I'm inspired

"Inspiration, by its very definition, is not something that occurs but rather something that happens." Ha Ha Ha, I love it when people try to sound smart and really they got nothing. It's inspiring knowing how stupid they don't know they are. The guy on The Office in particular. . .JUST WRITE THE POST ALREADY!! Fine, here's my real take on what inspires me.

Angie actually. I can't believe I landed her. Seriously guys, she is like a 5. Out of 4. Scared ya for a sec, didn't I? From the first day I met her what stood out was her. . .(censor) personality. Truly, she was different then all the other gals, and believe me I had a lot to choose from. Ahem. She truly was unique and still is. And that's what I love most. She is who she is and likes who she is and I like who she is, wouldn't change a thing actually, and I find all that inspiring.
I also like it when we kiss.

My kidos. Maddison makes me proud. She is only 8 but her interest in adult things is amazing, especially since her dad didn't get interested in those things until last February. She loves to read and learn and she does it at a high level. The other day I took her to Chapters and told her she could get any book she wanted. She picked "Jane Eyre." I know. Then there's her sense of humor, its actually witty and smart which is so cool. I look forward to many years of laughter, and making fun of people. Jk. Then there's Ethan. His love and loud passion for the environment, cooking, gardening, animals and art, at one time you know, unerved me a bit. . . but now I couldn't be more proud. The kid's got amazing character and he's only 5. I'm one happy dad. And then there's Lex. I can't help but smile because no box exists that I could ever put her in. For years I tried but the scratching, crying, social services etc. ended that little experiment. Lex is a delight and her eyes radiate with life. She will make big waves in this world, no doubt about it. Attention world: Surfs up!

My parents. (gees I just realized I'm like totally copying Blair, sorry man)

My dad is a tower of faith. My mom is a vessel of zeal. Together they radiate a zealous faith one that has touched hundreds over the years and caused 2 of their sons to enter the ministry and one daughter to build a faithful home. Without their example I would be lost in Regina wondering what my next move would be.

Movies.

I am what you might call a movie buff. Movies for me are rarely just entertainment, they are a spiritual experience. I know I know I sound a little over dramatic, but why not, we're talking about movies. Snicker. Seriously though you can ask Ang, I don't just watch movies, for the 2 hours, I live them. Good Will Hunting, Crash, Dogville, Schindler's List, Magnolia, Rudy, Rocky, are some that have inspired and challenged me in big ways. Many more have entertained me, touched me, angered me, made me cry and caused me to laugh so hard I feared I may never breathe again. Movies are powerful and continue to influence me in profound ways.

Books. Fiction / Non Fiction / Chicken Soup for the Soul - Jk/ I love them all.
Fiction books that have inspired as of late are: Life of Pi, The Alchemist, I Know this much is True and currently A Complicated Kindness. Non Fiction is too huge to choose so I'll just focus on Spirituality: most everything by Brian McLaren, Karen Armstrong, Dallas Willard, Marcus Borg among many others. Currently Contemplative Youth Ministry is wowing me, which is good cause things start up tommorow. Wow. I'm a pastor so by law I have to mention the bible but I'd mention it anyways. I've read scripture for 20 years and it still blows my hair back on a daily basis.

Friends. Local and unlocal. Local, there are too many to mention, plus I'll surely forget some so I'll just mention one - Greg Banco. There are few guys I know that love and serve people as naturally as he does. Spending time with him is a seminar in how to be. . . plus we laugh quite a lot.

Unlocal. I love all you guys, seriously, being part of this Blog community is something I truly treasure and look forward to each day. You all inspire me with your honesty, authenticity, grit and passion for life. Keep writing and lets have like a Blog Party. Similar to a block party but we all meet in a city somewhere and I don't know, talk in person? Yeh I know, its a pipe dream. So here's to pipe dreams, that they may happen.

Last but only because anything this long couldn't possibly be inspiring - Sports.

Sports has always been and still is a huge part of my life. Nothing inspires me more then watching athletes give it their all and accomplish amazing things. Great comebacks, great shots, great sportmanship, great rivalries, great records broken etc. its all inspiring - and heck, I still love to play myself, even though my knees, back, ankles and wife often protest.

Just like Blair I chose not to mention Jesus. It just seems wrong to include him in the same list as movies and books. . . I vote that our next Grid Blog topic be:
Who Jesus is to you!

If you made it to here, I'm inspired.

John