Are there any that dont sparkle?

i actually do juggle. i know it's hard to believe, but my cute little username actually does have some sort of meaning behind it. And the meaning is quite literal: i do love to juggle. That doesnt mean i'm good, but i have been known to juggle things that are on fire...

Recently, RIT hosted a juggling convention and i was thinking about picking up some gear. Mainly, i wanted juggling balls that didnt bounce everywhere when i dropped them (which happens a whole lot).

i went to a vendor and saw a great selection of colors for beanbag-type juggling balls. The issue: they all sparkled. Come on, i know you wonder what's different about me because i love to juggle, but sparkly juggling balls?

i asked the lady, "Do you have any juggling balls that dont sparkle?"

Her response?

That's such an odd request. I haven't heard that one before.

Really?

Children have a lesson adults should learn, to not be ashamed of failing, but to get up and try again. Most of us adults are so afraid, so cautious, so 'safe,' and therefore so shrinking and rigid and afraid that it is why so many humans fail. Most middle aged adults have resigned themselves to failure.

Malcolm X

The True Criterion of Leadership is Spiritual

Mankind's history has proved from one era to another that the true criterion of leadership is spiritual. Men are attracted by spirit. By power, men are forced. Love is engendered by spirit. By power, anxieties are created.

Malcolm X

multitudes of theories, facts, and techniques

The multitudes of theories, facts, and techniques that have emerged in recent centuries have not the least logical bearing upon the ultimate issues of existence and life. In this respect they only serve to distract and confuse a people already harassed witless by their slogans, scientific advances, "labor-saving" devices, and a blizzard of promises about when and how "happiness" is going to be achieved. Vague references to "particles and progress" do not provide a coherent picture of life.

Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

...and James sloughed a slew of overdue library books, having yet again bit off more than he could chew.

Everyone has their own spin

i've visited a sweet black church the past two weeks on Sunday morning. As part of their worship they recite the Apostle's Creed.

It's a pretty normal thing to say in a church. It's old, it's tested and approved, and lots of Christians can agree over it (not all probably, but we dont talk about them).

But at this church they changed a small thing that ends up revealing their hand.

It's not "catholic" (lower-case 'c' of course) but "Christian" church.

It screams, "we are not Catholic!"

Everyone has their spin i guess, throwing their little twist of interpretation into the mix. Oh, and the "Virgin Mary" was written "virgin Mary". The devil's in the details. And i'm sure i missed some other nuances in there...

Oh decision making

i'm a terrible decision maker. In fact, it's caused a lot of personal trouble over the last 3 years. Boo on that garbage. As a result, my life hasnt gone the way i would've expected, but that's part of the fun isnt it? As least that's what i tell myself when i cant sleep.

i thought of this on my continuing journey of reading through 37signals Getting Real. The article "Done!" reminded me of the beauty of making a decision and then getting something accomplished.

My usual response to making a decision is: "i wont decide now, i'll do it later". i like that because it's easy to say and easier to do - because i dont have to do anything.

When i worked with Campus Crusade under the illustrious Nate Miller i was shocked when he said during a meeting. "Well, we've talked through this, who's going to do it and when should we expect it done by?" (at least that's what i heard)

i was completely caught off guard. Did we officially put this to a vote and pass on it? Shouldnt we wait another month to make sure we absolutely have to do this and it's a sure-fire bet?

No.

And surprise surprise, we got things done!

At the time i thought we should know we were completely right before making a move, but at the core i was just being lazy.

Here's to making decisions and realizing they dont trap me, but free me. And who says you cant revisit, or deem it a mistake?

Besides, i dont think Good isnt worth sacrificing for Perfection.