Lasting Community and the Airport

I've been traveling a lot lately which has left me alone for many hours. Most of my time has been spent in the airport, sitting and waiting. I have been interested in seeing the people who pass through the worlds holding zone.

People who travel seem mostly unhappy. Flying, for most, is nothing but a means to an end. I wish there was a more enjoyable means of transportation. I wish people were happier.

It amazing the anonymity that traveling provides. It's frustrating to see businessmen, civilians and the like passing each other, just inches away from true community. I'm not suggesting that a one hour conversation in the airport is lasting community, but it could be a start.

I would like to know people better. People who are not like me. I am around those people all the time, but I'm too scared to talk to them. It seems like somethings got to give.

The Celebration of Pants

Most of the time I have a difficult time wrapping my head around things (metaphorically, in this instance). One of those things (at this time) is the holiday season. I love the holidays, don't get me wrong, I guess I'm still trying to figure out what we are all celebrating. I know, on a personal level, what Christmas means to me, but what is it as a collective culture?

I've finished a lot of my shopping for the season, and I feel like the reason I celebrate has been cheapened by stuff. I know that for me, I don't get a new pair of pants for Christmas and think, "Oh, pants! This makes me love Jesus more." I usually just think, "Oh, pants! I'm glad someone gave these to me, because I'm too cheap to buy them on my own."

Don't get me wrong people. Please buy me presents. I'm just saying that celebrating the birth of Jesus and getting generic, made-in-China trinkets, seems like a non sequitur.

I'm certainly pro celebration-of-Jesus, I'm just not sure if I'm pro my-current-form-of-celebration-of-Jesus.