Tuesday, February 27, 2007

I'M MOVING!!!!

IT's MOVING DAY!!!

So I had briefly thought about leaving the blog world altogether, but decided I just needed a change. I have moved over to here or here. Be sure to update your links accordingly as I will mine. See ya there!

peace out,
hersch

Friday, February 16, 2007

compartmentalization...

It's funny how we live our lives amongst each other.

I was going about my janitorial duties the other day and a guy who I had been in a small group with last semester walked through the lobby I was cleaning. I looked up and said hello. He simply nodded almost as if I wasn't there and continued walking. Later that evening, in the cafeteria I saw him again. We were standing in line together. We briefly conversed and discussed the poor dining options on campus and then went to our seperate tables. Normally, I would have chalked this up to him being preoccupied that morning and not thought alot about it. But this isn't the first time it's happened with this certain individual. One time he even addressed me as I was cleaning as a new student who he hadn't met yet. You may be thinking that this guy is a douche, and believe me I have had those thoughts as well, if only it weren't that he isn't the only person this has happened with.

There are several guys in the dorm where I clean that do this. They see me in class or lunch or wherever and we will have a friendship, but if they see me with a mop, they barely speak to me. It happens the opposite way also. There are several guys who will see me cleaning and stop and chat for a bit, but if I see them in the cafeteria, we have nothing to say to each other.

What's even more alarming is that since noticing this phenomenon, I have begun to catch myself doing this as well. I have a group of people who I may talk with everyday at lunch but never at supper. I will talk to certain people in class but if I see them in the library, I don't know how to initiate conversation with them, as if my tongue turns to stone.

Compartmentalization means to divide something into categories. I see myself as well as everyone doing this with people. It is very strange to me that I have different categories of people in my life. There are two or three people with whom I trust everything I am to, and then there are those whom I will only eat lunch and make small talk with.

It is weird to know that I put people in categories. It is even more weird to know that I am categorized in other people's minds.

What does this mean in terms of of the Kingdog of God? Do I believe God puts people in categories? Do I gear ministry oppurtunities only to certain groups of people? Is part of the reason I haven't plugged into a church because I haven't found a church that fit into my preconcieved categories? Do we put churches into categories and get angry when they fail to fit that model? Hmm.....

peace out,
hersch

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

so...


Billy Joel anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

Anyone?

Sigh...

peace out,
hersch

Monday, February 12, 2007

i hate everything(including you)

If you are alive, or used to be alive, chances are I probably hate you. Sorry.

If you have an idea, or have ever had an idea, chances are I'll probably hate it. Sorry.

If you have something you love that you want to share with me, in hopes that I'll love it also, chances are I'll probably hate it. Sorry.

It's not that I mean to hate you or whatever it is you want me to like; it's that I am so cynical that all that comes before me becomes the bain of my existence.


Ok, so perhaps I am blowing this way out of proportion, perhaps I don't actually hate you. However, my cynicism(if that is what it is) is really bothering me lately.

It has become a wall between myself and all those that I know. Friends share their favorite movies with me and I find myself wishing I was watching Regis Philbin reading the phone book instead. This feeling carries over all aspects of my life.

It's gotten to the point where I don't feel I can be honest with those around me because I fear they would not be my friends if I were honest about things. I feel like some elitist jerk who thinks eveything I love is the best and anything different might as well be used for toilet paper.

Where I feel the most stress with this issue is in the Church. It's like I have heard every sermon ever preached and nothing moves me. I have grown tired of every song and feel that if I am not satisfied with what the church is offering, then God must really be dissapointed. I have grown bitter with leaders and lay people alike, seeing nothing but apparent selfishness with any disregard for caring for not only our own, but also the needs of our communities at large.

Of course, I am seeing that these issues are not really with others, but with myself. I am the on who is cynical and negative all the time.

I am the one with the problems. I'm pretty sure I am the one who has filled my heart with negativity. Here's to hoping God will begin to empty it.

Am I the only one who is here right now?

peace out,
hersch

Friday, February 02, 2007

did you hear something?


It's Friday night and I have just returned from perhaps the best concert I have ever been too.

Over.
The.
Rhine.

A group of us Asburians traveled into downtown Lexington to The Dame for what proved to be a great night.

Karin Bergquist's voice is far and away my favorite female voice. Only four songs into an hour and a half long set, she brought the house down. By the time they finished their first hour, I knew I was in the presence of a band who truly loves what they do. You could hear it in the music, see it on their faces, hear it in their banter.

To be honest I am not sure I have been to concert where the band seemed to enjoy what they did more than Over the Rhine. It was refreshing to see a band that wasn't all serious and yet able to bring you through so many emotions with their music. One moment the venue is silent as Karin sings "Drunkard's Prayer," to screaming with joy and abandon at a wicked jam session, closed by a great drum solo.

It was a good time. I needed it. I needed to see people enjoying their jobs--from the band to the road manager to the sound tech, everyone had fun. I hope to be in that position someday, where I truly enjoy what I do.

peace out,
hersch

EDIT: Here is a video of perhaps my favorite song from last night. Sorry to say this isn't from the show last night but this is about how close we were. Sorry for the poor audio quality as well.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

there are just some things that cannot be ignored...

There are few instances in each of our short lives where we witness something truly artistic and beautiful. How many times can have you looked at painting and been moved? Once? Twice? Have you ever left a museum feeling like a better person? Maybe a couple times in your life?

Perhaps there are those certain photographs that take you to another place.

Perhaps a story?

Or maybe a song? I remember the first time I heard "World's Apart" by Jars of Clay and how I put it on repeat for 2 hours. I sat there just listening to the words, memorizing both the words and the music, the beat, everything. I sat there and let the song wash over me. I never thought I would have another experience like that.








That is until now. Sometimes things are so incredible you cannot ignore them.
Then there is this.


I love the weiner dogs drinking at the river, and the weird aliens sprinkled throughout the video.

I don't know what is more offensive; this video's horribleness, or my subjecting you to it?

peace out,
hersch

PS-What's your favorite part?

Thursday, January 25, 2007

confessions part 3

i'm not one to get offended by bad language in movies. usually what offends me is blasphemy and uncalled for sex scenes and violence.

so why was i shocked when i heard several f-bombs drop today around campus while i was cleaning? hmmmm.

----------------------------------

do you ever stop and look at yourself and think that perhaps your in a transitional time. i am there i think. first, i don't want to capitalize anymore. so i won't. sue me.

i have been through a lot of transitions this past year. starting school again, changing programs, finding a new church, meeting new people, etc. blah blah blah.

i am also transitioning with God(ok, still some capitalization). finally, i feel i am stepping beyond words into action, slowly though. and i am ok with that.

sometimes we want changes to be instanaeous, or they obviously weren't God's plan for our lives. that is bull.

we look for these quick fixes to everything and the biggest thing i have learned is quick fixes are nil. they offer fluff instead of real life change that comes with wrestling with God and raking our life with the Word, not the Word with our life. think about that.

and take a step of obedience, in faith. see what happens. quick fixes offer little truth and remaining stagnant is worse than dying.

it is in the transitions we find out what is real.

peace out,
hersch