Because the Butterfly

If you were to ask me why I believe I would counter with a question of my own. Have you ever seen a butterfly in flight? Of course you have. Everybody has. But have you ever genuinely watched? I watched a butterfly flit and flutter across a parking lot one afternoon and it was clear to me that God was real. Here’s a creature that weighs less than a tissue and aerodynamically has no right to stay aloft. Yet as the breeze blows to and fro the butterfly is unaffected. It is here and it wants to go there. And it does it.

Why do I believe? Because I’ve seen a butterfly, impervious to the breeze, go where it wishes. I believe because I have met people who should be dead.  I believe because everyday around this earth another life begins in another womb. I believe because every day babies are born. I believe because if the earth was slightly off access, if the sun was just a little farther away or closer, if the moon wasn’t in lockstep, nothing would be living on this sphere. I believe because an airplane can stay aloft. I believe because a single kernel of corn planted today will provide enough to plant an entire field next season.

Nietzsche once said, “I think therefore I am,” in order to prove his own existence. I would posit that, “I am, therefore God exists.” Is that a simplification? Of course. Could somebody smarter than me who believes differently pick that argument apart? Sure. Could somebody smarter than that person, who agrees with me pick apart their argument? Yep. It can go on like that ad nauseam. But the fact that I am here, alive, breathing, tells me that God exists.

Why do I believe? Because a faith that started thousands of years ago with a man claiming deity continues to thrive today. Its founder died and was witnessed alive 3 days later… a fact that would be easily disapproved and should have resulted in a fringe cult that was snuffed out in no more than a generation at most. Yet 2000 plus years later that faith exists and thrives. Not because it’s a salve for the wounds of the weak minded but because it is, in fact, true. It could not and should not have survived otherwise.

Has this faith been lived out through history as it should? Of course not, but that’s the exact reason I believe. It’s a faith that has not done what it should have yet it still is alive and doing some good in a broken world.

I believe that God is real for many reasons. I believe because I am, to paraphrase the philosopher. I believe because today a butterfly will ignore the physical world around it and fly from one blossom to the next.

You Get What You Pay For

I'm sure all of you have heard that old adage, "You get what you pay for". I've always been a big proponent of that one because, well, it's true about 95% of the time. I've spent the last (nearly) 7 years of my married life trying to fully convince my amazing wife of that fact with moderate success. For the most part she's learned from experience that it holds true.

For example, you can spend $4.99 for a box of the real "Drumstick" ice cream cones or you can spend $3.99 for the generic version. The difference? Well, at the beginning there isn't much of one. The first thing you get to on a Drumstick are the peanuts and bits of peanuts are just bits of peanuts. There's not much quality to be concerned with there. It's either a peanut or it isn't and both the Drumstick and it's generic knock-off have it covered...literally. Even the chocolate between the two isn't that far off, although I'm sure that the generic version doesn't have any real chocolate in it. If the item is labeled, "chocolate flavored" it's not chocolate. That's about where the similarities end however because once you hit the cone it's all down hill from there. The Drumstick crunches. The knock-off? Well it sort of rips and tears into a long bubble-tape like strand. I think the closest comparison is that the knock-off cone is the consistency of a fruit roll up. It's terrible!

I say all that to illustrate the point that after years of work, my wife and I are on pretty much the same page. Now we spend the extra dollar and get a good ice cream cone. It's worth it. However, we're not all the way there yet. I bring you exhibit A: Feather Pillow.

There's Still A Bit Of Day 9 Left!

I knew going in to this 12 days of Christmas cheer thing that it was going to be tough to get a post done every day. However, I thought at worst I would miss 1. Here we are though on Thursday and this is only post #2 this week. It's been so busy at work, home and church this last 2 weeks that I think I'm running on adrenaline at this point. But, that being said, it's better to be busy than have nothing to do!

I have no doubt though that those of you who do read this on a regular basis have been able to find and make your own Christmas cheer without me so I'm not too worried.

All that being said, it's now day 9 and there are only 5 full days left until Christmas comes and quickly goes. Time sure flies when you're having Christmas fun right? My wife pointed out the other day that she was disappointed that we haven't watched any Christmas movies yet. No Elf, A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas (although, that's barely a Christmas movie if you ask me), Home Alone (yes, I consider that more of a Christmas movie than the previous one mentioned). We did manage to watch Frosty The Snowman and Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer though so at least we got those in. However, I did miss the cartoon version of the Grinch and a Charlie Brown Christmas.

I know what some of you are thinking, "You can watch those anytime, what's the big deal?" That's where you're wrong my friend. I'm a purist. Christmas movies are for Christmas time. That's what makes them special!

With Christmas movies on my mind, and after re-watching the clip from Elf that I posted, I've decided to link some of my favorite scenes from some of my favorite movies. If I can't watch the whole thing, at least I can get some of it in right?

First up, my all-time favorite movie, "A Christmas Story". Here's a little Fa Ra Ra Ra.

Next up, my all-time favorite movie, "Elf". Wait, I already said that didn't I?

And finally, for you nostalgic types, "It's A Wonderful Life"

Day 6/7

I guess the title of today's post makes it pretty clear that I missed yesterday. I had a couple of reasons though. One, I flew to Dallas early yesterday morning and didn't have any time to write until I got on the plane on the way back and by the time I got home and settled, the blog was the last thing on my mind. The other reason, and the much more legitimate one was the fact that in the light of the events of last Friday in Newtown it seemed a bit incongruous to spread cheer.

That being said, I'm clearly no theologian, sociologist or journalist so there's nothing I can really add to the already existing conversation that will shed any new light or find some sort of meaning to what happened anyway. And even if I did, It's unlikely that I could say it any better than the professionals mentioned above. So, I'll leave it to the many commentators who have already taken to the airwaves and pulpits across America to discuss.

Instead I'll try to do what I intended to do when I started the Christmas cheer email last year and that, of course, is to spread some cheer. I hope this clip makes you smile today.

Try to enjoy this final week before Christmas and continue to pray for those in Newtown and do good for somebody in your community this week.

On The 5th Day of Christmas...

Can you believe that Christmas is just over a week away? Holy Christmas Angels!! I really have to find some time to get some shopping done! By the way, if any of you are done shopping already I don't want to hear about it in the comments section. That is, unless you're offereing up your help to get mine done.

So it's Friday and we've blown through the week already. I hope you all found some time to enjoy and/or spread a little Christmas cheer over the past 5 days. On this final day of the week I would like to turn to all of you. What are some of your traditions? What "Christmasy" things have you done to get into, or stay in, the Spirit of the season? If you've been reading throughout the week you've learned a few of mine and if you keep reading next week you're sure to learn more but I'm tired of talking about me (shocking right? Christmas miracles never cease).

 I want to know what all of you do. Bake cookies, go look at Christmas lights, cut down your own Christmas tree, whatever it is share it in the comments section of this post.

Now, I realize there is a chance this can all backfire. I have noticed that the readership has diminished as the week has gone on so it's entirely possible that you're all too busy to share something but that's why I chose Friday. You have a full 3 days to stumble back to this blog and add a comment. Don't be a Grinch, share with your fellow citizens of Whoville!

By the way, if you're still struggling to get in the Christmas mood maybe you can put up some Christmas lights this weekend. Here's a picture of a very simple project to give you some inspiration:



Merry Christmas and happy Friday everybody.

Merry Day 4!

Here we are at day 4, it seems like just yesterday it was day 3. How time flies...

Today's installment is going to be brief for two reasons. One the video below is about 5 minutes long and two, it's been a busy few days and I'm a bit short on time.

A quick intro to the video. It's one of those Christmas flash mob clips which I'm sure many of you have seen at one time or another and, like most of those clips I've seen, it's really moving. I posted one last year that was shot in Macy's and included hundreds of people singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Like that one, this one is incredibly heart-warming in my opinion. I can't think of a better scene than a group of people publicly singing about the Lord and Savior. You know, the real reason for the season. Christmas movies, Christmas music and even Christmas smells are all great but ultimately it's about the birth of the One true Savior of the world. On the surface all religions seem to point to the same conclusion but only Christianity is about what God, through Jesus, does to offer salvation to us VS what man can do to earn salvation, which is the focus of every other religion. That's actually a pretty big difference.

Anyway, I hope you take the time to watch the video below. I admit that it brought a little tear to my eye hearing the lyrics. Special shout out to my mom for passing this one along and to our family friend Neil Sheehy who passed it on to her.

Day 3: Smells Like Christmas

When I woke up this morning I walked by our Christmas tree and took a big whiff. To me, the smell of a Douglas Fir is the ultimate. There are a lot of things that bring back Christmas memories but nothing like the smell of a Christmas tree. If I drive by a tree lot I'll roll down the windows just in case the wind is blowing in my direction. I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree.

There is a downside to going the real tree route though. For years I've been getting sick in the last week of December and during that time I've been living in a state of denial. There's no way my beloved Christmas tree is the culprit! But alas, I think it may be. Blasted allergies!!

I did contemplate going the "fake plastic tree" route this year, but when I walked through the parking lot at Home Depot to buy more lights for our house, I strolled past a huge pile of caged pine trees longing for a home. At that moment I smelled Christmas amongst the SUV's and sub-compacts. The trees drew me in like the Sirens from Homer's Odyssey. (that's Homer the author, not Homer the Simpson). Unlike Ulysses though, I wasn't able to break free from their cursed siren call and I packed up the fam a few day later and, blamo, we had a tree.

It's not just the scent though, it's the tradition. I always loved going to the tree lot as a kid and I can't wait for Jack (and his future little sister) to be old enough to anticipate that day like I did. Plus, without the existence of the tree lot we wouldn't have the classic scene from A Christmas Story where the Old Man haggles with the guy on the lot:

Salesman:We got 300 trees. This here is the Christmas tree emporium of the whole midwest. Look at this tree. Aint no needles coming off this tree (thousands of needles fall off). This aint no tree. This here is a tree.

Mom: It looks a little skimpy in the front.

Salesman: Well, you can just put it in the corner.

The Old Man: Haven't you got a Big tree?

Salesman: Yeah! Heck, this aint no tree! This here is a tree.

The Old Man:  (giddy): Hah ha, look at the needles there (touches tree lovingly)

Mom: Don't you think it’s a little big?

The Old Man: Oh no. You know Christmas only comes once a year. How much?

Salesman: I'll knock off two bucks because I can see you’re a man who knows his trees.

 Mom: This isn't one of those trees where all the needles fall off is it?

Salesman: Naah, that's them Balsams.

The old man loved bargaining as much as an Arab trader, and he was twice as shrewd.

The Old Man: You know the neighbors bought one of those brand new plastic trees.

 (salesman gets a look of disgust on his face).

The Old Man: This thing looks like it was made of...green pipecleaners (laughing)

Mom: It’s a very nice tree.

The Old Man: Naah.

 Salesman: I'll throw in some rope and tie it to your car for you.

The Old Man: Sold!!

That being said, if I get as sick this year as I did last year I may have to give up that tradition. Maybe a new tradition will be driving down to AutoZone to get the pine tree air fresheners and hanging them all over our "green pipe cleaner" tree.



 You know what... Bah Humbug to that!!! I'll live through the sniffles to keep the tradition alive!