The reunion for which I was in angst over for months has now come and gone.
Now I must say that I did not have PMS. If I had the results may have been entirely different. Only 9 people from our class of 60something showed up. The people I most wanted to see weren't there but then neither were the people I least wanted to see. I wasn't the only "still single" there either, which was surprising and also encouraging. I was truly amazed at how people "haven't changed" and yet you know they have because all those pretenses and cliques that ruled high school life had sort of slipped away. I guess the true test would be how it would feel and what would be said -if anything- if the people we/I least wanted to see came.
That's when you find out who's changed for the better and who is still the same for real.
Overall, it was fine. I was glad Carrie went. Not sure I could have done it on my own even without PMS!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Nerve of Flies and Monkeys
You got have nerve. Some have too much. Take for instance the plague of flies we had in the office yesterday. They had the nerve to invade my oatmeal! There must have be 20 or more flying around. It seemed like every time you killed one 2 more appeared.
As I am not a true Presbyterian -though I work for them - I took matters into my own hands rather than waiting for Session to approve the measure ;-) I went to the hardware store and bought fly tape and a fly swatter. The swatter worked well; we passed it back and forth. The fly tape hasn't caught a single fly! Today, it seems we are down to only 3 flies, I can handle that many. But let me tell you yesterday I was unnerved. I don't like things buzzing in my ears and I think flies are detestable creatures. I would not have survived the 10 plagues in Egypt!
The nerve of the flies unnerved me. My nerves were already a little frayed because of the nerve of a man - stirring the pot again- after months had gone by since the last time he stood me up and gave me neither an explanation nor an apology. But that's not the monkey part...
We have these monkeys disguised as men climbing all over the steel erector set they are building that will someday house Sunday school classrooms and a new church office. They make me a nervous wreck watching them climb all over these steel beams. I am praying the whole time I am watching them wondering also if they are truly part monkey. Add to the visual image the fact that it is cold and they are wearing thick gloves and they aren't small men, but they are maneuvering themselves like a monkey gymnasts!
So you got have nerve to climb on steel beams without so much a strip of fly tape keep you from falling... but this girl doesn't have that kind of nerve!
But I do have the nerve to say "no" to getting caught again in a trap that has yielded me more hurt and frustration than fun or joy.
As I am not a true Presbyterian -though I work for them - I took matters into my own hands rather than waiting for Session to approve the measure ;-) I went to the hardware store and bought fly tape and a fly swatter. The swatter worked well; we passed it back and forth. The fly tape hasn't caught a single fly! Today, it seems we are down to only 3 flies, I can handle that many. But let me tell you yesterday I was unnerved. I don't like things buzzing in my ears and I think flies are detestable creatures. I would not have survived the 10 plagues in Egypt!
The nerve of the flies unnerved me. My nerves were already a little frayed because of the nerve of a man - stirring the pot again- after months had gone by since the last time he stood me up and gave me neither an explanation nor an apology. But that's not the monkey part...
We have these monkeys disguised as men climbing all over the steel erector set they are building that will someday house Sunday school classrooms and a new church office. They make me a nervous wreck watching them climb all over these steel beams. I am praying the whole time I am watching them wondering also if they are truly part monkey. Add to the visual image the fact that it is cold and they are wearing thick gloves and they aren't small men, but they are maneuvering themselves like a monkey gymnasts!
So you got have nerve to climb on steel beams without so much a strip of fly tape keep you from falling... but this girl doesn't have that kind of nerve!
But I do have the nerve to say "no" to getting caught again in a trap that has yielded me more hurt and frustration than fun or joy.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Egg Shells and such
I am moved by by Sara Grove's song "Like A Skin." BUY CD
The butterfly can just look back
Flap those wings and say Oh, yeah
I never have to be a worm again
The process of wiggling or pecking out a shell can be slow and exhausting. The struggle to get out of the shell can all but kill you too. But those that succeed are all the stronger because of the struggle. And like the song goes you "never have to be a worm again" or an egg of any kind.
To hide when in danger is such a natural reaction, but surviving danger and learning from it that is what adds the richness and wisdom to our life. That is what enables us to face bigger and craftier lizards in the future. Like struggling to get out the shell it can at times be equally hard to not squirm back to the shell. It can be hard not to want to be a worm again.
So I am wiggling, trying to free my wings to fly with freedom and hoping I won't long for the silence and supposed safety of being a worm or someone bound inside of an egg.
The butterfly can just look back
Flap those wings and say Oh, yeah
I never have to be a worm again
The process of wiggling or pecking out a shell can be slow and exhausting. The struggle to get out of the shell can all but kill you too. But those that succeed are all the stronger because of the struggle. And like the song goes you "never have to be a worm again" or an egg of any kind.
And yet...
On PBS last night, I saw a baby monitor lizard trying to climb back into its shell to protect itself from a very hungry and much bigger lizard. Interesting to me is that the little lizard thought it would be safe in there. Maybe it didn't know the big lizard eats eggs too. Perhaps he wouldn't see the the lizard zeroing in on his egg shell and that would be comfort enough. Then, it would be over before he even knew it.To hide when in danger is such a natural reaction, but surviving danger and learning from it that is what adds the richness and wisdom to our life. That is what enables us to face bigger and craftier lizards in the future. Like struggling to get out the shell it can at times be equally hard to not squirm back to the shell. It can be hard not to want to be a worm again.
So I am wiggling, trying to free my wings to fly with freedom and hoping I won't long for the silence and supposed safety of being a worm or someone bound inside of an egg.
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