So today I laid down and listened for God's voice, something I never do. I mentally recited the verse that says something like: Speak Lord for your servant is listening. For once instead of asking, I decided to try and listen. God works in mysterious ways, so I was not expecting to hear a voice. I laid for a while and didn't feel much happening, but then I received a mental image of a strawberry field. I've never had an inclination to pursue this type of venture, but I thought let me be obedient and explore it. I began looking into how much land costs and I was quite surprised to find out land in certain places is actually affordable and feasible to acquire. What ensued afterward was me going down a rabbit hole of researching off grid properties. I researched how the electrical grid functions, how wells function and how off grid homes sustain themselves. I watched a YouTube video of a couple who live off the grid and was interested to learn about how they grow their own food and the challenges that accompany that lifestyle. They talked about how their experience has made them appreciate the little things. I also researched how ancient civilizations got water from wells and how there was a risk of water contamination. I then thought of those who now live in developing nations and the struggles they face to access necessities such as water and food. In this moment I felt a profound sense of gratitude for my existence in this present time and space. My current situation is not what I've dreamed of, but I have to be appreciative that I have easy access to safe drinking water, electricity, food and warmth. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes to facilitate these luxuries that we all too often take for granted. What a powerful realization and perspective change that ensued from me being obedient and giving God a few minutes of my day. The Bible says to put God first and all things will be added unto you. Here's your reminder to be grateful for all that you have, to thank God for your blessings, to remember to put him first in all of your desires and watch how your life changes for the better. You don't need to be a perfect Christian. God likes effort and he can work with imperfect action. In our weaknesses, he is made strong. May God bless you and your family abundantly, and may you be a blessing to others for all the days to come, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.
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I was hanging out with a friend this morning talking about, well, quite a lot of things across quite a lot of years. We’re old like that and that’s just how we roll.
One of the things that came up during our conversation was this idea, absolutely true in our experience, that when we were taking the first steps of our careers, we weren’t chasing anything in particular, we were chasing a job, any job, in our industry. The industry to which we wanted to commit huge swaths of our lives. The industry that is, in fact, our shared answer to the question What do you wanna be when you grow up?
My friend’s a producer, director, motion design Houdini, and a brilliant editor. Me, I’m an editor, a composer, and a writer. And we get paid to be these things.
In one very important way, our career aspirations worked out in ways that are a bit like winning the lotto. You see, we are also husbands, fathers. We live full lives with women we deeply love, with children we absolutely adore, with friends who get us just as we... get them. We are paid to work with people who are superbly gifted at what they do, whose work is inspired, and who are some of the best people we know on this planet.
That’s not what we were pursuing when we were young, though. We were chasing a job in the industry. Any job.
What we were not chasing... is a life. In all its epic proportions.
That. Was not our focus.
And you know what?
It worked anyway. We won the lotto.
Here’s the thing, though...
I spent the morning hanging out with a friend who’s everything a professional’s supposed to be. A genuinely decent and fun and imaginative human being. We talked family. We talked about this passion we share, the industry we’re surfing right now. Talking shop. Talking projects. Comparing how things used to be in our business as opposed to how things are right now.
Light years, by the way. The difference. Is light years.
After that, I went to work in an edit suite with a producer. I’m cutting a kid’s show for her and I have a tight rough cut for her. And what we did this afternoon is simply watch this cut of the show and project onto it our ideas. To identify areas that need help. To think of all the ways we can effectively communicate and entertain. To try out ideas on each other, nothing more.
To imagine what this show could be, and should be, before I lay another finger on it.
You have no idea how fun that is. How addictive is that kind of experience, both on a professional and personal level.
Meanwhile, my daughter was working on the production of her latest song, “Venom”, for her brand, Dream Patrol. She was so jazzed about what she’s accomplished so far that she wanted to be there when I heard it. So after my session with the producer, I invited Linzy to come down where we could listen to her production on big speakers.
Which we did. Over and over. Being wowed by this work that’s a combination of masterful composition, performance, production, and feast for the ears. Poking at it a little. Trying out ideas. Then watching a few comparable music videos that turned into a session of taking turns sharing some of our favorite music. Afterwhich we walked up to my car a ways and I drove her to her place as we continued chatting up the evening.
The only thing missing from my most excellent day was Kimmer who’s down in Irvine, California today. Be back tomorrow.
We did talk first thing in the morning, and then in the car on speaker with LInzy.
Kimmer’s had a pretty busy day as well today, it turns out. Had she been here, though, after her day at work, we woulda boogied down to Pub70 on the waterfront to compare our days and share some very lovely food and drinks.
Now that. Woulda been perfect.
My point, though, is that I love... that this is my life. And had I known life could be like this...
I woulda been chasing this instead of a job, any job, in my industry.
😊
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Autobot Starscream (after all the Autobots later forgive him for Cliff-Jumper's death):
Why don't you hate me? Why do you all care? Can't you berate me? Isn't that fair? Where is your glare?
Don't you dare leave our problems and pain on the shelf! Because if you don't hate me, I can't hate myself!
But that's why I need you... You bots shatter my fear... Cause despite my misdeeds, you're all still right here.
Though it's stupid to forgive me... Arcee is willing to try... And if she doesn't hate me, well then why should I? 🥲
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freedom writers
watch count - 4
rating - 9.8/10
time - 123 minutes
directed by Richard Lagravenese
starring : hilary swank, april lee hernández, deance wyatt, jason finn, jaclyn ngan
notes - amazing, impactful movie. Its extremely eye-opening to the reality of many students, and people of colour. It teaches you about the prejudice and racism in the school system.
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