Hmm, recently read some Stephen King books (
The Dead Zone, Desperation, The Stand, The Choosing of the Three, and Wolves of the Calla). I was impressed with how he depicted Christianity in a (mostly) positive light, especially in
Desperation.
I.e., God is cruel, but He directs us - He has a purpose behind the pain. Dare I see a purpose? Is it my imagination? Is He saying "Wait, child", or does He not need to answer me at all right now?
As a belated birthday outing, my father asked to take me to a
Cup o' Joy Benefit Concert. I agreed, since at least it wouldn't all be talking. That can get awkward, as I don't say much, and he says many of the same things said in every prior conversation.
Well, first we went to
Kavarna's for supper. It was tolerable. I had the "egg salad pita with sunflower sprouts" which came with really thick, crunchy potato chips (of course, my second to last chip jammed into my gums, where a small piece stayed for about 5 hours - then, of course, it came out, being quite soft :) . I also had a black cherry sparkling water sort of drink, which was surprisingly tasty, not too much sparkling water taste to it (I hate seltzer water when it's plain (unflavored, that is - not un-alcoholic(I've heard it's primarily used as a mixer).
(Sorry, Jo, forgot my camera for pictures ;)
After a second traffic near-incident (yeah, we got stuck behind someone who did not understand English-spoken requests to pull ahead so we could turn a corner (he was driving his car ahead of us, and got stuck while a train (cargo, not coach ;) crossed the street - all 70-ish cars and 3 locomotives)), oh yeah, the second was when my father didn't see where we were supposed to park, and hit the turn signal & brakes about 10 feet from the parking lot entrance, and the car that was tailgating almost rear-ended us (screeching brakes, swerving into passing traffic). Oh well, bright spots, I guess! Thanks, God!
So, we proceeded into the
Green Bay West High School, got the pre-paid tickets he'd ordered after standing in two lines for 15 minutes, found a couple of seats, got jostled numerous times, then he talked to the man on his right for 15 minutes about health food, etc. (nothing I haven't heard before), and then the concert started.
Keith Cooper was interesting - plucking, slapping, drumming, and tapping on his guitar as he jumped & grimaced while paying his original instrumental compositions. As I was understanding his methods and mindset, and beginning to enjoy his creativity, his set was over.
Next Sara Groves appeared onstage, introduced by her two young sons, Kirby age 6, and his 3 year old brother (name forgotten by yours truly). After some confusion on my part as to which female was Sara (at first glance her backing vocalist looked more like the Sara Groves I've seen in the past), the performance was enjoyable. I only recognized two songs, of which my favorite was a new single
You are the Sun, I am the Moon (my personal favorite
Less Like Scars, More Like Character did not make the playlist, but both will be available for your listening pleasure as soon as my radio.blog is up & running). She was not the most articulate singer I've seen in concert (perhaps due to her two kids and cameramen trading places around the stage), but one story she related really hit me. Paraphrased from her words...
In the Kevin Costner movie
Dances With Wolves, there is a scene where the Sioux Indians take Kevin's character on a buffalo hunt. They are on the trail with excited anticipation of the results of the hunt - meat, skins, bones for tools & carvings, other uses for every part of God's gift to them. As they top the last hill, the Sioux are horrified to see the white man's waste - hundreds of bison slaughtered for their horns - the rest all left to rot in the prairie. All the many parts that will go to waste, because of the selfishness of others.
Recently, Sara Groves & her husband (Mr. Groves) traveled to Rwanda, Africa to help the poor starving people there. She arrived with thoughts of showing them God's love, helping them better themselves, and comforting their pain & hurt.
She was humiliated to tears when she realized these poor starving people demonstrated God's love, peace, and healing, more than she could ever imagine to do. All she could think of was that she was not using all the parts of what God had given to her - she was wasting her spiritual "buffalo".
I know I have always been guilty of that - doing what I think I can spare, never really letting everything I have, everything I am, hang out there for God to say, "I'll take that, and that, and that - I need you to help me". I keep thinking of Casting Crown's
If We are the Body "If we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, etc.," I need to find opportunities to serve, rather than wait for them to appear. I need to "get in shape", reading His words, and praying to Him, rather than at Him. Why should I expect Him to talk to me, when I don't give Him more than a few minutes a day (which averages out to a lot less than that, given the past few years especially)?
Well, I need to work on lots of things, please be patient with me, God isn't finished with me yet :)
So, back to the evening, during an intermission, where the concert organizers drew numbers for donated prizes. I never win raffles or drawings, but decided to play along anyway. I looked at my ticket stub number, then put it down. Several drawings later, I heard familiar numbers - sure enough, I won a large-ish stuffed teddy bear from Boyd's Bears, and a Green Bay Packer autographed football (see below)
After the concert area cleared, we made our way to his car. I heard many familiar stories & observations, and wondered if I would get home, as he missed three turns on the way to my house. But, I arrived, and after talking to a friend on the phone (who proceeded to fall asleep several times hehe), and being unable to do the same, I decided to turn on the computer.
I finally got to listen to PJ's updated radio.blog, and now have listened to Stellar Kart's
Me and Jesus for an hour or two. Songs can sure lift my spirits sometimes. That, or half a can of Lay's Cheddar Stax :D
I'm beginning to feel tired now too, so I had better try to get an hour or two of shuteye before working today. Thank God for gainful employment!
I think I'll sleep to the Wizard of Oz soundtrack now - got an urge for that suddenly. Tired brains can be confusingzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Ni'night
