My Say On May 21

Ian, Mark and I just got back from Pirates 4. It took a little convincing to get Ian to go as he has a theory that subsequent films rarely are better than the 1st. On the whole, I tend to agree with him. But I like going to the movies. My movie partner is in New York City on a school trip. I miss Erica. I like having her around. Anyway, the movie wasn’t bad nor super good – it was just an average movie. But it had the one of the best lines ever ......... get ready, drum roll folks .......”We have been decepted!!” I just thought it was so funny and you’ll have to see the movie or else this will be one of those you had to be there moments.

Anyway, the idea of being deceived led me to thinking about the fact that the world indeed did not end yesterday and how deceived that Camping guy and his faithful followers were. Apparently over 3 million dollars was spent advertising on billboards, radio etc....... what a blooming waste of money!! That money could have helped those in poverty, we could have saved lives by giving a cup of cold water to those in need. What chaffs my butt is that it is men and women like this that give Christians goof like status. And while I am venting I also get annoyed at the dough heads on TV who bilk little old ladies out of their money.

The problem lies here – if you don’t go to Church then you think that all Churchgoers must be like what you see on TV and that is just not so. And that is what makes me mad. I know I am generalizing so don’t go sending me any nasty comments, I do realize they are many who see Christians not in that light; but on the whole we Christians are seen as unwaveringly judgmental at times. Just as I wrote this a huge bolt of lightning and thunder just about took us out. Now I could interpret that to mean that God agrees with me but someone else may say no that means God disagrees with you. You see how dangerous it is? You see how easily we can put words in God’s mouth? We need to be wise.

The radicals out there give us normal Christians a bad rap. Remember, normal is relative – hee hee. I do not believe any of that crazy gobbledly gook yet I most likely could be lumped in with those “people”. I was embarrassed and sad for the peeps that believed that the world was going to end on May 21 because deep down I believe that they really believed that this would happen. They are Christians, they are good people who have slightly lost their way because they made up some of their own rules or misinterpreted the Bible or they feel guilty or whatever......... they are forgetting to let God be God. He doesn’t need us to announce the date of His return.

Which leads me to my next point: I often wonder how seemingly rational people will believe the stupidest things. They go off on a tangent and twist things to suit whatever they want to hear to justify their actions. It is a shame really. I remember when Ian and I went to this little Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon; I don’t recall what the sermon was about but I remember the Pastor saying “Don’t check your brain at the door!” If something sounds most odd it probably is. If it quacks like a duck it probably is a duck. If you say you know the exact date the world is going to end or how the world is going to end then you are probably a dumb ass. Just saying.......... I also want to make a point that dumb ass is not a swear word even if Ian thinks it is and don’t be sending me any nasty comments as I shall ignore them.

The Perils Of Travelling Lise Style

So last Tuesday I pile into my co-workers car to drive to Hamilton for Church business meetings and yes it as boring as it sounds. The meetings, not the drive. Since none of my 8 blog followers were at the meeting I figure I am safe. I see I got 1 more follower and at this rate I should be famous in about 100 years. Okay, maybe I’ll never be famous. Anyway, I digress. It is like a big giant 3 day Church elders meeting where you get to eat lots and listen to people jabber on about inconsequential details. Whenever I drive anywhere the occupants of the car and I try to solve the world’s problems. I am really quite sure if I was given the chance to rule the world things would run smoothly. I say, give me a chance!! I’ll eliminate debt and make mean people be nice. I shall do this through torture. I know torture is mean but I say the mean justifies the end (heee heeee, do you get my pun??) Now don’t go sending me comments on the incorrectness of my thought; I’m just saying......... don’t knock it till you try it.

Anyway, my girl Erica is learning to drive and I have decided that Greg is not allowed to give Erica driving lessons. It did not take long for me to fear for my very existence so I kept correcting Greg’s driving as any good mother would do. Except I am not Greg’s Mom and I expect that this small factoid caused Greg to start driving dumb on purpose. Greg, Greg, Greg.......

I get back from my meetings on Thursday night – time enough to wash my favourite jeans, repack my suitcase and catch my flight to Vancouver Friday evening. Because I was very aware that I may hit Friday night traffic I leave right after work without eating dinner. So I start out the drive a wee bit hungry and by the time I arrived at my Park N Fly I am cross-eyed with hunger. I wait for my little green and white bus to pick me up and take me to the airport. There is this older Jamaican gentleman at the wheel. He cranks up the Jamaican music and then proceeds to drive through the lot and to the airport like a freaking maniac. I am eyeballing the other passengers who are also visibly concerned for their well being and by the time I arrive at the terminal I was sure I may just barf.

But common sense prevails and I breathe deep and decide barfing would be embarrassing plus I hadn’t really eaten anything so it would have been a wasted effort that would have resulted in me just gagging. I head straight to my gate and of course I get swabbed for drugs yet again. I ask myself, do I look like a druggie? They tell me it is random but I always get pulled aside. Perhaps, I look shifty. Perhaps, they think a middle aged Mom is a good cover for a terrorist who might blow up a plane?

I enjoy my flight, I watched 3 hours of Law and Order which made me think that mankind is generally not nice. Then I tell myself “Self ....... it is not real, get a grip”. So I get a grip and watch SpongeBob. Now that is real. I arrive in Vancouver cross-eyed with tiredness. It is pouring rain and its 3:00am Ontario time and I have to make my way to the motel where I almost drown trying to get from my car to the motel. I wish that my family is with me because they are the best travelling buddies ever.

Before my head even hits the pillow I am asleep and I remember to whisper a small “Thank you Lord for a safe trip ......zzzzzzzz”

The next day was my beautiful cousin Carries wedding. They had a dance. I think dances are fun. I wished I had danced more when I was younger. I still have lots of time to dance. Hey Mark, are sure you don’t want me to chaperone your Grade 8 Grad dance? Live, love, dance my friends...........