Happy Birthday Luke Walton and Lady Gaga!

That's an odd pairing, right? The Los Angeles Lakers' current coach and former player, and the overwhelmingly eccentric, undeniably talented one-woman phenomenon, respectively. I'll bet you know who they both are, or at least have heard of them, but had no idea they shared a birthday. Not the exact same day, mind you. Walton turns 38 today. Gaga a few years behind at 32. I bet you're thinking, "Where could this article possibly be going if it's centered around these two individuals?" Well, it's not actually about them.

It's about me.

Fun fact: I share a birthday with these two individuals. Crazy, right? People have told me on too many occasions to count that I look like Luke. I always respond by stating this amusing piece of trivia, quick to clarify that Luke has me by a few years. (I'll have to make a point to remember that it's a difference of six years.) As for Gaga and I, we were born on the exact same day! Weird to think that we're the same age. Feels like she's been around forever.

That's kind of the point I'm going for here.

I'm 32 years old. I simultaneously feel young and old all the time. Like, I've been around for a long enough amount of time to have accomplished significantly more, yet I can look back and know that I've packed a lot into that time.

Things that make me feel old:

• Steph Curry has been around for a while as a superstar in the NBA. He just turned 30. 
• "Remember the Titans" is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I saw it when it was released in 2000 while I was in high school. NONE of my current students were born yet.
•  I've been a fan of the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams longer than I haven't.
• Floppy discs, cassette tapes and VCRs had major significance in my life for a long time.
• I graduated high school 15 years ago.
• The music kids listen to nowadays has officially become noise that I do not understand and have no interest in.

(I'll add parenthetically that I am fully aware that there are plenty of people older than me who can attest to similar things to a further extent. Ok. You're older than me. Make your own list. This is about why I feel aged.)

Another list that makes me feel old is people whose lives ended before reaching my age:

• Buddy Holly, 22
• River Phoenix, 23
• James Dean, 24
• Otis Redding, 26
• Jimi Hendrix, 27
• Sylvia Plath, 30
• Bruce Lee, 32

Others who I am fast approaching:

• Jesus, 33
• Sam Cooke, 33
• Josh Gibson, 35
• Bob Marley, 36
• Princess Diana, 36
• Malcolm X, 39
• Martin Luther King, Jr, 39

Now, attempting to compare what I've done in my life to these people is obviously absurd. They are some of the most talented, intelligent, driven individuals in their various fortes. But that's also kind of the point. Despite their young ages, they still managed to reach the pinnacle of their discipline and leave behind a terrific legacy. I've managed to compile a resume that includes Weinerschnitzel, Albertson's, Lowe's, Blockbuster, and silk flower delivery, a college degree that took seven years to attain, and an incomplete teaching credential.

This is starting to sound like a pathetic lament on my "failures" in life. It's not; I promise. It's an honest reflection of where I am and how I got here.

Transitioning into another area: 

Relationships.

I've been involved in exactly one serious relationship. I don't have a good way to elaborate on the reasons for this. Do I wish I was married and had multiple kids already? Yes. Do I fear not starting a family until it's almost too late? Or, beyond that, never getting to that point at all? Definitely. This is not some sort of lament and woe-is-me proclamation. I accept full responsibility in this area. I will admit, this is a constant internal battle and has been for a long time. It has similar psychology to my extended college experience and diverse work history. If I would have stuck to the path I had laid out for myself early on (Business degree, Sports Management master's, low-level front office job for a sports franchise anywhere, work my way up over the years), I would not be where I am and would not have had the experiences I have had over the last decade. If I had been involved in a committed relationship and started a family, I would not have the relationships I currently have with students and friends, being able to pour into their lives while also having them pour into me. At least, not nearly to the same degree. This makes weddings the single greatest and worst events for me to attend. I love celebrating the union of friends to a future life of committed love and joy, and doing so while surrounded by great friends. I hate being reminded that I don't have that person in my own life.

Here's what this is not: A cry for help. DO NOT read this as a desperate letter looking for recognition and reassurances. Nor am I asking you to find someone to set me up with. Proceed as you feel led, not leaping to action, or hesitating, simply as a result of this post. I don't mind sharing these things because I would love to have conversations about them. This is life. This is where I'm at. I'm willing to share that with you, and hear where you're at as well.

I love my life. I truly do. I would not go back and change anything if it meant I am not doing the exact same things in life. My years as a teacher were an unprecedented blessing. The opportunity to serve in youth ministry for as long as I have has been literally life-changing. My faith means the world to me. The people I live out every day with, and those that are less regular but still present, are incredibly important to me and I love all of you. If I die today, I would only regret not having a few more conversations with people. Even though it is hardly a milestone age to recognize (like 30 or 40, etc), it's just really weird to think about being 32 years old. To know that I'm closer to being 40 than I am to being 21. The year 2050 is as close as 1986, when I was born. I was already 11 by the time my mother had reached this age. Time has passed very quickly.

Thank you for being here with me for any part of those 32 years. Here's to 32 more with all of you.

"A Time Like This" Lyrical Analysis

Micah has been posting a lyrical analysis for each of the tracks on his new album, "A Time Like This." For each one, over some undetermined and inconsistent amount of time, I will post the link and the particular portion of the track that stands out to me. I would encourage you all to listen to the album if you haven't already, and to dive into the individual analyses.

Visit Micah's "A Time Like This" Lyrical Analysis for more insight.

1- A Time Like This

Lyric:
"I been through enough and I’m ready to quit
I don’t wanna explain my pain to no prick
No mic no stage I’m ready to stay hid
But when I go to run away the fire gets lit
Deep within my skeleton"

Micah's analysis:
"The conviction in (Jeremiah) was too strong and would not tolerate his attempt to stop speaking the truth of God. 'If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot'” (Jeremiah 20:9).

My thoughts:
We all have things we are passionate about. Certain beliefs we hold dear, topics that we have strong opinions about, etc. When it comes to political/societal/moral issues, it's very easy for us to get bogged down by all that is present, and to individually want to pull back and remove ourselves from the conversations. When we do that, the passion does not wither and die. It still exists. When you know what is in your heart is right and needs to be heard, don't let that fire be extinguished. Maybe not to the point of raging, but that fire needs to burn bright for others to see and hear you. Progress is not attained on the strength of silence. Persevere, knowing the battle is worth fighting, no matter the cost.



2- Too Much?

Lyric:
"Done lost my way if I rise to the top of an exploitive
system unjust and corrupt
I seen what American Dreamin’ do to ya soul
Don’t let me be sedated by the power and the gold
Too many revolutionaries make a little dough
Then forget all of the people they was advocatin’ fo’"

Micah's Analysis:
"Many entrepreneurs and creatives of color start out with a mind to uplift their community, but are seduced by the american dream of incredible wealth available to those willing to compromise. Of course this is tempting to those who have known poverty for so long, but it is never worth it."

My thoughts:
In the most tangential moment of the track, Micah acknowledges that the pursuit of the "American Dream" is flawed. Essentially, I have been allotted a station in life, but I can change it and earn my way to the top if I so choose. However, this path often leaves others stuck in the situation I was originally in. We see this narrative play out all the time in media. The story of a lowly individual rising to power, along the way forgetting or harming those they were close to, only to realize their mistake and make amends in the end. The redemption side of things is usually left out of the real world. One need only have seen "The Greatest Showman" to have an example. The greatest conflict in the movie was not Barnum's original rise, but instead his abandonment of his friends and family once he achieved the success he so painstakingly sought. It is only once he realized his errors that he decided to focus on the important people in his life that he acquires true peace and happiness. This is not so easily played out in real life.



3- Fan Mail (ft. Propaganda)

Lyric:
"Gotta remember who you answer to
Who you write the anthems to
Who you raise ya hands to
Who dat Propaganda dude
Who be curing cancer
Who carry the answers
Who can unlock the dancers
Who be givin’ stanzas"

Micah's Analysis:
"When we fix our minds on the authority of God, the love of God, when we remember who we raise our hands and sing our songs for, when we remember the power of God to perform miracles, when we consider that God created us and knows us by name, we are no longer intimidated by those who might scorn us for being faithful to the call of God on our lives. Obviously, those who benefit from injustice will be critical of prophetic voices that call for the dismantling of unjust systems."

My thoughts:
This portion comes from Propaganda's verse on the track. As Micah says earlier in his analysis, "The tone of this song and album thus far is  aggressive. This however is not coming from a place of bitterness or hate. It is coming from a place of righteous anger and love." Society has a tendency to jump to conclusions and overreact about every opinion that is shared. Myself included. To move forward together we have to take a second to think about where the opinion is coming from and why it's being shared. This album is full of "controversial" thoughts and opinions, and it would be easy to come away from it thinking there is a lot of hate, blame, and disrespect going on, as if those things are the purpose. However, the source of those things is more than likely our own beliefs being challenged and us not knowing what to do about it. The album's focus, start to finish, is to glorify God and call attention to the unjust things that are happening in the world. Let us not be so quick to dismiss each other, but instead listen and ask questions.

What is a Sport?

A recent Facebook post has reminded me of one of the most debated ongoing conversations I've ever had:

What is the definition of a sport?

This recent dialogue in particular began with a discussion about marching band, color guard, and cheer leading.

The Oxford Dictionaries define "sport" as:
    -An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Over the years, as I have pondered the various athletic endeavors that individuals participate in, I put together the following definition (with help from Oxford) and list of criteria that I think help define what I would refer to as "sports" and what I would not.

Sport = An activity involving physical exertion and skill that meet the following criteria: 

1 -  Created inherently as a competition.

At the heart of determining whether something is a sport lies the idea of competition. One side faces off against another side to determine who is better at said activity. Traditional team sports like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, etc all contain within their initial rules, as these activities were being created, the idea of one team competing against another to determine a winner. I understand that cheer leading and marching band have competitions now, but they were not created as such. Their initial purpose was to supplement the entertainment aspect of the event going on at the time, most often football games.

Falling into the same category though, admittedly with fair rebuffing are swimming and running. I do not possess a history of who first decided to swim, or how the movement of running has progressed over the years, but I am under the impression that they were both athletic movements entered into out of necessity to hunt and fight and, generally, to survive. Turning it into a competition of who possesses the ability to do them better/faster seems like a natural progression.

2 - Opponents directly impact each others' performance.

Also known as the ability to play defense. Directly impacting the performance of the other side means the physical actions you take are a reaction or anticipation of a physical action towards you. The physical team sports mentioned previously all have actions and outcomes determined by the physical interaction with the opposing side. A batter faces a pitcher, and a batted ball is fielded by the players in the field. Linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs are all trying to prevent the football from matriculating down the field and entering the end zone. Blockers leap with their hands above the net to prevent centers and hitters from spiking the volleyball onto their side of the court. Goalies and goalkeepers stand guard in front of their net to prevent pucks and soccer balls from entering. Tennis players try to hit winners down the line or drop shots that fall out of reach in order to score points against their opponents. Every one of these actions is planned, strategized, and prepared for in anticipation of how the opponent is going to react. In most racing events (running, swimming, biking), a large portion, if not all, of the event has no interaction between competitors. Runners and swimmers often stay in their individual lanes. Longer races see large expanses of space between the athletes. There is such a reduction of interaction that the competition of it is drastically limited.

This is where my heart is torn with golf, because that is an individual endeavor. The mental game is integral, due to the fact that you are competing against every other player at once, making decisions based on the scores they are posting around you. In essence, yes, you are competing against all these other players, but that is an INDIRECT impact on you. There is no physicality shared between competitors. So while golf is a competition of supreme athletic skill and talent, I cannot consider it a sport.

3 - Objective scoring system.

When a sporting event ends, I should be able to definitively say who won. There should be no confusion, no matter of opinion one way or the other. We could argue who played better or who deserved to win, but a clear score tells us who gets the win or the loss (or the draw... gag). If a victory is determined by a system of scoring that is calculated by judges, this becomes a matter of opinion, perspective, preference, or any other non-definitive spectrum of analysis you want to refer to. If we can watch the exact same competition play out, and I can say that Team/Player A won, but you can say that Team/Player B won, we have a significant problem. Inherent scoring systems exist for a reason. I know I am watching something I can consider a sport when I can definitively, objectively, declare a winner.

In Conclusion:

Below is an incomplete list of activities that generally enter the "sport/not-a-sport" discussion. I have organized them based on my criteria and attempted to label them in the clearest, most respectful way possible.

It is IMPERATIVE that we understand that this is merely a system of classification that has no actual bearing on the competitions themselves. Just because I do not classify certain activities as "sports" does not mean I hold them in any less of a regard. Most of the activities named below require a level of athleticism and skill that is to be acknowledged and admired by all. I will admit that I do not consider "pastimes" to be feats of high athletic achievement. But the other distinctions bring with them a very high respect as I personally know individuals who have competed in all of these activities at a high level and have witnessed almost all of them in person.

Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, Ultimate, Water Polo, Lacrosse, Table Tennis, Badminton, Wrestling

Athletics via Competitions: Golf, Boxing, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Track and Field, Swimming, Surfing

Athletics via Artistry: Cheerleading, Color Guard, Marching Band, Dancing

Pastimes: Bowling, Darts, Croquet, Cornhole, Billiards

Nicodemus

A person approaches your home. You are inside, alone. As the person walks by, they glance in through the window and something catches their eye. They want it. Instantly, they enter your house. You are startled because you did not expect it. You are frightened because you fear for your safety. The person grabs what they wanted and races back out of the house. At the end of the block is a police officer. The officer has witnessed the entire event and apprehends the individual. The officer is ready to arrest this person, pending your decision on whether you care to press charges or not, since the offense is against you. What is your decision?

Your decision should come down to one of two things:

1) What did they take?

2) Why did they take it?

If they stole your television, or your gaming system, or your laptop or tablet, you would probably want to press charges. Those are valuable material things that belong to you, and that idea of possession should be protected. But what if they stole your bible? That's a material object that holds a lot of personal value for many people. I would certainly be distraught if someone stole my bible, the first one I was ever given, personalized with my name in it, signed by a dear friend. I may not use it as much as I should, but it's one of my most cherished possessions. But if somebody stole it from me, should my first reaction be to punish them? To want them imprisoned for this "heinous" act? What could possibly have driven them to steal a bible? If someone had a list of things they were to steal, shouldn't I want a bible to be at the very top of that list? I would be strongly inclined to encourage that "crime." Far be it from me to prevent someone from pursuing the Word of God.

That scenario is a little far-fetched. Say they did steal an expensive piece of jewelry or an electronic device of some sort instead. Something with high monetary value. Pressing charges becomes much more desirable. But what if the perpetrator was homeless, had a starving family and nowhere else to turn. The stolen item was going to be sold for money which would pay for food. Would it still be so easy to turn them in? 

Laws exist so society doesn't crumble under its own selfish and destructive desires. They are meant to protect citizens and instill order. But sticking to the letter of the law (the literal interpretation and enforcement with no regard for the situation) versus abiding in the spirit of the law (why the law was created in the first place) is a blurry line to straddle.

In the third chapter of John, a man named Nicodemus finds himself entangled in this philosophical battle. 

Nicodemus is described as a Pharisee, a "ruler of the Jews." Pharisees were known for their "strict observance of religious ceremonies and practices, adherence to oral laws and traditions, and belief in an afterlife and the coming of a Messiah." (Merriam Webster) In other words, they interpret the laws of Moses to the letter, and anybody who fails to comply with those laws is not observing the Jewish code. Eventually, God would send a Messiah (a king who will save the Jews), but that person had still not arrived. 

Then... Jesus. Verse 2 says, "(Nicodemus) came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.'" First, Nicodemus' arrival "by night" implies he is keeping this meeting a secret. As a Pharisee, mingling with someone who is performing deeds the way Jesus is would be frowned up, to say the least. Then, Nicodemus concedes that Jesus is doing miraculous things that only God is capable of. This is blasphemy, to be sure.

So here's what we have: a man who has spent his entire life learning to live by a set of laws, teaching and enforcing those laws. All of the sudden, he encounters someone who appears to legitimately make those laws irrelevant. Nicodemus comes to Jesus confused, hoping to receive confirmation one way or the other as to which path his life is supposed to take: the one dictated by the Law, or the one Jesus is preparing. Jesus could respond in a straightforward way and make this a very easy decision for Nicodemus. Instead:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

I know what "born again" means. You know what "born again" means. Nicodemus, however, has no idea what on earth Jesus is talking about, and makes that obvious when he responds with, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" As are most of the things that Jesus describes to those around him, this concept is unclear. Nicodemus just wants to know what to do, and all Jesus did was confuse him more. Jesus responds to Nicodemus' puzzlement with a more thorough explanation. Things get sorted out now, right? Wrong.

Nicodemus: "How can these things be?" (Verse 9)

Jesus: "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ... If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (Verses 10 and 12)

One of the reasons I love reading about Jesus in the Bible is his range of emotions are so relatable. Everything Jesus says makes perfect sense to him, and yet nobody around him ever understands. Jesus is often incredulous and frustrated when the people he talks to are unable to grasp what he is saying. If you ever wanted to know what it felt like to be a teacher, this is a perfect example.

Jesus came to the world so "that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (Verse 15) Jews at the time believed that the only way to be with God was to follow all of the laws given to them by God through Moses. Jesus turned that on its head, to much criticism and disbelief. People were so caught up in the letter of the law (You must do every one of these things exactly in order to get to God) that they missed the spirit of the law. God (in the person of Jesus) had come to them and was standing right there in front of them! Jesus couldn't say it outright lest he get persecuted (and eventually crucified), so he had to be vague to protect himself and those around him.

The takeaway: It is incredibly easy for me to lose sight of the bigger picture in favor of what is right in front of my face. The phrase "too far in the forest to see the trees" comes to mind. I have to remember that everything that takes place around me is part of a grander world, with motives and reasons that I am not privy to. Jesus wants us to read between the lines, because that's where the words actually are. Rules and laws help guide us towards generally appropriate behavior, but don't let them get in the way of doing what is right. Seek God, then the rest will follow.

#BlackLivesMatter

The Black Lives Matter movement has been a difficult one for society to process, myself included. One need look no further than their Twitter or Facebook feeds to see angered, depressed, frustrated, confused, sympathetic, agitated, analytical, uneducated, aggressive and ignorant posts across the board. I have abstained from contributing my own thoughts and opinions, mostly because I did not know what they were. Even as I write this, my goal is to process what I think/know/believe as opposed to convince you towards one side or the other.

The problem we face is not a new one. Racism exists down every street, around every corner, and across every border. Some people are forced to engage it head-on in their day-to-day actions and encounters. Others live in blissful ignorance a majority of the time. I live with two men who deal with the situation every day. One of them confidently points out the atrocities committed against his people on a regular basis, holding back no punches, challenging any and all who dare oppose or try to diminish the relevance and significance of his views. The other roommate uses his spoken word artistry as his outlet, creating thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, anger-inducing poetry as a means to process his experiences and shed light on realities that frequently go unnoticed by the rest of us.

By the "rest of us" I mean "privileged white people." I never knew what that phrase meant until I moved into this apartment, which is proof enough of its existence and attachment to who I am. I do not have to worry about what neighborhoods I walk through. I do not stare in my rearview mirror in worried anticipation of flashing lights. I have never had to carry the burden of injustice levied against my ancestors. Instead, I go where I want, when I want, and never think twice of it. Was I ineligible from certain scholarship opportunities when I applied for college because I was white and lived a comfortable middle-class life because I had two parents with full-time incomes? Yes. But if that's the only discrepancy I can think of, then I think I have been privileged with a comfortable life.

It is possible I do not agree with every sentiment my roommates express every time social issues come up in living room conversation or social media commentary. But it is likely my eyes have been opened (not wide, but enough) to view the world through a lens that is slightly less rose-colored than ever before.

The BLM movement is our generation's response to the wide void that still exists in this country, both between races and between the various beliefs and ideals regarding race relations. Some people interpret the phrase "Black Lives Matter" as "Only Black Lives Matter." This is not the point, nor the intended sentiment. As many have said before, saying "All Lives Matter" is not an untrue statement, but it does disregard the matter at hand. This cartoon is the best example I have seen of what "Black Lives Matter" is trying to describe:

Just because black lives are the ones being acknowledged does not imply the others do not also have importance. April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Does that mean sexual assault doesn't matter the other 11 months? Or that other violent offenses are disregarded in April? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During August do you ignore your aunt who has breast cancer because it is not her time yet? Or your friend with leukemia doesn't require treatment just because it happens to be October 10? Of course not. That would be preposterous. These things have designations because it allows for a focus during that time to draw attention to that one thing in the hopes of improving or changing it, when it most certainly would not receive appropriate attention otherwise.

There are extreme views to both sides of the BLM movement that are heart-breaking for me. Some people see the death of these black individuals and their first reaction is "Well, he had a gun and was being aggressive. The cop wasn't given a choice." The first reaction to death should never be, "He had it coming." It should be sorrow and grief. Explanations and blame come later. These men had families that lost a son/brother/father/cousin/uncle/nephew. They had friends who lost a confidant/wingman/supporter/encourager. Their lives will forever be void of a presence they care about. The loss of life is first and foremost tragic and unnecessary. It is important that we all see that, and all lament that anyone's life had to be sacrificed in the course of confusion and uncertainty.

The other extreme view is to see white police officers using excessive force against young black men, assume racially-motivated targeting, and desire instant and equal retaliation. Statistics will substantiate the racial-targeting claim based on percentages of arrests and incarcerations. I cannot and will not speak to the racial motivations (or lack thereof) of police officers as a general group. I am not informed or qualified enough to do so. I can only speculate at the pressure law enforcement officers have to deal with ranging from confronting kids on loitering, to making traffic stops, to breaking up violent crimes. Any of those could be concluded without incident or end fatally, depending on the individuals involved, and the officer has to be prepared for every one of those scenarios to play out at any given moment. It is tragic, to say the least, that officers reach a level of desperation where they feel they have to resort to firing their gun to control a situation or protect their own lives. It is despicable if this decision is made ahead of time and carried out intentionally, as some would claim. I would hope, to the depths of my soul, that the people we entrust with our overall safety and well-being are trained to avoid such measures at all costs, and would resort to them only as absolutely necessary. But based on a number of incidents, I cannot truly fault those who do not trust police to carry out their duties rationally and without bias.

All that being said, the problem lies in the near-sightedness of the American public on the whole. We are quick to judge. We are quick to ignore. We are quick to react, hate, disregard, assume, criticize, and any other list of verbs that do not promote peace, grace, mercy and love. We are trained and conditioned to be individuals, seeking our own success, putting ourselves before others. Therefore, our words and actions follow suit. It is much easier for me to tell you why you upset or anger me than it is for me to put myself in your shoes and try to understand where you are coming from. If this ideology is where we allow ourselves to exist, these problems will persist.

In the end, I don't have an answer. I don't know what to do differently when I wake up in the morning and interact in the world around me. I know that my first priority needs to be to focus on God; who He is, His character, and what His plans for the world are. Then, I need to love others. Everyone I know and will come to know in the future is made in His image. Jesus would not hesitate to reach out to those who are marginalized, oppressed, abused, persecuted or exploited, and neither should I. Throughout history, different people groups have fallen under these umbrellas. Right now, the black community needs to be heard, embraced, supported, and loved. One day, you may feel like you need the support of your community. Should that day come, you will not want to have to worry about biases, rationales, motivations, or agendas. You will simply want to know someone cares about you, sympathizes with you, and seeks to help you move forward.

#BlackLivesMatter #LoveGod #LoveOthers