Dynamic Yet Consistent

In the midst of a super-busy week I experiencing a heart-sinking feeling: I opened the lid to my macbook pro and all I got was a blank screen.  Earlier in the day I had closed my computer to take it with me to meeting.  Every other time it simply went to sleep and then “woke up” when I opened the lid.  If I had left it unplugged for a while it would take a bit to start up, but this time I got nothing.  I tried charging it, but then when I tried starting it, I would get the start up sound, but then just a black screen staring at me.  It would accept some start up commands (like zapping the PRAM), but beyond that it was dead.  I thought it might just be the screen went out, but it was obvious no other functions worked (i.e. volume, keyboard brightness, etc.).

Blank Screen on a MacBook Pro (obviously not mine).

After trying everything I could think of, I finally found a message board that suggested it could be a corrupted sleep image.  After deleting the corrupted file, I was able to get things running.  It was such a frustrating and nerve-wracking experience, I figure I could go through the steps I took and hopefully save someone else some grief if encounter a similar problem.  Here is what I did to fix my problem.

1. Start your macbook (pro) in target disk mode
   • Connect your computer another mac via firewire.
   • Start up the working mac and then press the power button on the mac that is not working
   • While it is starting, hold down the “T” key.
   • Your mac should show up as an external hard drive in the finder of the other mac
2. Delete the Sleep Image
   • Open Finder in the working computer
   • Press CMD+Shift+G
   • Enter “/volumes/Your Computer/private/var/vm/” where “Your Computer” equals the name of the broken mac as seen in Finder.
   • Delete the “Sleepimage” file
     • I also deleted the “swapfile0” file which was there, but I am not sure if this is necessary.
   • Empty the Trash
3. Delete the Extension files
   • Navigate to the /System/Library folder on the broken mac
   • Delete the “Extensions.mkext” file
     • I also deleted the “Extensions.kextcache” file which was there, but I am not sure if this is necessary.
   • Empty the Trash
4. Eject the broken mac just like you do a regular external hard drive.
5. Press the power button on your mac if it is still running and remove the firewire cable.

If everything goes like it should, your macbook (pro) should work like normal.  I immediately backed up all my important files and disabled sleep mode via the preferences pane.

Note: The first time I tried this I followed the directions found here, but it did not work.  I tried it again and deleted the additional files noted above and emptied the trash can and everything worked that time around. HT to ariejan.net for getting me in the right direction.

UPDATE: For me, this problem escalated from a one time thing, to a frequent occurrence, until finally I could not shut the computer off without getting the blank screen.  I took it to the IT Department at the University where I work.  They ended up sending it off to Apple who replaced the Nvidia graphics card.  Even though my MBP was out of warranty they replaced everything free of charge because this is a known issue for them.

It is almost midnight.  I tried going to bed 3 hours ago, but I keep mulling things over in my head.  After an hour of staring at the ceiling I decided to get up and try to distract myself on the internet.  Hopefully my mindless surfing can serve to enlighten you.

As I was browsing a list of natural oddities in the world, I came across The Tree of Ténéré.

When it was still alive, this tree was the only vegetation in the Sahara within a 250 mile radius (That’s Bowling Green to St. Louis or Atlanta in all directions!).  As the Sahara dried out further, all other vegetation died… except for this tree.  A well dug in the area revealed the roots went down over 120 feet into the water table.  At the time, it was the only tree worthy of mention on major maps, and was a primary navigational tool for caravans.  An official in the area described it as such:

One must see the Tree to believe its existence. What is its secret? How can it still be living in spite of the multitudes of camels which trample at its sides? How at each azalai does not a lost camel eat its leaves and thorns? Why don’t the numerous Touareg leading the salt caravans cut its branches to make fires to brew their tea? The only answer is that the tree is taboo and considered as such by the caravaniers. There is a kind of superstition, a tribal order which is always respected. Each year the azalai gather round the Tree before facing the crossing of the Ténéré. The Acacia has become a living lighthouse; it is the first or the last landmark for the azalai leaving Agadez for Bilma, or returning.

Despite its noble existence, the tree came to an end in a very ignoble way.  In 1973 a drunk driver lost control of his truck and hit the only object in hundreds of miles.  After surviving (perhaps) hundreds of years of some of the harshest elements imaginable, this tree meets its end because some idiot has too much to drink and gets behind the wheel.  Unbelievable.  Surely there is a moral to this story.

I stepped outside this evening to get something out of my car and was blown away by the dancing beauty of an electrical storm lighting up the night sky.  From my vantage point the cloud-to-cloud lightening was non-stop.  I have no idea how long it had been going on or how long it lasted, but I spent a good 15 minutes mesmerized by the sight.  I did not have a tripod for my still camera, nor our good video camera so I had to settle for the video setting on my point and shoot.  You can certainly get a feel for it, but in real life each strike lit up the entire sky.

…sometimes literally.

By the way… Mikayla’s temperature was normal.

What would happen if we were honest about character flaws?

How would things look different if we were willing to admit our shortcomings and if we were able to have honest conversations with those we love about theirs.

I know I have my issues.  I can be arrogant and self-centered.  I am over critical of others ideas and too often insist things go my way.  I am better at coming up with ideas than I am with implementing them.  I can be too goals-oriented and overlook the people involved.  I don’t always give people the benefit of the doubt and am impatient.  I procrastinate and sometimes don’t follow through with the things I commit to…. (I really could go on much longer, but that is the point of this post).

Since Mikayla was born, I have been much more introspective about who I am versus who I want to be.  I am idealistic by nature and want things to be the best they can be (which probably is as much a contributing factor to many of my flaws as it is a solution).  The problem is I don’t always know when I am exibihiting these behaviors.  What is worse is I am sure there are others I have not listed that I don’t even know about.

I want to work on these issues, but I also know that owning up to them is painful.  Towards the end of my high school years, I began realizing areas where I had been a jerk (and by jerk, I don’t mean just saying something hurtful… I am talking about being a real asshole).  I tried to make apologies where possible, but I know I was never able to right the wrongs.  Even now, I will be telling a story a cringe when I think back to some of my choices, or how I treated people.  It is painful for me to realize these flaws, but it is worse to not acknowledge them.

I not only want to be willing and able to examine my own life, but I want to have the kind of friends who are comfortable telling me when I am being an ass, or when I have stepped over the line, or when I need to buck up and apologize, or admit I was wrong.  I want to be a better person even if that means having some painful conversations, or having my pride hurt.

On the other side, I wish I was better at being honest with those I care about about things I see in their lives that concern me.  I have always been a direct person and rarely shy away from conflict.  But, if I am honest, most times I am direct it is for my own selfish reasons.  I have been hurt, and I want them to know.  Well, I want to be direct because I love my friends and family and want them to be better people — whether or not it affects me directly.

I have never really been one to gossip and talk about others, but I do find myself judging others actions much more frequently than I would like.  I assume people’s motives when I really have no idea.  Often when I have had difficult conversations with friends about why they do things that they do, I have realized my perspective was wrong in the first place.

If I were most honest with those I care about things that concern me, I believe one of two things is most likely to happen.  Either I will gain a deeper respect for them by understanding their perspective, or, they will hopefully take to heart my concerns and in the end be better people.

All too often we are not cognizant of our flaws in the same way those around us are.  We may not even realize we are hurting people with our words or actions.  Equally, when we think we understand someone else and wish their behavior was different, the fact of the matter is we simply may not understand the larger picture.

Being open and honest is almost always awkward and it is often painful, but I feel it makes us better people and allows us to understand and care for those around us in a deeper way.  I have seen friendships fail because people were unwilling to be honest about concerns or hurts and assumed the worst.

So, what would happen if we were open about our character flaws and receptive to others criticism and honest with those we care about about our concerns?

I can’t answer that globally, but I can say that those are the types of relationships I want to have.  I want to acknowledge my flaws and be aware of when they are showing through.  I want to know when I cross the line and when I hurt people so I can be a better person and so I can try and make things right.  I don’t want to judge and be critical of others actions and motives if I am not willing to have a straight forward conversation with them.    I want to be a better  person…. and… I want the same for you.

This is the ninth in a series of ten Top 10 posts that Beth and I are completing.  Today we will look at our 10 favorite websites and tomorrow (or the next day) we will conclude with the 10 ideas that define us as people.  In listing these sites, I am trying to be very honest and go with sites I regularly use rather than sites with philosophical importance.  Enjoy.

1. Google – There is no question this (and offshoots of it) is my favorite online destination.  In fact, I started to write this post earlier, but after 1,000 words I wasn’t past #1 and ended up branching it off as a separate post (which you can find here.)
2. Facebook – I was later than most of my friends signing up for Facebook, but I have jumped in with both feet.  In fact, I did not have it while in college, but not use it to keep up with friends all over the country and the world.  We have so many friends we do not see on a regular basis, it really is a resource for maintaining connections.
3. Zamzar – Probably a site most people are not familiar with, but for me, it is a lifesaver.  I often work with files that are in the wrong format.  Rather than always downloading a file conversion software, Zamzar will do it for you online and then send you the results.  Great for audio, video, documents, etc.
4. Straightbourbon – Most of you know I work in the spirits industry.  While Corsair produces many unaged spirits, we are moving towards being a major whiskey producer.  Most of what I have learned about bourbon (technical, historical, practical) I have picked up from the guys (and few gals) who frequent this site.
5. Mint.com – This site serves as a financial account aggregator which provides a single place to view all your finances.  It also helps you construct a budget and alerts you of irregular spending.
6. Wikipedia – I know this is not a scholarly source, but it excellent for getting a general feel of a subject, or for learning about topics you never before would have been introduced to.  I have to be careful when I get on Wikipedia because it is so easy for me to spend a significant time following endless linked stories.
7. Kiva – In 2006 Muhammad Yunus won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with micro lending, which provides small short term loads to entrepreneurs in developing countries.  Kiva allows you to get in on the action by choosing who you want to loan your own money to.  The best part is that as your loans are repaid, you can roll them over to other people.  Since we joined a few years ago we have made over 100 loans in 26 countries.  You can view our profile here.
8. Addicting Games – I have not been on here much since Mikayla was born, but sometimes I just need a break and a few minutes of mindless entertainment sometimes does the trick.  I am pretty dang good at Max Dirt Bike.
9. Twitter – First, let me admit, I really do not understand twitter, but I like it.  I don’t use it to its fullest capacity, but I love being able to keep up with people in 140 character sound bites.  Perhaps it is the next great thing in networked communication, or perhaps it will be the downfall of our ADHD society.
10. MSNBC – While I don’t think their coverage is the best, I have consistently found MSNBC gets stories faster than any other source.  If there is a plane wreck, or a shooting, MSNBC seems to have the most information consistently.  I use it to supplement the other news sources I regularly look to (CNN, BBC, BG Daily News, Courier Journal, All Africa).

If you have been following along, Beth and I have been walking through 10 top 10 lists.  Today’s list is supposed to be top 10 websites.  I began writing early this morning and after 45 minutes and almost 1000 words, I had not gotten past #1.  So I have decided to break it off as a separate post.

You see, I kinda have an addiction.  I am addicted to Google.  Not just the search engine, but all the products they offer.  One of the Mentoring Artists at Kaleidoscope even calls me “Google Man.”  But what can I say, the things they create are instrumental in making my life easier.  I would say well over half of the activities I do include google in some way.  So, I have made a list of the google products I regularly use (at least on a weekly basis.)  As for the other post — Top 10 Websites, it will have to come later today.

• Google Search – This one should be obvious.  There is a reason Google has the lion’s share of the search market – it does a great job.  But where Google’s strength really lies is in its more focused searches.  These include:
  • Shopping – Find the best prices online and read retailer reviews.
  • Book – Like the card catalog, except you get to view the book right there.  I even use it to find things in books I already own.  More than once I have cited a book for a research paper using only this.
  • Scholar – Not as roboust as some academic databases I have used before, but I have been able to find journal articles on Google Scholar that I have not been able to get elsewhere.
  • Images – I use Google Image search almost daily.  It has become so ubiquitous I need not say more.
  • Videos – A cross between youtube and google image search.  I am not thrilled with the interface – I like youtube better – but it includes videos on other hosting sites as well as longer videos.  Great for watching documentaries online.
  • Blog search – This has been excellent in trying to find out information on niche subjects (like Swaziland orphanages).
• Google Home Page – Every time I open a browser I am met with Google’s homepage.  Here are the widgets I current have up: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Reader, BBC, CNN, Courier Journal, BG Daily News, C-Net news, All Africa News, Times of Swaziland, Swazi Observer.
• Gmail – I have every email from the last 5 years archived in my gmail account.  I got an account back when it was by invitation only.  I also have all my other emails (k-scope, kickert.info, broadway, WKU, etc.) integrated into it as well.  It makes searching for past correspondences super easy.  Beth and I even use Gmail to video chat with mom and dad via webcam.
• Google Calendar – Beth and I both keep multiple calendars that we can share and turn on and off.  I have a corsair calendar, a K-scope calendar, an academic calendar (not used anymore), Beth and I share family events and birthdays with a personal calendar.  I can also pull up Beth’s regular calendar to see if she has anything going on to schedule an event.
• Google Docs – I have been so impressed with the versatility and functionality of this service that I have had it integrated into the daily operation of K-scope and Corsair.  It is so easy to share files such as databases, or budget reports.  It keeps an archive of past revisions in case a file gets screwed up, and it doesn’t require multiple versions of a file to be floating around during editing.  Plus, it is great because you can access important information no matter where you are.  We use Google Apps to integrate this into existing domains.
• Google Alerts – Whenever something is posted about a topic important to you, you can have an email sent to your inbox.  For instance, any time there is a blog post or article or website about Corsair Artisan, Kaleidoscope or Ben Kickert I get an update.  Very Useful!
• Google Voice – I am one of the lucky few that currently have access to this service.  It was originally called Grand Central, but google bought it out and has it in a closed beta testing phase right now.  We use it for K-scope.  Google Voice is basically an online phone service.  We have a Google Voice phone number.  When someone calls it, it can ring any number of phones (i.e. your cell phone, your home phone, your spouce’s cell phone).  At K-scope it rings the two administrators.  Once you answer it, you can then transfer the call to other phones if you want.  If you don’t answer, it will go to voicemail which google voice will record and you can check online.  It even transcribes the message for you and you can have it sent SMS to your phone.  At k-scope it has allowed us to have a permanent phone number without having to pay for any service where we can use our cell phones without giving out personal numbers.  If we ever need to switch the contact person, we only need to change the settings.  I also have this set up with a West Virginia number so Mom and Dad can call me on my cell in KY with  local number.
• Google Maps – This, along with the more robust Google Earth, has been a life saver (and a time waster). I love taking a peak around the world and utilizing the various tools and map overlays that can be added.  Of course I use it for directions, but I also use it for research.
• Feedburner – I run my blog feed through Google’s feedburner so I can track subscriptions and get a feel for what types of post people are most interested in.
• Google Reader – This is a feed aggregator that allows you to read multiple blogs/ RSS feeds in one location.  You could argue it saves time because you aren’t having to go to various sites, but at the same time it probably is a time thief because you are more likely to read more entries.
• Goog411 – If you ever need a business phone number dial 1-800-GOOG-411.  With its voice recognition system you can get the phone number and address of any business.  Heck, it will even connect you so you don’t have to write the number down.
• Google Analytics – I have this integrated into my website so I can track visitors.  So far my blog has had visitors from 26 states and 16 countries. Overwhelming the most popular posts are those with pictures of Mikaya… go figure.
• Adsense – With this I can integrate ads into my blog.  So far I have made a whopping $0.03 from visitors like you.
• Software – In addition to the web based services, Google has several software packages that I use.  Here are a few.
  • Google Earth – Explore the world with this geographic program.
  • Google SketchUp – design buildings and other structures without any training.  I used this to sketch the Greenwood Campus and later was able to make measurements from my office.
  • Google Chrome – a blazing fast web browser.  I am just waiting for it to be released on Mac.

That is just my list of common uses.  I did not even get into Blogger, Picasa, Groups, Notebook, or Finance which many people use regularly.  There are also several things in the works that I am excited about, but have not been widely released such as Google Wave (next generation of communication protocal) and Google Andoid (operating system).

If Google really is trying to take over the world, I will be their first minion.

So far Beth and I have discussed what we like, what we want to accomplish, and a bit about who we are.  Today our list of 10 will look at what we like to do.  Here are my top 10 favorite activities:

1. Disc Golfing – I was introduced to disc golfing while I was in college.  I love it because it offers an easy escape outdoors, even if only for an hour or two.  You can play by yourself or in groups.  Best yet… is relatively cheap.  You could play ’til your heart was content for $2 if you buy a used disc.  For $20-30 you would be well on your way.  Compared to my other outdoor activities, this one is by far the cheapest.
   

   Discgolfing with some of Beth's students.

2. Gardening – Beth and I are on our third year of gardening, and the first in our own backyard.  I just got in from harvesting okra, tomatoes, corn and peppers.  Here is link to post I wrote earlier, and some pictures of the garden from today.
   

   Asparagus, corn, zucchini, okra, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, onions.

   

   Tomatoes, basil, okra, corn.

3. Rock Climbing – My first experience climbing was in high school at an indoor gym.  I ended up buying my own equipment and then getting involved in an outdoors group my Freshman year in college where I got into real rock climbing.  In the four years fighting fire in Idaho I expanded my experience.  Now I only climb a couple times a year, but I treasure each one.  It is not just the activity, but the comradery found sitting around at the bottom of the rocks too.
   

   Climbing in the Bitterroots, circa 2001

4. Backpacking – I was backpacking before I even knew what it was.  I was lucky enough to have parents that valued the outdoors and introduced them to me early.  In fact, my first camping trip was before I was a month old (at least that is what Dad says… but his memory is not what it used to be.)  I try to have one big trip every couple years, but is has been a few years since I have been out.  Just this week I went back through my pictures from a trip to Colorado.  Backpacking is one of those things that is fun to prepare for, to do, and to talk about later.
   

   Purifying water while backpacking in Colorado. (The day before we found an outfitter's stash of beer).

5. Traveling – I have been very fortunate to be able to travel quite a bit in my life.  I visited over 30 states in 18 months when I was in college and currently have visited all of the lower 48.  I have been to Mexico (kinda), Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Austria and Italy.  I enjoy traveling not only for the experiance, but also because it often forces me to reassess my own understandings of the world.
6. Conversing with friends over beverages – I enjoy good conversations in relaxed settings.  Like the activity above, this includes lots of things.  I enjoy talking theology, philosophy, politics, and anything in between.  I enjoy good drinks and people who enjoy good drinks.
7. Being with my family – One of my favorite activities is simply being with my family.  Not doing anything in particular… just being.  I love a lazy Sunday in a cozy bed, or a evening of talking with my extended family.  I feel very natural with my family and am comfortable just hanging out.
   

   Family picture at Kentucky Lake.

8. Working with my hands – Most of my work is cerebral, whether it is grant writing, or studying, or planning.  After 20 years of schooling, and 5 years of jobs mostly made up of life behind a computer, I find great relief in working with my hands.  If I get stressed out, I will work in the garage; if I have spent too much time writing grants, I get respite from mowing the lawn.  I love my current job at Corsair Artisan Distillery because it includes science, craft, mundane tasks and grunt labor.  My time fighting fire was probably my most fulfilling job at the end of the day (but not in terms of long range impact).
   

   Practice Rappells at Moyer in Idaho, circa 2003.

9. Driving long distances in the car alone – Everyone needs a way to relax and collect their thoughts.  Some people golf, some people go for walks, some people journal.  For me, the most calming time is driving alone in the car.  Often I do this with the windows down and the radio off.  When I was in Seminary, I would often leave at 4:30 in the morning and drive 2.5 hours.  I would have loved my sleep, but seeing the sun come up while I processed my thoughts was the most therapeutic thing I could do.
10. Researching – In all honesty, this is probably my favorite activity because it includes so much.  I enjoy spending time in the Library combing through old journals and abstracts to find a hidden gem of information for a paper.  I love pouring over a map trying to find the best route.  I love browsing wikipedia to learn about random things like historic natural disasters, or the standard model of particle physics.  I often get into a topic and try to read everything I can about it.  I spend hours trying to understand things like PHP so I can edit a blog.  And, if I am honest, much of the time I waste tinkering around on the internet is linked to this activity.

Here are 10 things you may or may not know about me.  This is list #7 of 10 lists Beth and I are completing.  I have tried to include facts from all stages of my life.

1. I was born in Joseph, Oregon.  This city has recently become noteworthy because it is the setting of the New York Times bestseller The Shack.  I have also lived in Idaho (4 summers), Wisconsin, and Somerset KY.
2. I took 2 years of square dance lessons (I even dropped out of boy scouts to do so).  I know Basic and Mainstream moves, as well as a few Plus calls.  What many people do not know is that Square Dancing is competitive.  We would have banners that could be won and defended based on the number of “squares” you could take to another club’s events.  There is even a video of me dancing with my lunch lady — as I am sure you can understand, that is in the vault.
3. I was a Senior in High School before I got more television stations other than PBS.  I only had cable the 4.5 years I was in college.
4. Beth and I attend two of WKU’s greatest sports achievements of the last decade.  Their basketball upset of UK at Rupp Arena, and their Div I-AA football national championship.  I even have a piece of the field goal posts from that game.
   

   I am directly above Big Red on the far post facing the camera.

5. I took the ACT three times in High School and my score dropped each time.
6. When I was in fourth grade I won a scholarship to go to handbell camp.  (Yes… I really said handbell camp).  The problem was that I had such bad rythm the only thing they could do was put me on the biggest bell (the one that was only rung 1-2 times per song) and then they would point to me when it was my big moment.
   

   Random Picture - the author is not pictured (but did look just as nerdy 17 years ago)

7. I have never seen the movie Titanic.
8. My longest relationship before Beth was 3 weeks (Beth and I dated 5.5 years before we got married).  I almost broke up with her the first month because I thought she was too good for me and I figured she was about to dump me.
9. I once drove 28 straight hours on my way home from Idaho.  I came in early and wanted to surprise Beth, so I shaved with a straight edge while driving through South Dakota.
10. I have no problem cleaning the toilets, or changing diapers, but I refuse to put away the Tupperware.

Beth and I have taken a short break from our 10 top 10 lists in order to spend some time with family.  Today we are on list #6, which looks at the most influential books for us.  Many of the concepts raised in these books will be revisited with our final blog post, which will examine the 10 ideas that define us as people.  I have listed them in a way that illustrates how each builds on the others.

1. Is there a text in this class?, Stanley Fish – This book examines the nature of truth as it relates to the authority of texts.  As you will see, many of the books that follow rely on an interpretation of scripture to direct a community to action.  Fish provides a framework for understanding how interpretive communities shape truth.
   
2. Nature of Doctrine, George Lindbeck – Whereas Fish looks as the authority of texts, Lindbeck looks at the nature of religion to determine how they practically function.  It is his conclusion that religion is like language and culture in that it explains the world around us, but it also helps us experience it.
   
3. Life in Biblical Israel, Philip King and Lawrence Stager – Once we have discussed the role of community, religions and texts, it is essentially we understand the communities of Scripture if we are going to allow it to shape our lives.  This book is approachable and practical as it outlines the world from which the Old Testament was born.  Concepts such as kinsman redeemer and house of the father unlock amazing depth in the Hebrew Scriptures.
   
4. New Testament and the People of God, N.T. Wright – No other theologian / historian has shaped my understanding of Scripture more than N.T. Wright.  He does an excellent job of allowing the historical setting to inform a reader’s understanding of Scripture.  He is a prolific writer, but this book in particular has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of the world of the New Testament.
   
   
5. Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann – Once the world of scripture is established, we must understand how that affects the modern people of God.  Brueggemann (my favorite OT scholar) outlines the role of the prophet in projecting a world in line with God’s will.  Sometimes it requires critisizing an existing establishment, and at other times it requires energizing a new possibility.  I always try to keep both of these sides in tension in my own life.
   
6. Challenge of Jesus, N.T. Wright – Whereas Brueggemann outlines the implications of the OT prophet, in this book Wright outlines the implications of the person of Jesus.  By showing Jesus in his historical context he allows the reader to grasp the importance of the Messiah beyond simply “personal salvation.”
   
   
7. Resident Aliens, Stanley Hauerwas – After understanding the role community plays in shaping an understanding of truth, and then exploring the implications of the communities of scripture, Hauerwas explores what it means for Christians today to live as a community wherein we are in the world but not a part of it — living in a colony of hope.
   
   
8. The Politics of Jesus, John Howard Yoder – I have already confessed that deep down I am a Mennonite.  I have the utmost respect for people who are consistent in their views of the world, and practical in their faith.  This book captures Yoder’s approach to understanding Christianity by outlining a way of life that the modern people of God can follow that is consistent with the person of Jesus.
   
   
9. Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis – Moving away abstract and into the practical aspect of being a Christian, I most often turn to the tested words of Thomas à Kempis.  This is one of the most read texts of all time.  Since we are talking about books today, I will include this quote from him: “At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.”
   
   
10. Walden, Henry David Thoreau – I end with the timeless work of Henry David Thoreau.  While his existentialist thought may seem out of line in light of the previous 9 pieces, for me it is the culmination of the list because in the pages of this book I have always found the honesty and connectedness to the world that is necessary to live daily.  It was Thoreau who said “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation,” and it is he who provides the most poignant commentary on my life as I flip through the pages of his works.