On tour again

So here I am, back in Portland for another tour with Wycliffe Dinner Theater. I drove down Friday morning through a snow storm, and helped prepare Mock's Crest for the rest of the team to show up.

We just had a meeting to remind the returning team members:
1) This tour is not the last one, it is not a continuation, it is a new tour. These are new people. Dynamics will change.
2) Remember what we learned the last time and apply it this time.

So what did I learn last tour? The admonition to not let the sun go down on your anger is not just poetry or a helpful hint. As far as relationships go, especially in close quarters, wait long enough that you aren't still simmering, but go and talk with them. Work out the misunderstandings and miscommunication. Don't assume anything. Apologize where needed, and confront where needed. Always think the best of the other person's intentions, especially when you're furious.

Relational problems that aren't dealt with right away fester, and grow out of proportion, and then come back to bite you when you least expect it, in a situation that doesn't merit that kind of emotional outburst. And a broken relationship with one person will affect your relationship with the other 12 people. Don't expect it not to. And one bad comment to someone else in the heat of anger can put ideas into someone else's head about that person. They'll never look at you or them the same way.

And having said this, I can expect to be tested on it. Isn't that the way it always works.

Funny things kids say

Speaking of Children's perceptions...

My Dad's school's fire alarm went off four times the week before Christmas. The fourth time, the janitor went up on the roof and inspected things, and found that a sensor in the ducts was malfunctioning and setting off the alarms. The kids were gathered in the gym after the drill to explain what was happening. When they went to music class, my dad asked them what had happened.

"A flock of censored ducks landed on the roof and set off the alarm."

Loving Satan

Thinklings is having an interesting debate a few posts down.

In the children's Bible study, they were studying the second great commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself". This child asked her teacher, "Does that mean we have to love Satan too?"

The two thoughts coming to my mind (I've been reading Lewis all day) are, does God love Satan, and did he weep for him when he fell?

Hunting Dog is Driving Force

This is nothing compared to the 405 at rush hour.

Breaking and Entering

Today I am guilty of breaking and entering.

My parents still own the house I grew up in, and have it rented out. When my stuff made the move from Southern California (not to be confused with the stuff that hasn't moved from Waco, Texas) it ended up there instead of at their new house. So before I go back on tour I had a list of things to go find. Namely my "Mutual Funds for Dummies" book, and the suits I'm shipping to my sister for her round of job interviews. So I found myself parking in front of the house -- no one was home, walking around the side yard, and breaking into what used to be my Dad's drum studio with a butter knife. It's a trick I learned when I was, I don't know, 10. Maybe 12. And I'm not sure why I'd even want to break in there -- maybe I learned that when it was still his shop. And I'd break in to steal tools to build chairs with one leg too short for the tree house. Funny story about that chair, by the way. My sister was trying to reach something, and didn't notice that the short leg was off the edge of the deck. Of course the chair tilted, and she fell, hitting her head on the tree branch that our rope swing was tied to on the way down. Which was good, because she got knocked out and didn't feel it when she landed on a shovel.

So if tomorrow I'm blogging from jail, you'll know why. My boot prints through the snow should make it pretty darn clear that SOMEBODY was in their back yard. It wouldn't take Lord Peter to figure it out.

Refiling Taxes

No one should have to file taxes more than once a year, but I messed up the last one (checked the wrong box) so the IRS was kind enough to inform me of it. So, right now we're not sure if I owe nothing, or owe quite a bit.

And soon it will be time to file for 2004. Blech.

Nancy

I met with Nancy, my 8th Grade through Graduation small group leader. She kept a group of girls together for five years, even when many of us were no longer involved in our own church youth group. (After three youth leaders in as many years, most of us signed off freshman year) Some of us were teaching Sunday school, others were attending services, but Nancy had us meet anywhere from weekly to monthly. Just to catch up, bible study and fellowship. It was wonderful to have that continuity, and someone who didn't pressure you to 'attend' but always let you know you were welcome when you had time. And most of us made it most of the time.

James 1:16-17

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17)

A commentary I read in some church, somewhere on tour translated shifting shadows as an eclipse. The Eclipse image resonated with me. Isn't that sometimes how we see hardship? When the bad times come it's easy to think that God's goodness is somehow being overshadowed. Why can't he just break through and take it all away.

The sun isn't really being covered by the moon. It's an illusion. (Like those pictures we take, where your best friend is standing on your hand) The moon can only hide the sun from us because we are so small. Easier said than done, but when hardships come it would be good to remember that God cannot be blocked. We cannot see him sometimes because of circumstances, but he does not change.

Tsunami blogs

Here are some of the blogs that are getting so much attention by the media. So far, the most accurate and up to date news is coming from bloggers who are there, taking pictures, sending updates, and keeping an eye out for new aid.

South-Asia Tsunami and Earthquake Blog

Being Crafty

I've spent the evening resurrecting a pair of jeans that got all but destroyed last tour. I think they'll last four more months. So I chopped off the hem, (which was three inches too long, and had been shredded when I walked on it), took in the thinning side seams, embellished, and put on a belt.

It's the artsiest pair of jeans I've ever worn, but they should hold out. And there's room for more souvenir patches... I like getting to be creative. And I got to watch Sabrina. That is one of my favorite movies, and always makes me want to move to Paris immediately. French people may smoke too much as a whole, but I think they know how to live better than we do, for all money and stuff.

"The French work as hard as anyone, they just know when to quit."