Everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten

ok so maybe I butchered the title a little, I don't remember exactely how the original term was phrased, but you get my drift.

I work in retail right now, trying hard to find a better job, but I have noticed a few things.  People come into the stoer and move things, and give no thought to the fact that someone has to put it away.  isn't that something we learned in kindergarten?  Now mind you my room is as messy as any other, but when I use somthing of someone elses I always put it back. 

And talk about thefts!!!!  People take electronics cords, CD's, DVD's.....Ijust don't get it.  Why would you not pay for it.  Dont' people realize it is so much more satisfying to know you earned somthing?

But my title has a little more to do then just that.  But thanks for letting me rant :)  As I go towards marriage with the girl I love I have realized that some things are very complex, but other things can be kept so simple.

Why jsut hold hands when crossing the street when you can do it with someone all the time :)

Sharing ANYTHING is better, even if it is just a small portion, or a meager amount of time.  with conflicting schedules me and my fiancee don't see each other as much as we like, but we love to share the time together and the nearness of each other.

Two heads really are better then one.  Christy shows me things all the time I could never see on my own
(men and women, mars and venus that whole concept....which I guess is a little above kindergarten level, but not much :))

welll.... I know there is more but I'll have to continue it later.  Hope those few that read this have somthign to add.  I think we can all agree thgouh that life should be simpler then it is.

God Bless

Brent

C. S. Lewis

I was looking up quotes by some of my favorite authors today and rediscovered the wealth of knowldege out there that CS Lewis offers.  I could not decide on which quote to talk about but the one above has to be one of my favorites.  So often in life (men you know what I'm talking about, and yes women do too) we think love involves the majority of physical actions conducted between two people.  This does not always have to be sex, because all of us who are teenagers or older know that any physical contact is intising.  I know I can unashamedly say there are men I hug in great friendship and it makes me feel welcomed,  and I have been to known to slap shoulders and backs as much as the next guy.  These may seem manly ways of physical contact, but they are still physical contact.

However, as anyone schooled in life or psychology can tell you the physical is only part of the story, and often the small part.  In fact, most will tell you that the physical can be greatly effected by how open we are to each other about our personalities.  This means that we are open about our thoughts, feelings, wants, desires, and a multitude of other human and real characteristics.  In fact CS Lewis himself seem to hint at this in another quote

In this CS Lewis hits on a major major subject.  We are not physical beingings, but souls that occupy a body.  A body that has been contaminated by the fall of man back to Adam, and it is our souls that will be saved and given new bodies.  While this is large topic in and of it self, it ties to my main point like this:  We need to bear our souls and personalities to achieve true relationships in this world.  It is crucial to every relationship, not just marriage, for it is our true selves.

Now this is not to say that we need to be this way to everyone.  As my fiancee keeps reminding me, somtimes being this open allows others to walk on you and take advantage of you.  And she is absolutely correct.  But how then can we balance this deep concern (all of us have been through this at one point or another) with the need to truely be ourselves (see previous entry) and have true relationships? 

I only know of two methods which each individual must find a proper individual balance between in their lives.  The first, as the word tells us is to guard our hearts.  We must test the waters, and be our treu selves, but at the same time we must hold back those parts of us that are most sensitive until we know others can be trusted.  We do not hide who we are, or lie, or put on a mask, simply give the information that is appropriate to those who need it.  My fiancee has spent a lot of time discussing this with me and I see it as visiting a particular destination.  I can tell you all about Tamp Bay, but it does not let you see or expereince it.  I can show you picutres, but you have not expereinced Tampa Bay for yourself.  Only if I take you there can you truely know what I'm saying, but there is still abother step, the step of walking you places, learning each detail and history or evey building and mark on the city.  This is how I am starting to view relationships: who do I simply describe what I am too, and who gets the full tour and details that make up who I am, who I was, and who I am become.

The second method is very dear and personal to me, and it is knowing who you are without a doubt.  We all know that no matter how guarded we can be, we will make mistakes and misjudege others, and there will things that hurt us in these relationships.  In these times there is only one thing to do, and that is to know who God has made you, who he has created you to be, and to realize that that is the only opinion that matters. 

So much for my ramblings for today. I hope anyone who readsthis remembers this simple fact though, that the true you, the one created by God, those thoughts and desires and personality traits that YOU know are divinly inspired are who you truely are.  And when you you find others like yourself that are willing to guard thsoe traits from outsiders, and share them with you, a true friedship has been discovered.

Well since I don't update much I thought I should least explain my title and phrase on my site here. 

I have spent a large part of my life in books and using my imagination, and it has lead to down some interesting paths.  While in college I recieved a lot of criticism from friends and people close to me about reading and watching science fiction and fantasy, and came away very confused about alot of things.  I knew God told me to root some thing out of my life, but somthing felt out of balance.

It's a very long story to explain everything that happened but after a period of time with God I learned alot about who I was in him and his purpose for my life.  To wander means to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; to meander.  Much of the life of a christian seems this way, but in reality it is all in Gods hands. 

God has taught me that imagination and knowledge often go hand and hand and that he created me with certain interests and desires, and that as long as I focus my eyes on him and pursue those passions in people and in life then the path I wander may seem aimless, but in reality my foot steps are more sure than when I set them myself.

Also Waner is only one letter off from Wonder: To have a feeling of awe or admiration; marvel.  And in focusing on God and who he made you to be, your eyes open up to the awesome splender of the world and people that he created.

In short some of you may nto really call that wandering, but that is what Tolkein was trying to say.  While someone may appear to be aimless, they appear to have not set course or to stray from the path, if God is their focus, then that person is not lost.

So to anyone out there reading this, Following the passions God put in your heart, and listen to his still small voice.  Don't worry about traps and pit falls that may come about, if God is lighting the path then he knows where your going.  So sit back and wonder at the marvels he will show you until the day you stand in his presence.

God bless

BIM

AHHH!!!!  I'm atually updating.   This is new and suprising.  Anyway A whole lots going on.  Coloraod is hotter then I remember (and I tried to leave all that in Florida)
I am looking for work as hard a s possible and actually finding places to send resumes everyday.  Me and Christy are taking things slow but doing well.  I'm attending the old church out here I usedto go to in college but me and Christy really want to find somthing smaller. 

I did reject one job offer (just wasn't a good fit)  and I have one more on the table right now I'm trying to decide on. 

Well I think thats about it.  Later all :)

Brent

Hey everyone.  Just on here to post a picture of my girlfriend Christy.

This is her on a missons trip in Africa.   I love that smile :)

God Bless

Brent