Hey stranger,
A quick thought for you....
Having greatly enjoyed my time during last weekend, when asked by a workmate what made it so special, I replied, 'it helped me realise that I know some really cool people.'
No doubt this would inspire warm fuzzies in the hearts of all those to whom it was directed, but after dwelling on it a while longer, a greater point was realised.
I am free to enjoy the things of this life because they no longer carry the weight, in and of themselves, to provide me with a sense of importance, belonging, or significance. I have learned, especialy in recent weeks, that in my christian journey, as I learn to place the cares of my heart in the hands of the one who made me, I am now even freer to enjoy everything else.
A car is great so long as it can be appreciated just for being a cool car, but as a reason for living or a symbol of status, it is woefully inadequate. Even relationships, though they provide great company to share the joys of our life experiences, can make life depressingly inward focused when all our being is focused on what others think of us.
So I say all that to say this.
As much as knowing good people and enjoying good things are some of life's great pleasures, it is coming to know the One gave us all things freely to enjoy that I have found the most rewarding of all.
See you in church on Sunday ;)
Andrew
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Brotherly Love
My brother and I are big Football fans, I support AC Milan and he backs Arsenal. So naturally, coming up to todays Champions League final in Athens between Milan and Liverpool, there was a bit of niggle between the two of us. In light of todays result (Milan beat Liverpool 2-1), I thought I would post one of our email conversations for your enjoyment. And mine. Tehehe
----------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:24 AM
To: Andrew Curtis
Subject: You're going down
Just found this at Wikipedia:
· AC Milan chose to wear their all-white strip for the final in Athens, despite being drawn as the "home" team for the match. This is due to the kit being their "maglia fortunata" (Italian: lucky kit), having won the European Cup/Champions League in this kit on five out of the six times they have won it. However, they have lost finals in this kit twice, most recently against Liverpool in 2005.
· This decision by Milan means that Liverpool will play the final in their traditional home kit of red shirts, red shorts and red socks. Each of Liverpool's five European Cup titles have been won in their all-red strip, and two of these came when they were playing against Italian teams who played in all-white.
Bring it!
-----REPLY------
From: Andrew Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 1:29 PM
To: Stephen Curtis
Subject: RE: You're going down
3 things
a.) Big talk from a guy whose team didn’t even make the quarters. Judgment in picking a winning team is already questionable.
b.) Only losers rely on superstition to win finals
c.) Didn’t you back France to win the world cup against Italy? In case you forgot, this was a match decided by a penalty shootout which Italy had never previously triumphed in at world cup level.
consider it brung ; )
Andrew
---
Ahhhh, good times.
----------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:24 AM
To: Andrew Curtis
Subject: You're going down
Just found this at Wikipedia:
· AC Milan chose to wear their all-white strip for the final in Athens, despite being drawn as the "home" team for the match. This is due to the kit being their "maglia fortunata" (Italian: lucky kit), having won the European Cup/Champions League in this kit on five out of the six times they have won it. However, they have lost finals in this kit twice, most recently against Liverpool in 2005.
· This decision by Milan means that Liverpool will play the final in their traditional home kit of red shirts, red shorts and red socks. Each of Liverpool's five European Cup titles have been won in their all-red strip, and two of these came when they were playing against Italian teams who played in all-white.
Bring it!
-----REPLY------
From: Andrew Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 1:29 PM
To: Stephen Curtis
Subject: RE: You're going down
3 things
a.) Big talk from a guy whose team didn’t even make the quarters. Judgment in picking a winning team is already questionable.
b.) Only losers rely on superstition to win finals
c.) Didn’t you back France to win the world cup against Italy? In case you forgot, this was a match decided by a penalty shootout which Italy had never previously triumphed in at world cup level.
consider it brung ; )
Andrew
---
Ahhhh, good times.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Coming to a sad realisation
I think it's a little like loving a place that you've never been to. The dreams you have of a far off adventure before the realities bite you in the.... well anyway, I digress.
You see, this particular post is an ode to aging, and I should say up front that it is something that I have never had much problem with. At least in theory. In fact, although it may be a completely counter-culture position for today, I have actualy looked forward to it. I enjoy being young (26 in case you were wondering), but at the same time I can see the perks that only age can bring, such as influence and wisdom etc.
I struck problems when I started to experience the unanticipated things that come with such advancement. To continue the travel analogy, it's like admiring a place for it's scenery, only to find yourself cursing the fact that you can't speak the local language.
So there I was, on saturday night, having greatly enjoyed the first part of a friend's 24 birthday party, and the dreaded question came, "are you ok? you look tired." ok, maybe not a self esteem destroying moment, but for one who has always prided himself on being a night person, I found it almost offensive. "What? Me? Tired? Hah!" This was compounded by the fact that it was only 9:30.
Sadly, by 10:30, the truth was written all over my face, and I returned home a beaten man.
Even as I think about it, I wonder what strange discoveries will be coupled with the joy the other aspects of life I am yet to experience, such as a wife and family. Even now I hear the muffled laughter of seasoned spouses as they read that line. But not to worry, I'm sure it'll be fine. After all, it looks so great in the brochure.....
You see, this particular post is an ode to aging, and I should say up front that it is something that I have never had much problem with. At least in theory. In fact, although it may be a completely counter-culture position for today, I have actualy looked forward to it. I enjoy being young (26 in case you were wondering), but at the same time I can see the perks that only age can bring, such as influence and wisdom etc.
I struck problems when I started to experience the unanticipated things that come with such advancement. To continue the travel analogy, it's like admiring a place for it's scenery, only to find yourself cursing the fact that you can't speak the local language.
So there I was, on saturday night, having greatly enjoyed the first part of a friend's 24 birthday party, and the dreaded question came, "are you ok? you look tired." ok, maybe not a self esteem destroying moment, but for one who has always prided himself on being a night person, I found it almost offensive. "What? Me? Tired? Hah!" This was compounded by the fact that it was only 9:30.
Sadly, by 10:30, the truth was written all over my face, and I returned home a beaten man.
Even as I think about it, I wonder what strange discoveries will be coupled with the joy the other aspects of life I am yet to experience, such as a wife and family. Even now I hear the muffled laughter of seasoned spouses as they read that line. But not to worry, I'm sure it'll be fine. After all, it looks so great in the brochure.....
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Forced communication
I supose this is a pretty 'guy-brain' line of thinking.
it all started because I was talking to my friend at work today about how my blog was going. Then it occured to me that it was high time I wrote 'something'.
So now I have a problem, what does one write about when the only thing that is important is that something is written. The possibilities are endless. when I consider the number of things that I haven't written about in my life, the list is positively staggering. I'm sure, for example, that there are some quite facinating amazonian beetles somewhere that do something very interesting. Unfortunately I can't prove it.
There are also, no doubt, a vast number of inspirational human interest stories about triumph over adversity that I know nothing about (though I think we more easily relate to adversity overcoming our desire to triumph, but that is a post for another day.)
Hmmmmm,
It reminds me of times when a significant other has determined it is time for us to 'communicate', and I find at that very moment I have nothing to say. I don't want to even think about the kind of trouble I have fallen into in the past by trying to formulate a thought on the spot that reflected where we were heading as a couple. ugh!
And so it falls to this. Nothing. At this point I'm actualy feeling rather pleased with myself that I have written all this and effectively not said anything at all.
So there you have it, a post about nothing.
Seinfeld online.
Excellent :)
it all started because I was talking to my friend at work today about how my blog was going. Then it occured to me that it was high time I wrote 'something'.
So now I have a problem, what does one write about when the only thing that is important is that something is written. The possibilities are endless. when I consider the number of things that I haven't written about in my life, the list is positively staggering. I'm sure, for example, that there are some quite facinating amazonian beetles somewhere that do something very interesting. Unfortunately I can't prove it.
There are also, no doubt, a vast number of inspirational human interest stories about triumph over adversity that I know nothing about (though I think we more easily relate to adversity overcoming our desire to triumph, but that is a post for another day.)
Hmmmmm,
It reminds me of times when a significant other has determined it is time for us to 'communicate', and I find at that very moment I have nothing to say. I don't want to even think about the kind of trouble I have fallen into in the past by trying to formulate a thought on the spot that reflected where we were heading as a couple. ugh!
And so it falls to this. Nothing. At this point I'm actualy feeling rather pleased with myself that I have written all this and effectively not said anything at all.
So there you have it, a post about nothing.
Seinfeld online.
Excellent :)
Monday, April 9, 2007
ok, so I'm wearing makeup right now
for TV! I'm wearing makeup for TV!!
Need to be very clear about that. though it's interesting what it teaches you about yourself. Firstly, how secure am i about my manliness. Secondly, how often do i touch my face.
Seriously, the touch my face thing was quite an unexpected learning curve. maybe it's that whole 'i've been told I can't so now I really want to' thing.
I'm audiotioning for a news presenter role - all prayers gratefuly received.
ps. did you watch Heroes last night? thought it was pretty cool myself :)
Need to be very clear about that. though it's interesting what it teaches you about yourself. Firstly, how secure am i about my manliness. Secondly, how often do i touch my face.
Seriously, the touch my face thing was quite an unexpected learning curve. maybe it's that whole 'i've been told I can't so now I really want to' thing.
I'm audiotioning for a news presenter role - all prayers gratefuly received.
ps. did you watch Heroes last night? thought it was pretty cool myself :)
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Are we asking the right questions?
Prepare yourself, this is my first attempt to get a little deep and meaningful
Ahem,
One of my favourite early morning activities, whilst lovingly cradling my morning coffee, is to browse the news sites of the world and see what has been happening outside of my supervision in the last 24 hours.
As I surfed the news site www.nzherald.co.nz, in between stories of school girls uncovering the dastardly Ribena scandal and Brangelina's impending nuptials, I noticed a poll question that got me thinking along the lines of this post's topic.
The question itself was directed towards the always thorny immigration debate, but it's very nature made me wonder if we have become a people who, though well practiced at identifying problems, lack the foundation required to diagnose a solution. So what was the question? It read as follows, "Are there enough people in New Zealand?"
Though I could distil the question's intent, my immediate reaction to it was to respond with a question of my own, "Enough people for what?"
Leaving aside the fact that it is often regarded as poor form to answer a question with another question, this is where my train of thought took me.
To respond such as I was motivated to do may seem flippant, but on dwelling on it a little further, I have come to the conclusion that it may be more worthy of contemplation than I first thought. How can one effectively answer a question if it is not entirely clear what question we are being asked in the first place, or what problem we are attempting to solve?
In this specific case, the goal may be purely biological - do we have enough fertile individuals to continue the propagation of the species. A charming and thoroughly romantic thought, I know. Then there is the economic angle - the need to have a growing, dynamic, skilled workforce. Perhaps we could even consider the sociological angle and think of how we are culturally enriched by the contributions of new immigrants.
So to my mind, the question is impossible to answer unless we know where, as a nation, we intend to go.
Once we know that, we find there is still a greater question that needs answering. Why there?
Now having comprehensively kicked over the hornets nest, I will leave the next step to you. What makes any direction, immigratory or otherwise, worthwhile. How do we then know that is the one worth pursuing?
Please understand that my motivation here is because that we truly care about a better future, being able to ask the right questions is a skill we all need in order to get there.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts,
- A
Ahem,
One of my favourite early morning activities, whilst lovingly cradling my morning coffee, is to browse the news sites of the world and see what has been happening outside of my supervision in the last 24 hours.
As I surfed the news site www.nzherald.co.nz, in between stories of school girls uncovering the dastardly Ribena scandal and Brangelina's impending nuptials, I noticed a poll question that got me thinking along the lines of this post's topic.
The question itself was directed towards the always thorny immigration debate, but it's very nature made me wonder if we have become a people who, though well practiced at identifying problems, lack the foundation required to diagnose a solution. So what was the question? It read as follows, "Are there enough people in New Zealand?"
Though I could distil the question's intent, my immediate reaction to it was to respond with a question of my own, "Enough people for what?"
Leaving aside the fact that it is often regarded as poor form to answer a question with another question, this is where my train of thought took me.
To respond such as I was motivated to do may seem flippant, but on dwelling on it a little further, I have come to the conclusion that it may be more worthy of contemplation than I first thought. How can one effectively answer a question if it is not entirely clear what question we are being asked in the first place, or what problem we are attempting to solve?
In this specific case, the goal may be purely biological - do we have enough fertile individuals to continue the propagation of the species. A charming and thoroughly romantic thought, I know. Then there is the economic angle - the need to have a growing, dynamic, skilled workforce. Perhaps we could even consider the sociological angle and think of how we are culturally enriched by the contributions of new immigrants.
So to my mind, the question is impossible to answer unless we know where, as a nation, we intend to go.
Once we know that, we find there is still a greater question that needs answering. Why there?
Now having comprehensively kicked over the hornets nest, I will leave the next step to you. What makes any direction, immigratory or otherwise, worthwhile. How do we then know that is the one worth pursuing?
Please understand that my motivation here is because that we truly care about a better future, being able to ask the right questions is a skill we all need in order to get there.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts,
- A
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Why do we do it to ourselves?
Admittedly, this is a very assumptive opening, given that I have yet to identify what 'it' I am refering to, and then of course assuming that our collective experience is one and the same. But nonetheless, I have committed 'it' once again, and now I want to share my experience :)
In this case, for lack of a better term, I am refering to, 'Hey-cool-it's-the-weekend-I-can-catch-up-on-some-sleep-oh-wait-now-it's-monday-and-I-was up-til-2am-every-night' sickness.
As I write this, my eyes have achieved a level of bloodshot horror that is usually reserved for those who have had up close encounters with sharp sticks.
*nb quick confession: I'm writing this from my desk at work this morning & our receptionist just paged across the office intercom for some reason. It's a hard road finding something more annoying than a chirpy receptionist greeting the new day with a series of reminders about morning meetings, especialy in my current condition.
ok, digression over.......
So yeah, up too late etc. I wonder if it's because I feel I am in danger of missing out on something. Perhaps because the week can, for the most part, be lumped into two catergories
a.) Things I don't really like doing but must because of the need to the pay the bills
b.) Things I do really like doing but cannot do exclusively owing to their inability to meet afformentioned financial obligations.
For most people, the week is thusly divided 5 days into catergory a and 2 days in catergory b.
The common ground in both cases appears to be bills, and so a simple solution would appear to be the pusuit of a lifestyle that entails none of them. Howerever the critical flaw here is discovered in the observance of how few homeless people appear decidely thrilled about their lifestyle, financially unfettered though it may be.
From all of this postulating I have therefore come to the following conclusion. People enjoy making bad decisions so they can complain about them later. That is all.
Ahhhh, feels good to get that off my chest, time to re-fill the coffee mug.
Have a splendid day :)
ps. Spell check is not working this morning, and due to my diminished faculties this morning, I thank you for your understanding if you are in fact a cambridge english professor and I have failed to meet your high standards. Ta.
In this case, for lack of a better term, I am refering to, 'Hey-cool-it's-the-weekend-I-can-catch-up-on-some-sleep-oh-wait-now-it's-monday-and-I-was up-til-2am-every-night' sickness.
As I write this, my eyes have achieved a level of bloodshot horror that is usually reserved for those who have had up close encounters with sharp sticks.
*nb quick confession: I'm writing this from my desk at work this morning & our receptionist just paged across the office intercom for some reason. It's a hard road finding something more annoying than a chirpy receptionist greeting the new day with a series of reminders about morning meetings, especialy in my current condition.
ok, digression over.......
So yeah, up too late etc. I wonder if it's because I feel I am in danger of missing out on something. Perhaps because the week can, for the most part, be lumped into two catergories
a.) Things I don't really like doing but must because of the need to the pay the bills
b.) Things I do really like doing but cannot do exclusively owing to their inability to meet afformentioned financial obligations.
For most people, the week is thusly divided 5 days into catergory a and 2 days in catergory b.
The common ground in both cases appears to be bills, and so a simple solution would appear to be the pusuit of a lifestyle that entails none of them. Howerever the critical flaw here is discovered in the observance of how few homeless people appear decidely thrilled about their lifestyle, financially unfettered though it may be.
From all of this postulating I have therefore come to the following conclusion. People enjoy making bad decisions so they can complain about them later. That is all.
Ahhhh, feels good to get that off my chest, time to re-fill the coffee mug.
Have a splendid day :)
ps. Spell check is not working this morning, and due to my diminished faculties this morning, I thank you for your understanding if you are in fact a cambridge english professor and I have failed to meet your high standards. Ta.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
