Each Bengal Tiger Has It's Own Pattern of Stripes (or Finding Black and White in a Greyish World)

I find myself repeatedly wondering how to make sense of it all. People who believe in God. My God, your God, the “other” god, no god, some god, ‘your own, personal Jesus’ (oh wait, that’s a song, never mind)…

Today, I read someone’s blog that really challenges the thought of a book that I just finished last night. (By the way, thanks AMM for sharing your black and white with us.)

"There is one black and white issue that I will not be moved on. That is this, there is ONE Savior, ONE God, ONE Way." ---AMM


I agree with this (I think). I recently read The Life of Pi by Yann Martel, and it began to put words to the conversations and thoughts that I’ve found to be so challenging.

Life of Pi, is a fantastic read, a beautiful read, for anyone interested. I loved the thought stretching that it required, I loved the adventure, and I loved the imagery. The young boy claims to be Christian, Muslim, and Hindu. He raises a challenging thought (one that many of my friends live out or ask in one way or another). If there is only one God, wouldn't all religions (namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism) lead to the one and only God?

Anyway, I'm writing this not to start a huge ugly back and forth, but I would like to hear more thoughts on this; not who’s right and who’s wrong, but how you personally have come to your current conclusions (about the big statement/question and/or the book or simply, which title you think I should have chosen).




PS If anyone would like to read through this together and discuss it along the way, let me know (blog me, email me, or call me). I'll read it again, and probably again, but probably not again again again.

Summer Sabbatical Summarized Scrapbook Style (In no particular order)

My Summer...

1. Started training for the Columbus Marathon (popping the marathon cherry in Columbus)
2. Read: DaVinci Code, Monster, The Four Loves, some Sherlock Holmes, The Life of Pi, and lots of newspapers
3. Completed an insane yardsale for a fundraiser.
4. Began running on Sundays with the local run club.
5. Other Movies: Break Up, Saw, The Ringer, Red Eye, The Jacket, Eon Flux, The Aviator, The Departed, Pirates, Little Miss Sunshine, Super Size Me, Borat, to name a few





6. Expanded my circle of friends.
7. Played tennis on clay for the first time (popped the clay court cherry in Cincy!)
8. Started the Spring off with an awesome, awesome pedicure (later trashed it;
see 1, 4, 7, and 9) .
9. Summer kickball league! Finally got to play, instead of just being a beer buddy.
10. Laughed on the inside while helping the FO pick out "gear" for his first post USMC camping trip..."It's civilian, honey, not tactical. Remember, 'So and So' will be there, and I heard he wanted to get a hotel room." Ok, that was mean. Sorry (if you know who you are), but it did run through my mind.


11. Found out that "foot ass" pizza doesn't taste like it smells.
12. Roadtrip to Chi town. Love Chi town!
13. Took the GRE, not.
14. First trips to Findlay Market...awesome!
15. Discovered a really great $10 quiche.




16. Great Movie Event: Nacho Libre!!!!
17. Ate a coney with Cincinnati Chili, over on the Westside (and liked it, sort of... I'm not too crazy about the boiled/steamed hotdog).
18. Discovered Putz's (est in 1938), hence #17.
19. Remember those matchbox cars that when you crashed them the side would flip around to show the damage? I found a way to do that with my car...only I can't get it to flip around to the nicer side again.



20. Demolished an apartment.
21. Drove Bragg's car (even after 19). I love driving that car!
22. Discovered my urban world funk identity...
23. Got over a strange crush.
24. Ironic moment #1: I'm driving through downtown Cincinnati 5:20 pm on a Wednesday and what do I see? A woman with a cast on her left leg, jaywalking on Reading right before Eggleston. Maybe she can get a matching set.
25. Ironic moment #2: A flat chested (no chested) sales clerk found the perfect fit swim suit for me.
26. Ironic moment #3: I ironed one of The FO's work shirts.
27. Learned how to tile.









28. Random Thought #1: Contemplated the risks of waxing certain areas after using a self tanner for two weeks....hmmm?
29. Random Thought #2: Contemplated what would happen if a particular sister dated a particular friend. It was really scary and I think it would end poorly. Good thing they don't know each other and they live about 2000 miles apart. (Whew, that was close!)
30. Helped NotSoStrange paint her room...nice color.

31. Discovered some sick toys in NotSoStrange's roommates stash for her niece. What 2 year old needs a Beer Drinking Boxing Margeret Thatcher Puppet? And the person trapped in the box....that's just creepy!
32. Thanks to Da B'Jesus Pimp, I learned how to feed 60+ teenagers in 30 minutes.
33. 1st time to the Greek Festival. I'll be going back next year, because no one told me the really good stuff is inside the church!
34. Sang "Happy Birthday" at the top of my lungs (with 16 others) in the middle of a restaurant. It's fun to watch friends blush...and yes, you were blushing, Pimp!
35. Gave my nightmares to God. I'm sleeping better now.

36. Pretty sure God prompted me one morning as I drank my coffee. It was something simple for me, but significant on the other side. By the way, it was a brief and quiet prompting, so remember to take some time and just quietly sip your coffee, chai, latte, yadre matte, or sunny-D.
37. Cringed following some blogs. Like a favorite scratched record, I kept listening hoping the repeating would stop and I could hear the rest of the album.
38. Shared a book with one of my neighbors. He really enjoyed it and is planning on checking out more Donald Miller. Coolest thing, I connected with a single 60 something year old white guy. He goes for Chinese downtown every Sunday and he and I can talk about books.
39. Smiled alot every time I thought how God has answered a 6 year prayer request. Smiling now.
40. New tunes: Ben Weaver, Doveman, oh and Braggalicious;)

41. New Recipes: Roasted bell pepper dish (yummy), Chicken on the grill (love the change), trail brownies

42. Joined Team in Training. Planning on running The Flying Pig with them.
43. Hoping that a really great friend is growing during her sabbatical.
44. Trip to NYC.

45. Watched my first Bengals game last weekend at my neighborhood bar. The best play I saw happened right as a fellow patron yelled, "Don't suck!" We required that he yell, "Don't suck!" before each play.
46. Met loads of new peeps!
47. Became an aunt...yes that means that the FO is a UFO!

48. Trip to NC.
49. Discovered a wonderful (and cheap) meatball sub in Clifton (you'll have to ask, if you want to know where)
50. Went to my first Reds game.