In other news...

I just bought a plane ticket to Ecuador!

Great Expectations

*Just for the record, this post has nothing to do with Charles Dickens or Gwyneth Paltrow.  I've never read the book or seen the movie.  Come to think of it, I don't know anyone that has ever read the book or seen the movie.  At least as far as I know*

So as I'm sure EVERYONE is aware, the Celtics beat the Lakers, which means my favorite player (Kevin Garnett) won his first title.  He's been my favorite player for a long time now, and I'm truly happy he won.  It might be lame that I'm genuinely excited for a basketball player who makes more money per week than I will in my life, but there's something cool about seeing a man who has worked his tail off, made the most of my God-given abilities, and is passionate and respectful achieve his dream.  

I read a Bill Simmons article about his thoughts on the last game, and I read this quote about Paul Pierce, the Finals MVP.

"We spend so much time complaining about sports and being disappointed that our favorite players never end up being who we wanted them to be, but in Pierce's case, he became everything we wanted him to be."

(Throughout his entire career, Paul Pierce has been much maligned for selfish play and attitude, but over the past few years, and especially this, he has played incredible all-around basketball and been a great teammate and leader.)

My first thought after reading this quote: "good point Bill, because I do that too."  My second thought after reading this quote: "That seems true of my life."

Over the past few years of being a follower of Jesus, I've become frustrated at the chasm between who I really am and who I really want to be.  Like one of my favorite Jars of Clay songs, those two people were worlds apart.  And that frustration was the building block of a wall that prevented me from ever becoming everything my Creator created me to be.

Complaining and disappointment are normal.  But just because they are normal doesn't mean it's good.  Complaints and disappointments are inevitable products of trying to do-it-yourself attitude.  I thought that I could just work on some things, change my life around, and be more like Jesus.  But at some point I reached this conclusion that I just couldn't do that.  I couldn't change without Him.  It's not to say that I am allowed to sit on the couch and wait for Jesus to wave a wand over my head.  

I'm 22 and graduated from college.  There's an obvious life transition that is about to happen, and I feel Jesus changing me.  From the inside out.  It's a cool thing.  I hope you can experience that.  Jesus is changing our hearts all the time.  We just have to let it happen.

Snappy Casual

So I was in Grosse Pointe last night for our pre-camp meeting.  I was wearing my REI soft shell, and one of the girl leaders complimented my jacket by saying it was "snappy casual."  I think I know what that means, but it's definitely something I've never heard said to me.  Maybe it's because it's a Grosse Pointe thing, or maybe it's because I just don't have that many snappy casual things in my wardrobe.  Nonetheless, it was a top 5 highlight of my day.  

The others included, in no particular order: eating free Panera, talking to Shan on gmail, receiving unexpected phone calls in the midst of a long and boring drive which makes that drive much less boring and long, and finding out who is in my Crooked Creek cabin.

I'm in trouble...

4th one down on the left side....shoot

*UPDATE* "If my life were on SportsCenter..."

By gutter ball I meant a ball thrown where I didn't knock down a pin (like when I had a couple 7-10 splits and managed to bowl the ball straight through the middle).  No need to over-do my embarrassment.

Overtime

We're only a few more minutes away from the 2nd overtime of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  It's one of those games that you sit on the edge of your seat, and only when play momentarily stops, you realize you've been holding your breath for the last few minutes.  

With about 35 seconds left in regulation, while the Wings were up 3-2, my friend Mike says, "does pulling the goalie ever work?"  

2 seconds later, the Penguins scored.  

If the Wings lose this game, feel free give him a dirty look or two.  But he's a good guy, so don't overdo it.

Does anyone want my Mac?

So I can buy a new one?