Skip to main content

A Day in the Life of Tony (Sort Of)

At the beginning of every day, I get up, make my bed, and sit down to read Scripture for a while. Today, I read Acts 2, in which the Holy Spirit comes on the believers in Jerusalem as tongues of fire. Thus began my day today, and thus begins this blog entry: A Day in the Life of Tony.

I began this day at 5:30. After reading the Bible and praying, I wrote my list of goals for the day. On today's list, I wrote the following:

1. Read the Bible.
2. Wash, dry, and fold laundry.
3. Play guitar.
4. Write on your blog.
5. Read part of one of your books.
6. Write at least one stanza of a poem.

This done, I began the aforementioned laundry. I then checked my e-mail; tended to my daily Lumosity games; and read more about the police chase here in Stockton, including videos of a witness to the chase, a woman I know.

After breakfast, I read a book I bought about the history of pirates. I rarely do this, but I then took a short nap, after which I read another book called A Grief Observed. It is as sad as its title suggests. The author has just lost his wife, and is questioning both God and those who are trying to comfort him. Eventually, I made my way to my guitar, where I learned how to play part of an Oasis song called "Champagne Supernova."

Hereafter, I was visited by a man about whom I have written in a previous post, Ivan. Ivan is a Jehovah's Witness. The last time he came, we discussed the Jehovah's Witness church, and he was open and non-confrontational about the questions I had. Today, I asked him what I believe is the most important question that anyone considering Christianity must answer. I asked him whom he believes Jesus is. He replied that Jesus is God's son, sent to save humanity. Finding this the most important point of Scripture and Christianity, I asked if he believes that Jesus is God. He replied that he did not, and each of us went on to discuss his point of view. We parted on friendly terms, as we had last time, but in definite disagreement on this point. With the visit still on my mind, I then researched more about Jesus' claims about himself.

I must still write part of a new poem, which I will do now, and I plan to go to Peet's Coffee later. Most days are not as quiet as today, certainly not during the school year. Still, I took part in some of the things I enjoy.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ghosts

Exercising at a gym seems to be pretty important in our culture, but it's kind of weird to see the social dynamics when you're there. Usually, if you're running an errand, you see others doing the same thing, going about their days and focusing on what's in front of them. The same thing happens at the gym, only everyone is relatively stationary. They don't really go anywhere, except from one machine or area to another. One might think this lends itself to lots of interaction between members, especially since they're all there for the same purpose, but it isn't true. Not only do people generally avoid talking to one another, but they also avoid even looking at one another. It is as though there is no one else there, even though there are dozens on any given day. Most people follow this unwritten rule, unless something in the environment-- say, two people wanting to use the same set of weights-- gives them common ground to interact, or unless they've alr...

Savior

This wasteland cold and dark runs free Its fearful creatures speak to me One fateful day one nudged my hand To set my eyes upon a tree He knew I could not understand For I was in his native land His signs became our common speech To lead me through the deadly sand Now stuck I saw him me beseech He could not lift me out to reach The firm foundation of a cave Outside the boundaries of this beach Withal, the beast became more brave To risk his own my life to save To carry me, its life it gave To carry me, its life it gave. This poem was inspired by Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." That poem, like this one, has four four-line stanzas of eight syllables per stanza. Its rhyme scheme is AABA BBCB CCDC DDDD.

The Nice Guy Fallacy

I read part of a poem recently by one of my favorite poets. It reads: I envy not in any moods The captive void of noble rage The linnet born within the cage That never knew the summer woods. I envy not the beast that takes His license in the field of time Unfetter'd by the sense of crime To whom a conscience never wakes. Nor what may call itself as bles't The heart that never plighted troth But stagnates in the weeds of sloth Nor any want-begotten rest. I hold it true, whate'er befall I feel it, when I sorrow most 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. At base, Tennyson contrasted a life of risk, and consequent pain, with one of security. He sides conclusively with the life of risk, and says he fails to envy those who have faced no hardship. I agree with him; and, for good or ill, his words are just as relevant today as they were in the nineteenth century. Like then, there are those today who choose to live their lives with as little risk as...