Cos and effect

Yesterday in the parking lot of Trader Joe's I happened to run into Cosby. After greeting him I summoned my wife from across the parking lot. We three stood there for a few minutes chatting. Not about the weather, or how the 49ers were rebuilding this year. Real stuff, real people, REAL NICE. Hmmmmmmmm, how's that phrase go "that's what I'm talking about". Before going our separate ways, Bryan put his arms over both our shoulders and prayed a mighty prayer for us. I love that and am looking forward to building more relationships that have the same qualities. That's precisely what I'm talking about.

Power of Babel

Last night while on our (wish it were more regular) evening power stroll. I listened to myself talking talking talking. About nothing of importance. I constantly hear myself speak capriciously, yammering about things that just don't matter, (last night it was about the potato dish I made for dinner) but when it comes to talking about something that really does matter, something of importance, I speak carefully, perhaps even strategically. My brain works overtime, calculating, examining, evaluating, summarizing, comparing, reasoning, philosophizing. And then, finally after much deliberation, words come forth. It's as if I speak two languages. It's annoying, I don't like it, why do I do that?

Thor

Once in a while you find yourself in an odd situation. You get into it by degrees and in the most natural way but, when you are right in the midst of it, you are suddenly astonished and ask yourself how in the world it all came about.
-The opening lines to the book, "Kon-Tiki," by Thor Heyerdahl.

Several days ago Jamie returned from a bicycle adventure to the Fresno downtown library. While there, she purchased a well worn copy of "Kon-Tiki" which she proudly presented to me. When I was a young lad of perhaps 11 years, I checked out this same book from the library (perhaps it was even this very copy) and read it over and over. I loved it, for many years it was my favorite book, though I haven't thought about it for at least 3 decades. When I read it so very long ago I doubt that I paid much attention to the opening paragraph. This time though, those now familiar words reveal a new truth, a truth that had little importance to an otherwise fascinated 11 year old. Reading scripture is like that too, I think that God intended it to be.

BTW, Incredible wife that would intuitively pick that particular book out for me.

Stamp of Approval

This morning I went to the post office here on campus to purchase some postage stamps. I was offered a selection of three styles. Disney characters, Ronald Reagan, or Dr Seuss. I snapped up the Seuss stamps without giving it much thought. But now I'm wondering if there is someone trapped inside of the USPS trying to send out a secret message. If you are that person and are reading this right now, please reroute the Publishers Clearing House winning ticket to my address. Once the check clears, I promise to come rescue you.

My dad is dying

My father has Alzheimer's disease. The man who taught me nearly everything I know, is slipping away from this earthly realm. Though I treasure the fleeting moments of lucidity that he occasionally experiences, I can't seem to hold on to them for very long anymore. Mostly there is an avalanche of gloomy reality that quickly overwhelms the joy I find in our daily visits. I have had very little experience with terminal disease, but this one seems to invoke a particularly evil cruelty, not to the patient himself, but to his friends and family. I'm completely alone in this as my sisters and mother actually blame me for my fathers condition and have thus excluded me from familial participation. My wife is an incredible encourager and prayer warrior but doesn't know my dad at all (at least pre-illness). Since my mom hates (her words) my wife, it makes it emotionally and physically rather difficult for her to be around my dad. Two people I dearly love, whom, because of someone else's hate can't be near one another. Suddenly things like the holocaust become perfectly logical. So I am left all on my own mourning the loss of my father. Today as I was leaving my dad's room, he looked to make sure my mom wasn't coming around the corner and said "tell Jamie hi for me". As soon as I got back to my office I eagerly phoned my wife relaying those words to her. Her reaction, indifference. Initially hurt, I interpreted her indifference as lack of understanding or care, but upon further consideration, I know that she understands completely and cares emphatically but she too is overwhelmed.

Jamie gave me this book: Partial View Check out the introduction and the gallery. It's intense.

Maybe I'm a Mennonite

After recently learning that my dear wife is a Quaker, I have been wondering if there is an organized church whose doctrine lines up with my own beliefs. Well, this may be the one. These articles summarize the Mennonite perspective on popular social issues.

Check it out: We Believe