A lovely falls at the Creation Museum. The lighting was just right that day.
I have an inordinately fond feel for this picture...
It's very restful...
~~~
I know it's not Monday anymore, but I did have every intention of making this the week to finally capitulate and join the Not Me Monday carnival. It's still coming, I promise, it's just going to have to be longer in the making.
Meanwhile, I have other stuff to work on. Way too much...
~~~
For those of you who haven't really picked up on it yet, I am going to give you a very important hint about the strange and unusual character of the writer of this blog. Please, pay attention, I'm not going to revisit this.
I am not the kind of person who gushes.
If I am feeling a certain way, I have the ability to feel it without input from any outside source. I seldom will mention and even more seldom will I expound on said life experiences. I am somewhat content in my own bubble of emotions.
This being said, I have a nudge in spirit to share a little.
I received a little "Ouch" moment today from the words of the Psalm as read by Br. Cravens in service.
We've all met them: that person that has a "one up" personality;
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY SUMMER. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK. THAT HAPPENED TO ME TOO BUT I ALSO HAD TO CHEW OFF MY LEG AT THE KNEE.
Only slightly less peevishly annoying is the "I'll share and I'll share alike" crowd. These are prevalent, and often masquerade as normal people. They really want to talk, they ooze care and comradeship. But they want one word answers that agree with, support or in some way make their statement better. They get you in a corner and start:
Them: Wow, it's been really hot today!
You: Yeah, I heard it was supposed to get to 80.
Them: *Stare at you blankly like you are speaking Arabic.* So, this is really a nice place for a party.
You: Yeah, I like it. I heard they were going to hold it somewhere else but moved here.
Them: *Glance at you out of the corner of their eyes, like they can't figure out what disease you have* huh. Have you seen Mr. Frenchly lately? I heard he is moving to Scotland and taking up piping on all the cliffs of Dover!
You: Umm...No, but I don't think the White Cliffs of Dover are in Scotland...
Them: *Condescension oozing* Yes they are dear. Don't you remember that song? "Bluebirds over..."?
You: Um...Yea, but that doesn't prove they are in Scotland.
Them: *With infinite patience for the child of ignorance* OK, remember the song, what does the rest of it say? Let's remember OK? "There will be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow when the world is free." Right? OK. So what is the one thing everyone thinks of besides the cliffs when anyone thinks of Scotland? The Scotlishman, of course. OK, and if you think of a Scot what do you think of besides the kilt?
You: A bagpipe?
Them: *Eyes rolling* Try to keep up here. Scotland doesn't even have tobacco. No, a fight. A Scot is always fighting. So if the world needs to be free tomorrow... are you with me here? Where else would the song be set, Dear? Scotland where they are always at war! So the Cliffs of Dover are in Scotland! Are you going to be able to remember now that I explained it out?
You: *Flabbergasted by the tenure of this stupidity* Whatever.
Them: *In fine form now that they have saved the world from another uneducated person* So What do you think about that new play?
You: I haven't seen it yet.
Them: *Thrilled to their shoe buttons* Oh, it was lovely! I simply cried and cried. When the heroin dies I always think it is just like a oldtimey play! And the way she did. Just falling across Romeo thinking he was dead when he wasn't really! OH! It was So pitiful!
You: *Some of the patter sinking in* Wait what is the name of this play?
Them: *Annoyed at being interrupted with more that two syllables* Romeo and Juliet. It's by this new author named Shakespeare. Just the one word, like Madonna. Isn't that a scream? He is very mysterious, I haven't seen him around at all. I am determined to be the first though...
You: Umm...I don't think you are going to be able to. He died in the early 1600's. It's an old play they are reviving and just doing it...really well.
Them: *with the attitude clearly written in their eyes that they think you are nuts and are humoring you to get you to stop talking instead of listening.* I see. Yes, well, That's nice for him isn't it? So, That Frenchly sure beats all doesn't he? Who'd have thought he would just go off his rocker like that? Is he here, do you know? I want to see for myself...
You: I haven't seen him for a while. He is moving to Scotland but that's just a rumor about the piping and cliffs.
Them: *Frankly hostile* What? How do you know?
You: Oh, I know Mr. Frenchly.
Them: *Dismissively* Oh, well, I know all of his friends so I got it from a REALLY close source. Did you know he is completely nuts and gonna go with the whole kilt thing!?
You: Trust me, he isn't, and isn't.
Them: *Back to hostility, but the kind that belittles the receiver into a uneducated blob* You wouldn't know. Mr. Frenchly's mechanic told his girlfriend who told my boyfriend's manicurist! So you see, I HAVE IT FROM THE MAN HIMSELF!
You: *Finally fed up and leaving* Oh I see. Well, I apologize, since things must have changed since I last saw him at four, when we got married before we fly to Scotland where we both have new positions at The University of Edinburgh. Please, excuse my ignorance...and me, I have to be going now.
Them: *Turning to a new victim* Hi, nice party isn't it? Little warm. Lovely food, too. Have you heard about those Frenchlys? I heard they are moving to Scotland to work on the Icebergs....
^ME, this week.(Although I've been farther in my hole.)^
I love meercats, They are just so easy to take good shots of, aren't they?
~~~ When I monologue in the shower to myself, it's never a good thing. Please feel free to Stop reading at anytime.
~~~
God's Rules Don't Change. He doesn't change His mind.
I am certainly NOT saying that our rules are on the same plane with God's. But if we are to deport ourselves after him and strive to bring younglings in his ways, we must, as a necessity pattern our rule book, and revisions thereof, after HIS. (That's a long sentence. Sorry.)
We see the kids in our church today and we assume they are already set in their assumptions and assimilations where the unchanging character of God is concerned. But the truth of the matter is, although we like to joke about "Kids these days.." and "These young things..." the eighteen and nineteen year-olds who walk onto this campus or walk into a church are just as observant and absorbent as they ever were in "my day." Maybe more so, because the world is sucking the spirituality out of us so fast that they are hungering in spirit whether they are aware of it or not. Why else would they be here...
These kids are smarter than I was at that age. It's a sad, lonely street smart, but it has a strong tough logic behind it. A logic that will pull you apart and spit you out if you are spouting platitudes and living in despair. A logic that will see the dress code from one year change to the next and run in a vein very similar to this: God's School-God's Rules-God's Character, God's school changes the rules that are laid as God's rules, God must not be unchanging.
Let me just clarify something here before I step into a pool of never ending sinking sand, since I don't know who might be reading this... I AGREE WITH 90% OF THE DRESS CODE. And the rest are a very good idea for damage control and maintaining a level of classiness at this school.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I still say that is all these kids are getting from this code. The ones that do not hold to it when they come, do not maintain it when they leave, nor do they follow it while they are here. There are always lines crossed and students sent to change. More than half of the dean's time is spent policing the dress code. Again, I like the code. I DO NOT want to walk out of my room and be, well, any more shocked than I already am sometimes. I hold to MODESTY. And yes that is covered and taught to these kids. But unless you are in the ministerial division, it is in ONE class. Your freshman year.
Ah...Freshman year.
I was...(ahem)...VERY well accustomed to this school and every practice and place and person thereof my freshman year and I still remember about HALF of the stuff covered in my classes that semester. And that is also with out all of the other stuff these kids have to deal with. "Where am I gonna live, Who am I gonna date, Who is gonna be my best friends, What about my books, food, Etc?"
So these kids walk home from their first semester (actually they probably drive.) and their Mom says "So what have you learned?" and all they can say is "Stuff, what's for dinner?"
These kids need to know modesty. They need it knocked in one ear and someone please plug the other. They need it every day, day in and day out. If these kids never leave here knowing how to carry a note or a one; we should send them out of here knowing how to carry themselves with decorum and decency. God didn't give us the big rules and the little ones. This is serious stuff we are not even bothering to mention to our kids. Make it part of our daily rites in the dorm. Put it in every sermon in Sunday school. Tell the kids that it's not about the heel of your shoe being in or out, but about the view you are presenting to the world. Let them know that the reason we wear our hair up is not biblical, but due to raising the class and businesslike atmosphere. Are we afraid to tell them the truth? Because I am pretty sure they are not afraid to know the truth. About a lot more than even I do. These kids are harder and less naive than anything we have ever encountered before.
All, I am actually ranting about here is that we should not just bring these kid here and say "Here, these are the rules, you have to follow them, because they are the rules."
I know that in the discipline of a child, if you answer when your child asks you "why" he should follow your command, you are doing that child a disservice. But in the raising of the Christians of our future, if we don't answer this "Why?" with what the Bible actually has to say, and not just in bible class or in chapel or church, but every time we walk or talk, we are not only doing them a disservice, we are killing our future.
~~~
Sorry. Told you it was a monologue. I probably shouldn't stay up 'til five either, though. Might have something to do with it.
Wow, The load that is off my poor shoulders is amazing! I think I'm gonna go down to the swimmin' hole. But first, I'm going to go massage my shoulders...
Ouch...
Now, off to reflect...
HHHMMMMM...
That's my reflecting sounds, just ignore that lady behind the curtain...
