New Eyes, New Vision

New Eyes result in new vision.

New eyes is Dorothy's green tinted glasses as she finally enters the emerald city. It is Tom Cruise's new implant as he runs, a fugitive in Minority Report. It is Neo waking up and using his real eyes for the very first time.

When you are given new eyes it brings new perspective. You look out at an object, person, place, experience and see it anew. Different aspects, different wrinkles and creases pop out to you. And you form new opinions and ultimately new vision.

I'm going through an "new eyes" experience right now as I prepare to return to Bangkok Thailand this coming June 16th. I'm helping to lead a Global Trek for InterVarsity. For those of you who want more information my prayer letter is here.

I go back to Thailand with new eyes for the first time. Going to Thailand has meant "going home" and "going on vacation" for my entire life. But going for ministry? This is new. This will be a new view of the country. A new perspective. And especially it will be a new opportunity to listen to God's voice fresh. I want to know if I'm called to go back to this place one day. I want to see the Thai people the way God sees the Thai people, not just as the people who populated the habitat of my growing years. I want to grow in compassion, love, and vision for Thailand. I want to capture God's vision.

That should always be our goal. To be granted to see things through Jesus' eyes. And perhaps this is the process of spiritual growth and formation. Forming our minds eye and spirit's eye to see what our Jesus sees.

Right now I'm taking a creative writing class and exploring using my five senses to capture image and character and story. And I'm seeing things new. Perhaps the next discipline is to take these things I'm learning and submit them to the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.

Be praying for me!

I plan on posting more on Thailand as I prepare for the trip. Keep posted!

The Odd Economy of the Creative

I was told that my last blog was lame. But I was forgiven. Thank you blogging community! With that fresh start let me talk a little bit about something that I have met face first this week.

writer's block

I was supposed to write a monologue for my creative writing course. I enrolled in this course (at PCC) to give me an outlet and structure for working on my writing. And so far it had done its job well. Until this project.

I had set aside 3 and a half hours on Monday to work on my monologue, for which I had 3 or 4 ideas. Three hours later I had four sentences written, none which I liked.

So the next day found me, again, setting aside three hours for this project. After which I still had nothing, but instead fell asleep on my couch, pen in hand. I panicked.

So today at work I set aside time to work on this project and sentence by painful sentence constructed half a page of text. That I didn't like.

I was stuck.

And so I did what I knew I had to do. I threw it all out.

And the next idea that popped in my head I ran with, and had a rough draft in 25 minutes.

And so I am left realizing that the economy of the creative is an odd economy. Hours of work are necessary, but do not guarantee success. And in the end all it takes is one idea.

I don't usually work well in this economy. It is an economy of serendipity, of chance, of moment, of grace. I like the time I clock in to count. And when it doesn't I quickly spiral out. And it gives me pause to think and wonder if perhaps I can learn something small from the economy of the creative.

Blog Fail (not to be confused with failblog)

Blog Fail, to fail at blogging.

It shouldn't be that hard, to blog twice a month. But here I find myself, halfway into April and nothing to be said for March.

How did it come to this? I know not, but I come and ask for penance from my blogging peers and beg that you allow me a chance to catch my breath and put the pen to paper, finger to keys, once again.

Thank you!