joeybriglio

Archive for 2011|Yearly archive page

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Finding Walden Pond

In Environment, People, Personal Health on April 2, 2011 at 19:19
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.”

— Henry David Thoreau

It’s important that each of us find our “Walden Pond.” Thoreau found his and wrote about. We read it and talked about it, but not many took it further than that.

There is a place out there we need to discover, or perhaps,  rediscover. It’s a place that offers solitude and wisdom. A place where one finds rejuvenation in  simple, intentional, and purposeful living. Where man’s modern day worry – technology/communication overload, achievement, money, power – is cast aside in order to remember that which was once forgotten – joy, rest, love, peace.

Man needs to leave his cubicle,  concrete, and car in order to reorganize and find himself.  Nature has a way of speaking sense to us and reminding us of what’s important. Once immersed, it has a way of peeling back the facades and masks of conventional living, in order to reveal what is truly important. It reminds us that it’s not what we achieve in life that matters, but how we live.

I have my own “Walden Pond” that’s far away from the stress of modern living (I hope to find several more) .  I go back there a hand-full of  times a year in order to rest and rejuvenate. It’s a necessity for me and I challenge you to find a place where you can do the same.

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Pray for Japan

In Environment, People, Spirituality on March 17, 2011 at 04:04

The recent events in Japan have left me spinning. It’s been dizzying to see one disaster ride in on the coat tails of another. First the 9.0 earthquake, then the tsunami, and finally the potential nuclear meltdown of several reactors. Is it going to stop, or is the domino effect just getting started? My hope and prayer is that the worst is behind us, and there will be no nuclear catastrophe.

Nuclear catastrophe. Interesting to think that less than a century ago the United States was dropping nuclear catastrophes (bombs) on Japan as a sworn enemy, but now we’re praying that they don’t have to experience any more tragedy whether natural or man-made. I find that kind of beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, the destruction and chaos is nothing but tragic. However, the fact that the hearts, minds, and pocket books of Americans and the world have turned toward Japan is nothing short of manifest reconciliation… and that is quite lovely. Why? Because reconciliation is one of the oldest forms of beauty, love, purpose, and identity.

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:18-19)

 

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Stewarding What We’ve Been Given

In Environment, Spirituality on February 26, 2011 at 19:24

“Consider that the very same God who set the earth into orbit and knit you together in the womb has entrusted you with the responsibility to manage his intricate creation. You are not a mere speck of dust in this vast creation. You are a ‘ruler,’ a steward, a manager in trust of, over all that God has made. And you have been crowned with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5-6) in this divine appointment. Human beings -created in the divine image – are the only creatures that God entrusted with the mandate and the capacity to unleash and harness creation’s potential (Genesis 1:26-29)” (YouVersion)

I read this snippet the other morning and was reminded of how important our role as stewards of the earth is. Inside Christian churches the debate continues as to what God meant when He said we are to “rule over creation.”  Some believe “rule” means to do what we want, when we want, without worry of repercussion (i.e. climate change or pollution). While others, like myself, believe that “rule” means to carefully, consciously, and considerately manage the creation we’ve been entrusted with so each proceeding generation has a high quality of life. Where do you find yourself when it comes to this discussion? What does “rule” mean to you?

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A Blessing of Abundance

In Environment, Spirituality on February 13, 2011 at 17:01

Genesis 27:28
28 May God give you heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.

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The few who make “Holiday Status”

In Community, Educational, People, Social Justice, Spirituality on January 17, 2011 at 04:39

You the Man

 

Few make history. Fewer make it into our history books.  And fewer still get an entire day dedicated to his/her life. Apparently, it takes a lot for an individual to make “Holiday Status.”

In America we have 10 federal holidays, and of those 10, four are dedicated to an individual -  Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Christmas. That’s a very short list. Especially considering  all of the influential people that have come and gone over the centuries. Not just anyone gets his/her own holiday. In the U.S. you either have to be the Son of God, the explorer who found the Americas, the first president, or the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a diverse list of men, but the common theme seems to be that they did something necessary and great for America: Columbus’ explorations helped find America; God’s words helped pen the constitution;  Washington abolished tyranny and lead the colonies into freedom; And Martin Luther King Jr had to remind our country what God and our Constitution said at a most critical hour.

Tomorrow, we get to honor Martin Luther King Jr. He’s a legend in my eyes. Ever since I first read about him in elementary school, I have always looked up to and admired him. His life’s work and wisdom continue to inspire, and his name consistently comes up in the top three of my “Heroes List,” “Historical Figures I’d like to have over for Dinner List,” and “Who Would Have the Scariest Internship List.” I often think, “if  I only  had a quarter of the integrity, passion, and faith that Martin Luther King Jr had… I’d live to be a great man.” I look forward to meeting him. Until then, his words remain…

“Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.” MLK 1963

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Rain, Rain, come and stay… for awhile

In Educational, Environment, Spirituality on January 6, 2011 at 03:17

Southern California living can distort a person’s perspective. Like take the weather, or seasons, for example. We have this idea that it is/should always be sunny, and  although we do get tons of sunshine, I’m always astounded at how little tolerance So. Cal-ers have for the rain (Even during years of drought). It’s like we don’t understand that all sun and no rain leads to a very unsustainable lifestyle. The only way that water continues to flow from our facets and produce continues to show up at the Farmer’s Market is by way of the Water Cycle.

Rain is a blessing, not a curse… lest we forget.

Isaiah 55:9-11
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

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