What I Believe

I believe in choice.  This is a big one for me.  I do not like the notion of opinions developing into stringent law. People have steadfast beliefs on a series of issues that quickly become hot topic, red button debate points for politicians.  Allow me to present a very interesting possibility: maybe, just maybe, the politicians of this country keep us bickering with each other over our moral stance so that we forget the important issues that they continually fail to fix and continually fail us as a result. Hey it’s just a thought. 

What will you do for the economy? Will you blow up another country? What will you do to prevent another country from blowing up ours? Will you raise taxes? Will you help those in need? Will you care for education? I’m sorry but I just think an overuse of attention is directed to gay marriage, contraception, and legalizing pot. But that’s just me.  And in my belief in choice, I sincerely believe in your right to choose to disagree with everything I’ve said and honor that we can disagree.

With that, I believe in free speech. In other words, I believe in the right of someone to openly express themselves. What I do NOT believe in is hate speech. You lose your right to talk when your talk is oppressive, slanderous, racist, objectifying, and belittling. That is when you have the right to shut your mouth.  Everyone’s mother said it, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” My dear God if only we had listened this world would be a lot better

I believe in freedom of religion.  I believe that I have a right to live free of oppression for the belief I have in my God and the faith that I put in my savior Jesus Christ. I also believe that people in Murfreesboro have a right to practice their faith in a Mosque too. Not all Muslims are terrorists.  I repeat: NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS.  I believe in experiencing other faiths, delving into other cultures, breathing in other lives, experiencing other customs. Live and let live, learn to coexist, appreciate one another, love one another. Jesus did not say, “Love your neighbor that goes to the same church as you love yourself”. I’m pretty sure that middle part isn’t in the Bible.

I believe in my stepson. He is truly amazing. He lights up a room, has the best disposition, a curiosity to learn, a wonderful sense of humor, and a great spirit.  For a man that will soon become a biological father and may not be the same to him, I certainly love him as though he were.  He will go places; he will do amazing things. He may break a few hearts and he almost certainly will screw up, but we all do. And we’ll all be there to dust him off and get him going again. And maybe he’ll be midfielder for Chelsea (hey I can dream can’t I?)

I believe in my wife.  I have known her for nearly 15 years now, and she has the best soul of anyone I know. We see each other so clearly. We share many feelings and sentiments, and without having her screen this, I can say with most certainty that she shares my beliefs. We walk in unison; we do this thing called life side by side, hand in hand.  She’s my best friend, truly my BEST friend.  She is smart, funny, thoughtful, and passionate.  Oh and a looker at that.  She is a terrific mother to my stepson and will be the perfect mother to our little Lucy. She has raised a fine young man in Evan, and I can only hope and pray that Lucy is half as pure and good a soul as he.

I believe in myself. And that hasn’t always come easy.  I used to think that the goal of doing well in school, on the soccer field, in life in general was to make your parents proud. Don’t get me wrong, it is great that my parents have pride in their son, but it is more important to me that I have confidence and belief in myself, that I did college for me, that I work for me and my family.  I have reached a point in my life (partly because of faith, partly because of a family that has my back, and partly because of friends that encourage me) where I truly feel that I can conquer any obstacle.  So look out world, I have a power strong enough to overcome you: BELIEF. I BELIEVE IN ME.

My Happy, Hectic, Busy LIfe

Sooooo.....I got a few things going on.  A schedule with such wrinkles that for the first time in my life, I am keeping a detailed calendar.  I knew this would happen eventually. I knew that I would pay for all of those years of care-free play as a child, all those "hang out" days as a teenager, and all those free spirited, occasional sleep-in hookie days as a college student.  Life has come back to collect its backpay, and with a vengeance.

I'm a data lead.  Since July of last year, I have been blessed to go from unemployed to temp employee with no benefits to full time with benefits to leading a group and owning stock.  Admittedly that's not too bad in a year's time.  My company has done me well, and not to brag, but I think I've done it quite well also.  It's a great place to work, downtown is a fun place to work, and I have some great co-workers.  One little thing though: it's a sales company. SALES.  As in 4 times a year, life becomes absolute madness, Murphy's Law run amok, HELL on wheels. The end of a sales quarter is similar to the last 5 questions of the SAT when you have 30 seconds to finish.......AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!  What's crazy is that I never saw myself in the sales business, I could not imagine myself in a high-rise in Nashville, and certainly couldn't see myself dealing with an end of quarter sales atmosphere.  And now I love it....and truly love my job.

I'm a kids minister.  That's right. Kids Minister.  15 years ago, I didn't think I would be worth a crap at anything God-centered.  I didn't know God that well, and I definitely didn't do well to listen to him.  But I found myself called to his service in helping with the kid program at my church.  It does ask for a little bit of my time and a little bit of myself.  I try to be diligent about presenting information to teach the kids about God, to help them worship Him, and to help them glorify them.  And I try to make it FUN, because at their edge they need to have a good time and learn God seemingly by accident.  It's tough at times; I wouldn't have imagined myself doing it.  But goodness how I love it.

I'm a soccer coach.  This is the one that's easy to see.  Everyone who has met me for more than 5 minutes knows that I am an absolute nut about that sport.  So when E hinted a playing, I was happy to offer up my services at the orientation.  Teaching 5-year olds about soccer is a blast, and at the same time one heck of a challenge.  Sometimes it's easier to have them play tag and jump in a puddle than to focus on kicking a goal.  But then there's Saturdays. There's watching a little girl score and displaying unbridled joy. And there's watching E score and the Evan Army shout in unison in joy.  It makes every practice and every late night at the fields worth it.  I love being a soccer coach.

I'm going to be a father.  I'm excited. I'm in love. I'm scared to death.  In all of the emotion, I doubt very little that Sara and I will be great parents, and I also have no doubt that Lucy will be amazing and a joy to our lives.  But I honestly have these great leaps of faith because of her.  I have seen how my wife works as a mother. She's brilliant. Brilliant.  Want the proof?  Look at E.  You DON'T get a kid like that by accident.  He's a joy, simply a wonderful child in every way. Because she's a wonderful mother.  I've got some skills myself, but I know that we will do just fine because I know that I could not have a better partner to raise our little girl.  I'm lucky, I'm bless, and I'm gonna love being a dad.

I'm a busy guy. Every day has something on the calendar. Gone are the days of laziness, video games, all-day basketball tournaments as a kid, and sleeping in and skipping Physics in college. And I would not have it any other way.  This life is treating me wonderfully.  And I love my happy, hectic, busy life.