My son Ben showed me this music video yesterday by Hopsin. Although I’m not really a big rap fan, I watched it with great interest. How refreshing to hear someone NOT rapping about things that do NOT serve its listeners–drugs, rage, violence, hopelessness, rape, destruction, guns, retribution, etc.

Rather than glorifying these things that have such a negative impact, especially on young fertile minds, he raps about what is WRONG with them. How refreshing to hear someone calling out all those who reinforce, propagate, and encourage those things that lead to nowhere, exposing negativity as the unhelpful and self-perpetuating cycle it is. He exposes this way of life for the lie that it is.

And I was struck by my son’s insight and maturity in how he presented it to me, saying that everything that Hopsin raises in the song represents what he hates most about his generation. I am very proud of him.

There is a better, more unifying way. And the more people shine a light on that, the less power the dark side will have.

I will close here…the video says it all. I would be very interested in your comments.

How Much Is Enough?

Yes I know…he must be out of his mind. But sometimes out of it is easier than in it (but that’s a whole other story). Even before Nicaragua I have been thinking about how much is enough, but that trip really cemented it. The corporate treadmill and how empty that was feeling. How accumulation was not satisfying or meaningful anymore. I want my family and I to be comfortable, but how much do we really need, and how far am I willing to go? I don’t have any concrete answers yet, but I am searching. Anyway, I just came across this article in Time, 1 of 10 big ideas that are shaping our lives. And it continues to make me think.