I just changed the title to Part One, b/c I now recognize that this is not a one post kind of blog. Enjoy.

I am not totally certain of what I am about to try and explain...it's a bit like a hazy idea that just won't let go of me. The question is this...why is it, as a younger(er), respectable, moderately intelligent, product of a solid Christ based marriage, committed follower of Christ am I drawn to the concept of a deliberately simple, perhaps even nomad-esqe life? More clearly articulated...why don't I want to be like everyone else my age? Namely, trading up in homes, career, cars, retirement accounts, media systems, etc... The part that really baffles me is in the very recent past (less than 2 years ago) I was exactly that person. And all of this is being asked with genuine love for all my friends who live in great houses, drive fast cars, and make six (or seven) figure incomes. I will tell a story. Stories work better. I went to Miami University with a guy named Donnie. Donnie is cool. Not like, "Hey, he's cool" but "That guy is freakin' unbelieveably cool." Donnie could have dated ANYONE at Miami. He choose not to. Donnie used to camp out on the lawn of the main administrative building, 'cause the grass was softer there. Anyway, Donnie graduated from Miami with a good degree. "It's time to start life now Donnie boy...buy your first BMW, go work at Proctor, meet a pretty girl and get married." Donnie said "No thanks life. I think things could be more interesting than that." And Donnie's life has been. He has yet to "work" anywhere, but he's traveled the world, rock climbing in Ibiza, Spain, entertaining people on his flybar (this ridiculous pogo stick on steroids) at the World Cup, raising money in Boston then hitching a ride to New Orleans THE DAY AFTER KATRINA to work in a shelter loving on people (sorry Bush, but my friend Donnie beat the government there. Embarassing). All the while Donnie has loved on people, kept this ratty soft cover Bible in his back pocket, and basically lived. Unencumbered. Free. For years. And while I realize I am romanticizing what has at times been an extremely faith laden journey for him, he is also the first to say that he would not trade a moment of the last several years. For anything. Donnie doesn't really have a home. No joke, he JUST got a cell phone a month ago (b/c all his friends were pissed when they tried to pick him up somewhere and he'd no show for 6 hours). A life lived simply. No credit cards. Car payments. Business deals to close. Emails to answer. Donnie spends a few hours a day in the Word...b/c he can. So anyway, why am I attracted to that? The answer might seem easy, but I'm not so sure it is. Life lived on faith (not credit) is not easy. Perhaps that's why so few of us live it. I try to, but somehow my car insurance premium always gets in the way (damn you Brian). I heard through a friend of mine about a lunch Donnie had with this lady (high powered christian conference running lady) who somehow met him and got interested in his life. Her quote after lunch was "I feel like I just had lunch with Jesus." No more thoughts for now...just questions. Enjoy some pics of Donnie living.