My brains are still largely

My brains are still largely mush, it’s been slow getting revved up to my usual multitasking pace of life, which feels like a letdown and a drag.

Recently came across two quotes that I found very bothersome: one, a comment from a biographer, who said that one can’t reveal too much of the real inside story because it would erode the confidence of the reader. If anything can and could inspire people, it is the real story of a person’s growth, struggles, and courage, the raw humanity that shows those of us without a published biography how life can be, and that is what will inspire real confidence.

The other, about how Koreans perceive a “show of emotion as a weakness that indicates I have no control over myself.” Ludicrous. What kind of torment on the heart and soul of humanity if emotions were to be suppressed without necessary expression? The most human person who ever lived (and is still alive), is Jesus Christ, and he wept! (John 11:35) He did not hold back emotion in some sort of effort to control himself. It’s good to show emotions and feelings; life calls for it. To be human is to emote.

Now back here at home,

Now back here at home, after 2 weeks of being away.. 10 days overseas in England (half in Jersey, half in London), and 2 days this past weekend in Raleigh/Durham, NC, drove down to visit with some ol’ Dallas friends in the area for surgery at Duke.. so encouraging to see them, and hope we were an encouragement to them.. almost coulda hit the ground running after landing Friday night at Dulles Airport, but thought it better to get a night rest before driving down to NC; and then drove back Sunday night..

Enjoyed a nice birthday dinner at Blue Elephant London, by candlelight with wife Rachelle, very nice time and great food.. one of my overall impression of having spent time in England is the slower pace of life there, even tho’ it is the largest city in Europe, it wasn’t as efficiency driven as metro DC here, and perhaps add on top of that me being on vacation, and I was not ambitious in doing all the touristy things.. spent a good deal of time on public transit actually.. so now turning 36, and slowing down for a spell, it’s been good ambiance to be reflective about what to do with my 2nd half of life.. my non-career dilemma is still with me, and one hopeful idea is that this intentional slowdown of the past weeks will help me pace myself better as I re-engage life here..

Internet access isn’t as readily

Internet access isn’t as readily available as I’d like (and perhaps not as much as some others would like either) here in London, and thus I’ve not been able to record my reflections here as often as I’d have liked.. now having been here outside of the US for going on 10 days, my brain activities have been slowed b/c of a lack of dialogue and personal interaction.. I avoided books and minimized news media, so I could immerse myself into ethos of being here in London, tho’ I cannot say that I’ve gotten into the everyday life of the locals here; found myself hesitant to initiate conversations as my thoughts had slowed to a crawl.. the best of this is the days of rest for my personhood, and that is a good thing. Oh, and with internet dial-up being timed and costs on a per minute basis, i’ll sign off here and add some reflections in retrospect (rather than live) upon my return to home.

After a 2+ hour delay

After a 2+ hour delay at Jersey airport this morning, when we got up at o’dark-thirty to catch the originally scheduled 7am flight, we finally arrive in London, and get on the train to Victoria Station just before lunch time. Spent some extended family time, and the thought has to go thru one’s mind what it is about this type of relationship that keeps the conversation level at best cursory and small talk and rarely deeper and meaningful, yet at the same time, for most family members (as I’ve discovered when talking with non-family members) that they yearn for more meaningful conversation with other family members, but no one is able to break the ice, or break the years of habit deeply ingrained.. now I do commend my wife Rachelle, she’s made some bold efforts during the past few days, and I’m thrilled to hear of her checking in with me about the conversations that she’s tried to steer and incite, wonderfully curious, desiring for more.. but alas, some people just don’t want it yet.. (writing this from an easyInternetCafe by Victoria station, next door to the Victoria Apollo where an interesting Indian play is about to start within the hour).