Stardate: -317828.74

Another weekend, and I did even more biking than last week. Maybe around 55 miles? Three soccer games in two different places on Saturday, work on Saturday, church and back on Sunday, and to LCC for a meeting of the LCBOA (Lane County Basketball Officials Assocation). It was the first meeting of the year. They're going to have some pretty extensive training for new referees like me. I also have homework this week...reading the rule book and such. It's a good thing I like basketball. I'm glad basketball season is starting, and glad that there is something for me to excited about in the wintertime. God bless you, James Naismith, for inventing such an amazing sport, and I look forward to meeting you in heaven.

When my cell phone rang yesterday, I did a double take. What is that? I thought. Oh, yeah, it's my phone. It is nice to have one; I would probably describe it as ultra-convenient. Welcome to a new age of communication, I say to myself.

Stardate: -317821.71

Well, I did it. I got a cell phone. Some of you are probably thinking, "It's about time!" I've been putting this next step of my communication ability off for a while. And admittedly, I have mixed feelings about it.

I probably would have procrastinated on it longer if it weren't for my schedule, particularly my weekends, when I can be away from home for nearly two days. At least three times now my mom has relayed a message to me through my sister's cell phone. But more than just for the convenience, this is also a significant step for me personally. Though I have been brewing over the possibility for some time, I definitely realized it this past Sunday at college group. We had a prayer time, during which we were encouraged to invite God to speak to us, especially about anything new He might want us to do. I felt pretty strongly that God was urging me to get a cell phone, and not wait in doing it.

Why? It's basically a statement on my part. That I'm available. That I'm reachable. That I will correspond with people, talk with people, minister to people. There are a number of people I know who I don't talk to right now. There are also people I know that I have trouble connecting with. There are also people that just need to reach me on occasion. All groups will benefit -- eventually, and probably immediately -- from this change.

So, in a sense, what my own choice would have been for my life, to remain without a cell phone, was overruled by the only One who truly has overruling power in my life. I don't even like talking on the phone. I fully plan to set some guidelines for my phone use and stick to them, making my phone serve me instead of me serving it.

And if you want to talk, give me a call. You should
be able to reach me, through that odd device that's in my pocket at the moment.

Stardate: -317816.11

I managed to alter my work schedule today so I could attend Eugene Faith Center's Wednesday night service. While I was there I had a couple reflections.

I talked to my former youth pastor, Andy Gilbert, for the first time in at least three years. Seeing him, and thinking of his investment in my life, reminded me of how many people there are who have had some positive impact on me and their vested interest in the life that I live, even if they don't get many chances to express it. I don't know where many of them are now. But it reminds me of how much of a cascade effect others have had on me, and subsequently I have on others. Everyone is tied together, for good or not, and I hope that I will live up to the most amazing, God-given hopes of all those people who have touched me in some way in my twenty-three-plus years.

I also found myself wondering where the disabled people are. I'm around them for such a large portion of my week that I really am growing comfortable with them. I'm not awkward around them socially like I am with all the "other" people I come in contact with in other areas of my life. I may be overstating it a bit, but nonetheless, the genuineness of self-identity and transparency that many disabled people live out regularly is contagious, and I find myself wanting to see those same positive qualities reflected not only in myself but in all other people I talk to. I really do believe that it takes humanity to another level of sorts when we accept who we are and live completely within those created boundaries that God gave us when He made us -- the things that make each person truly just as they are and not exactly like anyone else.

Stardate: -317810.09

Another weekend, and again a busy and active one. I estimate that I biked about 40 miles combined over the two days, and that is even with getting a couple rides. I also reffed four soccer games, two each day, and worked on Saturday.

Sunday was the last day at church for one family that I know. This couple, who now have two small kids, were part of the original church planting team that came from Texas. They are moving to the east coast. I personally have been friends with them for four years, though I didn't see them very much during that time while I was at college. As I reflect on the changes that come, I'm reminded that no one person or group of people is irreplaceable, but everyone contributes in a valuable way. In other words, time for people like me to continue moving forward, and step up.

Stardate: -317796.96

It was my first day at my new house for work yesterday, and it was very different. Some people are definitely harder to love than others.

I was thinking about it this morning, and I reflected that there are two ways I can go as I work. Either I can just try to tolerate people and get along. Or I can ask the Father to give me a love for them. His love. Because I don't have enough love in me without Him to love these people. It is time for me to do more than others, to love those who are difficult, those I may not get along with.

Stardate: -317790.52

I learned last week that I got the shift I applied for at the house off Mohawk Street in Springfield. It's Wednesday through Saturday, 1 pm to 9 pm (except Wed., when there's a staff meeting in the morning and a shift from 2 - 8 pm). That means I'll have limited hours, mostly free mornings, a consistent schedule, and a three-day weekend. That gives me the ability to ref some, keep my other side job in the mornings, and pick up an extra shift now and then. As I mentioned before, this particular house is challenging, which means a $1 per hour increase in pay (or so I've heard). And I shouldn't be bored.

I start training tomorrow morning (my schedule is slightly different this week than it would be normally because I'm training). In the meantime, I ref a Kidsports soccer game today in Eugene before I go to the LCSRA meeting this evening.

Stardate: -317790.36

I bought new music recently, and it's shown in this picture. If you click on the picture, you should be able to read the titles. That's what I have been listening to lately.

I buy new music at a discount, through one of those "Buy 12 CDs for the price of one" mail-order things. There's no catch with this one, provided I keep up with refusing the "Featured Selections" that they send me every few weeks. I wait for the best deals -- usually they're "Buy 1, get unlimited at 2.99/1.99" -- and buy large numbers every year or so. This is how I have a CD collection of well over 100 and the average price I paid per CD is about $7. I don't burn music (see the most recent post on my Profundus Sententia blog, link below or on the left sidebar), so this is my way of finding a good middle ground that works with my enjoyment of music, my thriftyness, and my firm morality.

Stardate: -317790.19

I did two U14 (under 14) games as a linesman early on Saturday morning, and it was pretty cold for the first one. Those were my first games as a part of the LCSRA (Lane County Soccer Referee Association). I also did two games on Sunday afternoon, a second grade and a third grade, at two different schools. It sprinkled during the first and rained pretty hard during the second before it cleared up in the second half.

Though other people may think I'm weird and crazy for saying so, I think it's fun to referee soccer games in the rain. I suppose it helps that of all the people out there, including the players wearing long-sleeved shirts under their jerseys, the coaches yelling out directions and encouragement, and the parents in their lawn chairs under umbrellas, I'm the only one actually getting paid for it.

Besides, people may think I'm weird or crazy anyway, especially since I biked there in the rain to start with, and I'm very serious about what I do, whether it's for seventh graders or second graders.

Stardate: -317779.38

Yesterday I went mini-golfing while I was working. I went with another staff and a resident, so the resident could have a good time while doing something outside of the house.

I had a couple reflections about this. First, it's really cool to get paid to do something fun while you're working.

Second, I was reminded again that the reason I am in this job is for unselfish reasons. I'm not in it for me and what I get out of it; I'm in it for other people. Sometimes my motives are just selfish; and while I'm on earth anyway, there's not going to be a time that I made it, that I become completely unselfish. I'm always struggling, battling with certain aspects of my sinful nature that rear their appealing, destructive heads more often than I would like.

And that's one of the things I do like about this job. Unselfishness, patience, and humility are acquired almost as a byproduct of what I do, even without me making any special effort. That's really the only thing I want to get out of it: Character.

So I remind myself again: I'm not in this for me. That one determination could change how I look at a lot of different things in life. Because my outlook on life is always determined by internal things, not external things; by motives and decisions, not by circumstances or other people. I pray that's something we always remember.

Stardate: -317776.67

Recently, when I'm working and I find myself with nothing to do at a certain moment, I seem to frequently do the same thing: Reach for the fly swatter.

Flies are things that are really kind of harmless, and you might be able to ignore them, that is, until they start landing on your head and on your plate and on the food that you're cooking.

When that happens, even though I'm not usually a violent person, I have only one thought: KILL IT.

I was doing this makeshift pest-exterminating so much yesterday my co-workers were simultaneously laughing and hoping that I wasn't going to cause a dead fly to land on them or, worse, hit the fly when it is on them (I wouldn't do that to anyone else, only myself).

A year ago, when I was at camp in Michigan, there were a lot of flies, and I got such a reputation for killing them that when the staff in my unit sat down at the end of the summer to give each other awards, they chose to give me the Fly-Swatting Award, complete with a fly-swatter shaped piece of cardboard with my award written on it. I don't know if I would put that on a resume, but I think it's safe to say that I have "Mad fly-swatting skillz," which consists of the ability to kill a fly on the ceiling, to kill two flies at the same time, to use two different fly swatters at the same time, and to have a higher-than-85% success rate when swatting flies.

I'll probably hook the fly swatter onto my caribiner belt clip at work today, so it will be there when I need it.

Stardate: -317776.39

I applied for a specific shift at the "intense" house yesterday. I went in to the office so I could see the job postings, not sure which I would choose to apply for of the three shifts that I liked best. I got an advantage because attached to each posting were slips from other staff who had applied to each particular shift. So I chose one that no one had applied for (yet). It is possible that another person or two might apply for it today (which is the last day to apply), but I seem to stand a good chance. The consensus I've heard from different staff in the agency is that besides the people who already work at that house, no one really wants to work there.

I'm not sure if it's because of the difficult work environment or the demand for workers or both, but people who work at this particular house get an extra dollar-per-hour of "crisis pay."

Stardate: -317771.11

Sunday was a lot of biking for me, to church in time to set up (the photo shown was taken at about 8:40 AM), back to my half-brother's house, to a middle school off Coburg road for two soccer games, to West Eugene for college group. I got a ride home after college group. Regrettably, it was my only day off work and I still worked at my side jobs for over three hours.

In the midst of all this, though, was a rejuvenating worship time at church, and a couple photo taking sessions during the sunny day. The leaves are turning colors and falling, and it's really beautiful weather right now.

I work 12-7 PM, Monday-Friday this week at the E St house.

The Alvord-Taylor house which is supposedly the most intense, and which I haven't worked at yet, just redid their schedule and consequently, every shift at that house is open for applicants right now. I will probably apply to at least one of the shifts. They have a Monday-Friday, 6 AM - 1 (or 2) PM schedule that I like a lot, though it would clash with my side job.
I would prefer to work at a more challenging house where there is more to do, compared to a couple of the houses I've been at (one of which I trained at for two days last week) where nothing happens and it just seems pretty boring. I don't like being bored at my job, and it doesn't exactly give me a sense of purpose and fulfillment to watch TV or to sit around all day.

Stardate: -317766.74

Here's a few of the better results of my photograph-taking experiments. I did these while I was at work today and I was outside in the yard with a resident.

Stardate: -317760.06

There's me and my new camera in one of my first attempts at digital camera photography. I'll try to post my pictures occasionally, at least until I have a photo-sharing place to store them.

Stardate: -317759.74

My parents gave me a generous graduation gift, and I used the money to buy some new music (which hasn't arrived yet) and a digital camera. I've wanted a digital camera for several months now; it seems frequent that I see something and think, "I want to take a picture of that." I'm not sure why I'm more excited about the possibility of photography than I used to be. Maybe I see the world through different eyes, and I know now that the kind of pictures I want to take are not typical. If, for instance, I take pictures of people (which may not be very common), they won't usually be the "stop-and-look-at-the-camera-and-smile-and-say-cheese" type, but instead I'll try to catch them in natural moments when they're just being themselves.

At the very least, it should be something challenging and interesting for me to experiment with as a hobby. I've wanted another hobby recently. Also, it will help my visual memory to take pictures of things and people, as I have difficulty recalling what someone or something looks like when I haven't seen them for a long time.

Stardate: -317755.22

I went to a meeting last night for the LCSRA (Lane County Soccer Referee Association). It was quite long and very interesting. Referees are a very fascinating group of people. There is a specific code of ethics that they follow, and in order to be a good referee one must not only follow and enforce the rules but also have a well thought out motivation in terms of philosophy and ethics.

Though I am interested in refereeing soccer, I was reminded again how much I favor basketball as my sport. More than just looking forward to do a few soccer games for the association, I am excited for basketball season, the opportunity to be a certified basketball referee and do high school games, and even the possibility of moving on from there to a higher level. Basketball has always been my favorite sport, and any opportunity that I get to be paid to be around the game is very welcome and something that I may pursue to some extent.

I am scheduled to do two U14 (under age 14) games as a linesman on next Saturday.

Stardate: -317752.1

After a busy weekend, working all day on Saturday, going to church and doing my side jobs on Sunday, a day off is a welcome thing. It's always amazing to me how much of a difference it makes to take a Sabbath as God directs us to do very specifically in Scripture. By that I don't mean just a day off work, but also a day when I actually rest, spend time with God, and generally avoid any and all stressful situations and activities.

My friend Wes visited this weekend so he could see the baby Josiah. It was good to see him. I wonder if he also might come back to the Northwest in the next year or two, as it seems that the people that he wants to be around are here. He says that Phoenix is "cooling off" and starting to get down to 70 degrees at nighttime.

I have a busy week. I'm only scheduled for two shifts at the moment, but I'll pick up at least two more one way or another. I have several meetings, not all of which I'll be going to, and my sister Vjera's 25th birthday is on Thursday. I believe my cousin Vanieca is coming down on Friday.

If you're in the Eugene area, enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. I'm happy to be seeing leaves on the ground, it's really the first time in six years for me.