Looking to the Great Beyond

It's amazing to think that in three short months, by life as an undergrad will be officially over. Six years and three different school to obtain one degree. Exciting. It's exciting on any different parts. The obvious being that I will no longer have to think about exams, pointless projects, and idea of paying to work as opposed to getting paid to work. The not so obvious, and somewhat frightening part is the fact that what I have been accustomed to for the last six years is now officially over. Now I am completely on my own, my life is fully in front of me. The satisfying thing is knowing that I have God leading me on, so no matter what direction that I will go in the next little while, I know that there will be some devine directive for me to follow. It's exciting to think that in 8 months I could very well be backpacking across Europe, Nepal, or volunteering for some conservation group over seas. It exciting to think what the future will hold. On the same though too it is frightening, specifically with Carleigh. I have been so utterly blessed to have her in my life and will be a new chapter to be apart for a great part of the year. Me galivanting somewhere overseas and her at UBC and Sweden. Thankfully I know that whatever happens will happen according to God's will.

Now, while I am thinking about all of the things that could occur in the future, I thinkI had better make sure that I stay in the current and get to some of the assignments that I have. Otherwise there will be no graduation to speak of!

Do you have the courage to let go?

Do you ever wonder if you have the courage to put you life on the line for a cause? Blame it on John Eldredge's book Wild at Heart but I have been on this war mind set for the last couple of days. So far this has translated into two movies on TV (of which I never did find out the titles) and purchasing U-571 and Enemy at the Gates. What get's me is the overwhelming response to go all out for the cause, even if that means that your likely going to die. Now, I realize that most of these are romaticised Hollywood renditions and likely men battled to fear that they had in times of war, and perhaps didn't always act couragously; however, I think that there is a great analogy in it all.

Spiritually, I would love to say that I am couragous and that I stand up for all good but in reality, do I? A line from U-571 goes something like this, to be a true leader, to be a captain, you have to be able to make decisions without a pause for thought and you must be willing to sacrifice the live of the men that are under your command to fulfill the greater good. The thing that I feel with this is, are we willing to sacrifice the things in our lives that we love and care about for the greater good? For God's greater purpose? I struggle with this thought in the sense that, there are many things that I and not sure that I would easily sacrifice, but would I be willing? I would hope so. I believe that God is training us to be captains in his army, He's building us up as men to lead those that fight beside us. The question is, are we willing to sacrifice the comfortabilities in our lives, the loves in our lives, to obtain the greater goal?

back to the grind

Homework already. I don't think that I am ready for this. Assignments already needing to be done for my research methods and philosphy of science course. Not that I mind the work, but it doesn't help when you don't understand the first reading that is required. It's something to do with mice and cubes, thing is I can't figure out whether the mice have a critical role in the whole experiment or if the inadiment cubes move...ahh, wecome back to the real life of school. Field school was too good to be true. How I wish that school was more like field school, hands on and interactive. I learned so much more in the four months than I did in the previous three years. Yes all of the information that I learned built up on for the course, but I still think that academics need to be more hands on.

I honestly think that people learn so, so much better by applying the material that they are learning rather than theoretically learning it. Perhaps this is why I love forestry so much, most of the things we learn are hands on. More importantly though, all of the learning that I have been doing can lead directly into a job. I'm so glad that I was never inclined to go into science or arts. I mean, you HAVE to get a master's degree to actually do something!

Christmas '05

Christmas 2005 will go down as the Christmas that never really happened. The family and I made the trip to LA and San Fransisco. Spent Christmas in a hotel room and ate a pulled pork sandwich for the dinner. Perhaps not the most traditional Christmas one would think of, but it was definately a fun trip. All I can say is thank God for portable DVD players.

Three days at Disneyland confirmed one thing. I am definately one who need his space. It was absolutely chaotic. So many people that you had to "dodge, dip, dive, duck, and dodge" all of the people, and more specifically the strollers. Who would bring stroller bound kids to Disneyland!? Are the really going to remember a single thing? Somehow I think not.

Anyways, the picture to the right is one taken on a beach near Malibu. Too cold for the "barbies" to come out but it did look like a scence from baywatch, minus the girls. Anyways, I hope all had a most excellent Christmas!

God Bless!