So I REAALLY hope that this isn't inappropriate, or mean or anything....but...well here we go...
I stumbled upon this quote today:
"The best and most Beautiful things in life can't be seen nor touched but are felt in the heart."
Many of you have probably seen this quote on some myspace header, facebook bumper sticker, or some other medium popular amongst teenage drama queens. (I wonder if this quote shows up in Twilight. *snicker* >:-D ) What I found out today is that this is actually a quote from Helen Keller. Now...don't get me wrong, I think Helen Keller was a brave and wonderful woman, and very likely had more character than myself...however...one must beg to ask the question: how on earth does she know?
I don't necessarily disagree with her...but...I mean really...
-James
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
The basis for hope
The basis for optimism is sheer terror. We are too scared to admit our lives are not what we'd like them to be. We wrap ourselves in the blankets of illusion and compromise, hoping to avoid the cold of reality. The truth is we've all fallen at some point. We've all woken up in the middle of the night and wished we were somewhere, or even SOMEONE else. Yet, that, I think, is the problem. That we ARE someone else. Most people are other people. Our thoughts are someone else's opinions, our lives a mimicry, our passions a quotation.
"We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
That's the main thought I want to emphasis in this blog. We all get hurt, we all get beat down, we all become a facade, and we all are brokenhearted. The key difference is where we place our hope.
"But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The Sky, not the grave is our goal...
...Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say:
It is well, it is well with my soul!"
P.S.
To add a little bit of irony to this post, I must tell you many of these thoughts rely heavily on, if are not direct quotes from the written work of Oscar Wild. I do not find a major problem in this. Mr. Wild and I end up in two very different places of thought. I think it is safe to say my thoughts are not his opinions. Rather my life is the feeble reflection of Christ, in whom I have all confidence and trust, and am unashamed to imitate. Again, our defining characteristics are in what or who we place our hope. Hope: the key I sometimes ponder Mr. Wild lost.
-James
"We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
That's the main thought I want to emphasis in this blog. We all get hurt, we all get beat down, we all become a facade, and we all are brokenhearted. The key difference is where we place our hope.
"But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The Sky, not the grave is our goal...
...Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say:
It is well, it is well with my soul!"
P.S.
To add a little bit of irony to this post, I must tell you many of these thoughts rely heavily on, if are not direct quotes from the written work of Oscar Wild. I do not find a major problem in this. Mr. Wild and I end up in two very different places of thought. I think it is safe to say my thoughts are not his opinions. Rather my life is the feeble reflection of Christ, in whom I have all confidence and trust, and am unashamed to imitate. Again, our defining characteristics are in what or who we place our hope. Hope: the key I sometimes ponder Mr. Wild lost.
-James
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The part of me that breathes when you breath is losing time. (The God of all comfort)
I lost a friend tonight. It's been a long time coming (five years) so it wasn't totally unexpected...but there is sort of this...totality to it that I had forgotten about. I say "forgotten" because it seems I've been down this road so many times before.
I can remember a time in my life where I couldn't name a single person that I knew who had struggled with cancer...now, it's happened so often, and within such close proximity of my family, it's like a personal enemy.
I found out tonight through a short text message right before Water's Edge (a college, church ministry) started. I had a few moments to breathe and then the band went into a time of worship. They sang one song that I didn't know very well at all, but as it turns out one of lyrics was very meaningful tonight.
Tonight as I look at the light of the stars I think of how some of them at this very moment have passed, but their light still shines on. So it is with you, my friend. You have run your course, you have finished and are no longer here…but your light shines on. You see, just like love, starlight never dies. I'll miss you my friend. I still carry so much of you with me. You will be part of the days yet to fill.
-James Legg
I can remember a time in my life where I couldn't name a single person that I knew who had struggled with cancer...now, it's happened so often, and within such close proximity of my family, it's like a personal enemy.
Be still...
Let your hand meld into mine
The part of me
That breathes when you breathe
Is losing time
I can't find the words to say
I'll never say goodbye
Let your hand meld into mine
The part of me
That breathes when you breathe
Is losing time
I can't find the words to say
I'll never say goodbye
I saw a host of silent angels
Waiting on their own
Knowing that all the promises
Of faith come alive
When you see home
Hold still and let your
Hand melt into mine
Shed your heart and your breath
And your pain and fly
Now your alive
Now your alive
Waiting on their own
Knowing that all the promises
Of faith come alive
When you see home
Hold still and let your
Hand melt into mine
Shed your heart and your breath
And your pain and fly
Now your alive
Now your alive
I found out tonight through a short text message right before Water's Edge (a college, church ministry) started. I had a few moments to breathe and then the band went into a time of worship. They sang one song that I didn't know very well at all, but as it turns out one of lyrics was very meaningful tonight.
"We will sing, sing, sing
and make music with the heavens"
It reminded me of the David Crowder Lyric
and make music with the heavens"
It reminded me of the David Crowder Lyric
"Turn your ear to heaven
and hear the noise inside"
and hear the noise inside"
When someone dies we often have that chilling realization of how real death is...Tonight was no different, but in addition to that, as we sang that line and I turned my mind towards heaven..it was just sort of a moment of realizing how real Jesus, and heaven is. I don't think I could' have thought of a better way to start this process. Not coming to Him and trying to not think about the pain, or the loss, but rather coming with everything, full on, and just being honest...
Do You who live in heaven
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth?
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt
Do you remember when You lived down
here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread?
Did You forget about us after You had flown away?
Well I memorized every word You said
Still I'm so scared, I'm holding my breath
While You're up there just playing hard to get
And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained
And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this, somehow
All I really need to know is
Did You ever know loneliness?
Did You ever know need?
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don't see the blood that's running in Your sweat
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted?
While You're up there just playing hard to get?
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth?
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt
Do you remember when You lived down
here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread?
Did You forget about us after You had flown away?
Well I memorized every word You said
Still I'm so scared, I'm holding my breath
While You're up there just playing hard to get
And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained
And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this, somehow
All I really need to know is
Did You ever know loneliness?
Did You ever know need?
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don't see the blood that's running in Your sweat
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted?
While You're up there just playing hard to get?
Our God is real. He is a real God to real people. Real people have real problems. They really struggle and hurt and get depressed and need real help. Only a real God with real love and real compassion can really help really troubled people.
Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Tonight as I look at the light of the stars I think of how some of them at this very moment have passed, but their light still shines on. So it is with you, my friend. You have run your course, you have finished and are no longer here…but your light shines on. You see, just like love, starlight never dies. I'll miss you my friend. I still carry so much of you with me. You will be part of the days yet to fill.
-James Legg
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The second advantage to playing the guitar...
Not only will the ladies love you, but you'll UNDERSTAND THEM AS WELL!
Let me explain…no…is too much…let me sum up.
I once read this book called "For Men Only". It had a chapter about men needing to listen more. It made the point that women need guys to listen first, fix problems later…or perhaps the problem is not the facts or the situation, but that the lady needs her feelings on the matter heard. They don't always need our "brilliant" advice, they just want us to know we've LISTENED to them, and care about them.
Now, if that much isn't true, Ladies, go ahead and skip the rest and just comment "You're a moron, James Legg" and we'll go on with our lives.
However, if that much is even REMOTELY true, then we might be on to something here gentleman. As I sat and pondered this point, I tried to think of some avenue of a gentleman's life that would in SOME way parallel. I think I may have found one.
If any of you play guitar, you've been in this scenario. You and your friends are jamming around, playing riffs, favorite songs, etc. You then decide to share with the guys a new chord progression you came up with late last night at 2:00 am. "Hey guys, listen to this…" you say as you begin playing the slow but elegant ballad. All goes well for the first thirty seconds or so, until one of the other punks with a guitar starts playing little melodies over it. Now, depending on who you are, you may or may not say anything but every guitarist FEELS the EXACT same way. "PUNK! Can you not just listen for just two minutes!?"
It doesn't really matter if what they were playing fits the music or not. In it could even be a relatively good melody for the chord progression, but unless it's the music of heaven it just ticks us off a wee bit. It means that they can't keep their own guitar from going off for an incredibly minute amount of time, and just listen. It means while they may have HEARD our chord progression, they weren't LISTENING. We don't want them to add on, we don't want them to make it better, we don't want them to give us advice on what the chorus should be, we just want them to listen for a minute.
I don't think it's that much different with women. When they come to us with something that's troubling them, they don't want us to fix the circumstances. They want to know that we not only HEAR them, but we're attentively LISTENING to them.
Practical ways to do this:
Don't offer advice, LISTEN to them first.
Physically let them know you're listening, don't play a video game, instrument, watch the TV, read the newspaper, or blog while they're speaking. Make Eye contact.
Affirm their emotion. While you may not always understand or agree with everything they say, chances are, the emotion has a legitimate root, and can be affirmed without you lying to them.
Gentlemen, what do you think? Or more importantly…Ladies, what do YOU think?
-James
Let me explain…no…is too much…let me sum up.
I once read this book called "For Men Only". It had a chapter about men needing to listen more. It made the point that women need guys to listen first, fix problems later…or perhaps the problem is not the facts or the situation, but that the lady needs her feelings on the matter heard. They don't always need our "brilliant" advice, they just want us to know we've LISTENED to them, and care about them.
Now, if that much isn't true, Ladies, go ahead and skip the rest and just comment "You're a moron, James Legg" and we'll go on with our lives.
However, if that much is even REMOTELY true, then we might be on to something here gentleman. As I sat and pondered this point, I tried to think of some avenue of a gentleman's life that would in SOME way parallel. I think I may have found one.
If any of you play guitar, you've been in this scenario. You and your friends are jamming around, playing riffs, favorite songs, etc. You then decide to share with the guys a new chord progression you came up with late last night at 2:00 am. "Hey guys, listen to this…" you say as you begin playing the slow but elegant ballad. All goes well for the first thirty seconds or so, until one of the other punks with a guitar starts playing little melodies over it. Now, depending on who you are, you may or may not say anything but every guitarist FEELS the EXACT same way. "PUNK! Can you not just listen for just two minutes!?"
It doesn't really matter if what they were playing fits the music or not. In it could even be a relatively good melody for the chord progression, but unless it's the music of heaven it just ticks us off a wee bit. It means that they can't keep their own guitar from going off for an incredibly minute amount of time, and just listen. It means while they may have HEARD our chord progression, they weren't LISTENING. We don't want them to add on, we don't want them to make it better, we don't want them to give us advice on what the chorus should be, we just want them to listen for a minute.
I don't think it's that much different with women. When they come to us with something that's troubling them, they don't want us to fix the circumstances. They want to know that we not only HEAR them, but we're attentively LISTENING to them.
Practical ways to do this:
Don't offer advice, LISTEN to them first.
Physically let them know you're listening, don't play a video game, instrument, watch the TV, read the newspaper, or blog while they're speaking. Make Eye contact.
Affirm their emotion. While you may not always understand or agree with everything they say, chances are, the emotion has a legitimate root, and can be affirmed without you lying to them.
Gentlemen, what do you think? Or more importantly…Ladies, what do YOU think?
-James
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The scent of a repentant heart
A poem by James Legg:
You anointed my two feet
Just before my life fell apart
It’s fragrance a reminder:
The scent of a repentant heart
Betrayed by a close friend
Abandoned by all the others
Left to face my fate alone
All have fled even my brothers
Yet as I walked down the road
Head bent, ready to do your part
Up came a sweet reminder
The scent of a repentant heart
Condemned, beaten, and disgraced
A man of sorrows, some have said
Crucified, Mocked, rejected
The cross drenched from the blood I’ve shed
The cold reaches for my soul
As time comes for me to depart
The last breath breathed, took in
The scent of a repentant heart
(John 12:3, Matthew 26:6-13)
-James
You anointed my two feet
Just before my life fell apart
It’s fragrance a reminder:
The scent of a repentant heart
Betrayed by a close friend
Abandoned by all the others
Left to face my fate alone
All have fled even my brothers
Yet as I walked down the road
Head bent, ready to do your part
Up came a sweet reminder
The scent of a repentant heart
Condemned, beaten, and disgraced
A man of sorrows, some have said
Crucified, Mocked, rejected
The cross drenched from the blood I’ve shed
The cold reaches for my soul
As time comes for me to depart
The last breath breathed, took in
The scent of a repentant heart
(John 12:3, Matthew 26:6-13)
-James
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