Me

I keep reading about how America has slipped just slightly from being the greatest country on earth, and how we are going to return to that status. I can't even begin to tell you how much I don't care. I don't understand nationalism. What does it matter if we're the greatest country or not? So long as we are sheltered, fed, watered and allowed to work as we choose? Who cares about the rest?

I remain firmly convinced that we are not in a recession. I think we are in a correction, and a pendulum adjustment. We overachieved for too long, and now we are beginning to function at a mean level. I don't really see a huge recovery or a precipitous collapse. I think we now are what we are - which might not be such a bad thing.

I think we've all lived at our own, and at other peoples' expense for too long.

A pastor I really respected resigned 6 weeks ago. I haven't been to church in 5 weeks as a result. I think I never actually understood the importance of a pastor before. We live in a world of replacements. Is it any wonder no one gives a damn anymore? The average duration of a pastor in a Baptist church is less than 2 years - which leaves lots of time for idiots in pulpits. How much of an impact does anyone expect to have in 104 days (2 x 52 Sundays)?

I think about myself too much, and too little. I think too highly of myself, and consequently, regard myself too little. I don't plan. I think I'm tough enough and smart enough to deal with whatever. I'm not.

I'm 24, going on 80, and I can't think of a single thing to do with my life. The only thing I can do is write - and I very much fear the old adage is true. Those who can do, do. Those who can't write. I have no idea what to attempt to do with myself, or what direction I'm headed.

I used to be able to write these long rambling blog posts about whatever I was currently thinking or feeling - even if I had done nothing for days at a time. I can't remember how I did it. I'm not that interesting.

I watched "The Boy in Striped Pyjamas" today - and it mostly left me confused. I don't understand the fascination with Holocaust films. Particularly this one. What was the point? To emphasize the pointlessness of it all?

I miss college a lot lately. Particularly now that facebook sucks. Mostly I just miss friendship and being involved in the day-to-day life of intelligent, open minded people. I never really respected that blessing and privilege enough.

Narcissism

I apologize. I have been lax in my promise to ramble and wax poetic about abnormal and irrelevant things. But no more.

I have returned. You probably don't care - which would be a sign that you are a healthy, balanced person who has better things to do than care about how much a person blogs. And if you care immensely - well, you should probably be off seeking professional help rather than reading this. But if you care slightly - well, you've come (back) to the right place.

For all of you people who find yourselves one step above complete apathy, I'm here for you. For all of you who are but a thoroughly scratched butt away from being completely unproductive - I write for people like you. Because let's be honest. Truly productive people don't blog - nor do they waste time reading blogs.

It's the rest of us, the other 92% of humanity who blog and read blogs. Because we enjoy mild productivity like a good cup of coffee - nothing like a few things done, and more that we aren't doing to make time-wasting and vain pontificating so enjoyable.

Where am I going with all of this?

Facebook and Twitter.

We've reached a new low in the evolution of people and society. Our need for immediate self-gratification has caused us to feel the need to post a status on facebook that declares that we are not actually doing anything. So now, people not only need to know when we are doing something, they need to know when we are not doing it as well.

Hell, there's even a device that will post your heart rate to Twitter for you. (Though for fast food and caffeine junkies - I'm only guilty of one - that might actually save a few lives.) That could actually prove cool. Especially if it added words. Imagine logging into Twitter to check your heart rate and seeing "Your heart rate is: 112 bpm. For God's sake fatty, lay off the sodium." Aside from the humor value, this is pathetic. Aside from the fact that the world could know of your death or heart attack within seconds - who cares? Wouldn't a heart rate be better sent to a hospital or dispatch than a website?

But seriously . . . how often do we need to be validated by other people? Every 15 minutes? Every hour? Every few hours? Every day?

Are we really that alone? Are we really this needy? Can we even survive if we are this desperately self-centered?

Or does society itself never evolve, but merely devolve and cycle in a vicious progression of infinite regression, broken occasionally by plateaus viewed historically as peaks, yet really merely isolated instances of slowed decline?

What are we?

Don't worry. I'm not actually expecting answers. Heck, I'm not even expecting to remember the questions. That's what conversation and real life and real people are for. This is a blog. I just say it here to avoid actually asking it, and to make myself feel deep and important.

"And if the council decides to bear its bottoms and sit on the dung heap? Will you do that as well?" ~ Stephen Lawhead

Until I return, watch out for Irishmen with sporks.