listening, watching, reading

Listening: David Cook's debut album. I will start this section off by stating that I have never been a huge American Idol fan. But last year everyone was talking about this guy, David Cook from Missouri, who was charming, funny, and a cutie-patootie but could play guitar and belt it like you would not believe. So I checked it out. And got hooked. Again, not so much on the show, but on David Cook. As soon as his songs from the show went on iTunes, I downloaded them. When he won, I was ecstatic! I was able to see him on tour last summer and he was AMAZING. And then his first solo debut CD came out right in time for Christmas. I have been listening to it a lot and each time I listen, I love it more. My current favorite songs of the album are "Heroes", "Lie", and "Avalanche". Go get it, friends!

Watching: LOST season 5. My favorite show on TV is back! There was a 2 hour premiere on Wednesday night. I have been looking forward to this for months! ** Spoilers ** It's not where is the island...it's when is the island. Holy crap, you guys. This just opened up a can of worms. And then there's flaming arrows! Hurley arrested! Desmond and Penny are married! Locke's dead body in a meat locker! Daniel Faraday's mom is that chick who talked to Desmond back in England! Sayid is so resourceful - who knew you could use a dishwasher to kill a man? Sun is working with Charles Widmore! Jack shaved his ratty beard! Sawyer was shirtless! So many noteworthy events in just two hours. I freakin' love this show. I'm very glad it's back.

Reading: The Shack by William Paul Young. I was given this book two Christmases ago and I just recently picked it up to read. I know this book has become pretty popular, so I entered it a bit wary. It took me awhile to get into it because I kept having questions and wondering if it was biblical. But then I just told myself, "Sarah, remember it's fiction. Yes, it has principles based on the bible, but it's fiction." After that, I was able to relax more and just enjoy the author's thoughts and reflections. I found myself underlining tons of stuff and putting big stars next to certain paragraphs that hit me. In the margins, I have written more than once, "OH MY GOSH!! THAT'S HOW I FEEL!!" and stuff like that.

But last week I was about 2/3 through the book and I couldn't fall asleep. I just kept reading. I was up till 2:30 a.m. trying to finish this one chapter. And I don't know what happened, but that one chapter killed me. I started crying and could not stop. Absolutely heart-wrenching. I just sat in bed and cried and cried. I could not stop replaying the scene I had just read in my head. I was not expecting that. I had no idea this book would affect me the way it did. I don't usually cry when I read, but for some reason it really really hit me. I went to bed emotionally exhausted.

I am still processing through what I read. I plan to finish the book next week but I am taking a bit of a break to recover. Whew! Needless to say, I recommend this book whether you are a Christian or not. It's an honest look at one man's wrestle with God in the midst of the sadness and suffering in his life. I'd love to know what you thought after you read it.