Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Christmas comes again...

Well Christmas is once again only a week away.  I can't believe how fast the year went.  To me it always seems as if Christmas is coming right around the corner.  Maybe that was in part to the fact that I spent 4 years living in Bethlehem, PA, where Christmas arrived somewhere in Mid October and didn't end until after the first of the New Year.

In the thinking about about the approach of Christmas and the end of 2009.  I realize that this holiday season is an indicator of an entire year, that for me was a year of transition and change.  These changes, I won't classify as positive or negative, because as I sit here typing,  I have begun to see and understand that there is a reason for these changes, even if I don't know what that is. (Yet)  



Really when I talk about changes I'm talking about significant events that have impacted my life in the past year on an emotional and spiritual level.  

This past June,  my one and a half year relationship ended, in what I initially thought was rather sudden.  This took a dramatic emotional toll on me for a long time.  I kept asking myself what if I did this and what if I did that.   Well,  having allowed myself to clear my head,  I have to bring everything back to a spiritual place, to take it to God and leave it in his hands.   I couldn't see that is what was happening when the relationship was ending,  but God's will has become clear albeit a little bit late.( On my part. not God's)  While I struggled through some pain and emotion that I had never felt before,  that to has served a purpose in that I have felt and had the privlage of experiencing love and know that's a place I want to get back to.

There were two other  events that took place this year which contributed to my year of transition.   My continued employment at ASI has extended beyond a year, which to me is full of mixed emotion.  As my original plan to be in PA by this point has fallen to the wayside,  the job itself a possible contributing factor.  However,  in the season where so many are struggling to make ends meet and to find employment I feel blessed to be in the ranks of the employed.  Working in this position, has unfortunately pulled me away from church and for the past year I've not been very good about finding alternative options to quench my spiritual thirst.  I'm praying for the will to discern and choose a way fulfill some of my spiritual need.  

As this Christmas seasons fast approaches I look forward to spending time with family and friends in fellowship.  I hope if your reading this the season finds you well!  Merry Christmas!

some randomness

It's been a few days since I've posted, just a quick few thoughts for consideration.

First let me say how excited I am that college basketball is here.  I'm heading to New York tomorrow night to watch UConn face off vs Kentucky at Madison Square Garden!  Should be a great early test for UConn.  Hopefully they won't play like they did vs Harvard or it could be a long night.

On a different note, Patriots have been struggling the past few weeks.  Just lost a very winnable game to Miami.  Still lead the division, but the door is open for the Jets and Dolphins.  I hope the Pats can finish strong or there may be some early vacation plans for our New England football team.

On a rather serious note, I would urge anyone reading this to read the following article and give it careful consideration.  It is quite disturbing.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/08/uganda.anti.gay.bill/index.html

Afghanistan

After having read Obama's speech, here's is my opinion on what to do with Afghanistan.  Honestly, I have not a clue as to what the course of action is.  Here is where my conflict  lies.  On one hand,  there is the root cause of the conflict. September 11th 2001.  Obviously something that no one can really forget and for me gives the conflict its  legitimacy. (Unlike Iraq)  Despite the time that has passed, the memories of that day still remain as a constant reminder as to why we remain in Afghanistan in our pursuit of delivering justice to those responsible.

At the same time, how long can we stay?  What is the "smoking gun" that will signal that it is time for our departure? Is there one? Is it the death of Osama Bin Laden or some other significant military event?  

In Obama's speech this week, the President announced he would send 30000 troops to Afghanistan to reinforce those already serving and responding to the call of duty.  At the same time he announced the beginning of the removal of troops from Afghanistan in 2011.  

It is here that I find the the true conflict in my feelings and opinions on the war.  While I would still like to see justice served for those who perished on 9/11, I also have some doubts.  Does the U.S military have enough to time to get the job done?  Can we gain the cooperation of Pakistan and make this a two front attack against Al Qaeda and the Taliban?  Can the Afghan government even function?

Obviously these are just a few of the questions that exist on the subject matter, but it does pose and interesting dilema?  What will happen if Osama Bin Laden isn't dead by 2011, what happens?  Will that be considered a failure?  See... it could go on and on...

That is all for now.

short and sweet

Quick little post here... if you haven't heard the song Moment of Surrender by U2, you should.  This is a great song! Very powerful, especially live!

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has already come and gone!  Unbelievable!  It seems since I've left college time seems to quicken every year. ( Which it's not, but it seems like it)  This year was the first that I actually had to commute home for Thanksgiving having just moved into my apartment into September.  As we come into the holiday season,  I take time to reflect on the changes that have taken place in the past couple years, both the positive and the negative.   One of these moments has occupied my mind more and more as of late.  It's one of those moments in life that signifies the end of one chapter and the start of another.

Graduating from Moravian was one of those moments, one that I am most proud of, but one that more significance then I had initially considered.  As I departed a place I loved and learned to call home for 4 years it was with joy over having accomplished what I set out to do.  To earn a bachelor's degree.  It was a thrilling moment and after I walked off that stage with diploma in hand,  caught in the exuberance of the moment, it seemed to me nothing would change.  However things do change.  And as I learned you must change and adapt.   Plans to return to Pa turned into a job in CT for which I've been at over a year. A relationship that I thought would last forever turned into another what if.  But as some of my plans did not come to fruition others did  and today I am thankful for these expieriences, then lessons learned and the humbling lesson that sometimes the path is not always straight but there are twists and turns along the way which may take you to places you did not expect but none the less serves a purpose.

And so I give thanks for all that life brings as it continues to shape my life,  and I look forward to seeing what comes next!

First Entry

11/28

So i'm venturing out into the world of blogging. Why? To express what's on my mind, to share ideas and to try another form of communication for which to express myself.

Now I have never really been good at expressing my feelings or thoughts and so one of the goals for this blog is to provide a forum for my mind and soul so that I may have another outlet for expression.

For those who read this blog( as I hope people will, especially my friends, I encourage and look forward to our conversation in this blog.