(Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2007 - Bill Vaughan)
During one of my countless rounds of golf this past summer, I found myself standing on the first tee waiting for the sun to warm the new day. The way the sunrays kissed the dew of the fairway and illuminated the beautiful landscape really got me thinking. For me, this was as real of a spiritual experience as one can have. My brain was immediately flooded with words, thoughts, phrases, and images to describe the experience; to describe any spiritual experience. I was amazed at how many of these easily crossed over to describe a high quality golf game. During that round I could not shake the thoughts and they have been nagging at me like a puppy with A.D.D. ever since. This blog is something I have flirted with writing for the longest time now. Finally, I am happy to offer my first attempt at putting those thoughts, feelings, and emotions into written form.
I truly believe that the sport of golf has a deep theological/spiritual connection to it. There are a number of tools required to be a successful golfer and many of them can be found in spirituality/religiosity. A few of these being: commitment, patience, unconditional confidence, focus, determination, an ability to take the good with the bad, honesty, integrity, respect for self and others, care for the course/creation, and a calm in the face of distraction, just to name a few. In no particular order at all I will aim to dissect these qualities (and others) as they relate to both spirituality and golf.
Golf is the truest of gentlemen’s games and separates itself from the rest of sports for a number of reasons. No matter if you are a 27 year-old hacker or a seasoned tour pro, you are responsible for counting your strokes and keeping your own score. This quality of the game just cries out for honesty and integrity. Will you count every stroke on the hole, or will you give yourself par when in reality you lipped-out for bogey? Unless you are playing in a highly competitive environment, nobody is watching you and keeping track of your shots. How easy it would be to fudge the score a little! But what good does that do? You are only fooling and lying to yourself. You will know if you truly are as good as your scorecard says you are. My father used to give me great lessons on character when I was growing up. He used to say that true character is “what you do when nobody else is watching.” He would also tell me, “if you can look in the mirror every morning and be happy with what you see, then you are an honest man building good character.” I think it is quite obvious how these qualities cross over into the spiritual realm. I of course am in no position to judge a person or their character, but I think we can all agree that someone with a lot of integrity and honesty has good character. We do not often associate criminals or mean-spirited people as high character individuals. After eight years of Jesuit education, it is easy for me to tell you that a truly religious or spiritual person has integrity and is honest. I’m clearly not saying that religious or spiritual people are the only ones able to obtain these characteristics, but I am saying that you will indeed find them in each religious/spiritual person.
Patience is absolutely key to a good golf game. You simply cannot pick up the clubs for the first time and expect to shoot par. Similarly, if you only play a few rounds a year, you should not expect to see much improvement in your game. I have been playing golf for twelve years now and I am finally confident in saying that I am a “moderately decent-kind of good-not terrible-ok golfer.” This game requires practice, practice, and more practice. You cannot expect to be good unless you play a lot. Practicing the same shot two hundred times in a row is not something many people would be able to do on a daily basis. I myself may not have the patience for such a feat, but the really good golfers, the ones who make any sacrifice to improve, are able to be this patient. Patience in regard to prayer is also essential. I can’t tell you how many times in my six-plus years of working in pastoral ministry I have heard “God doesn’t answer my prayers.” I like to respond to that by informing the person that God does always answer our prayers, sometimes just not to our liking. I believe that there are three simple answers to our prayers: yes, no, and not now. The “not now” answers are always the hardest to deal with. In a world where we expect everything as quick as possible, we are not accustomed to having to wait for an answer. If we do not get our answer on our timetable, we dismiss it as God not answering another prayer. But did we take the time to shut-up, slow down and listen? We are constantly bombarded with iPods, cell phones, radio, and television. When do you take the time to be still and listen? Maybe if you had the patience to do just that, you would hear your answers more often.
Another hugely important element to a good golf game is unconditional confidence. You have to absolutely believe in yourself and know that you will make the shot you want. If you are standing over a five-foot putt and wondering how you will mess it up (which I have done countless times), chances are you aren’t making that putt. But if you approach that very same putt knowing you will make it, chances are very good that putt is going in. Beyond his physical abilities, it is no surprise that Tiger Woods is far and away the best golfer in the world. He is so mentally strong when he is on the golf course that nothing will knock him off track. Sure, he may be upset with himself for a moment, but he is able to shake it off and move on to the next shot, fully confident he will do exactly what he wants. Of course, this unconditional confidence can be extremely liberating in your day-to-day life as well. Once you reach a point in your life where you know are able to handle anything that comes your way, regardless of the circumstances, you have attained that confidence. I personally believe that this confidence and this ability comes directly from God. Even when I think the obstacle is far too large to ever overcome, it is comforting to me to know I have the Big Guy on my side and will always have my back. I have faith and trust in God to lead me through anything in life. Which sets up nicely for……
An ability to take the good with the bad. The cool thing about golf is that you get 18 chances to do something great. Sure, some holes you will do well on and others you will drop an 8 on your card. But if you don’t let that snowman get you down you have an immediate opportunity to do well again. This goes back to the mental aspect of the game. If you don’t let a bad shot or hole get you down, you can have good things in your future. Each hole, like every day in our lives, is a new challenge and has its own unique obstacles to overcome. If you are able to shake off a bad day at work and go into the next day with a positive attitude, you are more likely to see the good in the day. Another common thing I hear from college students is “It’s easy to see and recognize God’s presence in the good times, but not so much in the bad.” This is very understandable, and I don’t have all of the answers for them, but I do encourage them to “find the beauty in ugly.” No matter how bleak you think something may look, take another glance and find the positive. I am touching on the idea of patience again. Take your time, analyze what is really happening and find the positive. This may seem like wishful thinking to some, but to quote Nurse Roberts from Scrubs, “If I didn’t believe there was a higher purpose to all of this, I wouldn’t be able to come to this hospital every day.” There is so much negativity in this world that if I didn’t always look for the good, I would go insane. Maybe that’s just the eternal optimist in me.
You can never play enough. You can never pray enough.
Nothing drives me crazier on a golf course than missing a putt because some inconsiderate #$%! has messed up the green. Since I am a poor man, I am not able to enjoy the benefits of a country club golf course. On the public courses I play, the greens are not taken care of very well. People scuff up the greens with their spikes, do not repair marks from their ball on the green (which quickly causes that part of the green to die), do not replace divots (which quickly causes that part of the fairway to die), and they don’t rake sand traps. All of these factors cause terrible headaches and hazards for the people playing behind them, let alone the grounds crew who is on the course before the sun comes up. If people would be respectful and considerate of the course and other people, it would save a lot of time in the long run. The connection here is a care for our world in general, and I think that is pretty obvious. Obvious enough to allow me to move on to my next point.
Human beings are inherently communal creatures. While it can be quite peaceful to play a round of golf alone, it is always more fun to play with your friends (especially if you golf with some of the characters that I do). Again, I think the connection is quite obvious here. Why do you think we worship as a large community at Mass on Sundays? St. Irenaeus said “The glory of God is man fully alive.” In my mind, people are more fully alive when they are with family, friends, or even complete strangers. We are social beings, we are not meant to be alone!
Finally, a good golf game requires commitment and dedication. There were a few mornings when Joe and I teed off with sub-freezing temperatures and most normal people were still warm in their beds. But we love to play so much that we would do anything and brave any conditions to get on the course. On Saturday nights when my friends are going out and having fun, there is always a huge urge to go and party with them. But I know that if I do that, the chances of me being to work (read: church) at 8:30 the next morning are not very good. That is just a sacrifice I gladly make in my life. Just like Joe and I being so cold that we could not feel our hands. Some sacrifices need to be made to get the most out of it.
So there you have it. The Theology of Golf Part I. You don’t have to agree with all that I said, this is just my take on it. Much peace to you all.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Long Way Home
11 July 2008
So here I sit in 31 E, flying home on Delta Airlines to JFK Airport. I am finally on my way home to the states after an absolute nightmare of a travel day. My original flight was to leave London Heathrow at 1:05 and I left the flat with plenty of time to spare. Navigating the bus and Tube to the airport was no problem. Check the suitcase, get scanned at security, show the passport repeatedly. No worries. Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings. Board the plane, find 10 B and settle in. Why have people stopped boarding?? Captain on the speaker, apparently we have a major hydraulic fuel leak in the nose of the plane. This can't be good. Wait, wait, wait. De-board the plane. Oh crap. Flight canceled. Absolute chaos and not a U.S. Air person to be found in all of Heathrow. Double oh crap. What do I do? Where do I go? Where is my suitcase? WHERE IS MY SUITCASE?! Nobody can help me. Nobody knows where I should go. I talk to Big Bill and Joanne again. I'm losing my mind. I'm completely stressed. I'm at my breaking point. The Big Guy gets me on a flight at 5:00. Thank God. Under two hours until boarding, no suitcase, wrong terminal. Call mom, agree to ditch the luggage search and tear across Heathrow to Terminal 4, while keeping my fingers crossed that I make it. I make it with about an hour to spare. Self check in for boarding passes, scan the passport. Oh crap, won't scan, can't print. The Airport guys are giving me grief since the ticket was booked so late. Not their fault, doing their job. Ten minutes later I get the green light and sprint to my gate. I'm now on the plane with only two hours left until I get to NYC.
Such conflicting emotions right now. It stinks that my suitcase, clothes, and Jameson for Big Bill may be lost and gone forever, but I so cannot wait to see my parents. Forget the material junk, give me my parents, friends, and home. Man, if that isn't what life is really all about, I don't know what is. What a crazy day to remind me of that. Never forget that!
Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings....
So here I sit in 31 E, flying home on Delta Airlines to JFK Airport. I am finally on my way home to the states after an absolute nightmare of a travel day. My original flight was to leave London Heathrow at 1:05 and I left the flat with plenty of time to spare. Navigating the bus and Tube to the airport was no problem. Check the suitcase, get scanned at security, show the passport repeatedly. No worries. Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings. Board the plane, find 10 B and settle in. Why have people stopped boarding?? Captain on the speaker, apparently we have a major hydraulic fuel leak in the nose of the plane. This can't be good. Wait, wait, wait. De-board the plane. Oh crap. Flight canceled. Absolute chaos and not a U.S. Air person to be found in all of Heathrow. Double oh crap. What do I do? Where do I go? Where is my suitcase? WHERE IS MY SUITCASE?! Nobody can help me. Nobody knows where I should go. I talk to Big Bill and Joanne again. I'm losing my mind. I'm completely stressed. I'm at my breaking point. The Big Guy gets me on a flight at 5:00. Thank God. Under two hours until boarding, no suitcase, wrong terminal. Call mom, agree to ditch the luggage search and tear across Heathrow to Terminal 4, while keeping my fingers crossed that I make it. I make it with about an hour to spare. Self check in for boarding passes, scan the passport. Oh crap, won't scan, can't print. The Airport guys are giving me grief since the ticket was booked so late. Not their fault, doing their job. Ten minutes later I get the green light and sprint to my gate. I'm now on the plane with only two hours left until I get to NYC.
Such conflicting emotions right now. It stinks that my suitcase, clothes, and Jameson for Big Bill may be lost and gone forever, but I so cannot wait to see my parents. Forget the material junk, give me my parents, friends, and home. Man, if that isn't what life is really all about, I don't know what is. What a crazy day to remind me of that. Never forget that!
Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings....
Monday, July 14, 2008
"A Life Worth Living, Is A Life Worth Seeing"
9 July 2008
For those of you that already know my philosophy on travel, this should come as no big surprise to you. It is a "typical" rainy day in London and I am not at Big Ben, The London Eye, or Buckingham Palace. I am sitting at a table at the Barley Mow Pub in Chiswick and taking in the local ites and people. I find something quite serindipitous about the fact that I am sitting at the only dry table on their front patio. Though they have huge umbrellas covering the entirety of the patio, the rain drops have managed to sneak their way through, crashing onto the tables....except mine. This is quite nice for me as I am now able to watch the cars drive by and observe the people walking about the street. there is a great vibe to this place and an atmosphere I am quite comfortable in. I am thousands of miles away from home, yet this bench feels strangely familiar and welcoming as if I am meant to be sitting right here at this exact moment in time. It's a brilliant thing, really.
This was exactly what I wanted to do before I set out for this latest European journey (first time in Dublin, second in London). I wanted one day to break free of the chains and constraints that typically hold travelers down and do my own thing. I wanted at all costs to avoid tourist spots and soak in the moments of an "every-day" experience here. Of course, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, it is perfect for most, but I wanted something different. I wanted to meet the local bartenders, eat the local food, and chuckle at the fact that there are close to twenty five people here at 1:26 on a Wednesday afternoon. This is the way I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places - to do as the locals do. To go to the same pubs and restaurants they will forever solicit. Put another way, I would never be caught at the London Hard Rock or the T.G.I. Fridays in Piccadilly Circus. There is so much more out there and I want to see it all!
I should add one caveat to these opening thoughts. I am fortunate enough to have been to Europe a number of times before so I can avoid some of your typical tourist haunts. But if it is your first time, there is definite worth and value in some of the popular spots and I have enjoyed and appreciated a few of them thus far. You will not be surprised to find out that the majority of these places were churches. I would like to take a few moments now to recap my travels thus far on this trip and then add a few thoughts on how my philosophy on travel and on life intersect more frequently than you may think.
Friday, July 4 was our first day in Ireland. S & L found an amazing golf/hotel package for us at a resort called Druids Glen (www.druidsglen.ie). This particular course has hosted the Irish Open four times and is beyond amazing. We played its second course, Druids Heath, that day. It is a commonly found links course set-up found in the United Kingdom. There are not many trees, but if you miss the fairway, you are in grass and rough that is crazy thick and sometimes waist high that is practically impossible to hit out of. There are also a ridiculous amount of bunkers on each hole - hit into them at your peril. The course record is a 70 shot by professional golfer Darren Clarke. Most times you will see course records of around ten to twelve under par, but this one is only two under. The course is no joke. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the landscape is on the course. Standing on the first tee, you are looking directly at the Irish Sea and a fishing troller slowly motoring by while the fog is creeping over the mountains behind you. I didn't play particularly well that day but I couldn't shake the thought that was continually running through my mind....I'm playing golf in Ireland!! After the round was complete, we went to the hotel bar and had a "few" Jameson and Guinness whilst watching Wimbledon. An exceptional dinner of fish and chips (fries, for those of you not in the know) closed out the first magical day in Ireland.
On Saturday we checked out of Druids Glen and made our way to Dublin where we stayed at the Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Dublin. Our first stop that day was at the Old Jameson Distillery. This was an awesome tour as they took us step by step in the distilling process of my favorite whiskey - Irish or otherwise. L, J, A, and I joined four others as the official tasters at the end of the tour. We tasted Jameson against Johnnie Walker Black Label and Jack Daniels. It was quite interesting to taste the differences of the three up against each other. The Jack Daniels was far too sweet for my liking and since Johnnie Walker is distilled with peat, it is too smokey and oaky for my liking. Jameson is triple distilled with anthracite so you get an amazingly clean taste....so good. I purchased a bottle of twelve year old Distillery Reserve for my father that can only be found at the distillery and I had his name put on the label. Much to my surprise and delight, S, L, A, and J bought me a bottle of Middleton Whiskey, the rarest Irish Whiskey produced by Jameson. In the box was an invitation to go back to the distillery and sign the book they keep for anyone who buys a bottle. This book is on display in the distillery. Next we went to the Guinness Storehouse and saw the brewing process of Guinness. It was such a cool experience to observe the process of how my favorite beer is made. After the tour, you go to the top of the building to the Gravity Bar for a 360 degree view of downtown Dublin. After Guinness, we went to the Purty Kitchen for dinner and I met a phenomenal new musician. His name is Andrew Mann (www.myspace.com/andrewmannmusic) and is an up and coming Irish singer/songwriter. You definitely need to check out his music. To close out the night we went to the Auld Dubliner for traditional Irish music and many pints of SmithWicks.
On Sunday, I started off with a traditional Irish breakfast at Beweley's (yes, the tea and coffee people). This breakfast consisted of toast, poached eggs, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, nd black & white puddings. Puddings are interesting and I would normally never eat them, but I had to try. White pudding is an interesting mix of meat and mystery bits and was not at all bad tasting but I think many Americans would have trouble overcoming the consistency and texture. Black pudding is basically blood sausage and not a favorite of mine at all. I did suck it up and have a few bites confirming my dislike of it. From there, we visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church before having a traditional dinner at the Boxty House. I had leek and potato soup and a corned beef and cabbage boxty. A boxty is basically a thin potato pancake wrapped around various fillings. So good. Sunday night brought our tired souls back to London for a little rest and relaxation.
On Monday, J, A, and I set out for the day to visit a few places. We first hit up Westminster Abbey and walked around for a while inside. It is quite the architectural gem and holds the resting places to many of the royalty throughout the years, Isaac Newton, Chaucer, and many other notables. I was pleasantly surprised to find a plaque in Poet's Corner with the familiar AMDG on it belonging to Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jesuit priest and poet. Being Affiliated with the Church of England, I was impressed the Abbey included him. I was struck by a few of the plaques throughout the Abbey and realized how I have such a divergent theology than that of Henry the VIII. One particular plaque said "Fear God and Worship the King." My thinking runs more along the lines of "Worship God." But hey, that's just me. J and A headed inside Parliament and I decided to take a walk and have lunch at a cafe next to the River Thames. We made a stop at the Churchill Museum and War Rooms exhibit before a dinner of bangers and mash back at the flat.
On Tuesday, we took a tour of Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club of the English Premiere League. it was an awesome tour of one of the most beautiful stadiums in the sport. From there we stopped in Covent Gardens for lunch at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and then hit up LillyWhites where I purchased Manchester United Football Club and Celtic Football Club scarves for my office. We stopped off at the Swan for a few pints before we ventured to Busabba Eathai, the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at. My dinner consisted of Pandan Chicken (cooked in banana leaves) over coconut rice with a sweet soy sauce drizzled on top. I also ordered the calamari which is without question the most delicious calamari in the world. A quick stop for gelato on the way home and Tuesday was in the books.
And now here I sit at the Barley Mow. I just finished my lunch of a braised lamb shank with a zinfandel & rosemary sauce with butternut squash puree. This is just another example of the completely un-boring English cooking I have eaten on this trip.
So how the heck do these ramblings translate into my philosophy on life? Quite simply, really. As the title of this post says, "A life worth living, is a life worth seeing." I love to travel and I love to experience new and exciting things. Some of the most rewarding times in my life have come when I push my limits and step outside of my comfort zone. There is an immensely huge and wonderful world out there that I feel obligated to see. If I am content in my day to day in Buffalo, I will miss out on so much. While I have written about experiences on the world scene, these things can be done in your hometown as well. Visit a place you have never been before, talk to a stranger, practice random acts of kindness, and help your fellow man/woman not because there is something to be gained by you, but simply because it is the right thing to do. When we get too comfortable in our lives, and never push ourselves, it can be a shocking occasion when something new comes around - sometimes good, sometimes bad. But if we are constantly evolving, loving, and living we are ready for the newness that life may bring us each new day. I truly believe that I need to constantly grow and question what I "know" to assure my continued growth on this planet. I will always want to see more. I will always want to do more.
The rain is still bucketing down and it is time for me to move on to the next pub. Who knows what it will bring.
I just saw a great quote at the bottom of the menu: "You will always be welcome." I should have known....
Cheers.
For those of you that already know my philosophy on travel, this should come as no big surprise to you. It is a "typical" rainy day in London and I am not at Big Ben, The London Eye, or Buckingham Palace. I am sitting at a table at the Barley Mow Pub in Chiswick and taking in the local ites and people. I find something quite serindipitous about the fact that I am sitting at the only dry table on their front patio. Though they have huge umbrellas covering the entirety of the patio, the rain drops have managed to sneak their way through, crashing onto the tables....except mine. This is quite nice for me as I am now able to watch the cars drive by and observe the people walking about the street. there is a great vibe to this place and an atmosphere I am quite comfortable in. I am thousands of miles away from home, yet this bench feels strangely familiar and welcoming as if I am meant to be sitting right here at this exact moment in time. It's a brilliant thing, really.
This was exactly what I wanted to do before I set out for this latest European journey (first time in Dublin, second in London). I wanted one day to break free of the chains and constraints that typically hold travelers down and do my own thing. I wanted at all costs to avoid tourist spots and soak in the moments of an "every-day" experience here. Of course, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, it is perfect for most, but I wanted something different. I wanted to meet the local bartenders, eat the local food, and chuckle at the fact that there are close to twenty five people here at 1:26 on a Wednesday afternoon. This is the way I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places - to do as the locals do. To go to the same pubs and restaurants they will forever solicit. Put another way, I would never be caught at the London Hard Rock or the T.G.I. Fridays in Piccadilly Circus. There is so much more out there and I want to see it all!
I should add one caveat to these opening thoughts. I am fortunate enough to have been to Europe a number of times before so I can avoid some of your typical tourist haunts. But if it is your first time, there is definite worth and value in some of the popular spots and I have enjoyed and appreciated a few of them thus far. You will not be surprised to find out that the majority of these places were churches. I would like to take a few moments now to recap my travels thus far on this trip and then add a few thoughts on how my philosophy on travel and on life intersect more frequently than you may think.
Friday, July 4 was our first day in Ireland. S & L found an amazing golf/hotel package for us at a resort called Druids Glen (www.druidsglen.ie). This particular course has hosted the Irish Open four times and is beyond amazing. We played its second course, Druids Heath, that day. It is a commonly found links course set-up found in the United Kingdom. There are not many trees, but if you miss the fairway, you are in grass and rough that is crazy thick and sometimes waist high that is practically impossible to hit out of. There are also a ridiculous amount of bunkers on each hole - hit into them at your peril. The course record is a 70 shot by professional golfer Darren Clarke. Most times you will see course records of around ten to twelve under par, but this one is only two under. The course is no joke. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the landscape is on the course. Standing on the first tee, you are looking directly at the Irish Sea and a fishing troller slowly motoring by while the fog is creeping over the mountains behind you. I didn't play particularly well that day but I couldn't shake the thought that was continually running through my mind....I'm playing golf in Ireland!! After the round was complete, we went to the hotel bar and had a "few" Jameson and Guinness whilst watching Wimbledon. An exceptional dinner of fish and chips (fries, for those of you not in the know) closed out the first magical day in Ireland.
On Saturday we checked out of Druids Glen and made our way to Dublin where we stayed at the Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Dublin. Our first stop that day was at the Old Jameson Distillery. This was an awesome tour as they took us step by step in the distilling process of my favorite whiskey - Irish or otherwise. L, J, A, and I joined four others as the official tasters at the end of the tour. We tasted Jameson against Johnnie Walker Black Label and Jack Daniels. It was quite interesting to taste the differences of the three up against each other. The Jack Daniels was far too sweet for my liking and since Johnnie Walker is distilled with peat, it is too smokey and oaky for my liking. Jameson is triple distilled with anthracite so you get an amazingly clean taste....so good. I purchased a bottle of twelve year old Distillery Reserve for my father that can only be found at the distillery and I had his name put on the label. Much to my surprise and delight, S, L, A, and J bought me a bottle of Middleton Whiskey, the rarest Irish Whiskey produced by Jameson. In the box was an invitation to go back to the distillery and sign the book they keep for anyone who buys a bottle. This book is on display in the distillery. Next we went to the Guinness Storehouse and saw the brewing process of Guinness. It was such a cool experience to observe the process of how my favorite beer is made. After the tour, you go to the top of the building to the Gravity Bar for a 360 degree view of downtown Dublin. After Guinness, we went to the Purty Kitchen for dinner and I met a phenomenal new musician. His name is Andrew Mann (www.myspace.com/andrewmannmusic) and is an up and coming Irish singer/songwriter. You definitely need to check out his music. To close out the night we went to the Auld Dubliner for traditional Irish music and many pints of SmithWicks.
On Sunday, I started off with a traditional Irish breakfast at Beweley's (yes, the tea and coffee people). This breakfast consisted of toast, poached eggs, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, nd black & white puddings. Puddings are interesting and I would normally never eat them, but I had to try. White pudding is an interesting mix of meat and mystery bits and was not at all bad tasting but I think many Americans would have trouble overcoming the consistency and texture. Black pudding is basically blood sausage and not a favorite of mine at all. I did suck it up and have a few bites confirming my dislike of it. From there, we visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church before having a traditional dinner at the Boxty House. I had leek and potato soup and a corned beef and cabbage boxty. A boxty is basically a thin potato pancake wrapped around various fillings. So good. Sunday night brought our tired souls back to London for a little rest and relaxation.
On Monday, J, A, and I set out for the day to visit a few places. We first hit up Westminster Abbey and walked around for a while inside. It is quite the architectural gem and holds the resting places to many of the royalty throughout the years, Isaac Newton, Chaucer, and many other notables. I was pleasantly surprised to find a plaque in Poet's Corner with the familiar AMDG on it belonging to Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jesuit priest and poet. Being Affiliated with the Church of England, I was impressed the Abbey included him. I was struck by a few of the plaques throughout the Abbey and realized how I have such a divergent theology than that of Henry the VIII. One particular plaque said "Fear God and Worship the King." My thinking runs more along the lines of "Worship God." But hey, that's just me. J and A headed inside Parliament and I decided to take a walk and have lunch at a cafe next to the River Thames. We made a stop at the Churchill Museum and War Rooms exhibit before a dinner of bangers and mash back at the flat.
On Tuesday, we took a tour of Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club of the English Premiere League. it was an awesome tour of one of the most beautiful stadiums in the sport. From there we stopped in Covent Gardens for lunch at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and then hit up LillyWhites where I purchased Manchester United Football Club and Celtic Football Club scarves for my office. We stopped off at the Swan for a few pints before we ventured to Busabba Eathai, the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at. My dinner consisted of Pandan Chicken (cooked in banana leaves) over coconut rice with a sweet soy sauce drizzled on top. I also ordered the calamari which is without question the most delicious calamari in the world. A quick stop for gelato on the way home and Tuesday was in the books.
And now here I sit at the Barley Mow. I just finished my lunch of a braised lamb shank with a zinfandel & rosemary sauce with butternut squash puree. This is just another example of the completely un-boring English cooking I have eaten on this trip.
So how the heck do these ramblings translate into my philosophy on life? Quite simply, really. As the title of this post says, "A life worth living, is a life worth seeing." I love to travel and I love to experience new and exciting things. Some of the most rewarding times in my life have come when I push my limits and step outside of my comfort zone. There is an immensely huge and wonderful world out there that I feel obligated to see. If I am content in my day to day in Buffalo, I will miss out on so much. While I have written about experiences on the world scene, these things can be done in your hometown as well. Visit a place you have never been before, talk to a stranger, practice random acts of kindness, and help your fellow man/woman not because there is something to be gained by you, but simply because it is the right thing to do. When we get too comfortable in our lives, and never push ourselves, it can be a shocking occasion when something new comes around - sometimes good, sometimes bad. But if we are constantly evolving, loving, and living we are ready for the newness that life may bring us each new day. I truly believe that I need to constantly grow and question what I "know" to assure my continued growth on this planet. I will always want to see more. I will always want to do more.
The rain is still bucketing down and it is time for me to move on to the next pub. Who knows what it will bring.
I just saw a great quote at the bottom of the menu: "You will always be welcome." I should have known....
Cheers.
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