Today as in 8 hours or so from now. I am done lazing around and recovering from school. being so sedentary has kind of left me gasping for activitiy. I decided at the end of this semester to set goals for myself this summer that are not outlandish or unreasonable, because I want to enter next fall feeling like I am further along then when I left a couple weeks ago.
1: I am going to practice my sight reading like mad this summer. It is the main thing holding me back in my piano study, and at this point there is no good reason why it's not up to par. This will mean lots of hymns and a couple Beethoven sonatas and/or Bach preludes.
2: I am going to read 3 books. I started reading the first one today. It is called "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman. It is a really thoughtful commentary on the consumerist, entertainment-minded culture that we are a part of, and the damage that it does to the unconciously participating individual. The next two are TBA.
3: I am going to try and memorize all of First John. I tried last summer and came up a couple chapters short, so theres no reason why I can't git-er-done for this one.
4: I can't remember the last one, but I wrote it down in my journal, so don't worry.
I feel like these are things that are accomplishable in spite of having a busy summer at camp. It is good for me to have an agenda on the backburner for when you come across spare time; it really helps eliminate lazy procrastination.
God has really been getting a hold on me recently, and in a manner that I am not too familiar with. Its so humbling to see him provide in ways that you know you don't deserve. I have been blessed with really incredible friends, and it is so encouraging to know that you have them behind you to help with struggles you are dealing with. Seeing God provide in this way in spite of my continuing delinquency towards him is such a wake-up call. As a Christian I am usually most aware of God's presence in my life when I come to a point where I am so desperate that I finally, after all else has failed me, turn to him for a way out. What I have seem lately though is that God is pleased to bless me when I feel as if I don't particularly need it. While that exposes my foolish method of self-evaluation, it also brings to my attention that being surprised by God's grace can be most humbling when you least expect it. Blessing heaped up on blessing. I am confronted with the fact that Christ's presence in my life is all-encompassing, in good times and bad, on his schedule and not my own. What a reassurance and privelege we have to approach the throne at all times in all places with the promise of hope.
I miss my Danboy the hard way.
10 comments:
ill bring a few books to camp that you might like for one of your two TBAs. maybe. love you, mikey. im praying for you, brother.
michael, thank you for mentioning me, and thanks especially for a sweet post. it is really phenomenal to hear those things out of you. that is a great testimony to me, and probably not to me only.
i also like the pics of you and dave. y'all boys are some cute-ens.
oh, and i posted a pic in front of my house. but you can barely see the house. i took it myself.
I love this phrase, "being so sedentary has kind of left me gasping for activity." Lovely.
And I'm one of those "not to me only" people Dan mentioned. Thanks for your words! It's encouraging to hear about God working in your life. And in case you were wondering, I still miss you.
okay first of all, i love that you have a list. it makes me want to have goals for my summer and progress myself spiritually instead of just lazing around like summer tends to do. which kinda leads to my second point:
you really made me get moving. so thanks for that. i've gotten more done today then i have since i've been home. time to shift into full throttle. no more sleeping til ten and stuff like that.
okay i'm not a copy cat but I noticed too your words, "being so sedentary has kind of left me gasping for activity." I like "gasping" there... it's a good word.
I too am one of dan's "not to me only." this post was a challenging one... encouraging us all not waste our minutes.
i know the next book you should read. it's calle Sophie's World and written by Jostien Gaarder, a norwegian. Philosophy is weaved throughout it and that scared me at first but i'm so glad i started it... it's already bettered me.
sienna- i picked up that book at all books downtown and it was way overpriced so i told myself that i would get it at mckays for cheaper, but have not made it to the store yet. im going today. for that book. thank you. if anyone has not read it, East of Eden is my summer book. it takes me all summer to finish it (i multi-task books) but it is one of the most moving, lovely, and epic pieces of literature in the english language. john steinbeck. what a baller. anyways- mikeymike: see you soon. sienner: if you send letters back home you MUST use foreign postage. pickles: i love you and respect you as a brother. tobes: i miss your laugh and your refreshing view of the world which i am often weary of. krieanna: i think that your adventures should be set down in a book, for no matter how mundane an activity is, your pictures and words bring it to live like nothing else. bee-off: can i come over?? please? others: i love you and miss you all.
scott just left an epic "comment." nice work friend.
OK for the record: Sophie's World is my favorite novel. Period. I am going to be re-reading it this summer, especially after intro to philosophy. Sienna, don't let it overwhelm you, but keep pushing. It slows down frequently, even in the second half, but it is worth it, I assure you!
All of you guys are great, and I am not even kidding.
I will be at the beach this weekend if anyone needs me! Pictures will be coming, and I am not saying anything, but there MAY be one with my shirt off. You didnt hear it here.
Lots of Love from Asheville!
-dp
scott,
your comment will go down in history.
it was beautiful.
Can I just emphasize that I love you all so much? Not sure why I put that in a question, because it is definitely a statement.
And now y'all (that's right, I'm keeping that gem in my vocab) have inspired me to read this summer. Book club, anyone?
oh and scotch...
you can count on those letters back home with foreign postage..i was looking at them today...figuring out which one would fit each of you all...
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