so, i'm still on hiatus from this blog, i guess...
at least while i think about how i want to proceed with it.
in the meantime, do yourself a favor and listen to amos lee's newest release, mission bell. absolutely, brilliantly, and beautifully sublime! the song "violin" has this gorgeous lyric that i can't get out of my head...
"oh god, why've you been hanging out in that old violin
while i've been waiting for you to pull me through?"
grace and peace,
dana
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Saturday, May 22, 2010
time, time, time...see what's become of me
i knew it had been awhile since i posted. but, two months? wow! time has continued to march on. i guess the world really doesn't revolve around me and my little blog, huh? (smile)
it's interesting...this weekend marks the end of one of my favorite television shows, lost. i know that many folks were there in the beginning of the show in 2004 and gradually lost interest over the subsequent seasons. but i can tell you that i was loyal and have seen every episode. truly, i can't wait to see how it all ends. i have heard and read a lot of the recent commentary about how the show marks the end of an era or that it has been a journey not just for the characters, but the viewers as well. i read one article in particular of a woman who couldn't believe that she had started watching this program with her 14 year old teenage daughter and will conclude watching the series with her now 20 year old adult daughter. it seems to me that stories like that forces one to think about who you were and who you've become.
my whole purpose of starting a blog a few years ago was because i thought it might help me find a way to say the things that i needed or wanted to say. i felt the need to explore who i really was and what makes me tick...the whole "trying to get my bearings" theme in discovering my strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, convictions, and beliefs. it seemed that writing on a blog was a natural outlet for discovering this. i wouldn't have thought that in two years i had changed much, but i believe that i have. there are things that i once wondered about, but i now know for certain. i know that i want to be a mother, even if i might never get to be one. i know what i believe spiritually, despite the fact that it is radically different from the religious heritage i was brought up in. i know who in my life matters to me and who will only hurt me or use me or deceive me. i know that even though you take the girl out of where she grew up, you can't take that place and it's amazing culture out of the girl. most importantly, i know that all of my experiences - good, bad, or indifferent - have led me to who i am today and i couldn't make any of these assertions about myself without having had those experiences. and so, as a result, i think i may have found my bearings.
so does this mean that it's time to close up shop on this blog? i'm still pondering that. if i do continue, i know that my purpose in blogging will radically change as will my focus. for now i'll just say "stay tuned."
grace and peace,
dana
it's interesting...this weekend marks the end of one of my favorite television shows, lost. i know that many folks were there in the beginning of the show in 2004 and gradually lost interest over the subsequent seasons. but i can tell you that i was loyal and have seen every episode. truly, i can't wait to see how it all ends. i have heard and read a lot of the recent commentary about how the show marks the end of an era or that it has been a journey not just for the characters, but the viewers as well. i read one article in particular of a woman who couldn't believe that she had started watching this program with her 14 year old teenage daughter and will conclude watching the series with her now 20 year old adult daughter. it seems to me that stories like that forces one to think about who you were and who you've become.
my whole purpose of starting a blog a few years ago was because i thought it might help me find a way to say the things that i needed or wanted to say. i felt the need to explore who i really was and what makes me tick...the whole "trying to get my bearings" theme in discovering my strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, convictions, and beliefs. it seemed that writing on a blog was a natural outlet for discovering this. i wouldn't have thought that in two years i had changed much, but i believe that i have. there are things that i once wondered about, but i now know for certain. i know that i want to be a mother, even if i might never get to be one. i know what i believe spiritually, despite the fact that it is radically different from the religious heritage i was brought up in. i know who in my life matters to me and who will only hurt me or use me or deceive me. i know that even though you take the girl out of where she grew up, you can't take that place and it's amazing culture out of the girl. most importantly, i know that all of my experiences - good, bad, or indifferent - have led me to who i am today and i couldn't make any of these assertions about myself without having had those experiences. and so, as a result, i think i may have found my bearings.
so does this mean that it's time to close up shop on this blog? i'm still pondering that. if i do continue, i know that my purpose in blogging will radically change as will my focus. for now i'll just say "stay tuned."
grace and peace,
dana
Saturday, March 20, 2010
humbled, challenged, inspired
i recently finished a million miles in a thousand years. i was humbled, challenged, and inspired to live a life that is "story-worthy" as donald miller explains in his book.
i was also humbled, challenged, and inspired by this.
grace and peace,
dana
i was also humbled, challenged, and inspired by this.
grace and peace,
dana
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
something new under the sun
have you heard of court yard hounds?
the sisters erwin - better known as martie maguire and emily robison of dixie chicks fame - will debut their side music project this week at south by southwest in austin, texas. i'm eagerly awaiting the may release of their album. i guess i'll have to be satisfied with the four song sneak peek on their web site...
i can't help but wonder if the sisters will perform any of these songs when they tour with natalie maines as the dixie chicks this summer with the eagles? we'll see...
grace and peace,
dana
the sisters erwin - better known as martie maguire and emily robison of dixie chicks fame - will debut their side music project this week at south by southwest in austin, texas. i'm eagerly awaiting the may release of their album. i guess i'll have to be satisfied with the four song sneak peek on their web site...
i can't help but wonder if the sisters will perform any of these songs when they tour with natalie maines as the dixie chicks this summer with the eagles? we'll see...
grace and peace,
dana
Monday, March 15, 2010
love changes things
last week i was in my car when i heard the news that corey haim had passed away. i had all the typical thoughts...that's so sad, i'm not terribly surprised, blah blah blah. i grew up in the era of the two coreys and was disappointed to know that another one of my generation had succumbed to a premature death.
a beloved local surgeon also passed away last week. i first learned of his death at my church where he also attended. he was flying a wwII era aircraft that crashed into the gulf of mexico taking both his life and his wife's life. he was known for his charitable work, the copious amounts of money he gave away, and for his humble walk as a christian who was just trying to bless others.
i thought about these two men - one who by all accounts lived a tortured life under the pressures of trying to remain relevant and the other who by all accounts lived a life of freedom and love that surpasses the constraints of this world. what a juxtaposition! witnessing the public reaction to both of these men's lives being cut short was a testament to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i've been listening to ben harper and relentless 7's newest release live from the montreal international jazz festival. the album contains some of ben's old material, as well as some of his material with relentless 7. my favorite track, however, is the band's cover of "under pressure" originally recorded by david bowie and queen. this is one of my all time favorite songs and to hear ben's take on it is quite a treat! the funny thing is that i've sung along to that song for years now without really ever paying attention to all of the lyrics. when i looked them up this week, i was immediately reminded of the contrast of lives that i wrote about above.
"cause love's such an old fashioned word
and love dares you to care for
the people on the edge of the night
and love dares you to change our way of
caring about ourselves..."
i believe that the good doctor knew love, had accepted love, embraced love, and was giving love to others. the actor? perhaps he knew it...but i don't know that he accepted love. if he had, wouldn't he have dared to change his way of caring about himself?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
my prayer is to not only know in my head that i am loved, but to accept that love in my heart by believing that i am worthy enough to receive it. i pray that i will embrace love fully, without reservation, and then life a life of sharing that love with others. i just want to continue the cycle of receiving and giving, so as to bless others.
i pray that you will do the same.
grace and peace,
dana
a beloved local surgeon also passed away last week. i first learned of his death at my church where he also attended. he was flying a wwII era aircraft that crashed into the gulf of mexico taking both his life and his wife's life. he was known for his charitable work, the copious amounts of money he gave away, and for his humble walk as a christian who was just trying to bless others.
i thought about these two men - one who by all accounts lived a tortured life under the pressures of trying to remain relevant and the other who by all accounts lived a life of freedom and love that surpasses the constraints of this world. what a juxtaposition! witnessing the public reaction to both of these men's lives being cut short was a testament to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i've been listening to ben harper and relentless 7's newest release live from the montreal international jazz festival. the album contains some of ben's old material, as well as some of his material with relentless 7. my favorite track, however, is the band's cover of "under pressure" originally recorded by david bowie and queen. this is one of my all time favorite songs and to hear ben's take on it is quite a treat! the funny thing is that i've sung along to that song for years now without really ever paying attention to all of the lyrics. when i looked them up this week, i was immediately reminded of the contrast of lives that i wrote about above.
"cause love's such an old fashioned word
and love dares you to care for
the people on the edge of the night
and love dares you to change our way of
caring about ourselves..."
i believe that the good doctor knew love, had accepted love, embraced love, and was giving love to others. the actor? perhaps he knew it...but i don't know that he accepted love. if he had, wouldn't he have dared to change his way of caring about himself?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
my prayer is to not only know in my head that i am loved, but to accept that love in my heart by believing that i am worthy enough to receive it. i pray that i will embrace love fully, without reservation, and then life a life of sharing that love with others. i just want to continue the cycle of receiving and giving, so as to bless others.
i pray that you will do the same.
grace and peace,
dana
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
gotta have faith
i have posted several times before about my love for my home state of louisiana and the nostalgia i feel for the sights and sounds of home. perhaps it's never been as strong as it is now as the new orleans saints prepare to go to the super bowl for the first time in their history. i think that those of us who grew up accustomed to the spontaneous eating, drinking, dancing, and partying of the region were even a little surprised when this happened after the championship playoff game.
you have to understand that for years, a losing season was just the norm around new orleans. when i was growing up, my neighbor used to say that the saints would never have a winning season or go to the super bowl because it was sacrilegious to name a sports team after something so sacred as a saint. in fact, a long time sportscaster in the new orleans area popularized the nickname "the aints" and encouraged fans to wear bags over their heads to endure the embarrassment of always losing. this sportscaster passed away before he could make good on his promise to wear a dress and dance in the streets on the day that the saints made it to the super bowl. thank goodness that many others could step in on his behalf!
you may think you understand the excitement...but really, this feeling goes a lot deeper than football. the excitement that you see is not just the culmination of all those years of having faith that someday this team would pull off a super bowl bid. it's also - on some level - an affirmation of the hope and faith that so many louisianians have held on to in the last few uncertain years. i won't try to explain it myself because this does such a better job. i'll just suffice it to say that when i am cheering on my saints during sunday's game, i will remain mindful that common miracles do still happen. you just have to stay hopeful and above all else, you gotta have faith.
grace and peace and who dat,
dana
you have to understand that for years, a losing season was just the norm around new orleans. when i was growing up, my neighbor used to say that the saints would never have a winning season or go to the super bowl because it was sacrilegious to name a sports team after something so sacred as a saint. in fact, a long time sportscaster in the new orleans area popularized the nickname "the aints" and encouraged fans to wear bags over their heads to endure the embarrassment of always losing. this sportscaster passed away before he could make good on his promise to wear a dress and dance in the streets on the day that the saints made it to the super bowl. thank goodness that many others could step in on his behalf!
you may think you understand the excitement...but really, this feeling goes a lot deeper than football. the excitement that you see is not just the culmination of all those years of having faith that someday this team would pull off a super bowl bid. it's also - on some level - an affirmation of the hope and faith that so many louisianians have held on to in the last few uncertain years. i won't try to explain it myself because this does such a better job. i'll just suffice it to say that when i am cheering on my saints during sunday's game, i will remain mindful that common miracles do still happen. you just have to stay hopeful and above all else, you gotta have faith.
grace and peace and who dat,
dana
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