Hits and Misses (June 22-28)

Here we go again with another look back at the week that was.

HITS

• This week, I introduced Mom to online shopping. As we talked about the physical demands of weekly shopping trips, it came to light that the household items were the things she hated. They're so heavy that she doesn't buy large sizes, and their cost isn't great in the smaller sizes. I convinced her to let me order them from Walmart.com this week to see if that might make things a little easier and more cost efficient. While it's been annoying that the 5-item order has been shipped in 3 separate packages (and we're still waiting on the last one), it has been much easier. I think it will be the wave of the future here in the Geriatric Ward.
• Along the same lines, Mom and I have agreed to try working with coupons for a few weeks to see if we can save some money. I've been shocked to find that the process of clipping coupons is actually rather relaxing in the midst of a full day. It doesn't take too much time and once you establish a process for organizing the coupons, things flow rather simply. We'll keep an eye on our savings in the next few weeks and I'll let you know how things go.
• Big Brother premiered this week!!! My summer is complete now! I really like the cast of season 16 and the twists are out of this world. I'm ready to watch the next episode NOW!

MISSES

• Dad went back for another visit to the ENT on Monday. We're still waiting on test results and that's rather frustrating. I got a call early Friday morning from the doctor's office asking for Dad's contact number. I gave the information, but when I spoke to Dad that afternoon he still had not heard anything and there were no missed calls on his phone. I called the nurse that afternoon, but it appears everyone had already closed up shop for the weekend. I'm really hoping to have answers from this scan before we head to the sleep center this morning.
• As much as I hated to, I had to decline the job offer from OPSU this week. It was simply a matter of money. The salary was way too low for the job described. More importantly, I couldn't say with any degree of certainty that I could have survived on this incredibly low income. (You can read more about the job offer and my decision process in an upcoming post here.)
• Since I turned down the job, I had to resume prepping for the fall semester. There are some things ahead that I'm not looking forward to and was hoping to avoid by taking a new job. Oh well, I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. I'm trying to break things apart and do a little each day so the things I hate are a bit more manageable.

And there you have it. Here's hoping for an incredible week ahead.

My Horrible Church Camp Experience

Camping season is here. Many kids are attending camps of all types this summer. While growing up, I attended church camp outside of Mountain View, Arkansas. I enjoyed meeting up with friends from around the state each year despite the oppressive heat and the high population of critters. As I grew, the negative aspects of camp quickly outweighed the joy I might experience.

When I accepted a position in children's ministry many years later, I decided it was time to give summer camp another shot. I had long recognized the positive influence the camping ministry could have on the life of a child. I simply hoped that my perspective would be different as a member of the staff.

I agreed to direct music for a pre-teen camp in Tennessee. Little direction was provided, so I set out to work and put together the best plan I could. When I arrived at the campgrounds, I was informed that I would also be serving as a cabin leader. I hadn't prepared for this massive responsibility at all, but I wanted to be a team player and agreed to help out.

As the week progressed, I found myself constantly trying to wrangle all of these 12-year-old boys. When I went to the director for help, I was told that I had been assigned all of the campers no one else wanted to deal with. In addition to campers with special needs and medical conditions, I learned that several of the boys in my care dealt with severe anger issues. While these facts were known by camp staff, no one thought it advisable to inform the adult who was directly responsible for their care. When one of the campers had to be rushed to the ER because he had broken the hand he smashed into a concrete wall, I was suddenly accused of neglecting my responsibilities as a cabin leader. (Did anyone notice that I was also trying to direct the music for this camp? Too many hats for one head!) I was insulted and furious. In that moment, I knew that I would never participate in a summer camp again.

So, I'll encourage kids to go to camp. I'll help transport them there and supply financial assistance if needed. I'll just have to think long and hard before ever returning to camp as a staffer. That one horrible, nightmarish week was enough to make me skittish for the rest of my life!

Revisiting Past Mistakes

Have you ever wished you could go back in time and do something all over again? Maybe you've learned from past mistakes and would like a chance to get it right. I know that I have made lots of errors in life. Sometimes I find myself wishing I could simply yell, "Do over!" and get another shot at things.

A few days ago, I received a call from a friend who has accepted a position as worship minister. Since I served in that capacity for 14 years, my friend called to ask for advice and suggestions. We talked about everything from song selection to rehearsal scheduling. As I continued to reflect on my time in ministry, I was reminded of the many mistakes I had made over the years. Most of my mistakes were not related to music; my failures came in handling people and criticism. I really wish I could go back and do some things differently. I would be much more quick to admit when I had been offended. I would stand up to confrontational people in a loving spirit rather than helplessly withering under their viciously abusive attacks. I would be more patient with those who expressed preferences and opinions about music, worship, and life that were different from mine. I would find a mentor with whom I could freely share my hurts, questions, concerns, and frustrations. I wonder if I had learned these lessons earlier in my ministry and handled some things differently if I would still be actively involved in music ministry today.

Alas, none of us can turn the clock back and take a second stab at past mistakes. The only thing we can do is admit our failures to the One who sees all, ask for forgiveness when necessary, and move forward. It's all part of the process that is spiritual growth. Facing our mistakes is never something we enjoy, but we are certainly made better when we come to terms with our failures. It's only in admitting our errors that we learn how to become better people, ministers, and Christians. For now, I'll continue to look in the proverbial mirror and carefully examine what I find there.

Hits and Misses (June 15-21)

Here's another look at the week that was.

HITS

• Father's Day was a great day in the Geriatric Ward. There was lots of laughter and joy around the table as we celebrated Dad. We're thankful to still have him with us and treasure the times we all get to be together.
• My sister and her oldest daughter headed to Youth Camp in Mountain View, Arkansas this week. That meant that the youngest grandchild joined the crazies in Crawfordsville. It really was a lot of fun having Sara around. We got to go shoe shopping as well as an "interesting" trip to the store for Pop. We were just happy to get to add ice cream to the shopping list! It's been a joy to see what a difference a few years have made and how Sara's growing up into a responsible young woman.
• I was without use of my piano for several days this week (more on that below), but the great people at First Baptist Marion, where I've been attending church for a while, allowed me to spend a few hours in the sanctuary getting some practice done. It was great to rehearse in a different space on a different instrument. It was a little funny playing Chopin, Clementi, and Bach while the sanctuary was being vacuumed, but I have done stranger things over the years.

MISSES

• After Mom and I went to church and lunch on Sunday, we still got home early enough that I could get some practicing in before everyone arrived in Crawfordsville for Father's Day. While practicing, I went to do a black key glissando with my right hand when something didn't feel quite right. I looked down and realized that one of the black keys was sliding along with my hand.  Not a happy thing when I really need to get some practicing done.
• I called the music store on Monday morning to arrange for a technician to come do the repair. When 24 hours had passed and I still hadn't heard from Amro, I started searching the Internet for the technician's contact information. That was harder to find than you might expect. I know his first name, but never remember his last! When I finally found it, I called him directly and got set up for a visit on Thursday.  Imagine my surprise when Amro FINALLY decided to respond to my message late Wednesday afternoon. It's probably a good thing that I was in the supermarket at the time or I would have probably said a few more things in a not so gentle way about the poor customer service they have displayed recently.
• Since I wasn't able to practice, I took the time to finally sit down and watch Gravity. I've had the rental for a while now, but just never got around to putting the DVD in. I was underwhelmed and glad that I had waited for the rental. I suppose the visual images were good, but I really didn't think the film lived up to the all the hype it had received.
• Now that summer school is nearing its halfway point, I am really starting to feel the effects of only teaching 2 hours each week. The days at home are long. I'm not bored (yet), but it seems as though each day drags on and on. At least I'm getting some things accomplished though.

There you have it.  Hope you all have a great week!

Road Trip Lessons

I've always enjoyed taking road trips. It's a great way to see the country and provides plenty of opportunities to be quiet with your thoughts. Inevitably, a road trip will always teach you things you didn't know about your world and yourself.

My most recent road trip took me to Guymon, Oklahoma. Guymon is a small town in the Oklahoma Panhandle, not far from the Kansas border. As I was driving in, I learned that this area of the Midwest is quite beautiful and sparsely populated. The rolling hills of green were only interrupted by mesa formations (think of New Mexico, just on a smaller scale).  The natural beauty is enhanced by the many ranches featuring cattle, horses, and various other animals. I truly felt like I was returning to the Wild West! While I appreciated the views, I'm not entirely sure I'd want to live here for very long.

I also learned that an Oklahoma thunderstorm is no joke! Once safely at my hotel, I grabbed my keys to get the last few things out of my car. I opened the door and saw sheets of rain with enormous gusts of wind. This storm had popped up with little warning in less than five minutes! I'm thinking this might be a troublesome storm; the hotel staff informed me that this was normal and no reason for concern. Sure enough, the storm passed as quickly as it blew in.

Lastly, I learned that I have a sensitivity to artificial sweetener on this road trip. How did I learn this? Well, that's a story that most of you will find extremely funny. Take my advice now and put your beverage down. You'll thank me later.

Once I made it to Tulsa, I had a bad case of the munchies. I didn't want to gorge myself with chocolate because I still had several hours of driving ahead of me. I opted for a package of Twizzlers. Once I got to the car, I noticed that this bag of red licorice was sugar free. Great! I had made a responsible decision without realizing it.

The miles passed as I chomped on the red ropes. Before I knew what had happened, I had eaten the entire bag. That's when I noticed the warning printed on the back of the product: "Persons with sensitivity to artificial sweetener may experience a laxative effect." Ok, that's not what I wanted to hear, but how bad could it really be? This is candy, after all...right?

Remember what I said about the Panhandle? It's sparsely populated. Nothing around. No gas stations. No porcelain thrones. As the miles passed, a mounting desperation was growing in the pit of my stomach. Just as I am contemplating finding relief on the shoulder of the road, I see a gas station! Hallelujah! At first, I feared I was hallucinating! As it drew closer, I knew relief was coming soon.

Imagine my frustration when I stepped inside only to find the bathrooms were closed for cleaning! Back to my car I (carefully) go.  My foot became heavier than usual as I raced for the hotel some 10 miles away. I have never been so happy to see a hotel lobby with clearly marked signs in all my life.  I was also thankful that I hadn't consumed a lot of food on this road trip (other than the offensive Twizzlers, that is).

I'll spare you the remaining details, but let's just say that the rest of the evening was very "eventful" and raucous! And THAT'S how I learned I have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners. Now, aren't you glad you didn't read this while you had a drink in your hand?  :)

Secrets

In the past few months, I've become obsessed with the television series, Brothers and Sisters. This family drama, currently available on Netflix, centers around the highs and lows of the Walker family. At the series' beginning, the patriarch suffered a massive heart attack that sent the family reeling. While dealing with their loss, the adult children of Mr. Walker began to learn of the secret life their father led. The rest of the series thus far has explored the devastating effects of these secrets.

It seems that secrets are highly prevalent in our society. Because they are so common, we sometimes fail to acknowledge just how destructive they can be. By their very nature, secrets are truth withheld. They are intended to keep another from grasping the entire picture. I'm not talking about the secret kept from the honoree at a surprise party. When we look carefully at our big secrets, they are often a lie of omission. We allow others to believe an untruth by not providing them accurate information.

Secrets can quickly tie you up in knots. In order to protect the secret, we find ourselves having to hide more and more. In reality, secrets beget secrets! It's quite possible to get so involved in withholding information that we forget what the secret is . . . and that's when things start to unravel. As secrets unravel, we begin to experience some degree of shame while our reputation and honesty is called into question by those we were keeping the secret from. We find ourselves in a downward spiral as the truth is revealed in its entirety.

What would happen if we just avoided secrets from the beginning? I think we would find that our lives would be much easier all around. Rather than living in fear that our secret might be exposed, we would have the pleasure of simply existing in a state of openness and honesty. Whatever secret you're holding onto today, I encourage you to simply let it go, deal with the consequences, and move forward in honesty. After all, "the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32)

Hits and Misses (June 8-14)

Let's take another look at the week that was.

HITS

• On Tuesday, I accompanied Dad to an appointment with an ENT to discuss his hearing loss. Dr. Long was very informative and verified what we already knew. Since I was in the exam room, I was able to be proactive and begin lining up the next steps in trying to solve the problem. We have several tests coming in the next few weeks, but I'm hoping that we'll have hearing aids by the end of summer.
• I made a trip to Guymon, Oklahoma this week to check things out and see if I could actually imagine myself living there for a few years. I was pleasantly surprised to find that things were better than I had imagined. Sure, the place stunk and there were cows everywhere you looked. My allergies were going crazy between the blowing dust and rolls of hay. Still, it was nice to know that this town in the middle of nowhere was not ENTIRELY devoid of civilization. Now I have to do some number crunching and determine if the job offer is feasible for me.
• Black out curtains are a blessing from Heaven! While away, both hotel rooms were extremely dark and I slept soundly and deeply. Since there was no work room just on the other side of my bedroom wall, I slept until nearly 9am (or later) both days and got some much needed rest.

MISSES

• As I'm writing this post, I am exhausted because of the long drive that I experienced this week. It took almost 12 hours to reach Guymon on Wednesday. After driving around the town and surrounding areas on Thursday morning, I drove to the OPSU campus to meet with members of the fine arts faculty. By 2:30, I was on the road again in order to make sure I was back in Arkansas for Father's Day.  After waking in Tulsa on Friday morning, I decided to drive over to Eureka Springs for one more night of rest before returning to the chaos of the geriatric ward.
• When I arrived in Eureka, I learned that Blues Fest was happening this weekend, so there were absolutely no vacancies to be found! So I stopped for a quick lunch and an ice cream cone before hopping back on the road.
• I left Eureka just 30 minutes before I could have been home if I hadn't taken my detour. Instead, I drove an extra 5 hours. I made the choice, now I'm paying the piper!