Now I'm a Counselor

This summer I took a fly fishing class, and on Friday I purchased my first fly fishing rod and reel. All of the counselors I admire fly fish. Allender. Jackson. Eldredge. Call. Does fly fishing make me a counselor? Probably not. But, perhaps it doesn't hurt.

A New Journey

One of the classes I am taking this term is Celtic Spirituality. The class has been a very good for me. I have been longing for an inner stillness, and I am finding it. The class readings, as well as the teaching, have reaffirmed how God refreshes me through being in nature and needing personal retreats––these are things that others had once shamed me for doing. Being in nature and personal retreats are how our professor, as well as the Celtic Christians, refreshed themselves, too. Besides that, I am loving the history of how the Celtic Christians lived among the pre-Christians in a loving and caring way, instead of the Roman way of conquering and changing the other.

The first day of class our professor had signs with names of different Celtic saints on the tables. Not knowing what it meant, I sat at "St. Brendan's" table. It was a good choice. As it turns out, St. Brendan was also called, "the Navigator," "the Voyager,", or "the Bold."

I have felt that God has been calling me to a new journey post-graduation. I have again used Visioneering by Andy Stanley––one of my all-time favorite books, about the Vision God gave Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall––for this vision. And today I was to have a meeting with someone about the vision. Last night before falling asleep I read this prayer from St. Brendan:

I thank You for this, my God,
I am a traveller and stranger
in the world,
like so many of Your people
before me.

There is a sense of adventure,
of openness to possibilities,
abandonment to God
and expectation
of fulfilling His will.

I accept the responsibility,
I'll hear and obey,
and trust it is Your voice I hear,
the call of the Spirit,
the cry of the Bird of Heaven.

It is a Yes to risky living . . .

The sea takes me;
where I do not know,
but I gladly go.

And I can only trust
every word You say,
and obey.

Today's meeting was very good. I look forward to what the rest of this adventure could look like.

The Most Touching Thing So Far

Today is my birthday. Tonight I will celebrate with my beautiful wife Jean, and adorable kids Sam and Alina. I have received greetings and gifts from friends and relatives. It has been a very good day. I think the most touching thing so far has been the 108 men in the shelter where I do my internship sing happy birthday to me. I was encircled by 108 smiling men singing to me. Smiling men in a shelter, singing to me. I know each of their tumultuous stories, and they are smiling at me with big smiles as they sing. I was moved.

Game Three

I had to miss Sam's second game because of a mandatory (S)Ending event for graduation. Thankfully Jean shot video of the game because it was a thriller. After playing overtime, the game ended with a 30-30 tie.

I was glad to be back in the stands for game three. I am such a loud parent, though. I am THE loudest parent, and louder than the coaches. I cheer for all of the kids, not just Sam. One boy on the team is very tall, but seems to wander around aimlessly. I encourage him to get his arms up, to rebound, to shoot, and tell him "good job." At half time I asked Jean if I was too loud. She said yes, and that Casey's mom, the mother of the tall boy who wanders aimlessly, was looking at my when I was yelling/cheering. I said that I didn't care because he didn't have a dad there cheering for him, and that his mom was reading a book while he was playing.

Anyway, Sam had another great, great game. At one point in the game, a parent yelled out, "Who has 5? You don't want to leave him unmarked!" As the game went on, more parents were asking who had number 5.

In the video, Sam is #5 in the white jersey . . .

Sam Basketball 01-22-2011 from Ed Ballance on Vimeo.

What a Difference a Year Makes

Saturday was Sam's first game of basketball. I knew he had made some improvement since last year, but I was surprised to see just how much he had improved. When he was out on the court playing the game he was by far the quickest one on the court. He made his team's first 8 points, and finished with 10 of the team's 18. By the end, we could tell he lost some of his energy as his shots weren't quite making it to the hoop. Besides running much more than the other players, most of the game he was asked to guard #11 on the opposing team––a boy at least a foot taller. He was one tired boy by the end of the game, and the fall he took on his knee slowed him down, too. I think Sam will be playing a lot of sports through his school years. I am obviously biased, but he's pretty darn good! In this game, he's #4 in the white jersey.

Sam Basketball 01-08-2011 Blog from Ed Ballance on Vimeo.

Christmas Ornament

New Year's Day is typically the day we dismantle the Christmas tree and put all of the decorations away. An idea for a Christmas ornament has been rattling around in my head for a few weeks, and I wanted to make it before we took the tree down. So, I did. It's constructed from a gear out of an old rear cogset and a few extra links from a chain. Beautiful. I love mountain biking . . .

Funniest Words of New Year's Eve

Last night we were with some friends for the beginning of New Year's Eve. Our host was walking around with a box of chocolates and held it out for Sam to choose one. Sam made his choice, took a bite, and without missing a beat, said, "Sometimes life is full of disappointments."