The Paper Chase

I've been watching, through Netflix, classic movies that I have never seen before. While I am a huge movie buff, it amazes me how many of the classics that I have not seen. I guess I'm not as much of a film lover as I think I am.
Anyway, last night I watched the movie The Paper Chase. Released in 1973, The Paper Chase tells the story of James Hart (played by Timothy Bottoms) who is a first year student at Harvard Law School. Most of the movie focuses on Hart's sort-of relationship with Professor Charles Kingsfield (played by John Houseman). I say "sort of relationship" because Hart seems almost obsessed with Kingsfield at times in the movie. However, Hart rarely speaks in class because he is intimidated by Kingsfield. Hart's obession leads him to break into a special section of the Harvard law library to find the archived class notes of Kingsfield when law professor was a student at Harvard. However, instead of stealing the notes or copying them and using their content to his advantage in some way, Hart just reads them with a kind of dewy-eyed awe.
The two rarely speak to one another in the film but Hart seems willing to do almost anything, including blowing off a weekend get away with his girlfriend, in order to impress Kingsfield. Hart doesn't sleep for the entire weekend while he does some research for Kingsfield who then doesn't accept Hart's work because it's late. There is no indication that Kingsfield is trying to teach Hart something through this experience. He just seems to want to be mean to everyone with whom he interacts.
Hart's girlfriend is played by Lindsay Wagner. We later find out that Wagner's character Susan is actually Kingsfield's daughter. She is estranged from her husband who is backpacking through Europe to find himself while the legal proceedings have begun on their divorce. I had no idea that Lindsay Wagner had a film career. I came of age in the 1970's watching her run really fast and listen to sounds far away as the Bionic Woman. Of course, now I think of her as the person who is always trying to sell me a Sleep Number bed. Overall, I think Wagner gives a pretty good performance. Sometimes she seems a bit detached but I think that might just be her character.
Houseman is wonderful as the old crusty law professor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role. His character reminded me of a few professors I had in college. He is aloof and condescending. Most of his lines are in the classroom in which we see him belittle students at every turn. He seems irritated that he has to teach. It's almost as if he sees it as his personal responsibility to pass along the wisdom of the ages to a woefully unworthy new generation of future lawyers. For example, Kingsfield says this to a a classroom full of students: "You teach yourselves the law, but I train your minds. You come in here with a skull full of mush; you leave thinking like a lawyer." I wonder if a professor could conduct a classroom like this today without opening himself and the University up to a lawsuit.
Parts of the movie have not aged well. Some of the dialogue sounds really strange to my ear. This was especially true in the student study group scenes. If students really spoke to one another in this way at Harvard Law School in the 1970's, it would really explain a lot of societal problems today. On one hand, they are young men trying to best one another in an extremely competitive environment. Yet, some of their behavior verges on the bizarre and can only be explained by someone in the mental health field. There's a scene in which one of the students brings his outline of one of the law courses lectures. It's hundreds of pages long making me wonder if he wrote down every word of every lecture rather than make an outline. The students had agreed to share their notes with one another to help them prepare for their final exams but this student acts really strange and protective of his precious notes. He says he wants to publish them. He ends up throwing a tantrum and storming out of the room. He calls everyone pimps. It's just weird to me. Maybe that was the way people talked then but it all seemed strange to me.
One of the main themes of the movie is supposed to be Hart's choice between his law education and, as an extension, impressing Professor Kingsfield and trying to keep his relationship with his girlfriend. One teaser line for the movie is: "You have to choose between the girl you love and the diploma you've worked for all your life. You have 30 seconds." Yet, it doesn't seem like that big of a choice for me. While they try to make the point that law school is difficult, it seems absurd to think that law students can't have significant relationships and be successful in their academics. I was not even convinced when the one married student character is under a lot of stress and eventually drops out after trying to commit suicide. I think he had other issues or was not cut out to study law at Harvard. It just seemed like a false choice to me.
The other thing that was puzzling to me about The Paper Chase is the relationship between Susan and her father. They seem estranged. I can't recall a single bit of dialogue that the two have in the film. There's a scene where they are walking down a hallway and they pass Hart. No one speaks. It was weird. While we can guess that having Kingsfield as a father was not a cake walk, we never get to find out any real details. It hard to know if Susan even really cares about her father.
I guess I kept wondering why Hart cares about either of these people. Susan needs to get her act together. I'm not sure jumping into another relationship right away is the wisest thing to do while she still is, at least legally, married to her husband. Kingsfield is just plain mean. I don't understand why Hart wants to even be around this grouchy old man. Along with this, Kingsfield's role is to teach Hart not be his buddy.
In the end, the only person I really cared about in the film is Hart. However, I never doubted that he would pass the class and eventually become a lawyer. He is smart and seems pretty balanced with the exception of his obsession with Kingsfield. I also never doubted that he could be in a relationship with Susan if he wanted to be. Even when they broke up, I didn't really care. I thought there were much better women out there for Hart.
In the end, I guess I liked The Paper Chase but I didn't really love it. I know a lot of critics rave over the film. I thought parts of it dragged on and it was really slow. I also thought there were some scenes that we could have done without. I know it was also probably scandalously cutting edge for it's day. Today it seems pretty tame.
What The Paper Chase did remind me of was my days as a student in the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University. In a similar way that the movie depicts, the architecture program was highly competitive. Students dropped out like flies. Professors expected a lot. The architecture building was open 24/7. All-nighters were a way of life. There was a lot of pressure to shine and do whatever it took to excel. While I have a lot of good memories of those days, I also feel as if I missed out on a lot during my college years because of the demands of the program. I always wondered if there wasn't a better way to educate architects that didn't cause them be walking zombies for five years.
I think this was the kind of educational environment The Paper Chase was trying to describe. However, just knowing that it's about Harvard Law School, I already get that. Harvard's reputation, whether accurate or not, is that this is a serious school for seriously smart and successful people. Not everyone can get into the school and not everyone can make it once they get in.
We once had a volunteer group of Harvard students volunteer with Habitat for Humanity when I was in Tennessee. Just getting to know these students for that week, I was highly impressed. They came with great attitudes and did a lot of good work. I remember thinking to myself that if the future of our country were in these students' hands, that was just fine with me. They were amazing people who I knew were going to lead the way in their fields of study and make a huge impact in the lives of people for generations to come.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Feeling Lonely

I'm feeling kind of lonely tonight. I'm not sure what's going on with me. Sometimes it just hits me. I wonder if it's a bit of depression setting in. I got to thinking about friends who live far away. I also was thinking about fun times I had with those friends in the past. I miss being with those friends. I also miss having friends who will spontaneously jump in the car and meet me for ice cream late at night. I haven't developed those kinds of friendships yet.
It's always hard for me to make new friends when I move to a new community. I think it's one of the curses of being an introvert. It just takes longer for me to build friendships than it does for extroverts. I know it will happen but I get impatient. I know getting involved in a small group at my church will help. I also know that just being in the community longer will help me to connect with people. Right now, it's just hard.
The good news is that I know God has some wonderful people out there whose paths I have yet to cross. So, I use times like this evening when I'm feeling kind of lonely to pray for those friends whom I haven't met yet. I pray that God will connect us soon. I also pray that God will allow us to be blessed by one another's companionship in wonderful and lasting ways. I also give God thanks for friends past, present, and future. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

News Blackout

Yesterday was another quiet day for me. It was probably too quiet. I ended up taking a long nap and then had trouble getting to sleep last night. I finally fell asleep around 1:30 AM. This was a huge problem for me when my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning so that I could meet my friend Karen to walk. I was a real zombie this morning.
I decided yesterday that I was not going to sit in front of the television yesterday watching all all of the ten year anniversary September 11 coverage. I watched little bit when I first got up in the morning and then listened to coverage on NPR on my drive to and from church. But besides that, I didn't watch much of it at all. I decided to put myself under a news blackout. It's not because I didn't think it was important to remember that horrible day in American history. It was more a way for me to say, as I did in my post yesterday, that life goes on.
I remember I was glued to the television back in 2001. I saw the image of the planes flying into the World Trade Center towers so many times, I felt numb. I heard all of the stories of survivors and all of the stories of family members of victims. I read everything I could in the news and online. Along with this, I was given the extra responsibility of trying to preach sermons in response to the terrorist attacks.
When I look back on those days and weeks following September 11, 2001, I realize that it was only by the grace of God that I was able to move through days. And this is also how I wanted to focus my heart on the tenth anniversary. I wanted to pause and give thanks for God's amazing grace in my life and along my journey since that time.
My pastor said it this way in his sermon on Sunday:

I like the way Julian of Norwich put it. Julian of Norwich lived in the fourteenth century during the Black Plague. Every day was 9/11 for her. But she had great hope that grew out of her faith as she faced the depths of the trials of her day. She wrote these lines: But all shall be well, And all shall be well, And all manner of things shall be well…He did not say, “You shall know no storms, no travails, no disease,” He said, “You shall not be overcome.”

Wow. What power. God did not say, “You shall have no storms.” God did not say, “You shall have no terrorists, you shall have no fires, you shall have no death.” God said, “You shall not be overcome.” All shall be well.
On this day, are the promises and protection of God enough for us? Are we able to say “All shall be well?” We may have to say it with a tear in our eyes. We may have to say it with a lump in our throats. We may have say to it with clenched fists. But in that whisper is eternity itself.
God’s faithful promises are our armor. Hope is in the enduring memory of God’s protection.
When the final 9/11 television special signs off for the evening, the last analysis has been offered, the last commentary spoken, and the last editorial written, I can think of no more beautiful eulogy than to say: But all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well…He did not say, “You shall know no storms, no travails, no disease,” He said, “You shall not be overcome.”

So, yesterday I napped and rested trusting that all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Tree Planted by the Water

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I saw this video as I was surfing the web today thinking about what I wanted to blog about on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The video struck a powerful chord with me. Even in the midst of the horror that scarred our nation on that day ten years ago, life goes on. Though we felt mangled and helpless and vulnerable, God gave us the grace to experience the only thing that really matters - God's love. God was and is with us calling us to new life, forgiveness, and healing so that we might be like trees that never fail to bear fruit.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
- Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV
 
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

New Phone

Well, I finally did it. I got a new cell phone today. This is a major milestone in my life because this is only the second cell phone that I have ever owned. I got my first cell phone in 2006 in my home town of Mishawaka, Indiana right before I moved to Knoxville Tennessee. The reason that I decided to get a new cell phone was because my old cell phone was having a hard time keeping a charge. I think this might have been what caused my problem earlier this summer when I my phone shut off and I didn't know how to turn it back on.
When I went to the Verizon store today to get the new cell phone, the guy who helped me (who was probably still in elementary school when I got my first cell phone) said, "Your phone is really old." He then proceeded to try to sell me a smart phone with all kinds of bells and whistles. I told him "no." He then showed me their basic phones that were on display in the store. He suggested that I get one with a keyboard for texting and a camera. I told him "no". I then asked him if they had any other basic phone models in stock that were not on display. They had a catalogue and I pointed to some phones and he thought they did have a few of them in the back. I told him I had a $50 credit on my account and I wanted to use that to get a phone and that I hoped that they had phones that would not cost me anything if I used my credit. He went into the back stock room and emerged with my new phone. He told me that I would not have to pay anything for this if I used my $50 credit and that I could walk out of the store with a new phone. The salesman also warned me that this phone didn't take photos, connect to the Internet, or have a flip out keyboard for sending texts. He said it was just a "plain Jane phone." I told him that it sounded perfect.
So, I've spent the evening reading the manual for my new phone. I know. Most people just know how to use their phones and never even unwrap the manual but that's not how I'm wired. I like to read the manual and learn all of the little tricks to operating new phone. Of course, there are very few little tricks because by the rest of the world's standards, I am now the proud owner of the world's most boring phone.
In spite of the fact that I am really excited about my new phone, I also will miss my old phone. I may try to donate my old phone to the Smithsonian. Maybe they will display it next to Dorothy's ruby slippers.
That old phone has been my communication device with the world for the past five years. I think about all of the conversations I have had with friends and family using that phone. I have laughed deeply and shed many tears while using that old phone. I have heard good news and bad news while talking on that phone. I was talking on that old phone when I was offered the Family Services Coordinator position at TriState Habitat for Humanity. I have renewed relationships with old friends and talked for the first time when people who would become new friends. I have made plans and cancelled plans. I have offered and received words of encouragement on that old phone. That phone traveled with me from Indiana to Tennessee to Ohio. It went with me when I traveled. It has been the alarm that has awakened me every morning for the past five years. It has been a faithful companion and I will be sad to see it go.
I am grateful for both my new phone and my old phone. I am grateful for memories and new beginnings. I am thankful for new technology that will carry me into the next season of my life and journey.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Settling In

After living in my apartment for more than a year, I feel like I am finally settling in. I spent a big part of the day unpacking some boxes and consolidating some other boxes of things I should probably drop off at Goodwill. I also finally hung stuff up on my walls. I think it has taken me so long because in the back of my mind is the thought that I may have move again. I guess that's one of the remnants of being an itinerant United Methodist pastor. In addition, I have moved a lot in the past five years. As I was sorting through my boxes, I began to think about how many times I have moved my stuff. In case you haven't been following my crazy journey, here's a run down:

• In the fall of 2006 when I was still serving my church in Mishawaka, Indiana, the church bought a new parsonage. I was not ready to tell the congregation that I was leaving, so I went through the huge hassle of moving all of my stuff into the new parsonage in Osceola, Indiana.
• During December 2006 I moved all my worldly belongings into a storage unit in Knoxville, Tennessee. The day after Christmas I drove to Knoxville and moved in with my sister Shelly and her family. I lived in her computer room and slept on an air mattress. I didn't have a job at first and wondered what in the heck I was doing.
• In June of 2007 I moved into an apartment in Knoxville. By this time I had secured full-time employment at Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County Tennessee.
• In the summer of 2008 gas prices had skyrocketed and the Great Recession was in full force. I had a half-hour commute to work from Knoxville to Oak Ridge. So, when my lease was up in Knoxville, I moved to Oak Ridge to an apartment that was just a few blocks from the Habitat office. I even walked to work a few times until the unbearable Tennessee summer heat set in.
• In November of 2009, I accepted a new position with TriState Habitat for Humanity in Cincinnati. Because there was a brief time and I wanted to take my time to look for an apartment, I moved in with sister Stacey and her family in West Chester, Ohio.
• After a long and exhaustive search, in April 2010 I moved to my current apartment in Hamilton, Ohio.

So, for me to be in this apartment for this amount of time seems a little weird. It's a good feeling to think that I might settle in to a particular place for a while. I feel blessed to be here. I am in a place that really like. It's close to work, to my family, and there's a lot to do in the area. I'm grateful that God led me to this place at this time. I hope that that one day I might even consider this more than just a place to stay, but my home.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Matt

I received word today that a man who was a part of the last congregation that I pastored in Indiana had passed away today. When I received the news, I started to cry. I received the news at the end of a particularly hard day and so I think the tears flowed more freely than they might have on another. Yet, even as I cried, I also felt a kind of deep assurance that even though this was the end of Matt's life in this life, it was not the end of Matt's eternal life.
When I first met Matt, I'm not sure he wanted much to do with me. At least that's how it seemed to me as a pastor who visited his hospital room. I was asked by a friend of Matt's wife to visit Matt in the hospital. I was always a bit uncomfortable doing this. Being the introvert that I am, I always felt weird barging into a stranger's hospital room. I was never sure if I would be welcomed or not. Some people would enjoy having me visit. Some people didn't want to have me anywhere near them. Some people would politely tolerate me. Still others would get very agitated or upset when they saw me. I guess they thought that if the pastor was coming, they were going to get bad news about their medical condition.
Matt suffered from diabetes. It was the kind of diabetes that caused Matt to eventually lose both of his legs. At the time that I first visited him, I think he had just had a surgery and was recovering in the hospital from that. Our conversation was brief and consisted of only few words.
I don't remember if I prayed with Matt at that time. This was often a confusing thing for some people to know how to respond when I asked if I could pray with them. Matt was not really a church person, so I'm certain if he did invite me to pray with him, it was not the most natural thing for him to experience. I remember thinking that if I was in Matt's position of having my body parts amputated that I'm not sure I would want to talk to God. In fact, my guess is that Matt was pretty mad at God at that time. At least that was my perception.
I remember that I visited Matt again several months later when he was in the hospital for another surgery or procedure. While he was still kind of gruff around the edges, he seemed to tolerate my visit better than the first time. I remember that our conversation was a bit longer and he seemed more cordial. I was also probably more at ease because I had met him before.
While I believe that God was at work in Matt's heart and life through all of his health problems, I'm not sure that Matt realized this and I'm not sure I really could see it happening. I think I was going to visit Matt out of a sense of obligation to Matt's wife's friend who was one of my congregation members. I still felt uncomfortable doing it and I think Matt was uncomfortable having me visit.
Several more months later, I visited Matt again in the hospital. He had fallen and broken a bone in his leg. This was not good. I think the doctors were trying to figure out a way to save his leg. During this visit Matt seemed both discouraged and more open to my visit. We talked more and I remember praying with him and he seemed to really appreciate it.
After this, Matt went to stay in a rehab facility for an extended period. They tried to build up his strength and help him to keep his leg. One day during this period, I had a craving for Chinese food. One of my favorite Chinese buffets was over near the rehab center where Matt was staying. After eating some wonderful Chinese food, I felt like God was nudging me to stop in and see Matt.
On this day Matt seemed really glad to see me. He smiled as we talked. His spirit seemed really light. He had a real look of peace about him. He shared that he had been attending a Bible study at the rehab center and that he was learning a lot. He had a lot of questions about the Bible and wanted to learn more. He then shared with me that he felt he was ready to accept Jesus into his heart. He asked if I would pray with him as he did that.
I was both humbled and filled with joy as I joined him in this most holy of moments in his life. When we were done praying, he said he felt a peace like he had never felt before in his life. He looked as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Whatever was happening with his physical body didn't seem to matter as much any more. He was truly a new creation in Christ.
After that, I got some men from the church to go with me and we would hold Bible studies in Matt's room at the rehab center. We would talk and discuss life and the Scriptures and I learned and grew as did the others who joined us. Matt always seemed eager to learn and grow in his new found faith in Christ.
When Matt got to finally go home, we moved the Bible study to his house. I remember that he lived on the other side of county from where I lived and it was quite a trek to get to his house. I would sometimes grumble about the time and energy it took to do this Bible study. However, I always felt renewed after I attended these Bible studies. Matt's willingness to learn and grow always reminded me of why we were doing what we were doing.
I realize now that those were times when I really felt like the church was at its best. We were being the church to Matt but he was also a vital part of the Body of Christ as we talked and joked and studied together. He was in ministry to and with us. This was exactly the way the church began. Those first Christians met in people's homes for study, worship, support, and fellowship. In fact, I often got more out of these home Bible studies at Matt's house than I did leading Sunday morning worship for a congregation made up of many people who were more focused on preserving irrelevant traditions than truly living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Matt was definitely Jesus to me in some deep and abiding ways that I don't think I will fully understand until I see him in heaven.
When I received the email telling me about Matt's death from my friend Mari, she quoted our friend Kathy who said about Matt's passing, “We all know where Matt is now because Kevin led him to Lord.” When I read those words, I used about three tissues as I broke down and cried some more.
I don't know how much leading I really did, but I do feel that God allowed me to get a craving for Chinese food and then led me to stop in on that most important of days in Matt's journey in this world. I do feel God was able to use me in some way to reach out to Matt and offer him the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. It was a day that forever changed Matt's heart and life. It was a day on which all the company of heaven was cheering him on and celebrating his new faith in Jesus.
As I write this blog entry, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for Matt and his life that helped to change my heart and life. It was truly an honor to journey with him for the short time that I did. I know there is a big celebration going on in heaven today as Matt is welcomed into the presence of God. I can just see him running on new legs into the loving arms of Jesus as he hears the words "Well done, Matt! My good and faithful servant!"
Thank you Matt for showing me the power of God's life-changing grace! I look forward to the day when we meet again at the feet of Jesus.
I invite you to join me in praying for Matt's family as they journey through this time of grief.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

July 4th Memories

Today is a special day. Most people celebrate Independence Day in the United States on this day. It's a day for cookouts, patriotic music, and fireworks. While all of these things were a part of my July 4th celebrations when I was growing up, we also gathered to celebrate my Grandmother's birthday.
I have some very good memories of this day. For many years, we would get together at my Uncle Dave and Aunt Barb's home in Mishawaka, Indiana for a family gathering. These family gatherings were loud, chaotic, and usually only mildly dysfunctional. My Uncle Dave would cook hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. There was also almost always potato salad and a lot of other good food. We also got to have cake and ice cream since it was my Grandma's birthday. Grandma always got to have sparklers on her cake instead of candles.
After lunch we would sometimes play Euchre. Before they were determined to be a hazard and eventually banned, we also often played lawn Jarts. Some of my best post-dinner game memories are of playing croquet in the backyard with Grandma Buckley and some of my cousins. Even though she was well into her seventies and eighties, Grandma was quite a croquet powerhouse.
Our Independence Day/birthday celebrations ended with fireworks at Wilson Park in Mishawaka. My Uncle Dave would go over to the park early and park his pick-up truck to reserve a spot for our family. We would then carpool over to the park before the fireworks. We took blankets and lawn chairs. We sat on the ground and in lawn chairs. The fireworks were always an awesome display. There was a fireworks company in Mishawaka and they in partnership with the city provided a wonderful show. We would "ooh" and "aah" and wait with anticipation for the finale when they shot off a bunch of fireworks all at once.
After the fireworks came my favorite part of the entire day. Really, it was one of my favorite parts of the entire year and what would become one of my most cherished memories of the Independence Days of my childhood. We would all pile in the back of my Uncle Dave's pick-up truck for the ride back to his house. It was only a few miles but it was always so fun. There was just something so cool and fun about riding in the open pick-up bed with my family after watching fireworks. We never went very fast because it was usually stop-and-go traffic getting out of the park. However, there was usually at least a short distance where we got to go above 30 miles an hour. The night air would blow against my face and through my hair. We would ride in the back of that pick-up under the star-filled Midwestern sky and laugh together as we hung on for dear life. For that brief distance and for just a few short minutes, all seemed right with the world for that young boy that was me those many years ago.
I know, it's not safe to ride in the back of a pick-up truck. I know that it's illegal in most states now. But for some reason, I loved that annual ride home from the fireworks display.
My Mom posted on her Facebook page that if my Grandma Buckley were still alive, she would be 105 years old today. As I pause to reflect on this July 4th, I realize I really miss eating her birthday cakes with sparklers on them. I miss playing croquet with her. I miss hamburgers on the grill and fireworks at Wilson Park. But most of all, I really miss my Grandma.
As I write this blog post, I can see fireworks going off in the distance above the treetops. The memories are flooding into my heart and mind on this Independence Day night. I'm tempted to find someone with a pick-up truck and see if he or she will drive me around for a while.
Happy birthday Grandma Buckley! Thank you for all of the Independence Day memories. I love you and miss you!
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Super 8

I went to see the movie Super 8 today. It was a real treat. I haven't been to the theater to see a movie in quite a while. There was a time in my life when I went nearly every week to see a new movie. However, those days are gone.
I don't know if I am getting more grouchy in my middle age but going to the theater to see movies is not as fun as it used to be. Much of it has to do with the behavior of people in the theater. For example, there were two people sitting behind me who obviously thought they were at home and could just talk whenever they wanted to talk. I guess with everyone having smart phones, iPads, and laptops on which to watch movies, people really don't know how to behave in the theater any more. I don't have a problem with people laughing or even shrieking during appropriate times during movies. However, what I don't care to hear is their casual conversations and snide remarks. Today was like sitting in front of Beavis and Butthead. I ended up moving to a different part of theater after they kicked the back of my seat for the third time.
Any way, in spite of the rudeness of my fellow theater goers, I really enjoyed Super 8. It's a great summer movie. In fact, it's just a great movie. I found myself being taken back in time to earlier days of movie going. I also found myself reminiscing about my childhood and some of the things that I did with friends. I didn't know anyone who had a super 8 camera, but if we did I can almost be certain we would have had a lot of fun with it.
J. J. Abrams does a wonderful job at direction. His films always seem to be filled with all kinds of special effects and this movie was no exception. The kids who play the main characters are also quite incredible. I kept comparing them to kids that I knew when I was growing up.
I could also relate to the setting of a small Midwestern town. The film gets the look just right. I thought that I could have been in my home town in Northern Indiana in several scenes. I love it when film makers are able to get the look at the feel of the Midwest right rather than some Hollywood version of what people in California think the Midwest looks like.
I also enjoyed the setting of the late 1970's - early 1980's. The music brought back a lot of memories. Hearing the music of Blondie and the Commodores was a real blast from the past.The fashion was even more fun to watch on some of the people. I also loved all of the ways in which technology of the day was used or referenced. Of course, there's the Super 8 film itself that was the latest technology for making home movies before video cameras were popular and affordable to the masses. There is also a scene in which a teenager is listening to his Walkman which seems to be on the cutting edge of technology in the movie. This made me smile because I remember the first time I saw and listened to music on a Walkman. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
So, if you're interested in a fun summer movie, I would highly recommend Super 8. It's fun, got some action, and if you're of a certain age, it will bring back a lot of memories.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

I Feel Like Quitting

I feel like quitting. No, I'm not talking about quitting my job. I feel like resigning from normal, everyday life. For it is normal, everyday life that seems to sweep in and catch me off guard and really bring me down. I was telling my friend Karen that I have had the strength to stand at someone's bedside who is dying in the hospital and offer hope and comfort and feel a sense of peace.  I seem to have the faith to endure major crises and shepherd people through very dark times in their lives; however, I can hardly stand the small inconveniences of life.
When I took the chaplain's class in Knoxville, I worked in the trauma unit in which I saw all kinds of blood, broken bones, and injuries and I was somehow able to remain fairly calm and collected. However, whenever I got lost in the hospital (which was very often) I nearly had a melt down. When I served in the local church, I felt I did some of my best ministry when there was a death and I was called to offer comfort to the family. I always seemed to have the words to say and knew when to sit and be quiet with people in their grief. However, one time I forgot my Bible at home and didn't realize it until I arrived at the funeral home. The funeral director couldn't scrounge up a Bible and I nearly had a panic attack. I hopped in the car for a high speed trip back to the parsonage. Thankfully one of the funeral home employees drove me in one of the funeral home cars. I think he drove most of the way above 80 miles per hour which only added to my anxiety.
Today was no exception. I took my car in to have a latch mechanism replaced. The sensor on the hatch door of my car kept going off and it would set my alarm off. One night it went off at about 11:30 PM. I'm sure my neighbors all loved this. So, for the past few weeks, I haven't been locking my car. Anyway, I picked my car up today from the repair shop, drove back to the office and pressed the remote lock button and nothing happened. I went into a panic. I couldn't believe that it did not work. I didn't have the time to take my car back today. I called the repair shop and the guy told me he couldn't tell me what was wrong without looking at it. I couldn't believe that he couldn't just figure it out from my description which was "It's not working." Hmm. I felt like I paid a whole bunch of money for nothing because I still couldn't lock my car. It drove home my basic belief that cars are a necessary evil and money pits. If I could live without a car I would.
Later in the day, I had another dentist appointment. I had to have a filling redone. It took only a few minutes and involved no pain because I've had a root canal on that tooth. I was under the impression that this procedure would not cost me anything because it was covered under my dental insurance. However, when I went to the check out counter, they told me I owed them money. I said that I thought that it was all covered under my insurance. They basically said that this was not routine preventative treatment and I would have to pay them money today. Uggg! I was mad at the dentist for not telling me this before I had the procedure. I was mad at the insurance company for a policies that benefit insurance company share holders and executives. I was most of all mad at myself for not reading my insurance benefits policy more closely.
After paying a bunch of money to have my car fixed and more money to have my tooth fixed, I wanted to yell out to everyone in the dentist office waiting room "Would anyone else like any money from me today? Here, just take my debit card and drain my account! Why do I need any money anyway? Take it all!" Thankfully, I kept my wits and didn't do this but it sure would have felt good to vent a bit. So, I guess it's helping to vent all of this to you through this blog.
It's the normal stuff of life that puts me over the edge. I don't know why. It doesn't make sense. It's the way I'm wired. I hate this about myself. It exhausts me. I have made some slight changes and I feel like I'm not as bad as I once was but it feels like I haven't made much progress at all. I pray for God's help with this and I still live with anxiety about stupid stuff. I remember Jesus' words to consider the lilies of the field and the birds and trust in God in all things. However, most days I fail miserably at this. Today was no exception.
I'm tired from the day's events and I am not long from bed. I feel like quitting but I guess I'll rest tonight and give it another try tomorrow. The good news is that tomorrow is a new day and another chance to be faithful to the God Who loves me and sustains me and will never let me go.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

- Rainy Days and Mondays, The Carpenters

Today was both a rainy day and a Monday. It was pouring down rain when I went into the office. It was dreary and wet. I began to remember the lyrics of the song Rainy Days and Mondays sung by the Carpenters. The words seem to fit the day and my mood. It was a bit crazy at the office and I still feel like I'm trying to catch up from being sick. The rain kept coming down and I felt like I wanted to go home and cover up with my Snuggie.
I love when a song seems to express all that I'm feeling and all that is going on in my life and heart. The Carpenters were masters at this. I have always enjoyed their music. It was good to remember this particular song and the memories connected to it. I saw myself sitting in the living room of the house I grew up in in Mishawaka, Indiana. I remember the green shag carpeting. I remember the big stereo with the turntable and eight track tape player. I remember the wood paneling and the picture window that looked out across the street to the golf course. I remember rainy days from the past and how I love the rain and the way it washes and renews the earth.
So, while rainy days and Mondays can get me down, they can bring back wonderful memories too. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Breath Prayers

Breath prayers are a modern adaptation of the ancient prayer of the heart. We create them to express our deepest needs. They help us keep God in the foreground amidst our daily living and clarify our relationship with the holy. most breath prayers are six to eight syllables and fit easily into one inhale and exhale. Some examples are “Help me rest; give me peace,” “Make clear my way, O Holy One,” “Out of darkness, into light,” or “Fill me, Spirit, with your love.”

- Jane E. Vennard, The Breath Prayer

The above quote was a part of one of my e-devotionals this past week. I was first introduced to the practice of breath prayers when I was in college at the Wesley Foundation campus ministry at Ball State. I remember when the Campus Minister shared this practice with us, I thought it was a little weird at first. It was certainly outside my very traditional understanding of prayer. Prayer for me had always been something I did in worship and before bedtime. I prayed in a certain way and often used the same words.
While I thought it was strange, I gave it a try and found it a power tool in my own spiritual growth. I love the simplicity of it. I love the idea of breathing in and out my prayers to God. It was freeing for me as a college student and for one who was just beginning to really take seriously my own sense of calling to ministry.
I often use the breath prayer now to focus me. It helps me to center my heart and to listen. With each breath I feel more connected to the One who created the air that I breathe and the lungs that fill my body with life-giving oxygen. The practice also reminds me of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon the disciples after his resurrection. Breath prayers have been a wonderful gift to me during times of stress and anxiety when I did not know what to pray. I find renewal and peace with each breath.
If you've never tried it, I encourage you to give breath prayers a try. It may just open a whole new door in your relationship with the One Who loves you.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Sick Day

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

- Psalm 30:2, NRSV

I've been in bed most of today. I have some kind of bad head cold or sinus infection or something that has me so stuffed up and unable to breath well that I haven't slept much the past few nights. Some of my co-workers have been sick and I'm wondering if I got it from them.
I am not a good sick person. I want to be babied and waited on. When you live alone that's hard to make happen. I remember when I was growing up my Mom would give me a little silver bell to ring if I needed her in the middle of the night when I was sick. I was thinking about getting a bell last night when I was in bed trying to sleep. I'm not sure my Mom would hear it way down in Texas if I rang it. I'm also not sure any of my neighbors would care or come to my rescue if I rang it. I guess if it was loud enough, they might call the police. Maybe I could get a police officer to rub Vicks-Vapo-Rub on my chest. They are supposed to serve and protect after all.
Thankfully I made it to the grocery store yesterday after walking before I started feeling really bad. I went over to my friend Karen's yesterday for a short while to watch a movie in the afternoon after we walked. She gave me vitamin C, hot tea with honey, and some kind of green juice substance made from fruits and vegetables. It looked horrible but was quite tasty.
I started feeling really bad while we were watching the movie. I came home earlier than planned from Karen's and had a miserable evening. I have not been out of my apartment all day today and am not going to work if I don't feel better tomorrow morning. I don't want to risk giving everyone at the office what I have.
Well, I'm back to the couch. Thankfully it's only a few steps from the computer.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

My Favorite Movies

I shared with you in yesterday's blog post that went to see movie The King's Speech. After the movie, my friend Karen and I were talking about our favorite movies. Karen posed the question to me: What are my favorite movies of each decade? When she asked the question, I really had to stop and think about it. I don't always have a good grasp on what movie came out in what year. For some movies, I can remember very vividly where I saw it and who was with me when I saw it. For other movies, it's all just a blur. I've also seen so many movies that sometimes it's really hard to narrow them down to my favorites. However, since Karen asked me this question, I've really been thinking about it. So, thanks to some help with the dates from Wikipedia, here's my list of favorite movies from each decade I have been alive.

Disclaimer - These are my favorite movies. Most movie critics would probably not think much of my list. I'm sure they would point to other movies as being better. However, these are movies that I really enjoy and have had an impact upon my life in some way. They are movies that I am willing to watch again and again hoping to relive a bit of the magic that I experienced when I first saw them.

1960's
The Sound of Music (1965) - I start my list with what is actually my all-time favorite movie. It's got about everything that I like in a movie: music, dancing, and a great story. There's even some suspense as we wonder how in the world the Trapp's are going to get out of Austria and away from the Nazis.
I've never seen The Sound of Music in the theater. It came out the year I was born. However, I think it has been on television every year since I was born. I also remember that in elementary school we sang the songs from the movie in music class. I know all the lyrics and I sing along with the movie whenever I watch it. I credit this movie with helping me to fall in love with musical theater.

1970's
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) - Star Wars is not just a movie. It's a cultural phenomenon. I remember when I saw it at the Forum Theater in South Bend. This is one of the theaters in South Bend that no longer exist. All my friends had seen the movie before I did and they were quoting lines from it. Not wanting to be out of the loop, I asked my parents if I could go see it. I remember that my Dad took me to see it.
I was amazed by the visual effects. What seems so primitive now wowed me back in the 1977. I remember watching the opening lines "Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away . . ." I couldn't figure out how they got the words to look like they were floating through space.
I also loved the story and the characters. I imagined myself as Luke Skywalker dueling with my light saber. It was clear who was good and who was bad. R2D2 and C3PO were like wonderful friends who provided a bit of comic relief. I remember I had a model of R2D2 that I assembled. It was so cool.
Star Wars helped me fall in love with action-adventure movies. It was like a Western told in a whole new way. I remember simply being in awe after I saw Star Wars and thinking that the future I would grow up in would be full of space ships and light sabers and cool new technologies.

1980's
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Again, another iconic movie. I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark after I came back from a week at church camp. We were all together for the whole week and when we got home on on the Saturday after being away, we decided to go see a movie together. I don't know who chose the movie. I didn't know anything about the movie before I saw it. I didn't really read the newspaper at the time which would have been the only source of buzz about movies at that time.
Harrison Ford helped me to think that archeology could be cool. I also loved that there was a Biblical connection to the plot as they searched for the Ark of the Covenant.
I will never forget watching the Nazis faces melt off when they opened the Ark. I couldn't figure out how they could do such a thing. Again the special effects overwhelmed me.
I have such wonderful memories of watching that movie with that group of youth who I had just spent a week with at camp. It was fun and wonderful and one of the most memorable nights in one of the most memorable weeks of my life.

1990's
Forrest Gump (1994) - When I saw Forrest Gump for the first time in the theater, I didn't know what to expect. I had heard that it was a good movie but not much more.
I saw it in a packed theater and it was one of the most powerful movie experiences I've ever had. I laughed and cried and sang along with the sound track. I love history and I thought it was so wonderful how Forrest found himself at so many key places at so many key times in history. I loved how they put Tom Hanks into famous historic film footage.
I was inspired by Forrest Gump in a very lasting way. It became common at that time to quote the movie -  "Life is like a box of chocolates . . ." The movie reminded me of how the thread of my life could be woven into tapestry of others' lives and into the history of the world.

2000's
Finding Nemo (2003) - I had a hard time deciding what my favorite movie of the first decade of the 21st Century is. Since moving from Indiana, I had to cut back on the number of movies that I watched in the theater and was really out of it when it came to new movies during that last half of the decade.
I really liked The Dark Knight and The Departed. However, I settled on Finding Nemo for it's amazing visual appeal and it's powerful story. I loved the characters and the incredible journey that Marlin makes in order to find his son.
I will admit that I cried like a baby when I saw this movie in the theater. It moved me deeply and inspired me. It took me on a journey to the enchanted world of the ocean. It lifted my spirit and reminded me of the power of self-giving love.

So, that's my list. I'm not sure if it's a good list or not. These are movies that inspired me and entertained me. They became a part of my life's journey. They are movies that almost everyone has seen at least once. Like them or not, they are movies that impacted our culture in some way.
I encourage you to make a list of your own. It was a fun exercise for me. It was a trip down memory lane. If you would like like to share them, I would love to know what movies make your list.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Alien Nation

I'm watching the television series from the late 1980's called Alien Nation through my Netflix subscription. I remember when the show first aired. I really liked the movie that the series is based on. The television show is pretty good. The corny humor is a little over the top and it's kind of hard to block out the late 1980's fashion, but overall, the concept is one that both fascinates me and makes me think. I read that the SyFy Channel is going to produce an updated version of the show. If it's anything like the updated version of Battlestar Gallactica, I will really look forward to that.
One of the main points of the show is the constant conflict created by how human beings deal with those who are different than they are. There are a lot of parallels made to race relations in this country. And while many people try to say that this is not an issue any more, it really is. We don't talk about it in polite company but it's an issue with which most Americans struggle in some way. In fact, I wonder how different the dialogue about our immigration policy would be if we were not so afraid to have an honest and open dialogue about race in the United States.
For example, I just was talking today on the phone with someone who was interested in TriState Habitat for Humanity's home ownership program. The potential applicant was concerned that she might have neighbors who were of a different race than she is if she were accepted into our program and we partnered with her to build a house. She said, "I'm not prejudiced. I just don't want to live next to 'those people.'
When I was serving in the local church, all of the congregations I served were nearly all white. I remember several times when some very faithful church members shared with me their extremely racist attitudes. They saw no conflict in expressing hatred for African Americans or Hispanics. These were the same people who were Christ-like in so many other parts of their lives, but they were not afraid to express all kinds of derogatory things or fears of those who were of a different race than they were.
All of this also causes me to reflect on my upbringing. I was raised in a nearly all-white city. Diversity was not celebrated. It was avoided at all costs. Along with this, the attitudes of my family and my neighbors certainly did not help me to appreciate the diversity of the human family. I was taught to fear most Black people and avoid places where large numbers of people who were not white lived because it was not safe for me to go there. This makes me really sad when I think about it. I wonder how my attitudes about race as an adult would be different had I been regularly exposed to those who were different than I am when I was growing up.
So, in spite of the bad wardrobe, I am really enjoying watching the Alien Nation series. It gets me thinking and reflecting on the state of our nation and the state of my own attitudes about race. I'm grateful for the opportunity to watch this series. For me, a mark of good entertainment is that it not only entertains but makes me think and Alien Nation certainly accomplishes both of these goals for me.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Sunday Night

It's Sunday night. There was a time in my life when I didn't really like Sunday nights all that much because I dreaded Monday mornings at work. However, that is certainly not the case for me now. I love my job. I love the work that I have the privilege of doing every day. I get to serve the poor and help families to realize their dreams of home ownership through the mission and ministry of Habitat for Humanity. I enjoy the people with whom I work. I am blessed to be in this place at this time. While I'm still not a morning person and probably never will be one, I don't mind Mondays. In fact, I look forward to getting back to the work to which God has called me.
As I sat down to make this blog entry, I began thinking about other times in my life when Sunday nights were a totally different experience for me. When I was serving in the local church, Sunday nights often meant youth group meetings at the church. After being exhausted by the events of Sunday mornings, I would make my way back to the church for youth group. I was never a very good youth leader. I was better one-on-one with youth. I tried my best but I often messed up a whole bunch in relating to youth.
In college, Sunday evenings were worship time at the Ball State University Wesley Foundation campus ministry that I attended. It was a time to connect with friends, hear the Word proclaimed, and sing praises to God. We also often had a Bible study after worship. Sometimes we would get together and go out for dinner after worship. I have a lot of good memories from those days of just hanging out with Christian friends.
Sunday evenings when I was a teenager were always filled with youth activities. Our church youth group usually had Sunday evening meetings. We had a great youth group and I rarely missed a youth meeting. We would do all kinds of fun things and even learn stuff along the way. It was a great time to connect with my friends and it was this youth group that helped me to grow in my faith and understanding of who I am and Whose I am. After years of serving as a youth leader, I am even more grateful for those patient youth leaders who gave of their time (and my guess is some of their sanity) to lead our church youth group. I know there is a special place in heaven for those folks.
I also remember the years before I was old enough to attend youth group. Sunday night was the night for watching television shows with my family like The Wonderful World of Disney, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Hardy Boys, Mork and Mindy, and CHiPs. These were the shows we would talk about with our friends on Monday mornings at school.
Some of my best memories of Sunday nights when I was growing up were of Sunday evening dinners. It was the one night of the week that we got to eat with the television on. The rest of the week, we all sat at the dinner table together as a family and we were not allowed to have the television or radio on during this time. However, on Sunday nights, these rules were thrown out the window and we often sat at TV trays on the couch and watched TV. The menu was usually something like pizza or hot dogs with French fries. I always thought I was so cool to be able to eat with the television on. Of course, now, I seem to eat most of my dinners with the television on. In fact, I'm pretty sure my parents also eat in front of the television now. I guess the old rules have gone out the window in their retirement years.
Sunday nights have been a mixture of business and blessing, entertainment and engagement. Right now in my life Sundays nights are not too exciting. I usually watch a movie on Netflix or read. Sunday nights are a time to prepare for the coming week. I now get to lay low and enjoy the blessings of rest that are a part of my weekends since I left parish ministry. And, like this evening, I am grateful for time to remember the good memories of Sunday nights gone by.
I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday evening. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

The Snow Keeps Falling in Northern Indiana

I received a call from my friend Mari who lives in South Bend, Indiana around NOON today. She said that as of that time they had received about 30 inches of snow where she lives.
I checked the South Bend Tribune website and found this article
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20110108/News01/110109687/1130 reporting that South Bend had already set a single-day snow fall record at 1:00 PM today of 23.6 inches. This breaks the old record of 20 inches set in 1909. The article goes on to say that South Bend may break the state record of 33 inches of snow over a 24 hour period.
I had always thought that the Blizzard of 1978 was the greatest amount of snowfall received in South Bend but the total snowfall total was 27.1 inches over the course of four days. What made the '78 Blizzard so bad was the extremely high winds that caused a lot of drifting.
When I read this reference about the Blizzard of '78, my mind flooded with all kinds of wonderful memories. That was the day of our school crossing guard roller skating party and it got canceled due to the storm. I remember that we got some days off school and played games with our neighbors. I'll never forget tunneling a path to shovel the sidewalks and the huge snow drifts against our house in Mishawaka.
The article also stated that the hardest hit area was around the intersection of the Indiana Toll Road and the US 31 Bypass. That's not far from where I used to live west of South Bend in Lydick. I remember many years of shoveling the driveway of the parsonage there. While I empathize with the folks of the South Bend area, I'm glad that I'm not there to have to dig out.
We didn't really get any more snow here in Cincinnati today. I saw a few flakes but nothing really significant. I think Northern Kentucky got a bit more than we did north of Cincinnati. Maybe I'm getting old but I think I prefer our Cincinnati winter so far to Northern Indiana's.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

New Walking Shoes

I bought some new walking shoes for my training period for walking the half-marathon in May. I have needed some new tennis shoes for a while but have been putting it off. I was blessed to be able to find a pair of shoes that are very comfortable, were on sale, and are actually not too hideous.
As I went on my first walk in my new shoes this morning, I began thinking about what life lessons these new shoes might teach me. Here's what I came up with:

• It's important to have good support along your journey. My old shoes were really worn out. The souls were worn and cracked in places. I didn't realize how bad they were until I stopped to take a look at them. When I walked for the first time in my new shoes I felt the difference right away. I had support that I was missing before with my old shoes.
• The path to change begins with the first step. I have decided to prepare for walking in the half-marathon to improve my health. In order to be successful in this I have to start now to prepare for marathon day. It all began this morning with my first step.
• It's easy to get comfortable with things that really aren't good for you. I really liked my old walking shoes. I bought them right after I moved to Tennessee and they were comfortable. However, they were really not giving me the support I needed. In fact, I had a real problem with what I think were shin splints when I tried to walk for the past month. I did some reading on the Internet about it and I learned that shin splints can be caused by not wearing good shoes that give you proper support. What I realized is that my old comfortable shoes could really be doing my body harm and I needed to let them go.
• It's fun to get new shoes. When I was growing up, I had a lot of problems finding shoes that fit. I inherited some very funky feet. I've often said that they look like Fred Flintstone's feet or after I saw the Lord of the Rings movies: Hobbit feet. In addition to having two webbed toes on each foot, I have a very high instep and very wide feet. In fact, I had go to Syracuse, Indiana to shoe store that specialized in hard-to-find sizes. I always loved the special attention that the store employees would give to me when I was fitted for shoes. Even though most shoes stores don't give customers the attention they once did, I still like getting new shoes.

So, I feel like I'm off to a good start with my new shoes. I am hoping that they will help me to accomplish my goal of finishing the half-marathon.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Good Trip to Indy

I had a good trip to Indianapolis today to meet my friend Neil for lunch. I managed to miss the early morning earthquake that hit north central Indiana near Kokomo. I did run into some rain on the way there but by the drive home it was sunny and rather warm for the end of December.
It was so good to see Neil again. We attended Ball State University at the same time and met through our involvement in the Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry. I got to meet his two boys and got a quick tour of his church. We caught up with one another's lives and we had a nice lunch together.
One of the blessings of 2010 has been reconnecting with friends from my past. I am ever grateful to God for allowing our paths to cross.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Relaxing Vacation

I continue to enjoy my very relaxing vacation week. I did venture outside my apartment today. I picked up a few things at the grocery store and then finally got my library card for the local public library system. I have been meaning to do this for some time but haven't gotten around to.
Tomorrow I'm headed to Indianapolis to visit with a friend from Ball State. I am looking forward to reconnecting with him and getting back to Indianapolis which I always enjoy visiting. It looks like we might get some rain here tomorrow. We are also experiencing a warming trend. It may possibly get up to 50 degrees by Friday.
As I've been relaxing on this low-key vacation, I have been thinking about another vacation I had several years ago when I didn't want to spend a lot of money but wanted to get away. My parents graciously allowed me to borrow their RV for a week. My Dad drove it down to Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, Indiana for me. I rented a whole bunch of movies and took some books with me. I slept late, read, watched movies, and just relaxed.
While Potato Creek has some great hiking trails and a nice lake, I didn't make use of any of them. I stayed in the RV almost for the whole week. It was really hot and I don't like hot weather. I ran the air conditioner the whole time. In fact, when my Dad came to haul the RV home, the windows of the RV were all fogged up from the cold air of the air conditioner.
While most people go to camp grounds and have campfires and visit with their fellow campers, I didn't do any of it. I tried to avoid nature as much as possible. I know this probably was not the vision the state of Indiana when they created Potato Creek State Park.
I remember this week as one of my most relaxing and wonderful vacations. A Walden Pond experience it was not. Instead, it was a time to break from work. It was a time to get away. It was a time to relax and rest and renew my spirit. Like the week of vacation that I'm currently experiencing, it was a wonderful time just to be.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!