them no matter how bad they are playing. Go ahead enjoy the game with a few friends, follow the stats a bit if thats your sort of thing, wear a dog mask and act like an idiot in the pound, but don’t make the Browns your life. I have no idea why any sane person would have the outcome of their day/week/year dependent upon the results of a bunch of big, mostly black strangers manhandling each other for a couple hours.

6. Carry a backpack and a purse. Honestly, how much stuff do you chicks need?

7. Take an online class. Its basically an agreement between you and your professor that cheating is going to happen. There is a lot of pomp and show from the administration ” look we have this agrrement they have to sign, blahdy blah blah, ” but you’ll be hard pressed to find a student who hasn’t cheated in one of these classes, or learned anything for that matter. Online classes are essentially a student straight up paying the school for credit in a given area. “Um yes that will be $300 for your the passing grade of your choice in Ethics 101, thank you, and we’ll see ya next semester!” Its enough to make all us honest, hard working, normal class  kids to get a little hot under the collar.

8. Wear letter/varisty Jackets. Again, this is something I am guilty of. I only wish I had realized how dumb these things were in high school. “Oh hey whats up dude, check out my sweet varsity jacket, aren’t I like, totally sweet?”  This is basically how people with these jackets talk. Do you really need a $300 coat to make you feel good about yourself for a mere four years? Compliments boost self-esteem too, and if you have friends they are free! Minus two points if you still wear your jacket in college, although that might fall into the category of “pathethic things people do.”

9. Drive really really big pickup trucks. Okay so gas has gone down a little latley making really really big trucks slightly less guilty, but they are still deserving of recognition. So yea, sweet you drive a humongous truck and pay about $75 a week to drive to your desk job and fill up all that bed space with gorceries on your way home. Awesome. I wish I was tough enough to drive one of those monsters.

10. Get mad if I have recently made fun of them. C’mon don’t be a baby. Think about your life, the ways you spend your money, and your time. What are you invested in? Where do your passions lie? Can you rationalize the way you behave? I don’t know, but don’t get mad at me if you’re doing something useless.

P.S. This list is far from complete. Comment your additions or mention them to me and I’ll add them here later. Let’s stop being useless!

And usually with these types of people I usually just smile and nod and act extra nice because I know they are trying, trying their hardest to make it in this world, to fully integrate into society, and maybe even make a few friends.

I just don’t have the heart to explain to them that blogging is more of an art form than anything else.

It is not a magazine column or a collection of essays.

It is something ethereal, difficult to grasp, maybe even a little mysterious.

It is not a rant, a rave, or a religious debate.

It is raw, thought-provoking, and fresh.

It does not tread on the ground of others and mash the same old questions and debates into the ground.

It aspires to stir the mind…

and not preach, teach or bottle-feed it.

Blogs like all good writing leave the reader the room to do some of their own thinking. They challenge them to venture out of the comfortable confines of everyday life, to go forth and explore, to experience,  to imagine life in a different light, and dream. Blogs like good writing cause the reader to step back and consider, to take notice, and dare to take action.

And that is just what I hope to accomplish here…now.

Thus far I’ve refrained from challenging you too much, and rightfully so…Its been necessary for me to establish a small foundation, a  launching pad, a seed, a root that is,  to grow from.

I’ve been careful  only to give you a glimpse, a snapshot …  my posts have established my recent past and current mind frame so you know where I’m at of late and where I hope to go, there have been posts displaying some of my old work, and posts encouraging you to explore the story behind my words and the history of my title and username. All this has been intentional.You needed to be introduced, and given some time to absorb this new experience, this new cause.

But now you’re ready. You’re ready to grow, to be challenged, to maybe even make a difference.

So, welcome let’s go about the business of changing the world.

http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-xc/spec-rel/102208aaa.html

And to all you google searchers out there…God knows what you have done.

the great photo in my previous posting was taken by none other than my critcally aclaimed artisticly gifted younger brother, ethan. i also have chosen to use some of his work as my little “gravatar” thingy here on wordpress.

these photos are great little bro…keep up the good work!

I haven’t come up with much to answer those questions but a song I’ve always liked does a good job of describing my attitude in the good times of life as well as the less bright.

Your Will Above All Else

My Purpose Remains

The Art of Losing Myself

In Bringing YOU Prasie!

Whatever is happening to me, I’ve resolved is a chance to glorify God. Now, whether that be humbly succeeding or graciously handling defeat doesn’t matter. My actions and responses to lifes up and downs are examples to everyone around me. I might as well show them God.

Another cool little thought I came across the other day might help put some perspective out there for anyone else who is just enjoying some good times too.

” We are here to learn to endure the beams of love”

Its like building a base tan before going off to the tropics, I can’t just expose my pale skin to the powerful rays of the equator. I gotta work up to it or i risk getting roasted.

God must not want me to get a loveburn.

Thats pretty cool, I think. All I have to say is:

Thank you Lord for an Amazing 2008. May I glorify your name in ’09. For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever.

Goals/Resolutions for the New Year….

Seek God- He knows: Matthew 7:7-11

Dream big: Luke 1:37

Glorify Him! Psalm 34

I saw this movie tonight with my family on Christmas, no less, and it was great. What makes it great? The response it creates in the viewer. Great movies, songs, and poems all force the viewer/listener/reader to do two things………….

THINK                                                                                                                                                                                          AND                                                                                                                                                                                                           FEEL.

Fate. Disaster.Sacrifice Love.Life.Death. Redemption.

Its worth the seven bucks, folks, don’t worry about what the critics say.