A Mirror to my Psyche

It seems that the busier I am, the more I get done and the happier I am.

My mom and I were talking about this phenomenon last night & she mentioned that it means that she doesn't have to figure out what her priorities are, the priorities do it for her.

I think that might be somewhat true for me - people don't wonder why I might not follow through with them in the same manner this week because they know what I'm preparing for. And, so, I'm able to do more reaching out than responding to people's self-prescribed emergencies. Also, actually having to deal with true emergencies helps me to put those other petty things in perspective.

Interruptions to my set schedule are important - it's how I find out a lot. It's part of my job - having time when people know they can catch me.

The other part is that I don't allow myself to get wrapped up in dumb things of my own doing. I'm preparing to have some people over to my house later this afternoon and I have these phone books that I keep meaning to take to recycle. They keep slowly moving towards the door and I don't want to hinder their movement. So, I put them in the corner of the staircase that has room for them and thought I might wrap them up like presents and set something on top of them to be decoration. Well, if I weren't quite so busy I might do that (which would then waste some time that I could use other places). Instead, they'll be (hopefully) covered by a cloth, maybe with something cute placed on top. But, rather than spend any time even considering wrapping - I was able to make a better decision.

I know, silly. Minor. But, a mirror to my psyche. :) (And, there's the title of the post).

A Fly on the Wall

Every once in a while my office's phone messaging system receives a message that seems as if someone accidentally dialed.

I think usually people listen to the really long message and either fade off or think they've hung up when they haven't.

I get a kick out of these calls - and sometimes feel as if I should listen for a little while in case the person was trying to leave a message and then got distracted. There's something somewhat scandalous listening into these snippets in people's lives that they didn't mean to share. Today all I heard was a TV in the background. Sometimes I've heard conversations that I haven't been able to understand any but a few words. I've heard someone scolding a dog and another person singing.

I'm amused by the frequency of these calls.

Breaking Anonymity

I'm frustrated with Blogger right now.

I already have 3 accounts and I was starting a new web page for the new book club I'm in. I didn't want a 4th account - so I tried to make two different names under the same account. Blogger help says I can do it. But nothing I do (even when I think I'm following the directions correctly) is working.

It makes me want to swear.

So, here I am - first name - out there, out in the open. It's such an unusual one, I'm sure my anonymity is completely gone.

Signed,
The Former Amused.

Nerdy

I wasn't really a true nerd in High School or College - I was just shy. I did, however, become a nerd in seminary. So much excites me about the stuff I'm supposed to be studying and teaching and preaching.

Amazingly, I continue to have new revelations - new insights...even if they are sometimes misguided. This entire season of Advent has been one - a new look at what we're actually doing (and it's not that we are awaiting a tiny little baby).

I get to teach about the Bible - the history - the way we read it - the interesting characters in it. It's not just about preaching a message - but about getting others to talk about what it might mean for our lives. It's exciting.

And when we're done in our Adult Bible Study class, we're going to bake communion bread.

I'm so lucky. And, I'm so nerdy. I can really claim it now.

The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

You've Changed 56% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person.You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How'>http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchhaveyouchangedin10yearsquiz/">How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

Saturday Night Theologian

Lately, I've been a Sat. Night theologian. Sometimes (like this morning) not even starting my sermon until Saturday late-morning. I had done a lot of study and thinking prior to this morning, but nothing was being formatted.

It's 6pm. I am almost done w/ my sermon. I've got some Bible Study planning to do. But, I'm feeling ready.

I have yet to be able to tell what makes a good sermon. I mean, I know mine aren't publish-worthy. I don't know that they would ever be. My writing style needs the right emphases and vocal tones - a lot of my sermon is what happens when I'm actually preaching (ad libbing included).

But, every time I think I totally bomb (or, rather, theologically, somehow block the spirit's work) someone comes up and says they think it was a great sermon. When I think I've had a good sermon, there is little to no response. I don't know what that means. Does it mean that people aren't sure what I'm saying? Does it mean that I can't get other people excited about what excites me? Does it mean I'm off base?

I get frustrated because it feels like I can't read my audience. And, because it's my job to connect, to get people thinking, I get frustrated that I can't seem to know how to do that - that I just stumble into it.

Unfortunately, it seems like I have a better success at stumbling into it when I do write my sermons on Saturday night. I'm not sure what that means either.