Thoughts from Apologetics class

What do rednecks and dancing have in common?

I'm a dancer.
I know the wonderful thrill of smoothly gliding across a wooden floor. I know the fantastic feeling of allowing your heartbeat to match the rhythm of the music. Polkaing in the grass as the world whirls by in a swirl of color. Twirling. Spinning. Flying.

I'm a dancer.
I know the pain of bruised, blistered and tired feet. I know the hours spent learning the steps, tripping over myself, trying to memorize grace. Practice. Exhaustion. Soreness. More and more practice.

And yet, if you go to a dance, it's expected that you've studied the steps. It's expected that you've practiced the moves and tried to learn the technicalities. Everyone studies the dance steps so they can move smoothly and gracefully, so they don't step on their partners' feet, so they can have fun, so they can really dance. It's a social courtesy.

Manners are also a social courtesy. Manners, chivalry, etiquette - they're all steps to the dance we call life. It takes much practice, it takes messing up sometimes, it might mean sore pride and bruised dignity. And yet, if you master those important steps; if you know how to be courteous, socially acceptable, graceful and polite, you'll be able to soar on that dance floor. Doors open, opportunities arise when you can glide and whirl on the dance floor of life.

A redneck is the guy that refuses to learn the dance steps.

An Easter I'll Not Soon Forget

- My gorgeous mother, dressed in a slimming green and black floral summer dress, with a pink lily from my father gently fastened above her heart, is outside snapping photos.

- Ryan, the epitome of what a “cool” 14-year old should do and act, has seemingly forgotten societal expectations of a pubescent teen, and is sneaking around the backyard adorned in furry bunny ears….hiding eggs.

- Daddy sits and talks with the aging and comically frank Mr. Bob Sawyer; the lonely old scoutmaster. Without family or friends to celebrate Easter with, Mr. Sawyer was stoically excited when we invited him to eat Easter dinner with us.

- I sit inside, observing all this….while listening to a newfound favorite soundtrack; Slumdog Millionaire. It’s Easter, Spring, and absolutely stunning outside, yet I’m pounding out scholarship applications and essays. And then...in a couple hours I'll be off to work. Hmmm, never thought I'd be doing that on Easter. How dreadfully responsible and "grown up."

Snippits of Favorites

It's interesting to see what your favorite songs have in common. Disjointed yes, but put pieces of them together and you find an interesting picture beginning to form:

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

--

But deep inside, I see the light
I'm a runaway victim left alone
At night though you lay so far
We both stare out at the same old stars
Wishing for direction where to go

Ah, the night is callin'
And it whispers to me softly, "come and play"
But I, I am fallin'
And if I let myself go I'm the only one to blame
I'm safe up high, nothing can touch me

--

I'll take every moment, I know that I own them
It's all up to you to do whatever you choose
Live like you're dying, never stop trying
It's all you can do, use what's been given to you

--

So hoist up the john b sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home?

We belong to the light
We belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words
We've both fallen under

--

Memories made in the coldest winter
Goodbye, my friend

--

He met her up in Delaware in 1937
She was wearing red lipstick to match her pretty dress
December 24th at a quarter 'till eleven is when he finally
Gained the courage to ask her to dance

And you can't find nothing at all
If there was nothing there all along
There were churches, theme parks and malls
But there was nothing there all along

--

Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina!
Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako elu tukuzwe.

Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni

Have you ever....

Danced with a stranger?
Smiled at the moon?
Searched for the end of the rainbow?
Ridden horses along the shore?
Talked to yourself in the mirror?
Rocked out in a smoky bar?
Cried over the injustice in the world?
Dropped a penny from a castle wall?
Danced in the pouring rain?
Bought stilettos?
Tried to paint a canvas?
Sung in front of an audience?
Evangelized in a different lanugage?
Chittered with squirrels?
Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
Eaten tomatoes so fresh you can taste the earth?
Played your guitar in the mountains beneath the stars?
Watched a satellite cross in front of the moon?
Cried yourself to sleep?
Built a sandcastle?
Laid in the grass and listen to bats?
Made daisy chains?
Swam with sea turtles?
Worn scandalous lipstick?
Planted a garden?
Watched a baby learn to walk?
Laughed so hard you cried?
Wiggled your toes in the cool grass?
Searched for a four-leaf clover?
Held a stranger's hand as they cried?
Braked for a crossing squirrel?
Looked in your rearview mirror to see police lights?
Danced like a lunatic at a live concert?
Played air-guitar on a broom?
Run away from home?
Climbed to the stop of a tree in a storm?
Counted the stars?
Donated blood?
Blown bubbles at a fish?
Twirled on your toes?

I have.

Current Responsibilities....