3 things that give me hope

A friend of mine asked me today what kept me going, and I finally came up with an answer.

It's either 1. I'm waiting for the Rapture (and I'm Catholic, and we don't really believe in the Rapture...but it does say that some people will never see death --the saints)

or 2. that justice will be served in my lifetime. (yes, I admit it is highly improbable but I do pray to the Saint of hopeless cases and things most despaired of.)

Finally, the things that give me hope:

1. Nelson Mandela (They made him wear the devil's number in prison.)

2. quote on church sign "God uses the insignificant to accomplish the impossible."

3. I believe the word of God, and I believe He loves me.

In Jesus's words

John 15:18
If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Stevie Wonder

A short time after my ill-fated trip to LA in late August/early September of 2000, I went to see Hep (the hairdresser on all of John Water's films) at his salon in Canton. Hep was a really cool guy with two full sleeves of tattoos with (most importantly) great taste in music. We talked about music for the better part of my haircut. I was really jonesing for some Stevie Wonder at that point in time and he recommended that I buy "Songs In the Key of Life." When I got the record store, the introvert in me was immediately drawn to his then newly remastered "Innervisions." I fell in love with it, particularly "Living for the City," "Jesus Children of America" and most importantly "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing"

I used to dance alone to that song ("Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing,") in my apartment on 111 E. 23rd Street in Baltimore, Maryland (i.e. Annie Applegarth's old apartment), which is where I moved after I returned from LA. Loved the hardwood floors, giant windows and tall ceilings in that place. It was in a sketchy neighborhood with a needle park across the street. Drug busts were pretty common there. I got mugged going to the local laundrymat once.

Try listening to it (especially the beginning) and maybe this will make more sense to you.

The Perfect Christmas song

"I Celebrate The Day" by Relient K

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Dating

Man, what does your house have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. LOL.

I think I might have made Jesus laugh with that one.

Think "Miracle in Cana" (for those who didn't get it).

Salmon

Could it be that salmon are just smarter than the other fish?

Disciple

Typically, I don't find myself drawn to this style of music (it's kind of reminiscent of the 80's power ballad group Nelson), but I find the lyricism to be so beautiful. Music in this vein is pretty much why I don't listen to much secular radio (it's so self-serving).

Here are two of my favorite lines from their song "After the World"

Did I arrange the light of your first day?
Did I create the rhythm your heart makes?

I think being an Aunt for the third time really made the first line resonate with me. And the second line I find amusing because I have arrythmia. When my cardiologist went to explain my condition to me, he told me "You have a musical heart." I found this funny because ever since my teens I've been really into music. I used to stay up really, really late just so I could watch 120 Minutes on MTV and have something to talk to Wes about the next day. I also used to go to the library to read Rolling Stone, because for some reason I couldn't afford a subscription.

When I spoke with Michael Shamberg (producer of New Order videos), about his legacy, I mentioned that I liked "the video with the blue guys hitting each other." Turns out that was the video for "True Faith."

KJ-52

Tonight I missed the KJ-52 concert (with Superchick), but I heard a great show of his that would have made me go. 5 Minutes (In The Garden).

"Not my will, but your will be done."

A good lesson for everyone. Especially me.

Repurposing

My new mental vocabulary:

7 is good because I was born on June 7th 1974.
13 is good because that's how old Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus.
Mary was 42 when Jesus was crucified.
And you'll never figure out what 66 means.

Too bad you haven't spoken to me lately John. I think I would be good at chess.

Holiday neglect

Sorry that I haven't been posting lately, but I have alot to say. In the next couple of days I'll try to make up for it.