G is for Gear

I have accumulated lots of gear over the years. Each type of gear has its own feel and nostalgia.

-My climbing gear clinks a lot and smells like dirt.

-My biking gear is pretty quiet but it smells like chemicals–reminds me of all the time I have spent pedaling up steep gradients. 

-Yesterday I dug under my bed and retrieved my ski gear. My skiing gear rustles a lot and, right now, smells like dust. I hope that changes soon.

F is for Film Festival

This is a video I put together from the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. My brother, Nathaniel, did the interviewing.

E is for Exotic Food

Which of these would you eat?

D is for Down Under

C is for Cave

B is for Burning Sensation

A is for Around the World

In 2004, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman traveled around the world on BMW motorcycles. They took a camera man along with them to document the trip. Their travels were made into a TV series called “Long Way Round.” Here is an excerpt from Siberia. They were helping their support team to cross some difficult rivers. This clip has a small amount of swearing in it.

Z is for CraZy

I saw the film “20 Seconds of Joy” at the Banff Mountain Film Festival last week.

I don’t know whether we should call Karina crazy for what she does, but most of us probably can’t understand why she does it.

 

“I don’t want to die, I want to live. I’m pretty good at running away, and this is my escape!” This is how Karina Hollekim describes her dedication to BASE jumping. Documentary filmmaker Jens Hoffman first met the now 30-year-old Norwegian in 2002. He immediately started to film, accompanying her through many stages of her BASE-jumping career, until it comes to a sudden stop, changing all aspects of her life.

 

Y is for You

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23

In this psalm, David is talking about how God has given him a place of comfort and plenty even in the midst of his enemies. Somewhere where he is safe and has peace, despite the chaos around him.

When David talks about his enemies he might be talking about people who are trying to hurt him—like Saul, or Absalom. However, he also could be speaking of his sins, his faults, or his problems. These are also his enemies. They are constantly surrounding him and hurting him. He seeks the help of God to deliver him.

God gives us a place of comfort and plenty even in the middle of, and despite, our sins and faults.

We should do this for others.

X is for X marks the spot

Or, “Zen and the Art of Corn Mazes”

Before entering a corn maze, one has to enter a trance like state. One where you become unified with the corn.

The first few minutes you are in the maze are the most difficult. It is easy to become lost, and difficult to find your way again.

You argue with your teammates about where you are.

Out of this a strong, fearless, resourceful, and charismatic leader emerges.

As you learn to look at the map more, and less at your surroundings you start to get a feel for the scale of the maze. You enter your Zen like state.

You imagine yourself walking along the surface of your map. You use your periphery vision to look at the corn, checking from time to time whether it is matching up with what you see on the map.

It is important that you are not distracted, and that you do not stop. You don’t want to leave your trance like state. Comments from others, like: “are you sure you know where you are going,” and “I have to use the restroom.” Should be ignored.

Upon exiting the maze, it is not uncommon to experience withdrawal. As you come out of your Zen state, you become listless, your sense of purpose and focus is gone and you begin to babble incoherently with friends – you play senseless games late into the night.