I Believe What I Believe (it’s what makes me what I am)

The title is taken from Creed, a song by Rich Mullins who happens to be my favorite musician. Tragically, he died in a car accident in 1997 near Peoria, IL. Creed is based on the Apostles Creed with a chorus added by Mullins. If you don’t know it, here’s Rich playing it. I’ll link the video because he plays a mean hammer dulcimer, which you just gotta see.

When you’re 66 and not teaching summer school, you have tons of time to think, which has led me to examine my beliefs. Before you close the tab on your browser, this isn’t a deep dive into profound theological and philosophical waters. Yes, I have my Christian beliefs and that goes at the top of the list. That’s the belief I live by and will likely die by.

During my musing, I was drawn back to a short monologue by Kevin Costner in Bull Durham. Annie asks Crash what he believes. In part he says, “I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a Constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.” That’s good stuff, right there.

Hmmm, I thought. After the Apostle’s Creed, what then? In no particular order, here’s some of what I believe.

I believe your knees are the thermostat of the body. Forget about the common wisdom of keeping your head warm. Or your feet. It’s the knees, baby, always the knees! Keep them warm, you’re good to go.

I believe chocolate is better than vanilla, just objectively better, not just as a matter of preference. You want to know someone? Check out their preferred ice cream. If it’s not some form of chocolate, move on.

I believe free refills are the most important invention of the 21st century, with AI right behind. Economically, aesthetically, gastronomically, philosophically and every other -ally, life post 2000 is all about the refills.

I believe the higher a politician climbs, the more likely he/she will become corrupt. Party, age, gender, none of that matters. It’s a sad state of government we have.

I believe baseball is the most perfect game, an aesthetic that no other sport offers. Likely, the greedy will ruin it with sports gambling and the influence of Vegas. And yes, I’m saying this in part because my A’s are moving to Vegas. Tis a shame.

I believe Vertigo is the best movie. Ever. I will receive big pushback from most family members on this, but I stand firm. Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak perfectly capture the flaws in infatuation masquerading as love. Hitchcock is a masterful storyteller, and the score matches the action scene for scene. I can watch Vertigo over and over, and I have. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading and go watch it.

I believe the semicolon is the quintessential piece of punctuation. It’s the great white shark of grammar, feasting on all inferior marks. Use it to separate two independent clauses and look like a genius to the uninformed. Most people don’t know how to use it; some may even overuse it. Pick your spots. Be selective and relish the look of awe in your reader’s face.

On the subject of writing, I believe some words are superior to others. They sound cool and create an ethos in your sentences. Here are some for you to try out: obsequious, obstreperous, historicity, mellifluous, propitiate. This, of course, is a very partial list. Here’s another. On the next to last day of class, I open with, “Welcome to our penultimate day.” Then I wait and watch, letting the word soak their brains. It’s a beautiful thing.

I believe both the penny and daylight saving time should be retired. C’mon, it’s just time to let them go. They served their country well, but now they both get in the way of living.

I believe in marriage for life. It’s like a one-trip salad bar. Make that salad as perfect as you can because there are no do-overs at Hurl’s buffet.

I believe I was created to teach. I don’t know about others and how they view their occupations, but I have a strand of DNA that simply says, “teacher.”

I believe the things we have in common are greater than our differences.

I believe yes, Lee Harvey acted alone.

I believe Twain and Dickens are superior to Hemingway and Faulkner. All four take a backseat to Willy Shakes body of work (whoever wrote it). And all five are superior to J.D. Salinger.

I believe Jimmy Buffet is really underrated as a musician. Too many write him off as a party guy, the beach bum Parrot Head. His music is far more sophisticated than that, and it’s fun to listen to.

I believe getting older is harder than being younger. And life as a young person was and is no picnic.

I believe turkey is the best meat. I’ll take some fresh brisket or a juicy burger. Sign me up for a chicken breast or a brat off the grill. Love me some bbq ribs and pulled pork. But ounce for ounce, it’s turkey and likely will be until I breathe my last.

I believe Texas drivers are the worst. I never thought mandatory driver’s ed had much value, but I’ve changed my mind.

I believe in a perfectly struck 5-iron, the genius of Nate Bargatze, and the power of three items when you write a list.

Agree or disagree, we’re all good. I believe what I believe; it’s what makes me what I am. How about you?

Thanks for reading!

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