Immigrant Stories

i just finished reading a great book about the experience of immigrants as they come into the country. it's called The Chosen Shore and it chronicles the experiences of immigrants coming from nations near and far, that speak english, french, arabic, chinese, and many other languages, that have different cultural backgrounds and political and religious histories. it shows something of what it is like when an individual is placed in a totally new environment and then has to learn to live with little help from the outside.
the book is a great testimony to the power of perseverence because many of the stories do not paint pretty pictures. i am an anglo boy from new hampshire, so these experiences were very different from my own. the experience of an immigrant is full of suffering and hardship and do not always have happy endings. are you an immigrant? Do you have friends that are immigrants? tell us something of that story.

Where is my wild?

ever read a book that makes you think, "am i even alive?" if not, pick up Into the Wild. Phenominal. it is the story of a young man, chris mccandless, 22, that heads off across the country after graduating from a college in georgia. the book chronicles his life as a vagabond for about 2 and a half years, traveling up and down the west coast as a hitchhiker, migrant worker, train hopper and walker. he even rides a canoe down the colorado river for a while. it all ends in alaska as he tries to live out his jack london dream of being an ascetic woodsman and dies in the process (that happens in the first chapter so don't get mad at me for giving it away!) he gave away over 20,000 dollars to Oxfam and lived those two years, for the most part, with just the possessions "he could carry with him at a dead sprint."
when was the last time i had a dream, a vision, like this guy, and went for it so wholeheartedly? when was the last time you set out, not knowing where you would end up, but just certain that you were headed towards the promised land of your dreams? tell us about it.

Different Wiring?

I am currently being enlightened about the makeup of a woman - and i'm not talking about something created by l'oreal. i'm reading a book put out by john eldredge and his wife, stasi. john wrote a popular book on manhood, called Wild at Heart, and this is its companion.
the thesis of the book is that every woman is seeking the answer to this question as they live out their lives: am i lovely? as the expression of the beauty of the image of God, women seek to redeem the beauty they were created with as the crown jewel of creation.
this is an interesting book and i know my fiancee agrees with much of its arguement. i will press on for now and keep you updated as i find out why so many of the thoughts that go through rhianon's head have never entered my own.