Change is Beautiful!

So says the friendly Carl Weathers.

For Carl Weathers, changing from being an 'Arrested Development' and 'Rocky' icon to doing these PSA's, I wonder if he really meant it.

Regardless, I'm more interested in change within my own life. I've been thinking more and more about what I value and where I want to be in 5 or 10 years. In the past I would have told myself that happiness is enough free time to enjoy countless hours of hanging out with friends, watching movies, reading books, and playing video games. Just veggin' out and keepin' it lazy. While I still enjoy all of those activities, I'm beginning to realize that entertainment isn't really all that great. It's enjoyable, no doubt, but it's not truly fulfilling or joyous. It's nice as a reward, it's nice as a needed unwind, and it's nice to inform myself of what is going on around me, but it should not be the end to the means.

There's the idea of "working for the weekend". I think it's a system that works for some and isn't without its merits or satisfaction, but there's just something that seems off to me about it. For some people, it's a must. There are dirty jobs out there that somebody has to do and it's a very real existence for some that they do have to "work for the weekend". That's too bad, but it is a reality.

So, I must do what I must do. However, I have ideas. I have thoughts and notions. I've been thinking about how I want to live. And I've come to conclusions.

First of all, I want to be fairly self-sufficient. I don't want fast food. I don't want to rely on groceries and TV dinners and junk like that. I want a garden. I want to work the land and I want to enjoy God's creation.

I want to limit the amount of items I purchase. I want to increase the amount of items I create.

I want to say yes to more things and say no to more things, instead of being so indifferent and lukewarm.

I want to work to improve the lives of my friends and family. I want to work to improve the lives of those I don't know. I want to understand life more fully, in order to do these things.

I want to pursue God. I want to read the Bible. I want to know the Bible inside and out. I want to share what I learn.

I want to observe and enjoy life. I want to be able to leave at a moment's notice, if I must. I don't want my possessions to own me. That's tough.

I want to look at others as being made in the image of God. I don't want to be snarky. I want to be genuine. I want sincerity. I want to be clever as a serpent, innocent as a dove. I want to be a good man.

So, those are just some of the things I want. Now, I will work towards them.

I leave you with one of my favorite verses in music, by Bruce Springsteen:

For the ones that got a notion,

A notion deep inside,

That it ain't no sin,

To be glad you're alive,

I want to find one face,

That ain't lookin' through me,

I want to find one place,

I want to spit in the face,

Of these Badlands.