All The Sweeter

Today I learned something amazing. My wife and I are having a baby girl. What?!?! The KingCasa will no longer be solely driven by the testosterone fueled mischief of an all boy abode.

For weeks when someone would ask about Baby #4 I would just say, “I assume we are having a boy until science says otherwise.” Science says girl. And we’re thrilled. Not because we were wanting to add ribbons and bows to the mix. We’re thrilled because this adventurous life just got bigger and better. We would have been happy with any result. But yeah, there is a certain Grandma in the scenario who was really angling for a little princess—as well as two of my closest friends who both have daughters of their own.

Isn’t it just like God to completely surprise you? I’ve always liked good surprises. Suddenly, like we so often do, Jamie and I find ourselves in brand new beautifully-terrifying-territory. I don’t know ANYTHING about girls. I still find it a little bewildering that I found one who likes me enough to stick around.

But the faith life is nothing if not an ever stepping trek into the new and the unknown. One more jaunt up a hill whose pinnacle of hope masks a horizon of promise painted long before the first sunrise made its away across the globe. God knows. He knew it. He made it so.

He hung it there for us to find. He sat it there for us to walk upon in our wild journey into all of the good things he makes ready for the ones he loves. That’s you by the way. It’s me too. What a ride. The joy of this journey of faith is sometimes juxtaposed against a sadness for all the ones I’ve known who never dared to give it a shot. For in faith’s embrace life is made all the sweeter.

Where Are You Going?

​Dave Matthews asked a compelling question. I know it was a compelling question because it was featured heavily in one of the only movies Adam Sandler made that didn’t stink. Dave’s question: Where are you going?

So, um, where are YOU going? Usually when a guy like me asks that question what we really want to know is if you think you’re going to heaven. That’s a pretty monumental question. You should have a good answer for that one.

But I mean right now. Where are you going? Grocery store? Football practice? Shady backroom business deal? Are those real?

Where are you going? As in—what are you on your way to do?

I’m convinced we are all going somewhere. A key part of my faith leads me to believe in a postmortem metaphysical destination— aka afterlife. But I sincerely hope you don’t wait until you’re dead to go somewhere. You have a perfectly great before life available to you right now.

Do something with it. Run with the bulls. Buy a guitar and write your wife love songs. Figure out a way to tap into the stuff inside your soul that fires you up—and do a lot of that. Invite other people to do it with you.

I know someday will be my last day. And like the guy with the big sword and blue face said—I want all of my days between this one and that one—to mean something.

So where are you going? Where I’m going is in the direction of somewhere I’ve never been. It’s a new me that is learning as much as I can. Loving as much as I can. Living as much as I can.

Because the where we’re going right now is less about a set of points on a map and more about a drive through the mountains. Full of twists and turns and ups and downs and all of the beautiful in betweens. Where are you going? Wherever it is I hope you won’t go it alone.

Review: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey (No Spoilers)

A spoiler free review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from a lifelong Tolkien fan.

I grew up with hobbits, goblins, elves, and dwarves. Early in life I had the chance to see the classic Hobbit animated film, a movie which still holds a special place in my heart. Ever since the final credits rolled on Peter Jackson's 2003 version of Return of the King I have deeply desired to see The Hobbit get the feature film treatment. In anticipation of this film I have watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy in its entirety twice in the last month. I was excited for tonight. So how did The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hold up against my nearly lifelong expectations?

Thematically An Unexpected Journey sets a familiar tone for fans of Peter Jackson's previous forays into Middle Earth, at least at the outset of the film. Fans of the written fiction who expect to find a more light-hearted approach need not fret, this movie does not stray far from its roots. There are embellishments, alterations, and frequent expoundings upon but all serve to enhance the story being told.

The tale itself is one that instantly feels incredibly familiar, and yet fresh. The cinematography is what you might expect from a journey to Middle-Earth; full of wide shots and stretching landscapes. What you might not expect is all of the color. Where The Lord of the Rings trilogy was frequently washed in grayish drab color, An Unexpected Journey rarely gets lost in greyscale. The special effects were top notch, although I chose to view the film in 2D for my initial viewing. My biggest delights in the film were the soundtrack and the frequent nods to the written fiction. For the former there are familiar tunes and to the latter it put a smile on my face every time.

This is a well adapted tale, that at nearly three hours long, never felt slow or dry. It is a grand adventure that somehow manages to continue the legacy for Jackson's interpretation of Middle-Earth while preceding that which has come before. All in all The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was almost exactly what I expected it to be; a charming fun adventure full of both nostalgia and suspense for what's to come. It feels good to spend time in Middle-Earth again.