Nathan R. Hale

  • Packing a 13 liter backpack + small messenger for a 3 day trip

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    For the past several years I have been challenging myself to pack light, so I can go fast. No waiting for checked baggage on arrival when traveling by air, no returns to the car to unload tons of stuff at the hotel when traveling by auto. With less stuff, I’m more mobile, less worried about losing things, and I learn to live with only what I really need.

    For my last three-day trip to Georgia, USA, I packed pretty light (almost ultra light) and I thought it’d be worth sharing here. Something I did a bit different this time was to go the two-bag route.

    Instead of the traditional large-carry-on+large-personal-item combo, though, I took a small 13 backpack and a super-little satchel.

    The packs

    My main pack was my trusty Osprey Daylite (link is to the latest updated version). This 13 liter daypack has been with me all over the US, from the trail to the city and has never let me down. Osprey packs are made in the US and are covered by an amazing, almighty guarantee. Lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and smartly designed, I love my Osprey Daylite for carrying just about anything, as long as it’s not too wide. It’s not going to do well with large binders or laptops, but for everything else it’s fantastic. The Daylite was the perfect choice for this trip.

    For my secondary pack, I picked up the Victoriatourist V5006 Vertical Messenger Bag from Amazon. I was amazed by the quality of this little pack. Helpful inner pockets, beefy water-resistant exterior fabric, solid and reliable zippers all combine in a pleasantly nondescript bag that was perfect for carrying small items. And it was only $10!

    Everything I put in here could have fit in my main pack, but it would have been less accessible. I wanted to be able to throw my main pack in the overhead if necessary and have my tablet, keyboard, wallet, etc. readily available.

    What I brought

    Wearing

    The internet is full of advice about what to wear while traveling, and lots of it is super anti-cotton and anti-jeans, since cotton doesn’t tend to dry very quickly and can be heavy. That said, I often travel wearing a simple cotton t-shirt because they’re comfortable, and although they don’t dry super quick if you’re doing laundry in the sink, they’re usually ready overnight, so I’m willing to take the hit for comfort and price. Again, conventional jeans are comfortable, look good and don’t need to be washed often anyways.

    This was my second trip with some inexpensive cross-trainers, and they did amazingly well. Basic, lightweight sneakers are comfortable and versatile shoes, perfect for running, walking long distances, light hikes, and just hanging out. I was impressed with how quickly my pair dried when I got caught in the rain.

    I like to bring a hat when I travel; a lightweight ball cap is my go-to in the summer. I also wear a rosary and a fitness tracker. In my pockets, the usual: wallet and phone.

    In the backpack

    Osprey Daylite packing layout

    In the messenger bag

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  • Home from the hospital

    After a rough couple of days I am home from the hospital and feeling much better; that said it will be a while yet before I’m 100%, and a while yet before we understand all the reasons behind some of my chronic issues and this specific set of symptoms. Current possibilities include everything from ordinary illness coupled with psychosomatic reactions (like a panic attack) to Valley Fever (yay) to mold in my lungs. I’m scheduled to follow-up with a gamut of specialists over the next several weeks along with an array of tests and more follow-up tests. (more…)

  • Boredom in meditation

    I suggest that you received a gift of time, time that did not have to be filled because you were already in God’s presence.

    – Fr. Carl

  • Eucharist is the moment

    The eucharist is the moment at which the past event comes forward to live again in the present, and the future moment of the Lord’s return comes backwards in time to challenge us in the present.

    N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians, p. 150

  • The simple way to practice centering prayer

    Centering prayer is about cultivating an awareness of the presence of God and an attitude of submission to his will. In other words, it is practicing consent to the loving action of God to conform you ever more to the image of Christ. (more…)

  • A Prayer for Father's Day

    Heavenly Father,
    you entrusted your Son Jesus,
    the child of Mary,
    to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
    Bless all fathers
    as they care for their families.
    Remember too all those who have help fill the void
    when fathers pass early or are absent:
    grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers,
    pastors and coaches and the women of our families.
    Give them strength and wisdom,
    tenderness and patience;
    support them in the work they have to do,
    protecting those who look to them,
    as we look to you for love and salvation,
    through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.

    Amen.

    Adapted from prayers by Rev. Chuck Currie and others at https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Fathers-Day-Prayers.cfm

  • What I believe about immigration and giving up the right to bear arms, in brief

    I am in favor of Christians treating illegal immigrants humanely, hospitably, and fairly (and advocating for the same) as a witness to the future universal Kingdom, imperfectly present now in the Church, where the gates will never be shut at the end of the day (Rev. 21:25)

    I am not in favor of the breaking of reasonable, just civil laws without extreme extenuating circumstances.

    I am in favor of Christians voluntarily giving up their right to bear arms (and advocating for the same) as a witness to the future universal Kingdom, imperfectly present now in the Church, where swords will be beaten into plowshares (Is. 2:4)

    I am not in favor of a blanket condemnation on all forms of self-defense or any penalty (ecclesiastical or civil) toward those that choose not to voluntarily give up their right to self-defense.

  • Christians are weak and lawless

    Christians are indeed by definition weak and lawless according to worldly standards.

    Our weakness is in loving our enemies and caring for the stranger, even though it’s risky.

    Our lawlessness is a rejection of any authority that would seek to usurp the Lordship of Christ who commands us to do those things.

    But we are not weak, we only appear that way.

    Jesus appeared weak on the cross to many, like a lamb led to the slaughter, but he defeated death there once and for all. This is how God works through Christ, and how he works through us–Christ’s Body on earth (2 Cor. 12:9-11).

    And we are not lawless.

    Only now we live not by laws grounded in lies and worldly commitments. These always result in suffering and death for others. No, we are empowered to live according to a different kind of law that leads us–through death to ourselves–to life. This is the law of love, which comes from the Spirit (Rom. 8, 13:10)

  • 7 observations regarding social media in the present time

    Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

    Social media is both more important and less important than we often give it credit for as communications medium.

    I submit the following observations for your consideration.

    (more…)

  • My GTD system, June 2018

    • Capturing
    • Clarifying 
      • GTD workflow
    • Organizing ideas and next actions in a useful way
      • Trello
      • OneNote
      • Google Calendar
      • Microsoft OneDrive (current/work files)
      • Google Drive (Personal archive)
      • Physical file cabinets at home and office
    • Reflecting
      • Weekly review checklists

    Previous tools and techniques

    • Capture: Field Notes + Pilot G2 Mechanical Pencil (full write up)
    • List management: Trello (full write up)
    • Calendar: Google Calendar
    • Email: Archive + Trello
    • Physical Tickler
    • Files: Dropbox (church), Google Drive (personal), OneNote (research), Physical file cabinet (1 personal +  1 work)