One Word...

PACHINKO......

Summer Camp

During my “growing up years” my family camped. Ooooohhhhh the memories. We camped by lakes and rivers. We camped in the heat and humidity. We camped in endless rain and even in tornadoes. We were intrepid.

Once we were camping at Okatibbee Reservoir north of my hometown of Meridian, MS. One late night our camping neighbors had enough time to properly ferment themselves in the grain beverage of their choice. Thus began the memory.

On this night a couple of the fermented neighbors ventured into the water for a late night swim. The water and the grain beverage mixed and caused a chemical reaction. It caused them both to turn into Jerry Clower.

The Jerry Clowers thrashed about in the water. One would bellow “knock ‘em out John”. The other would respond “awwwwww, shoot this thang”. They would both slur “shoot up here amongst us, one of us has got to have some relief”. It seemed to them to be just as funny the 214th time as it was the first. It was surreal.

I also remember being led to that most sacred of childhood deceptions.....SNIPE HUNTING. Yes, I was taken Snipe Hunting. I was lead by my “deceptors”, paper sack in hand, down the dark wooded trail to the place where I would be assured to capture that elusive creature.

I had convinced myself it was authentic because I had looked up the word Snipe in the dictionary. My “deceptors” had described the Snipe to a tee. I then discovered Websters definition matched their description and I was all over it. It was all the authentication this young woodsman needed.

I devotedly planted myself along the path facing the edge of the woods, knelt on the ground with paper sack open in front of me and began the mating call...”bbbbwwwwwwuuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppp” ”bbbbwwwwwwuuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppp” ”bbbbwwwwwwuuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppp” ”bbbbwwwwwwuuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppp”. I ultimately returned to camp.

I share the Snipe Hunting story to help others. If you are ever asked, be leery of this unlikely activity....

Hop On Pop

My father had a vast tie collection. In addition to “Ghost Tie” he had a substantial collection of what I term as novelty ties. He had cartoon ties, food theme ties and Christmas ties. He often wore his fun ties to church. Forget “pants on the ground”... my daddy stated his rebellion with a good Tabasco Tie.

All the males in my father’s family wore one of his fun ties to his funeral. I felt a part of his rebellion. I still smile inwardly to think that individuals who attended his funeral might hold indignation because Tommy’s family wore those silly ties. If someone holds such a perspective they didn’t know my father very well.

I selected from his collection the Dr. Seuss themed tie “Hop On Pop”. It was a theme that spoke to me. I remember a favorite childhood activity was to wrestle with daddy. In a literal sense we would “Hop On Pop”. In older childhood and adolescence I recall being a part of the ribbing we would give daddy when he would make erroneous noises during his naps. Who doesn’t recall “quit kicking the stamps”. In a sense we took the opportunity to “Hop On Pop”.

In the later months of my parent’s lives we migrated into the undesired yet needed role as “parents to our parents”. Parenting parents has never been or will never be a cherished role. It was unnatural  and upside down. Don’t get me wrong, we did it but it was not cherished. This was a time of life I had no real desire to “Hop On Pop” yet it was called for from time to time.

Today is Father’s Day. It has been a bitter-sweet day. It has been a joy share a meal with my wife and children and have some time to visit. It has also been a time to note this is my first Father’s Day without my father. I miss him. I miss my mom. I’m OK, but I do miss them.

This morning as I dressed to go to church, I put on the “Hop On Pop” tie. A thought dwelt in my heart. The heritage my father has left is now in place. It is what it is...It’s a blessed heritage. It is a heritage of faith and hard work. It is a heritage of family. It is a heritage of helping others. When it comes to heritage, I think I’ll “Hop On Pops”.

A Mother's Prayer

Throughout our lives our mother was faithful to pray for each of her children. It is not uncommon for any mother to pray but mine was an uncommon prayer warrior, especially on behalf of her children.

I shared in a previous blog that we are in the process of cleaning out my parent’s house. My sister has been diligent to minimize the potential of our overlooking pertinent family history or business. One way she has minimized this oversight is to leaf through books and to read letters and notes, particularly handwritten ones.

It is not uncommon for individuals to collect things and my parents were no exception. Among the several “collectibles” my parents archived were notepads. They exhibited a strong competency at maintaining a significant inventory of legal pads, note pads, spiral bound miniature notebooks, etc.

This large number of notepads presented a challenge of stamina because practically every notepad had at least one or two pages of writing. To minimize the potential of overlooking family history or business, time has been spent in flipping through and reading each notepad.

Early in the course of our recent two-day work venture, my sister quietly handed me one of my mother’s notebooks. What was written is self-explanatory.

Auld Lang Syne

I have spent time recently “clouding” a goodly portion of my computer files. Doing so I was reminded of an interesting item.

A class requirement from a few years ago charged each student with producing a "Self Portrait". Its requirement could really be identified as a "life snapshot" as opposed to a true self portrait, but I couldn't argue. It actually became an opportunity to become broadly reminiscent.

As a “non-traditional” student I stood as one of the “more seasoned” members of the group. Laying the events of my “Self Portrait” against the median age of the class I became profoundly aware that the events expressed in my project were only history in the eyes of my classmates. It was one of the more sobering moments of my life.

I thought I’d post this project for today’s blog.

Your Serve (Part Two)

“Traditional Service” and “Contemporary Service”. The original sign provided directional cues to each distinct event. What if this was the actual sign? It obviously changes things.

The original sign allows the individual to respond to his or her specific interest or desire. If you like your “gathering” to contain elements contemporary in expression, you know which way to go. If you like your “gathering” to contain elements traditional in nature, you know which way to go. The original sign could use additional defining. After all, one persons contemporary is another persons traditional. “And the beat goes on”.

In part one I emphasized the use of the word “gathering”. The words “contemporary” and “traditional” are now removed and “gathering” is no longer the emphasis. The sign still provides directional choice but is it a choice of YOUR interest or desire? What would be your response?

Your Serve (Part One)

Recently my wife and I were in a larger community about an hour from our home. We passed one of the downtown churches and my wife said “you need to turn around and get a picture of the sign on that church”. I navigated a return to the building, parked and walked to the front where the sign of interest was posted.

The sign provoked a myriad of emotions. I have experienced these emotions any number of times over the past several years. Still, reading this sign brought a rush over me. My inner voice was responding with voluminous certainty, “do we really know what we are talking about?”

I urge you to hear me. This blog is not about this particular church. I have not mentioned the community or the church intentionally. It just happens the be the first time I’ve actually seen such a sign. My comments are about the climate that would call for a church to decide to post such a sign. To a degree, it is the manifestation of things spoken and unspoken.

In part one of this blog, I would like to give observation on the intended communications of this sign. For many, my comments will be familiar. I will seek to refrain from opinion. I have an opinion but I do not wish to give emphasis to that opinion. I hope part one will serve as a catalyst for part two. Is there something else in this sign that might be identified? Could an unintended message be lurking?

Intended communication. This is signage installed by this church to communicate to its members and guests directions and information. I have never read any additional or relational material from this church, but I would almost “bet the farm” there are at least two things the church would like this sign to communicate.

First, this sign states that this church provides two distinct gatherings for believers and interested non-believers. It might be assumed these two gatherings are scheduled for the same time on the same day. If not, this sign communicates that one group does not fancy the idea of the other group gathering in their gathering room. If the latter is true, it would certainly provide for an interesting blog topic.

Second, these gatherings are planned with diverse types of elements. It might be this church is seeking to “appeal” to a divergent population with elements palatable to that particular population. This allows members and prospects to choose the service that best suits his or hers desires.

One gathering might contain elements that likely consists of familiar hymns accompanied by piano and organ. It would likely include individuals reading scripture or the congregation reading scripture responsively. There would be a sermon or homily by the minister. A choir would likely present a choral anthem.

The other gathering might contain newer songs with different instrumental  accompaniment. Perhaps drums and various rhythm instruments are used to supply musical accompaniment. It might be led vocally by a small ensemble. The use of drama or “interpretive movement” (dancing) would not be foreign. A facilitator might present conversational thoughts subsidized by audio-visual and other technical support.

My observations are probably more accurate than not, not because I’m clairvoyant but simply because this is what this sign is intended to communicate.

Did you notice I used the word “gatherings” where the sign used the word “service”?