Age Of Stupid

Went to see Age of Stupid last night at the GFT…

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Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

It made for sobering viewing… a vision of a world where we wipe ourselves out. Yet it closes with hope, that this is simply what could happen, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I think it was all the more powerful because much of the footage was real. I recommend you check it out if you get a chance, great movie.

Heros

A recent email from The Daily Stat caught my attention. It was titled ‘Hero Index’, and noted that Barack Obama has replaced Jesus Christ atop a list of America’s heroes. The poll, conducted in January by Harris Interactive, asked a cross-section of American adults whom they admired enough to consider heroes. Barack Obama, John McCain, Chesley Sullenberger, God, Billy Graham, Mahatma Gandhi, Condoleeza Rice, Sarah Palin, General George S. Patton, and Bill Gates all made the list for the first time in 2009.

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Thought it was an interesting list, and it got me thinking about who my heros are. Granted, there are a few semi-famous people on that list- perhaps examples is a better term? – Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa. But mostly, my heros are people I know: ordinary people doing extraordinary things with their lives. People like Jay & Kellie, like Levi, like Scott, like Sara.

Your shout: who are your heros?

Grand Slam

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So proud of our boys!! I seriously think that was the best rugby match I have ever witnessed, down to the wire until the very last minute. Wales played fantastically also, but needless to say I’m happy with the outcome!

GRAND SLAM!

More Honest Than I’ve Been Before

The monitor glare lights the space around me. An American worship band are providing the soundtrack via their mySpace. A physically distant yet emotionally close friend, provides me with a sounding board, via iChat.

I’m typing as I go, trying to make some sense of the emotions and the thoughts running through my head today. I weep as I realise what I have just typed. I weep for something I have never known.

How can you miss something you have never had?

I fear making the same mistakes. I fear becoming the same person.

And I struggle to hold those ideas in tension, to reconcile them. I struggle to let Jesus work. I struggle to let him take the pain. I struggle to let him do new things in our relationship. And at my most honest, I struggle to believe he will.

Some days it’s harder to cling to hope than others. Thank goodness we don’t walk this alone.

Brain Dump

“What can you do tomorrow that will allow you to take one step closer to the dream God placed in your heart a long time ago? Stop dying slowly.”
[Los]

“God’s not looking for ways to judge you… God is looking for ways to save you.”
[Brian, via Kirsty]

“In a world whose complexity overwhelms me, lead me to simple truths today. Where connections outpace relationships, lead me to love.”
[Twitturgies]

Ally’s post on The Island.

Lyrics On Friday

Been listening to a lot of The Script this week…

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing
Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in
Cos I got time while she got freedom
Cos when a heart breaks no it don’t break even

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that’s gonna put her first
While I’m wide awake she’s no trouble sleeping
Cos when a heart breaks no it don’t break even, even no

What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you
what am I suppose to say when i’m all choked up and you’re OK
I’m falling to pieces
I’m falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop me bleeding
Cos she moved on while I’m still grieving
And when a heart breaks no it dont break even

You got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I’m tryna make sence of what little remains
Cos you left with no love, with no love to my name

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing
Just prayed to a god i don’t believe in
Cos I got time while she got freedom
Cos when a heart breaks no it don’t break even
No it don’t break, no it dont break even, no

[Break Even – The Script]

What have you been listening recently?

Climate Change & St Paddys

First up, happy St Patricks Day!

It’s one of those days when EVERYONE is Irish… your grannys cat was Irish? Of course, you must be Irish too! This time last year I had just returned from the US, including a week and a bit in Chicago which goes all out & dyes its river green for St Pats…

I’m hopping on another train this afternoon to go to Coventry. Why? Good question. Christian Aid are partnering with a few other organisations to host a Climate Change Day of Action on Thursday in Coventry. It looks like a great day so far, with a service in Coventry Cathedral where we’ll hear from renowned NASA scientist James Hansen among others, followed by a protest in the streets of Coventry.

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There’s still time to come along if you’d like to! Find out more here.

Murrayfield

Had a thoroughly enjoyable day out at the rugby on Saturday! Travelled over to Edinburgh with a few friends as we had tickets for the Scot v Ire match, which turned out to be a great game! Scotland brought it in the first half (which brought a few nerves for me!), but then forgot how to pass the ball in the second half… unfortunate!

Glad we decided to go through early, as we ended up queueing at Queen St station for an hour! Grabbed a bite to eat before heading to the stadium, and then went out for a celebratory (for Reuben, commiserative) meal afterward at TGI’s… I saw about 3 Scotland shirts in the place, guess they all slunk home in shame…

A few snaps:

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[Overcompensating a little perhaps?!]

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It Was Safe

In the past few weeks I’ve been making some decisions about what I’m doing post-June. It’s been terrifying & exciting all at once.

I had the opportunity to apply for an amazing job. It was based in a city with a great arts scene. It was good pay. It was part-time & would have given me enough time to pursue some creative endeavors. It included lots of UK travel, satisfying my itchy feet. It involved lots of interaction with the student demographic. It was for a project I believe in wholeheartedly.

It almost seemed like the perfect job for me.

But it was safe.

I don’t want to do youth work for the next ten years just because I can. I don’t want to be a youth worker. I want to be a photographer. I want to travel and take photographs that change the world. I had to make that decision not to apply, not to go for the logical career move.

Instead, I’m going to Sydney in September for 4 months (to start with…).