Haircut + Confidence = Sexy

What is it about a good haircut that makes me feel, well, sexy?

Is it the conversation?

Every time I get my haircut there's always conversation. Maybe because, as John says, I'm a conversation whore. That's pretty much entirely true. But usually the stylist (Yes, stylist. I would have it no other way.) asks questions about me to prevent awkward silence, so I just talk about myself. In the words of Chris Hall: "It's like a date that's guaranteed to go well, because it's in her best interest to make it go well." Exactly! So then I think, "Hey, I'm a pretty cool guy. I play music, almost finished my master's degree, am a Puerto Rican who was born in Spain, work in a church and just ran a half-marathon." That is definitely a confidence booster. And confidence = sexy.

Is it the shampoo?

According to the Five Love Languages, I'm a physical touch person. That means the way I feel loved is to be touched. Now, what's more lovely than a lady who listens to you talk about yourself for a while, then vigorously washes your hair with tea tree shampoo that leaves your scalp feeling all tingly, rinsing it with just-hot-enough water? I can't think of anything more lovely, either. Feeling loved boosts confidence. And confidence = sexy.

Is it the haircut?

I admit, when I walk out to my car I check my style in the car window before getting in. And, you know what? The autumn breeze on a freshly shortened 'do is glorious. As I unlock my car I imagine every lady on Roosevelt Road turning their heads. I'm sure it's gonna cause an accident one day. Looking sexy makes you feel sexy. Feeling sexy boosts confidence. And confidence = sexy.

Thankfully, a haircut is just that, nothing more or less. It has its ways to inspire confidence, sure. But nothing grows confidence like taking life by the horns and working to become the man I've finally realized I can and should be.

That's sexy.

To Victory

We could feel the burn.

Somewhere during the 10th mile, the hill gone unnoticed on the way out became a monster obstacle to our return. I never thought it possible, but the mountain climbed straight into the sun. The sun that stared me down.

Right into my will.

"Everything in the darkness will be made light." I've found its truth. Be it the light of God or the light of day illuminating, it holds true. Today, the latter exposed me.

In what must have been 112 degree heat according to my internal thermometer, which is never wrong, we ran straight up into the sun. The trees parted like I was a modern-day Moses, only my pursuer wasn't Pharoah; it was "I don't have to work hard for anything, and you can't make me" me. (I think he may have brought "I may collapse from heat exhaustion me" as well, but my water bottle kept him at bay.)

Knowing my pursuer wouldn't relent, I continued into the fire. I asked my running partner,

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, I'm good."

"Me too," I lied back.

Was it ambition, stupidity or pride that drove us into the sun? Our wings didn't melt, so it wasn't pride. And we carefully considered the cost of defeat, so it wasn't stupidity.

Like a mother eagle protecting her young, the canopy of trees enveloped our leveled path. The sun couldn't beat us. The mountain wouldn't slow us. My pursuer's friend caught up to him, and both withered on the path, there on the 10th mile.

While we raced on.

To victory.

Back In A Jiffy... Again

Who says an oil change isn't eventful?

In an effort to save time I went to Jiffy Lube instead of TJ Discount Auto to get my oil changed. I feel like I cheated on TJ, but I won't have to deal with that until he sees the new oil change sticker inside my windshield next time I go. 3,000 miles of smooth sailing.

I was surprised at the hospitality I got today. They treated me kindly, called me by name or "young man," which was funny, but kinda cool. They even opened doors for me. Joe, my attendant, explained everything in an informative manner without being condescending, which is tough to do. I appreciated it.

After all was done, I asked Joe if they got tips. He said sometimes people did, and added his biggest tip was $50 once! I asked if he could charge a tip because I didn't have cash, but he couldn't. So, I shook his hand and left.

Immediately after, I had to stop at Jewel to get some fancy cheese for Ravinia tonight. I got the cheese and some cash back, then stopped back at the Jiffy Lube to give Joe a tip. His response? "Aw man, you didn't have to do that." But I just snapped and pointed at him, like David Hasselhoff might in Knight Rider, and said, "Thanks again, man. I appreciate it." And I rode Kit to the interstate, where I disappeared into the hull of a moving semi.

As if that wasn't enough...

As I was driving down the road, listening to country music for my class, I heard a phone ringing. I figured it was on the radio, so I ignored it. But as I continued, it started ringing again. I turned off the radio, then checked my phone, then reached under the seat where I found a phone that said "2 missed calls: work". At that point, I laughed, and returned to Jiffy Lube for the third time that day, returning a misplaced phone to a relieved attendant.

I felt pretty good about that whole experience. I inconvenienced myself to give someone a tip who deserved it. I'm guessing it made his day, at least it would have made mine. Then I was inconvenienced to return someone's phone who had dropped it in my vehicle. I think that pacing of life was helpful. My agenda was put off, and I still got everything done, while allowing life to happen around and within me.

May we long to be interrupted by life, and to smile through our inconveniences, realizing we are being made to live more fully.

What if we...: The Story of God

What if we...

spent an entire church year telling the story of God, hitting the highlights each week?

supplemented that with short sermonettes, in case someone misses a week?

translated those into Spanish for those who need a resource?

added a list of resources on each theme? (audio, video, technological, experiential, print, etc.)

used different media/art to illustrate the plot development?

planned ahead?

challenged congregants to look ahead, and see how their daily work reflects the development?

created, alongside the foundational storyline, a Fundamental Christianity offering?

had a gallery for each person who wanted to display truth and beauty for others to appreciate?

didn't read the Bible as much as we let the Bible read us?

listened half as much as we spoke?

A Million Miles for him, 13.1 for me

I finally read the book.

My friends said, "Well, if you gave her a copy you'd better read it so you can talk about it. So, in two sittings I read the whole things. It was really good! I loved the analogy of story and life, and how Miller's conversational writing turned the pages for me.

It really got me thinking, about my life, and the story I'm living. I avoid any conflict, any pain - even good pain. Like exercise. I tried to run a few months ago. I went twice, then got bronchitis. I played basketball a couple weeks ago. That was a lot of fun. I enjoy exercise more than the idea of it. Usually, it's the other way around. I live in my brain a lot.

For a character to develop, he has to struggle, to overcome something, or to be overcome by something. But not trying means no development. And that's a boring story.

I'm going to run a half-marathon. The Prairie State Half-Marathon in Libertyville, IL, October 9, 2010. It costs $45. I think it'd be fun to run with a group of friends, and we all dress like the Super-Friends. I'd be Spider-Dan.

I really need to do this. I need to stretch, to be challenged, to grow. I need conflict. I need to overcome. It's time.

Who's coming with me?

The Book Outlet

It's a rather odd place for a book.

But there it was. I discovered it while helping some friends move out of a familiar building.

What struck me about this particular find wasn't the book itself. Rather, it was the conversation I shared with my roommate about it.

Me: "That's weird."

Jon: "I know, right? That book's, what, maybe 200 pages, and it's supposed to be a Tolkien Reader?"

Me: "Huh?"

Jon: "Well, with an author that's written so much, including a single trilogy that weighs in at almost 2,000 pages in its entirety, it's hard to believe that a book so small could even touch his works."

Me: "... yeah, I guess so."

Jon: "Yeah."

Me: "...I just thought it was weird there was a book on a power outlet."

A Million Miles... A thousand copies.

I'm two for two.

I had Donald Miller's book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years recommended to me by three different people. I figured I'd better check it out.

I went to Family Christian on the 8th and picked up a copy. I read about 4 pages and lent it to a friend. I don't plan on getting it back. I heard once that if you want someone to read a book, you should "loan" it to them so they feel the sense of urgency, then when they say how much they enjoyed it you can say, "Great! Keep it."

So, today, I went back to Family Christian (the book was on sale for 50% off, and still is) and got another copy. Then I went to get my haircut. My regular stylist told me how she was looking for a local church, and she's going through a divorce, and other things. She did a fantastic job with my hair.

As I climbed back into my car, feeling particularly sexy, I saw the book next to me. And I had that strange sense, the one that only comes out of a habit of listening to God, that I should give the book to my stylist. I thought about it, flipped through the book, read a few words, thought how ridiculous that would be. Then I got out of the car, walked back in, asked her if she reads, and upon hearing, "Yes," I left it on her station where she said she would pick it up and read before my next haircut.

So, now I'm out two copies. But I think that second event really gets at Miller's point: Are we living a story worth telling?

Stories happen when people do things that people normally wouldn't do.

Anybody have any stories lately?

The Beige Mini-Van

I pulled up along-side the beige mini-van.

I love mini-vans. They're like big vans, but not as awkward. And they say something about family, rather than those conversion vans that say, "I'm going to steal someone from your family as they leave the elementary school."

I pulled up along-side the beige mini-van.

Beige is a neutral color, though I'm not sure why. It certainly evokes emotion. Not rage, or excitement. Perhaps passivity. That's still emotive, though not in an active sense, I suppose. Beige is far from neutral.

I pulled up along-side the beige mini-van.

What is it with stop lights, and with so many drivers' felt need (including my own) to be the first one off the starting line? Every so often on a 4 lane road, the light turns green and it's like Nascar. Just to get a little bit ahead of everyone else. Then we all hit 50 in the 45, and slow our roll, because really, none of us are that tough. Not me in my beige Corolla. Not her in her beige mini-van.

I pulled up along-side the beige mini-van.

You never know who you're going to pull up next to. I often wonder if it'll be the girl I'm supposed to meet with some awkward stoplight conversation you're not supposed to have. Of course, it'd happen in Spring, when the windows are rolled down.

Me: "Hey, sorry if this is awkward, but you're really cute."
Her: candid smile, head cocked slightly at an angle to avoid me noticing "Why, thank you!"
"You're welcome. Have a good day!"
"Wanna buy me a cup of coffee?"
Both surprised, yet interested, I respond. "Excuse me?"
"I don't know. I thought that's what guys wanted to do when they talked to you at a stop light."
"Ha, yea, I guess that's not too far off-base."
"Well, I'm going to the Starbucks up there. If you want, come on in. If not, have a nice day."
Green Light
"Alright."

She pulls into the Starbucks.

I keep going.

Two people who drive beige vehicles aren't meant for so much adventure.

Besides, the weather's so nice, I'd rather keep driving.