|
thewheelermonster
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Daniel
Gender: Male
Interests: strummin' on my gitt-fidel
Expertise: rock n' roll
Occupation: Student
Industry: Other
Message: message me
Member Since:
1/10/2003
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| GLIMPSES
I left my soul in the grass--broken
blades crushed under my bodies weight. Lying on my back in the filthy
ground, I looked up as torrents of rain awoke my face. And you
were there. With one strike of lightening I could see things so
clearly: each individual rain molecule containing a lifetime of
memories. The countryside was bombarded by flashes of light--a
plea to be seen. A plea for recognition amidst the storm's
darkening oppression. And I saw. I saw you. You were the rain,
but passing for a moment--a brilliant moment.
| | |
| So two events have occurred in my life that have inspired me to once again brave the pages of the Xanga world:
The death of Steve Irwin and the Questioning of the Night Rider's ideological purpose
Hopefully, my words will be understood and my intentions clear....so I shall begin:
When I heard of the death of Steve Irwin I was profoundly shocked, yet I could not quite put my finger on what it was about his life (and its tragic end) that so deeply touched me. So I spend hours and hours watching memoirs of a crocodile hunter and any other show about him and his life that I could.
Fastforward to yesterday. I sent out a simple facebook event invitation for this week's Night Rider's bike ride. Luckily, some people posed some very intriguing questions and criticisms about Night Riders. Those who posed such criticisms, if you read this, I am not mad at you at all... I am happy you had the gumption to speak your mind and open up some dialogue about this phenomena known as Night Riders. Without being overt, the dialogue centered briefly on the idea of Night Riders turning into a popularity venue where one could get an ego boost.....this disturbed me because I sure didn't want to be a part of, much less feel responsible for creating such a group that harbored what in my opinion are detrimentatle and non-honorable character traits.
So, after much consideration I came to this conclusion: Night Riders is not any more of a popularity gimick than any other social event...in fact it is the negation of such. What is the MSP Dance party, a Homer Hiccolm concert, or chapel, but a social venue where one can be seen and feel power in knowing that they are being recognized by others. To this terministic end one would fall into cynicism and self isolation for fear of "getting an ego boost" or becoming popular.
I first want to apologize if Night Riders has ever come across as such a monster....in my eyes, and perhaps I've been blind, it is an all inclusive, non disciminatory, community that encourages freedom through communal bike rides. We've seen the power in what took place last year. Our group of friends became closer and we even began our own Night Riders small group chapel -- a way to bring the Night Riders together in a different venue...which brings me to the concept of Night Riders chapel.
I think there has been some confusion, perhaps, because neither has been well defined. I would here like to offer here a definitive explication of the relationship between Night Riders chapel and the Night Riders bike club:
They are not two separate entities, despite first appearance, but mere extensions of the other. Night Riders chapel was formed out of the desire to bring together the same group that met on Tuesday nights in a spiritual way at another time during the week. What has evolved is a disparity between the two. Some might argue that its not fair for people to go to chapel and not the bike ride...or vice versa. This is a myth. If they are extensions of the other then by default they maintain equal ideologies: that there is freedom in the community, no discrimination, and no prerequisites or membership. You simply come as you are. If you can only come to Night Rider chapel then please do so...if you can only come the ride then do so...if you can come to both, which is optimal, then do so.
There is one more thing I would like to address about chapel. I feel that we who ride on Tuesday's always encourage those who attend to go the chapel on Thursday...yet, those who attend the chapel on Thursday rarely promote the ride on Tuesday...whereas both should be supporting the other. They are extensions and birthed from the same desires and emotions. They should not be called different things, but merely reevaluated in the way people view them -- not as separate and autonomous organizations but extensions of the same ideology in separate realms of the human experience -- one of action, the other of spirit.
Finally, to bring back Steve Irwin. In considering the role of Night Riders and what it is really about, I suddenly realized why I was so distraught over the death of Steve. In an interview, Steve said that he wanted to be remembered for Passion, Enthusiasm, and Conservation. It hit me that I want to be Steve. I want to be remembered for being passionate and enthusiastic and having a cause. He seemed to live such a happy life because he was impacting people through those three ideals. If Night Riders is to be the positive force that it once was and still is, then it will take people who are passionate and enthusiastic. I do not want to fall into cynicism (as is easily accomplished while travelling down the realm of Academia), but be impacting with my life. I want to attend Night Riders and enthusiastically support my friends in that weird, yet affective way. I want to continue playing with Homer Hiccolm and passionately influence people both musically and relationally. I want to go to an MSP Dance party and show people that we can dance and have fun and in a morally acceptable way.
I don't view any of these activities as inherently corrupt, or egotistical "shoot ups"....but mere extensions of a passionate and enthusiastic existence. Thanks Steve Irwin for inspiring me to live a passionate and enthusiastic life.....
Hopefully everyone can be inspired, if not by Steve, by something, to also live passionately and enthusiastically.
peace and love,
Daniel Wheeler
| | |
| my band, Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys are on the verge of some really exciting opportunities...and we need your help to make it happen:
| | |
| well... I have been student teaching now for 3 weeks at Cooper High
School, Senior English. It has been a rollercoaster ride for me
so far....tryiing to adjust to a 6:00 a.m. schedule while maintaining
my college manhood by staying up late everynight...not knowing what to
teach more than a day ahead...
when its all said and done... this has been a great, challenging
experience. I have some great students, and I feel that I am really
connecting with them and making a difference... but I am still so
anxious for the summer and marriage and honeymoon and the future!...
I feel like I am changing and usually I embrace change...and for the
most part I am now...but all I know is that last semester and my whole
college career was the best time in my life so far... so I am
relunctant to move on.... who knows..maybe I won't have to necessarily..
and for an English teacher I do realize I have no concern for proper
punctuation or spelling... in my opionion, if the message is
communicated, that's the most important part!
dw.
| | |
|
The season’s changing and I am not forgetting at all
The words you promised me last fall…whispering so soft
Distilled words rang in my ear… Hallelujah, what a savior
Given time or given pain….I’d chose pain
Brand with fire and foil with words…I know you
User of men and high above…Hallelujah, what a savior
I am slowly working through the Bob Dylan documentary "No Direction Home"... it is something that I enjoy most watching by myself and in small increments...partly because I have a hard time watching a box for long periods of time...partly because there is so much depth to the messages portrayed in the film... I have been inspired to write....not knowing if anyone will ever read it or if it will ever find its way to my guitar... just to write
"come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen and keep your eyes wide the chance won't come again...oh the times they are a changin'" -- Bob Dylan
| | |
|
