A favorite post from the past.

An International Airport of Thoughts- Bringing my lunch
Category: Life

I brought my lunch again to work today. I'm becoming more fond of doing that it seems. There is just invigorating about bringing my own lunch.
Each day can and will be something new brought to the table. A new experience to be had...and eaten. From the point of meal conception and preparation to consumption and digestion, it is an interesting process bringing ones lunch.

I started by establishing an environment suitable for maintaing the freshness of my consumables. I placed an icepack within my insulated lunch box.
I proceded in fabricating two ham sandwiches, including Roma Lettuce, and I used a savory light ranch dressing in place of such generic mayonaise. I only wish I'd had wheat bread to enrich them, but hey, you work with what you got.

Two bananas found their way into my lunch fantasy. Their names were Pota and Ssium. Also, two all natural strawberry yogurt cups were afoot in my lunch box.
I brought two types of tea with me along on this lunch excursion. Irish Breakfast Tea (highly recomended), Earl Grey Tea (I'd probably choose another before choosing this again). I also brought part of the kitchen with me as well. A coffee mug. Why people don't refer to them as "tea mugs" I don't know. I'll start doing that. I brought a tea mug for this escapade.

You could say they came two by two. So far everything I packed has been paired, oddly enough.
I needed milk to take with my tea in my tea mug. The only true way the English take their tea, dangerously hot, and with milk. Thanks Ivy;) With the removal of a 16.9oz water bottle from the fridge, I commenced in drinking the water rather fast. Filled with 1% milk I replaced the cap, and positioned it within my lunch basket.

Zipping it closed, my lunch package was complete. Packing a lunch has a certain art about it. Making sure every item is snugly secure, utilizing every cubic inch of space. Utilizing every cubic centimeter of space for those of you who roll metricly.
It was quite pleasing physically and metally to sit and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Sipping tea in my tea mug, at a quaint little table in the lobby of the cinema as onlookers passed. Simply divine. It only could have been made better if I had the company and conversation of a beautiful female to share this experience with.

Bringing ones lunch to work might become the chic thing to do it seems. I've over heard talk from the high schoolers about how they might start bringing their lunches. If you stop to reflect on the idea, there are several benefits to be had by doing so.
-Saves money compared to eating out, by allowing you to buy more at a grocery store to prepare yourself, than paying for slopped quanity, quality, and service-Saves time compared to traveling to find fast food, though prior preparation is needed at home-Saves your health, depending on what you pack, compared to eating fast food-Taking time to prepare and care for your lunch or meal is stimulating, soothing, and liberating.

I remember in grade school, a few times when I brought my lunch. It was contained in an Igloo cooler big enough to be a small cooler, yet small enough to be a big lunch box. I remember friends referring to it as my "Earthquake kit."
Simply because, if we were trapped somehow due to an earthquake we'd have enough food from my lunch box to sustain ourselves for several days. A lovely memory of mine. Tyler Spears inparticularly stands out with that one, thanks Tyler.
I now must crawl back into the covers where I came from. I will pack more thoughts for you to devour later.

Passionately,
Jason

An attempted "Date" perhaps

So I sit hear at a friends house with music blaring and the floor shaking. I'm silent in this arm chair with a laptop warming my legs. I'm switching thoughts like the popping of corn. There is a game of beer pong in the corner, and I'm completely sober. No booze for me, it's better that way. My thoughts are entangled in confusion, curiosity, and sobriety with a hint of other emotions slightly grated over the top; then shook in a bowl thoroughly mixed together. One though continues to surface though.

Over project, I grew closer to the Lord, and in knowledge about being a Godly man. Not that my ways of pursuit towards the opposite sex were wrong, they just needed tweaking. Catching my eye, and mind I wanted to get to know her more, and with a one on one setting. So i prayed. I got in the word. Sought wiser council, and waited. I got the green light, or at least I wasn't shown a red one. I mustered up the courage and went for broke. I chose the ice cream option. Simple, tasty, and not overwhelming like dinner could be. I made my intentions clear, and said I wanted to get to know her better and that I'd like to take her out to ice cream. I guess you might go as far to say this could've been a simple "date". She seem interested enough, and spoke of prior plans earlier in the day with her D-group, but would call me to do such afterwards with me.

Mistake number one. I should've kept the ball in my court, or at least said I'd call her at a specific time; after her prior engagement, this might have abated my confusion.

I cleared my afternoon, eager, nervous, and elated with this chance to get to know her a little better. I wait. I wait. I started a movie, and I wait. Nothing. At a certain point I was to meet my family group, also including her, to go out and eat one last time. I felt distant at dinner. My mind wandered with thoughts of "did she forget? was this a passive no, not to hurt my feelings? miscommunication between us?". I'm not mad by no means at all; just seeking clarity, but slightly disheartened by the situation. So after dinner I decided to make attempt number two, perhaps a refresh of our would-be plans. Ice cream after we returned to the hotel. Given the situation I asked when hardly anyone was around, not wanting to make it awkward for her just in case. Still with interest she answered, but obsticalces appeared along with a constringent weekend of time. "I just don't think there will be time" she said. But never a definite no. I'd like to think I'm fairly intuitive about such things as this, but much gray area was colored in.

I encourage all females to try and be honest with a guy, not brutal, but just honest, it makes things easier for bother parties. I understand not wanting to hurt a guy, especially if he's a good guy, you can't help it if you're not into him in any way, but by not definitely saying no, creates the awkward "2nd asking" and prolongued strangeness for the girl and guy alike.

After this point, I noticed she tended to shy away from me. I felt as if I made her feel strange, or awkward, and I hated that if that was to be the case. On a happyier note, I could always make her laugh, and what a great laugh and smile she has. I'm tired, and should go to bed. I'm sure if you've read this far, you probably don't want to anymore...maybe.

Keep it real, and be brave with a hint of boldness.

My heart for sharing

(Written last night, but the laptop died before I could publish it.)

It saddens me to share with non-believers and for them to be held back in some way or form from accepting Christ. I know it's God who tugs at their heart, and it's only my job to share His word with those around me and at the ends of the earth. The Great Commission. I can at least hope that the seeds I've planted tonight, and for ever on will be watered soon, and given sonlight to grow; to take root in a nourishing soil; and become fruitful in life. It's amazing how sparse traffic is at 3:00 in the morning, and when you decided to share the gospel every noisy car, truck, and beater decides to go for a drive. Almost like an opposing force was trying to keep me from it.

I will sow what they have reaped

When I returned home I was given the poignant site of where trees stood no longer on the port side of my humble abode. The apartment complex beside my house shared a nice row of shielding trees, but alas no more. What once used to be a literal jungle when I was a youngling, has slowly dwindled into just a few tree around my house. I've a plan...a plan so sinister, and so full of it's own virtue they will wish they'd never seen a chainsaw nor the trees that encased my house. They might have won the battle, but they certainly won't win the war. I happen to love trees, and they just cut their last one down. I will plant as many trees as it takes to build an impenetrable fortress of green. Not just the second class trees that stood tall before lumbering over our two story house, but trees of majesty and elegance. Perhaps a few mighty Maples, mixed in with some Oak, Tulip Poplar, and Cherry trees. I would at this point in time plant a Mimosa tree, I've always wanted one, along with my mom. But when in Rome, I'd plant several. This earth day vengeance wouldn't be complete if I didn't plant an orchard of fruit trees. These would have to come in pairs for pollination sake, if I wanted fruit worth eating at least. Apples, peaches, and pears oh my! I should go ahead and put up a small vineyard in the back as well. I will sow what they have reaped of my preciousness.

I will write some more shade for you to read under later, fair well and hug a tree.

Summer sorted out

Hello new blog. I've missed the soothing thoughtful spill of my mind into the internet with the slight chance for someone to read. Xanga, you were my first. Here's to you blogger.

God gave me the opportunity to apply to Daytona Beach Summer Project in early May. I was accepted, and He raised 3000 dollars for me in one day. I was, and are still in awe by that. It was definitely meant to be that I spend ten weeks in Florida with Campus Crusade for Christ. I learned so much about myself, others, leadership, and grew closer to God.

I feel as if a passionate fire has been set inside my soul by God, and will not rest until it's set my campus on fire next. I used to be a Christian who said they cared about others, yet didn't make a move to share the love & word of the Lord as he did for me. Perhaps my lack of knowledge held me back, but that is all in the past now. I stepped out on faith, and God truly showed me just a glimpse of what He can do.

Though I was not elected as a leader on this project, I learned greatly from it. In my past experiences of being vice president of this club, and president of that I gained some knowledge. But given the back seat I saw leadership from another view, and how I will enact it in my future endeavors with a quick to listen ear; slow to speak tongue; and a heart after God's heart...among other smaller qualities.

I made so many friends; true brothers and sisters in Christ. Here's to Club DBSP '09 (raises glass). I pray for Gods protection and guidance over them all, and for His infinite wisdom to fill their minds. I honestly cannot wait for college to start back, and to get settled inside my little room. A new dorm; roommate; view of college; path; outreach; kitchen; obstacles; opportunities to glorify God; outlook on life has been laid before me. I await its challenges, love, and mercy to grace me, and fully enthrall me in it's presence.