Monthly Archives: June 2009

Our seniors group is called XYZ.  There have been varied explanations of the acronym, but probably the best is “eXtra Youthful Zest”.  At least I like that one the best!!

For the last four years we have tried to hold our final year end BBQ outside.  This year looked the most promising.  We had not had rain for some time, and the drought appeared to be entrenched.  Not that we wanted the drought!  We were more than willing to have rain.

And rain it did.  The day before our BBQ.  Then the meeting morning appeared with sunshine.  The temperature was cool.  A decision had to be made.

First, most of those who are part of this group do not “do mud”, although most of them have been through the mud over the years.  Second, sitting out in the cold is not the most pleasant activity we anticipate.  Third . . . OK, two reasons was probably enough.

30 of us gathered in our auditorium and we enjoyed hot dogs and salads and doughnuts and ice cream cones.  We didn’t put tablecloths on the tables.  We used paper plates.  We sang a few favourite songs.  We lived the indoor-outdoor experience with friends.

What an enjoyable finish to a good year!

Memorization comes with different content.  Some of them just plain weird!

In grade 8, I was living in Toronto, Ontario.  We had moved part way through Grade 7, and fitting in to school was a bit of a struggle.  I did have some new friends who quickly acquainted me with the “system.”  Steve Shields and Tom Meisner were just good people to hang around over lunch.

When grade 8 began we decided to take typing class together.  For those who are more oriented to the new millennium, that is what would now be called “keyboarding.”  There were a few guys in the class, but most were girls.  The pianists were quick to discover the finger patterns of the keyboard.

I, on the other hand, have always been a bit of a klutz when trying to make my fingers obey.  I was one of those who achieved 1o words per minute and thought I had been transported to heaven!

So, what could make me go faster?  Well, I love to sing.  Rhythm and lyrics move my body (although my wife says I look disjointed!).  I decided to learn the “home row” drill — the home row is where you place your fingers when you begin to type.  If I could sing it faster than I could type, maybe my typing would catch up.

I tried it.  Sort of worked.  But now, 40 years later, I can still sing for you the home row drill.  “a;sldkfjghfjdksla;”

Oh, and another thing that has stuck in my mind.  Our Moose Jaw (where I lived from 6-12 years of age) phone number from 45 years ago — 692-6833.  You may want to try it some day and see who you get!  Of course, I will disavow any knowledge of this number if the adventure blows up in your face!!

I was struck with summer cold yesterday. 

As I stood prepared to give a graveside committal service for a 93 year old, we all shivered together.  This was the 3rd of June.  Not the 3rd of December!

Some years weather provides the greatest areas of disgust as well as the greatest times of elation.  A few days ago we were in short sleeves.   Now, my feet receive the chill from the ground.

This morning we had rain on the ground.  Not a lot.  As one person was said to have quipped:  The ladybug upside down in my rain gauge didn’t even have wet feet!

Tomorrow is Sunday.  We’ll see the sun, I expect.  And tomorrow the sun will set.  This we can trust in, for God brings the sun to the horizon in the morning, and relieves the sun of it’s duty in the evening.

And so, I head to the end of this day believing God will be there for another day.

George Bullard is a church consultant and speaker.  His main idea is to get churches functioning to their potential.  And even when you seem to  have achieved that, you are just headed into the next potential area.

What a great reminder.  You can check out his website at www.bullardjournal.org. 

The first night he talked about churches being either tourists or travellers.  This related to the way in which we reach out to others around us.  We can merely show up off and on, enjoy the short term project and retreat back to our own turf.  Or we can pack as though we are not coming back. 

What would that look like?  Are we ready to reset our programs so that they look nothing like what we have done before — but they will be accessible to those we want to reach?  Are we ready to accept a different group of friends realizing we may not be coming back to see our old friends?

Tough questions, but worth the consideration.