Barefoot

Anyone who knows me at all will know that i am normally found without shoes. I realize that this is unusual behavior for the culture of Columbia South Carolina. While this is completely normal feeling for me, others feel differently. Some are indifferent to the idea and accept it as me being strange and no more. Some people are for it and encourage the idea, still some find me this lifestyle disgusting as being barefoot normally leads to dirty feet. When asked about why I choose to boycott shoes on a normal basis, i normally respond with an interesting, yet semi shallow half-truth answer "I was raised in Hawaii." Fact, i did live in Hawaii, but only for a year, it is also true that people there really don't wear shoes that often. I didn't even have to wear them to school! But living there for one year doesn't really classify me as "being raised there" but something about that culture has been engraved into my very being. So this being my shallow answer, I will now go forth and reveal the deeper truer side of barefootedness. 

In essence the whole idea is actually extremely metaphorical to the way i see life. I have been blessed and cursed with the need to explore. Now when i say need, I really mean need. I cannot sit still. I cannot accept humdrum existence. I must adventure, I must see the world, and new experiences are like air to me. While on a backpacking trip with two very close friends i was given the name Walkabout, and the definition of the name Scott is actually "wanderer." I have found that my number one passion in this world is adventure. Not just adventure like epic quests, yes i love those. But there is potentially adventure in everything. New opportunities for experience everywhere. I am so desperate for the feeling of experience, and sucking the juice out of life that even unpleasant experiences are welcome. I say this because while yes, unpleasant experiences are at the moment well unpleasant, later those times can be used in contrast with something good, and it makes that something good so much better. It is also that you would otherwise never have known. Comparatively gravel and grass hold very different textures. But if you've only walked on grass your whole life, you would never appreciate that feeling compared to the hard gravel. This is where bare feet come into play. 

For all practical purposes I will compare life to a hiking trail. (typical Scott, yes i know w/e). Regardless of what you do, you will experience during your hike. There are exausting uphill climbs, relaxing slopes, and all sorts of other things that you will classify as good or bad experience. Now consider this, by taking your shoes off while hiking this path, you open up a door to all new levels of intimacy with life. I was on this one hike that i decided to do barefoot. the beginning of the trial was all gravel. It hurt. I won't lie about that. but then after about a half mile of tedious hiking, the gravel ended, and instead of rocks the path was covered with patches of this amazing moss. It felt better than the softest carpet you've ever walked on. The moss was great, and while the gravel hurt to walk on i left that hike with a perspective and experience that i believe few people have. So take this idea and apply it to everyday life. There is so much information to take in, so much to experience. The next time you walk by a bush, lift your arm up and run your hand along its leaves. The next time you see a big puddle go for it, and don't be afraid to take off your shoes. 

The Bride.

Its been a decent amount of time since my last post, but i recently had a revelation and felt obligated to share. Its not a new revelation like when you learn something new and it blows your mind, but more of a "felt" realization, one that you already know but all of a sudden becomes reverent and real and meaningful to you. By now you've probably come to the conclusion that I am either talking about my future wife, or the church, and I don't plan on getting married anytime soon, so. Before I begin I need to confess of my terrible attitude towards the church, but God willing he'll give me a change of heart. So here we go...

I'm not sure what it is, but the easiest way to say it right now, is that myself and the church have conflicting personalities. Before I go on and share my surface-perspective of the church let me say that I know not all of this is true and some churches are awesome and totally get it, and even the church as a whole may not be this way, but thus far this has been the general perception. I see churches as very tame, bound to societies expectations. When I think of church or even the word "Christian" I think of sweaters, smiling faces with perfectly white teeth, kids sitting quietly in uncomfortable pews waiting to go home. I think of polite bible stories and felt boards, but mostly conservative, "good people". Now, like I said not of this is true, and for the most part it is a skewed exaggerated idea of the church today, but subconsciously I've noticed emotions linked to these stereotypes of church and they do not sit well with me. I don't like thinking about God as a felt character against a green background, it's too safe, or fluffy or fake for me. Growing up in the church somehow I've acquired these perceptions of God. But getting older and re-evaluating God for all the Bible says about him and all that the earth proclaims him as is nothing safe, predictable, or tame at all. God is crazy! There is no way of putting him into one of our boxes of understanding. He is simply beyond that. Beyond time, beyond mass, and space, he beyond colors and smell, he is beyond sin, or right and wrong. He is more secure than the largest mountain, and more agile than the fastest cheetah in the plains. He created creation, and even the idea of creation that we now hold as reality and scientific fact. He created all these things for us. For us to hold, to see, to imagine, he created our reality, but he is not bound by it like we are. I'm trying to say God is awesome beyond comprehension. But the most amazing thing is that the God of all that wants a relationship with us, and I feel like church misses that. For the most part it seems that the church is mostly invested in creating "good people," oblivious of the power surrounding it. Ok, Im done being down on the church, now for the ridiculously redemptive part!

Unlike myself, God has an amazing attitude on the present situation. Where I see an organization who is totally missing the point, God sees an opportunity for love. Which is a good thing, because if I compare the characteristics of the church to myself, we are actually pretty similar. We both are in ridiculous need of grace, and patients. Alot of times we both miss to see God and look to our own tools for salvation. But unlike me, God says, "yes I will associate myself with you, but not only that I am going to Marry You! You are the love of my life, I will never divorce you, and always peruse you! You are beautiful and despite your unfaithfulness I will never let you go!" That is Amazing! And Uber good news for me and the church. Realizing the contrast between God's attitude and my attitude reminded me of how big God love really is and made it real for me. Thank you God and please give me your heart.

just as a side note i woulden't recomend talking bad about God's woman. The person who talks bad about my woman better watch himself, and I'm pretty sure God's a LOT stronger than me.
scott

Richland Two, A Student's Tale

Calling all former and current Richland two students. So I was taking a shower yesterday (dispite assumptions you may have about me, this is a fairly normal activity), and as I bathed I began to reflect.  Just as a side note, the shower is an amazing place to ponder life, and reflect on your days. Its like you get to metaphorically (and pysically for some people), wash off all that's weighing you down. It is really a theraputic place. But anyways enough ranting about my passions of moisen bathing areas.  As i bathed/ reflected, I relized that i really should start documenting all of my school stories. If you know me at all you know i have a problem with authority.  A big problem. I don't really understand it, but I like the idea of haveing some great evil or injustice that demands to be over thrown. So for last 12 years my vile imoral monster has been the public school system. I understand most people arn't as angry at "the man" as I am, but i thought it would be cool to have a collection of all the small injustices committed against us, if for no other reason than for my own selfish pleause. So if you find it pleasing, write your story down and send it this way, I really am quite curious. 

This first storie is kind of small, but it is what imidiatly comes to mind currently. There are more, and more will be comming, but for now this is it, so, enjoy:-)

09-??-08

Anatomy Class

For the sake of manners I will keep from using direct names despite my wanting to, so we'll call her (the teacher), Madam Umbridge. We have a test in two days and Madam Umbridge has neglected all usful methods of teaching save but lectures. Which in some cases can actually be informative dispite their normal nature of being extremely, extremely boring. But in this case they were not too helpful but it was actually the only information we have availiable. Well i take that back, we have coloring packets.... COLORING PACKETS!!!.... Coloring is fine and everything, its actually a lot of fun when there's nothing ells to do; but when you have a test (not that i care too much) in two days, it would be nice to actually be in the process of disscusing the contents of the upcoming test. Oh well. The day before we began a review packet for the test, but since the distrabution of the packet, we had done nothing with it. Madam Umbridge has a wonderful way of spending 40%+ of her time sitting at her desk and surfing the web. Not to helpful for us kids. So, wanting to pass the test i inquire to find an alternate method of studying for the test because for some reason coloring funny shaped bones diffrent colors didn't really help as much as i had hoped. So i approched Umbridge. "Do you think we go over that review packet from yesterday as a class and talk about whats on the test, i don't really understand all that its on?" I thought this to be a fair question but possibly im just ignorant. Anyways, i received one of those looks. One of those "death glares." The look that says "I hope you trip into a microwave and it accidentally turns on" kind of look. "No Scott. Sit down, and finish your coloring packet like everyone ells!" Umbridge demanded. FINISH MY COLORING PACKET!? What!? Ok, since when did coloring become a 12th grade anatomy standars, and since when did anyone acutally learn anything from staying inside the lines? No one at least since second grade. Here we have a student approach a teacher, asking to learn, and with out two thoughts was deniged, dissmissed, and sentanced to an entire two periods of mindless sribble. She must have been watching somthing amazing on youtube, because that's rediculous. 

Spring Valley I really want to hear about the "Vogons"!!!!

Apple Press

There is a place like an apple press where minds are processed, preservatives added, and with just a touch of Red 5 finely tuned machines are manufactured.

-Public school system.

A Walk

I love hanging out in down town Columbia. 

There's always something to do, or some where to go; and it's not a city that tries to "glamorous" or "sparkely," it is what is. At first glace most people would say it appears "un-groomed," and old, or maybe trashy, but I see it as personality, and genuine character (not to say that it's always good, but at least you know what your getting). But anyways, this past weekend i got a ride downtown with a friend to see a concert, but after the concert I just kind of roamed from place to place in a vagabond sort of manner, so for the majority of the weekend i was living out of my backpack, and relaying on other people for rides. Well sunday i found myself in five points. I thought i had plans to meet someone ells there (ie. someone with a car) but the plans fell through, so i was alone in five pts. with out transportation. For a while i contiplated differnet thoughts of what i might do. I could get somthing to eat, explore some of the shops, go off on a photography tangent, but ultimatly i decided to start walking to church. I go to midtown; so for those of you who don't know about midtown, they meet in the state museum in the vista. I was in five points. Im not sure exactly how long of a walk that is, but i'd say two or three miles. What i didn't consider is my appearance in context of my culture. Most residents local to the five points area would most likely describe me as a "white, little, rich-boy." Completly ignorant to this fact i embarked on my walk.

The first person i met approached me along the strip of buildings contianing stores such as hipwaze, and f-stop. He was a black boy; about my age, and coulden't have been older than 19. He wore a large, tattered shirt that was one a natural red, but soaked crimson by sweat. Edward was his name. "Excuse me sir, dont mean to bother you none, but how are you doin today?" he said to me. I'm pretty used to homeless people approaching me, but never while i was completly alone, and with out a set agenda. So without anything ells to do i just started talking to him. He explained that he was hungy, and homeless, and assured my multiple times over that he didn't do drugs. I was intested, so i asked him to walk with me and offered to buy him some subway. Midtown does a lot with homless people, and i've wanted to do my part but am never really in a "position" to help (which could also mean that I am so selfishly blind, i just naturally hold my personal scedual as an un-movable oblogation). But now i had a chance to just try to love on someone. Granted i was a little nervous being alone. But, he declined the subway and suggested that getting groceries from food lion would help him more. So i blindly followed, genuinly hoping to be able to get him some food. Walking into the food lion i oberved a female police officer at the front of the store who at first gave us no notice. As we were about to decend down the first isle, she saw us and quickly approached us and explained that we had to leave. I was confused so inquired as to why. She replied "this man is not welcome here, and if your with him neither are you, and if he didn't tell you that, well more shame on him." Still unsure or why, I simply accepted her authority and we left. He later explained to me that he had stolen somthing from the store was was hence forwth banished (not his words, i just like old phrases). This didn't really phase me much, i didn't care what he had done in the past, I've done stupid stuff before. And especially didn't care, because that was probibly the only way he could eat at that time; at that point is isn't stealing, its survival. He explained to me that there was some other place he could buy some food. I was hesitant to just give him cash for obvious reasons, but what he does with his money is up to him. The money i have, I have because God has given it to me, so i wasent going to selfishily denin this man the potencial of food for a week because i may use if for somting ells. In any case, i was much better off than he was so who am i to hoard God's gift all to myself. (ha, psh what i always do) but in this case my heart was moved to give. I gave him twenty bucks. As soon as i handed him the money another man joined us.

Frankie was old. He had an enormous overbite sourrounded by prickly white scruff. At times it was hard to understand what he was saying, like he had acorns in his mouth, and only half try to form full words with his mouth. After talking to Frankie for about a miniuet or so i noticed that Edward was gone. Where, i don't know. I don't know if he went to get food, or to buy his addiciton. But he promised me he would go to midtown with me someday, so i'll find him. Still standing in front of food lion, and havent walked any significant distanec, i also invited him to walk with me to midtown. He politly diclinded but agreed to walk as far as Gervais street with me. I still haden't eaten anything, so i again invited him to subway with me, he also declined the offer. He told me that all he wanted was some "sol foo. " Translated means "soul-food." I asked him aobut this thinking soul food must taste pretty good, but learned that it was a soup kitchen about five miles away. When we reached Gervais street I gave him five dollars, probily enough food for a couple days at this Soul Food Kitchen, took a quick picture to remember him by, and we went our seperate ways. Frankie also promised that he would attend midtown with me someday, and i'll hold him to that as well. Alone now i pressed on to midtown, hoping to get there on time.

Next come the crazy part. Note i am still a "small, lil, white boy" with a camera in hand, and a backpack. At the corner of Gervais street and what ever that street is that leads into five pts. there sate to black men. This particular stretch of road is very poor, very run down, and very deserted save but the "locals." These men would cirtainly fit 50 cent's deffinition of a thug. Big black dudes wearing wife beaters, Not doin nothin, just chillin by an old gas station. I thought as long as i didn't look at them they would leave me alone. Wrong. "Hey boi! Come ova hea!" one of the men shouted at me. I tried to ignore them. "Boi, Im talkin to you, get ova hea, or i put a bullet in yo head!" he agian shouted at me, this time with a new furry. This scared me. I was by my self, and not really in an area where many people go. I had a pocket knife on me, but i sure as heck didn't want it to come to that. So I mustered a bit of courage, and smiled real big at the man. " No man, sorry brother i'd love to hang but i've got to get to church." I said it cofidently and as much authority i dared with this man. At that he also smiled "alright man, catch you later." That could be good, or it could actually mean he was going to CATCH me later. So i quickly booked it out of there, every now and then looking over my shoulder to make sure i was alone.

Our city. I had the rest of the two miles left to process all my recent going-ons. It was a good time for me. Everyone knows thugs and homelss people live everywhere. Its no big deal. But have we ever taken the time to be among them. Every time i go some where i get in the car, windows up, music loud, sealed away from the world. I live in a buble. I have no idea what some people go through. I thought, "wow that was a crazy experience!" I LIVED THOUGH IT ONCE! The homeless live that EVERYDAY! I have no idea what thats like. Those bullet cappin thugs by the gas station are their home. That street i walk along is their carpet. A dumpster at the end of an alley way, their room. I dont know what thats like. I was talking to another homless guy at midtown telling him a little about my wak and he just smiled and said, "heh, yeah, wait till it gets dark man, whole nother world." I can't imagine! That night at midtown i worshiped like i haden't worshiped in months. Dustin talked about missionaries choosing obediance over comfort and saftey. I've heard that before, but this time i really HEARD it. I got a peep hole of a glimps of what that means. For the rest of my walk i imagined myself as a homless person. Just walking to midown. All i owned was what was in my back pack. The people passing me in their cars going 45 mps look forign and untouchable. I was alone. But what a wonderful experiance. I am so thankful that God allowed me to go on my little walk. It was well worth the twenty five dollars and soar feet. How many people have no idea what i am talking about. How many people can hear a story like this. But how many people actually know. I don't even know. My experience is like looking at the cover of a book i dare not open. But guess what. We're called to read the whole thing! I am terrified, comfored, and exited all in one. I hope to take some more walks soon.