Happy Thanksgiving!!


I was taking a look at Michael Podesta's website tonight (love his art/works) and came across this "quote" from him. On this day of Thanksgiving not only am I filled with 'thankfulness', but my heart is also filled with joy in the life I have been given. Reading this was also a reminder to me that I often miss joy because of stress, confliction in my heart, and my all too often daily auto-pilot life.

Behind The Art -Joy:
Elizabeth Elliot has a wonderful definition of the word “joy”. She says, “Joy is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of God.”

I was visiting a friend, a minister in Marietta, Georgia. He was my host while I was at a local Arts and Crafts show. After dismantling and loading up my exhibit on the final day, Sunday, I returned to his home quite late. There was a note saying he had gone to bed, but that we should get together in the morning for breakfast. When I got up he said, “Let’s go out. The phone has been ‘ringing off the hook’. This is supposed to be my day off. It’s got to be more peaceful at a restaurant.”

We talked as we ate. We had each had a hectic Sunday. It’s a pattern. We are both very busy. He has a large congregation. I travel to shows twice a month or more. We both have families. Obligations abound.

Predictably, the conversation turned to observance of the Sabbath and the familiar scriptural instructions for a special day of rest. We spoke – a bit wistfully, I think – of outdoor leisure; how it can lead to delight in the natural world and how that delight so readily turns into worship.

Over a third cup of coffee I decided to share a disturbing, highly speculative, little whimsy of mine. I imagine I have reached the afterlife. I am confronted by my Creator. A retrospective ensues. The atmosphere is friendly. My family, my work, the constant activity, and everything else are on clear display. (Perhaps this history appears on a screen, like a movie?) At some point, God turns from the spectacle. In a gesture that seems patient, but maybe a little weary, He brushes His palm across His brow. He looks at me. He sighs and says, “Hmmm. Well, it is interesting, I suppose. But, you know Michael, there are certain things we’re seeing that are not exactly what I had in mind. We have plenty of time, and there are other matters I would like us to talk about, but before we go any further, there is something I just have to ask you. It’s a little detail, but it really puzzles me. I see where, in your early thirties, you practically stopped … swimming. You used to love to swim. I created oceans and lakes and rivers for a number of reasons, of course. They seemed like an ideal environment for the fish, they help regulate the weather, then there are your regattas and hydroelectric dams, not to mention maritime commerce. But one of the reasons was that I knew swimming in them would give you joy. That was one of my gifts to you. But then, as we have seen, you just quit. Now, “He says this ever so gently, “that’s something I would like you to explain to me.”

This is as far as my fantasy goes, I tell my friend as we leave the restaurant, because I just can’t imagine what to say.

I was reminded of this conversation a couple of weeks later when, at another show, a lady asked me if I had heard of a certain text. She thought it was from the Talmud. She didn’t know it word for word, she said, but in effect, it was that on the Day of Judgment we will be called to account for all of those things we were given to enjoy but would not.

The Psalms tell us, “Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad” and “Delight yourself in the Lord” and “Serve the Lord with gladness”. The Shorter Catechism says “the chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever”.

My hopeless defense before God might have been that I had missed joy because of responsibilities; the reality turns out to be that joy is a response God expects of me, that joy – which so readily turns into worship – is a responsibility.

A Kodaly Reunion in Boston

This weekend Jamie and Gretchen were in Boston for a wedding and we got to spend all of Saturday together. We were all at the Institute together in 2001- Jamie and Gretchen met there and are now married - and it's been about 5 years since I last saw them!! It was great to catch up with each other, catch up on all the Institute gossip on fellow classmates, and drink some pints/pitchers together reminiscing about our life in the 'ol monestary of Kodaly.





Jamie has a cupcake fetish - these were THE BEST cupcakes I've ever had. mmmmmmmmm...

World Series Champs!!

Celebration in Harvard Square

A Teeny Tiny Twenty-Nine Forever Party

A fun gathering with friends at Match, a Burger and Martini lounge.

Trio


Brooke, Rob, and Ashley


Rachel and Louis


The following set of pics of the three of us (Stefan, Brian, me) ended up being a comedy of errors as you can see....













Steph wanted me to put this up - it was not my idea. The wind is blowing throughrtdfdvdgeyhyiukioo;luytrsdfwerry7i909'[ythrg through our hair... (and Bree and Steph added the nonsense commentary)


"We're all having a fantastic time!!!"


Ivan, Brooke, and Rob


Brian and his blackened Salmon - blech!!!!


My birthday dessert - pan-seared cookie dough with dulce de leche ice cream. That's me in the left-hand corner.

Old friends - me and Steph




We were trying to have a "serious" conversation, but take note of Stefan in the background.


Brooke, Rob, Ashley, and Louis


Bree, Ashley, and Chris


Louis, Rachel, and Ellyson

"Red Sox Nation"

...except I think I was the only one in the pub not rooting for the Sox. I kept a pretty low profile! I was wearing my OSU jersey kept it covered lest someone realize I was from Ohio.

But now, my loyalties shift - and GO RED SOX!!!!!!!

"Crabernet Sauvignon"

One of the gifts in my "Surviving your 30's" bag from the girls. Michelle created this masterpiece on the wine bottle. I tried to take close-up pics of the label so it's readable.

I also had a baggy of "1977" facts and other musings which we went around the room reading. I'll share some of my favorites:

In 1977... Where were you when the lights went out? A 25 hour blackout on July 13-14 in New York unleashes a crime spree.

In 1977...Final fairwells to Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx and the King - Elvis Presley.

(On October 17) There are 69 days till Christmas 2007!
There are 82 days till Orthodox Christmas!

In 1977...Last execution by guillotine in France.

1977 is...Silver Jubliee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Your fortune cookie reads:
Don't forget, you are always on our minds.

There are 366 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 31 candles. Those 31 candles produce 31 BTUs, or 7.812 calories of heat (that's only 7. 8120 food calories!) You can boil 3.45 US ounces of water with that many candles!

No ordinary person, full imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-respect, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, many complexes, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Your date of conception was on our about 24 January 1977 which was a Monday.

30th Birthday

What a blessing to spend my 30th birthday (yes THIRTY - AGHHHHH) with these people - and the fun continues next weekend!!! :))))))))))))