The Point of the Journey

Sometimes when we look ahead at what we're called to do, we can look up and down the "mountain" of our calling and say, "I'll never make it, that summit is just too high for me!"

Based off of where you are and your current perspective, chances are that you are accurate.

Right now, you probably don't have the muscles, discipline and dexterity needed to climb the mountain ahead of you.




But that's precisely why you've got to start climbing.  

Once you start moving, you begin to strengthen your lungs, your legs and your resolve.  You stretch and reach further and become more flexible as you go.  Even your grip becomes tenacious as each and every finger gets stronger and tougher.  You learn how to navigate the tricky spots so that you no longer get stuck at places you once consider impasses.  Long reaches that once took you hours to figure out (or things you even had to move around) now become simple exercises that you've done hundreds of times before.  By the time you reach the summit, you'll be as tough and nimble as a mountain goat-completely agreeable to living at the top.

In short, the point of having to take the journey to where you are going is to make you ready to abide in the place where you'll be staying.

So take heart and begin your long journey at the base of the mountain you are meant to conquer.

An Appetite for Reading.

I currently have about 10 books that I’m reading.  This is not an accident; neither is it a rare occurrence.  I almost always have about 10 books that I’m reading.  Each book takes months for me to read because I read a little bit, maybe even a lot, intensely for a short period of time.  Then I get bored with that book and move on to another, leaving the first book unfinished.  I usually continue this process through a cycle of 10 books (whatever the reason, that’s about the average).  Some books stay on my “currently reading” pile for over a year. 

I’m not saying that this practice doesn’t have its disadvantages.  It was about useless while I was going to school because I could hardly ever stomach to read books straightway through for my classes.  But now that I’m free from the bonds of my educational servitude, I’m reading whatever I want, whenever I want, and it’s most delightful and in my opinion, more effective in a lot of ways. 

The huge advantage of this is that there’s never a day that goes by that I don’t read.  I’ve learned that I’m always in the mood to read, it’s just a matter of what I read that comes into question.  Therefore, I read strictly according to mood, according to the dictates of the a

ppetite of my brain’s desire.  I sometimes ask, “What am I mentally hungry for today?”

As a result, military history today might turn into a study on the Catholic Popes Past tomorrow.  As much as possible, I try to avoid “disciplining” myself to read stuff that seems like it would be “good” for me to read as I don’t think there’s too much profit in that kind of lifestyle.  I’ll just end up reading less (bad), remember less (very bad) and enjoy it less (also bad) if I try. 

And let us not, I say, underestimate the importance of enjoyment when it comes to reading (or a great many other activites for that matter).  I could be wrong, but I believe that retention is deeply tied to enjoyment.  This theory isn’t exactly rocket science, but I believe that it stands up to common sense.  Think of movies you’ve seen.  You remember the ones you like, but the ones you couldn’t care less for—well they probably don’t come up in the memory that much anymore.  Our memories seem to care for things that our hearts care about too. 

This is why I read 10 books at a time—it’s hugely important to me that when I read, I enjoy it.  Perhaps this is why school learning frustrated the dickens out of me and why I feel like I hardly remember most of what I read for school!  AUGH!   That’s just me though.  I know that, for some people, my reading practices drive them absolutely insane.  However, for those who struggle to read through a book, or to read regularly, I invite you to try this.  It works and it’s actually loads of fun!

An Entire Symphony Written for One Instrument!

You really should hear this... but don't just hear it, marvel at the coordination it takes to move your hands and feet all at the same time in rhythm!  

This song comes from a dude named Widor who wrote symphonies for the Organ (because let's face it, it's the only instrument that could single-handedly play a symphony).  This is the Tocatta from Symphony #5.  BLAM! 

And just so you know, it was the postlude (music they play at the end) at my wedding.