A Natural Disaster

When cataclysm strikes, the spirit is tested.

The Earth had turned over in it sleep.

People have been crushed, killed, wounded

Let us pray for the survivors,

that their lives may be rebuilt.

When cataclysm strikes, the spirit is tested,

wakes from its dream of immortality.

Yet the spirit cannot be crushed, killed or wounded.

Let us pray that everyone who has suffered

may find strength in the spirit.

~from Gujarat, India

The Weight of Words

I have recently become much more aware of the importance of words and how carefully they must be used. Part of the reason for my newfound awareness is the fact that I have been fighting more. The reason for my recently discovered passion for argument is that I have someone worth fighting with and worth fighting for. It does also mean that I have to be much more careful with my words, especially when I am angry, as I do not wish for my anger to inflict hurt.

Words can be so easily used to wound, often in an irreversible way. Physical bruises may fade, but the pain inflicted by poorly chosen words may remain. However, it is also possible for well crafted and perfectly selected words to be recalled for a lifetime. They may be the words shaped by the greatest wordsmiths of history or words spoken spontaneously with genuine passion and honesty.

In the electronic age in which we exist, there is both a plethora of words and a great misuse of them. When the printed word first became widely available, it was held as something sacred, something that must be carefully considered and crafted. Now, the days are long gone of illuminations of manuscripts as well as the art of penmanship. We absorb so much written information in the day, as well as communicating with poorly chosen words for the most part. We do not take care in what we say to each other, nor what we write. Communication has become a commodity instead of an art. Productivity is measured in how many emails can be sent and how many words can be produced. As a student, words were measured. Papers could only be a certain length, or a professor could refuse to grade it. We had to measure our words to ensure that they were not similar to the words of any other. Writing became a task instead of a pleasure and the weight of them became almost unbearable. The glory of writing for the sake of writing, to enjoy the feel of the words as they move around in your mouth before being transferred to the page is astonishing. The weight has been lifted from my shoulders and transferred into what I write.

Perhaps one day what I write will be published. Until then, the weight of it is enough to comfort my soul.

Team Hoyt

I don't like adding links to my blog, as I tend to think that words can speak more than well enough for themselves, but in this case I will make an exception.

This story is an incredible inspiration for me, especially given what I strive to live out every days of my life. While it is unlikely that I will ever do an Iron Man with another person, the freedom and joy that comes from transcending your limits is what I would love to be able to do and give every day. I know that right now I do not always fulfill my goal to transcend limitations on a regular basis, but I do know what I can always strive towards.

On a less work related note, this is also an incredible story of family and the sacrifices that a father makes for his son in order to show him the life that he is capable of having, despite his physical limitations. Part of me in envious for that kind of parent-child relationship that I will never have with my own father. The other part of me is determined that I will be present enough to offer that to the children that I will have in the future. I can strive to become an inspirational parent who makes sacrifices to give the fullest life possible to their children. I know that even though I do not yet have children, I can strive towards the same goals for all of those I work with and care for.

It is so easy to see Christ in what Dick has done for his son. He has given up many parts of his life in order to ensure that his son knows that he loved and beloved. He has put aside his physical limitations to ensure that Rick has what his heart needs to flourish and be seen as a person and not a disability. He has given his life for his son. That is the most amazing sacrifice a parent can make for their child and it never fails to touch my heart. Maybe one day I will be able to watch their story without crying, but I don't think it will be any time soon.

The Act of Waiting

I used to consider waiting a passive thing and I tend to not be a terribly passive person when it comes to not doing anything. This year, I fear is going to be a year of waiting. Thankfully waiting is not quite as passive as I had once believed.

I am waiting for a great number of things right now. I am waiting to go to China, to finish work, for my fiancee's ordination, to get married and begin my marriage, to go back to school and hopefully find my vocation. I am waiting for people to get along with each other, I am waiting to have more time to myself. I am waiting for so many things, but I am not waiting passively.

I am planning for many things, such as wedding details and picking things for classes in the fall. I am learning about the place where I will be living and trying to find ways in which I will be able to adjust to a drastically different life style than the one I have become accustomed to. I am taking every bit of joy I can out of the work that I do because I do know that I will not be able to do this forever. I am waiting for parts of my life to end while others will begin.

It has been a process of learning for me that waiting does not mean doing nothing. It actually means do something. It brought a drastically different meaning to the season of Advent that has just past, as well as adding a different perspective to my year of waiting. It could be something that I could learn to enjoy, I hope. It's good practice for other times in my life when I will have to wait and simply enjoy the miracle of time and the miracle of having it.