Stop 47 - Tyler Texas Continued

Training for culture spice! With an upcoming community service trip to Thailand, foreign culinary culture propels me to cuisine fitness. As part of the workout, turbo-charged meals include eating whole jalapeno peppers. (see picture) Food exertions assist fully adapting to and learning from thai culture and adding a layer of steal to my stomach.

What foreign cultures could you learn from?

Stop 47 - Tyler Texas

JRR Tolkien once quipped "out of the frying pan and into the fire." Such words describe my experience stepping outside of the classroom's heated philosophical debates and into the outdoor oven called East Texas summer. In order to facilitate shorter grass, campus ground staff inducted me into the Order of Orange Mowers. In lieu of a trusty horse, I gallop a manly orange (think Minutemaid) chopper of grass. Despite the heat, a riding mower provides an excellent throne to ponder life's questions, enjoy natural beauty, and bring grass to its knees.

Have you enjoyed the realm outside of your cubicle today?

Stop 47 - Tyler, Texas (part deux)

Efficiently cramming seven grown men into a dorm from various countries with ages leaping from 17 to 35 is not a description of a prison. In stark contrast to windows beautified with iron rods, my current dorm room feels liberating. When the walls of petty annoyance are torn down by brotherly love and service, tight quarters spark friendly antics. From waging wars on the cricket invasion to conquering the world on a chess board, bunk bed strewn rooms have become a blessing.

From my bunk bed experiences (see picture), I have learned that life can be grand when it is not about me

Stop 48 - Tyler, Texas (part deux)

Communal living with seven grown men from various countries with ages from 17 to 35. I am not describing a prison cell, but my current dorm room. Along with the lack of bard on the windows, quality of life improved greatly in the recent future when we rescued a plush office chair with wheels from the jaws of a dumpster.

Stop 47 - Tyler, Texas

The ants have gone marching two by two in Texas. As I return to Tyler, Texas for nonprofit training, the local wildlife has celebrated my return. Fire ants appear to be the state's guardian insect gone awry. Sitting or standing on the sandy grass for longer than a short television advertisement has resulted in my legs growing ant borne red polka dots.

Although nuclear war could eliminate the attention craving insect, a valuable lessons could be learned outside the local ranch's classroom. Although the insect sting brings pain, certain wonders of life have value that transcends pain. Even when nursing insectly nibbles, showing love to another person is far more important than my current internal feelings.

Stop 47 - Back

Stop 46 - Washington DC

While searching for parking near Capital Hill our wandering band was able to find one of the few free long term parking spots (for commoners) near the main government buildings. The small blessing allowed us to visit close friends, experience the historic sites, and pray at the Justice House of Prayer.

What small blessing have produced big effects in your life?