what it’s like to stand in the middle of a massive corn field

So, here’s my take on what it’s like to stand in the middle of a massive corn field. I’ve had a couple of “wilderness experiences” this month — times of protracted solitude away from phones, emails, computers, and the demands of daily details. Thank goodness. One of those experiences was on a farm in Nebraska […]



More WildStuff over at wildthoughts.net

Just the facts, ma'am. The art-i-facts.

Do you ever sit back and wonder what the bits and pieces of our modern lives say about what it means to be human? What we as people hope for, desire, despise, and value? The basic, nuts & bolts needs and assumptions we're using to build our lives as individuals and as a culture?

Archeologists use the artifacts left behind by a civilization to guess what that civilization considered important, what they believed, and what they desired to achieve. An unearthed scrap of pottery can reveal a lot information. Everything from technological advancements, to economic conditions, to the ideals of a culture can be reflected in the things they made, used, and left behind.

Such artifacts are valuable because they have both a function and a meaning. They do something for the person that used them and they say something about the people that made them. Sometimes the function and meaning of these objects are closely related. Sometimes they were quite distinct.

Artifacts don't have to be buried in the soil to be telling indicators of a culture.  You don't have to dig in your backyard for artifacts -- just dig in your closet. Clothes from the 1970's aren't really that old in the grand scheme of history. But to our modern eyes the tie-dye, polyester shorts, and Chuck Taylors of that decade are distant from us today. They are a reminder of the spirit of the times that inspired these fashion artifacts. A spirit that's somehow similar but very different from the spirit of our contemporary times.

Artifacts don't even have to be old. In fact, the clothes I'm wearing right now are artifacts that say something about me personally and my culture. We all know this. We know that what a person wears on their bodies is an expression of what's in their minds and on their hearts -- a small symbol of who they are. We check out each other's artifacts all the time. That's one reason why brand names are important to us.

So, looking at our clothes is an easy way to sit back and wonder what the bits and pieces of our modern lives say about what it means to be human. What about the other things? Maybe sit back, have some fun, spot a random object and try to think about what that thing says.

That's a conversation I could learn a lot from.

Wildman Nails Deployment Prediction, Obama Furious

As a sign of his obvious anger and disgust, Obama has ignored my multiple facebook friend requests. Apparently my message, "Yes, we can be friends" has been met with an emphatic "No, we can't."

According to a CBS News report, President Obama has decided on a "new strategy" in Afghanistan, planning to "send a lot more troops...and keep them there long term." Coincidentally, his strategy sounds sounds similar to Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for 40,000 new combat troops in Afghanistan. 


The US will deploy a total of 100,000 troops to sunny Central Asia by the end of next year.


No doubt, the President is anticipating backlash from voters and political entities across the spectrum. Democrats will accuse him of following in the footsteps of George Bush II. Republicans will accuse him of following in the footsteps of George Bush II. George Bush II will accuse Obama of making fun of his idea, then stealing his idea and not giving him any credit for it. 


King Solomon will likely use the opportunity to promote his new book, "Ecclesiastes," citing his work on "there's nothing new under the sun" and "everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind" as especially relevant to the discussion.


Obama could see all that coming. But there's one startling source of critique that has blindsided him like a freight train at full-speed loaded with the lead of truth -- my facebook page.

Exactly two weeks ago, I posted this prediction about the outcome of his "long and careful deliberation" about the deployment of more troops to Afghanistan (Props to Kelly for the election timing nuance.):

Obama was so shocked and angered that I, a seasoned political analyst, could see where his "new strategy" was headed two weeks before it was announced that he refused to comment on my status update.

As a sign of his obvious anger and disgust, Obama has ignored my multiple facebook friend requests. Apparently my message, "Yes, we can be friends" has been met with an emphatic "No, we can't." 


It seems that the White House has been ordered to not follow my twitter feed.

Don't worry, America. This freight train of truth will keep rolling. Being shunned by our Commander in Chief is a price I'm willing to pay for my insightful  140 character political commentaries.

"Lord, Save Us From Your Followers" review on front page of Crosswalk.com

I'm not trying to brag or anything, it's just always cool to see something you've written put out there for others to read.

We all have so much to think about everyday. There's the mundane stuff like what socks to pick out of the drawer. There's the routine stuff like what lane to pick in a freeway traffic jam. Then there's the important stuff like what we believe and how we treat others.

There are a lot of voices out there offering input on all those decisions. I used to think that we need less voices. Less clutter. Less debate. Now, I think we need more. More diverse opinions. More voices. More opportunities to measure our thoughts against other viewpoints. Because none of us have it all figured out. And few of us have most of it figured out.

There was a time when I was afraid of being wrong. Now, I think I'm more afraid of being right about everything. Part of me hopes how I see things isn't exactly how things really are. Part of me hopes there are still surprises around the corner, still perspective-altering conversations, still a future larger than the role I'm playing.

I guess that's why I'm excited about my latest article for crosswalk.com. It's not much. Really. I'm just happy to be part of the conversation.

I love those moments when I come across a little nugget of information or a little story from another's point of view and it makes me think. It knocks me off of mental autopilot and makes me feel human again. Refreshes my belief in the power of ideas, and the consequences of my choices.

Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to kick up a bit of turbulence in someone's air space. Make them grab the wheel again for themselves make a mid-course adjustment. Make them feel alive again.

That would be awesome.