while rendering

It’s been an interesting month. I’ve been trying to unpack all that’s happened, and convert that into something resembling eloquent written reflection, but I’m realizing that’s a pipe dream. For now, at least.

As I sit here at my desk on a late Saturday night, watching another wildly improbable Braves comeback (in Denver, of all places), I can only muster a few simple, vague emotions, which I shall funnel into some stream-of-consciousness ramblings.

I’m thankful to be alive. I’m more thankful that my wife is alive. I don’t want to overdramatize what is, in reality, an everyday occurrence– especially here in Atlanta. But having never been in a major car accident, I can now attest that those accidents… they stick around. They mess with you. The doctors told us that we would likely experience sudden and random traumatic relapses (my words), and to not let that discourage us too much. This was very accurate. I spent two weeks plus as a mere shell of myself, haunted by flashbacks, quiet bouts of anxiety and depression, and unshakeable lethargy. Or more simply, I was just “off.” It was like a cold that wouldn’t go away (and I was also literally fighting a cold at the time): never completely debilitating, but tremendously annoying. I just wanted to be “normal” again, but it felt like that wasn’t going to happen. 

But, again: thankfulness. If gratitude is the only takeaway from this whole ordeal, then it’s a solid one. 

As I distance myself from the accident, and settle back into “normal,” we turn our attention back to the disruption that was already in progress: specifically, leaving Atlanta for Denver. There’s a lot of emotion to unpack here, as well.

I’m excited about our new adventure. I’m terrified to leave the security of my job and my coworkers to become a full-time freelancer. I’m looking forward to getting to know what is, according to most everyone I’ve talked to, an amazing city and region. I’m dreading the cross-country trips and yet another apartment search. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to build something new. I’m lamenting the geographical separation from my family, my friends, and basically everything I’ve ever known. I’m stoked to see Tiffany get to pursue a dream that so many aspire to but can’t make the cut. 

It’s a whole mess of emotions that I honestly can’t deal with all at once. It’s going to take at least several months. Which is about all of the time I have. 

So, this month has been an interesting one. The Braves have been fun to watch. They’ve been on a tear ever since I wrote my last post. (Coincidence? Absolutely.) The Avengers was pretty awesome as well. I’ve also fully made the transition to someone that actually enjoys guacamole, albeit moderately. See, it’s not all doom and gloom. 

Unless you’re a Red Sox fan, that is. If so, I offer my condolences. 

The Braves, Braves Fans, and Facepalming

Four-game losing streaks are ugly. But “0-4” is infinitely more ugly.

So here we are, just four games into baseball’s 162-game marathon, and the apocalypse has come and gone. Or, at least, you would feel that way if you talked to a Braves fan.

It doesn’t help that the four losses have come against the Mets and the Astros, the consensus picks as the worst teams in the NL. And they weren’t pretty losses, either (if there is such a thing).

Meanwhile, the Phillies are 1-3 and the Marlins 2-3. We should probably go ahead and give the division crown to the Mets.

Coming into this season, the Braves looked like an 85-win team. A good team that could potentially be great, but playoffs were certainly not a given. What keeps them from being great is their penchant for slumping at the plate.

We’ve seen this for a while now. It’s a lineup full of former and potential All-Stars: Michael Bourne, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward… on paper, it looks great. But these guys slump, and then they tear it up, and then they slump again. I’m not sure who is to blame for that– or if it’s just the natural ebb and flow of baseball– but we knew coming into this season that it would be feast or famine.

Heck, the Braves are not even two full years removed from a very ugly 9-game losing streak. Boy, was that a fun time to live in Atlanta. Naturally, less than two months later, the Braves sat atop the division, fought their way to a 9-game winning streak, and finished the year in the playoffs.

So, to Braves fans who find themselves scraping at themselves with broken pottery– I don’t blame you, but I have to ask: is this your first baseball season?

Christians and the Needy (and everyone else)

This may seem like an anti-Rick Warren post. It’s not, I promise. This may seem like a partisan-politics post. It’s not, I promise. 

However, in response to a tweet that Rick Warren made today, there are a few things I have to get off my chest, hopefully in a civil fashion.

First, the tweet in question:

And now, some context.

With this tweet, Rick Warren is promoting the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, an international initiative to “mobilize Christian churches in working together to plant churches that promote reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.” Now, I don’t know much about the Plan, but those are all ideas I can get behind (as long as educate ≠ indoctrinate). So I have no beef there.

However, the tweet wasn’t really about the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. Or at least, that’s not the part that screams loudest. 

Intentionally or unintentionally, Warren is using Matthew 25 (specifically verses 31-46) as an indictment of the Affordable Healthcare Act, insinuating that it is the role of the church alone to provide care for the poor and the sick.

Read more »