For Contemplation: Some poems from Jelaluddin Rumi...

I was listening to The Weepies last night and reading some Jelaluddin Rumi (a poet from the 17th century who was born in Balkh, which is now Afghanistan), and I found myself being particularly inspired and refreshed. 

I thought I would share a couple of the poems that I found. Read over them, and just take some time to dig deep within yourself. Take the chance to weigh your initial reaction to the poems. What is your maker saying to you today? 

Selah. 

If A Blow Comes At You From Heaven:


If a blow comes to you from Heaven,
be alert to a gift of honor after it;
for He is not the King to slap you
without giving you a crown
and a throne on which to rest.
The whole world is worth only a gnat's wing,
but a single slap may bring an infinite reward.
Slip your neck nimbly out of this golden collar
that is the world, and take the slaps that come from God.
The prophets suffered those blows on the neck,
and from that affliction they lifted their heads high.
But always be present, attentive, and ready in yourself,
youthful one, in order that He may find you at home.
Otherwise He will take back His gift of honor,
saying "I found no one there."


Secretly We Spoke:


Secretly we spoke,
     that wise one and me.
I said, Tell me the secrets of the world.
He said, Sh... Let silence
Tell you the secrets of the world.


The Grapes of My Body Can Only Become Wine:

The grapes of my body can only become wine
After the winemaker tramples me.
I surrender my spirit like grapes to his trampling
So my inmost heart can blaze and dance with joy.
Although the grapes go on weeping blood and sobbing
"I cannot bear any more anguish, any more cruelty"
The trampler stuffs cotton in his ears: "I am not working in ignorance
You can deny me if you want, you have every excuse,
But it is I who am the Master of this Work.
And when through my Passion you reach Perfection,
You will never be done praising my name."

By Jelaluddin Rumi

Rebellion of the Suitable Helper...(Fictional story)

Rebellion of the Suitable Helper

“Evie, would you mind bringing me a cider, and a fresh bowl of apple sauce for Franklin? Oh, and don’t forget to peel the apples before you mash them!”

It took everything for her not to break the skin of her palms with her nails as her fists clenched. Of course she minded. Of course she knew to peel the apples first. She was his wife, not his servant. At least, that was the understanding that she had of their arrangement, as explained by the charming old man with the long, white beard and gentle eyes, who created them. Why couldn’t her partner ever look at her with a look of affection and concern that those deep eyes were capable of?

“Coming, darling!” she shouted meekly from the stream where she sat washing the wooden dishes from breakfast. “It’s not like I was doing anything else,” she mumbled sarcastically under her breath. “Pfft,” she snorted, “not even noon and he’s already drinking. It’s going to be a long day.”

     “Why do you have to be so handsome?” she quipped, setting the mug of cider besides him with an exaggerated bow. 

     “Thank you, my dear,” his chest visibly puffing up as he answered her.

     Eve had meant the comment as an honest inquiry. At times she couldn’t stand how handsome he really was. It was a constant reminder of her weakness. It was hard despising the man who treated her like a servant while there was this constant, almost animalistic attraction towards him. Even at her most bitter, she could barely keep her hands off him. If only he were as fat and slobbish as he acted, maybe then she could act as strong and independent as she felt inside, and longed to act.

She could barely contain a chuckle at his arrogance as she laid the large bowl of applesauce in front of the wolf pup, Franklin, whom her husband treated like an honored guest at a celebration. “This thing is going to get fat if you keep feeding it sugary junk like this.” Said Eve, with more sarcasm than usual.

“He’s fine!” Adam waved his arms above his head in a grand gesture. “And seriously, Eve, stopping calling him ‘it.’ Franklin is a part of our family.” He took a long drag of his wooden pipe and let the thick white smoke creep from the corners of his lips as he patted the pup on the head.

Eve’s nails took their familiar place deep in her palms. If she received even a fraction of the playful affection that the animals of the garden constantly got from Adam, maybe she wouldn’t feel this twisting in her stomach.

“Well, my darling, you enjoy watching the lions and deer play. I’m going to go finish washing the dishes and prepare supper.”

Her loathing overflowed.

As soon as she was out of Adam’s sight, the emotions came tumbling out of her in wet, snotty sobs. “I don’t need him. Just because he was made first, he thinks he can control me. Am I supposed to just constantly drop whatever I’m doing to dote on his every whim? I’m strong, creative, and fully capable of doing anything that he could do. Probably better than he could. Men!” She snorted through her tears.

“It’s because he’s afraid,” a soft, slightly sensual voice whispered.

Despite the entrancing subtle sweetness of the voice, Eve couldn’t help but cringe.

“Afraid of what?” she stammered.

“Of you, my beautiful girl. Your strength, your independence. It makes him feel small, knowing that you don’t really need him at all. So, naturally, he does what he can to control you. Making sure that your only function in life is to serve him has worked so far, hasn’t it?”

“No, he doesn’t get to me! It’s not true. I know that I’m strong…” she trailed off, realizing that despite what was in her head, it was true. She had never done anything to actually gain any amount of independence.

“You see?” the voice hissed.

Eve gasped as she felt something smooth wrap around her ankle, and begin to slowly circle its way up her leg. She had never seen a creature like this before. It was long and covered in scales like that of a lizard, but without legs. Its head had two horn-like protrusions above it’s yellow eyes, which shone like the sun dancing on a rushing stream.

She shuddered as a forked tongue flicked across the soft skin of her leg. “You see?”

“But…what can I possibly do?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “I feel so…so helpless.”

“It’s very simple, my darling. The tree.”

Eve immediately knew which tree he was referring to. The tree. Adam had made quite a show of making sure she understood she was forbidden from eating from this one tree, as if her tiny brain wasn’t capable of understanding if he only said it once, or with even a shred of respect in his voice. “What about it?”

“Make him eat from the tree. Make him break his own rule. Make him disappoint the Maker. Then, he’ll finally understand what it is to feel like a failure. Helpless, weak, and alone. Turn the tables, my dear. You possess everything that you need to persuade him. Use your mind, body, and unshakable will to crush him.”

Eve felt electrified. She could almost taste the sweetness of liberation. Every inch of her skin tingled as she began to put details to the serpent’s scheme.

Adam is a drunk, it shouldn’t be hard to convince him to eat of the tree if I simply ferment the fruit and make his favorite cider. Then, if I turned up the charm, he’ll be putty in my hands with one playful glance and a vulnerable bite of my bottom lip. She surprised herself with how malicious her thoughts were.  

“Alright, show me the tree.” she said, a new sense of confidence in her voice. 

RA Scion A.K.A. Victor Shade A.K.A. Ryan Abeo...

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share a video from the new project by RA Scion, or Ryan Abeo from Common Market. It's called "Victor Shade." Here's a link to a blog explaining the new persona that Ryan has taken on with this project. 

Victor Shade: Seattle's hip hop superhero

Bottom line though, this album is beyond dope. It kills, and it is definitely worth your $10.00. Besides, Ryan is one of the sweetest, most down to earth people (let alone hip hop artists') that I've had the pleasure of spending any amount of time with, and he's someone worth supporting. Check it out....

"Soothsayer" by RA Scion of Common Market (Music Video) from Garrett Wesley Gibbons on Vimeo.
From the album "Victor Shade" by RA Scion of Common Market.  Produced by MTK.  Dancing by the Flying Sneakers Crew.

Video produced, directed, filmed and edited by Garrett Wesley Gibbons.

More production information here: http://garrettgibbons.com/blog/?p=361

Closure. Rest well in God's hands, dear friend.

I've been putting off getting a "rest in peace" memorial tattoo for Matt Hughes, for a couple of years now. Matt (along with his little brother Ryan) was my best friend growing up, from the time that we were both babies. We were always together as children, and then experiences most of our first "rebellious times" together as teenagers. Our first tastes of whiskey, beer and wine. Our first cigarettes. Sneaking out at night. Dabbling with smoking weed. Things like this. Most of them inspired by our desire to impress the neighbor girls.

Growing up, we spent a lot of time out in the woods camping, backpacking, and shooting our BB guns. We thought we were so cool drinking late at night and putting out cigarettes on our arms. They really were good times.

Throughout life, Matt was there for me through all of my life changing events and tragedies. He was there when we graduated Cub Scouts and became Boy Scouts. He was there when my uncle/biological grandfather Bob died. He was there for me when my other two grandfathers, Ed and Don passed away as well. He was there when my biological mother died during the summer after our junior year of high school. He was there when my sister Meghan went into a coma that same year, and again when my cousin Katy was killed by a drunk driver. Unfortunately he was in a coma himself later that year when I had to put my kitten down. After a week or so, he came out of the coma, and the joy that his recovery brought overshadowed the loss of my kitty by far. He was there for countless conversations in the tent on our week long backpacking trips that we'd take with our fathers and Ryan every summer. He was there to celebrate with me after we both graduated high school in 2001. Thankfully, he was also able to be there to support me when I married the girl of my dreams four years ago. I just wish that when Emma and I have children in the future they would have been able to know him.

There will be plenty of stories for them though, that's for sure. And, there will always be a tattoo on their father's right calf to celebrate his life, and some of the silly, memorable and significant things about our lives together.

I feel like getting this tattoo has allowed me to bring an extra sense of closure to my life. I have had a really hard time letting him go over the past two and a half years since he died, and this has allowed me to say goodbye in a new way.

I will always remember you, Matthew Alan Hughes. You're often in my thoughts, and always in my heart. I love you, dear brother. So, until I see you again...rest well in God's hands.

1982 - 2007

It's hard to see in this picture, but there is also a BB gun on the side, with a bunch of BBs around it. The roses are also significant.

When I get back from Switzerland we have a little more work to do on it, adding some more black work and some colors. This is it mostly done though.

Louisiana in 35mm

Here are some 35mm shots that I took while in New Orleans with the WISE School for Marti Gras. I had some fun playing around with some older 35mm cameras while I was there. Sometimes digital just gets a bit sterile, and you just have to get your hands dirty with the old stuff. 

Graduation Day - WISE School

Well, today is graduation day from my WISE (Worship, Intercession, Spiritual Warfare, Evangelism) School. It has been a crazy three months. The school was fantastic. I learned a lot, and grew a lot. Our "family" is really close, and it's been a blessing to have every one of you in my life. This leads me to my next point, outreach...

We, the WISE students will be embarking on an eight week outreach over the summer to central Africa. I'll be leading the team. I am so excited. We're figuring out details over the next few weeks. During the spring, Matt and Annalise will be heading to Haiti with a DTS team from Denver. Erica will be heading home to work and be in her best friend's wedding. Melissa will head back home to work and see family. Soo Min is in Korea currently, but is hoping to go to Switzerland to staff with YWAM there. I'll be heading to Switzerland as well to do a Principles of Communication School in Geneva. It should be good. Once I'm done with that school, I'll have this outreach, and one final school to complete. After that, I'll officially have my Bachelor's Degree. Hallelujah!

When I get back in July, I have the honor of ministering my two dear friends Jamie and Jonathan's wedding in Portland, Oregon. I am very excited for that.

Shortly after that, we'll head to Africa. We're hoping to get to the Congo, or Somalia. The crazier the better, we figure. We'll see though. We've had it on our hearts from the beginning to really try to be somewhere that we can love on people who need it the most. Victims of human trafficking, war, extreme poverty, slavery, etc. These are the people that need hope, and authentic love. These are the people we want to be Christ to.

It's time to put on a tie, and head to graduation. More details will come as we know them.

Shalom.

Viewing life through glass...some thoughts.

I enjoy photography. But not because it's simply another hobby, or something super fun to do. It's really not even the most exciting or thrilling thing that I could think to do, to be honest. Why then? 

Every person has a unique story to tell, from the depths of their innermost being - a story that can be read in their eyes, reaching inward to their very soul. It is riddled with the image of our Creator...as well as the images that we've all tried to create for ourselves. Beautiful truths and revelations of goodness, grace and true love...simply waiting to be discovered. Intermixed though, are the pains of our own misguided striving to, in of ourselves be something big enough to set us free from all the things that keep us chained. In the midst of all of this, there is a brutally honest, and painfully beautiful picture that every person is painting. Joy and peace interwoven with sorrow...regret. A mix of despair and of hope. An outpouring of varied, often contradictory emotions. Authentic life. This is what I long to capture as I gaze patiently through the glass, waiting with baited breath for the next splatter of life to soak into my lens. 

This world is broken, and covered with the dirt of a thousand generations of lost wanderers, but everywhere you look beauty can be found. There is beauty in creation around us, splashing color and contrast into our eyes. It hums a song of precise tranquility and unplanned chaos into our ears. Nostalgic scents creep into our nostrils taking us to another time and place. Yes, there is this beauty, but there is another beauty that holds much more depth and power. At times, it is harder to find, and easier to overlook...it is the beauty of the human spirit, when on occasion it refuses to give in to despair and bitterness in the midst of many trials, but instead chooses love, even at the cost of great sacrifice.

The art, and language of photography gives us a concrete way to capture these beautiful moments, so we can share them with generations to come. How can we expect those after us to live by love, if we cannot offer them visual proof and explanation of our own love, and that which was given to us by others as a learning tool, and as an inspiration. It also allows us to capture powerful moments of selfishness, terror and pain. It encapsulates emotion that has the power to whisper, "please, no more." Let us use both these beautiful and haunting moments to inspire and direct our paths, and the paths of our children towards goodness, mercy and love.

"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your G-d?" - Micah 6:8