26

An all-inclusive resort gives a completely new definition to the word chill. Because really that’s what you’re here to do. It’s a little bit of a new concept for me. Not generally of course but travel wise. Both of my last adventures were non-stop doing things type excursions.

Christmas Lights on palm trees is something I could really get used to. It no longer feels like the Christmas season. I’m not sure how I feel about it. Not that I don’t love being down here all I am saying is that it feels weird. What does remind me of Christmas if how warm and friendly the people are here. I find that most people from Jamaica are very welcoming and warm people. I do miss that about being in the Caribbean, I feel that many places around the world don’t treat visitors as kindly as the people here do.

Curious as to the title of my blog? 10 points if you figured it out. Don’t spend them all in one place. Jamaica marks the 26^th country I have set foot in. It was a pretty cool feeling touching down and walking out of the airport. My goal of 100 countries does seem quite lofty but only death will stop me I promise you that.

Today’s adventure consisted of ocean kayaking, swimming, chilling by the pool, walking down the beach looking at trinkets, and turning down weed… several times. Also the Christmas Eve Buffet was unreal, maybe even top 5 buffets ever.

I am not quite sure that I will have an adequate amount of fodder for my ramble cannon given that the sole purpose of this week is to relax and do nothing. But I will try.

Theme song of the day

I first blogged about these guys last year when I was in London, I heard them in a restaurant and asked a stranger if she knew what the song was. Not that you care, I just found it interesting. If I was a hipster I would point out to you that I heard of these guys way before they were on American radio and became mainstream… but i'm not because hipsters are stupid.

Glad You Came – The Wanted.

Merry Christmas

Heart of Gold

Im trying really hard in my mind to be witty and clever right now but I really can not put my thoughts properly into sentences because im still coming off the emotional high of the last six days. I do however want to try a write anyway just to be sure my perspective is fresh and my memories are clear.

I have learned over the years that in life honesty really is the best policy, so maybe that will carry over into the blogosphere. I doubt it though, people tend to be more critical and harsh on the web because they dont have to confront you... but i digress.

Honestly, I have never been more tired. The last six days have been really crazy, starting with being a youth leader at YC, having my girlfriend come and visit for three days and finally caping it off with going to the U2 360 concert. Im sure that back in the days of camp there was weeks where i had less sleep but this week was very sleep deprived. YC is traditionally a weekend where sleep is a very scarce commodity. Also with Abigail visiting, time is very precious and therefore is not to be wasted on sleep, its much better spent with each other... watching Lost... Top it all off with standing on our feet for almost 8 hours to watch one of the greatest bands of all time and you get one unreal week.

My intention originally was to only blog about the concert but hey, things happen, I get distracted easily. 

U2!!!

So Good. Unreal. Sick. If you know me you know that those words are deeply engrained in my vocabulary. Love it or hate it doesn't really bother me. I just enjoy living life and am not afraid to express it. However few things in life are worthy of the title Truly great. I would put U2 in that category. whether you are a fan or not, whether you like their music or not, you have to respect them. They may not be the greatest musicians on the planet but their love for what they do shines through every song and every show.

There are a lot of reasons why they deserve respect. First I will talk about the music. Longevity. When they release their newest CD later this year it will be the fourth decade in which they have been releasing music. Very few bands posses the ethic, talent, and passion it takes to have the kind of Career that U2 has had. They are one of the last remaining megabands in existence, a dying breed. A band that can claim global dominance of the industry. They belong in the same category as the Rolling Stones and The Beatles. The way the world of music has evolved I would go so far as to say that there will never be another band like U2. U2 has Generations of fans, parents who pass on their love to their children and grandchildren.

The concert was amazing. It really was larger than life, yet the stage presence of Bono captivated the audience and delivered and spectacular and even personal performance. The stage and tour are one if a kind. Its freakin huge! Earlier this year it became the highest grossing tour of all time. This was my second time seeing them in concert and it was great. The first time included a road trip to Vancouver and the show in BC Place. This time around it was a roaring 60 000 + Audience outdoors in my home city with my girlfriend Abigail. Definitely an experience I will never forget. It was like evening with my two favorite people, Abi and Bono. Or a date with my girlfriend with really good background music.

Bono has always been one of my heroes. Not just because of the music but because of who he is. I remember the day he gained my respect. The day he put on those pink Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses he has been known to sport. The endorsement deal was worth millions and when he agreed to it it was his reasoning that won me over. He turned down endorsements like that for years and one day something changed in his thinking and he realized that its not about selling out its about the good that he could do with the money and the spotlight. Bono has used his star-power to shine a light into places the world has turned its eye from. Whether it is the sex trade rampant in countries all over the world, the tragedies in Burma, or starvation in Africa. He has started global organizations to raise awareness and support for the destitute all over the world including the Red Campaign and ONE. He really does have a Heart of Gold.

So you can completely disagree with me if you like, but then you'd just be ignorant. However if you take nothing else away from what I've said please remember this. God has blessed all of us in many different ways, we should all take a page out of Bonos book and use what we have to make this world a better place. My hats off to U2 for delivering a spectacular performance and I pray that it wont be the last time I can be part of that experience.

As customary I will leave you with a song for the day. This has slowly become my favorite U2 song over the last two years and quite possibly one of my favorite songs of all time. 

Where the Streets Have No Name - U2

Peace.

Sooooo Good!

In a recent blog I mused about how many places there are in this world that have captured a piece of my heart. This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit yet another place that just feels like home. Im talking about a place up in the frozen north of our province some of you may not have heard of called Fairview. At times the drive was somewhat treacherous, These idiot snow haulers would lose big chucks of ice off their truck every time they would hit a bump. so at some parts of the highway it was like dodging ice chunks the size of smart cars, ridiculous. not only did we choose to drive north during the winter we chose to do it during the night. Arriving in a small community called Nampa at about 6 am, we then proceeding to nap and then head to fairview for church at 930. This would be my second night in a row getting less than four hours of sleep, needless to say I was exhausted.

Fairview feels like home because of the people. They welcome me like one of their own, even though sometimes with my designer jeans and pointy dress shoes I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. I have counselled at a camp outside of fairview the last two summers and have become very close friends with lots of the people whom I have met. Fairview is always full of good times and chill people. Time is filled with just relaxing, catching up, and spending time enjoying the company of friends I dont often get to see. I really enjoy the time i get to spend with the Fraser family, Mark and Shannon always make me feel welcome. Its also cool to see the newest Fraser, Lincoln. Sunday night we fed him pop rocks, it wasn't as hilarious as previously imagined but still pretty funny.

Its sad that i had so little time to spend in Fairview, but sometimes that just how it is. I think i did make the most of my time and I know it wont be long before I return.

Theme song for the day

Rolling in the Deep - John Legend (original by Adele)

Im sore, Im tired, and Im sick from the journey but it was totally worth it.

Sooooo Good.

Faith, Hope, Love.

1 Corinthians 13:11-14

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

It is integral to a healthy Christian walk that we are always growing and always learning. I have recently come to the conclusion that at every point in our walk with God we are always learning about and strengthening one of these three things; Faith, Hope, and Love. In this particular segment of my journey I am learning about hope. I feel like hope is the forgotten middle child of this family. The obvious focal point of this verse is love, and so it should. We also put a great deal of emphasis on faith, because without faith there would be no relationship, no walk with God, no acceptance of forgiveness and so on and so on. It seems like hope is not weighed on the same scale as the other two. I could be gravely mistaken but i feel like hope is not defined or explained as clearly as the other two. Hebrews 11:1 for Faith, 1st Corinthians 13:4 for Love, but what about hope?

I dont mean to seem flippant about it but i think that hope is not defined specifically is because Hope is universal. Love is specific, Faith is specific, Hope is abstract. Sadly not everyone will experience tangible love, not everyone will come into a faith in Jesus Christ, but i guarantee you that hope is something that every human being has had intimiate experience with. Hope is the homeless man in line for a bed at the shelter, hope is a Chilean miner, hope is a present under the tree, hope is a schoolboy crush, hope is clinging to the promises of a friend, a lover, your family, or the Father. It is the one thing the world clings to when all else has failed. 

I think that we as Christians need to learn how to relate our hope to the rest of the world. I think its the one things that everyone truly understands. People everywhere hope in things that will fail, we have hope in the one thing that will never fail. I think as world continues to spiral out of control and there is rampant devastation on a global scale the one thing people can still latch onto is hope.


Thats my 2 cents.


Theme Song for the Day


Whole World in His Hands - Tim Hughes

White Power.

I dont know if i could tell you why I brave the long drive across the mountains to visit Vancouver approximately 2.5 times a year, but then again maybe I can. Memories are a powerful tool, they can transform a simple white rock into a monument, and a small town near the coast into an Ideal getaway location. Memories can give the mundane significance and the turn the ordinary into spectacular. This is what Vancouver is to me. Some look at Vancouver and see the city that brought Canada to its feet during the Olympics, some might see a city which contains the poorest postal code in Canada. For me Vancouver and area is a collection of memories. Instances from my distant and not so disant past which make it one of my favorite places on earth.

They say home is where the heart is. If this is the case than I feel like I have many homes. There are many places on Gods green earth that have captured a piece of my heart. Edmonton, Paris, Hong Kong, Vancouver, and Rome have all impacted me in significant ways. Whether it be the sights, the people, or just the experience of the journey.

Some people many take the trip into places like Abbottsford, White rock, and Vancouver and not see what the big deal is. The big deal for me is that these places contain some of my fondest memories. The guitar trip in grade 12 to the coast and the Island was two of the most ridiculous weeks of my entire life. to this day it is still one of my favorite journeys to the area. Not many experiences in my life so far have topped being in Vancouver for the Olympics, going to a hockey game, and being on the streets when Canada mens hockey won Gold. Absolutely incredible.

In Vancouver resides the greatest pizza place on Earth, Romanos, at which i must grab a slice or three every time i am there. Wings boasts the hottest wing in North America, which was a crazy experience of which i try to sucker people into share with people all the time. White Rock and Cultus lake are two of the most beautiful place in Canada, yeah it may just be a silly white rock or a nice lake but to me it will always remind me of swimming races and jumping off the pier, spending time with family.

This trip i tried my best to take in as much as i could of this amazing area but sadly it was not long enough. I was able to pay homage to the white rock, stuff my face with Romanos, and watch a friend almost lose his cool eating that wing. I am stoked I got to go back again and am convinced a prompt return is likely imminent. So until that time comes i will continue to brave the cold weather and enjoy the company of friends and family in E-town.

Todays theme song has definitely been rocking my spiritual life the last few days. I encourage you to give it a listen. Powerful lyrics and incredible melody.

Skeleton Bones - John Mark Mcmillan

Until next time.

Keep your stick on the ice.

Home Sweet Home

Its officially been a weekend and then some since I have returned from my adventure. Although not much has happened in the days since my arrival in this winter wonderland I find my self plagued by the need to express myself once again. It is a weird feeling, although i have no shortage of people to talk to I enjoy conveying my thoughts through a visual medium.

I find it funny that one of the first questions that I am asked is how I feel about returning to the cold. While anyone who lives here can tell that it is technically not "cold" yet, I feel as though i am adjusting nicely. It has not yet reached the temperature in which I feel the need to never leave my house or possibly leave far away and never come back. I dont mind the weather and the snow for now, it adds to the Holiday feeling.

Speaking of holiday feelings, coming home amidst the height of the season makes things feel a little different. First off all the air is ripe with the season. Christmas feels nigh more than ever, a feeling which is heightened by the fact that I have so few shopping days left. On the other side of this coin it also feels like it doesn't make sense that Christmas is right around the corner. I think that it is because I just removed six weeks from my normally scheduled life.

In the spirit of the origins of this blog I will inform you of some of the on-goings that made up my weekend. I must say that the lights of the legislature are pretty cool. I was strolling the grounds with some friends the other night and we took in the lights and got to hear an ensemble of French horns (called Horns of Plenty) play just inside the Legislature building. Which coincidentally reminds me of some of the buildings in Europe just maybe on a way smaller and less ridiculous scale.

Ledge Grounds via Iphone

To conclude I will tell you to go see Tron. In 3D. In the IMAX. It was amazing. It doesn't matter if you know nothing about the original or you think the concept looks dumb or it doesn't look like a movie you would like just go see it anyway. The visual effects and music in the movie alone are enough to merit everyone to at least give it a shot.

I have not had the opportunity to catch up with everyone yet, I apologize, it is a busy season. I wish to see you all and share holiday cheer over a glass of eggnog.

Song for the Day.

"Letters From The Sky" By Civil Twilight

It really is good to be home... mostly.

The End.

Clutching his mortally wounded side stumbling through the jungle slowly losing consciousness from the loss of blood Jack is at peace with his end knowing that he fulfilled his purpose. Making his way back to where it all began on that fateful day he collapses amidst the bamboo with Vincent lying loyally by his side. Just before he breathes his last breath Jack sees the plane carrying his friends safely home fly overhead and with that his eyes close as he drifts away.

Millions around the world watched in awe as the conclusion to the greatest show of all time had just aired before their very own eyes. There was yelling, there was crying, there was frustrations, happiness, and relief all at the same time. Even writing about it now I get a little teary eyed.

I am willing to bet that at one point or another while reading my blog you asked yourself, hmm I find it funny Nathan hasn’t included some sort of LOST reference in his blog. Well many times I thought about it but resisted because I have been saving it for my very final blog titled “The End”. Which subsequently was also the title of the final episode of LOST.

All 6 seasons of the show were filled with mystery after mystery intertwined with the struggles of the characters that we came to love. During that glorious two and a half hour television event which was the finale much of the mystery of the show was left in tact. What the writers chose to focus on was the resolution of the characters and their story’s. Reflecting on my journey I believe that this part of my story has come to a very similar conclusion. Much of the mystery in my life is still present; many of the questions I am seeking answer for are still burning in the back of my mind. Much like the ending of Lost drove many people crazy the mysteries of life can also drive people to the edge. The exact same questions the characters were asking on LOST are the same questions that people ask themselves everyday. Why am I here, what am I supposed to do? While no one answer can ease your mind and give piece to your soul I believe that there is a way to provide resolution even when deprived of direction.

What is necessary for everyone to achieve happiness amidst turmoil and uncertainty is to shift your focus. A shift from the past to the present, a shift from the negative to the positive, A shift from the worldly to the Godly and what I think is most important is a shift from the exterior things you cant change to your own actions which you have total control of. This is way easier said than done. Trust me when I tell you that although the journey is hard and essentially a life long trial but, in the end it is more worth it than anything else you will put your efforts into.

I find it funny and unnerving at the same time that our focus as people is almost always on the negative. Someone could say ten kind things to you and one negative thing and the only thing you will remember is the negative. I am telling you from my own experience that although you may have every excuse to focus on the negative things it is way healthier for you to go against your first instincts and choose a life where the negative things that happen don’t affect the path that you are on.

This trip has not given me a lot of answers but my resolve to find them and to live my life the way I want has never been greater. Let me tell you my two rules for succeeding in life.

1. Never stop seeking Gods call for your life
2. Never stop seeking out what makes you happy

If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying both to you and themselves. You are never too young or too old to change the path that you are on. Every passing minute is a chance to turn it around. Don’t make excuses, People who live their life saying things like “some day” and “eventually” end up on the sidelines of other peoples adventures saying “ I wish I would have”. Is that you? Are you sitting on the sideline of a friend or family members adventure reflecting on the life that could have been or could be? Don’t let your self get caught up in feeling sorry for yourself, if your not currently breathing your last breath then get up walk out the door and find whatever it is your looking for.

Breath in and then breath out, that breathe could have been your last. Its not just a clever saying, it’s a reality that many people lose touch with. The fact is that at any random time the breath of air that you breathe into your lungs could quite possibly be the last one you take. We are all dying, one breathe at a time, some faster than others, some closer to that fateful day. Many people will look at that statement and feel depressed, the challenge is to reflect on it and feel alive and motivated.

I look back at everything I have experienced over this last crazy year and more and I stare into the darkness that is the unknown and scream, you will not break me, you will not shut me down, you will not smother my Joy.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
- Audrey Hepburn

The End