Leaving Normal Behind

At the end of a long day … especially when it started the way it did … I am thankful for an evening where we got to see and experience a true kaleidescope of races and cultures on our church campus. (No fewer than 1500 folks attended our 23rd annual Fall Fun Festival.) Thankful for friends and coworkers who labor together in joy and in the midst of details that often blur our vision. Thankful for the laughter of children. Thankful for the soft bed that will soon greet me!

I don’t like it … try to avoid it in fact. But it has found me hard over the last month. Another one today. It threw me for a loop and I’m still recovering three hours later. Tomorrow I have a meeting with three men, one of whom initiated the meeting, because of frustration with me and how I ended a potential (program) partnership with their church. It’s a hard meeting because we’re not in agreement and even after a lot of contemplation I realize there is little I could have done different. Although there was some lack of communication that I have owned.

How do you confront this issue (conflict) with your friends, coworkers, family?

How long do the after-shocks typically continue to reverberate for you?

“knees” … not funny to most people but quite an image for me.

I have been able to significantly wound both of my knees over a lifetime. I’m fondly called “Stitch” by a coworker after an infamous escapade on a slide at work. I ended up with 13 stitches that day. (Who knew workers comp could be filed at a church!) However, “knees” refers to something a little different today.

Continue reading Knees ……

I’ve had a limited blog on another website. I’ve decided to transfer those posts over here … so, here we go again!

hasta luego …

Sunday afternoon … what’s better than a beautiful day outside, the sound of football on television, and nothing to do!

I returned a couple days ago from visiting my brother in Prague. He’s lived there for a little more than a year (but has been in Europe for almost four years!). It was very cool … second trip there so I didn’t feel the need to run around everywhere. My favorite day was probably Saturday … spent some time with Jason and his friends at the castle. When they went back to work I spent, literally, five hours walking through several gardens, the castle moat, and just exploring. I felt a little like Nancy Drew (my childhood hero)!

It was also great to meet and hang with some of his friends. The number of Christians in Prague is pretty small so those friendships are quite valuable. I realized, as I left, that there is a bond and urgency to their relationshps that isn’t as necessary for me in Dallas. That realization actually made me a little jealous - probably because I realized how much we take our relationships and the ease of life so much for granted. I want to be more aware. More thankful. I want to understand, and my friends/family to experience, the depth of such friendship and loyalty.

Now back to my Sunday afternoon!

This movie debuted over the weekend in a lot of cities. Go see it. It’s pretty darn good. Yes … there’s some beautiful people in it (which never hurts for entertaining) but the story, the message, the imagery stuck with me a long time. (I got to see it last year.) Hopefully you will enjoy it too!!!