Que -- The Soundtrack "Stand By Me"

One of our family's  favorite movies growing up was "Stand By Me".
Who can forget 'The great puke-arama'?  We had a ball using our VCR to slow motion forward and reverse the results of the tainted pie eating contest.
Even today just hearing Duh -duh-duh - DUH....... makes me smile.

When the night has come

And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

I heard a story on the radio from Chuck Colson's daughter Emily about the challenges of raising her autistic son Max.
Shopping in public with Max has been one of Emily's most dreaded scenarios.  She never knows when he'll have an emotional melt down and cause a scene. 
One day they were in Whole Foods and Max threw a fit.  He literally  fell to the floor and kicked and screamed. 
Shoppers looked on with blistering glares.  Emily could read the messages in their eyes.
"You are the mother -- get your child under control!"
Knowing that Max was to big to pull from the store and that an autistic child can not be reasoned with, bribed  or threatened like most children she just positioned herself between the ever widening circle of judgemental shoppers and looked down in shame to avoid their stares.
After a few long moments Emily saw a pair of feet standing next to her own and heard a woman's voice say; "I'll stand here with you as long as it takes.  I'm right here by your side.  Tell me if I can do anything but I'm not leaving you."
Eventually Max wore himself out and the gawkers resumed their shopping, forgetting the whole scene.
But Emily never forgot.
I will never forget the feet that have stood by mine these last eight weeks as I have tended my mother.  If you are reading this -- Thank You.

Get Out!

It is so easy to see all of the things going down hill these days. 
But, I have seen little "God winks" in my daily travels this week.

The reminder of the joy of good hard work.

The summer sky from a friend's porch.

Servant's hearts.

"Ordinary things done with great love."  Mother Theresa

Teamwork projects.

Wise reminders.

And a little irreverence thrown in -- "See no evil -- speak no evil -- hear no evil -- have no fun."



Reading...........

I have loved "reading" (audio book) this book about the books Pat Conroy has read. More than any book Pat Conroy  has written.(Except "The Water is Wide")
His perspective of a book as a parachute in a troubling time has made me reflect on my reading life too.
Pat's book has caused me to roll down a highway laughing out loud during a summer of murky trials.  He reminded me that a good read can be one of the best stay-cations.
His moving retells of books like "War and Peace" almost make me think I could, would should read it too.
Oh, yeah, 1081 pages plus dyslexia plus zillions of characters equals a door stop.
But, his poignant illustrations of the power of a timely story have reminded me of the books that helped form me.
Pippi Longstocking lives!

What is a Goatwalker?

I wish I knew but one thing I do know -- in Louisville Kentucky at my friend Sue's church -- it means one heck of a good time.
The second Saturday night of each month the members of her church have "The Goatwalker Cafe".
They:
1.  Transform their store front church into a coffee house.
2.  Bring homemade desserts and set up a menu board posting the choices.  Have church members take orders and serve the tables. 3.  Go pick up the folks at the local homeless shelters.
4.  Set up the stage with a piano, microphone, and a big table for props.
5.  And fling open the doors.

Here is a list of the variety of entertainment from last Saturday night:
*A magician did a few magic tricks.  The big finale was cutting a fresh lemon and producing the card a homeless man had pulled.

*A little girl told five of the funniest jokes.

*An eldrely man played songs from the 1920s on the piano.
*A dulsimer recital.
*And a guitar performance accompanied by a homeless man in the audience playing the spoons.  Awsome!
Actually since the members of Sue's church are mostly hippies no one could tell the visitors from the members.
They don't get into their BMWs and drive into the city to help the poor.  They have choosen to live there and be a friend to man.

(The servers and kitchen help)

Here is an example of their worship style.
On Easter Sundays they have a balloon drop, confetti shower and it ultimatly ends up in a conga line snaking through the asiles to worship music.
These folks know how to party.
Tony Campolo says --

When Jesus came into the world, he declared that he had come that his joy might be in us and that our joy might be full. Consequently, it's not surprising that when people asked him what his kingdom would be like ‐ this world that he wants to create ‐ he said, "My kingdom is likened unto a wedding
feast. A wedding feast and I'm the bridegroom and as long as you have a bridegroom around, you party." That was his word; it was to be a wedding feast.
Now I have to tell you that Jesus was Jewish, which is the next best thing to being Italian. Sometimes people ask me if Italians are so wonderful, why didn't Jesus come as an Italian? Well the Bible says he came to humble himself. But, Jews and Italians and Palestinians, all Arab people, the Greeks, all who
live in the Mediterranean area, we have one thing in common. We know how to throw weddings. I mean there is nothing more joyful, more celebratory then an Italian, a Jewish, a Greek, or an Arab
wedding. I mean, we mortgage the house, we take the money out of the bank, we bring in the band, we go on and on.
Jesus said that's what my kingdom's like ‐ my kingdom's likened unto one gigantic party.I invite you to the Christ who will give you joy because your sins will be forgiven. Who will give you

joy because he commissions you to share that joy with other people. And when the dark times come and the sorrows of life overwhelm you, there will be joy because you will know that beyond the present time is the glorious future, the glorious gift that God has in store for all who trust in him. He
makes it into a party time! Into a party time! Into a party time! So people, the next time they ask you
at your church what time is it? I want to hear you shout back: "IT'S PARTY TIME!"

"If travel makes you broad and suffering makes you deep.... I think I'll go to Paris." Judith Viorst

I was speaking to a professional group in San Francisco several years ago on my topic of "Funny Business -- Humor for the Workplace."  I'd given it my all and relished the opportunity to retell some of the funny experiences of my personal and work life. 

After I concluded, the regular group of attendees came up to me to:
1. Tell me I look exactly like their Aunt Flossey -- I wouldn't believe it!
2. Tell me their funny stories (Some of which were so hilarious that they sometimes slipped into my future talks)
3.  Thank me for reminding them of what they already knew but in the pressure cooker of daily life had forgotten.

I still remember the kind and patient woman who waited to give me a gift.  The gift of her perspective.  She explained to me that her dear husband had died suddenly a year earlier and went on to say; "Nothing is funny to me yet.  But each night when I say my prayers I ask God  -- Lord teach me to laugh again but don't ever let me forget that I cried."

Found this at www.urbanlittlehouse.blogspot.com today.

Love a lot of this Artist's work.

A Cracker Jack of a Meeting

Sometimes I wonder if one of Dante's levels of hell is a boring meeting where all of the attendees have too much to do and would rather be anyplace but there?
I learned years ago to shake things up a little and have a box of

Sitting at every place.  It helps "The suits" too loosen up --  Become a kid again and everyone leaves with a lovely prize.

If we spend the best part of our day at work we better learn how to have F*U*N*

Hang-Ups

I have lots of hang-ups but I guess the one that evokes my most visceral reaction is clutter. 
I look in my closet at all of the hangers and wonder why I can't find anything to wear?
I heard this great idea for clearing out the clothes clutter.
1.  Hang all of my hangers backward on the rack.
2. Each time I wear something hang it back up the right way.
3. At the end of six months everything that is still hanging backward goes to the Goodwill.
Ahhhhhhhh I can feel the wide open spaces already!

“Life is not home yet, it is an ark.”

Henri Nouwen

Carousel Horse Race

The kids had no idea what was going on but soon realized they were in a real horse race!

How did "The Queen of Fun" miss this?

Jeanne Robertson "Don't send a man to the grocery store!"

Sue Casa is me Casa

Off to a friend's home for lunch after church on Sunday.  There is nothing like walking into an old friend's home and knowing where the glasses are.  It feels like a homecoming in the best sense.

There are pieces of my friend Tina's personality everywhere I glance.  She is not known for being prompt.

We had what I call "Ugly but good food".  YUM

The views expressed are necessarily her own.

We share the same hearts desires.