I’ve been working in Corporate America for all of 3 days now. Here are some thoughts.

1. It’s weird when a meeting starts and no one prays.

2. My ability to concentrate on what I’m reading is hindered by the very fact I understand so little of what I’m reading.

3. Around every corner I seem to spy someone who looks lonely or sad.

4. Last night we watched Jane Eyre. Mr. St. John asks Jane what she will do with all her fine accomplishments as she teaches the cottager’s daughters. Her reply? “I will keep them till they are needed.”

5. Just about everyone is ahead of me in the training curriculum.

6. I find that I like having a period of the day when I am busy but when that period is over, the bliss of home.

7. Every badge represents a soul.

8. I’ve shaved more in the last week than in the previous 3 weeks combined.

9. I’ve worn a tie twice this week and I still have no idea what it is for.

10. My kids are excited about the free suckers.

And it’s the first of many. I’m mentally exhausted.

You are reading this on Day 2 but Day 1 was yesterday.

Day 1 was the “ground zero” for all the myriad of emotions vying for attention and taking aim at every second guess.

I would have never imagined I’d be where I am.

As I sat there alone in my suit waiting for the orientation start – I wasn’t alone alone, I just was the only one in a suit who didn’t already work there – as I sat there alone, I had to keep reminding myself what I was doing.

“I’m starting over.”

I had to say it over and over because I kept forgetting and thus the whirlwind swirling.

Don’t get me wrong…from where I stand the landscape in front of me is panoramic, brightly lit with all the fire of future hopes burning bright on the horizon.

Heck, one day we may be able to afford a vacation – instead of taking one we can’t afford and then hating the regret.

But that horizon is a gift of peace from the Prince who promises such things.

And it all felt like a grace I have not known in so very long.

I know it isn’t Tuesday. But it iss a Tuesday I want to reflect on. Here are 10 thoughts for that day:

1. I find myself emotionally staggering between the desire to not forget that day and the near paralyzing fear of watching video of the towers being hit and then falling.

2. Bethany was sent home from work because she worked for a financial institution. We only had one car so I skipped class and picked her up in silence. So we spent most of that day glued to the TV. But at some point we had to get out. So we took our bikes down to the Katy Trail just west of St. Louis and rode till the dark came. All that calm and quiet and beauty was good for us.

3. I can remember being very glad Bush was our President. And I’m still glad he was.

4. It is easy for  us…me to poke fun at those who reacted with bravado and a simple desire to defend our country and whip the tails of America’s enemies. But such a reaction may be far more profound than the detached philosophical posture so en vogue today.

5. It is impossible to take seriously the position of those who think we should have taken no military action in response. Sometimes you have to do things you will never enjoy for the good of others.

6. I remember only being able to smile as a nervous habit over the next few days.

7. The most painful images are still those of people having to jump from the Twin Towers. One moment they were working and then they were having to decide whether to burn in unimaginable fiery temperatures or hurl their bodies into the sky and experience the cool breeze previous to instant death. That is why they call it terrorism.

8. Just eight days earlier we had casually flown in from a labor day vacation.  Because of my own fears and precautions taken by airports no flight since has been casual.

9. Less than 3 years later I spent some time at Ground Zero. I wanted to go but I did not enjoy it and was eager to leave. I felt as though I was gawking at a fresh wound.

10. We checked in with our parents at some point during the day knowing we were enjoying a luxury now thousands could not afford.

1. Jane Fonda’s Crush on Che Guevara (If you don’t ever read anything else I post,  at least read this.)

2. Winnie the Pooh’s Ingenious Culinary Invention

3. I’m wondering what my worship-leader friends think of this article.

4. I ain’t the only one asking big questions about evangelism.

5. Use the word “mundane” in a post about The Beatles and you will get linked.

6. 40 Behind the Scenes Photos from Star Wars.

7. Ryan Adams on 9/11 and His Reluctant ‘New York’ Anthem

8. Just three days after Labor Day, this.

9. Looks like there is a credible threat of terrorism for this weekend.

10. “Every day, iPhone users spend at least 1 million hours playing Angry Birds,” according to this article. Sounds about right.

(I know this is going out late today. No power at the house thanks to Lee. I’m at the library now with all the other serial killers. Hopefully the rest of my posts will happen earlier.)

And when I say don’t like ’em, I mean just that. They are just meh. I don’t hate the music they make, I just can’t seem to care about it much.

These are all super talented people. I just don’t like their music enough to ever miss it. Maybe’s it me. Maybe I’ll like it at some later time. Maybe I’ll win the lottery, get that pet dragon I’ve always wanted and my wife will dress up as Princess Leia (ROTJ?) for Halloween.

Regardless, here they are…

1. The Avett Brothers. I just don’t get it. OK, OK, they have a few songs that are pretty decent. But hipsters quote them like they are the Oracle of Delphi. I’ve literally tried a dozen times to get into them. All were failures.

2. Sufjan Stevens. While some of his music is interesting, I need more than interesting. Talented? Yes. It’s just all too clever and ironic and quirky.  I get the feeling he’s bored with music (much like Radiohead) and now is just trying to get people’s attention. The whole edgy ‘christian’ musician using profanity to shock is tired.

3. Mumford and Sons. I’d rather listen to Taylor Swift any day. Seriously. On paper, it appears as if I should love this band but I don’t. I do have hope for their second album.

4. The Fleet Foxes. The first time I listened to their album, I liked what I heard. But with every subsequent listen, I enjoyed it less and less till now I’d rather listen to silence. Often beautiful but never does it grab me.

5. Rush. Sorry, outside of Tom Sawyer, it’s just painful. Maybe if I were a musician, I would like ’em.

6. John Mayer. Guitarists swear this guy is awesome and I’ve heard a few songs that prove he has some serious guitar playing skills. But I’ve always felt like he’s just using music to bed women. However, my wife does often sing “Your Body Is A Wonderland” to me.

7. Jimi Hendrix. I have a lot of respect for the guy, just don’t like anything I’ve heard. Actually I prefer to hear other people do his songs.

8. Paul Simon. The Obvious Child is a great song but really no other song I’ve ever heard makes me want to play it again. Even the new album which lots of folks are raving over escapes me.

9. Arcade Fire. I can’t remember the last time someone said anything about them. This makes total sense to me.

10. Nickelback. I just don’t get why you hipsters like ’em so much.

1.  If you are keeping up with what is going on with Sovereign Grace Ministries…actually if you don’t give a rip, you need to read Taylor’s Story and Why Sovereign Grace Ministries Doesn’t Like Victims.

2. Paul McCartney’s Interview With Doris Day.

3. A TV Appearance By the Last Living Eyewitness of Lincoln’s Assination.

4. Get a raw deal from your parental units? Why not sue ’em? Good grief.

5. So you say you want an exciting vision for the church, huh?

6. Four Myths About the Crusades

7. Don Miller Remembers Tolkein on the Anniversary of His Death

8. “We will not change until we choose our heroes not by how cogently or fiercely they defend our position on this issue or that, but by how much they reflect the grace of Christ whatever their position.” – R.C. Sproul Jr.

9. “Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep,’ Non-Sexualized Music Has Major Influence on Pop Culture”

10. My good friend David Mackle knows music (he is also a great realtor). And he knows me well. So when he recommends music, I listen. A few days ago he told me I should check out The Decemberists‘ new album, The King Is Dead. He was right. It’s magnificent and simple and lush and full of musical landscapes for the ear and heart. Below is video of the whole album done live.