Leprakon's corner: 2016

Two Score ago in the Los Angeles suburb of Huntington Park the Lord brought me into this world. 40 Years old today. My wife always says, “Getting old sucks”. But I sit here pondering the notion, “Am I old?” I don’t feel old. But I don’t feel young either. And in reality, if the average age American’s live to be 80, I’m really only half way there. I still have a whole life to live again before I die (potentially). Hmm.. Better start taking care of this shell of a body I will be stuck in for the next 40 or so years (potentially).

Born into what has been labelled Generation X, because apparently we are so unoriginal we couldn’t come up with a cool name like “Baby Boomer” or “Millennial”. No, we are the X as in the designation you give as a placeholder when you don’t know what the actual designation will end up being. We are just that much of a mystery. Then again it really was the Baby Boomers that likely named us, so maybe they are just that confounded by us and we are just stuck with the X moniker due to their lack of understanding or creativity. I like that version of the story better, so I’m sticking with blaming the Baby Boomers. Thanks Dad (and the rest of your generation of course).

In the 90’s we were called the “Friends generation: rather self-involved and perhaps aimless.. but fun”. I like that ‘but fun’ part. I’d hate to think we are the boring generation, though I will say that lately it does feel that way. The fun is being sucked out of us by technology, the Millennials and the SJW’s. All while the Baby Boomers are saying, “What have we done? Oh well, that’s Generation X’s problem now. Let’s go enjoy retirement and watch the show. You bring the popcorn, and I’ll bring the beer.” But we are the ‘Fun’ generation dammit. Why do we have to fix it? Maybe if we ignore it long enough it will become the Millennials problem. Yeah, that’s a good plan. Keep kicking that can down the road J

My generation is the last to grow up in a world that wasn’t inundated with internet based technology. We are living through the transition and pondering how the Millennials will ever grow and experience life (or life as we see it) while strapped to technology. We reminisce about the simpler days of cassette tapes, vhs, and only “13 channels of shit on the TV to choose from” (thank you Pink Floyd for giving me that line to plagiarize); Days when you went outside because there was, literally nothing to do inside. I mean really, how many times can you watch Dirty Dancing on VHS (maybe its better not to ask that question)?

But none of this really tells you about me. And it’s my birthday so today is all about me. How humble of me, right? So what about me? Let’s see, the story of my life. My Dad’s parents were Irish Catholic (Grandfather was number 16 of 17 kids I’m told, grew up in Ireland making me only second generation American on Dad’s side). My Mom’s parents were what I affectionately call European mutts. Mormon by faith and I believe, though I’d have to ask, that they have been on this continent much longer. Growing up I was raised in the Mormon faith (mostly) except when I was not going to church at all, or attending a local Christian Church with my siblings (more on that later), or a Catholic Church with my Grandmother (my Grandfather having long since died when I was about 1 I think.. Hey can you tell me what was going on in your life when you were 1.. I think not…). Or when I was being taught about the Jewish faith of my stepmother (or so she always claimed, I only saw her in a church on her wedding day). I guess in reality I was a religions mutt as well with strong Mormon leanings. I remember very clearly one day starting to pray the Catholic “Grace” and being chastised by my Grandmother. “This is not your faith Sean. You must practice YOUR faith”. My faith? If I know nothing else about Grandma, I know she was passionate about her faith. Interestingly the division of faith or lack thereof in my family eventually instilled in me a passion for truth about God.

My parents divorced when I was too young to remember. My father remarried and suddenly I went from having 1 older sister to 5 older siblings. And my little brother (or half-brother if you are keeping track) soon followed. That made 7 of us total. Interesting enough he married our best friend’s mother. We went from being friends to siblings in one set of “I do’s”. A few years later my mother also remarried but never had any more children. Oh yeah, and many many years later my father married again adding 3 more children to the sibling pool of now 10 (though one is no longer with us). So the Family Bush (my Dad’s coined term for us) can be rather confusing. There will be a test later.

The first 5 years of my life was relatively stable and normal (in a sense). We lived in one of my grandfather’s 7 homes (Mom, Sister and I) which was right next door to Dad and Grandma. So I sorta had both of my parents at first. But then the great city of Huntington Park decided, via Right of Eminent Domain, that my grandmother no longer needed her homes she had lived in and owned for over 3 decades. This was the end of relative stability in my life for many many years to come.

Soon my mother had moved to Las Vegas of all places and my father was remarried and oh yeah I had a lot more siblings. And my little brother who was so cute until his 1^st birthday, which happened to be 3 days before my 6^th birthday. I’m uber (such a millennial word, I know) excited because it’s my birthday party and for some reason I have two birthday cakes on the table. Then reality set in and I realized it wasn’t all for me. I don’t know if it was just my perception or if I truly was mostly ignored that day because of the excitement of a one year olds birthday, but I do recall being very sad and lonely on the front porch all alone. And we’ve been sharing birthdays ever since. Which was actually very cool in later years when instead of a party, our parents would just drop the two of us off at Magic Mountain for the day, just the two of us.

From age 5 to age 20 I moved 13 times. I slept anywhere and everywhere, very heavily I might add, but that’s a story for another time, or you can just ask my Dad who tried to wake me up ‘once.. just once’ (Nick… what movie?). My favorite sleeping arrangement in those years was the bathroom which my Dad started to remodel but never finished. I grabbed a mattress and made it my own. I enjoyed having my ‘own’ space until he kicked me out to finish remodeling it.

I’ve often thought of my youth as a Soap Opera. You just never knew what life experience might come your way. And it’s seemed to run the gambit in that short 15 year span from 5 to 20. We were a no holds barred type of family. And each of us contributed to the adventure in both good and bad ways that even now seems less than real to me, but more of a Soap Opera.

Overall I was a shy but tough kid. I had to be with 5 older siblings. I may not have won physically but I could mess with their heads with the best of them. To this day my brother still tells me I’m the most stubborn person he’s ever known. Though you would think that at some point self-preservation would have kicked in; it didn’t and I never stopped pushing buttons and they never stopped getting mad at me for it. I’m amazed to this day I never broke a bone or ended up in the hospital for something (other than getting hit by a car while riding my brother’s bike racing my other brother). I did develop quite the level of pain tolerance (though not as much as my favorite Kraut Gunther). I’m not saying we didn’t love each other; we just had a rough way of showing it.

‘Pain Therapy’ (a tough family) taught me not to fear much in the world, which probably was stupid because I lived in a dangerous place. I was jumped more times than I want to recall just because I was white (and a skinny white guy at that). And I didn’t even like fighting outside of my home unless I felt truly threatened.

In summary I guess my childhood was a strange mix of everything. It gave me a sarcastic and somewhat irreverent appreciation for most of life’s situations. ‘Laugh, Cry or Scream”, I usually choose laugh which really irks some people.

I survived my childhood, graduated high school with a superbly impressive “at best” C average. It might not have even been that good. It wasn’t really a priority for me back then. I then proceeded to have no idea what to do with my life.

I moved out of my Dad’s house and procedure to jump from sofa to bed to sofa to bed in a very nomadic lifestyle. Thank you all who shared a sofa or bed with me in those years. It was a blissful life of no real responsibility, yet at the same time truly unfulfilling. Thought I did find my first ‘wife’ in one of those beds. Now what fun would it be if I actually explained that to you?

Religion almost led me on a Mormon mission, but instead drove me to further despair and eventually the Navy. It was the most memorable moment of pride for my father to see me off into the military. I will admit it was his pride in my efforts that carried me through much of my Navy career. It certainly was my stature. skinny runt like me… somehow I lost out in the gene pool here.. seriously, have you met my Dad? How did I end up a skinny twig? My dad gave me a watch once. I could wear it around my bicep. Hmm.. yeah, something not right there…

I ended up joining the Navy as whim. My ‘buddy’ talked me into joining with him and then bailed at the last minute. But I went through with it because I had nothing better to do. Signed away 6 years of my life to indentured servitude. The Navy showed me that I could hold my own against some of the smartest men/women to enter the military. It also showed me that my disdain for authority held no bounds. Much endurance was required to survive both of those truths.

The Navy was a very interesting 6 years. God was working in me to change my heart and lead me to Him, all while I was rebelling against the faith of my youth, the authority that was over me and the morals I had been taught. I lived many lives in a very short period of time (much like my childhood).

By the time I got out I was definitely a Reformed Christian, though I had no idea that there was such a thing as a Reformed Christian. Shortly after I got out two friends changed my life.

First Bill invited me to Branch of Hope where for the first time in my life I heard a purely Biblical sermon. 2 years later (I had to be sure) I joined the church and was blessed by my membership there for many many years.

Second Jen nagged me into talking to the woman who was to become my wife. This is the story of why you never say never to God. By the Grace of God I fell in love with a woman who was everything I wasn’t looking for. He changed her heart as well and here we are 13 years later going strong.

We were married by Pastor Paul Viggianno. My pastor, mentor, counselor and friend. We both grew in knowledge and spirit under the leadership of Branch of Hope. Our family grew from three to five. We lived in virtual poverty for much of that time, but God blessed us with good friends and enough to get by.

And most of that time we knew we wanted to escape Los Angeles to a place more affordable. But Michigan was definitely not on any list of mine as an option. I tried to move many times to places that were on my list, but was thwarted every time. But then God opened a door and shoved me through it and so here I am in Michigan. How did I get here? I don’t know. But I’ve been blessed with a beautiful home, great neighbors and Godly friends. The miracles of the last two years still astound me. But God is good.

Today… Our family is growing and thriving in Michigan. My eldest is growing into a young man. He started his senior year of high school. My little ones are developing friendships I’m certain will last many years. My wife is engaging Godly women. My job is excelling even amongst new challenges daily. I’ve been blessed to share the gospel with many people since moving here and am no actively engaged in the leadership of a church plant. I’M IN A CHURCH PLANT. How does that happen?

So what was the point of this rant? No point, it’s my birthday and I wanted to rant. Sometimes it’s good to just let the words flow. It's good to remember the life I've been blessed to live. I've seen 38 of the 50 states, sailed around the world, visited countries I never dreamed of visiting, Had friends and relationships that I never could have planned on, suffered much, lost much, gained even more, loved, hated, blessed, offended, helped, hurt, grown, regressed, regretted, appreciated and much much more. In all this I've been amazed to study my fellow man and to learn about humanity and God's impact on us all.

To those who have shared a portion of this journey of life with me.. Thank you for being a part of my life. I know each and every one of you has touched me and have contributed to the man I am today.

So here is to the next 40 years. May the second half of my life be full. May God continue to teach me and care for me as closely in this half as He has the first half. This half of my life will let me see my children grow into adults and become husbands, wives and parents. And the great bulk of this half will be spent growing in Christ with my wife whom God has blessed me with. Here is to a whole life ahead of me.

Leprakon's corner

Thursday, November 10, 2016

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