Taken from my back door with my iPhone and altered with the iPhone app Camera Bag.

Tell me that isn't beautiful! - Sean

In my last post I urged everyone to stop and behold the beauty of snow.  After reading the post I realized I was drawing an interesting parallel to how people view Jesus.  Here are two examples. Example One

"Snow is actually a beautifying agent. Every ugly thing in the world becomes beautiful when covered in a thick blanket of snow."

This is an interesting parallel to how Jesus covers our ugly sins and makes us appear righteous before God.

Example Two

"Instead of stopping to see and hear the beauty snow affords many of us begrudge snow for slowing down our busy lives. We curse it while we shovel our driveways and dig out our cars."

The world has denied Jesus as savior.  Many people view Christianity as a hindrance to their lifestyle.

I also assert that society deals with snow much like they do with Jesus.  We want it, and any memory of it, removed from our lives as quickly as possible. Now the question is why?  Why does society want Jesus removed from our lives as quickly as possible?  Hmmm? - Sean

Everyone I know, with one or two exceptions, feels a certain amount of hate for snow.  Why is snow treated with such disdain? Snow is actually a beautifying agent.  Every ugly thing in the world becomes beautiful when covered in a thick blanket of snow.  The darkest nights take on an ethereal glow as the little bit of ambient light is reflected and diffused.  The harsh noises of the world are muted by falling snow.  Often you can stand outside and hear absolutely nothing, even in a busy section of town. Instead of stopping to see and hear the beauty snow affords many of us begrudge snow for slowing down our busy lives.  We curse it while we shovel our driveways and dig out our cars.  We complain about it while we work  in our environmentally controlled offices. I urge you to put aside your preconceived notions.  Pause for a moment to revel in the incomprehensible beauty that snow offers.  Put down your shovel, stop clearing your car, and take a look around while remembering these words from Robert Frost.

Whose woods these are I think I know, His house is in the village though. He will not see me stopping here, To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer, To stop without a farmhouse near, Between the woods and frozen lake, The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake, To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep, Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. - Robert Frost

- Sean

The past two days I have had the freedom to explore interesting avenues on the web.  Places that didn't get much attention from me when I spent so much time at the office.  For example I have been reading about single handed trans-oceanic sailing.  Very interesting stuff. The varied interests that are instantly available on the web brought to mind the video clip below.  In the video Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple computer, compares computers to bicycles in an interesting way.  He also alludes to a prediction that computers are going to set the human mind free to explore information at an incredible speed.  Steve's prediction has come true, albeit in a slightly different form than he anticipated.  Without the Internet the computer is still slow to deliver information.  The Internet is to the computer as wheels are to a bicycle. Have you been anywhere cool on the Internet lately?  If so, why don't you leave a comment with a web address? - Sean httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUagMQZ_WFQ

No rush to get ready.  No waiting for my cold car to warm up.  No rush hour traffic.  No friendly face at the front desk when I walk in.  These sensations have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and today I have none of them. This isn't unheard of.  I have taken vacations and holidays in the past.  What makes this different is the knowledge that I might never have to do any of it again.  If the contracting position comes through, which it looks like it will, then I will be working from home.  My commute dropped from 30 miles to 30 steps. It just feels weird...and kinda nice. - Sean

Jenn told me this morning that people at her work are saying the world will end in 2012. What reason do they cite for this date? Because the Mayan calendar ends in 2012 of course! I guess it is possible the Mayans had some insight into the end times. However, I think a more likely scenario is that if the Mayan culture hadn't died out over 400 years ago they probably would have updated their calendar sometime in the twentieth century. Probably in the 1950s. But, then again, what do I know. - Sean

My time with my current employer has come to an end.  Today we celebrated my last day with the customary pizza party.  During which  I received many well wishes from my now former coworkers.  It is a bittersweet parting in that I enjoyed working here and loved the people, but I am also ready to move on to the next chapter of my life.  Which it turns out has arrived in two flavors, both of which look enticing.

With so many people being laid off and the unemployment lines growing it can be a pretty scary time.  And yet, if you are still employed you are probably not feeling the economic pinch.  So how is the news affecting you?  Are you worried? - Sean