Forgive the Braggart

Old Friend,

It’s been too long, always. It’s always too long. To document my thoughts and experiences is a full time job. Thusly I’m forced into a selective dispersing of my creative energy in other directions. I’ve had a lot on my mind and more and more that I’ve been wanting to tell you. But for the sake of time I’ll tell you the most recent, seeing how it is fresh on my mind.

Most of what I tell you is seemingly challenging. A road that I’ve taken, a choice that I’ve made, usually resulting in failure, always resulting in some type of learning.

Let he who boasts, boast in the Lord. (From the Bible) Old Man, if it seems like I’m bragging form here on out, stop reading, for that isn’t why I’m writing you. Forgive the braggart who, in his youth, speaks highly of himself. (Not from the Bible)

Today in my Organizational Communications class I sat, annoyed at the student presentation that was being thrusted upon my educational experience. Immersive Learning if you will. I debated going to class today, as I do everyday, but the twenty points I’d lose at one absence was debate enough to lift my heavy head from the soft feathery pillow that lay heaped in my bed. The crowd participation was a diversity game, much like the one from The Office episode from the first season. We all received cards in a less than organized fashion and preceded to walk around the room to gather information about ourselves via stereotypes. On the cards were written different names such as Gay Male, Italian, 87yr old, Chinese, bisexual, and so on. As luck would have it I received the title Christian, on my forehead. And person after person I received genuine looks followed by, “How fitting for you.” And “Haha, Brian it’s…you.” Despite my every effort to believe that my card read Ruggedly Handsome, within five seconds and two clues I knew that my card read Christian. My professor even brought light to the fact that everyone was using negative and false stereotypes to give clues to describe other cards, but with me, since it was me they were describing, they used good things. In jest I asked the class why they didn’t call me a hypocrite, they laughed, but I was serious.

I guess the reason for this note to you Old Man, is that I’ve been really down on myself. Really questioning my witness to the college community. I don’t want to be a nice Christian, I want to be an effective one. If I am to reflect this message to you, Old Man, I would say challenge yourself to be recognized as a Christian, sans card. Live everyday as if that card is not just on your heart, but on your head. I kept the card as a reminder to me, and wrote this blog as a reminder to you. Be blessed Old Man.

On the docket for upcoming thoughts: I’m smitten with a Walker. Not one at the mall on Saturday mornings either.