So here it is, my long winded World Cup post. For those that don’t know, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to South Africa to see a couple World Cup games and soak up the atmosphere in a country truly embracing the World Cup fever. It’s been a crazy last four of five days and here is an overview with pictures of videos of the experience.

After a long travel day I arrived Thursday afternoon in Johannesburg and was met by Brendan Vargas, a longtime friend who lives in Mozambique, and his buddy (now my buddy) Cornel, an Afrikaner who lives in Pretoria and let us stay at his place. We made the short trip to Cornel’s house, dropped off the bags, and quickly made it to a local bar/restaurant to watch the night match between Mexico and France. The night was pretty chill. We ordered some food, had a few brews and talked with the many visitors to the place. It was great to meet and talk to people from all over the world. Unfortunately I forgot to grab my camera before we left the house, but I was able to grab this photo with my phone of myself, an Afrikaner, and a Dutch supporter.

Friday was match day between the U.S. and Slovenia. We woke up late morning, grabbed some coffee, and met up with more of Brendan’s friends from Mozambique. We all made the drive into downtown Johannesburg and found our way towards the stadium (after making a stop to purchase a few vuvuzelas) just in time to watch Serbia close it out against Germany. Afterward we found our way to our seats. Here is a quick clip of the fan area outside the stadium before the game:

Here are photos from throughout the day.

Saturday was another match day. This time in Pretoria and between Cameroon and Denmark. Although it wasn’t the United States, I was very excited to see the match because it involved an African nation and I wanted to see how the local supporters responded. I wasn’t disappointed, but more on that later. The match didn’t start until 8:30 at night however, so we had to kill some time. What better way to do it then head to the local college hot spot that was overrun with World Cup visitors? The place was packed with Denmark supporters “warming up” before the night match. There were also Dutch supporters, watching the early match, and then Ghanaian supporters showed up to watch their match with Japan. It was truly a great mix of people from around the world, all celebrating the game.

At one point I walked next door to a local market. While there I saw some performers busting a move. I thought it was pretty cool, so I got a quick clip of that.

Sunday was a much more relaxed day. I was introduced to the South African tradition of the “Braai”, which is essentially a backyard barbecue. Cornel’s neighbor put out a TV and we had friends over to enjoy the matches while we barbecued meat and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Here are pictures from the braai.

And that was pretty much it. The next day I woke up, went to the airport, and somehow managed to switch flights and avoid going to Lagos, Nigeria (evidently I needed a visa that I didn’t have). After 28 hours of traveling, I made it home (four hours before my bag). It was a complete blast, an experience that truly hasn’t sunk in yet. I am truly thankful to all that made it happen, especially my beautiful wife who not only let me blow our money by making the trip, but for smiling as I did. I kept saying it was a once in a lifetime experience. It probably will be, but a part of me hopes it wasn’t…

…One last thing…

I heard this song at least twenty times a day while I was there. It’s stuck in my head…

I took a basic values inventory for class tonight and guess what? I am task oriented and achievement focused. Surprise, Surprise.

Or not.

It’s not a stretch to say that tasks have consumed my entire adult life. In my work and at home I will often lose myself in a task, so much so that I will avoid getting up for anything – even food – until I complete what’s in front of me. Last night I didn’t eat until 9pm. Why? I had to finish what I was doing. It’s 9 right now and I still haven’t eaten. It’s bad, and it’s been worse. Just ask my wife…if it weren’t for her I would go many nights without food.

Finishing something translates into achieving something so I’m not surprised that was a value as well. One of the questions in the analysis asked whether I was more concerned with accomplishment than holding a certain position or title. Easy. I will always take an achievement over a title or position and sometimes am frustrated with those who worry about titles more so than getting the job done.

But there’s where I learned something. Not that achievement and task orientation are things I value highly, but that they are just…values.

Values are personal, and perhaps more importantly, variable. Not everybody shares the same values and is it not better for me to come to this realization than to assume my values are common laws that everyone should follow? I am not sure why that is suddenly clear, but in taking the analysis I knew that each person would have different results. I also knew that my results reflected values that are important to me, and if they are important to me than they are important to others. Perhaps understanding that is the first step to full acceptance of others as they are, even if the step is a small one. At least it’s in the right direction.

No related posts.

I’m sure I’ll write here again. Someday. Right now my focus is on other things. Like starting the New Year off a little less narcissistic. (Sooner or later you realize your opinion doesn’t matter. Maybe it comes when you hit 30, I do in two weeks.)

I’m also reading more. I’ve finished a number of books lately including Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, which I strongly recommend. Other than that I’m studying, enjoying life away from the web, and concentrating on beating my siblings and wife at Words with Friends. These things are important.

One of the toughest things for me to do is appreciate somebody. Actually, that’s wrong. I appreciate a lot of people. One of the toughest things for me to do is SHOW that appreciation to them, through words, cards, actions, etc. It’s one thing to be thankful for someone who has helped me out along the way. It’s another thing entirely to call them up and express how thankful I am, to sit down and write them a card, or to take them out to coffee and thank them in person.

Showing my appreciation for others is something I’ve never quite grasped. Sure, I’ll say “thanks” on Facebook or any other social media site I’ve wrongly adapted as my main communication tool, but truly showing my appreciation is something I still need to learn.

I was told about this site the other day called Appreciation Whack. On this site you can sign up to send appreciation cards to those you are thankful for, whether they’re employees, friends, or clients. It’s not an E-card; it’s an actual card in an envelope with a stamp on it and everything. It will show up in their mailbox. And it will be free. The people who run this site understand the value in showing your appreciation to others.

That being said I’m not sure I’ll use it. I hope instead I’ll be encouraged to send the cards myself. I hope I’ll start calling people and writing people. I hope I’ll start letting others know I’m thankful for what they’ve done. I challenge you to do the same. Call someone. Write someone. Thank Someone.

So, who are you thankful for?

I was going through some old writings and found a poem I wrote a couple years ago. Steph and I had been dating for a few months when she left to visit Europe for a month with friends, leaving me alone to get that left behind feeling. I missed her, so I decided to write her a poem. Unfortunately, I’m not great at being romantic, so what started that way turned out like this. It’s the best I could do.

No related posts.

Yes, Yes, I know. I believe it is obvious now. Knoxville has turned me into a terrible blogger. I was definitely sub-par before, but know I am terrible. I guess it’s because I’ve been enjoying myself so much that I really haven’t felt the call to post anything. For the last 3 1/2 weeks I’ve been living it up by not working one bit (up until this wed). Instead I’ve been reading, watching movies, mowing the lawn, barbecueing, shopping for home stuff, shopping for groceries (ok, that’s a lie, Steph does that), jogging, napping, traveling, hiking (almost), and last but certainly the highlight of the 3 1/2 weeks, just lounging with Stephanie. It’s been a blast, but have no fear, or nothing but fear, because I’m back at work, and now I should fall back into that mode of working and studying and complaining, I mean blogging.

Until then I will leave you with a link to a new photo gallery. Steph and I went to Chattanooga this weekend and had a blast. We went to Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Aquarium, etc. It was fun, and an opportunity to dust off the camera and try to remember how to use it. The results are here, in a gallery of photos from all parts of the trip.

When I was 4 years old, I stepped out onto the soccer field for the very first time. My hair was freshly combed to the side with my mother’s spit, and my shorts – which looked more like pants – were pulled up to my chin to prevent a tripping hazard. I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t know what to do or which direction to go. I just stood there and looked around. I looked at all the grass, greener than Gumby, I looked at the parents lined on both sides of the field, yelling and screaming and pointing and swearing. I looked at the ball and all the players swarmed around it, and I knew that I was hooked. This was my game. This was my field.

To this day, there is something about a soccer field that just gets me going. When I step out there, laces tightened, legs stretched, shorts still pulled up high, I am ready to do some serious butt kicking. I am like King Leonidas without the abs. I mean with the abs. I am like King Leonidas with the abs, without the leather underwear. I yell crazy things too. “Give me the ball!” “Let’s go!” “Hey buddy, you got yourself a pencil and paper? Cause you ‘bout to take some notes!” I get hyped up on an all natural, three red bull kick and I want to score. I want to win. I want to do a victory dance.

Of course, all the wanting and talking rarely translates to anything worth writing home (or notes) about. I start making passes that don’t need to be passed, juking players, that don’t need to be juked. I don’t allow the game to come to me, I take myself to the game. I force the issue. And then I fail. My passes get intercepted, the ball gets taken away, the other guy hands me his pencil and paper. I end up standing alone, watching the game go by, upset with myself because I forgot to take one thing out on the field with me: patience.

The funny thing is, I’m actually a fairly good soccer player. I’m not the best; I’m no David Beckham or Christiano Ronaldo, I might not even be as good as this guy, but I know how to play the game. If I stay patient and wait for the game to come to me, for the holes to open up and the opportunities to present themselves, I usually play very well. I just have to wait for my time to shine. Until then I have to calm the anxiety and wait. Just wait. Be patient.

—————-

The saying “patience is a virtue” is true; unfortunately it’s a virtue that has yet to come knocking on my door. I don’t know patience, we haven’t met, and so I’m stuck working with what I know: restlessness. It’s not just on the soccer field. It’s at work, at play, at home, in life. Anytime an idea comes to the forefront of my mind I want it to happen right away, by supper if possible. I don’t like timelines and outlines. I don’t like goal setting and prioritizing. I like accomplishing. Unfortunately that’s not how life works. You have to wait, you have to be patient. You have to wait for the door to open, even if it’s something you feel called to do.

Moses showed us what not to do many moons ago. Yes, Moses, the guy with the magical staff that turns into a snake and wins battles. The guy who faces Pharaoh straight on and leads the Israelites out of Egypt; but I’m not talking Exodus, I’m talking murder. Personally, I think Moses had this sense that he would free the Israelites way before he actually did. Maybe it was a gut feeling, a calling from God, a sense he was meant to do something bigger. So he set out to do it. He sees an Egyptian violently assaulting his kinsman and decides it was time, time to free his people. He was just following his own instincts, doing what he felt he was called to do, but the door wasn’t open. It wasn’t his time. So what happens? He ends up a murderer, in exile for 40 years.

Moses wasn’t patient. If he was, maybe the burning bush would have come before he was 80. Or maybe not, I don’t know, I’m no theologian. What I do know is the lesson is learned. Sometimes it’s best to just be patient. Sometimes it’s best to just sit back and wait and for those open doors. Sometimes it’s best to just pull up our shorts and watch the game.

“The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” ¹

This text spoke to me today. It made me think of the world and how close we are as a people to the way it was in the beginning. All this time to grow and mature, to learn and to become true followers of the triune God and yet we still fail on so many levels.

Murder. Adultery. Drunkenness. It all still exists.

Hate. Pride. Envy. It all still exists too, perhaps more so than before.

And you know what the worst part is? I can point the finger at myself. I take part. Sure, I haven’t murdered. I haven’t committed adultery. But I’ve been pretty darn drunk. I’ve hated. I’ve been proud. God knows, I’ve envied. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Thinking about all this was sort of depressing.

Then I read the next verse.

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” ²

Noah found favor.

In a world of nothing but evil, Noah was able to separate himself and seek only the Lord. He wasn’t swayed by the desire to belong. He didn’t care about being cool. He didn’t care about how many friends or followers he had. He cared only about God and because so he found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Because so, he lived.

This gives me hope. It’s encouraging. It reminds me that I – like Noah – can be a light amongst the dark. More so, it reminds me to “seek first the Kingdom of God.” ³ If we do, we live. If we don’t, well…you know the rest of the story.

1. Genesis 6:5-7
2. Genesis 6:8
3. Matthew 6:33

Twitter is the new MySpace is the new Facebook, whatever. It’s huge. Everybody’s doing it, even ESPN. It must be good then right? Well, in the 60′s everybody was smoking so you know…it might not be.

I joined a few months ago and have been twittering for a while, much more so as of late. At first I didn’t get it; I didn’t understand why I would want to post (or why people would want to read) what I was doing throughout the day. Then it all started to make sense to me. It’s not really about that at all. It’s about so much more. So I thought I’d throw down a few reasons why I like twitter, and a few reasons why you might not.

REASONS TO TWITTER

1. Networking – Twitter is the most powerful networking tool on the internet. Better than Facebook, better than LinkedIn, WAY better than MySpace. I overheard a friend explain Twitter like this: “Facebook is a place to follow your friends, Twitter is a place to follow your interests.” Very true. I’ve “met” a ton of people over the last month who have the same interests as me. We all share information, share tidbits of wisdom, learn from each other. In a span of a day you can meet 10-20 new people who are interested in the same stuff you are. So in that sense, Twitter is the bomb.

2. Information – Twitter is also the fastest place to get information. Big time Twitter users knew about the death of Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson before the families. Well, almost. Before the news outlets knew for sure. Imagine a high school hallway on speed, that’s Twitter when it comes to spreading news.

3. Motivation – Believe it or not Twitter is motivating for me. I read a lot of other people’s tweets, I learn from them, I want to learn more myself. Since I’ve started following a lot of Christian authors, pastors, etc. I’ve been more motivated to read and write. I want to take it all in. I am more motivated to spread the information that I want to spread (the good news), to the millions of people who are on Twitter. (Or the 95 who are following me, whatever)

4. Education – I guess this falls into the information category, but not really. By information I mean news, by education I mean brain stimulating stuff. People posts links to How To’s, to What to Do’s, to Don’t do This’s. If you want an education on anything, just follow somebody who is an expert in that arena. Search the term and you’ll find a ton of people talking about it already. All the information (I mean education) you want is right at your fingertips, literally.

5. You Can Follow Me – @leehoover

REASONS NOT TO TWITTER

1. It Can Get Annoying – As much as there are great tweets, a ton of information and education, etc…there is a lot of wasteful stuff out there. Some people post a new tweet every two minutes. Some people are so anxious to get more followers that they forget to post anything worth following. Some people only post what they’re eating for dinner. So it does get annoying, sometimes quite easily so. But if you look past the annoying stuff (and unfollow the annoying people) you’ll get over it fairly fast.

2. You Could Get….Addicted – No one likes addictions, and Twitter is probably the most addicting social site out there. If you think Facebook is bad, watch out for Twitter. Everything is so rapid, fast, and for the most part useful, that you want to constantly be on it so you don’t miss a thing. You can imagine how bad that can be when you want to enjoy a quiet evening with the family, away from the computer. I quickly learned that I can’t keep up with everything. Instead I try to keep up with everything only when I’m on, when I’m not I could care less. (That’s probably a lie, but we’ll roll with it)

3. It Can Be A Waste of Time – Depending on the information you’re spreading, or receiving, it could literally be a complete waste of time (which social networking site isn’t?). For the most part, if you’re using the site in your favor, twittering can be useful. But if you’re not interested in networking or sharing information, etc than Twitter probably isn’t for you. You’ll probably end up tweeting what you ate for breakfast, and then you’ll fall into point number 1.

So that’s why I twitter. Why do (don’t) you?

You know what I’m terrible at? The seesaw. It’s true. I only weigh 140 something pounds, maybe 150 after a barbeque, but surely not enough to manage the seesaw. I can never find the right balance. Everybody is bigger than me. I always end up stuck at the top, waiting for my partner-in-fun to step away so I can crash to the ground, so I can step away myself. As I do, I rub the bottom with the left. I wipe the tears with the right. Sometimes it’s different; sometimes I switch hands. It is never a pleasant experience, no matter how enjoyable the other kids make it look.

Did I just say kids? I did, huh? Woops. So maybe the truth is I haven’t been on a seesaw in a while. Maybe my idea of a seesaw is based on a sad experience during 3rd grade recess. Excuse me if it still stings. I’m still not getting on a seesaw anytime soon. As far as I know everybody is still bigger than me, I’ll still end up stuck at the top, I still can’t find the right balance.

I never can find the right balance. Not on a seesaw, not on a tightrope, not in life (Note: I’ve never tried a tight rope, I just know I can’t do it). I’ve pretty much given up on the whole balance idea. Although the life thing, the ability to balance things in life, I’d like to know how to do that. God knows I could use it.

I’m slowly realizing that the gap between what I want to do and what I’m able to do is bigger than I thought. I want to write (more than school papers), I want to build websites (learn how to build websites I should say), I want to preach (not at you, but for you). I want to make a difference. I’m able to do none of that. I’m able to wake up and go to work every morning. I’m able to read school books. I’m able to write school papers. No time for anything else. All these things I want to do, they hold less weight. They’re stuck at the top while the stuff I’m able to do does all the work.

Here’s the real problem: Everything I’m able to do, I want that too. I want work, I enjoy it. I want school, I enjoy that. Maybe I want too much. Maybe I can’t have everything I want. Or maybe I can, if I can find the right balance. A little of this, a little of that. Back and forth, like a see-saw is supposed to work. I’m sure I can. I want to.