intelligent

My two older sisters were smart. I wasn’t. My mom and dad did their very best to never compare me to my sisters and they valued me for who I was but the system can be cruel. It was painstakingly clear that I just didn’t have the intellectual chops that my sisters possessed. They both graduated as valedictorians of their high school classes. Me? I was lucky to be in the top ten…of a very small graduating class. Very small. Did I mention it was small?

Then I made the Dean’s List after my first semester at A&M. The Dean’s List of those on academic probation, that is. I came home that Christmas break with a stellar 1.8 GPA. I don’t really remember Mom and Dad’s response but I’m sure it had something to do with the old saying, Shape Up or Ship Out! My mom was fond of saying that. I decided to shape up and from that point on, I took the pursuit of all things academic seriously.

It was during this time that I read Howard Gardner’s book Multiple Intelligences. In the book, Gardner challenged old-school notions that intelligence is a single entity that can be measured using standardized tests. He proposed that there are actually seven types of intelligences - two of which we usually associate intelligence with (linguistics, logical-mathematical), three associated with the arts (musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial) and two called personal intelligences (interpersonal and intrapersonal). His hope was that educators would straighten up and take note that many of their students possessed intelligences that were outside the scope of the old-school understanding.

Because I had such a hard time in school and because I know the world values “smart” people I want Sophia and Ira to excel in the traditional academy. And while they may do exactly that, I can already see these other intelligences rising up within them. The education system may not value them but I’ll take my cues from my mom and dad and value my kids for who they are. And really, at this stage of the game, isn’t that all that matters?

denton, texas as a hotbed for music? really?

Who knew the indie music scene in Denton, Texas was noteworthy? Apparently one of my basketball teammates here in the city knew that. On assignment for the Travel Section of the New York Times, Lionel flew to Denton to check out the music scene. You can read his article here.

Denton? Really?

don’t mess with me

It started innocent enough. Sophia was reading books to Ira. It was such a great moment that I got the camera out to film the scene. For about fifteen minutes they sat on the couch reading peacefully…until Sophia started dictating what would be read. Ira didn’t agree. She tried hiding a book from Ira. He wasn’t having it.

check it

Did you see the article about the guy whose finger grew back after it was cut off? He sprinkled a little magic powder on the finger and sure enough, it grew back. Crazy. Check it here.

Laura and Sophia had another cool fieldtrip the other day. Laura wrote about it on her blog. Check it here.

No TV show is funnier than this one. Check it.

More disapprove of our current president than any other in our history? No! Really? Check it here.

Did I mention this was the Summer of the Hayses? We’re going to spend the 4th with my college buddies at a very nice lakehouse livin’ large. Check out the scene here.

seder

I’m fairly certain I didn’t know what a Seder was ten years ago. Living in Texas, Passover Seder just wasn’t on my radar. So I was pretty excited when we were invited to share in our neighbor’s Seder this past Saturday.

Sitting around the table were twenty of us and I was fortunate to sit next to the matriarch of the family who was participating in her 92nd Seder. Next to her was her daughter, granddaughter, and great granddauther. Four generations passing on the story of the Exodus in a very real and meaningful way. The traditions, the prayers, the songs, the food - amazing.

The more I learn about this world, the more I’m able to genuinely love God and love others. The more I experience, the more I’m able to authentically appreciate the stories of others. I hope more of these experiences will come my way because I’m eager to learn more and experience more. It will make me much less judgmental, I’m sure.

ambiguity = good

I came across a great quote in the latest edition of Christian Century:

The rejection of paradox and ambiguity is the characteristic of heretics in all ages. Heresy is one-dimensional, narrow, over-simplified, and boring. It is straight-line thinking, preferring a pseudo-clarity to the many sidedness of truth, tidiness to the mess and complexity of reality. Orthodoxy by contrast is rooted in the unknowable.

- Kenneth Leech, British theologian

happy 33rd, baby

This was a video I made for Laura’s surprise party on her 31st birthday in 2006. And yes, there are indeed fields of gold.

(BTW, the video is not as long as it appears.)

summertime

I know, I know. We’ve had a mild winter here in NYC but that doesn’t mean that we can’t dream about the summer. Sophia and I were talking the other day about summer and it inspired us to make the following video.

What Would You Do?

2500 sterile sponges. What would you do with them all?

what child is this?

Starting this Sunday, December 9, Christ’s Church for Brooklyn will explore who it is that we are gearing up for this holiday season.

What was it about Jesus that literally changed the world as we know it? What is it about Jesus that his story still resonates with us? What will it be about Jesus that will inspire people way into the future to still tell his story?

Come join us on Sundays at 11 a.m. We meet at PS 261. Coffee, bagels, uplifting worship and open arms await you at Christ’s Church for Brooklyn.