We are trekking to Mount Petit Jean for a few days of R&R before school starts later this week, so blog entries will be nonexistent. For a change of pace, I thought I'd ask for some contributions.
The following lines were all shared with me back during my Lone Oak days. Each of them are absolutely true…
“You’ll make a good preacher one day.” (This was said early in my stay at Lone Oak).
“You always manage to find something to fill up the time.” (You can just sense the underlying feeling of resignation that accompanied this line).
“I appreciated what you were trying to do.” (I loved this line. He told it to me right after I tried a dramatic monologue sermon—the only time I’ve ever done so).
“If I’d known you were going to be good today I’d have brought a neighbor.” (A joke...I think).
“Did you know there are 243 panes of glass in the windows?” (Said by a child after the service.)
“We shouldn’t make you preach so often.” (I’m not sure how to take this one).
“I think God has called you to be a professor.” My all time favorite, uttered with complete sincerity by a Hill Country cowboy.
Gentle readers, please add your favorite lines to the comments
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Resignation
Tomorrow morning, the pastor of Lakeview Baptist (our home church) will resign to take a church in another part of our state. He’s had a fairly autocratic style and I am concerned about how the church will respond in his absence. My hope is that some of our really good leaders will step up to the plate and see this as an exciting opportunity for change.
I’m agitating for an intentional interim, but face an uphill battle. It is a new concept in this area (only two churches in our association have gone through it, one of them is Susan Song) and some of the congregation will want to move as rapidly as possible to find another pastor.
Complicating matters is that our by-laws state that a Pastor Search Committee must be formed within 60 days of the previous pastor’s resignation. That kind of time line is incompatible with the Intentional Interim ministry.
Please pray for us as you are able…
I’m agitating for an intentional interim, but face an uphill battle. It is a new concept in this area (only two churches in our association have gone through it, one of them is Susan Song) and some of the congregation will want to move as rapidly as possible to find another pastor.
Complicating matters is that our by-laws state that a Pastor Search Committee must be formed within 60 days of the previous pastor’s resignation. That kind of time line is incompatible with the Intentional Interim ministry.
Please pray for us as you are able…
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Susan Song Reception
Last night we had a wonderful reception at Susan Song. Since they were concerned about several folks being out over the Memorial Day Weekend, they wanted to have it after their Wednesday night service. Kadie and the kids went with me. When I told the kids that we were all going out to the church because they were having a celebration, Scooter said “Are they throwing a celebration because you are leaving??”
I started to choke up a little as we pulled into the parking lot. On the sign in front of the church they wrote “Good-bye Bro. Taran, We’ll Miss You”. I shared a brief devotional with them and then we feasted on great fried chicken (natch), home grown black eyed peas, squash, and mashed potatoes.
After we finished eating they presented a beautiful framed picture with a poem about the “Pastor”. Mrs. Jones read a poem that was hilarious and had a separate verse about each of the regular attenders. I’ll post it in the next day or two. They also were very proud of the fact that they were the first Intentional Interim I have performed and presented me with the framed Church Covenant which they had each signed.
A great evening.
I started to choke up a little as we pulled into the parking lot. On the sign in front of the church they wrote “Good-bye Bro. Taran, We’ll Miss You”. I shared a brief devotional with them and then we feasted on great fried chicken (natch), home grown black eyed peas, squash, and mashed potatoes.
After we finished eating they presented a beautiful framed picture with a poem about the “Pastor”. Mrs. Jones read a poem that was hilarious and had a separate verse about each of the regular attenders. I’ll post it in the next day or two. They also were very proud of the fact that they were the first Intentional Interim I have performed and presented me with the framed Church Covenant which they had each signed.
A great evening.
Monday, May 21, 2007
The Bad News Miscreants
Last Friday evening, after exactly one softball practice in the preceding twelve years, I laced up my brand new ($19.99 from Payless) cleats and took to the softball field. I was the starting third baseman for the Lakeview Miscreants, our church softball team.
We play in a Baptist league here in town, and were late in assembling a team. Our first practice was a Thursday and our first game the following night. We were spanked in two straight games on Friday evening, 14-6 and 12-6 respectively (so we did show some improvement). Our official team motto is "You get to laugh at me and then I get to laugh at you."
My fielding was much better than I expected. Which is to say I only made four errors over the course of our double-header. The first error was failing to snare a line drive that was very catchable…though I’m hampered by my microscopic vertical leap. The next two errors were bobbles that enabled fleet runners to beat my weak-armed throws.
I was most proud of my fourth error. I started the second game at short (a demotion perhaps?!) and fielded an easy grounder effortlessly. I then airmailed the throw to the first baseman (who was only about 18 feet from me). My throw flew to his right and sent both adult and children spectators scurrying out of the way like a covey of quail. It was a beautiful thing to behold. (Chuck Knoblauch is my hero) . I did settle down to make most of the routine plays the rest of the evening.
I performed even more poorly at the plate. I hammered a solid single to right field in my first at bat and then went 0 for 5 the rest of the evening (weak grounders and pop ups to various infielders). I did score an additional run after I reached on an error.
But all in all, there is something to be said about Baptists hammering each other on the softball diamond instead of through blogs, so it was a nice change of pace.
But I didn’t escape unscathed. I mishandled a short hop throw from our left fielder and it caught me clean in the shin. Fortunately, the shock of the injury rendered my leg numb for the rest of the evening. But it looks nice, don’t you think?
We play in a Baptist league here in town, and were late in assembling a team. Our first practice was a Thursday and our first game the following night. We were spanked in two straight games on Friday evening, 14-6 and 12-6 respectively (so we did show some improvement). Our official team motto is "You get to laugh at me and then I get to laugh at you."
My fielding was much better than I expected. Which is to say I only made four errors over the course of our double-header. The first error was failing to snare a line drive that was very catchable…though I’m hampered by my microscopic vertical leap. The next two errors were bobbles that enabled fleet runners to beat my weak-armed throws.
I was most proud of my fourth error. I started the second game at short (a demotion perhaps?!) and fielded an easy grounder effortlessly. I then airmailed the throw to the first baseman (who was only about 18 feet from me). My throw flew to his right and sent both adult and children spectators scurrying out of the way like a covey of quail. It was a beautiful thing to behold. (Chuck Knoblauch is my hero) . I did settle down to make most of the routine plays the rest of the evening.
I performed even more poorly at the plate. I hammered a solid single to right field in my first at bat and then went 0 for 5 the rest of the evening (weak grounders and pop ups to various infielders). I did score an additional run after I reached on an error.
But all in all, there is something to be said about Baptists hammering each other on the softball diamond instead of through blogs, so it was a nice change of pace.
But I didn’t escape unscathed. I mishandled a short hop throw from our left fielder and it caught me clean in the shin. Fortunately, the shock of the injury rendered my leg numb for the rest of the evening. But it looks nice, don’t you think?
Overall, I don’t recall having so much fun in awhile. I’ll be chronicling subsequent
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Church Graduation
Four years ago, as I finally wrapped up my doctorate, I was approached by one of our church secretaries who asked for a photo of me in my graduation regalia. (It looks sharp, though it does bear (!) a stark resemblence to the Green Goblin's outfit.) She said that she wanted it for our Graduation Day Sunday service so they could put it on the screen when I walked down the aisle of the church with our other graduates.
I was less than enthusiastic about the idea. In retrospect I can very much see my pride at work as I considered church Graduation Day something for high school students or maybe a college graduate. But for a graduate degree? I didn’t need any attention and so I declined.
In fact, I never gave her a picture and told her that I had no desire to participate. But secretaries can be persistent and she repeated her request on more than one occasion. A showdown was avoided because we had to travel to Waco for graduation and elected to visit our friends at Lone Oak on the same Sunday that our home church would be having Graduation Day.
I was aggravated to find out later that they still put my name on a scrolling list of graduates during the morning service, simply without the picture.
Looking back on that experience, I am struck by how foolishly self-centered I was. I thought that the ceremony was for my benefit, but I now realize that many (though certainly not all) church ceremonies serve an important part of the life of the church and are vital to its continued health. A church graduation day, for example, allows the church to see the fruit of its effort in a tangible way.
As the high school and college seniors (yes, even the grad students) walk down the aisle in church, the congregation gets to celebrate the role that it has had in the life of these new graduates. All of their Sunday School teachers and youth leaders have invested themselves in these students over the years. In a sense, when these high school church members go off to college, they take a part of the church with them. And we do and should celebrate that.
I now regret not having participated. If I could go back and speak to my “aggrieved” younger self, I would simply say…
“It’s not about you!”
I was less than enthusiastic about the idea. In retrospect I can very much see my pride at work as I considered church Graduation Day something for high school students or maybe a college graduate. But for a graduate degree? I didn’t need any attention and so I declined.
In fact, I never gave her a picture and told her that I had no desire to participate. But secretaries can be persistent and she repeated her request on more than one occasion. A showdown was avoided because we had to travel to Waco for graduation and elected to visit our friends at Lone Oak on the same Sunday that our home church would be having Graduation Day.
I was aggravated to find out later that they still put my name on a scrolling list of graduates during the morning service, simply without the picture.
Looking back on that experience, I am struck by how foolishly self-centered I was. I thought that the ceremony was for my benefit, but I now realize that many (though certainly not all) church ceremonies serve an important part of the life of the church and are vital to its continued health. A church graduation day, for example, allows the church to see the fruit of its effort in a tangible way.
As the high school and college seniors (yes, even the grad students) walk down the aisle in church, the congregation gets to celebrate the role that it has had in the life of these new graduates. All of their Sunday School teachers and youth leaders have invested themselves in these students over the years. In a sense, when these high school church members go off to college, they take a part of the church with them. And we do and should celebrate that.
I now regret not having participated. If I could go back and speak to my “aggrieved” younger self, I would simply say…
“It’s not about you!”
Friday, May 18, 2007
A Spring Ritual (II)
What I hate about graduation:
1. Airhorns
2. The local minor league hockey team plays in the same arena where we hold graduation in December. The faculty (and students) sit on flooring material placed directly over the ice. My ancient black wing-tip shoes are excellent conductors of body heat and my feet freeze for an hour and a half.
That is all. I guess the advantage outweigh the disadvantages.
1. Airhorns
2. The local minor league hockey team plays in the same arena where we hold graduation in December. The faculty (and students) sit on flooring material placed directly over the ice. My ancient black wing-tip shoes are excellent conductors of body heat and my feet freeze for an hour and a half.
That is all. I guess the advantage outweigh the disadvantages.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A Spring Ritual
We had our graduation last night. The frenzied, at times chaotic, week of finals all comes to a sudden standstill during Pomp and Circumstance as we entered the arena. A lot of my colleagues dislike graduation, and many even refuse to show up. But I enjoy graduation a lot. Here’s why I enjoy it:
1. At the reception before the ceremony I get to tell students good-bye. If I didn’t go to graduation, there wouldn’t be the same closure. Telling them good-bye when they turn in their final exam just isn’t the same.
2. The reception is also the only time when the staff, faculty, and administration of the university share an informal meal together. It is a nice time, a brief ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between the various interests on campus.
3. I love the embraces. It is the one time during the year when it is appropriate for faculty and students (of both genders) to hug. In my mind it is a small way of confirming that they are no longer our students anymore.
4. I love the ritual and the formality. The gowns, the confirmation of degrees, the honor cords, and the stoles are all elements of a very formal ceremony that has to be explained to the students. We need a lot more ritual in society today. Ritual is institutionalized, enacted memory and there are certain things that as a society we need to remember. The significance of graduation is one.
5. The speakers are usually brief. Someone has done a good job of convincing them that the evening is not about them.
6. There is the eminently mockable state official who inevitably sidles his way to the microphone (even though he is never on the program). “Oozing smarm from every pore, he oiled his way across the floor.” (My late mother-in-law used to quote that line and it fits so many people perfectly).
7. I love meeting the parents and grandparents. It is the one time during the year I look forward to meeting parents. (All the other times I meet parents, the conversation consists of me explaining that I cannot discuss Junior’s grades with them for confidentiality reasons). I get to brag on their children and watch while both the student and parent simultaneously swell with pride. (Fortunately, the bad students generally don’t want me to meet their parents).
8. The students get a diploma cover during the ceremony and receive their actual diploma afterwards. As a department chair, I get to hand them their actual diploma and say “Congratulations” again.
9. What I enjoy the most is the feeling of accomplishment in seeing students I battled with as freshman make the walk across stage. Some of them are single parents, many are first generation college graduates. In most cases, their degree of sacrifice is inspiring.
10. Graduations (like weddings) serves a useful purpose for the audience as well as the participants. The ceremony reminds all who witness it of the excitement of that period of life. That period when any dream seems possible.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Technically, he's correct...
Driving to Sam's to pick up some bulk necessities
Squealer "Daddy, Bears live in the forest and sleep during the day so they can be awake during the night.
Taran: "Yes, very good."
(Let me interrupt this narrative to make a few points. I have no idea where this stuff comes from. I assume he got it from a story at Mother's Day Out or a Little Einstein episode. I'm also not exactly sure that he's right. Are bears really nocturnal? Do all of those bear attacks take place during the night? Most of the footage of bears I've seen is during the day.)
Squealer: "But we don't sleep in the day, we sleep in the night. Bears sleep in the day."
Taran: "Yes. That's because bears are nocturnal."
Squealer: "……."
Taran: "Can you say nocturnal?"
Squealer: (Very deliberately) "Noc-turn-al. Nocturnal"
Taran: Enthusiastically. "Very Good, Squealer!! Can you think of other animals that are nocturnal?"
Squealer: (After thinking carefully for a few seconds) "Dogs."
Taran: "Dogs?!"
Squealer "Yes, Dogs. Dogs are not turtles."
Squealer "Daddy, Bears live in the forest and sleep during the day so they can be awake during the night.
Taran: "Yes, very good."
(Let me interrupt this narrative to make a few points. I have no idea where this stuff comes from. I assume he got it from a story at Mother's Day Out or a Little Einstein episode. I'm also not exactly sure that he's right. Are bears really nocturnal? Do all of those bear attacks take place during the night? Most of the footage of bears I've seen is during the day.)
Squealer: "But we don't sleep in the day, we sleep in the night. Bears sleep in the day."
Taran: "Yes. That's because bears are nocturnal."
Squealer: "……."
Taran: "Can you say nocturnal?"
Squealer: (Very deliberately) "Noc-turn-al. Nocturnal"
Taran: Enthusiastically. "Very Good, Squealer!! Can you think of other animals that are nocturnal?"
Squealer: (After thinking carefully for a few seconds) "Dogs."
Taran: "Dogs?!"
Squealer "Yes, Dogs. Dogs are not turtles."
Monday, May 14, 2007
Funny Exams
Ahhh….grades are in and all faculty posted their grades without too many issues. (Unlike last December). In honor of the end of the semester, I wanted to include two student responses to an exam question.
The question is from my introduction to Philosophy class and concerns Pascal’s Wager. PW attempts to convince the agnostic that one is better off believing in God and being wrong rather than disbelieving in God’s existence and being wrong. It argues that there are four possible alternatives:
I jovially recorded two "F"s...
The question is from my introduction to Philosophy class and concerns Pascal’s Wager. PW attempts to convince the agnostic that one is better off believing in God and being wrong rather than disbelieving in God’s existence and being wrong. It argues that there are four possible alternatives:
- Believe in God and be correct (the consequence is eternal reward)
- Believe in God and be wrong (the consequence is a temporal loss)
- Disbelieve in God and be correct (the consequence is temporal reward)
- Disbelieve in God and be incorrect (the consequence is an eternal loss)
So on the whole, one’s best shot at the ultimate reward, and an avoidance of the ultimate loss is to believe in God. For a painfully precise explanation, see here.
One student (obviously a Kenny Rogers fan) wrote the following
A second student, an aspiring artist, simply wrote...
I jovially recorded two "F"s...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
News to Salve a Guilty Conscience....
Actually, my conscience is really not that guilty. But it is nice to know that he found another job. It is only a one year position, but it is in California where it is about 20 degrees cooler than it is here in the Deep South. And he might get a tenure track position at the end of the year.
The mountains, a nice beach....hmmm. Maybe I'll be interviewing with HIM for a job in a few years!!!
The mountains, a nice beach....hmmm. Maybe I'll be interviewing with HIM for a job in a few years!!!
A Last Note
Well the final verses of Susan Song are coming to an end.
I have given them May 27th as my final Sunday. Three weeks ago I gave them six weeks notice. I gave them that date mostly to jump-start the pastoral search process. They had settled into a level of comfort with me as interim that I believe prevented them from seriously looking for a pastor.
I thought about delaying my departure, because they are probably another four weeks away from calling a pastor. But I decided to remain firm in my deadline for two reasons.
First, I think it is important to maintain my word to them. I told them a termination date, and I need to stick to that date for the sake of consistency.
Second, I have heard through the ministerial grapevine that our home pastor is going in view of a call on the May 20th to another church. To my knowledge, he has not shared this information with anyone at our church.
Due to the fact that our church governance has been pretty centralized in our pastor, I have some concern about how the church will react. I really want to be there to lend my thoughts/experiences.
When finals end this week and grades are turned in I will post my final report on Susan Song.
I have given them May 27th as my final Sunday. Three weeks ago I gave them six weeks notice. I gave them that date mostly to jump-start the pastoral search process. They had settled into a level of comfort with me as interim that I believe prevented them from seriously looking for a pastor.
I thought about delaying my departure, because they are probably another four weeks away from calling a pastor. But I decided to remain firm in my deadline for two reasons.
First, I think it is important to maintain my word to them. I told them a termination date, and I need to stick to that date for the sake of consistency.
Second, I have heard through the ministerial grapevine that our home pastor is going in view of a call on the May 20th to another church. To my knowledge, he has not shared this information with anyone at our church.
Due to the fact that our church governance has been pretty centralized in our pastor, I have some concern about how the church will react. I really want to be there to lend my thoughts/experiences.
When finals end this week and grades are turned in I will post my final report on Susan Song.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The Ringing Bell
Just a note from the deluge of finals week, the last round of term paper grading, and faculty evaluations. I entered the 20th century yesterday and downloaded my first album off iTunes. It was Derek Webb’s subversive new album, The Ringing Bell. It is a fine album and you can listen to it (though not download it, alas) for free here.
The two best tunes are "I Wanna Marry You All Over Again" (on marriage) and "A Love That's Stronger Than Our Fear" (on Torture).
Not that those topics are in ANY way related...
The two best tunes are "I Wanna Marry You All Over Again" (on marriage) and "A Love That's Stronger Than Our Fear" (on Torture).
Not that those topics are in ANY way related...
Friday, May 04, 2007
TM
Setting: An elevator, slowly rising from the first to the fourth floor.
Characters:
Taran: A slightly pudgy, nearing middle-aged, freshly tenured professor.
Four undergraduate females, each with cellphone in hands, thumbs flying furiously.
Girls: -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
“Ding!” as we pass the second floor.
Girls:-click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
“Ding!” as we pass the third floor.
Girls: -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
Me: (To no one in particular) “You know, when I was your age we used to talk on our telephones.”
Two of the girls look at me in the same way that Squealer looks at creamed spinach, with a mixture of revulsion and pity. They then provide a token (if condescending) chuckle. The other two ignore the comment completely.
Girls: -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
“Ding” as we arrive at the fourth floor. The door opens and they depart.
Appropriately, I am left behind.
Characters:
Taran: A slightly pudgy, nearing middle-aged, freshly tenured professor.
Four undergraduate females, each with cellphone in hands, thumbs flying furiously.
Girls: -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
“Ding!” as we pass the second floor.
Girls:-click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
“Ding!” as we pass the third floor.
Girls: -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- --click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click- -click-
Me: (To no one in particular) “You know, when I was your age we used to talk on our telephones.”
Two of the girls look at me in the same way that Squealer looks at creamed spinach, with a mixture of revulsion and pity. They then provide a token (if condescending) chuckle. The other two ignore the comment completely.
“Ding” as we arrive at the fourth floor. The door opens and they depart.
Appropriately, I am left behind.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
A Toast to Friendship
On Sunday morning, before making the long drive to Susan Song, I had the honor of sharing breakfast with Mister Ginger, PoMonkey, and Bobby. I met each of them almost twenty years ago in college and they have each scattered across the country in successful careers. They graciously (and expensively) flew back for Kadie’s party and this hour was the only time we’d have to share in conversation.
We talked a lot and laughed even more. (At one point, Bobby almost sent me to an early grave at IHOP as he channeled Sean Connery from that old SNL Jeopardy skit). Our conversation reminded me again of the importance of friendship. At one point during the weekend, Mister Ginger made the comment that as the years pass along, our friendships remain one of the greatest parts of our lives.
In a society where romantic/erotic love is held as the ideal, our culture all too often denigrates or worse, simply ignores friendship. Yet in some ways, friendship is just as powerful a form of love. C. S. Lewis devotes an important part of his book The Four Loves to the topic of friendship. In it he notes that "Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship naked personalities." There is an accountability and an honesty in the best of friendships that each of us desperately need.
Or as another great Teacher once said: "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other…"
We talked a lot and laughed even more. (At one point, Bobby almost sent me to an early grave at IHOP as he channeled Sean Connery from that old SNL Jeopardy skit). Our conversation reminded me again of the importance of friendship. At one point during the weekend, Mister Ginger made the comment that as the years pass along, our friendships remain one of the greatest parts of our lives.
In a society where romantic/erotic love is held as the ideal, our culture all too often denigrates or worse, simply ignores friendship. Yet in some ways, friendship is just as powerful a form of love. C. S. Lewis devotes an important part of his book The Four Loves to the topic of friendship. In it he notes that "Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship naked personalities." There is an accountability and an honesty in the best of friendships that each of us desperately need.
Or as another great Teacher once said: "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other…"
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Lies I Told My Wife
In preparation for Friday’s event, I told more lies than I have in the previous 16 years of our marriage combined.
1. On four occasions I told her that a person who called (usually her sister PT Girl, or a co-conspirator from church), in fact called for some other reason than her party.
2. I told her that we were going to my parents B&B because my brother had a choir festival.
3. I signed off on our monthly budget, realizing that I’d be busting it to fly Linda into town.
4. On the road to the surprise party, Kadie decided to call our baby sitter about a sitting time this Friday. Since our sitter was at the surprise party, I was afraid Kadie would hear the talking, so I quickly made up some fool tale about having to work this Friday evening in the computer graphics lab, so there was no reason to call her.
That is the sum total of lies I told my wife. Why recount them here?
1) To salve my bitter conscience and
2) because I’m curious what referrals the title will generate.
1. On four occasions I told her that a person who called (usually her sister PT Girl, or a co-conspirator from church), in fact called for some other reason than her party.
2. I told her that we were going to my parents B&B because my brother had a choir festival.
3. I signed off on our monthly budget, realizing that I’d be busting it to fly Linda into town.
4. On the road to the surprise party, Kadie decided to call our baby sitter about a sitting time this Friday. Since our sitter was at the surprise party, I was afraid Kadie would hear the talking, so I quickly made up some fool tale about having to work this Friday evening in the computer graphics lab, so there was no reason to call her.
That is the sum total of lies I told my wife. Why recount them here?
1) To salve my bitter conscience and
2) because I’m curious what referrals the title will generate.
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