I’m allowed to dream, can’t I? I’m looking at my life and realizing that years are passing quickly. Before long I’ll be retired and traveling. But for the here and now, I’m dreaming. Dreaming of things that I might see, challenges that I choose to face.
My new idea which I’ve been toying with is traveling to Australia and spending a month there. I want to rent a car and drive from Sydney to Perth. Is this dream too overwhelming? Too big? Too challenging to do on my own?
Spend a week in Sydney. A few days in Melbourne and Adelaide each, then on to Perth. I’ve heard stories about travelers getting lost or stranded in the outback. I’m doing my homework before hand. The most difficult part is a 12 hour stretch on the Eyre Highway from the last bit of civilization from Denial Bay to Norseman – the next major city. Along the way there are roadhouses, but they are few and far between. I’d have to keep an eye on my gas, water, and food.
Is this too far fetched? Am I merely a dreamer? If you had told me 10 years ago that I would spend 3 months in Europe and enjoy it, I would have said you’re crazy.
Then again, maybe I should consider an easier trip to get my feet wet. How about the Loneliest Highway in America? This i where there are 3 hours between gas pumps and civlization. Just enough time to get lost and find yourself.
One Life to Live
For the better part of my life I’ve been living with the mere present in mind. I had been living looking forward to the next retreat, camp, vacation, holiday, etc. However I have come to the realization that I only have one life to live and that I should make the best of it.
Basically I want to travel as much as possible. Whether or not this traveling comes now or when I retire is based on funds and confidence. I want to have a companion to travel with, as it seems to be a real downer to stare at Big Ben and have no one around to remark how awe-inspiring it is.
Therefore I’ve put together a bucket list if you will of places I want to go, either now or later. In no particular order…
- Drive cross country in my Beetle. This has long been a goal of mine…and very reachable. I envy those people who traveled out west with their families and / or friends. Lots of time on the road to view just a passing monument or mountain. The places that tend to fascinate me are those considered uninteresting by many others. Take western Kansas. This is literally the middle of nowhere, where farming is king and there is absolutely nothing to do. Residents there fascinate me, as if they have drawn the short stick early in life and landed in a place with very little opportunity unless they move to Kansas City or Denver.
And somehow I expect to do this trip out west within the next few years…maybe multiple trips! - Tahiti I feel in love with out of the way Pacific Islands on a trip to Hawaii in ’08. My favorite isles were the ones with very little tourist traps where I could be alone on a beach. The Big Island fit this yearning. I can only imagine that Tahiti would be the same way. And how many people do you know who have been to Tahiti?
- Easter Island For the same reasons of Western Kansas and Tahiti, Easter Island fits the mold. Its history fascinates me. Its isolation is amazing. Its difficulty in getting there makes it the least likely on my list to visit.
- Australia I would love to spend a month here. And entire continent that speaks English? Sign me up. Would love to rent a car and drive across the outback from Sydney to Perth.
So there you go. I know this list is probably a bit incomplete and could change at any minute. Life is very short. I want to be able to make the most of it and see as much of this world as possible.
A Christmas Story
Just finished watching “A Christmas Story.” A modern classic which was almost forgotten at movie theaters, but became a big hit years after on basic cable. It’s along the same lines as “The Wonder Years” with a grown up protagonist narrates childhood memories.
Even though the story takes place in the 1930s or 40s (not ever sure of which decade), the story is timeless and provokes shared memories.
Some memories that I specifically remember. After Raphie gets into the fight, he fears his father’s reaction to this. I can remember as a young child getting in trouble with my mother with her remarking “Wait ’til your father gets home.” I remember being very afraid of the pushment or yelling that I would get at a latter time. Most people who had a father in any type of parenting mode remembers feeling the same day. It’s funny now I remember the waiting period, but not the punishment.
Then there’s the reaction Christmas morning after Santa had visited. This is the absolute best childhood feeling. The anticipation and excitement during those times were rarely matched. Although I have no children of my own, I have a niece and nephew wwho are now stars of the show when it comes to opening presents. Christmas in my house is now truly about children.
On Arrogance in the Church
I’ll admit it. My faith could be stronger these days. My faith has been tested by depression, personality issues with fellow Christians, and a growing disillusion with what truly should be important in God’s work and what is propped up in false/implied importance.
Somehow I decided to write something down as if somehow verbalizing in a non-verbal sense will be able to make ideas tangible and make it easier to find a solution.
What it boils down to is arrogance. I see arrogance so frequently among Christians, it’s almost expected. The church is made up of humans and somehow we see leaven/bad apples/control freaks within the body of Christ.
Arrogance among Christ’s followers is nothing new. We may think that the Biblical episode of the disciples arguing “Who is the greatest?” (Mk 9:33-35, Mt 18:1-4, Lk 9:43-48) as being juvenile, however we do this all the time in the Lord’s church!
This smacks in the face of Christianity where one is supposed to be humble! Sometimes others get caught up in trying to make themselves look good, they forget to be humble where God is given the glory. This disillusionment has left me bitter and looking for some place where love can be found.
I haven’t given up on God, however at times I feel like giving up on His followers.
An update
So I haven’t updated this blog in ages. Lots of things have happened….living abroad in Europe for 3 months, a trip to the Northeast US, and a few other things. I really regret that I didn’t write more when I was in Europe. I was afraid of break-ins, therefore I didn’t update. Somehow I feel like I should give a rundown of what I remember from the various cities I visited…Nuremberg, Munich, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bamberg, Wurtzburg, Rome, the Black Forest, Neuschwanstein, and London. Maybe one day I will. I am loving life and feeling more confident more than ever before. 2010 is definitely a landmark year for me. I really don’t know what I’ll do to top it. Anyone want to go to Europe with me?
Friends
A friend and I were discussing friendships tonight. We both agreed that I can be incredibilty difficult to become close friends with me. It could take years for me to be completely trusting of a friend. I have many aquaintances; and few friends – the latter by my choosing. I have difficulty with holding grudges once I’ve been wronged. I would like to overcome this problem as there are people in my life which I should have a better relationship with.
Some people are comfortable with a large number of friends. I’ve seen people on Facebook with 1,000+ friends. In the back of my mind I’m thinking there is no way these people know all of their Facebook friends, much less try to keep up with all of them. I think it’s a self esteem thing or something. Somewhat justifying their importance to Facebook.
Maybe this trip will change things for me. A better understanding of how the world works and how friendships are made and kept. I’m not necessarily looking for more friends, as I’m comfortable with a few close friends and many acquaintances.
No Carrier
Taylor Christian Camp in Kentucky is one of the few places nearby where my phone doesn’t get a signal. It’s symbolic in a way, as if at camp you’re supposed to be cutoff from the rest of the world. Sure, there are some carriers that provide service there, but somehow I like not having service at camp. In a way it gives me a chance to concentrate on things much more important.
No doubt I will miss camp this year. I’ll miss the nightly singings, the morning devotionals and the trip down the waterslide. The week of camp is a week of spiritual renewal for me.
The Ministry
The church I attend helps support about half a dozen college students who are Bible majors or minors. This is primaily due to the encouragement of our current pulpit minister. My mom made the remark to me that had our current minister been around when I was a teenager I could have been persuaded to become a minister. It could have been a different route in life for me.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes in life, which probably would not have helped me to fulfill me becoming a minister (after all ministers are supposed to be perfect, right?). So now I labor in the secular field. I’ve preached occassionally. I am fulfilled when I do preach, but somehow I stress way too much in the days leading up to it. Therefore I don’t volunteer for it.
Still it makes me think about the road I could have taken and if I could have or would have stayed in the ministry.
Working Overseas (again)
I’ve put in my application to work overseas for 3 months. Hopefully it’ll be Germany. But I’ll take Switzerland, France, the Netherlands or most anywhere in Europe. We’ll see what happens…
Working Overseas
My company allows for a work exchange program where workers would do the exact tasks while being overseas for three months. I am seriously considering doing it. Most likely the county would be Germany, but it could be Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg or any other half a dozen countires.
I’ve traveled to other countries 4 times in my life. China twice, Canada and El Salvador each one time. After about a week in China and El Salvador I was ready to come home because the food and living conditions weren’t all that great. Canada I could do for a bit longer. I really don’t know how I would handle Europe. The living conditions would be much better. The food is a toss up, but I’m guessing the quality and health aspects would be better than China or El Salvador.
Emotionally I don’t know if I could be away from my family. However I think it would help prepare me in the long run if/when close family members pass away.
Three months is a long time. Weeks tend to go by fast when I’m working here. Maybe it would be the same in Europe. I figure if I get enough guts I’d try traveling on the extensive European train system. I have had the urge to visit Europe for a while now. And it seems like this work exchange program would be a great opportunity for me.