NOVEMBER 2018
#305 Skies on Fire
01 November 2018 // San Diego, California
California sunsets late in the year are my favorite.
#306 Make it Personal
02 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Why does it really matter?
I know and I get to work with so many people who are all about creating change. Almost all of them face the same struggle. How do you get other people to care? You can’t do it alone, and sometimes apathy is worse than opposition.
You need to always remind yourself why it matters and keep making that clear to matters. Don’t take it for granted that you have a great solution to a problem. Talk about how that problem affects people, how it affects you. What makes you angry? What’s at stake? What does the world look like if the problem gets solved?
If you can stay close and connected to your own reason for being on the path that your on, the more attractive that path will be for others.
#307 Garlic Toast
03 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Saturday night dinner with Ivy & JB.
#308 Letters to Tree of Life
04 November 2018 // San Diego, California
After an incredible, challenging, and important sermon on privilege, our pastor announced that she was going to Pittsburgh the following week and would have a chance to visit the Tree of Life Synagogue that lost members of its faith community during a terrible shooting last week. She invited us to write letters for her to take, and to contribute to a prayer quilt.
Richard Rohr says that all great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. When we embrace it in a way that helps us connect with each other, we imitate God.
#309 Neighbors & Crops
05 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Low key obsessed with this chair for reasons I don’t even get.
#310 Election Day 2018
06 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Voting is easily the coolest way to get a sticker that I can think of– and also, it can be an act of love.
As a US citizen, my vote has an impact that’s felt around the world. A vote in a US election just might be the most impactful around the world. It’ll impact people in hospital beds. It’ll impact people who have lost everything due to war. It’ll impact those in hospital beds, in unemployment lines, or in need of mental health care. It’ll impact the environment, soil, and our ability to grow enough food. It’ll impact the kids who live down the block from somebody who really shouldn’t own a gun. It’ll impact the kids who witness what happens to adults who abuse, assault, or bully.
How did I get such a privilege? It was hard earned by people who came before me. It’s a privilege I might not have had for about 80% of the country’s history. I was born in the right place and right time to have this sort of privilege.
Voting isn’t always easy. Some issues are complicated and tricky, others are a little more plain. But I believe that I’m blessed with what I have so I can give it away- and that includes my vote. I believe that it would be terrible stewardship to not use it.
Vote as a responsibility. Vote as a prayer. Vote as an act of love.
#311 Steady Progress
07 November 2018 // San Diego, California
One of my most steadily growing beliefs is this: Lasting change happens through long-term, committed, sustainable actions.
I’m not a believer in overnight fixes.
While seeing the election results come in, I was bummed to see how many candidates I was cheering for come so close to winning while falling short. I was also thrilled by a lot of other races, surprise wins, and that sort of a thing. What a mixed bag.
Ultimately, I’m happy to see all the firsts. The increase in women represented. The turnout from the under 30 crowd nearly tripling from 2014. I think these might be better indicators of long term change than any one candidate’s victory.
Elections are extremely important, but I think they simply take a snapshot of attitudes and values that are always evolving. This one reminds me that there is a lot to celebrate, and a lot more that needs to be done to encourage empathy.
Keep at it, friends.
#312 Surprised By Hope
08 November 2018 // San Diego, California
“What you do in the present—by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself—will last into God’s future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether. They are part of what we may call building for God’s kingdom.”
–N.T. Wright
Book No. 21 of 2018
Falling wayyy behind on my reading goals this year. I forgot how rich and dense N.T. Wright’s writing can be so it took me a good while to get through this, but I’m glad I did.
Many mentors I’ve had passed on helpful wisdom to me that came from this book. It’s amazing it took me as long to start reading it as it did. The big idea it instilled in me is that my faith isn’t an escapist one, where this world is disposable and Heaven is all that matters. Instead, the great hope for the future is one where the current, created world is revived and transformed.
The ideas in the book resonated with me greatly. The one thing I wish was a little different was that I wish it was a little more accessible. The ideas in it are just that important.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#313 Table Topics
09 November 2018 // San Diego, California
I was commissioned to put together a deck of table topics for a church potluck. I suppose I should answer my own prompts.
1) My most memorable birthday was my sixth, celebrated on board a flight from Cairo to California. A bunch of other passengers, and the flight crew improvised a whole party using whatever was available on board.
2) The portal would be at my office. The catch is that my home would then be in Oregon. That would be much cheaper than having a portal to Oregon while living in San Diego.
3) Nachos count. If they don’t, I can accept that argument as long as you’re also willing to disqualify potato salad and macaroni salad for being carbs drenched in a sauce with some fruits or veggies.
4) To most people’s surprise, I would probably pass on the unlimited travel. I LOVE travel, but even if it was free, I wouldn’t necessarily want nonstop travel or have the schedule for it. Plus, with the amount I’d save on not buying food, I’d save thousands I could put towards travel.
#314 Daniel Visits SD
10 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Daniel is in town and we’re up all Mexican lucky.
#315 Daniel’s in Town
11 November 2018 // San Diego, California
A good friend is one who will get out of bed at 3 in the morning to respond to your needs.
Even if that need is going to Denny’s to build a Lego spaceship.
#316 Weekday Surfers
12 November 2018 // San Diego, California
“When you put creativity into everything, everything becomes available.”
–Robert Rodriguez
This has been one of my favorite quotes lately, since I’ve seen it come true in my life quite a few times.
When something doesn’t happen the way you thought it would, it can be easy to assume that it’ll never happen. It just means it won’t happen the way you expected to. Creativity is the ability to see plenty of solutions to a single problem, multiple pathways to where you want to go.
#317 Lego Spaceship
13 November 2018 // San Diego, California
What did I learn this week? I learned that the Denny’s by my house is the most happenin’ Denny’s at 3:00 AM.
#318 Brisket Sliders
14 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Mid-November, but who’s to say that we can’t bust out the grill.
#319 Potted Leaves
15 November 2018 // San Diego, California
A crazy productive writing day spent offsite. Good things.
#320 Staff Beach Cleanup
16 November 2018 // San Diego, California
I love this team and how we’ll even make the beach cleanup competitive.
#321 Milano La Jolla
17 November 2018 // La Jolla, California
Accidentally discovered a great new Italian spot for date night.
#322 Fell in the Sun
18 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Really ready for life to look a little bit different.
#323 Dogs Watching Dogs
19 November 2018 // San Diego, California
What’s better than watching Dogs on Netflix? Watching your dog watching Dogs.
#324 Shiitake Lamb Noodle
20 November 2018 // San Diego, California
I love the way this dish came out. Noodles and lamb with shiitake with chili and sesame oil. I’m hoping to make this part of my regular repertoire.
#325 Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving
21 November 2018 // Carson, California
Earlier in the week it seemed like Thanksgiving this year was about to get cancelled. Wildfires and sick bugs and everything else seemed to create the perfect storm to disrupt it all. But a little improv meant that in exchange for the typical dinner, we were able to see even more family this weekend.
Hopefully next year we won’t get as many curveballs. But we’re here and we’re thankful.
#326 Norm’s
22 November 2018 // Carson, California
We’ve been seeing a lot of this diner this weekend.
#327 Turtleneck Puppy
23 November 2018 // Bakersfield, California
Some Thanksgivings look a little more like grilled cheese and the Parent Trap, my doggy in a turtleneck, 24 hour diners, Playdoh Pictionary, and sticky buns. (Really though, Beignet’s giving off some hardcore 90’s mom vibes.)
#328 Class of 2008 Reunion
24 November 2018 // San Diego, California
The high school reunion episodes of every show are usually some of the best. In real life, these things are weird. How has it already been ten years?
My class reunion and Deanna’s were on the same night, but I think I have more friends from her school than my own, so I got to party with the Centennial Golden Hawks. What a riot.
#329 Bedroom Cubes
25 November 2018 // San Diego, California
One of these days we’ll own a real dresser.
#330 Green Needles
26 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Seeing gray skies and rain through these needles is really making me miss Oregon.
#331 100 Miles With Cam
27 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Congrats to my buddy @cam8schmidt for completing his quest of a 100 mike run earlier this week, and on your birthday week to boot!
I love cheering for friends who pursue the big goals they’ve got in them. Glad I got to join for a single percent of it.
#332 For The Family
28 November 2018 // San Diego, California
I legitimately LOVE that #GivingTuesday is a thing. Over the past few months, I’ve had a blast working on @plantwpurpose’s campaign for this year’s event.
Rampant consumerism can be quite destructive, so giving in a way that simultaneously helps people and the environment is such a good move. This year, @plantwpurpose is aiming to help 250 families overcome poverty by healing their land.
Poverty and environmental problems can seem like such large issues that are out of our hands. I’ve had the treat of meeting a few Haitian families this year who have turned barren hillsides into mini-forests, all while growing more food to eat and sell.
I believe that a little bit of help goes a really long way when you have locals in leadership, good soil, and a generosity of spirit.
#333 Rainy Day Walk
29 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Days like these don’t happen very often in San Diego, but I wish they did. My favorite weather.
#334 Public Market Crowds
30 November 2018 // San Diego, California
Packed night at the public market because the Christmas tree is lit.