The accident

My Miraculous Weekend:A Sneak Preview.

Pain.

Destruction.

Destruction.

Destruction.

Death.

Healing.

Restoration.

Rock and Roll.

Rock and Roll.

Rock and Roll.

No showers

There have been many times I haven't shared my thoughts of feeling (even stories) because I decided I didn't have time to do it well. It is time for that to stop.

My best friend Benjamin Block is not feeling so hot. He's thrown up several times and skipped a days worth of classes. This could be the result of living a legend for the last fourteen days.

The last fourteen days.

Starting with Thanksgiving Break, Ben has burdened himself with the responsibility of not showering. When I say "not showering," I mean no soap or water. Every once in awhile Ben jests that he had just "taken a shower on the basketball court," though. In those times, it's not unusual to see me laughing/gagging. It is quite gross, but also legendary. How many opportunities like this will he have? How many people are willing to Ski everyday during Thanksgiving Break, play basketball, throw up, and study without showering. On top of all that, Ben has chosen to operate incognito by way of "Molestache." I'm telling you, the man is a legend. It is a hard lifestyle (constant pressure from people, smell, lack of self confidence, rashes), though many benefits do come with it. The Ladies absolutely love it. They can't keep their noses off the pheremones. For example, we attended a party last Friday and girls would just stand in front of him and stare. Stare directly at him from within three feet. Eventually, the girl would say something like "that's so gross!" Attention is attention, and Ben got it.

Today he called his mother and told her about the situation (being sick). She doesn't know how long he has gone with out hygiene, but she recommended that he take a shower. So, he talked to me about it.

I did all I could to stop him. You know, a lot of people have tried to make Ben shower. They use all sorts of methods to persuade him: logic, facts, peer-pressure,threats and even Google Fight. In my personal quest of avoiding water for a week, I also experienced this. The funniest of the list has to be the threats. "If you don't shower, I'm going to lather you with soap and rinse you in your sleep!" With pure thoughts intact, that's never a real intimidating phrase. Anyways, Ben disrobed and headed for the bathroom.

I really didn't want him to shower, so I gave him a pep talk. And while he was in the bathroom, soap in hand, he decided that he just might go on to be dirty another day. Praise God. Right now, Ben is still sick, and resting.

Question: Do you face or turn your back to the shower?

The Important

I forget the Important. (I) Let's head back to my senior year in High School: Graduation. The whole school cheers because the Principal, over the loud speaker connected to each class, recently announced that Pradeepan Jeevamanoharan is the Class of 2003's Graduation Speaker. Let's head forward a week after that. Imagine a group of teachers, unable to hide their concern, approach Pradeepan Jeevamanoharan and inform him that he will not be able to give his speech. Many students, with equally concerned faces, start to gather. Then, the teachers develop their last statement: "The graduation speaker is required to graduate." Apparently, I, Pradeepan Jeevamanoharan, had failed my AP English class. I took two English classes that year, though I only needed one. However, since I took a higher English class, it replaced the credit of the lower level class. I forgot the Important: Graduation. The AP English class- rather, the Independent AP English class- did not require students to attend classes. Naturally, I forgot about the class. My english teacher allowed to make up all the work in two days. It wasn't the best quality, but she passed me, and I spoke. Speaking for my graduation class was a cornerstone in my father's respect for me, I think. This was the first time he heard me give a a full speech, and in front of an audience. Knowing that I wanted to be a preacher, and by hearing the compliments from his co-workers in the audience, my pride moved father, expressed his pride for me. (II) Let's head back to the summer of 2003: First year of college. For most people, this summer represents "the last summer" before childhood friends venture on their own. This was no different for me. Being the only one in my group of friends attending Oral Roberts University, I would be on my own soon. Understanding this prompted me to take advantage of every last opportunity. My best friend, Benjamin Joseph Block, and his family were soon moving to San Diego, California. He invited me to road trip with him. I agreed. His parents agreed. My Parents agreed. This would be our last "horrah!" However, Ben's parents decided to pray about it, and felt like the LORD told them not to let me go. So, I never got to go, and became angry. I forgot the Important: First day of College. Because I was at home, without my Ben, my dad encouraged me to fill out my loan information."First semester dates," or something like that, was one of the first questions on the sheet. Since the information concerning the date of the first day of school escaped me, I looked it up on [www.oru.edu]. "Interesting", I thought to myself. Registration starts today? I could feel the shame my father was soon to have, for his first son had forgotten about college. Most kids are counting the days until the first day of college, but not me. Instead of my planned flight, I had to drive. Also, I missed my going away party and then said goodbye to my mother at the hospital, as I took my immunization shots. Eventually, I made it to my first class. Praise the LORD. (III) Let's head back to today: Finals. Last night, I went to an amazing bachelor party for my college weekender host: Kurtis Gare. Going there, I felt free. I felt free because I took three finals yesterday, and I didn't have another one until Wednesday. I forgot the important: Finals. With this sense of freedom, I woke up at two o' clock this afternoon. Then, on the way to the bathroom, I ran into Todd Clingan. "Pradeepan, I was looking for you in the Missions final. Where were you?" Yup. You probably know what happened. According the Syllabus, if a student is absent during the final, he or she gets an automatic "F." Praise God that he is letting me take it tommorow morning! In conclusion, if I ask you for your name, or to go on a date, and I forget... Know that you are important, for that's what I forget.

Great Passages and Quotes

Phantastes, by George MacDonald. "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded George MacDonald as my master; indeed, I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." C.S. LEWIS Phantastes. "I learned that he that will be a hero, will barely be a man; that he that will be nothing but a doer of his work, is sure of his manhood. In nothing was my ideal lowered, or dimmed, or grown less precious; I only saw it too plainly, to set myself for a moment beside it. Indeed, my ideal soon became my life; whereas, formerly, my life had consisted in a vain attempt to behold, if not my ideal in myself, at least myself in my ideal. Now, however, I took, at first, what perhaps was a mistaken pleasure, in despising and degrading myself. Another self seemed to arise, like a white spirit from a dead man, from the dumb and trampled self of the past. Doubtless, this self must again die and be buried, and again, from its tomb, spring a winged child; but of this my history as yet bears not the record. Self will come to life even in the slaying of self; but there is ever something deeper and stronger than it, which will emerge at last from the unknown abysses of the soul: will it be as a solemn gloom, burning with eyes? or a clear morning after the rain? or a smiling child, that finds itself nowhere, and everywhere?" p. 166 "'This', I said to myself, 'is a true man. I will serve him, and give him all worship, seeing in him the imbodiment of what I would fain become. If I cannot be noble myself, I will yet be servant to his nobleness.'" p. 174 This part of the book, even though dealing with myth, made me wonder: "Am I focusing on becoming a Godly man rather than a 'servant to his nobleness?'" www.pradeepan.com "Yet I know that good is coming to me- that good is always coming; though few have at all times the simplicity and the courage to believe it." p. 185 These writings could inspire you.

The Graduation Speaker

The Graduation Speaker

I submitted this to my English 305 teacher.

My dad wouldn't look at me. I figured communication was the key to good

relationships, so telling him seemed like the best idea. My dad, however, didn't want to

communicate anymore- learning that his first son would not walk at High School

Graduation was communication enough.

At school, my peers congratulated me all day. My principle, early in the morning,

announced that the Student Body elected me to speak at graduation. It felt good.

Almost at once, everyone seemed to know who I was- the graduation speaker. In this role,

I held the responsibility to follow in the footsteps of Hitler, Clinton and other

influential leaders who also spoke at Apple Valley High School graduation

ceremonies. But, almost missing them in my dreams of fame, I noticed a pack of

teachers sizing me up. Finally, “You will not be speaking at Graduation,” my English

teacher spoke up. At that time, they weren't laughing, but I assumed they had

included me in a joke. Perhaps my new found fame earned me comradery with the

teachers, I thought. “Graduation is a requirement to be the speaker,” another chimed in

“and you will not be graduating.”

When school started, I registered for an English class and an AP English class.

The AP English class was an independent study, and I eventually forgot about it. I didn't

do any of the work, and I got an “F.” Because it was a higher level class, it replaced the

credit of my lower level class, so I would not have enough English credits, if I failed,

to graduate. My english teacher did fail me, and I lost it all: my ceremony, speech

and father. Even now, my father still won't have me, though, I don't blame him.

Tampons.

This is my Mother.

This is a Tampon.

This semester, I entered the dastard's role of “Pastor’s Kid.”

My step-father accepted the pastoral position for a wee Lutheran church in Montebello, California. A lot of changes have taken place– especially for my mother, or “mummy,”as I call her.

In the mix, she's been caught off guard for two reasons:

1. The move from the noble North to the less noble south, California, has left her wondering why people pronounce the word “bag” wrong.

2. She isn’t familiar with the Christian sub-culture. She has been under the Lordship of Christ for less time than me, and hasn't adjusted yet. In case you didn't know, the sub-culture we've created is not normal. Though not the virgin time, this is the cause for the juxtaposition between mummy and the tampon.

Today’s conversation with mummy:

SCENE: Pradeepan’s Ben is sleeping between the cushions of the futon they call “the taco.” Ben’s 10:00 pm alarm is fifteen minutes from alarming him. After Pradeepan sits two hours on his green leather couch reading The Emerging Church, his phone rings. Lifting his thigh off the sticky cow hide allows him to grab and answer the phone before the second ring. Pradeepan, then compliments his mother for thirty minutes. Mummy changes the subject.

MUMMY (clearing her throat). Church service is good. We get many new people. One young couple brought a baby.

PRADEEPAN. Well done. I completely Honor you.

MUMMY (used to Pradeepan’s compliments). You know, I regret not learning how to play guitar the last five years when I had time. I could have even learned Spanish. I had time, but now I don’t. I only know bits and pieces.

PRADEEPAN (concerned). I do know mother-- I also do honor you.

MUMMY. It’s OK. The worship at church is still good. The lady still plays the organ, and Tim plays Trumpet.

PRADEEPAN. That is noteworthy.

MUMMY. I can’t play guitar, but Tim lets me play the Tampon. We pass four Tampons in the crowd and if people want they can play.

PRADEEPAN (honorably giggling) Tampon?

MUMMY. Yeah, I just kinda shake it.

END.

This use of Tampons in church may have not resulted because of her attempt to adjust in the Christian world. She may have meant Tambourine. Either way, being part of the Christian sub-culture, or women in general, is odd and giggle provoking.

Prove me wrong.