14,267 Feet, 6:07 AM

Harry Patch (In memory of)

I am the only one that got through
The others died where ever they fell
It was an ambush They came up from all sides
Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
I've seen devils coming up from the ground
I've seen hell upon this earth
The next will be chemical but they will never learn

Listen here

Awesome Amazing Music Day

I'm so happy I could do cartwheels all over work!

1. Sufjan is Back!!!! After a 4 year lull the man is back in action, touring with his fellow label mates Cryptacize around the Northeast. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the tour will make its way west. But either way, its great to have the man back. Look here for more info.

2. Radiohead has a new song, Harry Patch. It is orchestral and beautiful and named after the last surviving person to serve in World War I. Holy crow! Check it out here.

The Midnight Hike

A few friends and I decided to tackle a 14er this past saturday and to spice things up a bit we decided that we would start at 1 in the morning and watch the sunrise from the top of one of the peaks. It seemed like a good enough idea. The moon was so bright that we didn't need a headlight, and you could see your breathe, but it wasn't too too cold yet. We flew up the top of Grays (the left peak) by about 4:30 and realized that we had to climb Torrey's (on the right) or else we'd freeze. We made it to the top at about 5:20 am and waited for the sunset. We were 14,267 feet and had just spent the last four hours punishing our bodies to the top.... and here's what I thought.
1. It gets incredibly cold really fast when you stop moving.
2. Why am I doing this?? Why??
3. Holy crap, this must be how God sees.

We were above the clouds, we were literally looking down on the clouds, and it made me feel so small, but in such a good way. A I'm taken care of way. We stopped and froze and gazed, and then headed back to the car. I was a wreck for the rest of the day, completely worthless. But it was still so good. Why did I do this? Because pushing yourself feels so good.

See

I often feel like I've got everything figured out, that I'm wise beyond my years. But I always stumble pretty quickly when I look at how I see the world. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be able to see beyond the exteriors of this world and see the truth and heart in every person and everything. But I can't, and I don't. I want to get beyond the surface but I'm still somehow stuck on it. The perfect example for me is the rich guy in the nice suit with the blackberry and brand new lexus. There is more to him than these things, but I don't get past them, I write him off and go on my merry way....Another rich guy who only cares about money. What if we could all see properly just for a minute? What if we could see the heart in the wealthy, the poor?? How cool would that be? How about this, the next time I talk to you I promise I'll really listen? Maybe that's a start.

Live Music

I love live music. There is something about getting to experience a musician doing what they do best on a stage that just gets me going. You start bobbing your head a little bit, and before you know you're completely lost in the moment, and you end up feeling like you know the artist. It's just good. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Aaron Strumpel tonight, and as always he brought the goods. I've mentioned him before, but i just can't stress how honest and vulnerable and sweet his music his. Tonight as he was bantering between songs he said something that was just really cool......."I really struggle with not feeling loved, and not feeling like God loves me. I start getting busy, or listening to other things, and lies, and I just forget." And then he went into this song.

I remember the day you called my name, you said I was your child.
I remember the day you wrote the words, You wrote the book of love.
I remember your deeds, oh Dad, my God, I think I'll trust in you.

Love it. All we really have to do is just remember, right?

Seeing

I've been just getting through everything lately. Just plowing straight ahead, and surviving. And I feel like it's me being dull. Not really boring persay, I feel like I've really got a lot going on in my life right now. But dullness in the sense that I'm not sharp, I'm not thinking, I'm not seeking, and in my striving to just get through everything I'm missing out on the goods. I'm missing out what God has for me at work and in the small daily things, the people I randomly cross paths with, and all of those other small tuggings. Sunsets, wind, nice days, He's in all of it, I'm just not sharp enough to see.