Today we drove some more today to Philly where we’ve been trying to make peace in the midst of all the upheaval. The hotel is a mess but we finally got the internet to work. We ate a Famous Dave’s and did ice cream. Overall, a nice day with laughter and reading like usual. I like days like that. Sometimes I feel the pressure to be better, do better, speak better, think better. Not in the ability of these ideas but in the quality. This is more acute when I’m learning to live with new people, those who don’t share a head with me. It will be a pressure that haunts me until I die, probably, or until Jesus comes again as I doubt I will ever share a head with someone.
The world is full of art and also graffiti: the soft, purposely chosen colors and sounds of grandeur juxtaposed to the mishaps, missteps, misuses of the same. I cannot be a poetic as Norman Maclean from A River Runs Through It, but I can understand the beauty with his words and story. They are those of hope mixed in with reality. A day might be filled with deep laughter and insightful books while at the same time, frustrations mount and promises and ideals are broken. Does it cause me to stay in bed, avoiding a new day’s sun? Do I ignore that which doesn’t shine and smile? Do I pull on my striped socks (or waders) for another day, willing and desiring to do better, act better, believer better? Pressure brings the pleasure of possibility…
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
news from afar
What a delight to hear from far off countries today! My father is currently in the wilds of Quito, Ecuador which seems to be more vast and hilly than he ever imagined. I love getting letters from him, as they're filled with rich stories, wit and even some wisdom, at least for his daughter. But his latest “email” letter wove vivid while still familial anecdotes about his viaje al sur del America. I laughed at the mix of Spanish and English sentences, a good help for all of those needing to learn or review our 2nd language skills.
Oddly enough, my reading of said letter was surprisingly interrupted by a friend in Sweden. Another hemisphere altogether. Ironically, she can speak five or six different languages, but due to a few technical/internet(al) issues with SKYPE, I couldn’t hear a word of what she said, regardless of language. Sign language was our best bet for awhile except that my excitement deemed anything I did with my hands incomprehensible and uninterpretable. Thankfully, all of the computer hindrances disappeared so we could catch up. Her daughter is studying German in Munich and then French in France while the rest of the family continues to make efforts to learn and perfect Swedish back at their new home.. It’s been almost 7 months, plenty of time! Oh, but to connect with her after so many weeks of wanting to and not being able made my day for sure. It was wonderful to see and hear her and laugh with her. We do that well together. More than anything, I appreciated the encouragement that seems to ooze from her, covering the recipient with affirming words- not flippant or generic but sincere and profound to the moment and person. I wish I could reciprocate in like, but she knows I cherish her without glossing her with words.
And this little report is from its own little world up- or should I say THE U.P. That’s right, MI at it’s highest, and probably coldest. The Yooper language is pretty unique- you can read it in the air as the words freeze in place. The thermostat read a whopping -10 degrees F which is -23 degrees for the rest of the world. Jami and I decided it’s more for the boost of self-esteem that we use Fahrenheit in America where it actually gets this cold. Having to deal with Celsius on days such as these would make me want to stay in bed even more than normal on cold days. We arrived at the theater, layered up, only to pull all the things out the truck, practically frozen. I stuck the spike tape in the microwave so it would defrost. The Mac computers couldn’t be turned on until the screen defrosted. Calvin, the crocodile puppet, looked even more cold-blooded and still this morning. But alas, everything thawed and the warmth of the lights and children’s smiles brought UP my temperature as high as if I were working out with Richard Simmons. The local stage hands of Michigan Tech U informed us their school VP had to remind students that booze was not an appropriate way to stay warm. Yikes! Who knows what will freeze tomorrow, perhaps my nostril hairs as I go for a walk or just the bottles of water trapped in the van. Regardless, the venture to this other world is sure to leave its mark in the story books.
Oddly enough, my reading of said letter was surprisingly interrupted by a friend in Sweden. Another hemisphere altogether. Ironically, she can speak five or six different languages, but due to a few technical/internet(al) issues with SKYPE, I couldn’t hear a word of what she said, regardless of language. Sign language was our best bet for awhile except that my excitement deemed anything I did with my hands incomprehensible and uninterpretable. Thankfully, all of the computer hindrances disappeared so we could catch up. Her daughter is studying German in Munich and then French in France while the rest of the family continues to make efforts to learn and perfect Swedish back at their new home.. It’s been almost 7 months, plenty of time! Oh, but to connect with her after so many weeks of wanting to and not being able made my day for sure. It was wonderful to see and hear her and laugh with her. We do that well together. More than anything, I appreciated the encouragement that seems to ooze from her, covering the recipient with affirming words- not flippant or generic but sincere and profound to the moment and person. I wish I could reciprocate in like, but she knows I cherish her without glossing her with words.
And this little report is from its own little world up- or should I say THE U.P. That’s right, MI at it’s highest, and probably coldest. The Yooper language is pretty unique- you can read it in the air as the words freeze in place. The thermostat read a whopping -10 degrees F which is -23 degrees for the rest of the world. Jami and I decided it’s more for the boost of self-esteem that we use Fahrenheit in America where it actually gets this cold. Having to deal with Celsius on days such as these would make me want to stay in bed even more than normal on cold days. We arrived at the theater, layered up, only to pull all the things out the truck, practically frozen. I stuck the spike tape in the microwave so it would defrost. The Mac computers couldn’t be turned on until the screen defrosted. Calvin, the crocodile puppet, looked even more cold-blooded and still this morning. But alas, everything thawed and the warmth of the lights and children’s smiles brought UP my temperature as high as if I were working out with Richard Simmons. The local stage hands of Michigan Tech U informed us their school VP had to remind students that booze was not an appropriate way to stay warm. Yikes! Who knows what will freeze tomorrow, perhaps my nostril hairs as I go for a walk or just the bottles of water trapped in the van. Regardless, the venture to this other world is sure to leave its mark in the story books.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
rainstick and giggles
We went to church this morning in Green Bay, MI. What a breath of fresh air as we tour all over the country! It’s a real treat to have a chance to gather at a church without having to perform, retell the story 100 times or even dress up. We went in our travel clothes (ACC shirt and pants) and worshiped. Wow! We almost doubled the attendance of the congregation as this was a new Vineyard church that met in an old theater. It was a cool space with booths, tall tables and stools, a stage, pool table, and coffee and bagels. The collection of people ranged from young to old, black and white, churched and not-churched. And that dynamic made all the difference. We came together as a random family of God’s children, each adding their own gifts. My regular “older” companions harmonized with all the songs while the children offered a great sense of wonder and awe that we could do church in a restaurant and in jeans and travel sweatshirts. One of the aunties had to explain that they had to set up church every week just like we have to set up our set and props every time we go into a new theater.
As for me, the part that usually sticks in my mind more than anything are the sounds of songs. The harmonies of both the musicians, singers and the congregation always make me smile, but the accompaniment had a unique flavor. The djembe and guitars were nice, however, I was sure I heard a rain stick flowing at the beat of a beautiful song about following God’s lead. In the midst of singing, I opened my eyes to find that the source of the gentle percussion was a small child and her toy car rolling on the metal railing. A little bit of bubbling and deep rolling life behind the notes came from some folks chuckling in the back. These unrehearsed and even unplanned sounds helped me appreciate the grand scope of God’s workings in the world: how he would put us all together and speak small bits of humor, silliness, subtle demands, and beautiful reassurances all in the same tune. Such messages might only have been for my ears and heart, but I pray the meditations of the latter were matching his intention.
As for me, the part that usually sticks in my mind more than anything are the sounds of songs. The harmonies of both the musicians, singers and the congregation always make me smile, but the accompaniment had a unique flavor. The djembe and guitars were nice, however, I was sure I heard a rain stick flowing at the beat of a beautiful song about following God’s lead. In the midst of singing, I opened my eyes to find that the source of the gentle percussion was a small child and her toy car rolling on the metal railing. A little bit of bubbling and deep rolling life behind the notes came from some folks chuckling in the back. These unrehearsed and even unplanned sounds helped me appreciate the grand scope of God’s workings in the world: how he would put us all together and speak small bits of humor, silliness, subtle demands, and beautiful reassurances all in the same tune. Such messages might only have been for my ears and heart, but I pray the meditations of the latter were matching his intention.
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