Jonathan's Story

I’m Jonathan, and this is my life (an abbreviated version of it). I am a student (a senior) at York River Academy, a 57-person school dedicated to technology, in my case, web design. I love what I do there and hope to do it for a career, but as everyone should know, dream jobs are few and far between. I helped design the web site for our local Chamber of Commerce as well as a few others, notably Parrot Bay Cafe, a local restaurant, now closed. I have also gotten into Facebook, something I nearly swore that I’d never do a few years ago.

My web design and graphics work is just one thing that I am interested in. I also like, and am quite good at performing illusions with cards, coins and, as weird as it may sound, sponge balls. Sponge balls are just what they sound like, they’re balls made of very, very soft sponge. They are great for performing illusions because they are easy to vanish and make appear in a spectators hand. Cards are also a favorite of mine, if only because they are easy to work with and get great reactions. If I said much more I’d start giving stuff away, and then the old saying “if I told you, I’d have to shoot you” starts becoming more and more true, so I think I’ll stop while I’m ahead here.

Along with the illusions I am also a skilled juggler. I can juggle three balls with great skill. Naming the fun ones would be meaningless, but there are a few like Behind the Back and Under the Leg that you would know instantly. Juggling is a different art form entirely from anything else that exists. It requires a skill that can be acquired by anyone with a little determination, but getting good at it requires years of practice. Another thing that makes it unique from other arts is that it can be compared to a floating sculpture that disappears when the artist walks away or stops juggling. A lot of common, and even uncommon patterns resemble familiar objects, and those that don’t are usually very complex and cool-looking or confusing to audiences. I could go on and on about juggling, but then you would get bored because you had no idea what I was talking about.

How do I use my talents in my life? I use the juggling and performing of illusions to share my relationship with Christ with others. I went to Florida this summer and performed there with the goal of drawing a crowd so the group I was with could share the Gospel with the people there. We had 18 people or begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ though the work we did this summer. The web design I do also helps my dad’s blog ThinkingChristian.net look good.