A new photo blog

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My Disney World Photo Blog

Thankful for the Little Things

It's easy to be overwhelmed; it's part of our modern culture. So, in the midst of the rain and snow it's good to think about the little things I grateful for, such as:

1. Grace
2. My wife and son
3. Hearing from Brett
4. Good people to work with and a great company to work for
5. Not needing to be nervous for the Baltimore Ravens
6. Music
7. A new laptop in the household (not mine) that should reduce my role as 'Geek Squad'
8. 'Battlestar Galactica'
9. More books in print than I could ever read and friends to recommend good ones to me.

So much to talk about and no time right now.

I've waited for this for a few years. While working as a consultant in downtown Chicago I witnessed the amazing run for Senate that Barack Obama put into effect and wondered if he could ever be elected President. I wonder what his exploratory committee will say.

Sweet Lou

Who doesn't love Lou Rawls?

Law & Order, 24x7

In this season of bleak weather and television re-runs, 'Law & Order' has become a staple in our household. While I enjoy the quirkiness Vincent D'Onofrio (CI) brings to the role of Detective Robert Goren and the nostalgia Richard Belzer (SVU) as Dectective Munch adds based on the reprisal of his role in 'Homicide: Life on the Streets', it's Sam Waterston, cast as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy, our family seems to enjoy the most.

In an episode that ran in syndication a couple of days ago this line was delivered by Waterston's character: "We are responsible for the consequences of our convictions". The episode focused on a former nun who kills a child while performing an exorcism rite. Waterston's character is a Catholic who, while vigorously prosecuting the defendant, wrestles with the legal issue of 'depraved indifference' and whether or not the nun actually heard the voice of Saint Michael during the rite and if somehow that partially exonerates her in the death of the child.

Once Waterston delivered that line I stopped watching the show and started thinking about what consequences, if any, I've faced as a result of my convictions. I'm still thinking.

How on earth did I miss this?

Apparently tributes to 2006 are not complete without a look at the year in 'popular science'. I am looking forward to trying this with Hayes at home. Wow; good clean (but sticky) fun. This must have been a newsworthy development because NPR picked up on it as well. Last, but not least, here's what happens when you get the backing of the commercial entities involved.

Taken and Missed

It can be overwhelming to think of a year that's passed so I won't. I will, however, think about the promise of another 365 days and the joys and sorrows it will bring. I've been thinking about the trajectory of my life and the opportunities taken and missed: are we remembered mostly for the ones we take or the ones we miss? I'm led to think of Jonah and the fantastic story of the opportunity intentionally avoided and then the one taken as a result. (After thinking of this, I hope I'm not in the belly of the whale and I'll be on the lookout for vegetables growing over my head.)

Regardless of the actions taken by Jonah I choose to focus, instead, on the prayer Jonah offers: (chapter 4, verse 2) ". . .that I have known that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and repenting of evil". Grace and mercy, the best double play in the Word; this is a great prayer to offer. I hope to use it frequently this year as I miss opportunities.