Tuesday, February 27, 2007

SENIOR NIGHT!

Saturday, February 24th was Rachel's last home game ever! She is almost done with basketball which is sad, but if she had to have a game to end it all... this one was it! The worked over Western Washington University... our arch enimies! With 9 points and 7 rebounds, Rach helped pull her team to the top... Suckas!























Monday, February 26, 2007

Every Community Has Its Watering Hole

Coffee in hand and text book in front of me, I engage not in the floating aromas of my hot beverage or in the dull arguments of the required text but in the faces that flux in and out of doors each retreating inside for a cup of momentary “pick-me-up” and receding back outside attempting to absorb as many rays of the untouchable gold pouring out of the patchy blue skies as they can on these growing northwest days. Spring is on its way.

Two generations as far away from each other physically as they are experientially sit outside beyond the windows observing the same scene, sitting in the same sun, chilled by the same breeze. Both steal glimpses of one another: the old pondering at the unassuming naivety of the youth and the youth wondering at the hard and determined features of the old. Remembering the past… dreading the future—desiring each others experiences, in a world that values little from those not within the 30/50 window…

Shuffling through the door comes now a couple who have seen life in all its facets and have survived to share a cup of coffee and small moments of conversation. No need to ruin 60 years of dedication with small and trivial conversation. I hear the crouched old man endearingly refer to the woman as “Ruth”. A fitting name for such a poised woman who has more than likely seen her share of troubles, but found herself, legs crossed lady like in front of her, peering out the large windows, letting the soundtrack of her generation float over her.

The old man scoots past me on his way out. I jump to my feet to honor this man by holding open a door he once held open for his beloved Ruth by the chivalry engrained within him. But now reminded of time passed he smiles at me with a smile that no doubt melted many before me... “I have trouble with doors” The old man stated as he leaned on his cumbersome walker. “They’re only trouble if you ask me.” I replied “They are meant to keep out the cold, but instead they just slow us down!”… I tried… the smile says more to me than any other gesture… talk is cheap.

“Double-tall, fat free, extra hot, caramel latte for here!” I’m shaken from my illustrated timeline by baristas pumping out a fresh rush of ordered drinks to our caffeine-crazed city… I resist the urge to sit for hours and rise to collect my things to head home, I’ve gotten too distracted here -- there is much to be accomplished today. I move outside and bend down to pat the head of a golden retriever eagerly waiting for his caffeinated best friend to return for the remainder of their jaunt around town. He welcomes all distraction that will keep his one-track mind from remembering that his walk has been interrupted. I move towards my car, the sounds of the community watering hole, the central meeting place, receding behind me… The place of convergence of generations and of stories.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Its a BOY!!!


For all of you who don't know, Greg and Kelly (my brother and sister in law), are going to have a baby and we found out today that its going to be a BOY! Ok, ok... I know I was telling everybody that I thought for sure it was going to be a girl, but honestly! I am so stoked to have a little nephew! I can't believe that he will be coming into our lives just 87 short days from now. I could never have asked for such a blessed life and for such an amazing family. We are all patiently awaiting, or at least trying to patiently wait on the arival of the newest member of the Murphy clan.... 87 days and counting!!!

Reflections...

Pictures flash in mind of an innocent man with pleading eyes…
“Please understand. Please understand how much I love you!”.
Surrounding him, a great cloud of unsuspecting witnesses who look upon the scene with a naivety that not even 2000 years can erase.
Can you blame them?
This man, “The King of the Jews” was now nailed hand and foot to a tree, common thief—
no, supposed prince.
Not even Pilate could deny propagating the passion. Despair in the midst of darkness, not even those who believed the most could comprehend the moment of
…final breath…
“It is finished”
What is finished? This life? If it was finished then why do I still
yearn for something not yet apparently apparent?
The God of the universe, the one in whom God was pleased to have His fullness dwell, the one in whom all power was made perfect, the one through which the invisible is suddenly made visible--
His side pierced, his human body ravaged from the hands of those he loves. For what?
For you? For me?
He became obedient,
obedient to death,
obedient to death on a cross…
obedient.
Is that it? Is that all she wrote? This nice man, this wonderful teacher, good karma, His perfect yin and yang?
And yet as the lamb looks to the lucid, the sheep understand little but loss.
Let our legs not be broken, so that one day we may stand with a crown of thorns lifted humbly upon our heads not as a reward but as reminder.
Do we long for that same fate? Do we long for a day where, no longer bound and broken, able bodied-whole bodied- believers
skipping jovially into the waiting arms of the one who endured it all?
Yet, we raise our hands in protest, in prayer, pleading that it all be over soon.
That God not look upon his servants with harshness
That He come surpassing all, for He is the beginning of life in full.
He came…He is here… and He will come again.



-Reflections based on Colossians 1.15-20, Philippians 2.5-11, John 1.29-31, 19.1-35 and Matthias Grunewald's "The Crusifixion"

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Boogie Woogie Buggle Boy...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shake off the cobwebs after a long day of work, push the couches back and boogie down to your favorite melody remix? Well, here is my attempt at just that. Danny and I are taking a "partner required" class (sounds impressive uh!?) on thursdays and we had homework. Danny came over and with the encouragement of all six of my roommates we created a masterpiece of lindy-ness that will be used for future jam sessions and lindy bombings to come...

Enjoy! ;-)

Sunday, February 04, 2007

My Monsters and Goblins

So I don't have anything spectacular to share. My life is pretty standard... weeks come and go with the pointless freshman level classes that I had yet to take until my last quarter in college, late nights either talking with my roommates or out dancing at various asundry venues scattered all over Seattle, and the never ending job hunt or at least a search for something productive to do while I job hunt. One thing is for sure... I don't like not knowing what the heck is going to happen after March 17th! Ok, that's not entirely true. I'm leading a trip with some of my peers down to Mexico City directly after the quarter breaks, but after that 10 day trip, my days are as un-structured as I've ever had them... the abyss of the unknown looms in front of me. The giant monster that lives in my dirty closet named "lazy" and the sneaky goblin that sleeps under my bed named "fear" like to show their ugly faces from time to time. How much worse will it be when there is no real future... well at least not any plans... there is always a future just not one that I can see. God works in funny ways sometimes, and I'm hoping one day to get a laugh or two from this period of waiting.