Better Plans

Here is the latest ditty i wrote for my friends who are either graduating or are headed off to better plans. Hope ya like it!

Better Plans
Agans © 8-6-208

So this is it; these are our lives.
You’re the one who always made me get up and reach for stars.
The past has shown some are untrue
And even guilty verdicts question which friends will stick by you.

Look up. Walk tall.
There’s room for more I recall.
Look up. Walk tall.
There’s hope still for us all.

So take my hand
We’re off to better plans.
Lend me your ears
For here’s a toast to better years.
And all your fears
Will never feel so real.
And all that you know will be wrong.
But one thing still remains after all is gone.

The race is far from the beginning
And we’re not much closer to the end.
Our wrinkles model joy and grieving.
But miracles keep growing out from underneath our feet.

Look up. Walk tall.
There’s room for more I recall.
Look up. Walk tall.
There’s hope still for us all.

So take my hand.
We’re off to better plans.
Lend me your ears
For here’s a toast to better years.
All you hold dear
You’ll watch them disappear.
But you knew that all along.
You’d be a fool to think we were the only one that was strong.

Look at those gathered today, they’re the ones that surround ya.
They all hope and they pray today that trouble neglects to find ya.
Angels sent from up above, to love and remind ya
Do not let this get away. What is your anchor?

What is your anchor?
I choose to believe.
I choose to believe.
The echoes still call you.

So take my hand.
We’re off to better plans.
Lend me your ears
For here’s a toast to better years.
And all your tears
You have trained to persevere
May you live as long as you want.
And never want as long as you live just live.
Just live.

July July July!

It has been one amazing summer!

June brought the end of the Confirmation Program and all the youth groups I do. Then it was off o the summer activities:

Beginning of June I helped lead the Catholic Leadership Institution camp for the Archdiocese of Portland. There were about 24 teens and for the most part, were the cream of the crop. Needless to say it was a blast.

In the 1st part of July I lead a team of 26 peeps on Mexico Mission Trip. My adults on my team were freakin the best. This trip was so amazing because EVERYONE always walks away with a new perspective on life. Needless to say the food was the best I have had since I went there last year! ahhhh.... good times

Creation West was a lot more low key, but it was still a blast. Plus I was in the 2nd row for the Switchfoot show. 2nd row for 20,000 people is not too shabby!

I am on vacation as I write this now and am making a tour through the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Seattle, and then the Coast to run a 5 mile fun run with my old pal Nathan Simmons and Mark Raleigh.

Yeah relaxation!!!

I'll Pick You Up Again

It is funny,
If you have ever been stood up, let down, or just plainly frustrated with people, it can be beyond frustrating. For some reason though, when people do this to me, it serves as a mirror for me. The same things I can't stand about other people are often the very things I can't stand about myself. This songs is exactly about just that and also the one thing that will always pick you, me and everyone back up again. You can here this song at www.myspace.com/chasingtheday.

I’ll Pick You Up Again
Agans © 2008

Hit me straight on the forehead
Make me squint my eyes
The waters keep on rising
And your expression still blank

I hate how you’re exactly like me
With the same stones we throw to the same company
And ya say I’d like to change but nature forbids
It’s too hard. Nature forbids.

These days seem to get longer here
Shadows growing alive
I can’t believe what ya told me
I thought you’d sail but ya sank

I cringe as I see you’re just like me
The hope that you’re craving from monstrosities
And ya pray “God please change me” this nature forbids
It’s too hard. Nature forbids.

I’ll pick you up again
I’m extending my hand so you may begin
I’ll pick you up again
The tables keep turning but my heart still burning for you.

I’ll find me some time
To buy some piece of mind
Pointing to you. Pointing to you.
I remember back
When love was used in our combat
Pulling through. Making us new

I’ll give you faith again
I’m the longing once whispered when you began
I’ll give you life again
The phantoms keep calling
But I’m here still shining for you.

And I’ll pick you up again
I’m the line thrown out when waters pass your chin
I’ll pick you up again
The tables keep turning but my heart ‘s still yearning for you

“The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions”

Today was one of those days that I look back on and said, “Wow! I am glad I did that!” I started of the day with ending a project that I was a wee bit behind on. And finishing those little things brought satisfaction to my face when I get to check them off of my To Do List. Ya ever put things on your To Do List that you have already done just so your list looks like you are making progress? Ya, I think that is becoming an all too familiar habit with me.

After work, I got a text from my buddy Tyler saying, “ Biking tonight at 6!” I was hesitant at first with my bad knees and Doritos flying in my head, but by the second text from him the thought hit me...”You live in Oregon. There are only so many nice sunny days to enjoy here. Do it!”

Hagg Lake was AMAZING. Picture perfect in everyway possible. It is kewl when you wanna stop biking and just take it all in. Or maybe I stopped because I was panting from being out of shape? I think it was both.

I had these weird metaphors while biking too. Like there were these ruts that I would fall into. And when I tried to get out of one, I would fall into the rut right next to it. After nearly falling of a few ledges and a few choice phrases, I kinda got the hang of getting out of them. But sometimes, I didn’t even realize what ruts I was getting myself into. I think our lives are a lot like this. But alas, there is hope! Strong and steady wins the race.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
Scott Peck

Amen Scotty. Amen!