So, for those of you who don't know, I have taken up photography. When I say I have taken up photography I mean that I have been given a really nice camera that takes excellent photos and I get to take credit for them. It was incredible to take the camera to Lebanon and bring the story back in pictures. Sometimes I feel like photos can show you in a moment what I am trying to tell you with too many words. Sometimes I am out of words. The truth is that I would rather write than speak, I am learning that about myself.
Anyway, I've been taking a lot of pictures lately. I have a daily photo blog which was an initial combination of passions. Photography and writing. I absolutely love it as an outlet and a discipline. If I was only as disciplined about running... but I think I may have found a way. I saw a news story the other day about a guy who was doing 10k runs and giving running tours of a city. UMMMMMM - HELLO????????? Where do I sign up? That is my dream, someone PAYING ME TO RUN AND GIVE TOURS! Something that I do daily for free. I am telling you, there is something clutch in combining your passions.
Anyway, if you know anyone who is coming to Berlin and wants to run and needs a guide or wants a tour, I am willing to do up to a 20k run for 10 euros per 10k. I am telling you, I think this idea is brilliant. Unfortunately I think I am going to have to get a bit more accurate on my history if I hope to really do this!
The other deal is that I am also going to try to be a bit better about sharing my passions here. I really struggle with how much of me, my life, my thoughts, my roller coaster of emotion should be on the WWW. However, I realize there is something about openness and growing and developing.
I want to write, I want to find the balance of sharing my life, telling my stories, developing myself as a writer and inspirer and I want to always share my failures and weaknesses to remind people that we are in fact all fallible humans.
I am beginning to believe that they key to life has almost nothing to do with circumstances and almost everything to do with figuring out how to converge your passions and exist (that's the practical part where you must have some money, food and clothing.) So I am going to try to do that here. I am going to try to do that without throwing my friends and family under the bus, though they are my centrifugal force.
I have to address one more issue, it's a tough one, and I really battle with what to do about it. I am going to offend or disappoint someone. I work for a conservative Christian missions organization. It's true. I know that it's horrifying for some of you. Most of the people in that organization do not drink, they are not opposed to drinking, but a lot of them live and serve people in countries where drinking is illegal. I have been asked to consider what I am posting on Facebook because of this. I have made the decision that I will not do this on my blog. If it becomes an issue I will switch my blog to invitation only so that I have the freedom to write and post as I see appropriate. Please trust my character and do not make assumptions from the little blips of life that you read or the pictures that you see. I am trusting that you are wise enough to know that what I put on here and the emotions that I share are hardly an accurate picture of myself or my life and if you choose to make assumptions from what you read or see, you will be ill informed. If you have questions or concerns about what you see here, let me know, ask me, send me scathing emails, but have a dialogue with me.
Hear me - I am religious, but if I write about religion I offend people. If I don't write about religion then people think I am selling out. I post pictures at my friends houses everyone thinks that's how I am living, if I don't, then I am hiding something. I post pictures of wine, in a new shirt, at the beach - suddenly that's all I do - drink wine, buy new clothes and go on vacation - I don't post those pictures I feel like I am being run by the opinion of people (or judgment and assumption.) So I can't please all of you. We already knew it. Please just try to use your kindest mind and believe the best of me... I will disappoint you, but only because I am human and not out of a malicious or deceitful spirit!
SOOOO... as a little celebration of the new goal to develop and converge my passions I am sharing a photo album I made of some photos I have taken since I got back from Lebanon. Beware, there is a lot of beer and wine in them. They drink water like beer here (and charge less for it than water) and really wine too, no I am not conforming to the culture and throwing my values out the door... I am conserving my money. :-) Honestly, a lot of these pictures are taken at birthday parties or other such celebrations. Also, please remember that photos are highlights. My life here is not one big vacation party (though my UK seriously believes that it is) - my job is to spend time with people, go on trips, hang out with the poor (whom I will not expoit by photographing without their blessing - except the mean guy on the steps of the museum), and try to figure out how to converge the people I spend time with and the poor. SO - don't panic those of you who contribute to me financially, I am working.
OK, other than release a legal document, I don't think I can try to address anything else (everything I am saying I am saying because you guys have either talked to me about these things or emailed me about them at some point in the recent past) - enjoy the slideshow and know that I am going to spend the next few months trying to find my blogging legs so join me in the journey! Seriously, all of your feedback is welcome - on the blog, my writing, my life and my photos!
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