Sunday, August 31, 2008

I just shaved my legs

...That's right-I just shaved my legs. I now have silky smooth legs to strut around. Why did I do it, you ask? Well, I actually have been contemplating it for a long while. It's kind of a code to being a cyclist. You ride bikes=You shave your legs. And you get picked on if you don't!

So, today was the US Pro Cycling Championship Event in Greenville and I'm not going to lie, maybe I got caught up in the moment. After seeing the likes of George Hincapie, Freddie Rodriguez, and the ohhh so cool Rock Racing Team, I got the itch. The itch to take it to another level-and shave the legs.

I actually have nice looking legs underneath all of that hair. Haha. Ladies, it took me about 45 minutes and I only cut myself once. How would you rate that for a first-timer?

So, here comes the ridicule, I can see it now. I'll be at work, or with friends...it'll take a minute, but then they will realize what I did-and probably just laugh. I wonder if this falls under the whole "taking risks/not asking questions" blog I just posted!!

Living Life and not asking questions!

I have made a decision. I want to live life, no questions asked... I want to live a life without thinking about the "what ifs"; I want a life filled with spontaneity, potential, and abundance. I'm pretty sure that fear has a lot to do with most people's (including my) decision to live a safe life. But what is fun about a safe life? Now, granted, it is a heck of a lot easier to say than to enact in everyday life-so maybe this is something that I need to strive more and more towards everyday?!

I want to be myself and not worry about what others think
I want to run that race and not care how slow I am
I want to ask that beautiful girl out, and not worry about being shot down!
I want to make moves...take that to mean whatever you want!
I want to do what God has intended for me, and not ask questions! (failed at this plenty of times)

The thing that saddens me most is that when I have lived in fear-what awesome things have I missed out on!

Now, don't get me wrong, I have taken risks, chances, and lived plenty of times before...I just want to be more deliberate about doing it!

I will keep you updated on how this new philosophy of life goes!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Love is a Decision

What a statement! And I am slowly and surely finding the meaning of it. I have heard two different schools of thought on this statement, though.

First, you have the Alan Jacksons of the world that speak of "Livin' on Love...."
You also have the Beatles of the world that state "All you need is love..."

I've also heard that it takes a lot more than just love to make a relationship work. And I have to agree.

I bought a shirt about 3 weeks ago and on the front it says "Love is a Decision". It's by Jedidiah, they have awesome clothes and have an awesome message. Definitely check out the website. Little did I know though, that I would be seeing this decision right before my eyes today in a situation that directly involved myself.

To Love someone-wow, that's so strong-to love someone you have to disregard feeling; you have to throw away looks; you have to submit; you have to decide. It is a huge huge decision. I can't help but thank of the women that I have told "I Love you" too, only to break up months later. Did I truly love them them? Did I love them for a time and then it simply ended?

I believe to truly love someone, you are obviously going to be attracted to them, you are obviously going to have strong feelings for them, you are hopefully going to treat them right; but more than anything you have to make the firm decision to love them for the rest of your life. Breathe. You have to decide to Love when finances are tough; you must decide to love when the job sucks; you must decide to love when looks have faded away and you are both pushing each other around in wheel chairs; you must decide to love when the in-laws are getting on the nerves; (it's about to get deep)....You must decide to love when a job requires you to move to an unknown territory away from family and friends; you must decide to love when your child is born with an incurable disease; you must decide to love when your child is taken away from you through a tragic event; you must decide to love when your secretary whispers sweet nothings into your ear at work; you must decide to love when the divorce papers are all but signed.

Bottom Line: Love is a Decision.

Kids (Am I still a kid?) these days are getting married so young. I wonder if they have decided to love. Maybe it comes easier for some than others. Be mindful of your feelings, they will betray you (quote straight out of Star Wars!). Be grounded in the decision to love.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible talks about Love and all of its glory. It is a beautiful passage that ends by saying that out of Faith, Hope, and Love...The greatest of these is Love.


Protect your Heart; Love with everything that you have. Treat people right. And Decide To LOVE.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Hope

Today I heard one of best Sermons I've ever heard in my entire life. Actually, it was the third time I had heard the exact same message! Mr. Louie Giglio presented a message on HOPE-When Life Hurts the Most.

Sometimes we don't have answers to the hard times in life; sometimes all we can do is cling to the cross of Jesus Christ.

I'm posting the link to the messsage. If you are going through a hard time, have experienced loss, or just feeling down in the dumps, please click and listen-it'll change your life!!

HOPE-When Life Hurst The Most

Saturday, August 16, 2008

The World is FILLED with awesome people

Today I was thinking about what I wanted to post on the blog and something happened at work today that I had to write about. Now, some of this story is an assumption, but I think I assumed right!

Two men came in the store today looking for a pair of shoes for one of the men. One man was wearing a Southern Wesleyan University Safety Patrol Uniform and the other was wearing regular street clothes and old, old tattered shoes. The Safety Patrol Officer was extremely nice to the other gentleman. They began their search for shoes at the shoe wall after I measured the man's foot. It didn't take long for me to figure out that the Safety Patrol Officer, probably in his mid-20s was going to buy a pair of shoes for the other gentleman. After ease-dropping on their conversation, I figured out that the gentleman with the tattered shoes went to SWU and had a severe stuttering problem.

The assumption: This incredible mid-20 year-old saw a need in a SWU student, and met that need by buying him a pair of shoes. Now, I'm sure that the Safety Patrol Officer doesn't make a whole lot of bank working as an officer at a private college and gladly told his friend "to get whatever he wanted". The two guys walked out with a pair of shoes and 2 packs of socks for the student.

So...I want to say thank you to the Safety Officer for caring about people. For giving when he didn't have to, and for loving on people. You sir, are a true hero! Thank God for people like you!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Life To Do List!

I was inspired by my cuz Caitlin Pitts to write out my life "To Do" List. It is definitely a personal thing, and I originally thought that I should keep it to myself; but, by telling the world, maybe you can hold me accountable to my list! And, you will get to know the desires and loves that I have!

Sometimes I have thought that a "To Do" list for my life was selfish-but, the Lord has created me who I am for a reason, and put desires in my heart for a reason, so as long as I am glorifying Him-I've got nothing to lose!

The fun thing about writing this stuff down is that everyday I can ask myself..."what have I done to achieve 'so-and-so'?" We all have plenty of time during the day, it's just a matter of prioritizing that time for what is important to us! It is definitely a work in progress, too.


(In no particular order)

-Hike the Appalachian Trail (entire thing)
-Win a race
-Participate in the Kona IronMan
-Run the Boston Marathon
-Be on a reality show-preferably the Amazing Race
-Marry the girl of my dreams
-Adopt from Africa
-Have Dreadlocks
-Meet Dikembe Mutombo
-For somebody to say, "we need 1 million dollars for such and such" and be able to write the check on the spot.
-See the Tour De France in person
-Have a friend in Sherry
-Go to Uganda
-6 pack
-Speak in front of 10,000 + people
-Get a Doctorate
-Meet Lance Armstrong
-Become fluent in another language
-Build my own house
-Visit Hawaii
-Tour Europe
-Visit Australia
-Get a least 2 more tattoos
-Write a book
-Skydive
-Bungee Jump
-Scuba Dive
-Learn to Surf
-Cycle in the Alps and Pyrenees
-Own a business
-Run, instead of Jog


...to be continued...