My Favorite Valentine's Day

As many people were making real posts for the Valentine holiday, I decided that I had better do something. I myself am pretty much indifferent to Valentine's day. It has not been a day of dread for me, nor has it been a day of excitement and joy. Never really having any type of girlfriend, and not desiring one much, Valentine's day becomes just another day. Yes, I've written my cards in the past, and have received them at times, but if they meant anything to me then, that meaning has lost itself to me now completely... well, all except one, which stands out from all others. Interested? Thought not.... but here's the story anyway.

It was two years ago to the day. It was my senior year of high school and I was in Mexico, visiting a place where I had gone to five years earlier on a youth group mission trip. It was Rancho Sordo Mudo, or in English "Ranch for the Deaf/Mute." It was a type of boarding school for Mexican children with no hearing. I was there during February vacation, which incidentally fell over Valentine's day. In fact, the day that we traveled and arrived there was Valentine's day (I remember opening my carry-on and finding a Valentine from my loving Mom:). So I was to stay with my good old friend, Evan. Evan was not a good old friend because we had known each other for a long time, it was that he was just old... in his eighties, actually. He was a quiet man who did almost all of the gardening on the ranch (which, if you saw it, you would know a reason why I visited the Ranch three times in my life and hope to again). He also was one of the teachers. On this day, the kids there (from all grade levels) enjoyed giving and receiving Valentines. Most of the exchanges were only between students, and only sometimes the teachers. At the end of the day, I was talking with Evan, as he picked up a card that he had received. I think it was from his class. With it were some conversation hearts. Reminiscently, it seemed, he commented that this was the only Valentine that he had received this year. I (either forgetting the one I had received from my mother, or not having found it yet) commented humorously ,"Well, then you got one more than me." He looked at me and smiled saying, "Not anymore!" as he tossed me the bag of candies. This was by far my favorite Valentine's day.

About Guys

Not that I enjoy talking about guys: but I am one... so therefore, I am a good source of knowledge for what goes on in a guy's mind. I'm sure someone somewhere may be thinking about this; especially after the 14th when many girls will be looking at some cheap gift that some guy gave them and be asking "What in the name of cheesecake was he thinking?!?". However, since I am not an expert as to how guys should relate to girls, or what they should give them for Valentine's day (ask my brother for that information) I will avoid speaking of girls as much as I can and talk mostly about us... MEN.

What I've been pondering in my own questionings about what goes on in my mind and why do I act the way I do has to do with my allegiances or loves. Why is it that I my truck, though it has constantly failed me and continues to do so, remains special in a way to me that I forgive it and banish thoughts of me someday parting with it? Why is it that I always want to stay where I am, and not go? How is it that I can love school so much, though most of my words concerning it are negative? I can't give you an answer dogmatically, but I can give you one of my guesses (or "theories" if you will).

To approach this philosophically, men (not saying that all men are like this) like truth. What I mean by this is that men like things to happen consistently as they should. You may be saying now "Well, that doesn't make sense.... if he like things acting as they should, he would have drove that truck in the river the moment he got it, if it could have run at the time!" I will explain. Though men like things to go as they should, he is aware of the world and the fact that things don't often go that way. Because he is in the world, he has to find a way to cope. Therefore he puts his trust in himself. However, to say that men act consistently as they should may be a dangerous statement as well. Yet the trust is a moment by moment trust, that is: "I think (hopefully), then act accordingly, all is well." Why then does his affections dwell on such things as trucks, locations, etc? It goes back to the dilemma of coping. Based on what has been said, men should be in a constant search for that which is as truthful as possible, but men are usually too practical for that. He realizes that the search is futile and must remain where he is. Thus his affections must remain nearby. He learns to love certain things without much regard as to the wrongs that they commit to him. Thus, he learns to love such things as his truck or home though they may not deserve it. (note: my meaning of "love" intended is that of a chosen preference of something, though it includes some emotional ties). A good example of this type of thing is found in a movie that I personally enjoy. It is called "Skylark". It is the sequel to the movie "Sarah, Plain and Tall" which is about Jacob and Sarah, now married, are living in their farm out west, while a drought comes. Many people around are forced to leave to area to find someplace with water. Jacob refuses to leave. It eventually becomes so bad that they can't stay, but he still doesn't want to. He forces Sarah and his two children to go back to her home in the east until the drought is over. The movie is around a man's dilemma when that which he loves is cursing him (that is, the land), but it not only hurts him, but another one that he loves (that is, his wife and children). It does have a good ending though that shows his growth through it all, but I won't give it away to those who have not seen it.

So that is my incite. I don't know if it will help explain away any Valentine gifts you girls may have received, but I hope it helps in some way.

Conversation

I've had much thought of the topic of Communication, or more specifically, Conversation. The difference between the two is sometimes confused, however. Communication is simply any sharing of messages from one party to another. The term usually implies something one-way, instead of messages going back and forth. Conversation, on the other hand, is using the tool of language between or amongst parties, messages going back and forth.

Anyway, the type of thinking that I've put into this is not so much the definitions of the two, but rather the categories of the latter. Basically, a conversation grows from the knowledge of one party in some subject combined with the ignorance of the other party on the same topic. These topics could be of facts (historic, scientific, etc.), or opinions (beliefs, feelings). So because conversation is birthed from knowledge and ignorance, I've tried to categorize the different levels of it in the form of questions. These start at the "Shallow" levels of conversation to "Deep" levels. You will notice that the first and the last are ironically the same question as far as the wording goes, yet by the time you get to the last question, its meaning has changed dramatically.

Who are you?
This question refers to the historical background of the recipient. Though there may be some types of conversation before this (e.g. "How 'bout that low pressure system!") it is hardly to be considered real conversation. This level of conversation brings one to the introduction of different levels that are hard to reach otherwise.
What do you know?
This may sound funny, as you would never ask that question as it is, but it shows the next level of conversation. This is about facts as was the first level, but it does not deal with the person's personal experience necessarily.
What do you think?
Not referring to what is going on in someone's mind, but rather, what is their opinion on topics of judgment. This is about presenting facts and asking a person how they interpret them.
What do you feel?
This gets more into non-factual and emotional topics. (not to say that the topics are false, but they are not about facts). It deals with how the persons emotionally responds to facts.
What do you believe?
This gets back to facts, but they are personal facts. It concerns the person philosophy of life, which is factual to him.
Who are you?
This deals with the inner being of the person. Not a question of "where have you been" as was the first question, but rather "Where have you come to". It is a level that few people ever get to.

What is this all about? Well, I'm not sure, but I'll throw in some application. In our life, as we seek to know God, how deep do our conversations get to Him? Do we only see His historical background in the Bible and no further? Do we only tell Him what is going on in our life, when we pray? Think on this.

My "Moxie" Dog

So Corky doesn't exaclty have what you would call "Moxie". Her idea of taking on an enemy is barking at her hotdog because it's steaming at her. However, she has been striving to change her reputation lately because of her new companion, Buddy. For those of you who do not know much of Buddy, you can see a picture of him with Benjamin, his owner, on the Journals of the Wanderer. Anyway, she knows, as do I and most in my family, that the best way to prove that your "Moxie" is to simply drink Moxie.

Moxie, of course is a carbonated drink that vaguely resembles a cola, yet its unique bitter flavor put it in a league of its own. (For more information on Moxie, go here) So it was that as I was home and finishing up the last bit of Moxie in the groovy orange aluminum can, that Corky the quirky Cocker asks me for a taste or two. Finding her water dish empty, I pour the remaining contents in, to which she consumes proudly in front of Buddy. Buddy, on the other hand, would not go near the stuff. Corkey had won, and doing so, she did not ask for any more.