From the Archives

The following is a post I originally wrote on 11/11/2009. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. I’m re-posting it for a couple of reasons.

1. If you are new to my blog, you may not know it’s title “Life and Love and Why” is a Switchfoot song.

2. While the following post was written 6 years ago and (due to busyness of life, two little boys, and not listening to music much) I haven’t listed much to their newer albums (“Vice Verses” or “Fading West”), I’m super excited that their 10th album titled “Where The Light Shines Through” will drop in July. With a theme of Hope, I’m hopeful it will be a well timed musical ‘pick me up’ during recovery.

3. If you are bored, all of my posts that mention Switchfoot can be found here.

When Parallel Lines Collide…

…with a hurricane, there must be some kind of resolve.

What do I mean? I think that I mean I see the world in lines. Intersecting lines of intellectual thought, theology, emotion, creativity, spirituality, philosophy, scientific calculation, and mathematical exactness to name just a few.  These lines run in many directions, until they swirl around in a seemly abstract jumble – giving the appearance of both mysterious chaos and understandable structure at the same time.

From this – I like to see the connections and draw more lines between the lines that already exist. Integration. That’s how it is for me with the music of Switchfoot. The lines that I draw between, through and around the songs, the parallel (and sometimes perpendicular) lines of my life, the planet I tread on, and that which I cannot see – though hope for.

Let me go back about 9 years:

I first heard “Dare You to Move” in college – off of a friend’s mixed cd, playing in his truck. Nice. I liked it. I thought they were from Canada, because up until this time, none of my US friends had told me about this band full of surfers. Through the school year, the song played, and the debate raged, which is better, the chorus or the bridge (everyone knows it’s the chorus after the bridge).

And so my introduction to Switchfoot was complete.  I picked up “Learning to Breath” and I was on my way.  Many an evening was spent studying to the cd, or taking a study break to practice my simple beginner’s beat – drumming to the title track.

And so I went on with life, time went by, and I spent my hours studying and jamming to Switchfoot. Through the course of the year (after I was thoroughly hooked) the rest of the world started hearing about them because of the soundtrack of a little movie called “A Walk to Remember”.  I also went to the Edmonton Switchfoot concert for about 2 bucks, the definition of College: good music on a budget.

At the end of my college career, I participated in a trip (long story – supposed to be teaching English in China – ended up painting in Philadelphia).  While I was slapping blue paint on Nursery walls, singing my heart out to “Playing for Keeps,” thinking about how This is for real. Life is all in.

We went on a field trip day to NY City.  6 hours. One huge place. My main memory, Virgin Records store, Second floor of 4. The brand new Switchfoot Album “The Beautiful Letdown” which I purchased and then convinced 4 of my other 5 team mates to also buy.

As the trip ended, I head back to E-town for two final weeks with friends before I ripped my heart out, returned home from the frozen tundra and grieved the end of my childhood, and the death of college friendships that can not be kept up from afar.

You may recall the song “Meant to Live” the break out single. I remember track 2 “This is your Life” – from the opening sounds. Hearing, and  closing my eyes take me back 6 years to sitting in front of a computer, playing Roller Coster tycoon, waiting for my friends to come home from work.

This is your Life, Are you who you want to be?

This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be

when the world was younger, and you had everything to loose.

That’s it. The question. The abyss of future starkly in front of me. This song, and this cd became the definition of the notes I was living. It paralleled the world I was walking in.

Over the years, I’ve caulked it up to the fact that Jon Foreman (lead singer, frontman and song writer of Switchfoot) is a couple of years older than me. So naturally, he writes a song, it gets on an album, and by the time the album comes out, it’s a couple of years later. The song breaks into my world at approximately the same age and life stage that Jon was living when he probably wrote it.

On that note, I went home.

I spent three years working for a construction company. Digging back in time, listening to old school Switchfoot.

Albums like “the Legend of Chin” and “New Way to be Human” got me by with their punk rock youthful spirit, a good dosing of fun and an occasional song with more sobering questions and pleads.  Particularly off of New Way to be Human — Let that Be Enough.  When I was feeling like life was NOT what I thought it would be – I would drive, run errands for work, listen and cry along to this song.  At the age of 22, a college grad, slightly having lost my way in regards to career, missing my friends, and wondering “is this it,” I was signing

I wish I had what I need
To be on my own
‘Cause I feel so defeated
And I’m feeling alone

And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I’m a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land

And all I see
It could never make me happy And all my sand castles
Spend their time collapsing …

…It’s my birthday tomorrow
No one here could now
I was born this Thursday
22 years ago

And I feel stuck
Watching history repeating
Yeah, who am I?
Just a kid who knows he’s needy

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
Let that be enough

Beyond those sad and sometimes, simply dark, times – Switchfoot followed up with “Nothing is Sound” – in my discouraged world, occasionally sick and worn out — The rocking album, though not one of their best, was dark and with a touch of anger.  Yes there was a little hope – but in my world, most of the “Sunshine” emphasized the “Shadow” Not the other way around.  All I saw was shadow. And in my world “Happy” was most definitely a “Yuppy World.” Happiness seemed shallow, empty, and unattainable.

I didn’t stay completely stuck in the mud. I went back to school. Grad school at that. Though in many respects, my attitude and outlook was equally as torn down. My “Lonely Nation” of just me – was going to classes, starting to soak up some life, but it wasn’t how I wanted it to be.

With a new degree in hand, but no job, and a harsh break up of sorts freshly added to my resume, the end of Grad school looked to be similar to undergrad. Not what I wanted – because I wasn’t what I wanted. How had I bought the lies?  After all this time – I had the truth for so long… Again, not the highlight of the Switchfoot repertoire, Oh Gravity! but it brought some new tunes, and new ways for me to scream my lungs out to something I knew I believed in.

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us…

…I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain’t my American dream

Here I am – about 9 years since the words and melodies, the disonent, minor chordes of grity guitar started weaving its lullubies in and out of the themes of my life.

Today is my 29th Birthday.

Am I out of the dark forest completely – no probably not. I still struggle with things like “being tired of fighting for just me” – I see a bigger world, bigger things, I want to be a part, I want to jump in head first. But the song I’m singing has changed for brighter tones. Not without discord – not entirely. But with a bit more hope. With that I leave you my current Switchfoot anthem

Hello Hurricane – Your love is a song:

I hear you breathing in
another day begins

the stars are falling out
my dreams are fading now, fading out

I’ve been keeping my eyes wide open
I’ve been keeping my eyes wide open

your love is a symphony
all around me
running through me

your love is a melody
underneath me
running to me

your love is a song

the dawn is fire bright
against the city lights

the clouds are glowing now
the moon is blacking out

I’ve been keeping my mind wide open
I’ve been keeping my mind wide open

your love is a song

with my eyes wide open
I’ve got my eyes wide open
I’ve been keeping my hopes unbroken

Advertisement

Relevant Podcast

Do you listen to the Relent podcast? Did you hear them mention my tweet?

So for the last several years, I’ve subscribed to the Relevant podcast and/or the print magazine.

And a just about two weeks ago, my favorite podcast mentioned my tweet (indirectly). To hear the podcast, check it out here.

About 1.5 minutes in, you will hear them mention this tweet.

It made my day.

And everything after the first minute and a half is worth a listen as well.

Enjoy!

The Hardest Part 2: Stuff edition

As far as things go – It’s going to be rough not running out and buying a book I want to read. Granted, I’ve become much better at going to Half Price books –  but that which is not a necessity, is just a want.  And it’s the “I wants” that are ultimately obstacles between us and paying down the debt faster.

Another tough one for me is music. Thankful I have a few iTunes gift cards from Christmas – I’ll just need to use them sparingly, and then simply say “no – I don’t need  that music (or that app) right now. It can wait.”   I did this with a Christmas album I thought I really wanted. Turns out after reading reviews, I never bought it. And now that Christmas is over -meh – guess I saved that $10!

What thing feels like “you just can’t live without” it (but really know deep down, it’s a want, not a need)?

Not sure how I missed this video

With my favorite song playing in the background.

While I work

I’ve been working from home for a couple of months now and since most of my work consists of me interacting with the computer – and hardly ever people, I enjoy listening to podcasts while I go through out my work day.

These are all free through iTunes, so that’s probably the best place to find them.

Here are a few that I listen to on a regular basis:

The Relevant Podcast: Put out by the folks who make Relevant Magazine, this podcast touches on issues of Life, God, & Culture. They have interviews and live music sets.  They go over new media releases, odd bits of news and often have some type of silly game. They also go on large tangents that usually have me cracking up.

Stuff You Should Know: This is put out by individuals from “How Stuff  Works” – Topics are wide sweeping and very informative.  I find the hosts to be a nice touch of personable and entertaining. This is an older podcast, so make sure to download all the old issues.

This American Life: An hour-long program with different stories all related to one topic. Sometimes reading, sometimes interviews, sometimes comedy.  (this one is a little hit or miss.  sometimes good, sometimes deletable)

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Also put out by “How Stuff Works” –  Similar to the “Stuff You should know podcast, this particular one focuses on historic events, people and places.  This is also a long running podcast, so don’t forget to go back and download from their archives

The History of Rome:  As of today, 141 issues spanning from “In the Beginning” to Constantius & Constans (sons of Constantine I believe)

The British History Podcast: Just like its sounds – the history of Brittain.  This one is new, so there are only a handful of issues so far, but it’s been interesting. And the podcasts average around 20 minutes.

All Things Considered:  From the BBC, this 20 or so minute podcast explores  religious, spiritual, & moral issues in range of formats, such as documentary, interview, and discussion.

RadioLab: Typically an entertaining “scientific” investigation of one main idea. they pick a topic (such as time, or language) and put together a show with stories, interviews of experts, sounds, and information. It’s hard to explain and probably just needs to be experienced.

Between Notes – Second Screening!

So – LOVED “Between Notes” even more the second time around.

And if you missed it at the Angelika – Lucky for you – they added a second screening.

This time around, it’s at the Angelika in Plano — 4:30 on Friday (4/8).

Get your tickets here.

Check out the trailer here.

And watch some video footage from the world premier here.  (I’m the one in purple, with the crazy hair saying something about the film being made for 10K. 🙂   )

Last, but not least, Check them out on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/betweennotes

Between Notes

So excited to head down this evening and watch Between Notes!

If you are in DFW – I’m not even sure if there are tickets left, but if there are – I highly recommend checking out this film tonight. As far as I know, this is the only time it’s playing at the Dallas International Film Festival.

You can get tickets (if there are any left) here. (actually, looks like there might only be tickets at the door now available)

You can watch the trailer on Apple Trailers here.

And you can buy the soundtrack here.

The music is Amazing! And the film itself is very well done. Considering their budget was 10K – it is quite an accomplishment.

 

The Library

I have a lot of music (about 30 gigs).

Once upon a time, I built my itunes library by spending hours inporting and organizing all of my CDs. Since that time I’ve purchased quite a number of albums.  And over the years, I’ve had three different computers with itunes librarys, files from Amazon downloads, multiple back up folders, basically music scattered all over the place.

I’ve finally started combining files, deleting duplicates, and organizing so that I can eventually have one master copy of my music library.  After that – our household will be able to combine our indiviudal music libraries.

It’s a lot of work! But I also think it will be worth it to once the files are organized and I can finally upload my favorite music to my ipod touch. soooo… that’s what I did with my suddenly free evening.

How did you spend your evening?

The Cave

A current favorite song of mine from Mumford & Sons.

It’s empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you’ve left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Because I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker’s land

So make your siren’s call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Because I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it’s meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Why hello Saturday. You look lovely today.

Wow… I feel like it’s been forever since I posted. Just 12 days.

Quick Updates: The Shamrock Shake Revolution has 48 fans on facebook and about 30 follower on Twitter.  Thanks for the support and keep spreading the word.

Pennies for Debra hasn’t been counted for a while. Pretty sure it’s close to 6000, but now that the pennies are in a glass jar, it’s harder to keep an exact count.

Also – this weekend is the Seattle Mariners FanFest. I’m missing it, but wearing my m’s hat to show support. Only 18 days until pitchers and catcher report.  If the M’s go to the world series… I WILL do everything possible in my power to at least be in WA state for the series.  I’d love to catch a game.. but that would be more up in the air.  I HAVE to be home to watch the games with others who also love the Mariners.

What else… well, I cleaned my room today. It looks good. I created a “Saturday Cleaning” playlist. It’s a pretty good play list and I am basically sitting here listening waiting for it to finish. It’s so good, I don’t want to skip any songs and it’s been so long since I just sat and listened to music. *sigh* That. is what makes for a great Saturday afternoon.