Zachary James Martinez

Join me on my adventures through the extreme and the mundane because its all life! facebook.com/zach.martinez.7315

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Day 85 (Am I the Only One I Know?) Sometimes when you're busy fighting the good fight and trying to change the world it is easy to become hard hearted and bitter. Every now and again I feel like I am alone with how I see the world. My pride, however, is silenced every time I see compassion coming from other human beings. It is a very encouraging and humbling experience to see others step up even in the small ways because it is a great indicator of what is in that person's heart. Thanks humanity for being great! prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #streetphotography #chicago #chitown #windycity #homelessness #homeless #humanity #thanksotherpeopleforbeingsupergreat

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Day 83 (Reflections) As this project approaches the completion of it's first 100 days I have found these reflections are becoming more and more difficult to write. When I started this project I had decided that I may or may not write a reflection every day but now that I have and every photo has one, I feel they have almost become obligatory. This is definitely a self imposed obligation but I feel it is a strong one. Some days I do not want to write one and others I do not even want to take a picture, but I do anyways, and against my own will something gets done. There is something to be said about persistence. It forces out of our comfort zone and asks us to take action. So many days I come home from work and just want to veg in front of the television, but I know that this project will have been worth it at the end. I can't help but think how appropriate this feeling is for the last couple of weeks leading up to lent. All I can really leave you with is keep up the hard work. Of course feel free to insert your own clichés about achieving goals and things of that nature. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #lobster #stuffedanimal #bailey #reflection #dailyreflection #lent #catholic #thisismyfriendbailywhomweaquiredonaroadtripfromchicagotocaliforniaandbackagain #youcantseeitbutheiscoveredintattoosoftheplaceswehadtakenhim #somepeoplethinkheisashebutimprettysureheisaguy @mfarmtown @kirkpatrickpants @derek8293

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Day 82 (Conversations) The art of conversation is a dying one. Just look at Fox News...okay maybe that was a little unfair and way too easy. I'll dig deeper. Of course it is easy to believe the art is dying because all we ever see in the media is feces flinging but it seems that our society is moving in the direction of tolerance, right? Everyone has their truth these days and it has become increasingly atrocious to challenge someone else's truth. Traditional conversationalists have been met with "How dare you tell me I'm wrong!" for a simple line of questioning that might have spawned out of sheer curiosity rather than any moral objection. Where has this defensive nature come from and what does that mean for conversationalists? Are we a dying breed? I believe there is still hope for this sacred art form that has given way to human flourishing since the dawn of man (talking man that is). We simply need to rethink the ways in which we converse and chose a way that not only exhibits but also promotes vulnerability. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #conversations #guitar #drums #fender #fenderguitars #music #art #gretsch #conversations #younggentlemen

[prozach92]

Day 81 (I Hope When You See Me I'm Not See Through) Perspective is a truly beautiful thing. It is what gives us a world view and allows us to grow. Sure this is a cliche and I might be repeating myself but so often I something reminds me that I could be looking through glasses without lenses and my sight isn't that great. Today it was in a quite literal manner. This was a much less painful way to remember this fact about myself as opposed to the usual which typically involves mistakes of some sort. I much prefer this method of reminder. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #streetphotography #glasses #vsco #vscocam #perspective #gotthiswiththethirdcameraitriedbecauseonediedanstheotherhadnemorycard #365dayschallenge

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Day 80 (2 Years and Counting-Ode to Rhonda) Today my friend Estelle and I hit the town. After a delicious late lunch at a local sushi restaurant we had the better part of two soups left over. We decided to seek out someone who was in need and give them what we had left. After five minutes or so our presence was graced by the lovely Rhonda. As it turned out today was her two year anniversary of sobriety. So as to not betray her story I told her about my project and asked her if she could have the world hear one thing and understand, what would it be? She responded nearly immediately "Keep your faith! You can't hide from God and can't lie to God, all you can do is be you, and I'm liking me because I'm beautiful and two years sober!" The enthusiasm with which she responded was truly delightful and she had me smiling behind the camera. I usually talk with my subject and then take the photo while making a lame attempt to make them laugh. Today I just chatted with Rhonda as I took the photos. The smile on her face that I captured was in the midst of her priceless advice. Genuine. Thanks Rhonda for allowing us a small slice of your world! prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #chitown #travelyourowntown #streetphotography #homeless #homelessness #storytelling #rhondaswag #dignity #iabsolutelylovedherconfidencebecausesherecognizedherowndignityandstucktoit

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Day 79 (Are You Redi for This?) Part of every good youth minister's programming and resource arsenal includes a healthy supply of whip cream. The messy game opportunities are endless and a community that is willing to make a mess together prays together. Wait, I'm not quite sure if that's how the phrase goes but a little adaptation is a part of ministry too right? Either way I have been blessed to have a job where I have the opportunity to bring people together in community through whatever goofy means I see fit. AMDG! prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #ministry #youthministry #creativeministry #catholic #whippedcream #amdg #notgonnalieihaveoneofthemostlegitjobsoutthere

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Day 78 (Travel Your Own Town) I realized today that I have been bad at Chicago. Bethany and I went Geocaching and on our journey we had the opportunity to experience places in our own neighborhood that we had somehow managed to look past fore the better part half a year since they have been open. It has been about two weeks since I last used the travel hashtag but I feel it is almost unfair that just because I am in the city I live I am not able to use it. The compromise I have come up with is using #travelyourowntown because there is so much that I have yet to discover in the great city of Chicago, including hide a key boxes with a scroll of names of people who are strange enough to go looking for these random places. Other places worth noting that we found would be Edgewater Workbench and Cookies and Carnitas. I would definitely recommend checking them out. #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #travelyourowntown #chicago #chitown #edgewater #travel #geocaching #figurediwouldgoaheadandusethetravelhashtagonemoretimebecausewhynot

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Day 77 (This Picture of Bread is Not Politically Charged) I realize many of my posts have been politically charged, hold some criticism in systems in place, or are just plane pretentious in some shape or another. My Church gets more bread donations than we have use for because the bread will go bad before we even have the opportunity to feed the people who really need the sustenance, so every now and again we get to take some home. Don't worry we feed the hungry plenty (but really can it ever be enough?) I placed some of this bread on my iPad which was charging and though it looked kind of funny. Almost as if I were charging the bread. If I'm being honest I laughed out loud and felt a little dumb for doing so alone in my office. Sometimes it's the smallest of things that get you through the day. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #ministry #catholic #lent2015 #bread #igottasaythisreallymightbeagoodcalltolookathowwecanusetheextrabreadbecausesometimesifeelbadtakingit

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Day 76 (Snap, Crack, Pop) It has been almost eight years since the last time I snapped a board. I was skating with my friend Derek, popped a beautiful varial heel, stomped it, and heard the fateful gut wrenching sound. There was a strange happiness I felt just beneath the surface after my initial reaction. I had done everything right, yet I had still snapped the board, which I believe must have meant it was inevitable. My consolation was that I had a fresh deck in the trunk of my car. I was sad that the board had broken despite my doing everything right, but strangely I was happy for what awaited me in the form of a new board. Yesterday at Fr. Greg Boyle's talk he asked that we be open to our own brokenness because it was the only way to properly minister. I want to add to that and say that in loving we must allow our hearts to be broken as well. Mother Theresa famously prayed "Father, break my heart so wide the whole world can fit." I don't know if I am quite brave enough to say that prayer just yet, but I would like to get there one day. As for now I will take every bitter sweet experience both big and small as preparation. prozach92 Post Script Sadly I was skating a Superior deck but it seems to not have been so superior tonight. Rest in pieces buddy... #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chitown #chicago #skating #skater #skate #ministry #mothertheresa #catholic #lent2015 #superiorskateboards #vans #ricecrispies #imreallynotsurewhathashtagskaterslookatbecauseijustlookatallofthemsoyeah @derek8293

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Day 75 (Fr. Greg Boyle S.J.-Homeboy Industries) Today I had the pleasure of listening to and meeting the incredible Fr. Greg Boyle S.J. founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. I could talk for days about the incredible things he has done and how Homeboy Industries is a unique take on social justice but much like Fox News I just want to focus on one thing he said. Unlike Fox News this will all be a raving review of the man in question. After sharing many heartbreaking stories, Fr. Boyle described his community as one that chooses tenderness as it's methodology. This may seem like a strange approach when dealing with gang members straight from the most dangerous parts of the city but it has been proven time and again to transform lives for the better. This radical idea, I believe could start a revolution if we were to adopt this methodology as our own. I'm starting to think the S.J. at the end of every Jesuit's name not only stands for Society of Jesus, but also Social Justice. Cheesy, I know, but no accident that's for sure. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #losangeles #homeboyindustries #thughlife #socialjustice #jesuit #amdg #catholic #ministry #manwhatiswithalltheseincredibledreamfollowershavingbeardsithinktheymightbeontosomething

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Day 74 (No...I'm Batman) Like every job ministry has it's ups and and downs, but sometimes those downs are hard to conquer. Because it is hard to quantify the work you are doing the return can be minimal and sometimes feel pointless. After my last confirmation class of the day I was unsure of how I had taught. The day before had been far better but for some reason today my words had failed me and to be honest the passion was lacking. I still grit my teeth and tried my hardest but it did not feel like it was enough. Just before going home I saw a note on my car. Fearing it was a ticket I reluctantly approached my car feeling my wallet grow lighter with every step. Upon seeing this note from Batman I was reminded of the joy that can be had in the small victories. Thanks for the encouragement Batman! You keep doin' you too cause you is pretty great! prozach92 #365.25daysofadventure #yearofadventure #chicago #ministry #youthministry #affirmation #batman #catholic #andtruetoformimnotsurewhotherealbatmanissowelldonemysteriousaffirmationvigilantiewelldone

[prozach92]

Day 73 (I'm Not Irish But...) Every year my friends and I have upheld the tradition of going to the Chicago River Walk on St. Patrick's Day (or whenever the parade is), getting a train full of people to sing All Star by Smash Mouth (I kind of started that one on accident a few years back...), and apparently having at least one photo bombed by our very own Logan Nelson. Some years are more subtle than others but all years are entertaining. He is a living breathing Irish version of Where's Waldo. So today I would like to say thank you Logan for years of being the bomb and here's to many more to come! prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #chicity #chitown #travelyourowntown #photobomb #logiswag #stpattricksday #irish #chicagoriverwalk #ummdaddywhoisthatstrangeguyineverystpatricksdaypicture #ohthatsjustunclelogan

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Day 72 (Working Hard or Telling Kids to Write on Their Hands and Call it Work) Today was my first day back with my kids in the Youth Group I run. They greeted me with a "replacement." In an attempt to play a trick on me they had someone stand in and pretend to be the Youth Minister and treat me like a new student. I let them have their fun because I had gotten a paycheck earlier that day letting me know my job was safe. I love that they are comfortable enough with me that they feel confident in making jokes with me. I am so blessed serve these students. I also found out that they are pretty funny in Spanish too! I challenged them to write in one word their favorite part of Catholicism on their palms, take a selfie, and make it their Facebook profile pic for the next week so as to invite others into the conversation of faith. I'mm so excited to be back in a position where I can do creative ministry but especially to have this group of students to grow with. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #chicity #faith #church #catholic #youthministry #creativeministry #blessed #somedaysimnotsureicancallwhatidoworkbutithinkthatisagoodthing

[prozach92]

Day 71 (Ride Together, Die Together, or Pretty Much Everything In-between-(Ode to the Skate Community) Today was the first day the Wilson Skatepark was thoroughly thawed out. Skaters of every Chicago neighborhood came out of their long hibernation to throw down for what I am hence forth calling #throwdownthursdays. Although that might not catch on the sentiment still remains. I can think of very few groups of people who have the same sense of brotherhood and camaraderie as skaters. There are not many perfect strangers who would happily trade shoes with me, but in the skate community there is an instant kinship because we share a common goal, throwing down and having fun. Special thanks to Lorenzo today for letting me try his pair of Nike's in which I stomped some of the cleanest varial heelflips in a long time. So like I said, Ride together, randomly swap shoes for quick sesh. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #chicago #chicity #chitown #wilsonskatepark #skate #nike #nikesb #shoes #throwdownthursdays #myfeetdidsmellprettyripeafterwardsbutmaybethatwasjustaccentuatedbythechangingofshoes

[prozach92]

Day 70 (Don't Let The Media Perception of This Color Fool You) My boss has given me this week to reinvent my office and part of that process is painting the walls. When people found out that one of my walls was going to be black I was met with "are you serious?" (Not from my boss but from others) I'm not too sure what the problem is with this. Right now the colors of my walls are three white and one blue and I'm pretty sure no one had a problem with that, except for me of course otherwise I wouldn't be shaking things up. The black that I am painting my wall with is a chalkboard paint which has the ability to be as expressive as it wants. The opportunities are endless! I may have been discouraged from using this color by the majority of people I have talked to but upon realizing the creative potential in the color after my explanation they were more excited for what my office could become. It seems that this overly cautious though process of this color paint on walls is institutional but I will do my part to change that. prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #race #racism #blacklivesmatter #paint #color #imaynotbeblackbutigotyourback

[prozach92]

Day 69 (Toys Will Be Toys) Being a youth minister I find the most interesting things in my office. Today one of my students asked if I still play with toys. Clearly my response was yes. He looked at my like I was a little crazy but if you put a box of Legos in front of me right now I would not exist to the world for the following three to five hours. I later had a conversation with my dear friend Jori about the nature of toys. It seems we never stop playing with toys, our toys just get far more expensive, and in many cases far less imaginative. I remember playing Jurassic park with my Star Wars action figures that had a storyline my friends and I had made up and changed every five minutes. The point is I still play with toys today. My favorite toy is my camera. My second favorite toy is anything related to my camera. It allows me the same imaginative potential my toys as a kid gave me. What's your favorite toy? prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #365dayschallenge #toys #bokeh #actionfigure #sockmonkey #imagination #memorylane #itskindofhardnottorunouttothetoysrusandbuyalegosetrightnow

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Day 68 (And Deliver Us From Evil...) Today was my first day back at work with the people who sent me to Guatemala to have the adventure of a lifetime, oh right and learn Spanish. I spent the majority of the day practicing my new found language on my poor victims, I mean co-workers, who were quite excited to share conversations with me. These conversations came with their fair share of corrections but none-the less they were a great deal of fun. Unfortunately my triumphant return home from the fairy tale land and incredibly photogenic Antigua, was interrupted by an UNGODLY amount of mail that has been patiently awaiting my arrival (except for the ones marked urgent of course). This is funny because I work in the church...SOMEBODY TEACH ME HUMOR! At least it's nice to know people were thinking about me in my absence! prozach92 #365.25daysofphotos #yearofadventure #adventure #chicago #work #youthministry #mail #365dayschallenge #whydonttheycallitfemailinstead