old myspace post # 4

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

thanks Jewel or truth found on a CD cover Current mood: refreshed The other day my wife and ventured into the inner loop of Houston, an area we really enjoy but rarely get to explore. It goes without saying that a stop into Cactus records was part of our outing, which very unfortunately is closing it's doors after 30 years in Houston. This was a great store with a great enviroment and the best selection that I've found in Houston of good music, vinyl, and film. Needless to say, I was rather upset to walk in and find it for the most part empty. But before leaving we picked up some Bob Dylan, Muse, Beck - Sea Change (i'm in love with this album), Jewel - pieces of me, and Radiant (a band out of Dallas, played a lot with Eisley *in the Moss Eisley days* and Midlake). all that to say... Today as I was doing the routine checking of the e-mail, bank account, fantasy team, and maybe a quick glance at cnn.com I noticed a statement on the front of Jewel's CD cover. (who, i just found out, left the 9 to 5 world and moved into her van to pursue music. she decided to be homless in order to pursue her dreams. I think it worked out pretty well for her.) Down in the bottom of the cover there is a statement, "what we call human nature in actuality is human habit" Now, i'm a believer in the concept of human nature. I think we are desperately selfish and self-seeking when left to our own desires. We can see this in every single 2 and 3 year old, that's "mine" comes so easily out of there mouth it's almost something to be admired. We see this in our culture and the lengths people will go for wealth, success and spotlight. you probably even see it pop up in your day to day life as well. it's there, we can't get away from it. "what we call human nature in actuality is human habit" Now, i'm not speaking for Jewel or even proposing this is what she meant or where she was going with this quote. But I find it interesting that Jesus often talked about new life and a different way of life. Then his followers who came and wrote after Jesus would say the same thing, calling people to come and join them in this new way of living, a way that is full of compassion, mercy, justice, love, peace, and even an equal playing field of community. a life oppossed to that of the self-seeking one we have known. And what is really interesting, is that it is often taught almost as if saying, "hey look you have known one way of living, but look where it leads, what if we try this new way of living; showing mercy, loving one another, and pursuing justice. Just began to do this. Jesus has taught and provided the example, so go ahead and develop some new habits." What if some of things we long for come down to us taking the time to change our habits. Tolstoy said, "everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." "what we call human nature in actuality is human habit" here's to new habits...