Beach

Happy Birthday to my little sister, who turns 40 today! Amazing.

Well, it's been about a year. Last time I was bloggin' more regularly was this time last year, in Corolla. It's the family beach trip-L's parents have the extended family down for a week. This year we are missing L's sister, brother-in-law, 2 nieces and a nephew, and L's grandmother who is recovering from some physical stuff. We do have L's uncle, wife and new baby.

The kids are older, more independent, and able to be trusted (somewhat) in the pool, hot tub, and down at the beach. My help is still requested for hole-digging.

I always hope that these trips are going to yield some "life changes"--that the desired retreat and need for stillness will facilitate some sort of 'breakthrough'; spiritually, vocationally, etc. It's Tuesday and I've decided to take the pressure off myself. I got about a 40 minute (interrupted) nap.

We had a long talk with E about the "Twilight" series. I got to the point in my research that I really didn't even want to read it. Popular works of fiction will come and go, as will controversy. There are things we'd watch or read together that some folks would choose not to with their kids. I'm troubled, however, that this series is so popular with kids AND young leaders in our church and youth group. And basically the pro's are: They don't have sex prior to marriage.

Ooooh. That's laudable.

The issues of secrecy, obsessive behavior and thought patterns, lust and longing for forbidden things and a selfish, shallow heroine, combine to send up some red flags.

I've got nothing against a good yarn. But the phenomenon of "this is great!" and the propensity to fall into the trap of emotional adultery while meditating on this obsessive relationship is troublesome, especially in a community of faith where we should be talking about this stuff, yes, but in the context of encouraging one another to overcome, to battle, to seek victory against the world, flesh and devil.

I don't have the energy now to delve into it all. Sure, it's an issue of conscience. Sure, there's no "rule". It's permissible, but I doubt it's beneficial. Especially for young women (and men) who will face the reality of long-term, godly marriages that will require selfless sacrifice, hard work, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and will, hopefully, yield a good measure of obsessiveness....

Guacamole dip is ready...

I've attached a good review. If you disagree, you'll likely agree with some of the comments.

http://spesunica.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/the-twilight-saga-a-critique/

Be Thankful

E-mail from my Father-in-Law asking if my job was 'really that bad' and reminding me to BE THANKFUL! This was true and convicting, and the answer is, 'no, it is not really that bad.'

Mancow's radio show dealt (briefly) with the same theme-choosing happiness. Mancow's sidekick, Al, acknowledged the truth of the thesis that we can choose to be happy, but promptly admitted how he does the opposite. How easy it is to sink into negativity! The problem is confounded when well-done cynicism and pretty darn funny humor help draw you in (Dilbert, South Park).

I resist the idea of walking around with a fake smile or a Pollyanna attitude. But I don't want to give in to negativity and cynicism either. Perhaps it's difficult to face reality, to live in tension. The absurd, the true, the false, the noble and beautiful, the ugly and profane co-exist in this place and time. Things aren't exactly right, but they're not all bad either. I must cultivate thankfulness as 'second nature' rather than cynicism or sarcasm and negativity.