overproportioNATE

"I like a look of Agony, Because I know it's true— Men do not sham Convulsion, Nor simulate, a Throe— The Eyes glaze once—and that is Death— Impossible to feign The Beads upon the Forehead By homely Anguish strung." -Emily Dickinson  I would never say that I enjoy a good funeral. No one enjoys the passing of someone close. And Emily Dickinson isn't saying that she loves it when others are in pain. I hate it. I hate pain, and hurt, and sorrow.  But I love honesty. I love the solemnity that comes with looking at my own mortality. It makes everyone serious, if only for a while. And we are brought into a place where we have need, and it is obvious. We experience pain that, while it is real and cutting, it is also certain. So often there is pain in life that we can't put a finger on. A hurting that can lead to depression, and we have no certain idea where that pain is coming from. When we have a loss, a certain loss, we feel, and we know where the pain is fro...

“Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.” G.K. Chesterton The first time that I read that quote I took it for what I thought it was. A goofy little saying about how few  people write about cheese. But their is a pretty profound point to what Mr. Chesterton is saying here. He's saying that when wise men sit down to a pen and paper, and pour their soul out onto their table, they write about great matters. There are reasons why so much has been written about God, about good and evil. We long for purpose, and we long for what satisfies. So just a quick check for myself, and maybe you as well, the reader. Do I focus on things more eternal in nature. Sure, I believe it is entirely appropriate to delve into football and baseball, if only to be able to associate with other's interests. And they do have a fair amount of adventure to them. But if it was all that I'd write about, or concern myself with. I spend an awful lot of time on all the wrong thin...

If you're looking for a fight, well, take your pick. There are plenty of issues in life to fight. Lots of sides to take. But what battles will you spend your life fighting? On what hills will you die? At least at this moment in my life, there are some battles that I have deemed important, but not something I would rest my life on. There are so many issues that deal with the decisions of others, and I feel that my own opinion is not something worth crushing into them. Also, as far as spiritual beliefs are concerned. I have mostly decided to amalgamate as best I can. As long as an issue does not affect salvation, it is more important that we can come together than that we agree on every issue (when not affecting salvation). I mostly feel this way because I live this life absolutely sure that there are a wide variety of topics and issues that I am WRONG about. And though I do not know what they are, it is my belief that just knowing that is a benefit, and it gives me a teachab...

And so it seems, much of life is about coming awake, and coming alive. Five Iron sings, blasts out, shoves through a trombone, this idea in their newest song: "Hope Still Flies" I’ve been waiting, in halfhearted sleep, For a promise I half meant to keep. Just for hoping that hope still flies, Wipe the sleep out of our sleeping eyes. Awake to what? Am I saying, or are they saying, that we are dead to most everything? That life is just a complete stumbling around in the darkness? That we should just all be emo and give up hope? Be grateful for the hope we have and just try to hold onto it? I don't think so. I think that we are to come alive, and awake, to our fullest ability. To know love, to understand hate and perhaps even worse, indifference.  Indifference is such a ridiculous thought, especially in high school where I often find myself these days. If someone says they are indifferent to you, you probably won't care. I'm pretty sure that "I don...

I like writing about our issues of irritation when I am not irrated. It takes me out of it. Allows for more objectivity. We spend an awful lot of time examining the gloves of the homecoming queen. Just how white are they? And much is made of suits and ties. And the logs in eyes. You know, the only things we seem to see. I am often frusterated by my own view of people. In particular Christians for what appears to me to be a lack of ability to "own" what they believe. To talk about an amazing grace that should be a moving thing in one's life. And in my view of the rest of the world, I am amazed by other's expectations. As if someone who does not know love should be a writer of love songs. As if someone unaffected, yet unreached by forgiveness, should be in all ways kind. Should not be a bully. Should be... Well, a lot more like me. And all of these observations, are probably neither here nor there. They are all my own subjective look at the human heart. I only k...

So you're a photographer. And I'm hiring you to take my wedding photos. You spend an awful lot of time at the wedding, however, enjoying the Hors d'oeuvres, chatting with the few people you know, and dancing to every song that ever came out of the 80's. The wedding is over. You haven't taken more than a handful of pictures. And I ask about them. You won't answer calls. You don't answer the door. Finally, years later, I finally find you downtown. At that coffee shop with the excellent scones, and that tea that reminds me of the East Coast, and we sit down and talk. And you are so afraid that I will yell and scream at you. And yell at you about how you've ruined my life. And I need my money back. And why would I ever trust you? But that isn't what I say. I say: You are a photographer. You went to school for this. I remember how you used to follow around birds. And line them up just right with the rugged hills and greenery. How you would...

You think you know fashion. Well, fashion's a stranger You think fashion's your friend. My friend, fashion is danger We do an awful lot in life for the love of the game. And fashion is one of 'em. High heels on ice. Baggy pants...well pretty much any time. Hoop skirts. Vans Shoes. We do a lot of dumb things in the name of fashion. Each friday I want to pick apart a new and different goofy behavior, until alas, and finally, there are no more. Friday #1 Shoes not made for ice, on ice. The other day, my wife wore these cute boots she has. And I'll admit, they are very cool, kind of a plaid pattern, lots of purples. They look nice. The bottoms are flat. They are very flat. No gripping, not even trying to grip.These boots should never touch the snow. But there she is, my beautiful bride, sliding around on the ice in the name of fashion. She's not alone in her crazy endeavor though. We all do plenty of ridiculous things to "look good". Yes, e...