Biscuet.com

In the last few days i’ve seen several news reports, photos and videos of people all across America celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden so i just thought i would weigh in with a few thoughts. When i saw photos of students at Penn State University throwing parties and celebration riots over his death i knew something wasn’t right. Because, in other reports that i saw on BBC Television there were Islamic leaders mourning his death, cursing America, and burning our flag. Why can one side of the ocean mourn the death of someone and the other side throw wild parties of celebration?  America, you have disappointed me. There is a wide gap between seeking justice and celebrating the death of a man. Seeking justice for wrongdoers seems right to me, but rejoicing while others are mourning seems cruel. In our quest for global peace and unity among the nations i don’t believe the celebration of death is the way forward.

Martin Luther King Jr. is greatly respected across multiple generations and belief systems. If nothing else, he stood for peace. In light of America’s celebration of the death of bin Laden, i resonate with this:

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar,
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater,
but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate.
So it goes.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I just returned from a long weekend in Harbin, China.  It was an incredible weekend to getaway and enjoy time with Jenn and many of our friends from around China.  It was a national holiday here in China so we were able to enjoy a couple of days off from work, but that also meant we had to contend with huge crowds of people everywhere we went.  I’ll try to post some photos on another post, but i want to reserve this post for one thing: this crazy video that Jenn shot.  She had her eyes closed most of the time and then she started crying toward the end, but the rest of us were mesmerized by what we were seeing.  I’ll admit that this is crazy, inhumane, and disturbing.  If you love goats or have a weak stomach then i don’t suggest watching this video.  Otherwise, enjoy!

My friend Daniel has been a great friend to me since college.  We were roommates for a year and our friendship has continued for quite a long time.  He had the opportunity to take a week off of work and come visit me in Beijing this past week.  It was a whirlwind of activity, food, and fun.  We started in Beijing, went to Shanghai for a few days, then back to Beijing to wrap up the trip.  There are a few things about Daniel’s visit that make it distinctly different than other guests i’ve hosted, here are some of those reasons off the top of my head:

• He’s a down-home Southern boy so he wasn’t so interested in our cuisine. He loved going to places like Hard Rock Cafe and TGI Fridays to get a good burger. However, i did convert him to a couple of dishes, the best of which was eggplant.
• He’s hilarious.  I haven’t laughed that hard in a really long time.  The term “side-splitting comedy” is a true statement. There were several times that i was laughing so hard my body hurt.
• I asked him what the most shocking or difficult thing was about China and he said it was the smells.  Understandable.
• We actually built in some time to relax.  Usually when people visit we go nonstop for several days until everyone feels like passing out from exhaustion.  But with Daniel it was fairly normal to go home in the middle of the day and just sit around for a few hours.  Kind of unnerving for me as i don’t want to bore my guests, but he seemed to enjoy it.

Here are some photos to tell a better story than these words:

My favorite mexican restaurant in Beijing is run by a guy named Ray.  It’s down a fairly obscure alley in the city and if you didn’t know it was there then you’d be highly unlikely to merely stumble upon it.  Ray is a cool guy in his mid-20′s.  My first time eating at his restaurant i quickly figured out that his English skills were far above average.  He used phrases like, “take it easy” and “how’s it going”.  Those aren’t typical phrases taught in China’s English courses.  I asked him about his English skills and why in the world he owns this restaurant.  His answers were simple and matter-of-fact, but far from a normal story.  He told me that he’s always dreamed of owning a restaurant and then he went to America on a basketball trip with his team.  While they were in San Diego their coach took them on a day trip across the boarder to Mexico.  While in Mexico, Ray discovered his love for Mexican food.  Who can blame him?  If you’ve ever been to Mexico and tasted those authentic chimichangas then you know what i’m talking about and you know how it so easily captured Ray’s heart.  After that life changing trip to the US, Ray returned to Beijing and fulfilled his dream of opening a restaurant.  He runs a lean and mean staff; usually no more than one waitress for the whole restaurant.  You can usually find Ray in the kitchen slaving away over delicious taco meat and tostadas.  And if you’re lucky, Ray’s beautiful white Alaskan husky will be hanging out on the bottom floor.

I won’t tell you the name of this restaurant because i consider it a hidden treasure, but if you ask me nicely maybe i’ll take you there someday.

I have creative tendencies.  I think in pictures and i can see the unseen.  But i think i’d argue that we all have creative tendencies somewhere inside of us.  You don’t have to be a wild-haired, ripped-jeans painter to think creatively.  There’s creativity in us all.  But i digress.  The point here is that today my creative tank feels empty.  I wanted to write something witty or compelling.  I wanted you to smile when you read whatever it is that i was going to write.  Or maybe, just maybe, i’d write something that would slowly pull a tear out of your eye.  You’d leave a comment about how moving this was and how much you learned.  Or, if i wrote something funny, you’d write about how funny i am and then i’d feel good about myself.  The good news for you is that none of that is going to happen because my creativity tank is empty.  A lot has happened in my life, but i don’t know what to say about it or how to say it.  I did just remember, as i was writing that last sentence, that today i was supposed to go buy a new-used bike.  The guy selling the bikes sits on this old alley near my house.  He sits there everyday and as my roommate would say, “He’s always there pushing, selling, stealing, wheeling and dealing.”  From what i gather, the guy steals bikes and then sells them.  You can’t judge me.  My bike was stolen a long time ago and now i’m just buying it back – sorta.  Anyway, i need something to help me cruise the streets of Beijing now that it’s starting to warm up a bit.  Speaking of which, today was in the 70′s and yesterday was too.  It’s a holiday here (Tomb Sweeping Day) so there are hordes of people out and about.  Tomb Sweeping Day basically means everyone is off paying homage to their ancestors and burning stuff on the side of the road.  All over the city you can see people lighting up their miniature bonfires to send necessary goods to their ancestors in the afterlife.  I digressed again, but for a long time that time.  And just as i wrote that last sentence i caught a guy taking my picture here in the cafe with his fake iPad.  Yes, a fake iPad.  He looked like he was holding up a clipboard to take my photo.

So how do you find fresh creativity?  Usually for me it comes when i’m listening to music and walking through the city.  I can feel the thoughts brewing inside me like coffee in a percolator.  First a few bubbles and drops, then more and more and more.  Then before long i’m overflowing with fresh ideas and i better write them down quick or else they’ll all fall to the floor and be trampled on by everyone’s dirty shoes.  They’ll go forgotten and they’ll dry up to never be seen or used again.  Lately the percolator has been off and i’m trying to get it back on.

So, where does your creativity come from?  When do you feel most inspired?

Here’s a small glimpse of what i’ve been reading and watching around the interwebs ::

• Human Planet : Audio Slideshow.  WOW!  Beautiful photography and equally beautiful storytelling.
• Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus.  An interesting article that should convict many Christians and make you think.
• I wish i had been at this conference last weekend. Several friends were there and i’ve heard wonderful things so far!
• I received an invitation to this conference, but not sure if i can afford to go.
• My friends Katie and Maik are engaged.
• I’m looking forward to watching this film about China’s migrant workers.
• If i were just moving to China and needed some survival Chinese language, then i would definitely get this book from my friend, Joann.

At breakfast this morning a friend said the following sentence to me as he was referencing a quote that someone told him once:

“Live overseas for a month and you’ll want to write an article about it.  Live overseas for a year and you’ll want to write a book about it.  Live overseas for a few years and you won’t want to talk about it.”

I haven’t decided what i think about it.  I see some truths in that statement.  The truth i see is that life overseas isn’t an extended vacation anymore that you write to tell all your friends about.  It’s not that wild adventure of backpacking around the world that makes a compelling book.  It’s just life.  It’s just my life like your life is what it is in Atlanta or Nashville or Dubai.

But on the other hand, the statement above doesn’t speak at all about the miraculous, life-changing, incredibly awesome things we see happen all the time!  In some ways, i’m excited that seeing the extraordinary has become my normal.

Leaving Chiang Mai today felt like i was leaving behind an old friend.  We shared so many unforgettable moments.  Just like every friendship, there were moments of deep connection and there were moments where we wanted to rip each other to pieces.  Chiang Mai treated me well, took care of me, and renewed so much of my spirit.  I’m grateful for everything that the last month has meant.

Today i’ll step back into the life of my other very good friend – Beijing.  I’m sure we’ll bicker and argue again, but deep down we care for each other dearly.  There’s no doubt that Beijing will throw its harsh winter winds into my face, but soon the city will give way to the warmth of spring.  I feel like Beijing and i have been in a winter season together in more ways than one, but just like with every winter, spring is near.  The deep part of me that loves Beijing is hoping for the spring to come quickly.  I’m not just waiting for the physical season of warmth, but the deep warmth in our hearts as the city and i look ahead to another season of deepening our friendship.

I have some of the coolest friends in the world.  I woke up this morning and when i checked my email i found two photos from some very special friends.  I’d like to know the conversation that took place before they decided to take these photos and why they were thinking of me.  They are hilarious!

(and if you want to take similar creative pictures and send them to me then no doubt it will make my day!)

Have i ever told you how thankful i am that you read my blog?  It’s easy for me to think my thoughts, experiences, and the written expression of them is just silly and fun, but no one should care.  However… somehow you care and you come back and keep reading.  Thanks for that.  It really means a lot to me!

During these next several days i’ll be in the middle of some very strategic and meaningful days in Thailand.  I’m focusing an enormous amount of time, energy, heart, and passion into the people who are here to share in these special days with me.  There are roughly 600 of us all together to share some of the most massive stories you’ve ever heard.  Stories that words don’t do justice.  These are stories that are not even worthy to be written on the pages of books, much less blogs.  These are stories that are truly earth-shaking, light-sending, and heaven-bringing.

With that in mind, i trust that you’ll give me the grace to slow down on the blog and pour my energy and intentionality into these days that are ahead.  There’s not a set amount of time that i’ll be away.  I’ll write as i feel it’s appropriate or when i feel that there’s no other outlet for what’s in my head.  However, if several days go by without a peep from me then i don’t want you to feel like i’ve packed up and left.  I’m here, present and engaged.

Some of you who read this blog believe in a God who listens to our prayers and responds with grace and generosity.  If you fall into that category then pray for the 600 of us during these moments that we’re sharing together that encouragement will happen, hope will endure, healing will come, and passion will be restored.  If you don’t fall into that category as a person of prayer then just sit tight for a while and know that my time in Thailand is being well spent and these friendships here mean so much to me.

Much love from Thailand.

-Biscuet.