So, I'm sitting here at home and decided that I would write on my blog. My parents (who, again, will probably be the only ones reading this) always get mad at me when I don't update in a long time, so I've decided to. Now, this blog is going to be pretty different from other ones as I am going to pretty much just ramble and make lists of what's on my mind. I hope you find it funny, informative, and life-changing.

DISCLAIMER: Being able to understand amazingly good quality sarcasm is necessary for reading this blog!

So, here goes:

One of the things that makes me the saddest about coming home is that I have to leave my beautiful iMac at school and use what was once mine, and now my mom's, Gateway laptop. It makes me really sad right now because a little box keeps popping up telling me to restart for some kind of update something another...this doesn't happen on Macs. I'm also sad because I don't have an automatic spell check, therefore mispelled words are not my fault.

I think I want to try my hand at stand up comedy. Good idea?

I am attempting to make money by selling original artwork online, more specifically on Craigslist. We'll see how this goes. If you're interested in purchasing some of my amazing art just let me know.

One thing that makes me happy about being at home is that we have the "planet green" channel on DirecTV. I am finally getting to watch more of "Greensburg," the show about the town in Kansas that was completely destroyed by a tornado last May, which is a pretty amazing show. I'm trying to decide who my favorite characters are...oh wait, it's a reality show, they're real aren't they? But I'm a fan of the high school kid who, I swear, is a 30 year-old man stuck in an 18 year-old's body. I also like the new mayor who carries around a drawing of what he wants the town's redesign to look like. I also really like the fact that Betty White has a show on "planet green," that completes my life.

My stomach itches, I hope I don't have an infection.

I am pretty envious of this guy (www.mycrazyroommate.com) who has a, well you guessed it, crazy roommate and keeps a blog about him. I kind of wish I had that or at least kept a blog on my somewhat crazy roommates.

I can't really think of anything else to add right now...

This morning an old family friend called, Tim Leightner is his name, about coming over to the house to pick up an industrial mixer her let our family borrow a loooooong time ago. I remembered the crazy man and his cheerful wife but we had not seen them in goodness knows how long. Their kids have grown up, Matthew and I have grown older, they've moved, things have just changed. When they pulled up in the front yard it was like nothing had really changed: that the friendships from years ago were not broken, that everything was kind of normal.

They got out of the truck and we talked (my dad, brother and I with Tim, his wife, and oldest son) for a long time as my brother loaded the mixer and Tim strapped it down with strap after strap. He's a pretty eccentric little man always telling stories and talks about gadgets he has or things he wants to build. But, I digress.

The thing I was amazed about as we talked with them was their tales of the new life they've found at their new 100 acre ranch in Plains, Montana. They still have their home here in Brevard, but live most of the time out there in the wide-open country surrounded by open fields, rivers, mountains, trees, and deer. They talked about the small town they live near that has everything you need. Like the fact that everything you need can be found at the Conoco station down the road. And, if a place doesn't have what you're looking for, well then you'll just have to wait but they can have the next day. The talked about everyone knowing who you are, people remembering you, and people knowing when you're new to the area. He even told a story of something he learned about at the local small grocery store. Apparently one of the frequent customers had a habit of taking the money from the "Leave a Coin, Take a Coin" change jar to pay for his groceries. After being told multiple times on multiple days to stop it the clerk finally reached across the counter and slapped him and it hasn't been a problem since. When he told that it made me think "That's what community is about." No, not violence or hitting someone, but about taking care of one another. The idea, that Tim presented, of "If your momma didn't teach ya right, then by-God 'we' will."

It's amazing to think of a place in this world where community is still upheld. Where life is simple. Where neighbors care for and respect one another. Where the land is beautiful and as untainted as it can be. Now I'm not saying that we all need to move to Montana (although their stories made the state sound so amazing), I just think that we can try to live that simply, that lovingly, with that idea of community and respect for ourselves and others on a daily basis.

Who would of thought that a visit from some long lost family friends would teach me such a lesson?

Labels: family, Montana, simple, visit

Well Hello Visitors (i.e. my mom and dad...haha)

I have a new layout!!! woohoo!

Although, it has required me to revert to the "Classic Template" of Blogger, so no fun widgets with my favorite websites and pictures and such...but I kind of like this simpler layout anyway, and it's fun!

I'll update more soon about what's going on in my life!!!

Labels: new layout

I have had an interest in Tibet since I was in the 7th grade. We were assigned a project to learn more about a world religion and I chose Tibetan Buddhism. I don't remember much of that project, what I do remember is that I enjoyed learning about a beautiful culture of peace and prayer. I was able to share what I learned with others at a World Day event and through giving my presentation to groups through roughly the 10th grade. I learned so much about the country of Tibet, the oppression that was occurring and had occurred there under China's rule, and the fleeing of the nation's leader, the Dalai Lama, to Dharmsala, India where the nation now has an exile government. I even used this image in an original presentation in 2000 as people were then preparing to boycott the 2008 summer Olympics in response to China's oppression of Tibet.

It wasn't until last week that Tibet came back to mind as I read on CNN the stories of peaceful protests ending in the deaths of dozens of Tibetans at the hand of the Chinese. I was certainly appalled but also reminded of what I had learned of this nation so many years ago.

For those of you who are not aware, Tibet is located in the middle of Asia, scholars disagree on saying it's located in Central or Southern Asia, but it is located in the center of the continent. It is called the "roof of the world" and is home to the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest which shares the Tibetan border with Nepal. The country has a rich history of culture and religion. In the 1600s the Dalai Lama figure, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, became the governmental leader of the nation as well. For many years the Dalai Lama has been chosen by the people of Tibet as the reincarnation of the previous Lama. There are numerous other religious and spiritual figures as well, including the Panchen Lama.

In 1949 tensions began to rise among China as the nation's new leader, Mao Zedong, ordered the so called "liberation" of the Tibetan people by the People's Liberation Army. Many nobles and working class people in Tibet cooperated with the People's Republic of China, but much turmoil took place over land reform and the Buddhist religion. Under mounting pressure and political distress the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual and religious leader, fled to India. The country is now considered part of China. The TAR, or Tibet Autonomous Region, is what the Chinese government (and most of the world for that matter) call Tibet. This region was created in 1965 for government reasons, but in all actuality comprises less than half of the historic Tibet. The United States and other industrialized nations recognize the TAR and China as the real Tibetan government and give no recognition the real Tibetan government in exile in Dharmsala.

Following the Chinese occupation rapid deforestation, mass killings, and destruction of the nation's rich culture and religion took place. Members of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) would go into Buddhist monasteries and nunneries and kill many. Hundreds upon hundreds within Tibet have been arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned for not agreeing with China's rule in Tibet. Many have died from torture, beatings, and harsh treatments; with some of the greatest numbers of death among Tibetan women. Orphans and illiteracy is rampant among the Tibetan population. The next Panchen Lama, one of the highest ranking Lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, was chosen by the Dalai Lama within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in 1990 following the 1989 death of the previous Lama. After his choosing the Chinese government denied the religion the use of this 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the real Lama and he and his family were jailed. The Chinese government search committee appointed their on Panchen Lama who is not recognized by followers of the religion. The Tibetan Government in Exile still believes that Nyima and his family are jailed. Some of the country's most valuable minerals, such as Borax and uranium, were ripped from the earth by the Chinese leaving broken and destroyed forests and country sides behind.

The Dalai Lama and his followers set up an exile government, as mentioned before, in Dharmsala, India just to the west of the Tibetan border. Here the Indian government have been kind enough to provide an area where Tibetans can escape religious and cultural persecution. Tibetan exiles can be found around the world, with a majority, 85,000 in India, 14,000 in Nepal, and 7,000 in Canada and the United States. The government also maintains International Offices of Tibet in Tokyo, Paris, London, New York, Zurich, and numerous other cities.

All of that is just a brief overview of the nation of Tibet without even explaining the rich culture of the country, the amazing traditions and beauty of Tibetan Buddhism, or offering more detail explanations of the human rights atrocities that have taken place in Tibet over the last four decades. All of this to say that the killings of many Buddhist monks the past several weeks is nothing new to the Tibetan people, but it is a reminder to those around the globe that China is still conducting evil practices in a nation that was wrongly occupied years ago. For those who don't know what occurred recently, on March 10, which is an official holiday of the Tibetan Government in Exile called Uprising Day, monks within Tibet began peaceful protests to China's occupation of the nation. These protest became volatile when Chinese soldiers tried to stop them with deadly force. As of today, the Tibetan Government in Exile has confirmed 80 deaths including many women and children that were killed as Chinese forces tried to end the protests. The protests became violent as Tibetan citizens began to through rocks and other debris at the Chinese. The Dalai Lama has called it a "cultural genocide" of his people. The protests and killings have negatively affected what the Chinese had hoped would be a smooth start up to this year's summer Olympics. Protests continue to break out across the nation as college and university students and other monks have began to fight against the Chinese occupation. The Dalai Lama has stated for years now that native Tibetans are seeking autonomy with the Chinese to preserve their "ancient cultural heritage" but with China's quick and deadly reaction, there culture, religion, and traditions are nearing extinction.

So why is this even important? Why do I find it necessary to take time to write something about Tibet? Because we must be aware of the denial of human rights that takes place in our world. Not just the killing of these peaceful protestors in Tibet, but the destruction of the Tibetan culture, the refusal to let Tibetan's practice their religion peacefully, and the blatant refusal to allow human rights by the nation of China. Not just Tibet, but genocide in Darfur and poverty in South America, hunger in the deepest parts of Africa, and sex trafficking in Eastern Europe and Russia.

I encourage you to look more into human rights and the lack of human rights around the world, especially in Tibet. I also encourage you to think about and learn more about the steps you can take to fight against the denial of human rights. From writing letters to your congressman, to donating money, to going and volunteering, to not buying Chinese products, to even boycotting this year's summer Olympics. We must stand up and say that all humans have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And we must be aware that we can indirectly fund agents of human rights denial if we are not aware of where we spend our time and money.

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REFERENCES

The Government of Tibet in Exile http://www.tibet.com
"Dalai Lama: China causing 'cultural genocide'" http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/tibet.unrest/

Labels: China, Dalai Lama, freedom, peace, Tibet

Sometimes I feel that life, my faith, the walk I have with Christ, Christianity in general (if you will) is a vicious cycle. It's a cycle of ups-and-downs, of running from and running to, of falling and getting back up. I feel so many times that it is easier to fall and stay down than to get back up and keep "fighting the good fight." I was talking last week with a good friend about how it is so easy to feel defeated; how the enemy beats us down and holds us to the floor and it is so easy for us to think "Forget you God...your way is too hard...I'm doing this on my own!" And, honestly, the last few weeks I have felt like that. It's a combination of being overwhelmed by struggle and commitments, being frustrated with my poor health and not knowing what is causing it, and just being down right sick of God and his "plan." It has been so easy for me to find comfort in other things that are temporary and not really comforting. It is so easy to run away from God for a little bit and find peace and happiness in life's "crap," but in the end you still feel beaten, defeated, and can never really find the happiness we can find in Christ. It's a funny thing isn't it?

As I was talking with this friend last week we talked about how we have to be intentional in our faith. We have to do things on purpose and with purpose to "keep the faith." We have to have a plan and we have to work to follow that plan. And we just have to live with purpose! We have to be open and honest with other brothers and sisters. We have to love like there is no tomorrow. We have to be true and genuine and work with others to advance and improve and grow.

I guess I have just gotten really sick of letting my struggles define me. Of letting what I struggle against and fight with make me who I am. I am tired of feeling like I have to be perfect and have to not fall, and feeling that every time I screw up that I have to restart my whole faith journey. Isn't is simply astonishing how the devil makes us feel that when we screw up we have lost forever? That everything we have done and are doing and plan to do for the Lord is completely negated by messing up with sin? Not that sin is ok and that we should just simply disregard it, but I think that we, or at least I, have to realize that my sin doesn't define me! I am the child of a living God. I am a prince, I have my name written in the Lamb's book of life, I am surrounded by angels that protect me and pick me up when I fall, I am prayed for by the saints gathered around the throne, I have been saved, redeemed, and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth! How amazing is that?!?! I have nothing to fear! At the sound of the name of Jesus demons flee! I have been given power through the spirit to do great things! HA! Booyah satan...you have NO power in my life! So you might as well just get up off of me and keep going your merry way, because "you can't touch this!" It's always nice to give the enemy a little kick in the face, isn't it?

Well...that's refreshing.

:-)

Labels: fight, genuine, God, growth, purpose, refreshing, sin, struggling

Edward Robert Stevenson...there are only a few things I know about this guy:

1. he's short
2. he has blonde dreadlocks down to his butt
3. he's funny and talkative
4. he's my friend Cannan's soulmate

I never met Edward, but my friend Cannan tells me that I would have loved him and that he would have loved me.

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When I came home on Friday afternoon mom told me that there had been a wreck right around the curve from our house on Thursday night, that the guy was 24 years old and died instantly. It was kind of shocking to think that such a young person died right near my house. Today I was going out and around that very curve and there were 3 cars and some people wondering around, I looked up in the woods near the tree the car hit and saw a familiar bundle of brown dreadlocks tied up on a girl's head and thought "Is that Cannan?" She and I had graduated high school together in 2006 and had been in art classes together for a few years I hadn't seen her since graduation almost 2 years ago, I absolutely love that girl! Well, on my way back in I decided to stop and see if that was her. As I got out of my car Cannan was walking toward me and I said "Cannan, is that you?!?" She walked up and started crying and just hugged me. I asked her what had happened and she explained that her soulmate, the love of her life, was killed on Thursday night. We hugged and hugged. She told me a little bit about Edward, the little bit I posted above. She said he was a fun-loving guy who loved everyone. That he would talk your ear off in the line at a grocery store or in the line at the bathroom. She said that he and I would have gotten along.

She told me that I was sweet for stopping and just hugged me and wouldn't let go. It was so amazing to be there with her. We talked a little longer and she told me some things, she told me to remember these things and never forget them. She told me to love, love, love--everyone and everything. She said to not be mean or angry or selfish but to love others. She told me to tell other people how I feel and if I just want to go up and give another big brother a hug to just grab them and hug them and let them know that I love them--to not be afraid to show my feelings. She told me to remember that life is precious and not just the life of a person but of every living thing--animal, plant, people. To remember that life is not about the money you have or the debt you owe but it's about the people you love and help and touch. She told me she loved me. As I was leaving she said "Tyler McCall I think that our paths will cross again sooner than later."

Tonight as I was eating at the Mexican restaurant uptown with another friend, I looked across the room and there sat Cannan and her family...

Rest in Peace Edward Robert Stevenson. I didn't know you and never will, but I do know that your memory will live on forever in the hearts, actions, and love of your family and friends and your soulmate Cannan.

Labels: Cannan, Edward Robert Stevenson, LIFE, love

I haven't written a blog in a little while. I've been so overwhelmed and stressed and kind of sad and just overwhelmed is the word I guess. There is so much going on in my life and the lives of those around me and I'm trying to figure all this crap out!

Hmm...life is pretty darn interesting isn't it?