right vs. right

I think I worry too much about saying things in the right way rather than saying the right thing. Maybe I'm overthinking this, but....

I think that we live in a culture that tries to see too much behind what a person is saying. Perhaps, that's because too few people make themselves transparent and even fewer actually say what they truly mean to say. I'm guilty. I distinctly remember a time in my life when I played these mind games where I would say something (that I didn't really mean) in order to evoke a reaction or a primed response.

I think I'm even guilty of believing that this a new concept to my generation. In fact, it's probably been around for centuries. Maybe that's why Jesus spoke in parables. Because the disciples were looking for something deeper than His words provided.

Whether I'm naive or just not that deep, I'm ready for a shift to the organic. Real and true cultivated relationships, where you don't wonder what the other person meant when they asked if you wanted a regular coffee or a latte.

iowa for the weekend

I went to my first Campbell University football game this weekend...in Iowa.  My friend Kelli and I met up with other friends from Campbell (Scott, Hayley, Shaun, Melissa, Jacob, Joel and Rebecca) in Iowa.  We started off our Saturday at the Iowa State/Nebraska football game.  At some point, in the 3rd quarter, to drive to Des Moines to catch the last half of the Drake/Campbell football game.  

When we left Ames, Iowa the score was Drake: 3; Campbell: 0.  When we got to the Drake Stadium, Drake had scored a few more times.   We did, however, manage to find a gate keeper who let into the stadium for free.  He told us Campell needed our support.   We cheered...or at least tried to.  Scott and Shaun made up a new fight song.  It's short, it's simple, it's rousing.  (O Campbell, we love thee.  Fight, fight, fight to Victory.)

The final score was something like 45-0.  We're hoping that this was the last big defeat.  I think the boys need some encouragement.  We're hoping for some turnaround, so that we can return to victory at Homecoming.

football in the south

Prior to moving to Tennessee, I never knew that Saturday afternoon football games were an time to dress up in shirts and bowties (for men) and sundresses (for the ladies.)  See, my family was never all that enthusiastic about football.  We were a little more focused on basketball and baseball/softball.  I think things started to change when my brother played football his senior year of high school.  (We had reason to like football before that: 1. My uncle was an amazing high school football player and 2. I grew up under the shadow of the winningest football coach ever, John McKissick.)

I thought you would wear jeans and a shirt/sweatshirt that bore the colors of the team for which you were cheering. I thought you watched the game and cheered for your boys.  I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that football games were about football.

But, now, the SEC tradition of football in the South has changed the way I see Saturday afternoons in the fall.  It's not about the game; it's about the tailgate.  It's not about cheering; it's about seeing people and being seen.  It's not about winning; it's about corn hole, beer pong and who can hold the most alcohol.  Use Ole' Miss here as an example.

In other news, I took the picture below last night on the Mississippi at sunset. I think it's pretty cool.  The bridge is I-40 passing over the Mississippi River.