invisible children

So tonight I saw this documentary called "Invisible Children". Basically these 3 guys from San Diego went to Uganda and filmed their experience there. The story of the children in Uganda has me awake at 1am. There is civil war going on in Northern Uganda. The rebel army is abducting children and forcing them to be in the army. These children are taught to kill, and if they don't kill, they are killed. So thousands of children walk every night to a shelter in the city where they are safer from the rebels. Every day is just another day that they are happy to be alive, happy to not be abducted. These are children!! 75% of the money has come from private donations, and today they are on a countrywide tour to share the story of these children. MTV is now one of the sponsers of "Invisible Children". Please visit their website www.invisiblechildren.com and check out the trailer of their documentary. It is really intense.
The documentary moved me to tears. I immediately thought about wanting to go to Uganda, about wanting to do something to make a difference for these people, these children. But, to be honest, I also wanted to forget. It is such an ugly thing, but when the documentary was over, I wanted to chat with my friends and figure out where we were going for dinner. It was so much easier to forget. I have no idea what I could do to make a difference in children's lives in Uganda, and the sad thing is I probably won't do anything. Maybe I'll give some money now, but this situation needs more than just a little money and in a day or two I will forget. My life is so comfortable and right now in Uganda there are children who are just stuggling to stay alive. Food and clothing are luxuries, they are more concerned about survival.
I hope to remember the story of these children. I hope to appreciate the things I have. Most of all I hope to see the hurting that is happening all around me, not just in Uganda. It has opened my eyes to the pain and suffering in our world. I realize that right here in Atlanta there is plenty pain and suffering, and maybe I can do something to help.

six flags rocks

Well, today we went to six flags over GA with some friends of ours. It was a perfect spring day...cool in the shade, warm in the sun. I love spring, even though spring in Ga lasts about 2 days, and then it's on to summer. But today was perfect. We had a blast at six flags yet again. It is just one of those places that has adults acting like crazy people, screaming and laughing and drooling. We talked our friends into doing the big swing. You slowly are raised into the sky by a cable, and suddenly you come to a stop at about 200 feet where you have to pull your own rip cord that sends you careening towards the ground. It has to be one of the biggest rushes ever. It is one of the scariest things I have ever done, but so worth it. After the initial drop, you just soar back and forth, it feels like your flying. Here are a couple of pictures of Josh, my brother Brian, and me doing the big swing when we were at six flags together last october.



We also rode the new ride, Goliath. This ride is now my favorite. It was so smooth and had the biggest drops. Anyway, I got to thinking today at six flags that I am getting older. It makes me sad. I actually think about the human error aspect of these rides, and how easy it would be for me to plummet to my death. I never used to think this way. It is so great though, to give in to that part of you that is all kid. To scream until your voice is gone, to laugh until tears are streaming down your face, and scare yourself so bad you think you might seriously pee pee in your pants. Today was such a day, today was great!