To tell a story

I miss writing. I mean really writing. Writing with a purpose, writing with a story to tell. I guess there just aren't that many stories in my life right now. None that anyone will want to read anyway.

Lately I have been sitting behind my computer screen for what seems like 12 hours a day. The keyboard attached to the bottom of by silver-colored MacBook Pro feels like a part of me now. The LCD screen is like a window to the world that is passing by while I tirelessly toil away, trying to become something I never thought I would be. I have been playing with multimedia for a long time now and until relatively recently I have seen much of it as only a hobby. Now I'm beginning to think that I might actually be on to something with it.

My problem is that I have no area that I can really call my own. My specialty used to be writing, but only because that was all I ever did. Lately I have been playing with graphic and Web design and development. I love it, but I still love writing.

I've noticed a correlation between the two fields though: Both require a story, both are message begging to be told. Whether that is the relationship between sound and light, client and employee or man and city hall, they are all stories that need to be told.

That's my story now. I'm learning to tell stories in a whole new way; a whole new language.

-Caleb Williams

Ever had one of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing you do seems to turn out right? Yeah you have.

Just remember, at least you can roll over.



-Caleb Williams

What just happened?

I feel like three weeks just flew past me. It's been a crazy month with reading week, Thanksgiving and computer-related incidents to keep my busy.

Let me just say the concept of a reading week is awesome. A week where you can catch up on anything you have fallen behind on or get ahead for. I wrote almost 50 pages worth of material over that week and let me tell you, I glad it's over. Of course, I was three-quarters done with my final paper and my computer decides to stop working.

Kind of.

Apparently my computer was made with a faulty video card that blew, rendering everything I have on my computer inaccessible. Luckily, I had a backup disk but I was missing a couple pages of material for one paper that I finally finished today--it's due tomorrow.

I've been enjoying the drama of the close of the college football season, although I wish Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh would have blocked Saxet's field goal and cemented the Heisman. I can dream. As it is, I think Suh deserves the award, but he probably will come in second.

It has been an interesting week here in Dallas. The pastor of The Village Church, where Whitney and I have been attending, was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week. Thank God the doctors removed it, but he is still recovering and if my Christian View of Art professor is to be believed--and I trust him here especially--Matt [Chandler] will have a splitting head ache for a week or two.

The semester is finally drawing to a close and I'm not too sure what to do with myself. As of Friday, I am effectively done with all but one of my classes. All that's left is to turn in term papers and take one final exam. The only class I have remaining is an Introduction to Theology class that has really challenged me intellectually. It's not that the material is itself difficult, but the form of reasoning is a change. The class right now is really focused on helping us change the way we think and reason, particularly within a secular world.

I am really glad I lucked into taking this class with the professor I did, the man is a genius. Right now, we're discussing philosophy of science and the merits of scientific thinking versus religious thinking. I've always been a little intimidated about discussions involving faith and science--fascinated, but intimidated--but now I feel I have a sound way of reasoning with most people.

In closing, I'll leave you with a quick note about a trip Whitney and I took to Hobby Lobby. We were looking for some stockings and a nativity scene when we came across this little diddy:




Talk about taking Christ out of Christmas. Maybe its really an advent scene?

-Caleb Williams

Links in the meantime

Not a good couple of days. I have no motivation. I don't even want to be motivated really, but that's on me and it's something I have to man up to and face. Instead of elaborating on the last couple of days, here are some links to check out:

• A contributor to The Burnside Writers' Collective take a look at the growing prosperity gospel, comparing it--rightly in my opinion--to voodoo.
• Jon Stewart takes a look at recent election coverage ... yes, there were elections Tuesday.
• Joanna Brooks from "The Religion Dispatches" examines the complicated past between the Mormon church and blacks.
• Recent controversy surrounding Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes has led the player willingly to sit out the entire Vanderbilt game, ESPN's Chris low reports. Spikes was previously benched for half of the Vandy game by coach Urban Meyer after an eye gouging incident in the team's win over rival Georgia last week.
• WIRED magazine's Matthew Shechmeister wrote an amusing article about the death of Geocities.
• A friend of mine showed this video in class today, saying he imagines it to be a foretaste of Christ's return, the nations dancing together.

That's all for now. I'll write something when my finger stops hurting.

Little men inside the refrigerator

I used to think there were little men inside the refrigerator
whose only job it was to turn the light on and off as needed.
They would work day and night through the cold
so that I could see the milk sitting next to the butter.

They were shy little people, never ones to talk
they would stick to themselves and their friends the milk and the butter.
I thought that if I opened the door quick enough I would finally see them.
I never did.

I thought maybe they knew the guys who made the cereal and cookies
and that they would all get together during holidays and eat our leftovers.
The leftovers never disappeared while no one was looking,
however, my father would occasionally claim they did.

I imagine them sitting there next to the milk and the butter
in their fuzzy eskimo coats, their fingers kept warm by tiny little gloves,
sipping at an already opened juice box talking about the cans of diet soda
and planning their next disappearing act.

You can imagine my disappointment when I finally realized they didn’t exist--
that the light turns off and on like normal lights do.
And while playing with the refrigerator switch was fun for awhile,
the milk and the butter soon became lonely

there were no little refrigerator people to keep them company.
There were only little people on highways, in cubicles,
talking on the phone, eating in chinese restaurants, watching television,
laughing, playing, praying, loving and drinking coffee.

-Caleb Williams