Holding On

In reading this article at SFGate.com today, I was not astounded.

But it did get me thinking.  What is it that makes us reject something when evidence is directly presented to us?  There are plenty of examples in today world, such as the idea that autism is caused by vaccines.  Despite a decent amount of evidence to the contrary, some parents still will put their children more in harm's way by not getting vaccinated against devastating diseases.  It's a choice that gives all risk and no reward. What of the children with autism that were not vaccinated?

But this isn't the only example.  There are people out there that believe our current President wasn't born an American, or that the government staged the moon landing, or that the sun revolves around the Earth (See this Newsweek article for some more...).

I can understand arguments for viewpoints I do not agree with.  Sometimes, there is an absence of certain evidence, and we are left to fill it ourselves.  We can go many different directions, as we can only decide based on what we see and how we see it.

I don't know sometimes.  I see science and fact as absolute, but how many times have we revised science?  Maybe this is why there are those that reject findings, no matter how proven they are.  Even I am skeptical sometimes: there are constant stories of new planet findings around other stars, and I wonder how accurate they can be.  These are gigantic planets often, but what if they aren't?  What if the calculations are wrong?  And what if they are right. but only to a point?

I like to try to understand different points of view.  That can be harder than it sounds.  But how do I really know that I am right if I haven't understood the other points of view?  How do I really know that I am right if I have?

Scorcher!

I just checked the temperature gauge on my phone, and I'm not that shocked to find it to be over 100 today.  It certainly feels like it.  I'm glad we did all the moving yesterday, when it was only in the high 80s/low 90s.

Ah, my move to Berkeley is complete.  Well, at least phase one is complete.  I have (more or less) finished unpacking last night and this morning after moving things in trucks and cars yesterday.  While we were waiting to see the place before deciding if Kelse was going to move here as well, it appears we will both fit, if not snugly.  So now it is up to her to pack up the rest of the apartment and prepare to join me here, whenever correct timing allows.

When I awoke this morning, my fridge had apple juice, Kool-Aid, and leftover garlic cheese bread in it, and otherwise a lot of empty space.  So I set off in search of basics at the local Safeway, only a mile away.  I managed to fit everything I wanted into my backpack on one reusable cloth bag, which I had to buy.  But everything made it home and intact, including the two cartons of eggs.  What am I supposed to do when they have them on sale for buy one, get one free?  Thirty-six eggs!

I took a nap this afternoon for a few hours.  For some reason I could not get myself to sleep last night, and then woke early this morning.  I still have to get used to living in the heart of a bustling city, quite different than anywhere else I've lived before.  Alas, three hours of sleep was not enough.  Thus, the nap.

Tonight holds a fantasy football draft online with Carl, and possibly much Simpsons viewing, if I can get myself to find a place where I can find the newly released (today!) season.  If it cools enough, I might try baking something, but that may wait for another, much cooler day.

As Good A Place As Any To Start

Here begins a chronicle of the coming years of my life.

Tomorrow morning, I move to Berkeley, California, to begin life as a student again at the Pacific School of Religion.  I left behind a good job at Walmart almost three months ago, and now I leave behind a good apartment and good life in Petaluma to follow where my heart tells me to go.  Seminary should take three years, and beyond is quite unknown.

Life, as always, is tumultuous.  I could not have guessed this direction a year ago or a decade ago (coincidentally, a time when I was starting as a new student again, in college).  Strangely, I'm not apprehensive about the coming challenges.  Time will tell if I meet them, but I stand here ready to take them on, and I suppose that's as good a start as any.

This space will tell my tale in more ways than one.  Of course, the basic day-to-day happenings of my life will be related, as well as one could.  But also there will be musings on issues of the day that weigh on my mind, or exploration of deeper thoughts, trying to explore my own context in the larger world, spiritual or not.  And, perhaps, an effort to work on and improve my writing, creatively.

I chronicle this future not for you, dear reader, though I do hope you will come along for the ride.  Instead, I want something I can look back upon days, weeks, months, years from now, to see where I came from and where I'm going.  I welcome any and all input from family, friends, and passers-by.

We can only know we've grown by looking back to see where we came from.  To new beginnings!