Coincident or Destined

Have you ever been faced with a mind blowing small world encounter? Disneyland and Disneyworld have a ride called "It's a Small World," which is a different kind of mind blowing. It is a Disney original that you must go on, it is terrible, but you cannot enter those parks and not ride it. It would be like going to college in Tuscaloosa and never going to City Cafe or Dreamland. Going to New York City and not seeing the Statue of Liberty; New Orleans and Cafe Du Monde. I digress. I have a small world story that will probably put your small world story to shame.

Last Friday I booked a gig as a background actor in an episode of the new CBS series, "Mad Love." I got paid to stand in the background of scenes and pantomime conversations with other people. It was a lot of awkward and a lot of fun! The show was taped in Culver City on the Sony Studios lot, which is about thirty minutes away from my apartment. When I got there I got my visitors' pass and made my way to the stage where we would be filming. This was so exciting! My first Hollywood experience! After I got there I was directed to the background actors' holding trailer where I set my bags down. Part of doing background is that you have to bring your own wardrobe. It is a long story, but you bring all these clothes options and then go through the wardrobe department and have them approve your looks.

On my backpack I have a small Canadian flag patch from when I spent the summer with World Changers in Canada. There were about fifteen to twenty extras in the room and one asked if I was from Canada. Upon responding that I was from Alabama someone spoke up from across the room and said, "ROLL TIDE!" Excited and disoriented I said, "ROLL TIDE... are you from Alabama?" Here is the rest of the dialogue:

Him: "Yes"

Me: "What part are you from?"

Him: "Tuscaloosa"

Me: "...No way! I'm from Cottondale! Where did you go to school?"

Him: "I went to Central."

Me: "What year did you graduate?"

Him: "'92"

Me: "My brother-in-law graduated in '93! Max Karrh?"

Him: "Dude, my sister used to babysit Max!"

WHAT? Are you kidding me? I am currently 2,035 miles away from home, in a metro with over 10 million people and I just met a guy who is not only from the same state and town as me, but whose sister babysat my brother-in-law!? Coincident or destined?

This Sunday after church a few of us walked to a Denny's that was across the street. I cannot tell you the last time I ate at a Denny's. I am pretty sure there is a faded plastic kid's cup in a Cottondale cabinet that marks that occasion. These days I am trying my best to not eat out. It is just cheaper and healthier to cook and prepare the food yourself. However, it is very nice to fellowship and get to know new people after church, especially being new, so I went along. I decided before hand that I was only going to eat half of whatever I ordered so that I could eat the rest for dinner. If I could turn one meal into two I could justify spending the money on eating out. I got a delicious hamburger and fries that I would have normally finished but found myself full with half a burger and half an order of fries left. I asked for a carryout box and packed my food, I was the only one that had any leftovers. After taking literally four steps out of the door there was a homeless man standing there, who simply asked for my leftovers. He had no clue what was in the box, but he was hungry. Coincident or destined?

These things happen more often than we notice, sometimes we deliberately ignore them. It IS a small world, and God is in control of it. Sure, I believe that somethings are just a coincident. My roommate and I both wore green pants to church on Sunday, nothing spiritual about that. But let us not overlook our situations and environment. Instead of taking the time to complain about the weather or about the length of a line, lets take the time to see why we are in them. God may have us in a place for a reason.

As for the homeless man, I told him to get a job and kept walking. Just kidding, I handed him my food. My goal was to turn one meal into two and I did. There is no way that was a coincident, God provided for him.

Is the Real World on the Map?

(written for last Tuesday's post, lack of internet prevented that. So pretend it's last week.)

Has anyone actually found the real world? Not the MTV show, but the “Real World.” This post, in sorts, is a continuation of last week’s, “A Tale of Two Cities.” While packing and moving back and forth from Tuscaloosa to Los Angeles, I have thrown around the term the real world more times than I have had birthdays. When coming home after being in Los Angeles I said I was going back to the real world. Then when packing to head back to Los Angeles from the previous said real world, I said that I was going to the real world. Lost yet? Now my parents are leaving for Tuscaloosa tomorrow and I will be on my own once again, and you guessed it, I will be in - the - real - world.

This Matrix of a situation is not just a recent phenomenon. For anyone who has ever been to a church camp, mission project or a regular summer camp, when it is time to return home we say we are headed back to the real world. When we are students and it is time to return to school from summer or Christmas break, we are going back to the real world. When we graduate from college we are then welcomed to the real world. So where is this so called Real World, do we even know? Do we each have our own reality that we are bound to? Is it always the unpleasant like school, work, or a land of bills; or can it be an enjoyable place?

I for one cannot answer this question entirely or give you a mathematical equation to find the answer. I do believe that none of us have reached our real world yet. Without turning this into a huge theological debate, our real world is our eternity. None of the stresses or worries we have today will matter in the future; most will not even matter one year from now. Remember junior high drama? None of that mattered! Who we are now, what we do, what we believe and whom we worship all determine where our real world will be. This is what does matter. I challenge you to reflect on your life, your frustrations, your joy, and your beliefs. Where is your real world?

A Tale of Two Cities

As I lay in my bed for the first time last Saturday in almost two months, I found myself in an odd situation. Something just did not seem to be right. I was in the same house, same bed, same family so what was different? The answer to that question is still unknown but allow me to walk through my hypothesis.

For nearly two months I have been working on making Los Angeles my own. I was making new friends, constantly searching for a place to live and visiting different churches of all types of worship styles. I was finding a roommate and looking for new shops. I was applying for jobs and going on interviews. Simultaneously, however, things were just as progressive back home. Friends moved, my childhood pet died, holidays were celebrated and degrees were earned. Wedding plans were made and dates were set.

Somewhere in my psyche I convinced myself that everything back in Tuscaloosa would be frozen in time while I moved ahead. As I lay there I realized this place was no longer mine, yet Los Angeles was not mine either. I found myself in some kind of limbo, not the game with the broomstick unfortunately, but more of the unknown. I had a Home; it is where the heart is, right? And rest assured, that was in Tuscaloosa! Nonetheless, I have discovered that I am a man stuck between two cities. My home in one but now my life in another. I can only assume that this is what most people will feel at one point in their life; whether it be from going away for college, work, or marriage. It is all just another part of growing up and making your life your own. This perspective just adds to the excitement and anticipation of what is to come! Because of this, clutching to my faith and values is ever more important.

I am writing this the day before I head back to Los Angeles. This time my stay will be for a much longer period of time. I am positive that I will have these feelings all over again when I get to my new apartment. My parents will be helping me move in and I have brought some special things from home. Hopefully, this will potential help bridge the gap between my two cities.

West Coast vs Gulf Coast

The true gangsta battle.

Obviously there are going to be many differences in California and Alabama. California is quit arguably the most liberal state in America while Alabama is arguably the most conservative. My time in Los Angeles has been short so I have not picked up on too many cultural differences but I will gladly tell you a few.

The first thing that I noticed is that people out here are much more outgoing, not necessarily friendlier, just more outgoing. In Alabama we kind of have an unwritten rule not to talk to any strangers, we will smile at you all day long but we tend to keep to ourselves. We stand in the checkout lines and use the urinal rule (Ladies, this rule is head straight forward, no eye contact and no talking.) We just patiently wait our turn to be checked out. We only talk to each other when things are not going according to plan; the cashier is new, the barcode is messed up, or someone is wanting to pay in dimes and nickels. Then we turn to one another and make little comments to make light of the situation. People in Los Angeles will just start up a conversation for no reason. I kid you not, my roommate and I were walking down the body wash aisle. Out of nowhere a woman, who was on the phone, stuck a bottle in our faces and told us to smell how incredible it was. I may have glared at her a little rudely for breaking the our rule. Other times I have been standing in line with someone carrying on a conversation and had other people chime in on it. Oh, and one of my very first shopping experience in California was in Target. I was wearing a red Alabama shirt and a complete stranger stopped me and told how I should not be wearing that shirt. At first I was taken aback and ready to get in an argument with this stranger about how awesome Alabama is. She proceeded in telling me how she made the mistake of wearing a red shirt to Target once and everyone kept stopping her to ask her questions because it appeared she worked there. I guess when you live in a such a populated area you cannot avoid people and at some point you just give in and start talking to strangers.

Diversity is another huge difference that you will quickly pick up on. People of all races and nationalities live in California, and many have grown up here. This can be seen everywhere. Los Angeles has parts of town that are official known as Little Armenia, Little Tokyo and Koreatown. You will get into some of these areas where billboards and signs will no longer be in English. Church has been another place where I have seen diversity. Sadly, in Alabama (and the majority of the south) our churches are normally segregated and not for malice reasons, they just are. Our given history I am sure plays a part in this, but anyone reading this not from Alabama, please know that we do not purposefully and maliciously segregate our churches. I have been to several churches out here and each one has been beautifully diverse. Worship is a completely different experience when you can look around the room and see God's people of different races praising the same Father. It is awesome and I believe a little glimpse of Heaven.

Those are the two big cultural differences that I have noticed. As I stay longer I will pick up on more. Currently I am learning that football is not a big deal, naturally they have the Pac 10, I would not care for football either. Religion is taboo here, the only time it is okay to talk about it is when you are saying how you do not like it. Northern California is more liberal while Southern California is more conservative, this is out of complete greed not morals like in the South. Alas, It is too early in the game for me to speak on these topics.

5 Best Free Things to do in Los Angeles

5. Hollywood Boulevard/Rodeo Drive

These are two of the most notorious strips in all of America! Hollywood Boulevard is where the walk of fame is and you can find your favorite celebrities' star. Also, there are tons of crazies out there dressed up in all kinds of everything to try and earn your money. So that is fun too, just do not take their picture unless you expect to give them some money. Rodeo Drive is in Beverly Hills and you are bound to run into celebrities. Last time I was there I ran into Tito Jackson and Taye Diggs. All of the high end stores can be found here and its fun to walk around and window shop. Also I discovered there is a Roots. Roots is a Canadian "Outdoors" clothing store, kind of like American Eagle and Abercrombie, that I fell in love with when I was in Canada for a summer with World Changers. This is very dangerous for me.

4. TV Show Tapings

I had the opportunity to go and see a live taping of Two and a half Men. I do not like the show at all but the experience was a lot of fun! These are free to go to and any show that is filmed in front of a live audience gives out tickets for the show. Anything from Jimmy Kimmel Live and Conan to Big Bang Theory and Two and a half Men. All you have to do is go to their website and request tickets! You get to walk through the studio lot that the show is being taped on and you get to see all the behind the scene action! If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles I would recommend looking up your favorite show and see if they will be taping when you are in town.

3. The Hollywood Sign

Whenever you get a glimpse at the Hollywood sign from any location in Los Angeles you get excited and someone is always quick to point it out. One of the more fun times that I have had out here is finding the sign and just driving towards it. There is a neighborhood at the base of the mountain called "Hollywood Land," and when you get in it you can just take the road that leads up. You will hit numerous forks in the road, just examine the roads and much like life, take the high roads. You will eventually get to a part where the road ends and there are large signs that say you can not go any further and its illegal to walk to the sign; but a quick little stop for a photo opp is not too harmful. Just do not get caught.

2. Mountain Hiking

Los Angeles is surrounded by mountains. Currently you can see snow capped mountains from Downtown LA. Hiking trails can be found on most of these mountains, in fact there is a famous one called Runyon Canyon Park and its' trails go throughout the Hollywood Hills and under the Hollywood sign. I walked up part of one of those trails and the view was incredible! You could see the Hollywood sign, the ocean and the tops of the buildings in Downtown Los Angeles. My apartment is at the base of a mountain in Burbank and today I ventured into it. The view was amazing; however, I was wearing sandals and that was a mistake. I was intrigued by how high I was going up and then realized it was too high... it was much like a cat who climbs too high in a tree. Here is website that has all of the trails you can take in the area! LA Mountains

1. The Beach

This is Southern California and even though you are in the mountains you are also a short drive to beach! Santa Monica Pier is fun, free (minus the parking) and there is also a small amusement park on the pier. The pier has several restaurants, street performers and tourist shops. Beside the pier is a "Chess Park" where you can bring your chess pieces and use the tabletop boards to play other opponents, this was actually kind of fun to watch. There is a playground and also a little place to workout beside the pier as well. There is a bike bath that goes down the middle of the beach, so you can bring your bike and ride on down the coast. A little ways down the coast is Venice beach, which is notorious for people going there to work out and be seen. If you are into people watching, this is your spot! Also I think it is a given that one must do the Baywatch run on a LA beach.

Los Angeles the Roller Coaster

So on December 1, 2010 I made the move to Los Angeles! It has been a ride for sure; filled with highs, lows and maintenance checks. Things started out quick. Day one was awesome and went well, until I walked passed someone wearing an Auburn sweatshirt. Literally the day fell apart after that. I did not bring my car out here with me for several reasons. One, I did not want to bring it out here and not find a job and apartment then have to take it and my stuff back to Tuscaloosa. Second, people all over the world cannot afford cars so I wanted to experience how that felt. Annnnd I did. It sucked. The LA Metro is not user friendly and several times I found myself almost in tears over frustration. But it got better, I started to get the hang of it and figured out the system. Thats all I can say about that because it would take a whole different blog to fully discuss my experience on the Metro, including have a drunk man urinate behind me at a bus stop. Thankfully there is a family out here from Tuscaloosa and they are allowing me to use one of their cars for the while, HUGE blessing!

To keep this post short I'll just give quick little blurbs of what I have experienced thus far.

New friendships, producer's party, met several celebrities, lost lots of money trying to work the Metro, got a job, saw tones of celebrities, found a roommate, went to some crazy churches, job turned out to be a bust, found a great church, found a cool record store, spent Christmas away from my family but spent it with a friend, house sat, lost my room, now sleeping on a couch, got an interview for a new job, found an apartment, finished a book, got stood up for the interview, paid the security deposit for the apartment, rescheduled my interview, updated a blog. Whew, and that was my first month in Los Angeles.

I have been doing a picture a day update on Facebook, below is a link for that if you want to check those out. Hopefully I will be able to find things to write about and do a better job of updating. The next few weeks are going to be very important and I am super nervous about them! There should be some good updates to come!

Photo Album

Beautiful

Freely you gave it all for us
Surrendered your life upon that cross
Great is your love
Poured out for all
This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life
Forever our God is glorified
Sovereign king
Rescued the world
This is our God

This Is Our God - Hillsong