Gator for a Day...

The mantra states "Lion for a Day", but for the purposes of this post I ask that we change it to "Gator for a Day". I had hoped to do this on Saturday after one of the finest performances in recent memory capped one of the finest careers in college football history, but I didn't get around to it until today. If you haven't caught on just yet, I wish to pay special tribute to a man who's likes I'm never likely to see again in my lifetime. I speak of none other than Mr. Tim Tebow.

His story has been published far and wide at this point, and I certainly don't wish to further dilute the true potency of his legacy, but I would surely be remiss if I didn't take a moment to honor one of the greatest "Lions" of our time. Tebow has amassed numerous trophies and records during his 4 years in Gainesville, but he summed it up well when he was asked before his final game in the Swamp this past Saturday about how he might be remembered, and he said, "I hope they remember how much I cared." His passion, for all things good and righteous, is what truly makes him a lion like none other.

At this point there are but two battles left for this giant, and I wish to tip my hat to his greatness both on and off the field. He is truly an inspiration, and having him be Ethan's first "hero" has been a real joy as a father. Enjoy this highlight film from the 2008 Championship season with clips of both Tebow and his counterpart on the defensive side, Brandon Spikes. (Hard to deny watching the Gators with Rocky playing in the background!) Go Gators!!

We Are Beggars All...

Naturally with Thanksgiving coming tomorrow I have spent much of the past week thinking about just how much I have to be thankful for. I am a blessed man, and certainly have been given more than my share of goodness in life. First and foremost thanks be to wonderful family and friends who fill my life with so much joy.

Most who know me know that my love for Dustin Kensrue and his band Thrice runs fairly deep. Some may not understand this, but on this day of pensive gratitude let me shed some additional light on just what makes him someone worthy of my adoration. In an interview when asked what the inspiration was for his latest album "Beggars" he explains that it was taken from Martin Luther's last words..."We are beggars, this is true." Dustin goes on to say, "When looking at what you're given versus what you actually earn...I just hope it makes people think...leads to being more grateful and gratious to other people." He takes this further in the title track off the album when he ends the song with:

Tell me if you can recall just one thing, not a gift, in this life? If there's one thing I know in this life, we are beggars all!

I hope we can all take the time to consider what we've been "given" in this life, and find that place where our hearts fill with gratitude for all we truly have been given. As Dustin says, we are truly beggars all, and as such I'm thankful to each of you for your constant love and support. As a special thank you, please enjoy the following videos of our friends Thrice. The first is a video of the interview I referenced above, and the second is a 5 song live set recorded. And yes Benjamin, the final song is in fact "Beggars" the song you were disappointed not to hear at their concert in Salt Lake last week (I think you'll find it the emotional thunder you were hoping it would be.) Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

My Source of Peace

Haven't touched a computer in two days due to an unexpected and fun (sarcastic fun) illness that's snuck up on me over the last couple weeks. Not only am I attempting to fight off pneumonia, but also heal a torn diaphragm which is essentially the muscle underneath your lungs. How did this muscle tear you might ask? Well from coughing so much and so violently, and yes it is definitely as "fun" as it sounds. However, I wanted to jump on tonight for one reason only, and that is to express gratitude.

I felt it paramount that I write tonight quickly, and publicly thank my wife, Megan, for all she does. The silver lining to being sick is to have the quality care and devotion of a loving wife, and boy has my lining been phenomenal. Not only am I talking about just over the last couple of days while I've been whimping it up acting like I'm hurt, but more like the last 5 plus years we've been able to call each other husband and wife. She is truly my lioness, and I am nothing without her.

The last couple of posts have focused on The Last Samurai, and some truths that it teaches us. In addition to these truths already discussed, another applies here as well. Nathan Algren learns and truly finds himself while amongst the Samurai in the mountains of Japan. Once he learns that they are set to be destroyed he goes into battle side-by-side with them. Question is, where does he go afterwards? Directly back to that sanctuary in the mountains that brought him the true peace he had long sought in all the wrong places. Megan is that place of peace for me.

Often times we jokingly talk about how it isn't truly possible for me to actually "want" to come home some nights. Tough day at work, the kids are all wired up and everything appears on the outside as utter chaos, but I always remind her that there isn't anywhere else I'd rather be. And I say that with full honesty of heart. Why? Because she is my sanctuary, my source of strength, my source of peace, my source of inspiration and most importantly she is what makes me feel alive!

Just as Nathan went out to fight only to return quickly to the place he loved most, that is my daily strategy to fight the daily fight as quickly as possible to return to the one that truly makes me happy; my one and true love.

Thank you for being you Megan, and thank you for allowing me to be apart of your life. I am the luckiest guy in the world to call you mine, and I pray that I will earn that right each and every day of my life both in this and the next. Love you long-long time to my one and only Lioness!

P.S. Benjamin, you did request a picture, but I know she wouldn't be too appreciative to me if I posted one of her at this time. Hopefully sometime soon. :)

What Could Be More Necessary?

The following is a conversation between Captain Algren and Katsumoto after they are able to escape from Tokyo successfully. Katsumoto served as the Emperor's spiritual advisor, as all leaders of the Samurai had for centuries; however, with the Emperor intent on modernizing Japan, and numerous vultures now surrounding him in his council, Katsumoto was unable to reach the Emperor.

Katsumoto: "For nine-hundred years my ancestors protected this people. Now, I have failed them."

Algren: "So you will take your own life in shame? Shame for a life of service, discipline, compassion?"

Katsumoto: "The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore."

Algren: "Necessary...what could be more necessary?"

Pondering on this scene got me to thinking about the specified qualities listed of Katsumoto's life (service, discipline, compassion), and just how absent they are from our modern day world.

Service

First example that came to mind here would be the so-called "public servants" our elected officials in Washington are supposed to be. This group on Capitol Hill are talking about how terrible the Social Security system is, yet they hold themselves out and have their own privately funded and managed pension fund. They debate health care reform, and pretend to have our interests at heart, yet they have their own private care and health system to take care of their needs. Worse still is the fact that publicly they criticize companies' use of taxpayer bailout funds, yet order themselves 3 new private jets earlier this summer when only one was necessary according to the Pentagon who services them, and decide that their budget still needs to be increased though the rest of the world is learning how to tighten their belts. Where is the service? How much better would the world be if everyone on earth made one decision (just one) per day with someone else's interest in mind rather than their own? I truly wonder what a difference that could make.

Discipline

The following three videos show the lack of discipline in our lives: Serena Williams going ballistic after a call at the end of her semi-final match in this year's US Open, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert definitely losing it throughout their semi-final game in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and here South Carolina Senator Joe Wilson blurting out his now famous "You Lie" comment during President Obama's address on Capitol Hill. Funny thing to me is what they have to say afterwards in supposed apology. Here's Serena's initial statement after her incedent:

"Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly."

More and more it seems that life has become a "battle", and therefore it's acceptable for anyone, at any time to just lose it. Worse still is the fact that not only has it become acceptable, but almost held in high esteem because the person was so open and honest with their feelings and emotions while expressing themselves. Whatever happened to self-discipline?







Compassion

Today's world is certainly more focused on the "me, me, me" rather than our fellow neighbors, etc. It's even to the point where many times we find it hard to celebrate someone's success; we'd rather tear that person down than actually pat them on the back to say, "Congratulations." Case in point is the CMA Awards this past week. I'm certainly not a country music fan, but my wife is so I had the opportunity to watch some of them with her. An up and coming young singer named Taylor Swift, a mere 19 years old, took the awards show by storm winning 4 different awards including the highest honor of the night: Entertainer of the Year. Rather than celebrate the accomplishment and acknowledge what Taylor has been able to do for country music, Wynonna Judd chose to cut her down. Wynonna, a legend in her own right, was asked her thoughts on Taylor's win, and this is what she had to say: "You want my honest comment? It's too much too soon. She's no where near ready for so much success." Opportunity certainly missed, and yet another sad commentary on our current state of affairs.

Worse still in regards to compassion are all the e-mails that seem to endlessly float around everyone's inbox. You know the ones I'm talking about. How many times are you forwarded e-mails that attempt to demonize an opposition's leader or mindset? If you're conservative then you've received them about Obama, Pelosi and Reid. If you're liberal then you've received them about Rush, Beck, Hannity, etc. Why must we persist in attempting to show the "other guy" is wrong just so we appear to be right? What happened to actually caring for one another, and being a part of a neighborhood, community or even a nation? Where's the love?

Just as Captain Algren asked, "What could be more necessary?" I ask you the same question. What have you done today to serve someone other than yourself? Try and refrain from outburst or anger next time someone does something to provoke you, or better still be slow to be offended. And finally let's all show more compassion one towards another. Being a lion isn't about just being tougher than another, or being stronger and conquering an opponent; rather it's about taking the time to drag one's self out of the mire, and then have the strength (or compassion) to reach back and lift another as well.

The Power of Decision

Katsumoto asks, "You believe a man can change his destiny?" Algren replies, "I think a man does what he can until his destiny is revealed." What is it that a man can do until his destiny is revealed? Choose.

Nathan Algren's story in The Last Samurai is one of the greatest told on film. I took the opportunity to rewatch it this past Saturday, and I must say that without a doubt it is my favorite movie of all time. Algren's character is in the depths of depression because of acts performed during war, and he buries those emotions through drinking. In helping train the Japanese army to fight off the Samurai he is captured in battle, and forced to remain with them throughout the winter. During his time he has "conversations" with Katsumoto, the famed leader of the group who's ancestors have protected the Japanese people for over 900 years, and it is during this time that Algren learns the power of choice and discipline.

For so long Nathan has run from his past, and truly been ashamed of who he was. His exposure to the way of the Samurai, Bushido, shows him a path to peace. Courage, Loyalty and Honor are but three staples of Bushido philosophy, and while a captive to the culture he embraces it; even loves it. However, the time comes when he is released, and now he is faced with the cold reality of the real world once again. Does he succumb to the temptations immediately presented him? Does he yield to the pressures attempting to once again box him in? Yes, he does. He once again reaches for a bottle and begins to once again plan his escape; however, this is the turning point of his story, and truly the point of decision that we all face in our lives.

What he is doing stops him in his tracks, and you can see him pondering his actions. Does he go through with his plans to return to America and more than likely return to drinking his sorrows away? Or does he stand up for what he has come to love, and go to rescue Katsumoto who had been taken captive himself? The scene is brief, but it's power everlasting. He chooses to once and for all subplant his demons in the past, and fully embrace the power of his future. Though rescuing Katsumoto poses the risk of death, no consequence will keep him now from fulfilling his "destiny".

There are so many other moments of decision in this movie that only serve to amplify it's power, and maybe those will be the focus of a future post. Katsumoto's son being injured in the rescue attempt, and volunteering to stay behind (sacrificing his own life) to ensure the others are able to get away. Bob, Algren's watchman during his stay with the Samurai, jumping in front of Algren to save his life during the climatic battle near the end. Taka dressing Nathan in her late-husband's armor and caring for him throughout his stay though Nathan was the cause of her husband's death in an earlier battle. Even Algren himself mounting up to make the final charge though the battle was not his to die for. All shining examples of how the choices we make in life control our destinies.

I will post more on Algren's story in the future, but for today will leave well enough alone. I think the final dialogue spoken by a narrator as the film settles into it's finality suits the end of this post as well. The narrator speaks of what became of Captain Algren (he was the lone survivor of the final battle, and hence the "Last Samurai") and says, "...I like to think he may have at last found some small measure of peace that we all seek, but few of us ever find." That peace can only be found by those who make good choices, declare themselves more than just average and defend it through their actions. Captain Algren, and all the Samurai, were truly lions.