Life Update

Well if you haven't heard by now, I no longer work at US Bank.

As embarrassing as it is to admit, I was fired.

Whoops.

I didn't steal money or quit going to work or cuss out a coworker or commit sexual harassment.

(I think all of those are episodes of either the Office or Seinfeld)

My cash drawer was simply out of balance too many times for a management position.

Did I mention I haven't worked there since early December?

If you've been looking for me, I've been at home.  Let's get lunch!

So, I'm under employed at the moment.

I'm in my sixth year of student ministry in Afton

but that only consumes my Wednesdays and Sundays.

What I do Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is at my discretion (and my wife's).

Which means:

I've started doing P90X.

I'm learning Spanish through Rosetta Stone.

I've gotten much better at FIFA 14.

Cleaning is always on my "to-do" list.

My coffee consumption is on the rise.

I've watched nearly the entire series of Dexter.

I shave a lot less often.

And I'm going back to school in the fall.

Why?  Because as much as I love student ministry,

I don't want to make a career out of it.

I really like investing in students' lives without being a burden on a church's finances.
So, I'm going to be an engineer!

In the meantime, I'm looking for temporary employment opportunities.
Hire me for some odd jobs!
Hire me to help you with construction!
Hire me for some design work! (I dabble)
Hire me for editing!
Hire me to hang out with you!

Seriously, I love learning and doing a variety of things.

One last thing:  don't pity me for getting fired.  
Working at the bank drained the life out of me.  It's a good thing I'm not there anymore.

The Book Thief Book Review

I recently finished a novel by the name of The Book Thief.
The Book Thief  is a narrative that follows the life of a young Jewish girl in Nazi Germany.
As I read, I couldn't help but think the genre has been worn out.
Another book about the Holocaust.  It will be sad.  It will be long.  Blah, Blah, Blah.
And I couldn't shake the fact that it was written by an Australian.
I kept waiting for the book to "steal" me away.  
But as I read, it became apparent the book wasn't about Nazi Germany.  Or even Liesel.
And it wasn't going to be a "I can't stop reading" kind of book.
However, the book did shed some light on some interesting concepts.

It was written from the point of view of Death.
I haven't thought much about what Death thinks of the living.
I don't think many have.
We are too afraid of Death to spend that much time with it.

There is a point in the novel where Death speaks these words:

"I am haunted by humans."

The irony is apparent.
We, as humans, are terrified.
Death ranks among snakes, spiders, and darkness.
We cannot solve, avoid, conquer, or kill it.
Death reigns over the earth.
Yet, it is haunted by humanity.

Which got me thinking:

No ruler has been so enslaved by it's people.
After all, Death is created through life.
We employ death from birth.
Events, people, and the like culminating to one point of fear.
But why would death be haunted by humanity?

Maybe it has to do with what Death sees:
The wake of Humanity.
War.  Tragedy.  Disease.
Lives wasted.

Really, there is a certain beauty in death.
The timely ending to a good story.
The merciful release from a world of suffering.
Evil being removed from the world.
We often times look at death as the ending.
But sometimes, there is much, much more to it.

This is what The Book Thief leaves us with.
It does not solve our curiosity or anxiety about the end.
But It does raise important questions about life through Death.
And challenges how the reader views their own ending and their now.

What's Happened in the Last 6 Months

I went to Phoenix.
Fantasy Baseball.
We started a garden.
I sold a few wedding invitations.
Chelsea played in St. Louis.
I learned how to make Vesper's.
Sonja turned 26 and started traveling with Move.

Life.

Figuring it out

I haven't blogged since I got married.
(nearly 3 months)
I haven't really written since I got engaged.
(nearly 9 months)

I've learned a lot recently
And
life changes are abounding.

To not write would be vacant.
Not expressing would seem incomplete.

So,
I'd like to share the biggest concept I'm experiencing.

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Money is the biggest sticking point for American Marriages.
Debt, salary, spending.
So much to fight about.
Sonja and I are rather transparent with our finances.
We recently opened some accounts, closed some others,
And positioned ourselves for financial success.
Through the process, Sonja's debit cards were canceled (ha!)
Not on purpose,
One is in the mail. (calm down feminist)
Not having a debit card is frustrating.
Handing out cash gets old.
Our current position is less than ideal.

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We have the world's smallest dishwasher.
4 plates wide.
It is a puzzle to maximize the capacity.
One that can be frustrating.
Even hurtful.
Constant rearranging is necessary.
I like it loaded a certain way, Sonja doesn't care.
It doesn't matter,
It's only a dishwasher.

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Oftentimes for dinner, we make a large dish
(enchiladas, chicken pot pie, pasta)
to have leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
But I like the food we make.
And I eat a lot of it.
And then I eat out for lunch. (confession, sorry Sonja).
My self control has added 3-10 pounds to my frame.

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I've learned a lot from daily experiences like these.
To be patient.
To be selfless.
To be self-controlled.

Fruit of the spirit kind of lessons.
Healthy marriage leans into God stuff like that.

I've really loved the things I'm being taught.
The last three months formed me into a better man.
I know I'm not done figuring out the whole husband role.
I'll experience plenty more frustrating, maddening moments.
I'll commit plenty more mind-blowing, moronic mistakes.
I'll be annoyed, selfish, and resentful.
And I'm sure those lessons will teach me well.

Because the biggest thing I've learned through all life's experiences
is not patience
is not sacrifice
is not self control.

It is to learn.

What I Don't Do

Sometimes I think, "Hey, I should write today."
Then I get home from work, 
and I don't.

Whoops...