all those arrows

I’m willing to go out on a limb here and guess that most...

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:15:31 -0400

I’m willing to go out on a limb here and guess that most stories of kindness do not begin with drug addicted celebrity bad boys.

Mine does.

His name is Robert Downey Jr.

You’ve probably heard of him. You may or may not be a fan, but I am, and I was in the early 90’s when this story takes place.

It was at a garden party for the ACLU of Southern California. My stepmother was the executive director, which is why I was in attendance without having to pay the $150 fee. It’s not that I don’t support the ACLU, it’s that I was barely twenty and had no money to speak of.

I was escorting my grandmother. There isn’t enough room in this essay to explain to you everything she was, I would need volumes, so for the sake of brevity I will tell you that she was beautiful even in her eighties, vain as the day is long, and whip smart, though her particular sort of intelligence did not encompass recognizing young celebrities.

I pointed out Robert Downey Jr. to her when he arrived, in a gorgeous cream-colored linen suit, with Sarah Jessica Parker on his arm. My grandmother shrugged, far more interested in piling her paper plate with various unidentifiable cheeses cut into cubes. He wasn’t Carey Grant or Gregory Peck. What did she care?

The afternoon’s main honoree was Ron Kovic, whose story of his time in the Vietnam War that had left him confined to a wheelchair had recently been immortalized in the Oliver Stone film Born on the Fourth of July.

I mention the wheelchair because it played an unwitting role in what happened next.

We made our way to our folding chairs in the garden with our paper plates and cubed cheeses and we watched my stepmother give one of her eloquent speeches and a plea for donations, and there must have been a few other people who spoke but I can’t remember who, and then Ron Kovic took the podium, and he was mesmerizing, and when it was all over we stood up to leave, and my grandmother tripped.

We’d been sitting in the front row (nepotism has its privileges) and when she tripped she fell smack into the wheelchair ramp that provided Ron Kovic with access to the stage. I didn’t know that wheelchair ramps have sharp edges, but they do, at least this one did, and it sliced her shin right open.

The volume of blood was staggering.

I’d like to be able to tell you that I raced into action; that I quickly took control of the situation, tending to my grandmother and calling for the ambulance that was so obviously needed, but I didn’t. I sat down and put my head between my knees because I thought I was going to faint. Did I mention the blood?

Luckily, somebody did take control of the situation, and that person was Robert Downey Jr.

He ordered someone to call an ambulance. Another to bring a glass of water. Another to fetch a blanket. He took off his gorgeous linen jacket and he rolled up his sleeves and he grabbed hold of my grandmother’s leg, and then he took that jacket that I’d assumed he’d taken off only to it keep out of the way, and he tied it around her wound. I watched the cream colored linen turn scarlet with her blood.

He told her not to worry. He told her it would be alright. He knew, instinctively, how to speak to her, how to distract her, how to play to her vanity. He held onto her calf and he whistled. He told her how stunning her legs were.

She said to him, to my humiliation: “My granddaughter tells me you’re a famous actor but I’ve never heard of you.”

He stayed with her until the ambulance came and then he walked alongside the stretcher holding her hand and telling her she was breaking his heart by leaving the party so early, just as they were getting to know each other. He waved to her as they closed the doors. “Don’t forget to call me, Silvia,” he said. “We’ll do lunch.”

He was a movie star, after all.

Believe it or not, I hurried into the ambulance without saying a word. I was too embarrassed and too shy to thank him.

We all have things we wish we’d said. Moments we’d like to return to and do differently. Rarely do we get that chance to make up for those times that words failed us. But I did. Many years later.

I should mention here that when Robert Downey Jr. was in prison for being a drug addict (which strikes me as absurd and cruel, but that’s the topic for a different essay), I thought of writing to him. Of reminding him of that day when he was humanity personified. When he was the best of what we each can be. When he was the kindest of strangers.

But I didn’t.

Some fifteen years after that garden party, ten years after my grandmother had died and five since he’d been released from prison, I saw him in a restaurant.

I grew up in Los Angeles where celebrity sightings are commonplace and where I was raised to respect people’s privacy and never bother someone while they’re out having a meal, but on this day I decided to abandon the code of the native Angeleno, and my own shyness, and I approached his table.

I said to him, “I don’t have any idea if you remember this…” and I told him the story.

He remembered.

“I just wanted to thank you,” I said. “And I wanted to tell you that it was simply the kindest act I’ve ever witnessed.”

He stood up and he took both of my hands in his and he looked into my eyes and he said, “You have absolutely no idea how much I needed to hear that today.”

by Dana Reinhardt

dearscience: Steaming Coffee by Dan Derrett

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:32:44 -0400

dearscience:

Steaming Coffee by Dan Derrett

"Creator, choose love."

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:59:46 -0400

““Creator, choose love.””

- Michael Gungor

Confessions is a public art project that invites people to...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:15:23 -0400

Confessions is a public art project that invites people to anonymously share their confessions and see the confessions of the people around them in the heart of the Las Vegas strip.

"Good art demands a fight."

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:38:44 -0400

“Good art demands a fight.”

- Michael Gungor (from the Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse)

"In that giant gap between who you want to be and who you really are, every other religion (including..."

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:16:19 -0400

“In that giant gap between who you want to be and who you really are, every other religion (including the evangelical church) tells you to “close the gap.” That’s religion.

Jesus is the only one who said, “I will meet you where you are. I am running backwards through the gap to YOU. And we will walk this together, one step at a time, me in the lead, and I will always be with you whether you feel me or not.” Faith is being more and more sure of this reality — it is NOT being more sure that you’re sinning less. It is not just running from sin, but running to Him.”

- J.S., from this post (via jspark3000)

Rediscovering melody and this song just has me. I can’t...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:07:00 -0500

Rediscovering melody and this song just has me. I can’t say I would use “freak out” as a lyric (as there are better words out there to use in my opinion), but otherwise this song contains gold.

2012 Sunday School Style

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:01:25 -0500

2012 Sunday School Style:

A joint Christmas production with my class and Sarah’s. I can’t get over how entertaining the kids were! So proud of them.

Let your path light up

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:26:09 -0500

One thing that has taken a backseat is music. I don’t really listen to it, go search for it, or really want to sing as much as I used to. But it doesn’t mean my love for it has faded. I still LOVE learning about songs/artists..you know, the little random facts about how the song came about, how an artist finds their inspiration, etc…and I love to share them when I can. Well, guess what I’m gonna do now? :)

If you’ve ever watched Michael
Jackson’s “Billy Jean” MV, MJ is dancing down a path, and every time he takes a step that particular square lights up. Well, the director of the video actually pulled MJ aside and told him, “listen, we all know that you are an incredible dancer. You’re gifted and talented and everyone knows that! You could not only dance your way along this path but you could dance your way all over this studio! But this is what I need you to know: I have gone before you and pre-lit certain squares. So if you want this video to work, I need you to reign in all your dancing skills and step on the squares I have set up. Otherwise you will find yourself using up all your energy, but your path will not light up.”

I love this story. And the story came in such perfect timing. How many times do I try with my own strength or look to my own “talents” to make things work out? There’s nothing wrong with realizing your strengths but there’s a danger to falling back on them. This just once again reminded me that I could try with all that I have but the future is and has always been in God’s hands. I just need to be patient and trust in Him. I have a hope and a future. God knows me, loves me, and has gone before me. So all I can do is continue to follow Him. And when I do my path will light up.

Photo

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:43:12 -0400

Lamentations 3:57 (NIV)

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:46:12 -0400

You came near when I called you,
and you said, “Do not fear.”

"While you slept 45,000 kids died of starvation and malnutrition. What’s worse is you don’t give a..."

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:35:06 -0400

“While you slept 45,000 kids died of starvation and malnutrition. What’s worse is you don’t give a shit! And what worse is that you are more concerned that I said ‘shit’ than the 45,000 kids that died last night. And that’s what’s wrong with our Christianity. We’ve taken our Christian faith, which calls us to be passionate among the poor and the oppressed and to sacrifice everything we have to heal the sufferings of others, and we’ve twisted it to a morality that makes sure people don’t use four letter words.”

- Tony Campolo (via sethjones)

Photo

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:53:28 -0400

strandbooks: Ziiing. the-intern-archives: 10 Penguin Classics...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:44:20 -0400

strandbooks:

Ziiing.

the-intern-archives:

10 Penguin Classics You Won’t Ever See

10. A Shore Thing by Snooki
9. Learning to Fly by Victoria Beckham
8. Cher’s Twitter Feed by Cher
7. How to Lose 20 pounds in 30 Days by Kevin C Myers
6. Begone, Demons by Saddam Hussein
5. Heart to Heart by Britney Spears
4. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
3. Dare to Dream by One Direction
2. Hannah Montana My Memories Will Last Forever by Miley Cyrus
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

thoughts after vbs

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:42:00 -0400

It’s tough to know if what you go over with your kids is even sinking in. It’s those few genuine moments - that brief moment where the body motions actually mean something, where they choose to close their eyes and pray - that remind me You’re always at work…even in the smallest way. And it’s as I pray over and with these beautiful kids that I am reminded of where my heart needs to be to truly receive You. It’s been a busy week but my heart is so full.

"Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to..."

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:53:38 -0400

““Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted—-i.e., keep fulfilling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!), asking forgiveness for each failure and then leaving it alone.You are in the right way. Walk—-don’t keep on looking at it.””

- CS Lewis

Life Breather, Dream Giver

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:01:17 -0400

Life Breather, Dream Giver
You know my way
And though I am not there
Teach me contentment
Since my happiness does not know peace.

Life Breather, Dream Giver
You see my way
Though I long to be there
Teach me contentment
So my happiness may know your peace.

Life Breather, Dream Giver
Teach me to stay
Though I long to be there
Remind me to praise
Then my happiness and your peace would be one and the same.

Stuck

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:28:14 -0400

On my way home from work, I was thinking about how I haven’t really had anything good to write on this thing. Truth is, I’m so uninspired and am fighting for some inspiration. I blame being tired, but maybe I’m not trying enough.

So what do you do when you’re stuck? Keep going.

If you can’t write, write.
If you can’t create, create.

I can’t guarantee great work while being stuck, but I think it’s important to keep doing what you love doing if you want to get better at it. Chase what you love.

Keep writing.

mmhmm.

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:59:20 -0400

mmhmm.

Ambition vs. Actualization

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:46:00 -0400

Ambition vs. Actualization :

Is your dream or goal originating from a place of actualization or ambition?