Barbero

Today you can say I suffered a loss, not huge, yet a loss nonetheless. As I arrived at my (cuban/hole-in-the-wall) barber shop this afternoon, I noticed my barber wasn’t there, and some other guy was cutting hair in his spot and chair. I was immediately approached by the owner as he greeted me and told me that my barber of almost 10 years had been fired by him, because he had almost cut someone’s ear off.
I was hit by a sudden sorrow, sadness, a bit of anger, and disappointment. I could not believe this idiot (owner) had fired my favorite barber of all-time, just because he had almost cut off another idiot’s ear! Anyhow, I asked the owner where the nearest bank was because I needed cash, and he said “no worries I take card” and I said “no, I’ll get some cash out anyway”. As I exited the barber shop in disbelief, you can guess what I did next; I got in my car and headed home.
I know, this in not like the loss of a dog, cat, etc. Yet this is the guy that knows your hair like no other, that talks to you about life, politics, religion, and books; offers you cuban-coffee, debates the other barbers and at the end, they know how to fix the world in the time span that you get your hair cut. A loss, nonetheless, yet a tribute to the greatest barber I’ve ever known… Luis.

Viva La Vida - iTunes

Watch Out U2, here comes Coldplay... this time they're for real!

Coldplay – Viva La Vida

Thoughts...

“Think of the love the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.”
-- I John 3.1

The greatest gift I have ever received from Jesus Christ has been the Abba experience. My dignity as Abba’s child is my most coherent sense of self.
-- The Rabbi’s Heartbeat, Book.

'48th'

Killer Storm

Everyone... as you already know the tragic cyclone completely devastated the area of Myanmar.

Here are some links of humanitarian relief agencies, in case you might want to donate toward one of them.

They are currently on the scene, and their work is reliable.

Rupture

... Friendships in an organization tend to be less about seeking truth together and more about building alliances that secure power and safety… Furthermore, deceit grows in an organization when people feel like they have to hide in order to survive. The result of hiding is a labyrinthine litany of half truths and lies that eventually make the community cynical and mean. The mission of the organization is lost in the fury of people’s fighting to keep power and avoid being exposed.
Every organization has its zoo of unacknowledged elephants, and the unspoken rule is to not name what will make everyone uncomfortable. What results is a culture of hiding, game playing, and manipulation.
-- Dan Allender, PhD – Leading With A Limp

This paragraph hits close to home for me this week, as one more staff in my department was let go for unmerited reasons, especially after 15 years of service to the organization (a humanitarian/relief/faith based entity – that bears a Christian name)
… I struggle once more with these issues!

My Little Cousin (David)

a.k.a. (The Wedding Singer)

It Was A 'Beautiful Day'

I want to thank (You All) for making our wedding... an amazing one!

Jose (a crazy, messed-up Boricua from Berkeley, for coming all the way down to Miami - My big brother) Thank you Laura for letting him come!

Dario (Mi viejo hermano)

Moses (right there next to him)

Jonathan (Mi nuevo hermano)

Kerry (My new sister- maid-of-honor)

& Karina (Mi hermanita).

NonSense

As I sat throughout yet another Easter Sunday service, the preacher read a peculiar (yet very well known) passage, that for some ‘reason’, hit me right in between the eyes… and I didn’t even see it coming! …Ever happened to you?

…And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest…Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary… were telling these things to the apostles…but these words appeared to them as nonsense (an idea that is absurd or contrary to good sense - Webster), and they would not believe them. – Luke 24.8-11.

Now this to me, made total sense! Sometimes the faith-life seems like nonsense, the church-thing, the Bible-thing, the Christian-thing; even the, hi brother/sister-thing seems totally ridiculous and absurd... everything seems like nonsense, many times. And yet the account right after that, He appears to others, as they’re walking and chatting, and He says: ‘What's this you're discussing intently as you walk along?’ Freaky... & Beautiful!

Re-Thinking Passion

See the stone set in your eyes -- See the thorn twist in your side… -- Slight of hand and twist of fate… -- On a bed of nails… -- My hands are tied, my body bruised…

And you give yourself away -- And you give yourself away -- And you give -- And you give --And you give yourself away!

'With-or-Without You', U2.

BOSE

Once again we were off to another worship-experience. Jennifer got me tickets (Valentine’s gift) for a very much anticipated concert… Miguel Bose! – If you don’t have a clue who he is, no worries, those are the benefits of living in South America for many years; he just finished a wonderful compilation CD w/ top artists… they call him the Prince/Lenny Kravitz/Sting/Elton John... (You get the idea) of Spain. We were among passionate fans/sinners & saints/in the midst of culture/in the midst of history in the making/in the midst of wonderful music, etc.

Here’s a clip of the night, a very special moment when a 'surprise-guest artist' (Alejandro Sanz) appeared from backstage, to sing one of the popular songs! ...also waving a Venezuelan flag and showing his solidarity for the exile in Miami.

WedPlans

"dum-dum-durumm-dum-dum-durumm..." -- you know the rest of the song -- Today was 'Tux Day' - the fellas and I are making sure we look GQ-ish! for the grand-day.

Welcome - Bienvenidos!