nicknames...

in light of a recent post by my dear friend Ashley Gill (AGill if you will), there are a few things I need to say about nicknames. I love nicknames and I try my best to give everyone I know or care about rather a good nickname. However, I am puzzled by those who assign themselves nicknames. For instance, if I just suddenly started referring to myself as Bert it would be weird. I recently received an email that was sent to everyone on campus. This guy signed the email "Ike". His name is Isaac and I realize that maybe that's a common nickname, but he doesn't tell people his name is Ike and I would never call him Ike. We're not on that nickname level (and quite honestly I hope we never are), but I feel as though he has staked a claim over my friendship. I feel as though I should maybe reply with an email like "Dear Ike, Bert is no longer accpeting frienships from people like you. Love, Bert" I just dont understand. Maybe one day I will...
--Bert

a-ddicted

so the Olypics completely own me. I can't stop watching. I have re-realized some of my hopes and dreams...
1. i want to be a short track speed skater
2. i want to be a professional skiier
and the olypmics have been on for less than a week. I've got to get started. But seriously, I really want to move somewhere where I can ski frequently after seminary. I think its a little late to start a career, but i'll settle for some good leisure activity.

where did you go?

I asked, "Where is God in all of this?"

You said, "Where is God in this? Somewhere in the darkness of our human ordeals. In the cold and lonely places where our cries meet the stillness and quiet of heaven. In the places and relationships of our lives where our authentic selves can be expressed in fulness. In all the places that we cannot point and cannot prove and sometimes cannot even perceive. In all of these places. In none of these places. I do not know where God is but it is the Mystery that draws us forward in our search for the Divine."

i dont think i'm ready

so a new semester has begun, but I dont really feel that renewed or ready to tackle new subject matter. Sometimes I would just like to have time to ponder, to think, to be refreshed. I suppose the world wont stop turning on my behalf.

in other news, i saw the NY Philharmonic orchestra and it was great. I went to Ikea for the first time and it changed my life--i got saved several times in the home office section alone.