Learning to Walk

Being home this weekend, I get some time to spend with my niece. She’s 14 months old and the cutest baby you’ll ever meet. She’s pretty smart too. She has a bunch of things she can do and say that’ll make you just want to hug and squeeze the life out of her. Right now she’s in the phase of life where she is learning to walk. She’s pretty good at it too, except for one thing: she can’t walk on her own yet. She has to constantly have at least one hand grabbing onto something otherwise she won’t move any further.

One thing she likes to do a lot is to stand up next to the sofa and walk along grabbing whatever she can until she gets to the end. As I was playing with her today and walking with her, I thought there were some good lessons I could take away from it.

As I watch my niece walk, I realize she’s very afraid of falling. She doesn’t budge when she wants to go forward but knows there isn’t something to hold onto. She’ll just turn back and be happy with how far she’s already gone, not wanting to go a little farther. Similarly, as she walks along grabbing different things, she would rather hold onto unstable shaky things (like a coat hanging on a hanger) instead of grabbing onto my hand. Even though by now, she realizes that when she holds onto my hand I won’t let go of her, she still chooses to hold onto the shaky things. Only when she goes as far as she can on her own does she finally grab onto my hand. I think that in her mind, she believes I am the one that causes her to wobble when she stands. In reality it isn’t me, it’s her! She is the one still learning how to balance herself but she doesn’t realize it yet.

I think God must see us in a similar way. How many times do I choose to walk on my own, holding on to the things I think are secure when the most secure thing is God himself. He always has His hand out wanting us to walk with Him yet I continue to only go to Him when I run out of options, when I “come to the end of the sofa.” Rebuked by a baby. sigh.

I need more faith. I’m still learning to walk.

 

It’s true. First session really does suck.

I’m back on campus for most of the rest of summer. A lot of people have been asking me what I’ve been up to. Well, beginning today, I started studying. For what? The CPA of course. Before I begin work at the end of July, I plan on taking two parts of the CPA exam. I originally planned to take all four parts before I started work but things changed. I didnt want to kill myself before working.

I have my first one on May 22nd and another on July 11th. The one in May is supposed to be the easiest of the four parts. But after my first full day of studying, I realize I have a lot of stuff to go over. None of it is new, everything has been taught or has been seen in the past 5 years of college at one time or another. It’s just a matter of looking it all over and committing it to memory and then applying it. It’s gonna be tough looking at the overwhelming amount of material but I think it can be done. I have about 8 full days to do it; 9 days including today. (I’m told you need about a week of good studying to be ok. But the review book I’m looking at says 11 weeks. Hopefully its the former and not the latter)

After my first day of studying, I realize one thing. First session on campus pretty much sucks. There’s not really anything to do. There’s not really anybody around. And it’s not too fun if you spend most of your days studying. It’s worse when you go to the union and the only people around are loud and noisy fobs. (not that fobs are terrible people….) Suddenly I’m more thankful for the school year and even having people around. Second session can’t come soon enough.

Well, I guess this is just me venting. I can already feel the toll that studying is taking on me. For the rest of my days leading up to the exam, I plan on having an afternoon and evening study session with each being about 3 to 5 hours long. I hope I can do it and not go (too) crazy in the process. Please pray for me if you can. That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hello from Houston

So I’m in Houston until Sunday for my cousin’s graduation. Here are a few observations:

• It’s pretty hot right during the day, about 90 degrees (though it feels like 100). It’s only May, I wonder what it’ll be like in July and August.
• There are definitely more restaurants than anything thing else here. Its no wonder, the city is one of the fattest in the country (Chicago is in the top 5 as well).
• At the same time, the food is amazing here. I can’t complain. This is definitely a place you never have to worry about starving.
• There are many overweight people. :X
• There’s construction everywhere, either for new restaurants, new condos, new businesses, etc. The city is growing more now than it has in the past few years.
• Speaking of growth, the Chinese or Asian community here has had a boom within the last year. There’s a street that goes for miles with various Asian restaurants and shops.
• I haven’t seen anyone carrying a gun or wearing a cowboy hat yet. There are however, many people who say “y’all.”
• Joel Olsteen’s church is massive. MASSIVE. It’s the old Compaq center (the place where the Houston Rockets used to play).

That’s it for now. I may or may not add more things later.

 

Maybe

This is currently my favorite commercial. I know it’s been out for a while but I haven’t had much time during the last few weeks due to school and other things. I need to stop making excuses.

 

Cooking

 

It seems to me that I’ve been in the cooking mood lately. I don’t know what it is exactly. More and more I think I just really enjoy cooking. I do admit, I become a very peculiar person when I begin to cook. Some people have labeled me a nazi in the kitchen with the way I bark and shout commands at people when they want to help me in the kitchen. More often than not, I think I just end up scaring others and they would rather watch me from a distance than join me in the heat of the battle. To be honest, I kind of prefer that most times as well.

If I could re-do my college major, I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind doing hospitality or something similar. A culinary school would be great but I’m too much a home cooking kind of guy to be able to churn out fancy foods. I imagine myself opening up a shack somewhere and making simple foods that people enjoy. It’s all about taste for me, everything else comes second. Though I have been told that my food is bland at times, but I really believe that has to do with the American style where most flavors have to be strong (like being very sweet or very salty or very _____). I think it’s good to be able to enjoy the subtleties of flavors in foods. We would definitely come to appreciate different foods more rather than having an overpower taste infiltrate your mouth and tongue and leave its mark for several hours afterwards.  But that’s just what I think.

What is it about cooking that I enjoy? I could name several reasons. On one level I think it has to do with the necessity of food. That’s one commonality that all people share with each other. Everyone has their own experiences with food and eating throughout their lives. Everyone needs it to live (for the most part). So when you are able to create something that will “help someone to live,” that’s pretty wonderful.  With that said, I pretty much seem like a big time sinner.

Another reason is because I feel like there is lacking in the ability of many people (especially here on campus), to be able to cook good or even decent food. Again, this relates to my sinful self. Because there aren’t as many people who are able, having this ability definitely sets you apart a little. Hence why many people like those who cook, they do something they can’t. Being a like-me, this definitely is a way to get your heart fed. (As I write this I’m beginning to get more disgusted at myself, but I shall continue, I’ve gone too far already).

Food makes people happy. Good food makes people more happy. Good food can open people up and create memories and stronger relationships. I guess that would explain why most prayer partner meetings are over a meal or something food related. So in the same way, I enjoy cooking because it brings people together and builds friendships. It will hardly ever be the case when someone will say no to someone who cooks for them. What a great opportunity that is to have a great time in conversations or just enjoying each other company.

I enjoy cooking for myself. It’s definitely a stress reliever for me. It’s a great escape from the hectic-ness of life. When I’m cooking, the only thing I have to worry about is making sure the food tastes as good as it possibly can. There’s no need to worry about how I did on the exam I just took or how to resolve any other problems I may be having. Yes, I know this can get unhealthy but I think one helpful thing for me to do is to listen to a sermon or WBGL during this time. It definitely takes my mind off of myself and helps me to think about something better.

I think there’s some sort of freedom to cooking. I feel as if I have free reign to do whatever I want during this time and most people won’t have anything to say about it. It is such a good cover for sinful motives because others won’t try to correct or rebuke you for cooking. But I guess that could apply for many things as well. What’s the point of this entry? I wanted to talk about cooking but I ended up revealing a little more of my sin and how messed up I am. This is in no way what I intended when I began but I guess it helps me and others to understand me a little more. I definitely need to try to redeem myself more when I cook.

One favor to ask: if I cook, please don’t judge me, I’m working on this stupid heart of mine. Just smile and enjoy the food.