Monthly Archives: April 2010

For many years, one of my sidelights – those things that you just do for the fun of it- has been editing manuscripts. 

I started when I was writing my own papers in college.  I began to enjoy the revising of my papers as much as  the writing.  Too bad my research habits weren’t better.  Usually there was little time left over after I had finally gotten my information together!

Then I was asked to help edit the graduate school faculty journal.  Not a huge job, and mostly to make sure things were readable.  I joined a writer’s group and kept at the art of massaging a text to make it readable.

And now, for the fun of it, I’m editing a friend’s manuscript.  This is the second manuscript of her’s that I have read.  She has improved.  Her story line grows with each page, her characters have depth, and she actually uses words that are beyond a fifth grade level!

And so, in the next hour or so, I’ll sit and read and pencil in corrections and edits.  And I’ll hit the sack having enjoyed those last moments before my rest!

OK, the song has been around for awhile, but the arrangement is just recently completed.  This is professional production, great musicianship and a superb composer.

You can try the link below to Wayne’s “music” page on Facebook.  If you can get there, go down the page until you come to the song “To Be With You.”   Enjoy!

 CLICK HERE.

Well, resurrection was a part of this past week.  I celebrated Christ’s death and resurrection.  Then, I was asked by the media to celebrate another death and resurrection.

Nike decided Tiger Woods was worth too much to set him aside. So they prepared an ad with his deceased father asking his son what he was thinking; what he had learned. As though the institution of Nike could play God in some way and resurrect the son through a form of a confessional booth seen around the world. 

It seems to me that Nike’s famous slogan lives on – “Just do it”, as though winners get on with life.  But has death been confronted? 

A true resurrection requires a true death.  If all we do is pick ourselves up without becoming a new person, we are of all people the most to be pitied.  We will shrink from challenges, expect to do wrong all over again, and get caught in the whirlpool of despair.  But if a new person emerges, a new creation, not formed after your old self but made in the likeness of someone who has conquered your challenges – then you are indeed more than a conqueror.

That’s where the first resurrection is more important to me than re-inflating an image and brand name.  I trust Tiger will find this resurrection for his own life.

For years I have enjoyed woodworking.  I have original pieces that I worked on with my brother.  Refinished furniture that adorns our house.  And even a sign on the front of our house.

They were all enjoyable projects.  So, when asked about a consideration for a gift, I mentioned woodworking. 

A gift certificate was forthcoming.

Yesterday I wandered into Lee Valley Tools.  For the uninitiated, that is the “drool shop” for those who are into woodworking.

At first I thought I was missing it.  I circled the store with nothing to buy (other than perhaps a great chopping board and kitchen knife sharpener – which I eventually left behind).  As I left, I had a slight catharsis. 

I did not need any tools.  And when a project arises, I’ll be ready to check Lee Valley once again.  But for the moment my life is absorbed with other interests.  And that’s fine!