Month: September 2013

That One Place

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

IMG_1267

We have all participated in a conversation with ourselves or with another…”if you could go anywhere, where would that place be?” While viewing some beautiful pictures on Instagram and Google+ I realized how ridiculous that question is. How many places have a common appearance? What then makes it distinct? Could I name that place if someone presented me with an untitled picture?

My trip to France this past Spring yielded a reality that far too often my inclination towards a place is predicated on an idea of that place, one removed from any possible first hand experience. But that is the very idea of traveling…to have that experience. Yet France was a country of no appeal. Surely the art, history, food, etc., warranted some respect. Was it all my time spent studying German? Listening to the “Ugly Americans” who viewed France as some kind of threat?

In retrospect it is embarrassing, just as much as my disdain for New York City once was. It is never the place, but rather the idea that it is not “That One Place”. And how can “That One Place” ever be qualified if one remains in the comfort of the places of memory.

Mountains over beaches. Rivers over oceans. Snow over sun. Now flip them all. Mix them up. Go.

The Ride for MS – All 150

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

IMG_0503

Officially you will know it as the Florida, St. Augustine – Bike MS: PGA Tour Cycle to the Shore. For years I have watched as friends pushed through 150 miles on their bikes in an effort to raise money to fight Multiple Sclerosis. The distance is considerable and quite frankly intimidating. The longest I have ever ridden is 54 miles, though as a fool the mantra of “no stopping” made it much more damning.

Marc’s annual diligence met with a yes in 2013 so I will proudly wear the Team Melrob jersey. If you have found this site and would like to support the cause you can donate at my National MS page here.

The back story to this endeavor is my donation goal. A friend at work, who was my first donor, asked why the goal was so low. She shared with me the story of a friend who annually has a goal of $3,000 to raise for breast cancer, further noting that while lofty that figure is consistently met.

Two words appeared in my vision: lazy and guilty.

It had not occurred to me how it must appear that my goal was the minimum to raise. How little must I care about the cause to put forth such a minimal effort. What must be required to meet a four figure goal, do I know how to gather the support and do people like me enough to put their money behind my endeavor?

The truth, and it is simple to a degree, is twofold. First, I set the goal low because I am participating in events that raise money for charity at least three times a year. How much can I ask of my friends, family and acquaintances at that frequency? Second, my expectation is generally that all you need to give is $1. If you can give more, and want to give more, then I am grateful for your generosity and in turn the giver should be grateful for their economic place in life.

However, upon reflection the reality was that I am selling myself and everyone else short. The case should be made as to the importance of this charity. Additionally I should have more faith in people such that they will want to help. Surely there are deeper psychological truths begging to be unsurfaced but I will invoke Occam’s Razor relative to the bigger picture.

So with the low bar goal made, the push is to reach a donation figure that will become next year’s standard. My gratitude to those who have the means to give. All that is left to do is keep training and over think how the ethical use of social media. I can assure you I could use more honey.

Jars of Clay – The Inland Review

Brian Fullford2 Comments

It has been almost three years since Jars of Clay released Shelter, a disc which Glenn McCarty of Crosswalk.com heralded as “a clarion call to unity” relative to the Christian community. Lead singer Dan Haseltine noted, “…we were already thinking about a project that would be specific for the church.” But on Inland, their first release as an “indie” band, the central focus is a bit more existential.

In an interview with Hans Schiefelbein, keyboardist Charlie Lowell says of Inland:

It’s where we all live- caring about work, family, faith, doubt, the world around us- but really struggling to connect them and find lasting meaning out of them all. So we approached this record process with that in mind- our goal was to write in those specific moments of humanity, and to put the many voices we have accumulated over the years behind us.

Since 1995 when their debut single “Flood” further closed the gap between pop and Christian music, Jars have been a band that refused to compromise their faith nor their crossover viability. For every directly religious “Love Song for a Savior” there was a more universally accessible “Work“. Yet even amidst the brambles of praise and pop music that is their entire catalog, they always managed to present the subject matter with a poetic elegance so both believer and non-believer alike could take in the experience.

Being Agnostic allowed for a first hand appreciation of Jars’ artisanship, a sentiment which I thought peaked at their 2006 release Good Monsters. It is with great joy that I announce Inland as the new standard. Taking its theme from The Odyssey, the new disc asks the listener to reflect on their pilgrimage through life. The beauty in its presentation is that you do not need to have faith in God for the message to resonate.

Read More »