My cousin Bill has died.
He was a few years older than I. Like me, his Dad died young. I'll miss him. Like me, he loved family gatherings.
He made me laugh. He talked sports with me, including our beloved Crimson Tide football team. I remember watching the Sugar Bowl featuring Bama & Penn State in the late 70s at his Mother's house with him. We hooted & hollered throughout, but especially when Rich Wingo & Barry Krauss stopped Penn State's Mike Guman on a 4th & 1 at the 1 to preserve a victory and another national championship. He taught me to throw a perfect spiral (which I can still do!). He taught me the proper way to catch a football ("Look it all the way into your hands...catch it away from your body...then tuck it away." I can also still do that!) He spent time with me when I was a kid. Regrettably, I never duplicated any of his athletic skills. (Well, except for throwing & catching a football...) But we did play softball together when I was in high school. I was competent; Bill was good! I've not thought of that in years, until this afternoon. As one of our cousins' daughter wrote this afternoon, "Bill, I hope you've met all the sports greats who have gone on before..."
Bill leaves behind 3 grown children, & several grandchildren. Also, a beloved sister, and a grieving Mother. (He was crazy about both!) And a bunch of us who will miss getting picked on by him and laughing with him at the family gatherings.
Like me, Bill knew failure in his life. And like me, he knew redemptive grace and salvation that is found in Christ. I know this because he & I spoke of it.
I was exercising right after I heard of Bill's passing. . I switched the ipod over to some of my favorite worship songs. When Michael English & the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sang "I Bowed on My Knees & Cried 'Holy,'" I pictured Bill doing just that, on knees that are whole again for the first time in decades. "As I entered the gates of that city, my loved ones all knew me well..." I'm confident that's true. I'm also quite saddened that, increasingly, there's a considerable number of Madaris loved ones there waiting on the rest of us. And yet, I'm also looking forward very much to that family reunion in Glory. The one that Bill is now part of. I also remembered when he & I coincidentally had to step outside to shed a few tears at a family gathering some years ago when our Uncle led us in some hymns. It was a tender & treasured moment, as he looked at me & said "sometimes it's hard to remember those who aren't here any more, isn't it?" It is. And I felt again that stirring that Caedmon's Call sings of: "There's a stirring deep within me; could it be my time has come when I'll meet my gracious Savior face to face when all is done? I will rise up and bown down and lay my crown at His wounded feet..."
Bill, thanks, cuz. See you later. Roll Tide!
Mike
p.s. - Would you please pray for my beloved Aunt Margaret & her daughter Sandra & for Bill's children & grandchildren & nieces & nephews & cousins? Two of my favorite names of God are "Jehovah Shammah" (the God Who is present) and "El Olam" (The everlasting God.) Pray that God would manifest Himself in powerful ways these next few days, especially to Bill's immediate family, won't you?
p.p.s. - For the third time in recent weeks,
"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'
...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57, excerpted)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Solid
(This one's been sitting in the draft folder for a few days now, fyi.)
Jim & I met in an adult Sunday School class. Very quickly, I realized that his was an orbit worth spending time in, and I did so for the next few years. Almost everyone who passed through Jim's orbit realized this.
"Steady"..."Dependable"..."Servant-minded"..."Faithful"...These are just some of the words I've heard used by folks who passed through that orbit.
Jim showed by quiet, steady example how to be a man. How to love the Lord. How to serve. How to love a wife. How to lovingly guide & mentor sons. How to encourage fellow brothers. How to enjoy the journey. So, when I say "solid" I mean that Jim modeled what the Christian man's life should be. He set the bar very high, and invited us all to join him just by how he lived. Just now, writing that, I can see his smile that always was very close to outright laughter...I can hear his quiet voice saying "C'mon, now; I'm not all that..." Genuinely solid men in the sense I'm using the word here do not have to tell us they're solid.
Unhappily for me, Jim & his family moved up to Birmingham with his job several years ago, thereby removing one of my role models from my line of sight. But, you know how people's paths cross yours & after the paths diverge you still remember them very clearly & find yourself wondering how _______(Jim, in my case) would handle this? Jim Gibson is one of those guys, and not just for me. I still remember what an uproar it caused when he was selected to coach his son's baseball all-star team in our area, but said no. His reason? He & the family had scheduled some travelling for the summer, which he valued much more highly than a 10-year-old all-star season. He & I laughed at the idiotic amazed reaction he got when he thanked the baseball authorities & said no. I always loved his very healthy sense of perspective & priorities.
Last year, Jim was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent radiation and chemo, and experienced a lot of intense pain. And yet, there he is in a Christmas picture with the same smile/laugh combo, as if nothing was wrong. They found out last week that the treatment regimen had not helped, and that the cancer had spread. Thursday, they were told that he'd be able to go home for a few days while they sorted out what to do next.
Friday, Jim went home.
Not to a house in Birmingham with his beloved Lesa. To the Home we've all been seeking and have been promised in Scripture as followers of Christ. The Home where cancer & death & pain & goodbyes are not present & never have been. (Well, except for the one time as described in the first few verses of Philippians 2...) They think it was a blood clot.
And thus, a wife of nearly 25 years is now a widow. Three young men ages 24, 20, & 16, are suddenly missing the rock-solid presence & impact & example of an awesome Dad. A church is now missing a marvelous servant. And many of us are now missing an amazing guy who was a friend and a role model at the same time. (Something very few of us ever pull off...)
There are a lot of gutless punks calling themselves "men" and "Dads" these days. Our society needs precisely ZERO more of these. We already have far too many males masquerading as men & Dads.
On the contrary, our society needs men. Desperately needs men. Men of honor & character. Men who lead their wives while totally honoring & cherishing them, loving them as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5). Men who coach youth sports well without losing perspective on just how important the game's outcome is(n't). Men who serve faithfully without demanding to be served and without keeping a ledger of what they are now owed in service. Men who never stop being teachable. Men who love their communities enough to actually seek to impact them for good. Men who don't sit around & whine, but instead roll up their sleeves & get busy serving. Men who, though highly competent & skilled, remain humble. Men who live lives that make others long for what they have, and then are happy to tell them where it comes from (the Gospel).
I know what such a guy looks like, because I knew Jim Gibson. A bunch of us guys know what such a guy looks like because we knew Jim.
So now, as of late Friday night, this world is that much colder & unwelcoming, and America is that much more needy of real men. One of the best went home Friday night. By the grace of God & the cross of Christ, one day I'll go home too. Perhaps I will be graciously invited forward to the V.I.P. section of Glory as a guest from my seat on the back row so that I can hear Jim's laugh & see that wonderful smile again.
And tell him thanks.
Mike
p.s. - Who marries a towering guy like Jim but an equally-towering lady? You should go here & read Lesa's blog entry titled "Healed." (You're welcome for that blessing!) Please join me in praying for Lesa, Austin, Caleb & Hunter, won't you? Thanks.
p.p.s. - Here's a pic of Jim doing the NASCAR Experience right about when he was diagnosed with cancer. See the smile? That's how Jim looked most of the time, even when just having breakfast at Shoney's with lesser men like me.
Jim & I met in an adult Sunday School class. Very quickly, I realized that his was an orbit worth spending time in, and I did so for the next few years. Almost everyone who passed through Jim's orbit realized this.
"Steady"..."Dependable"..."Servant-minded"..."Faithful"...These are just some of the words I've heard used by folks who passed through that orbit.
Jim showed by quiet, steady example how to be a man. How to love the Lord. How to serve. How to love a wife. How to lovingly guide & mentor sons. How to encourage fellow brothers. How to enjoy the journey. So, when I say "solid" I mean that Jim modeled what the Christian man's life should be. He set the bar very high, and invited us all to join him just by how he lived. Just now, writing that, I can see his smile that always was very close to outright laughter...I can hear his quiet voice saying "C'mon, now; I'm not all that..." Genuinely solid men in the sense I'm using the word here do not have to tell us they're solid.
Unhappily for me, Jim & his family moved up to Birmingham with his job several years ago, thereby removing one of my role models from my line of sight. But, you know how people's paths cross yours & after the paths diverge you still remember them very clearly & find yourself wondering how _______(Jim, in my case) would handle this? Jim Gibson is one of those guys, and not just for me. I still remember what an uproar it caused when he was selected to coach his son's baseball all-star team in our area, but said no. His reason? He & the family had scheduled some travelling for the summer, which he valued much more highly than a 10-year-old all-star season. He & I laughed at the idiotic amazed reaction he got when he thanked the baseball authorities & said no. I always loved his very healthy sense of perspective & priorities.
Last year, Jim was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent radiation and chemo, and experienced a lot of intense pain. And yet, there he is in a Christmas picture with the same smile/laugh combo, as if nothing was wrong. They found out last week that the treatment regimen had not helped, and that the cancer had spread. Thursday, they were told that he'd be able to go home for a few days while they sorted out what to do next.
Friday, Jim went home.
Not to a house in Birmingham with his beloved Lesa. To the Home we've all been seeking and have been promised in Scripture as followers of Christ. The Home where cancer & death & pain & goodbyes are not present & never have been. (Well, except for the one time as described in the first few verses of Philippians 2...) They think it was a blood clot.
And thus, a wife of nearly 25 years is now a widow. Three young men ages 24, 20, & 16, are suddenly missing the rock-solid presence & impact & example of an awesome Dad. A church is now missing a marvelous servant. And many of us are now missing an amazing guy who was a friend and a role model at the same time. (Something very few of us ever pull off...)
There are a lot of gutless punks calling themselves "men" and "Dads" these days. Our society needs precisely ZERO more of these. We already have far too many males masquerading as men & Dads.
On the contrary, our society needs men. Desperately needs men. Men of honor & character. Men who lead their wives while totally honoring & cherishing them, loving them as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5). Men who coach youth sports well without losing perspective on just how important the game's outcome is(n't). Men who serve faithfully without demanding to be served and without keeping a ledger of what they are now owed in service. Men who never stop being teachable. Men who love their communities enough to actually seek to impact them for good. Men who don't sit around & whine, but instead roll up their sleeves & get busy serving. Men who, though highly competent & skilled, remain humble. Men who live lives that make others long for what they have, and then are happy to tell them where it comes from (the Gospel).
I know what such a guy looks like, because I knew Jim Gibson. A bunch of us guys know what such a guy looks like because we knew Jim.
So now, as of late Friday night, this world is that much colder & unwelcoming, and America is that much more needy of real men. One of the best went home Friday night. By the grace of God & the cross of Christ, one day I'll go home too. Perhaps I will be graciously invited forward to the V.I.P. section of Glory as a guest from my seat on the back row so that I can hear Jim's laugh & see that wonderful smile again.
And tell him thanks.
Mike
p.s. - Who marries a towering guy like Jim but an equally-towering lady? You should go here & read Lesa's blog entry titled "Healed." (You're welcome for that blessing!) Please join me in praying for Lesa, Austin, Caleb & Hunter, won't you? Thanks.
p.p.s. - Here's a pic of Jim doing the NASCAR Experience right about when he was diagnosed with cancer. See the smile? That's how Jim looked most of the time, even when just having breakfast at Shoney's with lesser men like me.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Birthday Girl
The first Bama coed I ever knew has a birthday today.
When she was at UA as an undergrad student, the football team was bad on an epic level. I quote her remembering those days: "We never really thought we'd win; we just wanted to score every now & then to keep it interesting." (This would change in a couple of years when a former player named "Bryant" was hired as HC. But that's another story for another day) She still watches & enjoys UA games to this day.
She skipped her college graduation ceremony. Because she was all busy getting married back home in Enterprise, AL to this handsome young man from the hills & woods of central Alabama. Shortly after, they moved to Anchorage, AK (taking that "leave" thing in Genesis 2 to a whole new level!). She taught school, & he worked on the local newspaper. One son later, they moved back to Alabama. Montgomery, to be precise. A couple of years & another son later, these two adventurers sacked up & moved south. Ft. Walton Beach, FL, which was then a small fishing village surrounded by swamps, snakes, & alligators. And some of the most beautiful white sand beaches anywhere on the globe. She still lives there, & still loves the area.
She was the elementary school librarian, and still loves books & reading. She reads big, long books, preferring historical fiction these days. In her 40s...in her 40s!...she spent some more time at UA pursuing & receiving a Master's degree.
She also helped the handsome husband start his new business in 1960. She spent a lot of time in the small print shop helping him get it going.
As people who took their faith seriously, they joined & became deeply involved with First Baptist Church. As givers, they served. (All of us of that faith are supposed to...but all too many of us seem to view our "ministry" as that of griping & complaining & sitting in the sanctuary daring the preacher to bless us--when we show up at all. That too is another topic for another day.) They served mostly in the preschool ministry. Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. They helped prepare Communion . Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. She still serves at that church, although age has made her ministry change a bit. Now she serves mostly by visiting shut-ins & encouraging them. Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. She is still faithful to her Lord, her faith, and her church.
The handsome husband departed this world suddenly leaving her a young single mother of two high-school age sons. And still she was faithful. She still is even now. She is a relatively new bride again by the way. She has had an enormous impact on the lives of so many. One of the great encouragers around. An incalculable impact on her sons and their children.
I cannot even begin to fathom all of the many ways her life & love & faith have impacted my own. You see, I am son #2.
Happy Birthday, Mom! "Thanks" doesn't come close...but thanks!
I love you.
Mike
When she was at UA as an undergrad student, the football team was bad on an epic level. I quote her remembering those days: "We never really thought we'd win; we just wanted to score every now & then to keep it interesting." (This would change in a couple of years when a former player named "Bryant" was hired as HC. But that's another story for another day) She still watches & enjoys UA games to this day.
She skipped her college graduation ceremony. Because she was all busy getting married back home in Enterprise, AL to this handsome young man from the hills & woods of central Alabama. Shortly after, they moved to Anchorage, AK (taking that "leave" thing in Genesis 2 to a whole new level!). She taught school, & he worked on the local newspaper. One son later, they moved back to Alabama. Montgomery, to be precise. A couple of years & another son later, these two adventurers sacked up & moved south. Ft. Walton Beach, FL, which was then a small fishing village surrounded by swamps, snakes, & alligators. And some of the most beautiful white sand beaches anywhere on the globe. She still lives there, & still loves the area.
She was the elementary school librarian, and still loves books & reading. She reads big, long books, preferring historical fiction these days. In her 40s...in her 40s!...she spent some more time at UA pursuing & receiving a Master's degree.
She also helped the handsome husband start his new business in 1960. She spent a lot of time in the small print shop helping him get it going.
As people who took their faith seriously, they joined & became deeply involved with First Baptist Church. As givers, they served. (All of us of that faith are supposed to...but all too many of us seem to view our "ministry" as that of griping & complaining & sitting in the sanctuary daring the preacher to bless us--when we show up at all. That too is another topic for another day.) They served mostly in the preschool ministry. Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. They helped prepare Communion . Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. She still serves at that church, although age has made her ministry change a bit. Now she serves mostly by visiting shut-ins & encouraging them. Behind the scenes doing stuff most don't want to do. She is still faithful to her Lord, her faith, and her church.
The handsome husband departed this world suddenly leaving her a young single mother of two high-school age sons. And still she was faithful. She still is even now. She is a relatively new bride again by the way. She has had an enormous impact on the lives of so many. One of the great encouragers around. An incalculable impact on her sons and their children.
I cannot even begin to fathom all of the many ways her life & love & faith have impacted my own. You see, I am son #2.
Happy Birthday, Mom! "Thanks" doesn't come close...but thanks!
I love you.
Mike
Sunday, January 08, 2012
The BCS System in College Football
...is flawed & imperfect. (Said the Alabama grad whose team will play for a BCS National Title tomorrow night)
(As I write, it's ~9:00 p.m. on Sunday night, the day before the BCS National Title game between LSU & Bama. Thus, this has precisely zero to do with the outcome of the game.)
The current BCS system for determining who plays in the game is imperfect & controversial. Exhibit A: tomorrow night's game, which is a rematch of an earlier regular-season game.
Here's the thing: (please read this next part slowly, especially if you're a BCS hater who's livid about a rematch) There is NO flawless system for determining who wins the national title. Not one. A system that makes everyone happy just doesn't exist. It's not there. It will never be there.
I've argued for a top 4 tourney since I was a student at Bama when we were 5-6 & had no shot at the NC (or even a bowl game, for that matter). The argument (by me & by many now who are smarter, including Ok St. HC Mike Gundy) is that while the polls might disagree over who is #1 v. #2, there's rarely disagreement over who's #1-4. Let 'em have at it in a 2-game tourney. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? It's flawed. What if your team is a microscopically-close #5 that genuinely believes it could beat #4 & deserves a title? Then you'd be howling.
OK, then what about an 8-team tourney? What if you're a close #9? (etc.) Reply: Yes, but the NCAA hoops tournament in March has 65 teams...Reply to the reply: and every single year, there are teams left out that are controversial. If we can't pick the optimal 65-team field, why think we could find the perfect 2...or 4...or 8...or (etc.)
So, can we please recognize that ANY replacement to the current system has flaws?
(I'll give you a moment to let that be processed...)
In summary, under the current system my school is one of the two teams in the national championship game. Should we win, I will proudly claim another national title for the Crimson Tide.
Should we lose, I will graciously congratulate LSU on another national title for the Tigers.
Some concluding remarks:
--I think tomorrow night's game will be a *great* game. Smash-mouth, hard-hitting football with defenses that are both just awesome to watch.
--I thought the first game was also an awesome game. Personally, I'd rather watch a defensive slobber-knocker 9-6 OT game than a whoever-has-the-ball-last-wins type game.
--I won't be watching tomorrow's game...you read that right; not watching. I have class on the coast. I'd strongly consider skipping, but I'm the teacher! *huge grin*
--VERY IMPORTANT POINT: Precisely NOTHING that matters ultimately will be determined in the Dome tomorrow night. Zero. Zip. Nada. If you're just livid about an LSU-Bama rematch & the BCS system such that you're tweeting & firing non-stop facebook statuses, may I gently suggest that you read the news? Google "Nigeria unrest"..."Religious oppression"..."North Korea"..."Africa Famine"..."Human Trafficking"..."Slavery in 2011"...and get outraged about those things. Tomorrow night is just a dang football game!
Last thought: If you're furious about LSU-Bama playing a rematch, here's some advice: Don't watch!!
Roll Tide regardless of the outcome!
bb
(As I write, it's ~9:00 p.m. on Sunday night, the day before the BCS National Title game between LSU & Bama. Thus, this has precisely zero to do with the outcome of the game.)
The current BCS system for determining who plays in the game is imperfect & controversial. Exhibit A: tomorrow night's game, which is a rematch of an earlier regular-season game.
Here's the thing: (please read this next part slowly, especially if you're a BCS hater who's livid about a rematch) There is NO flawless system for determining who wins the national title. Not one. A system that makes everyone happy just doesn't exist. It's not there. It will never be there.
I've argued for a top 4 tourney since I was a student at Bama when we were 5-6 & had no shot at the NC (or even a bowl game, for that matter). The argument (by me & by many now who are smarter, including Ok St. HC Mike Gundy) is that while the polls might disagree over who is #1 v. #2, there's rarely disagreement over who's #1-4. Let 'em have at it in a 2-game tourney. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? It's flawed. What if your team is a microscopically-close #5 that genuinely believes it could beat #4 & deserves a title? Then you'd be howling.
OK, then what about an 8-team tourney? What if you're a close #9? (etc.) Reply: Yes, but the NCAA hoops tournament in March has 65 teams...Reply to the reply: and every single year, there are teams left out that are controversial. If we can't pick the optimal 65-team field, why think we could find the perfect 2...or 4...or 8...or (etc.)
So, can we please recognize that ANY replacement to the current system has flaws?
(I'll give you a moment to let that be processed...)
In summary, under the current system my school is one of the two teams in the national championship game. Should we win, I will proudly claim another national title for the Crimson Tide.
Should we lose, I will graciously congratulate LSU on another national title for the Tigers.
Some concluding remarks:
--I think tomorrow night's game will be a *great* game. Smash-mouth, hard-hitting football with defenses that are both just awesome to watch.
--I thought the first game was also an awesome game. Personally, I'd rather watch a defensive slobber-knocker 9-6 OT game than a whoever-has-the-ball-last-wins type game.
--I won't be watching tomorrow's game...you read that right; not watching. I have class on the coast. I'd strongly consider skipping, but I'm the teacher! *huge grin*
--VERY IMPORTANT POINT: Precisely NOTHING that matters ultimately will be determined in the Dome tomorrow night. Zero. Zip. Nada. If you're just livid about an LSU-Bama rematch & the BCS system such that you're tweeting & firing non-stop facebook statuses, may I gently suggest that you read the news? Google "Nigeria unrest"..."Religious oppression"..."North Korea"..."Africa Famine"..."Human Trafficking"..."Slavery in 2011"...and get outraged about those things. Tomorrow night is just a dang football game!
Last thought: If you're furious about LSU-Bama playing a rematch, here's some advice: Don't watch!!
Roll Tide regardless of the outcome!
bb
Monday, December 26, 2011
Offended Much?
Are you offended when someone wishes you "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"? (or vice versa?)
I'm not. I do not expect everyone to greet me in my cultural preference. It would be nice, but I don't expect it. (I sure hope they don't expect me to greet them in their cultural preference if it's foreign to me!)
Instead, I appreciate the warm wishes & return them in kind.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I fully understand what is celebrated at Christmas. I rejoice daily in the incarnation of the One Whose coming is from long ago and Whose coming provides hope where there would be none otherwise. My hope is certain because He came. My sins are forgiven, and will be forgotten.
In fact, it is because of His coming itself that I dare not be offended. I have received grace beyond measure from my Lord, as I deserve ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from him...nor from anyone else. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I will not be offended by something as silly as being wished "Happy Holidays." My Lord wasn't offended by actions of nonbelievers when He walked among us. He was, however, highly offended by by the actions of the uber-religious legalists who had missed the point entirely...*clears throat* (Note: stop & ponder just how winsome it is[n't] to pitch a hissy fit because someone doesn't say "Merry Christmas"...) I do not expect others to behave in a certain way. I especially do not expect nonbelievers to act like believers. I didn't act like one before I came to faith. (Sadly, I didn't for a number of years after too...but that is another topic that was covered in this space last December.)
If being wished "Happy Holidays" offends, then, with all the love I can muster, you should read the news more. Be offended by sectarian violence in Iraq...religious persecution of Christians in Sudan...church bombings on Christmas Day in Nigeria...child slavery & human trafficking all over the world. Please don't be offended by someone wishing you well!
Similarly, if my wishing you a "Merry Christmas" offends you, you too should read the news more, and be offended by those same things instead of by my well wishes. Please don't be offended by me wishing you well!
I conclude by wishing all of you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years. Or if you prefer, I wish you the Happiest of Holidays. Basically, I wish you the best with this post.
bb
I'm not. I do not expect everyone to greet me in my cultural preference. It would be nice, but I don't expect it. (I sure hope they don't expect me to greet them in their cultural preference if it's foreign to me!)
Instead, I appreciate the warm wishes & return them in kind.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I fully understand what is celebrated at Christmas. I rejoice daily in the incarnation of the One Whose coming is from long ago and Whose coming provides hope where there would be none otherwise. My hope is certain because He came. My sins are forgiven, and will be forgotten.
In fact, it is because of His coming itself that I dare not be offended. I have received grace beyond measure from my Lord, as I deserve ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from him...nor from anyone else. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I will not be offended by something as silly as being wished "Happy Holidays." My Lord wasn't offended by actions of nonbelievers when He walked among us. He was, however, highly offended by by the actions of the uber-religious legalists who had missed the point entirely...*clears throat* (Note: stop & ponder just how winsome it is[n't] to pitch a hissy fit because someone doesn't say "Merry Christmas"...) I do not expect others to behave in a certain way. I especially do not expect nonbelievers to act like believers. I didn't act like one before I came to faith. (Sadly, I didn't for a number of years after too...but that is another topic that was covered in this space last December.)
If being wished "Happy Holidays" offends, then, with all the love I can muster, you should read the news more. Be offended by sectarian violence in Iraq...religious persecution of Christians in Sudan...church bombings on Christmas Day in Nigeria...child slavery & human trafficking all over the world. Please don't be offended by someone wishing you well!
Similarly, if my wishing you a "Merry Christmas" offends you, you too should read the news more, and be offended by those same things instead of by my well wishes. Please don't be offended by me wishing you well!
I conclude by wishing all of you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years. Or if you prefer, I wish you the Happiest of Holidays. Basically, I wish you the best with this post.
bb
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The first time...and the next time.
The first time, He came in obscurity, in a small out-of-the-way part of the world.
The next time, He will come in such a way that all the tribes on earth will see him.
The first time, He came as a helpless baby.
The next time, He will come as a victorious King.
The first time, His coming was celebrated only by animals & a few shepherds here on earth.
The next time, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.
The first time had been anticipated, prayed for, and dreamed of by patriarchs & prophets for centuries.
The next time has been anticipated, prayed for, and dreamed of by peasants & pastors for centuries...(and by a rather obscure Business school professor in south Mississippi for several decades now.)
The first time ended in an amazing way when what appeared to be a total defeat was turned around by the total triumph of a resurrection.
The second time will be even more amazing, because there will be no doubt.
He came once. He's coming again. I can't wait!
Merry Christmas!
Mike
p.s. - "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you."
(Isaiah 54:10 ESV)
The next time, He will come in such a way that all the tribes on earth will see him.
The first time, He came as a helpless baby.
The next time, He will come as a victorious King.
The first time, His coming was celebrated only by animals & a few shepherds here on earth.
The next time, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.
The first time had been anticipated, prayed for, and dreamed of by patriarchs & prophets for centuries.
The next time has been anticipated, prayed for, and dreamed of by peasants & pastors for centuries...(and by a rather obscure Business school professor in south Mississippi for several decades now.)
The first time ended in an amazing way when what appeared to be a total defeat was turned around by the total triumph of a resurrection.
The second time will be even more amazing, because there will be no doubt.
He came once. He's coming again. I can't wait!
Merry Christmas!
Mike
p.s. - "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you."
(Isaiah 54:10 ESV)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Back to Houston/MDA
So, I forgot to tell y'all this: I head back to Houston Thursday, 12/15!
A different sort of trip for a couple of reasons, but first, the schedule:
Thursday, 12/15: drive out to Houston
(just me; retail isn't very conducive to having time off this time of year! Trips like this are why ipods & podcasts were invented.)
Friday, 12/16: 2 Dr. appts @ MDA - both with new Drs.!
Dr. Homsi, my melanoma oncologist since I first went out there, has recently moved to MDA-Phoenix. Thus, I'll be meeting my new (to me) melanoma oncologist Dr. Bedikian at 11:30.
Also, I'm adding a new piece to the MDA-mmbeachbum medical care team: my first appt w/ a dermatologist there, Dr. Mays. Totally at my request.
After the two appts, eat fantastic Mediterranean food @ Dimassi's while waiting for lunch traffic to clear a bit, & then drive back home.
That's it! No P.E.T. scan this time, although I do get bood drawn.
As an added bonus, I'm staying w/ some friends who used to be in our Sunday School class back in youth/college days...now married w/ 3 young kids, & he's recently accepted a ministerial position @ FBC Houston. Looking forward to that!
Expectations: I pretty much have none, since despite having been out there 25 times in 3 years, this will be a completely new type of visit. (Although still in the same department...in fact, dermatology is also in the melanoma dept.)
Prayers are *most* welcome for safe travels. (And, selfishly, for traffic- & construction-related delays to be minimal...)
Thanks much!
bb
A different sort of trip for a couple of reasons, but first, the schedule:
Thursday, 12/15: drive out to Houston
(just me; retail isn't very conducive to having time off this time of year! Trips like this are why ipods & podcasts were invented.)
Friday, 12/16: 2 Dr. appts @ MDA - both with new Drs.!
Dr. Homsi, my melanoma oncologist since I first went out there, has recently moved to MDA-Phoenix. Thus, I'll be meeting my new (to me) melanoma oncologist Dr. Bedikian at 11:30.
Also, I'm adding a new piece to the MDA-mmbeachbum medical care team: my first appt w/ a dermatologist there, Dr. Mays. Totally at my request.
After the two appts, eat fantastic Mediterranean food @ Dimassi's while waiting for lunch traffic to clear a bit, & then drive back home.
That's it! No P.E.T. scan this time, although I do get bood drawn.
As an added bonus, I'm staying w/ some friends who used to be in our Sunday School class back in youth/college days...now married w/ 3 young kids, & he's recently accepted a ministerial position @ FBC Houston. Looking forward to that!
Expectations: I pretty much have none, since despite having been out there 25 times in 3 years, this will be a completely new type of visit. (Although still in the same department...in fact, dermatology is also in the melanoma dept.)
Prayers are *most* welcome for safe travels. (And, selfishly, for traffic- & construction-related delays to be minimal...)
Thanks much!
bb
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
dad
37 years ago, and yet I remember it like it was yesterday. December 14, 1974. Heart attack. He was 5 years younger than I am now, a reality that I cannot get my mind around.
I remember the pastor coming to the house to be there when Mom told me. I remember taking it very badly. For about 10 years, actually, but that's another story that's been told here. I remember many people in our living room, though I see only a crowd & not individual faces in my memory.
I remember the pastor coming to the house to be there when Mom told me. I remember taking it very badly. For about 10 years, actually, but that's another story that's been told here. I remember many people in our living room, though I see only a crowd & not individual faces in my memory.
I remember selecting a casket. I remember an aunt explaining death to her grandson there in the funeral home. I vaguely remember that the church was packed to overflowing on Monday. I clearly remember stepping out into the back yard after the funeral, literally shaking my fist at the sky, and letting God have it. I told Him if this is what He's about, I'm finished with Him..."leave me alone!" Thankfully...graciously...He didn't. (As I wrote about in this space this time last year.)
I remember presenting his brother with the Christmas present I had purchased all by myself for Dad. I was so very proud of it: Hank Williams' Greatest Hits. His brother--a huge help to me in the years after--lost his country boy/military officer composure there for a brief moment.
I remember a group of friends awkwardly inviting me to hang out with them a few days later. I will always be grateful to them for just being present in my life, and for reminding me that life does go on, even when it seems like it shouldn't.
December 14, 1974 changed much about my life's course. But oh my...the 15 1/2 years prior really affected my life's course! Mom & I agree that I got more "daddying" in 15 years than many people get in a long lifetime. For which I am forever grateful.
Dad wasn't a perfect man. Nobody is. But he was a very, very good one. I still miss him very hard on a regular basis. But especially at Christmas time. And especially on December 14. (Which explains the occasional random tear or smile or chuckle or faraway stare tomorrow...)
I would so love to introduce him to his daughter-in-law; I know they'd love each other and enjoy each other's company. And it is with a physical ache that I long for him to know his grandchildren and more, for them to know him. This was a man who had a poem "The Little Chap Who Followed Me" printed on the back of every business card he ever gave out for Madaris Printing & Office Supplies. Who taught the 3-year-olds in Sunday School for 15 years until he left us. You know how you think some things might be a certain way? Well there are two young adults in MS who I know would be dearly loved by their grandpa and who I know would love him and enjoy his company. I'd love to talk about, well, grownup things with him. Business. Money. Politics. Church. And, of course, there's our shared love of Alabama Crimson Tide football. (Related aside: I am totally confident that he would also proudly wear Ole Miss Rebel garb since his grandson & namesake went there.)
One grandson is an engineer. Another is in the Air Force. Both of those two are newlyweds. Grandson #3 is in his last year of pharmacy school. Granddaughter #1 is training to be a cosmetologist. And #2 is about to begin high school. He would be nuts about every one of them.
Our nation faces a severe shortage of men. Oh, there are plenty of males around; that's not what I'm talking about. I mean MEN. Who take responsibility for their actions. And for the families. And for their churches. And for their communities. Who know how to love & honor & cherish a lady. (That is in desperately short supply these days.) Who are good stewards of their financial resources. Who are wise, regardless of their education level. Who are not selfish punks worrying about getting "disrespected". I knew one once, and still miss him. Perhaps one day I'll live long enough to be more like him.
Until then, I will live in the grace of God and in the hope of Heaven. And in thanksgiving for one very good man in whose orbit I once lived...and still do.
With love and hope because of Christmas,
Mike
Monday, November 14, 2011
For Every Mountain
Yesterday, the choir & orchestra at church led us to throne of Glory (as they do each week). They did one of my favorite songs...one that causes me allergy attacks and that won't let me sit still & keep my hands under control...one that I'd love to be sung at my funeral one day.
I've heard the song several times before. It rocks me every single time, for it takes me deep into the depths of my soul & my theology, while at the same time greatly magnifying God and His gracious goodness to me in so many ways.
Before sharing the lyrics with you, a simple question: what are you thankful for?
My own typical answer is "that's easy! (followed by a list of pleasant things like spouses, parents, jobs, pets, friends, Fall leaves, football,...)" You know, Fun & Pleasing things. Which I *am* OH-so thankful for!
But what about the trials? What about the mountains that stood in your path? What about the valleys that sprawled before you? What about those times your world was totally rocked & you looked up in total despair, wondering why & how?
Why are we not typically thankful for those?
(Answer: because we're human! And thus, we forget. One of my very favorite names of God in Scripture is "Jehovah Shammah"...basically, "The Lord Who is Present"; that's what I need to remember more often.)
With that said, here are the lyrics to Kurt Carr's "For Every Mountain."
I've got so much to thank God for
So many wonderful blessings
and so many open doors
A brand new mercy
along with each new day
That's why I praise You
and for this I give You praise
For waking me up this morning
(That's why I praise You)
For starting me on my way
(That's why I praise You)
For letting me see the sunshine of a brand new day(that's why I praise You)
A brand new mercy
along with each new day
That's why I praise You
and for this, I give You praise
You're Jehovah Jireh
(That's why I praise You)
You've been my Provider
(That's why I praise You)
You see so many times You´ve met my needs
So many times You rescued me
(That's why I praise You)
I want to thank You for the blessing
You give to me each day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise
For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you've seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah, for this I give You praise.
My challenge to myself every time I hear this song is to be thankful for the mountains He's brought me over... be thankful for the trials...and, of course, for the light, pleasant blessings too. I challenge myself--and you too!--to not miss the huge blessings of God during the dark times. When things happen like cancer...loss...illness...death...struggle... For God is NO LESS GOOD in those times than in the pleasant times. Perhaps one day, I'll remember this; until then, I'm thankful to the TBC choir & orchestra for the reminder yesterday morning.
Click => here to see the always-amazing Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir perform "For Every Mountain." It's about 6:24 long. Enjoy!
bb
p.s. - as it turns out, it's rather difficult for the Powerpoint guy to click the last few slides when the choir is performing this song...seems streaming tears block out a clear view of the computer screen. Or so I hear. *blushing smile*
I've heard the song several times before. It rocks me every single time, for it takes me deep into the depths of my soul & my theology, while at the same time greatly magnifying God and His gracious goodness to me in so many ways.
Before sharing the lyrics with you, a simple question: what are you thankful for?
My own typical answer is "that's easy! (followed by a list of pleasant things like spouses, parents, jobs, pets, friends, Fall leaves, football,...)" You know, Fun & Pleasing things. Which I *am* OH-so thankful for!
But what about the trials? What about the mountains that stood in your path? What about the valleys that sprawled before you? What about those times your world was totally rocked & you looked up in total despair, wondering why & how?
Why are we not typically thankful for those?
(Answer: because we're human! And thus, we forget. One of my very favorite names of God in Scripture is "Jehovah Shammah"...basically, "The Lord Who is Present"; that's what I need to remember more often.)
With that said, here are the lyrics to Kurt Carr's "For Every Mountain."
I've got so much to thank God for
So many wonderful blessings
and so many open doors
A brand new mercy
along with each new day
That's why I praise You
and for this I give You praise
For waking me up this morning
(That's why I praise You)
For starting me on my way
(That's why I praise You)
For letting me see the sunshine of a brand new day(that's why I praise You)
A brand new mercy
along with each new day
That's why I praise You
and for this, I give You praise
You're Jehovah Jireh
(That's why I praise You)
You've been my Provider
(That's why I praise You)
You see so many times You´ve met my needs
So many times You rescued me
(That's why I praise You)
I want to thank You for the blessing
You give to me each day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise
For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you've seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah, for this I give You praise.
My challenge to myself every time I hear this song is to be thankful for the mountains He's brought me over... be thankful for the trials...and, of course, for the light, pleasant blessings too. I challenge myself--and you too!--to not miss the huge blessings of God during the dark times. When things happen like cancer...loss...illness...death...struggle... For God is NO LESS GOOD in those times than in the pleasant times. Perhaps one day, I'll remember this; until then, I'm thankful to the TBC choir & orchestra for the reminder yesterday morning.
Click => here to see the always-amazing Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir perform "For Every Mountain." It's about 6:24 long. Enjoy!
bb
p.s. - as it turns out, it's rather difficult for the Powerpoint guy to click the last few slides when the choir is performing this song...seems streaming tears block out a clear view of the computer screen. Or so I hear. *blushing smile*
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
G
"Those who honor me, I will honor..." 1 Samuel 2:30 (excerpt)
I met him 20 years ago last week, when he moved from McComb, MS to Hattiesburg to take a staff position @ the church I attend.
Gloriously, I'll never be the same.
He has been quietly faithful these past 20 years (and, I'm quite confident, the years before too.). I have learned so very much from him, some by direct teaching & most by just living in his orbit & attending church & sitting on committees & such.
Here are just a few areas where I hope I'm better because of the influence of this remarkable guy:
--Family - one of the great husbands, sons, & fathers I've ever known! His two grown children are very thankful for him, as is his beloved bride, whom he deeply cherishes. Despite a crushing schedule, he hung out every week with his Dad until Dad entered the presence of Jesus.
--Church Membership - From him, I have learned much about what it means to be a faithful church member who supports the mission of the church--and of the Church at large. In the past, I have disagreed on some minor details; I was wrong. And I was NEVER condemned by him.
--Friendship - I think he knows everyone in the greater southeastern U.S., and yet he faithfully keeps up with most of them--us--via phone, visits, Twitter, Facebook,...
--Discipline - He honors the Lord with the totality of his life, mostly by being disciplined about the basics. Time in the Word, worship, prayer,...and amazing schedule management.
--Prayer - He's one of my "prayer Bros," the go-to guys who I turn to regularly to ask them to intercede for me before the throne of grace. And I am just one of *many* whose name & situation is mentioned in his prayers. And always with confidentiality, never engaging in what I call "Baptist gossip"...as in, "we need to pray for ______, because I've heard that s/he's really struggling with ______"
--Ministry - Despite time demands that I cannot imagine, I don't know of anyone more faithful to visit people in the hospitals in the area. Whether members of his church or not! On one occasion, he flew a long way across country to be with a church member's family while the church member had very serious & long surgery.
--Grace - This is probably where I've learned the most from observing this guy. First, there's his very good sermon "Grace Clothes" that I've heard him preach a couple of times, & been challenged mightily both times. Then, there's the reality that on three occasions in the last 20 years, our church has had a pastor leave. Twice under a very serious cloud. At no time did my buddy dishonor the departing pastor by rumor-mongering nor even by sharing the truth. Not one time. (Thankfully, the most recent pastor's "leaving" earlier this year, was NOT under a cloud. But it still imposes a large burden on the Executive Pastor.)
--Trust - in the Gospel, which enables all of the above. I've watched his family go through the death of a beloved son-in-law to leukemia when the son-in-law was all of 33 years old. I've seen my buddy re-orient his entire life in order to help his daughter raise three young children. All the while, continuing to smile & press on in faithful ministry.
Is he a perfect guy? No. Is he a perfect minister? No. Does he make mistakes? Yes. But he's much more of the first two than I, and he makes FAR fewer mistakes than I.
I thank God for leading Gary Shows to Temple Baptist Church 20 years ago. I know of very few who have consistently honored the Lord as consistently & faithfully over a very challenging 20-year period as he. I'm glad he's at my church. I'm even more glad he's my friend. His grandkids named him "G," which is, of course, the perfect name for him. A number of us who are not his grandkids call him that now with the greatest affection.
Thanks, G, for all you do. And selfishly, for all you do & have done for Mike Madaris. Keep pressing on, amigo.
With much love,
Mike
I met him 20 years ago last week, when he moved from McComb, MS to Hattiesburg to take a staff position @ the church I attend.
Gloriously, I'll never be the same.
He has been quietly faithful these past 20 years (and, I'm quite confident, the years before too.). I have learned so very much from him, some by direct teaching & most by just living in his orbit & attending church & sitting on committees & such.
Here are just a few areas where I hope I'm better because of the influence of this remarkable guy:
--Family - one of the great husbands, sons, & fathers I've ever known! His two grown children are very thankful for him, as is his beloved bride, whom he deeply cherishes. Despite a crushing schedule, he hung out every week with his Dad until Dad entered the presence of Jesus.
--Church Membership - From him, I have learned much about what it means to be a faithful church member who supports the mission of the church--and of the Church at large. In the past, I have disagreed on some minor details; I was wrong. And I was NEVER condemned by him.
--Friendship - I think he knows everyone in the greater southeastern U.S., and yet he faithfully keeps up with most of them--us--via phone, visits, Twitter, Facebook,...
--Discipline - He honors the Lord with the totality of his life, mostly by being disciplined about the basics. Time in the Word, worship, prayer,...and amazing schedule management.
--Prayer - He's one of my "prayer Bros," the go-to guys who I turn to regularly to ask them to intercede for me before the throne of grace. And I am just one of *many* whose name & situation is mentioned in his prayers. And always with confidentiality, never engaging in what I call "Baptist gossip"...as in, "we need to pray for ______, because I've heard that s/he's really struggling with ______"
--Ministry - Despite time demands that I cannot imagine, I don't know of anyone more faithful to visit people in the hospitals in the area. Whether members of his church or not! On one occasion, he flew a long way across country to be with a church member's family while the church member had very serious & long surgery.
--Grace - This is probably where I've learned the most from observing this guy. First, there's his very good sermon "Grace Clothes" that I've heard him preach a couple of times, & been challenged mightily both times. Then, there's the reality that on three occasions in the last 20 years, our church has had a pastor leave. Twice under a very serious cloud. At no time did my buddy dishonor the departing pastor by rumor-mongering nor even by sharing the truth. Not one time. (Thankfully, the most recent pastor's "leaving" earlier this year, was NOT under a cloud. But it still imposes a large burden on the Executive Pastor.)
--Trust - in the Gospel, which enables all of the above. I've watched his family go through the death of a beloved son-in-law to leukemia when the son-in-law was all of 33 years old. I've seen my buddy re-orient his entire life in order to help his daughter raise three young children. All the while, continuing to smile & press on in faithful ministry.
Is he a perfect guy? No. Is he a perfect minister? No. Does he make mistakes? Yes. But he's much more of the first two than I, and he makes FAR fewer mistakes than I.
I thank God for leading Gary Shows to Temple Baptist Church 20 years ago. I know of very few who have consistently honored the Lord as consistently & faithfully over a very challenging 20-year period as he. I'm glad he's at my church. I'm even more glad he's my friend. His grandkids named him "G," which is, of course, the perfect name for him. A number of us who are not his grandkids call him that now with the greatest affection.
Thanks, G, for all you do. And selfishly, for all you do & have done for Mike Madaris. Keep pressing on, amigo.
With much love,
Mike
Friday, October 14, 2011
A brief exercise in parallel logic
I stopped eating, because I got some bad meat one time. Plus, I've heard it's happened a lot of other people.
I quit driving because I got hit by another car. Twice, even! I know lots of people that's happened to.
I stopped having friends, because sometimes people claiming to be friends aren't really.
I stopped listening to music, because I've heard a number of songs & artists that are bad on a epic level.
I stopped going to the beach, because it's rained on me there a couple of times. Plus, there was seaweed on the beach that one time.
I quit going to the oncologist @ M.D. Anderson, because I know a guy who went there & then died.
I disavowed any affiliation with any of my preferred football teams, because I know some others who support them who are jerks.
I stopped learning anything, because I know some well-educated people who are still fools.
(All of the previous nonsensical statements are equally logical as the following one)
I quit going to church because of the actions of some other fellow churchgoers.
(Read that one again. Now one more time slowly. Now go back up to the top & read the previous lines again.)
If you're going to church to find perfect people who always behave well, then (a) you're always going to be mighty disappointed, and (b) you've really missed the basic point, or what my former pastor calls "the big E on the eye chart." A church is a bunch of flawed, imperfect people who are being made over into the image of Jesus Christ. Granted, the makeover process moves along at varying speeds...maddeningly varying for some of us! But it's happening, even when not visibly so. Like when Christians act like jerks in restaurants after Sunday morning church, for example. If you think you've found the perfect church populated by perfect people who always behave well, be careful; they may not be telling you the truth about other things too.
One of my own long-distance mentors that I've never actually met describes himself thus: Who I am:. . . a guy who was made, messed up, and mercifully made over by His grace. . . struggling to live life to His glory in the now but not yet Kingdom of God. . . longing to enter into that glorious time when what originally was will be fully restored. (Click to see Walt Mueller's blog)
That, ladies & gents, is a proper understanding of who we are and what we're about as Christians.
A buddy said this: "If we found a perfect church & joined it, that would make it not perfect any more." A theologian I sometimes agree with & am always challenged by said it this way: "Of course the church is imperfect! That's why they'll let you & me in!" Nailed it. I have nothing further, your honor.
bb
(p.s. to churchgoers: While I firmly believe all of this, PLEASE read the previous entry about "church goer jerks" in tandem with this one!)
(p.p.s. to churchgoers: Again, while I firmly believe all of this, PLEASE don't consider sanctification-in-progress as a license to behave like a jerk. Verily, the world around us is watching.)
(p.s. to non-churchgoers: If you want to know where the "flawed & imperfect folks" section of Temple Baptist is, come sit with me! I'm the heart of it.)
I quit driving because I got hit by another car. Twice, even! I know lots of people that's happened to.
I stopped having friends, because sometimes people claiming to be friends aren't really.
I stopped listening to music, because I've heard a number of songs & artists that are bad on a epic level.
I stopped going to the beach, because it's rained on me there a couple of times. Plus, there was seaweed on the beach that one time.
I quit going to the oncologist @ M.D. Anderson, because I know a guy who went there & then died.
I disavowed any affiliation with any of my preferred football teams, because I know some others who support them who are jerks.
I stopped learning anything, because I know some well-educated people who are still fools.
(All of the previous nonsensical statements are equally logical as the following one)
I quit going to church because of the actions of some other fellow churchgoers.
(Read that one again. Now one more time slowly. Now go back up to the top & read the previous lines again.)
If you're going to church to find perfect people who always behave well, then (a) you're always going to be mighty disappointed, and (b) you've really missed the basic point, or what my former pastor calls "the big E on the eye chart." A church is a bunch of flawed, imperfect people who are being made over into the image of Jesus Christ. Granted, the makeover process moves along at varying speeds...maddeningly varying for some of us! But it's happening, even when not visibly so. Like when Christians act like jerks in restaurants after Sunday morning church, for example. If you think you've found the perfect church populated by perfect people who always behave well, be careful; they may not be telling you the truth about other things too.
One of my own long-distance mentors that I've never actually met describes himself thus: Who I am:. . . a guy who was made, messed up, and mercifully made over by His grace. . . struggling to live life to His glory in the now but not yet Kingdom of God. . . longing to enter into that glorious time when what originally was will be fully restored. (Click to see Walt Mueller's blog)
That, ladies & gents, is a proper understanding of who we are and what we're about as Christians.
A buddy said this: "If we found a perfect church & joined it, that would make it not perfect any more." A theologian I sometimes agree with & am always challenged by said it this way: "Of course the church is imperfect! That's why they'll let you & me in!" Nailed it. I have nothing further, your honor.
bb
(p.s. to churchgoers: While I firmly believe all of this, PLEASE read the previous entry about "church goer jerks" in tandem with this one!)
(p.p.s. to churchgoers: Again, while I firmly believe all of this, PLEASE don't consider sanctification-in-progress as a license to behave like a jerk. Verily, the world around us is watching.)
(p.s. to non-churchgoers: If you want to know where the "flawed & imperfect folks" section of Temple Baptist is, come sit with me! I'm the heart of it.)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Time
Aldous Huxley said of time "Well, there seems to be plenty of it." Aldous Huxley also took hallucinogenic drugs regularly. Which probably explains how he was so very wrong on the issue of time's passage.
You see, a couple of weeks ago, I watched her draw her first breath about 2 feet away from where I was standing. At that point, she took my breath away. Not sure I've gotten it back yet. A couple of days later, she was "Daddy's gull"...a little girl with blond hair who like reading and singing and watching Disney movies.
As of today, she's a 21-year-old lady. (OK, she still likes to read & sing, and perhaps to watch a Disney flick now & then....)
She lives with 2 other ladies in a house across town. She's in training to pursue a lifelong idea: cosmetology. She's thoughtful and well-read. Smarter than many...including me. She loves people. (Well, like her Dad, she loves some more than others...*smile*) She loves the beach. She loves to camp. She loves a crowd. She loves live music (including some of the same music I liked when I was her age! E.g., she recently saw Steely Dan in concert & loved it). She's still absolutely gorgeous. Smiles easily. Laughs often.
She's my favorite 20-something lady on the entire globe. My daughter Anne.
And Aldous Huxley was totally wrong. There's not at all plenty of time. It has flown by.
Happy Birthday, Anne! I'm very proud of you, & love you very much!
Dad
You see, a couple of weeks ago, I watched her draw her first breath about 2 feet away from where I was standing. At that point, she took my breath away. Not sure I've gotten it back yet. A couple of days later, she was "Daddy's gull"...a little girl with blond hair who like reading and singing and watching Disney movies.
As of today, she's a 21-year-old lady. (OK, she still likes to read & sing, and perhaps to watch a Disney flick now & then....)
She lives with 2 other ladies in a house across town. She's in training to pursue a lifelong idea: cosmetology. She's thoughtful and well-read. Smarter than many...including me. She loves people. (Well, like her Dad, she loves some more than others...*smile*) She loves the beach. She loves to camp. She loves a crowd. She loves live music (including some of the same music I liked when I was her age! E.g., she recently saw Steely Dan in concert & loved it). She's still absolutely gorgeous. Smiles easily. Laughs often.
She's my favorite 20-something lady on the entire globe. My daughter Anne.
And Aldous Huxley was totally wrong. There's not at all plenty of time. It has flown by.
Happy Birthday, Anne! I'm very proud of you, & love you very much!
Dad
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Lessons Learned From Water
As all 3 of my regular readers know, I grew up on/near the beaches, bayous, & bays of NW FL. My thoughts are never far from that part of the world, as much of who I am was shaped down there. Thus, this post that popped into my mind.
Valuable lessons about life & people that I learned in, on, under, & near the water.
--Looks can be deceiving - dangerously strong currents may not be visible on the surface; especially at first glance.
--What's underneath the surface is often very beautiful.
--And sometimes very dangerous. Deadly even.
--Sometimes one should fight the current.
--Other times one should go with the current while using it to one's advantage.
--At all times one should not panic when finding oneself in a current in order to figure out which of the previous ones is the better option.
--Sometimes the best plan is to simply hold one's breath & hang on until the wave passes by.
--Speaking of waves, the same waves that are beautiful from a distance can be quite challenging--even dangerous--up close.
--Those waves, properly engaged, can be a LOT of fun!
--After the thrill/danger of the ride, the waves usually bring you to shore.
--Underneath turbulent waves, you'll find a calm, relaxing place if you dive deep enough.
--Often, people who look capable aren't; nice-looking jocks still drown.
--Often, people who don't look capable are; nerdly-looking wimps survive waves, rip currents, & undertows. (like me, for example)
--For goodness'sake, get the right equipment!
--And the right knowledge.
--Neither of which will be apparent at first glance.
Seems one can learn a lot by being in, on, under, or near the water.
bb
Valuable lessons about life & people that I learned in, on, under, & near the water.
--Looks can be deceiving - dangerously strong currents may not be visible on the surface; especially at first glance.
--What's underneath the surface is often very beautiful.
--And sometimes very dangerous. Deadly even.
--Sometimes one should fight the current.
--Other times one should go with the current while using it to one's advantage.
--At all times one should not panic when finding oneself in a current in order to figure out which of the previous ones is the better option.
--Sometimes the best plan is to simply hold one's breath & hang on until the wave passes by.
--Speaking of waves, the same waves that are beautiful from a distance can be quite challenging--even dangerous--up close.
--Those waves, properly engaged, can be a LOT of fun!
--After the thrill/danger of the ride, the waves usually bring you to shore.
--Underneath turbulent waves, you'll find a calm, relaxing place if you dive deep enough.
--Often, people who look capable aren't; nice-looking jocks still drown.
--Often, people who don't look capable are; nerdly-looking wimps survive waves, rip currents, & undertows. (like me, for example)
--For goodness'sake, get the right equipment!
--And the right knowledge.
--Neither of which will be apparent at first glance.
Seems one can learn a lot by being in, on, under, or near the water.
bb
Thursday, September 15, 2011
P.E.T. Scans & Kindegarten
I had a flash of insight this morning. (Or maybe it was just a bad reaction to P.E.T. scan contrast solution. Whichever...)
If smiles show up on a P.E.T., the radiologist reading mine this afternoon saw a couple, because I let this analogy run unencumbered in my mind between naps while I was in the P.E.T. scan machine & also while walking back from MDA. So here goes...
P.E.T. scans are actually very similar to Attending Kindergarten:
--For both, you're given a list of things you can't wear.
--Or eat.
--You can't have coffee right before either one.
--For both, you'll be required to write out a lot of your life story & talk with strangers about all that you've done lately.
--In both, you have to abide by someone else's rules, with NO input from you.
--Both kindergarten & P.E.T. scans include mandatory naps with no talking or moving around allowed during the naps.
--In both kindergarten & P.E.T. scan facilities, the people running the joint use lots of big words & concepts that you don't understand.
--At both, everyone tries to make you more comfy, which is only a little bit successful given that you'd rather be at home playing with the dog.
--Both require getting stuck with needles--before you show up @ kindergarten; after you show up for a P.E.T. scan.
--For both kindergarten and P.E.T. scans, you have to wear a goofy looking name tag with your picture on it.
--At both kindergarten & P.E.T. scan facilities, they bandage up your boo-boos. (Of course, at a P.E.T. scan, they first cause the boo-boos; hopefully this is not true at kindergarten)
--At some point in both kindergarten and in a P.E.T. scan, you'll wish your Mommy would come pick you up & take you to get an Icee.
--For both kindergarten and P.E.T. scans, you're put into rooms with strangers such that you have to talk to them.
So, if you ever find yourself wondering what a P.E.T. scan's like, you can answer, "It's a lot like going to kindergarten." Now you know...*grin*
bb
p.s. - This is what happens when I have a block of time where (a) I'm tired, and (b) I can't do anything except sleep & think about such weirdness...
If smiles show up on a P.E.T., the radiologist reading mine this afternoon saw a couple, because I let this analogy run unencumbered in my mind between naps while I was in the P.E.T. scan machine & also while walking back from MDA. So here goes...
P.E.T. scans are actually very similar to Attending Kindergarten:
--For both, you're given a list of things you can't wear.
--Or eat.
--You can't have coffee right before either one.
--For both, you'll be required to write out a lot of your life story & talk with strangers about all that you've done lately.
--In both, you have to abide by someone else's rules, with NO input from you.
--Both kindergarten & P.E.T. scans include mandatory naps with no talking or moving around allowed during the naps.
--In both kindergarten & P.E.T. scan facilities, the people running the joint use lots of big words & concepts that you don't understand.
--At both, everyone tries to make you more comfy, which is only a little bit successful given that you'd rather be at home playing with the dog.
--Both require getting stuck with needles--before you show up @ kindergarten; after you show up for a P.E.T. scan.
--For both kindergarten and P.E.T. scans, you have to wear a goofy looking name tag with your picture on it.
--At both kindergarten & P.E.T. scan facilities, they bandage up your boo-boos. (Of course, at a P.E.T. scan, they first cause the boo-boos; hopefully this is not true at kindergarten)
--At some point in both kindergarten and in a P.E.T. scan, you'll wish your Mommy would come pick you up & take you to get an Icee.
--For both kindergarten and P.E.T. scans, you're put into rooms with strangers such that you have to talk to them.
So, if you ever find yourself wondering what a P.E.T. scan's like, you can answer, "It's a lot like going to kindergarten." Now you know...*grin*
bb
p.s. - This is what happens when I have a block of time where (a) I'm tired, and (b) I can't do anything except sleep & think about such weirdness...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Take Me Back to Texas...
It's a fascinating thing--and a great gift & blessing--to be forced to live life in 3-month increments.
As both of my regular readers will know (*wink*), I have to journey out to Houston every three months for another P.E.T. scan & bloodwork. When one has (had?) metastatic melanoma, long-range planning means "until my next P.E.T. scan." This gives one a VERY unique situation, which while crushingly fearsome, is also a great blessing.
The current window of "clean" ends Wednesday when I roll out to Houston for Thursday's scan & bloodwork. Followed, of course, by the latest most-important-Dr.-appt-of-my-life Friday morning to get the results of the scan & bloodwork.
Here's the thing: every single one of us is only around for a short time. The gift & blessing of metastatic melanoma is that I am forced to deal with this reality. (Very Important Note: I am not planning to punch out any time soon, and have had amazingly good treatment/surgery results these 3+ years, and so far have NO indications that the time of my departure is at hand. Don't read more despair here than I intend!)
Do NOT misunderstand: I absolutely HATE metastatic melanoma & its accompanying scans & surgeries & fears & such. But at the same time, I thank God for the great gift of realizing that my days are numbered. Just like everyone else's days. Because realizing that makes me often mindful of Moses' prayer in Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
"Numbering my days" means some things to me that took me a while to realize:
--I should turn off the cell phone & football game & computer & spend time chatting with my wife.
--And my children.
--And my Mom.
--And my brother.
--And my friends.
--I should be prayerful about & mindful of ministry opportunities the Lord sends my way.
--I should spend time in Praise & Worship & Thanksgiving & in the Word, for those are things that will still be done in Heaven.
--I should be ever mindful that every one of us faces numbered days. We are ALL under a death sentence. Thus, I should endeavor mightily by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit to impact lives for the Gospel's sake and for the eternal sake of others.
Again, the fear that will show up some time this afternoon around, oh, Lake Charles, LA would overpower, but for the grace of God. But that same grace of God keeps the fear at bay (most of the time) between scans. And thus, I'm free to celebrate the days, even while facing the reality that there aren't many of them. For any of us.
Here's the sched for this trip, for your prayers:
Wed, 9/14 - Drive to Houston when class ends ~1:00
Thurs, 9:15 - P.E.T. scan ~ 8-10 a.m. (Prep, mandatory nap,scan itself,...)
Fri, 9/16 - Appt. w/ Dr. Homsi at 9:30 a.m. to get scan results; drive back to H'burg
On the plus side, I'll get to eat LOTS of wonderful Mediterranean food @ Dimassi's, one of our fave restaurants anywhere after the P.E.T. scan. Also Thursday, I'll get to hang out w/ friends I knew when they were in jr. high & high school here in Hburg--now they're married w/ kids & in ministry (I'm getting old! *grin*)
Thankful for your prayers & for the grace of God that helps my "number my days,"
Mike
Romans 15:13
p.s. - I've had this great Jimmy Buffett lyric from "Nautical Wheelers" in my head for a week now: "Everyone here is just more than contented to be living and dying in three-quarter time..." Not sure what that means @ the moment, but I've been humming it & singing it...;-{)}
As both of my regular readers will know (*wink*), I have to journey out to Houston every three months for another P.E.T. scan & bloodwork. When one has (had?) metastatic melanoma, long-range planning means "until my next P.E.T. scan." This gives one a VERY unique situation, which while crushingly fearsome, is also a great blessing.
The current window of "clean" ends Wednesday when I roll out to Houston for Thursday's scan & bloodwork. Followed, of course, by the latest most-important-Dr.-appt-of-my-life Friday morning to get the results of the scan & bloodwork.
Here's the thing: every single one of us is only around for a short time. The gift & blessing of metastatic melanoma is that I am forced to deal with this reality. (Very Important Note: I am not planning to punch out any time soon, and have had amazingly good treatment/surgery results these 3+ years, and so far have NO indications that the time of my departure is at hand. Don't read more despair here than I intend!)
Do NOT misunderstand: I absolutely HATE metastatic melanoma & its accompanying scans & surgeries & fears & such. But at the same time, I thank God for the great gift of realizing that my days are numbered. Just like everyone else's days. Because realizing that makes me often mindful of Moses' prayer in Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
"Numbering my days" means some things to me that took me a while to realize:
--I should turn off the cell phone & football game & computer & spend time chatting with my wife.
--And my children.
--And my Mom.
--And my brother.
--And my friends.
--I should be prayerful about & mindful of ministry opportunities the Lord sends my way.
--I should spend time in Praise & Worship & Thanksgiving & in the Word, for those are things that will still be done in Heaven.
--I should be ever mindful that every one of us faces numbered days. We are ALL under a death sentence. Thus, I should endeavor mightily by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit to impact lives for the Gospel's sake and for the eternal sake of others.
Again, the fear that will show up some time this afternoon around, oh, Lake Charles, LA would overpower, but for the grace of God. But that same grace of God keeps the fear at bay (most of the time) between scans. And thus, I'm free to celebrate the days, even while facing the reality that there aren't many of them. For any of us.
Here's the sched for this trip, for your prayers:
Wed, 9/14 - Drive to Houston when class ends ~1:00
Thurs, 9:15 - P.E.T. scan ~ 8-10 a.m. (Prep, mandatory nap,scan itself,...)
Fri, 9/16 - Appt. w/ Dr. Homsi at 9:30 a.m. to get scan results; drive back to H'burg
On the plus side, I'll get to eat LOTS of wonderful Mediterranean food @ Dimassi's, one of our fave restaurants anywhere after the P.E.T. scan. Also Thursday, I'll get to hang out w/ friends I knew when they were in jr. high & high school here in Hburg--now they're married w/ kids & in ministry (I'm getting old! *grin*)
Thankful for your prayers & for the grace of God that helps my "number my days,"
Mike
Romans 15:13
p.s. - I've had this great Jimmy Buffett lyric from "Nautical Wheelers" in my head for a week now: "Everyone here is just more than contented to be living and dying in three-quarter time..." Not sure what that means @ the moment, but I've been humming it & singing it...;-{)}
Thursday, September 01, 2011
It's Almost My Time of the Year
...by which I mean Football Season!! I can't wait!
(Note: I really enjoy watching all sports--with the possible exception of curling, which is easily the most bizarre sports spectacle ever--but there's just something about football that trips my trigger, God help me.)
I love the game. My preference is a smothering, hard-hitting defense combined with a pro-set, power running offense, but I just love the game. I love it at most any level, from NFL to college to HS & jr. high.
But as much as I love football, football season brings out the absolute worst in a considerable portion of society. And it has done so in me as well over the years. I *hope* & *pray* that I've gotten better in recent years..
Precisely NOTHING that matters ultimately will be determined by the actions of a bunch of large, strong, fast, 18- to 23-year-old guys running into each other at high rates of speed for 3-4 hours at a time. (Nor, for that matter, will anything ultimate be determined by the actions of any high-school football players. Or any NFL players) It's a game. A game. A GAME. One that I happen to really enjoy watching live or on TV...but still a game.
To my fellow Christians, I offer the same challenge that I offer myself every year: PLEASE, let's consider the reputation of our Lord & of the Gospel as we move into rabid-cheering time.
An absolutely haunting question that came to me a few years back: Would you rather your team win, or would you rather others become more interested in the teachings of Christ because of how you conduct yourself during football season? (Yeah, I didn't like the question either; haven't been able to get past it though.) EVERY football fan genuinely believes that it's the OTHER school's fans who are jerks, but not "us." With all the love I can muster, I'm telling you: t's "us" too, whomever "us" is for you...
Just so you know: my alma mater, for whose teams I have ferverently cheered since I was a toddler, is once again highly ranked pre-season, & is expected to have a good season. My alma mater's cross-state rival won it all last year, including a great comeback from a serious 2nd-half deficit in my school's stadium. Did I want my team to win? Absolutely! Was I able to congratulate my friends who support that cross-state rival? Yes I was. (I'm making progress...*smile*)
But what about the local school's team, you ask? I've been at every single home game for the past few years, and will be again this year, Lord willing. What about the other two major teams in the state? Been to games at both, and enjoy doing so, & hope to do so again this year.
Here's how the challenge plays out in mmbeachbum's life this coming football season: By the grace of God, I will do no public/online "woofing" if my team wins a particular game, nor whining if they don't. I'm going to be proud of them, win or lose, as I have for as long as I can remember. I will always be proud of the degrees I have from there, which explain why my tag is the "Crimson Tide" tag available in MS. But I'm praying to be able to display grace toward others, win or lose. Excuses & gloating are out. Including the ever-popular "Well, see, they started it...there was that incident back in 1937 (or whenever)...so it's justified." With all the love I can muster: No, it's NOT justified. It's a GAME, for crying out loud!
Also by the grace of God, I will enjoy watching teams other than my alma mater's team (OK, that's pretty easy for a devout lover of the game like myself), and will encourage fans of the other teams as I'm able. FWIW, in my closet right now are shirts & hats from AL (of course), USM, Ole Miss, & MSU. All will be worn as I'm able to attend games at those places this year. And when I go to games at those schools' stadiums, I will enjoy those games and will enjoy the traditions each place has. I will refuse to publicly badmouth anyone's coach, recognizing that every single D1 football coach in America knows more about football than I do. (Or than you do...)
So, it's possible that I've gotten to the point in my spiritual journey where I can cheer for my school's team without cheering against or badmouthing the opponent. I've seen this trait in a couple of friends of mine, and long to have it consistently myself. I'm also going to actively enjoy watching games--including once again the big 3 MS universities--without having to become a jerk for or against any other team. And without having to hammer anyone about their own allegiances. (Yep...I've been hammered about mine for 22 years now since moving to MS; especially so when we won it all a couple of seasons ago. Receiving the verbal abuse isn't fun. But perhaps I'm reaching the point where I will no longer have to fire back. I'm still a work in progress, but there is actual progress...*smile*)
Strap 'em up, boys! It's football season! I can't wait!
bb
p.s. - Alabama's first opponent is Kent State U., which is cool for a couple of reasons. 1) One of Kent St.'s football alums is...*drum roll*...former defensive back Nick Saban, who is now the HC at Alabama. 2) Kent St.'s team has been in Tuscaloosa this week, working alongside Bama's team doing some home rebuilding projects in town from last April's devastating tornado. The two teams worked alongside each other several weeks ago also. THAT, ladies & gents, is FAR more significant & cool than the outcome of Saturday's game!
(Note: I really enjoy watching all sports--with the possible exception of curling, which is easily the most bizarre sports spectacle ever--but there's just something about football that trips my trigger, God help me.)
I love the game. My preference is a smothering, hard-hitting defense combined with a pro-set, power running offense, but I just love the game. I love it at most any level, from NFL to college to HS & jr. high.
But as much as I love football, football season brings out the absolute worst in a considerable portion of society. And it has done so in me as well over the years. I *hope* & *pray* that I've gotten better in recent years..
Precisely NOTHING that matters ultimately will be determined by the actions of a bunch of large, strong, fast, 18- to 23-year-old guys running into each other at high rates of speed for 3-4 hours at a time. (Nor, for that matter, will anything ultimate be determined by the actions of any high-school football players. Or any NFL players) It's a game. A game. A GAME. One that I happen to really enjoy watching live or on TV...but still a game.
To my fellow Christians, I offer the same challenge that I offer myself every year: PLEASE, let's consider the reputation of our Lord & of the Gospel as we move into rabid-cheering time.
An absolutely haunting question that came to me a few years back: Would you rather your team win, or would you rather others become more interested in the teachings of Christ because of how you conduct yourself during football season? (Yeah, I didn't like the question either; haven't been able to get past it though.) EVERY football fan genuinely believes that it's the OTHER school's fans who are jerks, but not "us." With all the love I can muster, I'm telling you: t's "us" too, whomever "us" is for you...
Just so you know: my alma mater, for whose teams I have ferverently cheered since I was a toddler, is once again highly ranked pre-season, & is expected to have a good season. My alma mater's cross-state rival won it all last year, including a great comeback from a serious 2nd-half deficit in my school's stadium. Did I want my team to win? Absolutely! Was I able to congratulate my friends who support that cross-state rival? Yes I was. (I'm making progress...*smile*)
But what about the local school's team, you ask? I've been at every single home game for the past few years, and will be again this year, Lord willing. What about the other two major teams in the state? Been to games at both, and enjoy doing so, & hope to do so again this year.
Here's how the challenge plays out in mmbeachbum's life this coming football season: By the grace of God, I will do no public/online "woofing" if my team wins a particular game, nor whining if they don't. I'm going to be proud of them, win or lose, as I have for as long as I can remember. I will always be proud of the degrees I have from there, which explain why my tag is the "Crimson Tide" tag available in MS. But I'm praying to be able to display grace toward others, win or lose. Excuses & gloating are out. Including the ever-popular "Well, see, they started it...there was that incident back in 1937 (or whenever)...so it's justified." With all the love I can muster: No, it's NOT justified. It's a GAME, for crying out loud!
Also by the grace of God, I will enjoy watching teams other than my alma mater's team (OK, that's pretty easy for a devout lover of the game like myself), and will encourage fans of the other teams as I'm able. FWIW, in my closet right now are shirts & hats from AL (of course), USM, Ole Miss, & MSU. All will be worn as I'm able to attend games at those places this year. And when I go to games at those schools' stadiums, I will enjoy those games and will enjoy the traditions each place has. I will refuse to publicly badmouth anyone's coach, recognizing that every single D1 football coach in America knows more about football than I do. (Or than you do...)
So, it's possible that I've gotten to the point in my spiritual journey where I can cheer for my school's team without cheering against or badmouthing the opponent. I've seen this trait in a couple of friends of mine, and long to have it consistently myself. I'm also going to actively enjoy watching games--including once again the big 3 MS universities--without having to become a jerk for or against any other team. And without having to hammer anyone about their own allegiances. (Yep...I've been hammered about mine for 22 years now since moving to MS; especially so when we won it all a couple of seasons ago. Receiving the verbal abuse isn't fun. But perhaps I'm reaching the point where I will no longer have to fire back. I'm still a work in progress, but there is actual progress...*smile*)
Strap 'em up, boys! It's football season! I can't wait!
bb
p.s. - Alabama's first opponent is Kent State U., which is cool for a couple of reasons. 1) One of Kent St.'s football alums is...*drum roll*...former defensive back Nick Saban, who is now the HC at Alabama. 2) Kent St.'s team has been in Tuscaloosa this week, working alongside Bama's team doing some home rebuilding projects in town from last April's devastating tornado. The two teams worked alongside each other several weeks ago also. THAT, ladies & gents, is FAR more significant & cool than the outcome of Saturday's game!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Basically, he's a freak of nature...
(A not-very-updated post from 2 years ago. Do you know people who succeed remarkably at pretty much everything they do? Don't you hate people like that? *huge grin* Happy Birthday to my brother Jim, in whose wake I am thrilled to have travelled for these ...*garbled* years! Love you!)
He's a musician. One of the better ones I've ever run across. Can play most anything, but his specialties are keyboard & trombone. He also sings like the great Michael Franks and is a superb arranger & re-arranger of music. Music degree from U. of Miami, one of the best music programs in the country.
He's a pilot. Flew sub chasers for the U.S. Navy for some years (during the bad old days when we & the USSR were aiming nukes @ each other...). Then flew various jets for United Airlines.
He's a project manager. Which means he helps talented, creative people stay on task for the good of the organization. My boss would wish he'd move here & help *me* stay on task, although I'm not so talented nor so creative...
He's a corporate executive. (Which will surely draw a smile from those of us who recall dancing to his music back in the, er, social establishments of NW FL in the 80s, with him on keyboards & vocals dressed...NOT like a corporate executive, let's just say...)
He's a worship leader. He puts his substantial music gifts to work on Sundays as he helps others at his church enter into worship (in some very creative ways, I might add.)
He's an intellectual. One of the keenest intellects anywhere. Took a set of calculus courses in college...as his electives...for his MUSIC PERFORMANCE degree...and made A's in all of them. An inveterate reader of serious writings. History...Philosophy...Political Science...Biography...Theology...Serious Fiction...
He's a loyal friend. To current friends. And to those from 30-40 years ago...
He's a husband & a father. Two biological sons (both now grown & married & productive, contributing members of society), & one adopted daughter (from Siberia!)
He's a minister. Specifically, a servant-minded Stephen minister. Has led that ministry in multiple churches. Has ministered in prisons. Joining him on one of those prison-ministry trips is on my bucket list.
He's a sinner by nature--like all the rest of us--who is gloriously redeemed, which redemption happened in his mid-30s.
He's awesome...
He's my brother Jim. And today's his birthday!
He's not quite two years older than I, which means (a) the bar was set very high for me following two grades behind him, and (b) doors opened for me simply because I was "Jim's little brother." I used to get tired of hearing "Madaris...so are you Jim's little brother?" I used to be an idiot, in other words. I'd say I got the looks, but I didn't even get those, compared to him... ;-{)}
Happy Birthday, Bro! I love you & am proud to be your little brother.
Mike
He's a musician. One of the better ones I've ever run across. Can play most anything, but his specialties are keyboard & trombone. He also sings like the great Michael Franks and is a superb arranger & re-arranger of music. Music degree from U. of Miami, one of the best music programs in the country.He's a pilot. Flew sub chasers for the U.S. Navy for some years (during the bad old days when we & the USSR were aiming nukes @ each other...). Then flew various jets for United Airlines.
He's a project manager. Which means he helps talented, creative people stay on task for the good of the organization. My boss would wish he'd move here & help *me* stay on task, although I'm not so talented nor so creative...
He's a corporate executive. (Which will surely draw a smile from those of us who recall dancing to his music back in the, er, social establishments of NW FL in the 80s, with him on keyboards & vocals dressed...NOT like a corporate executive, let's just say...)
He's a worship leader. He puts his substantial music gifts to work on Sundays as he helps others at his church enter into worship (in some very creative ways, I might add.)
He's an intellectual. One of the keenest intellects anywhere. Took a set of calculus courses in college...as his electives...for his MUSIC PERFORMANCE degree...and made A's in all of them. An inveterate reader of serious writings. History...Philosophy...Political Science...Biography...Theology...Serious Fiction...
He's a loyal friend. To current friends. And to those from 30-40 years ago...
He's a husband & a father. Two biological sons (both now grown & married & productive, contributing members of society), & one adopted daughter (from Siberia!)
He's a minister. Specifically, a servant-minded Stephen minister. Has led that ministry in multiple churches. Has ministered in prisons. Joining him on one of those prison-ministry trips is on my bucket list.
He's a sinner by nature--like all the rest of us--who is gloriously redeemed, which redemption happened in his mid-30s.
He's awesome...
He's my brother Jim. And today's his birthday!
He's not quite two years older than I, which means (a) the bar was set very high for me following two grades behind him, and (b) doors opened for me simply because I was "Jim's little brother." I used to get tired of hearing "Madaris...so are you Jim's little brother?" I used to be an idiot, in other words. I'd say I got the looks, but I didn't even get those, compared to him... ;-{)}
Happy Birthday, Bro! I love you & am proud to be your little brother.Mike
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Teaching Some Examples
May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb.
Deuteronomy 32:2
So, another year starts tomorrow, officially. (Note to those of you with real jobs: we teachers think in academic years; I'm well aware that this calendar year started 8 months ago. Which, of course, was right in the middle of last year. *grin*)
Actually, this new year started this past week, with department & university faculty meetings & syllabus deadlines & new employee orientation & student move-in & such. But tomorrow morning at 0800, it's officially on in terms of classes & teaching & such. (WCU's medical school students started a couple of weeks ago; everyone else starts tomorrow)
The verse above is one of my favorite verses on teaching in all of Scripture. It's actually in a section called "The Song of Moses," in which Moses is reminding Israel of their history & of their transgressions. I have it on a small poster right outside my office. Every single time I read it, I'm reminded of those whose teaching "dropped...like gentle rain upon the tender grass" that is Mike Madaris back in the day. Which also reminds me that my own teaching can be harsh & unforgiving, or inspiring & encouraging. My subjects--Finance & Economics--are already challenging; I don't have to become a jerk in order to make them so. Of course, it is also quite possible to err in the other direction by being so generous in teaching & testing & grading that nobody is challenged at all, and therefore doesn't really learn anything. That would be preparing my students for a world that doesn't exist!
Which leads to another of my favorite teaching passages:
...so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ...
Ephesians 4:14-15
I realize the context there is in specific reference to God's gracious giving of spiritual gifts for building up the church into spiritual maturity. But I don't think I'm doing violence to the text by applying it to my teaching & grading. My students need to know that in the classroom--as in life!--performance matters. (Or should matter.)
One of the great things that several professors at the University of Florida did for me is...give me Ds & Fs, which accurately reflected my performance in their classes. They would've done me a great injustice to have given me As & Bs simply for registering for class & then showing up every now & then with no effort otherwise. Certainly I didn't realize what a great thing they were doing for me at the time...but I'm thankful now that they gave me real grades that really reflected what I had(n't) done in class. Balancing truth & love is not easy, and I rarely get it completely correct; but tomorrow presents another term for me to aim at getting it correct.
New beginnings always lead me back to one of my favorite verses about anything (not just teaching!) in the Bible:
Teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Moses said that. Psalm 90 in my Bible is titled "The Prayer of Moses, The Man of God." Great title! The whole of Psalm 90 is just incredible, btw. And in context, this verse follows an awesome (in the true sense) discussion about the wrath of God, along with the brevity of human life. Which, to me, adds "oomph" to the verse. I asked a group of entering freshmen yesterday, "have you ever met a clueless old person?" (Obvious answer: yes!) Then I asked, "Do you want to wind up a clueless old person yourself?" (Obvious answer: no!) So then, let's all be wise stewards of our days. For truly, there are not very many of them, when all is said & done!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
WCU's theme for the year is "Transformed...by the renewing of your mind." Which is from Romans 12:2, another favorite verse of mine. In context: Paul has just finished 11 chapters of some of the heaviest, deepest doctrinal discussion in the Bible. Then, 12:1: "Therefore, do not be conformed to this world...but be transformed..." followed by 5 chapters of unpacking what "Therefore" looks like in application.
I teach Finance & Economics, & not theology. However, part of God's providential provision & leading in the lives of a batch of students for the next 10 weeks is that they sit under Dr. Madaris' teaching. Thus, my teaching is part of God's plan for their lives. Perhaps just to test their faith & discipline (*grin*)...or perhaps to show them they can handle difficult material after all...or perhaps to help them understand a bit of how the world works in reality. Regardless, their goal is to have their minds transformed, and it is a GREAT honor to be part of that process!
Which leads to my last verse I'll quote:
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity...
1 Timothy 4:12
It's popular--mostly because it's so easy, and because us older people are so lazy--to take cheap shots at today's young folks. I *STRONGLY* reject that whole line of thinking. In fact, I personally take great hope in the future, precisely because I'm around some outstanding young men & women all the time. This generation of college students wants to impact the world, and they are quite serious about it! They want to end things like slavery (aside: there are more slaves in the world TODAY than EVER BEFORE...which begs the question, "How'd we baby boomers do @ ending slavery?" *nervous clearing of throat*), poverty, racism,...I love that about them. They inspire me greatly in so many ways. Plus, dadburn it, it's just a lot of fun to hang w/ college students! (Sure, there are some who are, to be kind, not very inspiring...let's call them the "Mike-Madaris-in-college" students. *smile* But they stand out these days precisely because they're so listless.)
So, to all young students: hear the words of Paul to his young apprentice Timothy, who was approximately your age. "Let no one despise you for your youth, but show yourself an example..." People WILL despise you for your youth; show yourself an example anyway! Hard? You bet! The world is full of crusty old people who have forgotten some things: (1) what it's like to be young, (2) what it's like to have hope & optimism, (3) **almost every single significant movement throughout history that has shaped & changed our world has been led mostly by young people** So, go show yourself an example!
But starting this week, "showing yourself an example' begins by coming to class. *grin*
I love my job & can't wait to get into the new term. Tomorrow night, Lisa & I will be at the WCU coffee shop on campus for something called "coffee talk." As near as I can figure, we're discussing some things about life as a student @ WCU with a group of entering students. And soon, we're hoping to re-boot our small group in our home of students from other countries to bat around things slightly more significant than how to calculate the present value of an annuity or the marginal cost of producing the 500,000th widget or what "CAMEL" means to a banker. (hint: has nothing to do with the animal!)
I love my job. It's a new year. Let's get after it!
bb
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb.
Deuteronomy 32:2
So, another year starts tomorrow, officially. (Note to those of you with real jobs: we teachers think in academic years; I'm well aware that this calendar year started 8 months ago. Which, of course, was right in the middle of last year. *grin*)
Actually, this new year started this past week, with department & university faculty meetings & syllabus deadlines & new employee orientation & student move-in & such. But tomorrow morning at 0800, it's officially on in terms of classes & teaching & such. (WCU's medical school students started a couple of weeks ago; everyone else starts tomorrow)
The verse above is one of my favorite verses on teaching in all of Scripture. It's actually in a section called "The Song of Moses," in which Moses is reminding Israel of their history & of their transgressions. I have it on a small poster right outside my office. Every single time I read it, I'm reminded of those whose teaching "dropped...like gentle rain upon the tender grass" that is Mike Madaris back in the day. Which also reminds me that my own teaching can be harsh & unforgiving, or inspiring & encouraging. My subjects--Finance & Economics--are already challenging; I don't have to become a jerk in order to make them so. Of course, it is also quite possible to err in the other direction by being so generous in teaching & testing & grading that nobody is challenged at all, and therefore doesn't really learn anything. That would be preparing my students for a world that doesn't exist!
Which leads to another of my favorite teaching passages:
...so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ...
Ephesians 4:14-15
I realize the context there is in specific reference to God's gracious giving of spiritual gifts for building up the church into spiritual maturity. But I don't think I'm doing violence to the text by applying it to my teaching & grading. My students need to know that in the classroom--as in life!--performance matters. (Or should matter.)
One of the great things that several professors at the University of Florida did for me is...give me Ds & Fs, which accurately reflected my performance in their classes. They would've done me a great injustice to have given me As & Bs simply for registering for class & then showing up every now & then with no effort otherwise. Certainly I didn't realize what a great thing they were doing for me at the time...but I'm thankful now that they gave me real grades that really reflected what I had(n't) done in class. Balancing truth & love is not easy, and I rarely get it completely correct; but tomorrow presents another term for me to aim at getting it correct.
New beginnings always lead me back to one of my favorite verses about anything (not just teaching!) in the Bible:
Teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Moses said that. Psalm 90 in my Bible is titled "The Prayer of Moses, The Man of God." Great title! The whole of Psalm 90 is just incredible, btw. And in context, this verse follows an awesome (in the true sense) discussion about the wrath of God, along with the brevity of human life. Which, to me, adds "oomph" to the verse. I asked a group of entering freshmen yesterday, "have you ever met a clueless old person?" (Obvious answer: yes!) Then I asked, "Do you want to wind up a clueless old person yourself?" (Obvious answer: no!) So then, let's all be wise stewards of our days. For truly, there are not very many of them, when all is said & done!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
WCU's theme for the year is "Transformed...by the renewing of your mind." Which is from Romans 12:2, another favorite verse of mine. In context: Paul has just finished 11 chapters of some of the heaviest, deepest doctrinal discussion in the Bible. Then, 12:1: "Therefore, do not be conformed to this world...but be transformed..." followed by 5 chapters of unpacking what "Therefore" looks like in application.
I teach Finance & Economics, & not theology. However, part of God's providential provision & leading in the lives of a batch of students for the next 10 weeks is that they sit under Dr. Madaris' teaching. Thus, my teaching is part of God's plan for their lives. Perhaps just to test their faith & discipline (*grin*)...or perhaps to show them they can handle difficult material after all...or perhaps to help them understand a bit of how the world works in reality. Regardless, their goal is to have their minds transformed, and it is a GREAT honor to be part of that process!
Which leads to my last verse I'll quote:
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity...
1 Timothy 4:12
It's popular--mostly because it's so easy, and because us older people are so lazy--to take cheap shots at today's young folks. I *STRONGLY* reject that whole line of thinking. In fact, I personally take great hope in the future, precisely because I'm around some outstanding young men & women all the time. This generation of college students wants to impact the world, and they are quite serious about it! They want to end things like slavery (aside: there are more slaves in the world TODAY than EVER BEFORE...which begs the question, "How'd we baby boomers do @ ending slavery?" *nervous clearing of throat*), poverty, racism,...I love that about them. They inspire me greatly in so many ways. Plus, dadburn it, it's just a lot of fun to hang w/ college students! (Sure, there are some who are, to be kind, not very inspiring...let's call them the "Mike-Madaris-in-college" students. *smile* But they stand out these days precisely because they're so listless.)
So, to all young students: hear the words of Paul to his young apprentice Timothy, who was approximately your age. "Let no one despise you for your youth, but show yourself an example..." People WILL despise you for your youth; show yourself an example anyway! Hard? You bet! The world is full of crusty old people who have forgotten some things: (1) what it's like to be young, (2) what it's like to have hope & optimism, (3) **almost every single significant movement throughout history that has shaped & changed our world has been led mostly by young people** So, go show yourself an example!
But starting this week, "showing yourself an example' begins by coming to class. *grin*
I love my job & can't wait to get into the new term. Tomorrow night, Lisa & I will be at the WCU coffee shop on campus for something called "coffee talk." As near as I can figure, we're discussing some things about life as a student @ WCU with a group of entering students. And soon, we're hoping to re-boot our small group in our home of students from other countries to bat around things slightly more significant than how to calculate the present value of an annuity or the marginal cost of producing the 500,000th widget or what "CAMEL" means to a banker. (hint: has nothing to do with the animal!)
I love my job. It's a new year. Let's get after it!
bb
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
church goer jerks
Posted Sunday on Facebook by a friend who's a manager at a local restaurant: (Note: this guy's an actual friend in person; not just a facebook acquaintance.)
Attention all my fellow church goers. Please stop coming to lunch directly after church and acting like jerks to restaurant employees. It makes it extremely hard for me to witness to them! It is very difficult to convince someone that Jesus loves them when you show them zero Christ like love!
I have very little to add. (But I'll keep writing anyway...*smile*)
When we were newlyweds, Lisa worked in a restaurant. I'll skip a bunch of stories to land on the sad conclusion: Nobody wanted to work Sunday lunch, despite the fact that Sunday lunch was the busiest time the restaurant had every week. Why didn't people whose income depends on tips want to work on the busiest time of the week? Two reasons: 1) the folks fresh out of church were typically quite rude, and 2) the folks fresh out of church were--by a long way--the worst tipping crowd all week. And Jesus wept...
Ever wonder why it seems that people outside the church are increasingly hostile to the church? Go back & re-read my friend's remarks above, along with the previous paragraph about Lisa's coworkers.
Which leads me to a few requests of my fellow churchgoers, in addition to my friend's post above:
(1) By all means, be about the business of proclaiming the excellencies of Christ & the majesty of the Gospel!
(1a) Radical Idea: why not go way out of your way to smile & be nice & be helpful to your server & to the cashier & to the person seating you, even if something goes wrong with your order? Especially if something goes wrong with your order even?
(2) Do NOT leave a Gospel tract in lieu of a tip at a restaurant! Don't ever do this, but especially not if you've spent the last hour whining & complaining & being obnoxious to your server.
[Just in case anyone's wondering, I am VERY well aware that the Gospel is of infinitely greater value that a few bucks' tip. But to an unchurched nonbeliever, leaving anything instead of a tip = cheap. Ironically, flinging a Gospel tract at someone who's expecting some $$ can wind up damaging the cause of Christ rather than advancing it.]
(3) Tip generously!!
(Said the one whose wife was in the server biz years ago, and whose daughter is in that biz now)
Now your homework assignment: Go back to the top of this post & reread the part from my friend's facebook post; then let's all change the way we Christians are viewed (justifiably!) by those serving in the food service business, especially on Sundays.
In other words, let's connect the dots between what we sing & pray & hear in church and how we conduct ourselves out in public.
For the sake of the Gospel,
bb
...practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Matthew 23:3 (Jesus speaking in condemnation of the very religious priests of his day)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (Paul speaking; does "whatever you do" include "eating lunch out on Sundays"?)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:16-17 (Paul speaking. Note the connection between worship/Bible study/etc. and "whatever you do." If your service to & magnification of the Lord ends when you leave church Sunday morning, then with all the love I can muster, you have missed some very significant points about the whole thing!)
Attention all my fellow church goers. Please stop coming to lunch directly after church and acting like jerks to restaurant employees. It makes it extremely hard for me to witness to them! It is very difficult to convince someone that Jesus loves them when you show them zero Christ like love!
I have very little to add. (But I'll keep writing anyway...*smile*)
When we were newlyweds, Lisa worked in a restaurant. I'll skip a bunch of stories to land on the sad conclusion: Nobody wanted to work Sunday lunch, despite the fact that Sunday lunch was the busiest time the restaurant had every week. Why didn't people whose income depends on tips want to work on the busiest time of the week? Two reasons: 1) the folks fresh out of church were typically quite rude, and 2) the folks fresh out of church were--by a long way--the worst tipping crowd all week. And Jesus wept...
Ever wonder why it seems that people outside the church are increasingly hostile to the church? Go back & re-read my friend's remarks above, along with the previous paragraph about Lisa's coworkers.
Which leads me to a few requests of my fellow churchgoers, in addition to my friend's post above:
(1) By all means, be about the business of proclaiming the excellencies of Christ & the majesty of the Gospel!
(1a) Radical Idea: why not go way out of your way to smile & be nice & be helpful to your server & to the cashier & to the person seating you, even if something goes wrong with your order? Especially if something goes wrong with your order even?
(2) Do NOT leave a Gospel tract in lieu of a tip at a restaurant! Don't ever do this, but especially not if you've spent the last hour whining & complaining & being obnoxious to your server.
[Just in case anyone's wondering, I am VERY well aware that the Gospel is of infinitely greater value that a few bucks' tip. But to an unchurched nonbeliever, leaving anything instead of a tip = cheap. Ironically, flinging a Gospel tract at someone who's expecting some $$ can wind up damaging the cause of Christ rather than advancing it.]
(3) Tip generously!!
(Said the one whose wife was in the server biz years ago, and whose daughter is in that biz now)
Now your homework assignment: Go back to the top of this post & reread the part from my friend's facebook post; then let's all change the way we Christians are viewed (justifiably!) by those serving in the food service business, especially on Sundays.
In other words, let's connect the dots between what we sing & pray & hear in church and how we conduct ourselves out in public.
For the sake of the Gospel,
bb
...practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Matthew 23:3 (Jesus speaking in condemnation of the very religious priests of his day)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (Paul speaking; does "whatever you do" include "eating lunch out on Sundays"?)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:16-17 (Paul speaking. Note the connection between worship/Bible study/etc. and "whatever you do." If your service to & magnification of the Lord ends when you leave church Sunday morning, then with all the love I can muster, you have missed some very significant points about the whole thing!)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
It Happened Again...
For the 2nd consecutive "routine" visit out to MDA, I got to chat w/ a terminally-ill cancer patient.
You should do that sometime. Really, you should.
This was a 60-something lady from Kansas City. Advanced pancreatic cancer, which is usually a get-your-affairs-in-order type diagnosis. And yet...(Wait; I'm getting ahead of myself)
So, I'm downstairs eating bkfst @ the hotel, sitting at a table by myself. This lady & I had sort of tag-teamed the toasters trying to get our muffins toasted. She finishes getting her bkfst, looks around, and thankfully for me, there were no empty tables. She points at a chair opposite me & says "Do you mind?"
We had a *great* visit! Her hubby joined us about halfway through, which added to the chat. Meanwhile, the guy @ the next table says "are you part of the archery tournament?" I said, "No, I'm part of the MDA-patient tournament." The lady acted like that's the funniest thing she's heard in a while; she said "Me too!" As it turns out, the guy & his wife *were* part of the archery tournament, and get this: he's an oncologist out in Washington State! He asked a few questions about MDA, & the lady & I both just sung its praises. He said, "Oh, we have some of their data @ our office & I refer to their info often." We swapped a couple of jokes, including this one from the lady w/ pancreatic cancer: "Any diagnosis is a good diagnosis, because that means you're present to receive it!" We all laughed.
Of course, there was the semi-obligatory comparing of tests & procedures & processes & travel arrangements & such. She said "My Dr. back home tells me I'm just weird. Nobody lives w/ stage IV+ pancreatic cancer 5 years & counting." I said "Yeah, mine here says that I'm living outside the numbers; that metastatic melanoma patients 3 years out are not very many."
A bit more random conversation, & they left to catch the shuttle. As she walked away, she said "You go on living outside the numbers, & I'll go on being weird."
What a GREAT word! I am SO thankful for so many people that I've encountered out here.
BTW, nobody would look at this woman & say "She has a very serious form of cancer that's usually quickly fatal."
So, again my challenge to myself: What exactly is it that consumes our (my!) thoughts & emotions? Idiot drivers nearby on the road? Employers not fully recognizing how totally awesome we are? Our favorite team losing a game or not landing a prized recruit or not winning big enough? A flawed, imperfect spouse? (Best not to stay there very long, as that thinking QUICKLY does a 180. As well it should!) Family that doesn't behave like we want them to behave? How the weather is not in line with your personal preference? Gas prices?
Here's what she was thinking about this morning:
--Wow! They have cranberry juice this morning! I love cranberry juice!
--Neat-o! The waffles are shaped like the state of TX on a map!
--Today's appt., & then we're heading home.
--Honey, I'm so glad you're feeling better today. (Said to her husband. Who does not have cancer. Again, this was said by her to her husband, who does not have cancer.)
--Isn't MDA a great place, populated by great people?
--I don't mind this 100-degree+ heat; all of my treatments have made me much colder by nature.
--It's nice that we don't have to drive ourselves to MDA, isn't it? (Re: hotel shuttle & Houston traffic)
Grab a bit of perspective from a delightful lady who's "weird," won't you? That sense of perspective is precisely why visiting with terminally-ill cancer patients is a good idea...
bb
p.s. - UPDATE: I ran into her later in the day, and she had just been told that she didn't have to come back for 6 months for her next P.E.T. scan!! Trust me, this is some fantastic news...hoping to be told that one day myself.
You should do that sometime. Really, you should.
This was a 60-something lady from Kansas City. Advanced pancreatic cancer, which is usually a get-your-affairs-in-order type diagnosis. And yet...(Wait; I'm getting ahead of myself)
So, I'm downstairs eating bkfst @ the hotel, sitting at a table by myself. This lady & I had sort of tag-teamed the toasters trying to get our muffins toasted. She finishes getting her bkfst, looks around, and thankfully for me, there were no empty tables. She points at a chair opposite me & says "Do you mind?"
We had a *great* visit! Her hubby joined us about halfway through, which added to the chat. Meanwhile, the guy @ the next table says "are you part of the archery tournament?" I said, "No, I'm part of the MDA-patient tournament." The lady acted like that's the funniest thing she's heard in a while; she said "Me too!" As it turns out, the guy & his wife *were* part of the archery tournament, and get this: he's an oncologist out in Washington State! He asked a few questions about MDA, & the lady & I both just sung its praises. He said, "Oh, we have some of their data @ our office & I refer to their info often." We swapped a couple of jokes, including this one from the lady w/ pancreatic cancer: "Any diagnosis is a good diagnosis, because that means you're present to receive it!" We all laughed.
Of course, there was the semi-obligatory comparing of tests & procedures & processes & travel arrangements & such. She said "My Dr. back home tells me I'm just weird. Nobody lives w/ stage IV+ pancreatic cancer 5 years & counting." I said "Yeah, mine here says that I'm living outside the numbers; that metastatic melanoma patients 3 years out are not very many."
A bit more random conversation, & they left to catch the shuttle. As she walked away, she said "You go on living outside the numbers, & I'll go on being weird."
What a GREAT word! I am SO thankful for so many people that I've encountered out here.
BTW, nobody would look at this woman & say "She has a very serious form of cancer that's usually quickly fatal."
So, again my challenge to myself: What exactly is it that consumes our (my!) thoughts & emotions? Idiot drivers nearby on the road? Employers not fully recognizing how totally awesome we are? Our favorite team losing a game or not landing a prized recruit or not winning big enough? A flawed, imperfect spouse? (Best not to stay there very long, as that thinking QUICKLY does a 180. As well it should!) Family that doesn't behave like we want them to behave? How the weather is not in line with your personal preference? Gas prices?
Here's what she was thinking about this morning:
--Wow! They have cranberry juice this morning! I love cranberry juice!
--Neat-o! The waffles are shaped like the state of TX on a map!
--Today's appt., & then we're heading home.
--Honey, I'm so glad you're feeling better today. (Said to her husband. Who does not have cancer. Again, this was said by her to her husband, who does not have cancer.)
--Isn't MDA a great place, populated by great people?
--I don't mind this 100-degree+ heat; all of my treatments have made me much colder by nature.
--It's nice that we don't have to drive ourselves to MDA, isn't it? (Re: hotel shuttle & Houston traffic)
Grab a bit of perspective from a delightful lady who's "weird," won't you? That sense of perspective is precisely why visiting with terminally-ill cancer patients is a good idea...
bb
p.s. - UPDATE: I ran into her later in the day, and she had just been told that she didn't have to come back for 6 months for her next P.E.T. scan!! Trust me, this is some fantastic news...hoping to be told that one day myself.
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