I'm sitting here at work this Christmas morning. It is nice a quiet morning working security on Christmas day. As a kid, like many others, I woke up early on Christmas mornings but it was much more fun when you're not waking up early to be at work. This is obviously not where I'd like to be but it's certainly better than not having a job. Also, my unfortunate work schedule doesn't interfere with any family plans.
I have already gathered with both sides of my family and will be gathering with my closest family after I get off. I am fortunate to be blessed with family I have. They are a very goofy bunch. If nothing else, I always come away entertained. My best friend suggested that one of us needs to write down all the funny stories that come out holiday gatherings.
On a more somber note: this was the first Christmas without my grandfather. None were really surprised when he died a few days after last Christmas. Truly though, we were blessed to have as many Christmases with him as we did since for several years, many believed it would be the last Christmas.
I hear many people that do not look forward to spending time with the family this time of year. I know some with some unimaginably difficult family circumstances. Sometimes, your family can get on your last nerves but remember to appreciate the family you have. There are those who don't even have a a family to annoy them. Also, don't ever forget why we gather with our families this time of year. On a starry night around 2,000 years ago, a very unusual birth occurred. The One who should be most glorified became man in the most humbling of circumstances. Keep in mind what is most important.
Merry Christmas!
Ricky
P.S. I typed this on my phone since my computer at work doesn't like blogspot so I'm sure the typos are plenty.
P.P.S. There is one other important thing about this time of year... It's almost time for homemade ice cream!!!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Things I've learned
- I should probably work my way up to my ambitions
- Just because a sleeping bag is long enough doesn't mean it's wide enough.
- Never trust dehydrated food.
- I really could use some lembas bread for my next trip.
- A 1 liter container is not enough for water.
- Rivers are beautiful things... even more-so when you're dehydrated and out of water.
- A good hiking stick or trekking poles are invaluable. Many falls were prevented thanks to my hiking stick.
- It doesn't take long to get sick of tuna.
- Coming across a camp site with actual toilets after two day in the woods is exciting. (You probably didn't care to hear that)
- Trail magic is not exclusive to the Appalachian Trail. (Thanks Brian!)
- I've undervalued the feeling of being clean my whole life until now.
I might add some more later if I come up with any.
- Just because a sleeping bag is long enough doesn't mean it's wide enough.
- Never trust dehydrated food.
- I really could use some lembas bread for my next trip.
- A 1 liter container is not enough for water.
- Rivers are beautiful things... even more-so when you're dehydrated and out of water.
- A good hiking stick or trekking poles are invaluable. Many falls were prevented thanks to my hiking stick.
- It doesn't take long to get sick of tuna.
- Coming across a camp site with actual toilets after two day in the woods is exciting. (You probably didn't care to hear that)
- Trail magic is not exclusive to the Appalachian Trail. (Thanks Brian!)
- I've undervalued the feeling of being clean my whole life until now.
I might add some more later if I come up with any.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Getting Ready for The Foothills Trail
This Saturday, I plan on going on backpacking trip on a portion of the Foothills Trail. This will be the first time I've done something like this. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find anyone to do this with me so I will doing this by myself and, understandably, I am a bit nervous. However, I need to start sometime somehow, so I might as well dive headfirst.
Since I'm starting from scratch, I've had buy all new gear. This has been both really frustrating yet oddly addicting. It's been very annoying searching everywhere for decent gear that I can actually afford. Backpacking gear is expensive! I have looked at various online retailers and I think I've visited nearly every nearby outdoor recreation store from Traveler's Rest to Commerce, GA. As frustrating as this is, I can't help myself but looking at reviews and specifications of the different pieces of gear I've considered. I have almost everything but with only a couple days remaining, I'm still lacking a few key items. One of these things I don't have yet is perhaps the most important thing of all.... my pack! I think I've settled on one but I haven't bought it yet. It seems to be the best combination of durability, weight, and price. One thing I've learned while getting gear: weight is everything. I've tried to be as lightweight as possible without going broke. I certainly won't be doing what is called ultralight. I'm simply not skilled enough, or have enough income, for that. Regardless, it's coming together.
Anyway, the time to leave is almost here. If nothing else, it will be nice to have a week off from work. I would ask anyone that is reading this to pray for my safety and that I figure out what I'm doing. Hopefully, I should have plenty of supplies and I'll be able to keep myself warm on those cold mornings and evenings. It will be an interesting experience and I hope to learn much from it. Maybe somehow the Lord will use my seclusion in nature to help me grow. Let's see what happens.
Since I'm starting from scratch, I've had buy all new gear. This has been both really frustrating yet oddly addicting. It's been very annoying searching everywhere for decent gear that I can actually afford. Backpacking gear is expensive! I have looked at various online retailers and I think I've visited nearly every nearby outdoor recreation store from Traveler's Rest to Commerce, GA. As frustrating as this is, I can't help myself but looking at reviews and specifications of the different pieces of gear I've considered. I have almost everything but with only a couple days remaining, I'm still lacking a few key items. One of these things I don't have yet is perhaps the most important thing of all.... my pack! I think I've settled on one but I haven't bought it yet. It seems to be the best combination of durability, weight, and price. One thing I've learned while getting gear: weight is everything. I've tried to be as lightweight as possible without going broke. I certainly won't be doing what is called ultralight. I'm simply not skilled enough, or have enough income, for that. Regardless, it's coming together.
Anyway, the time to leave is almost here. If nothing else, it will be nice to have a week off from work. I would ask anyone that is reading this to pray for my safety and that I figure out what I'm doing. Hopefully, I should have plenty of supplies and I'll be able to keep myself warm on those cold mornings and evenings. It will be an interesting experience and I hope to learn much from it. Maybe somehow the Lord will use my seclusion in nature to help me grow. Let's see what happens.
Friday, November 11, 2011
How I got here
We'll start with a bit a history. The first and most important thing that anyone who might be reading this and doesn't know me is that I am a Christian. I came to know Christ at a rather early age. I later went to college thinking I was going into the full time ministry. After I finally graduated college (it took me a little longer than expected), I got married to the girl I had dated since high school and, really, the only girl I had ever dated. I also left to start seminary. Though, things weren't always easy, everything seemed to be going according to plan and I was content. Of course, this was all my plan, and God's plans always trump our own.
Everything was derailed when my wife suddenly leaves. I was now by myself away from any friends or family at seminary. I decided to finish out the semester but I had absolutely no desire to stay there any longer so I moved back home. I found a job doing security which I have plenty of experience in. After a while, I became indecisive. I couldn't decide whether it was God's will to return to ministry despite a lack of passion for full-time ministry or go into another field that does interest me now and do God's will from there.
During all of this, a new desire was growing in me. I had always loved the woods near near my house growing up, but now wanted to be out in nature more and more. I started driving up to the mountains whenever I had the chance. Despite my poor physique, I would go hiking occasionally. I've channeled this into trying to get a career as a park ranger but so far, that hasn't worked. What I really needed was an adventure or a journey of some sorts I could take. I didn't know what I could do since security does not pay well at all. Then one day, my best friend mentioned something to me that some of his other friends were talking about: hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. It seemed interesting but I didn't know if it was something practical. I began researching it, and researching even more. I wanted to know everything I could about this idea. I realized that this was actually doable!
Over the next couple of years, I would plan for this. I have no family that I'm responsible for, I have no financial obligations, and I'm at a job that I don't really mind leaving. The planning did come to a slight halt for a couple months when I entered a new relationship but that was short-lived. There was only one thing that truly scared me about starting. My grandfathers health was failing and did not want to me unreachable in the woods somewhere should something happen. Then, last year a few days after Christmas, the day before my birthday, he died. I knew he was far better off than any of us now. I was mostly worried about my now alone grandmother, and I still do.
However, now I've decided that 2012 is the year I will take this adventure unless I was to find some new job that I would want to make a career of, but I haven't. I haven't quite figure everything out. There are still some logistical things I need to figure out like how to get home from Mount Katahdin (the northern end of the trail) once I get there. I have decided, though, that I will depart from Springer Mountain in March. The main problem I've read is that it usually is crowded that of year but I'll deal with that. I'll be chronicling my adventure and my preparation for it here so keep reading if you're interested. Of course, there are other things I'm interested in so I my post about those now and then. I just hope you can be patient with me and the fact that I'm not very good with proofreading. Until next time...
Everything was derailed when my wife suddenly leaves. I was now by myself away from any friends or family at seminary. I decided to finish out the semester but I had absolutely no desire to stay there any longer so I moved back home. I found a job doing security which I have plenty of experience in. After a while, I became indecisive. I couldn't decide whether it was God's will to return to ministry despite a lack of passion for full-time ministry or go into another field that does interest me now and do God's will from there.
During all of this, a new desire was growing in me. I had always loved the woods near near my house growing up, but now wanted to be out in nature more and more. I started driving up to the mountains whenever I had the chance. Despite my poor physique, I would go hiking occasionally. I've channeled this into trying to get a career as a park ranger but so far, that hasn't worked. What I really needed was an adventure or a journey of some sorts I could take. I didn't know what I could do since security does not pay well at all. Then one day, my best friend mentioned something to me that some of his other friends were talking about: hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. It seemed interesting but I didn't know if it was something practical. I began researching it, and researching even more. I wanted to know everything I could about this idea. I realized that this was actually doable!
Over the next couple of years, I would plan for this. I have no family that I'm responsible for, I have no financial obligations, and I'm at a job that I don't really mind leaving. The planning did come to a slight halt for a couple months when I entered a new relationship but that was short-lived. There was only one thing that truly scared me about starting. My grandfathers health was failing and did not want to me unreachable in the woods somewhere should something happen. Then, last year a few days after Christmas, the day before my birthday, he died. I knew he was far better off than any of us now. I was mostly worried about my now alone grandmother, and I still do.
However, now I've decided that 2012 is the year I will take this adventure unless I was to find some new job that I would want to make a career of, but I haven't. I haven't quite figure everything out. There are still some logistical things I need to figure out like how to get home from Mount Katahdin (the northern end of the trail) once I get there. I have decided, though, that I will depart from Springer Mountain in March. The main problem I've read is that it usually is crowded that of year but I'll deal with that. I'll be chronicling my adventure and my preparation for it here so keep reading if you're interested. Of course, there are other things I'm interested in so I my post about those now and then. I just hope you can be patient with me and the fact that I'm not very good with proofreading. Until next time...
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
What do you think about my thoughts?
Originally posted on September 24, 2009 on Facebook
These are some thoughts that enter my head from time to time. They usually don't stay there for long so I thought I would post them and see what people might have to say about them. Know that I'm doing this at work while I'm on my iPhone so expect plenty of typos. (I find it funny how it automatically capitalize the "P" in iPhone for you). Anyway, I got to thinking about how our society in general thinks about God. Most in our society would have no problem with the concept of a higher being; in fact, many people would say that they believe in a god. The problem is what to do with this belief in God. While society has no problem with the belief in God, it expects that belief is kept to one part of our life and not spread to any other parts. Compartmentalization is an important thing to our society. Christianity, which is easily the largest religion in this country, has largely adopted this idea.
So what does this really mean for Christians? Is the idea that a relationship with God be kept to Sunday mornings and perhaps a daily devotional really what He would expect from us? If we are to believe in God and claim to have a relationship with through His Son, should not this permeate every aspect of our lives, even that which seems to be insignificant? What does the Bible have to say about this? If there is an intelligent creator to this universe, then is not this Creator bigger and more important than the universe itself? I would say that God is not meant to be limited to certain section of our lives, but He wants us to make our relationship with Him to be what our lives are all about. So why do Christians today want to try to keep God compartmentalized? I suppose it's easier and requires less effort and risk for Christians. Perhaps, this is what reduces Christianity to a religion that we practice on occasion instead of what God truly meant for us.
If what I've said is true, what are the implications of it? Tell me what you guys think. Am I making sense, or am I off base? Is there anything you would like to add? Is there anything here you might not be true? These are just some thoughts that came to me this morning and I wanted to write them down somewhere. I'm curious to see what others think so go ahead and comment, criticize, or just make fun of my grammar if you want.
These are some thoughts that enter my head from time to time. They usually don't stay there for long so I thought I would post them and see what people might have to say about them. Know that I'm doing this at work while I'm on my iPhone so expect plenty of typos. (I find it funny how it automatically capitalize the "P" in iPhone for you). Anyway, I got to thinking about how our society in general thinks about God. Most in our society would have no problem with the concept of a higher being; in fact, many people would say that they believe in a god. The problem is what to do with this belief in God. While society has no problem with the belief in God, it expects that belief is kept to one part of our life and not spread to any other parts. Compartmentalization is an important thing to our society. Christianity, which is easily the largest religion in this country, has largely adopted this idea.
So what does this really mean for Christians? Is the idea that a relationship with God be kept to Sunday mornings and perhaps a daily devotional really what He would expect from us? If we are to believe in God and claim to have a relationship with through His Son, should not this permeate every aspect of our lives, even that which seems to be insignificant? What does the Bible have to say about this? If there is an intelligent creator to this universe, then is not this Creator bigger and more important than the universe itself? I would say that God is not meant to be limited to certain section of our lives, but He wants us to make our relationship with Him to be what our lives are all about. So why do Christians today want to try to keep God compartmentalized? I suppose it's easier and requires less effort and risk for Christians. Perhaps, this is what reduces Christianity to a religion that we practice on occasion instead of what God truly meant for us.
If what I've said is true, what are the implications of it? Tell me what you guys think. Am I making sense, or am I off base? Is there anything you would like to add? Is there anything here you might not be true? These are just some thoughts that came to me this morning and I wanted to write them down somewhere. I'm curious to see what others think so go ahead and comment, criticize, or just make fun of my grammar if you want.
I don't know
Originally posted on August 27, 2008 on MySpace
I don't really know what to put here but I feel like writing so I'm just going to keep typing to see how much space I can take up. It's like college all over again. Of course, I don't have to worry about grammar and how many millimeters of spacing in between each line. Of course, just like college I've run out of things to say so I'll end it here.
I don't really know what to put here but I feel like writing so I'm just going to keep typing to see how much space I can take up. It's like college all over again. Of course, I don't have to worry about grammar and how many millimeters of spacing in between each line. Of course, just like college I've run out of things to say so I'll end it here.
Exploring
Originally posted on June 21, 2008 on MySpace
Explorers are we, intrepid and bold.
Out in the wild amongst wonders untold.
Equipped with our wits, a map, and a snack,
We're searching for fun, and we're on the right track!
-Bill Watterson
I
remember this poem from reading a Calvin and Hobbes book as a kid and
it has stuck with me ever since. I don't know why but perhaps because I
always love to explore places (such as the woods near my house). I
guess I still do to an extent today. Anytime I go a place I've never
been before I have an urge to wonder around until I know that place
well. It's been a while since I've had a forest that I could spend time
learning my way around. Where then should I explore? I guess I'll
keep looking for new places.
Let us begin.
Thank you for reading this blog. I'm still experimenting with a few things on here. I'm sure the design will change a few time before I finally settle on something. My first few posts will be re-posts of things I've written on MySpace and Facebook. After that, I will start adding real content and hopefully something that somebody might find interesting. Anyway, let's see how this works.
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