On a Role
This week's Ironic Corner notes that at Liberty University of Lynchburg, VA, a creation of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, conducting an on-campus protest of any kind without administration permission is forbidden.
In the Hope Springs Eternal department, I see that Rush Limbaugh is headed to the marriage alter for the fourth time. Since the bride-to-be is just over half his age, it's evident that either he's still a handsome dude, or perhaps she just goes crazy for guys with a nine figure net worth. It's unknown how many attorneys will be in the official wedding party.
And the Quote of the Week goes to local attorney and National Guard veteran Allan Dollison, who notes in regard to Afghanistan "It's very, very hard to teach people that they're going to have to kill their own people". In fairness to Dollison, he was actually trying to make the point that peaceful means seem to make more friends than violence.
I hesitated when asked a couple of weeks ago to take on the role of St. Nicholas at the congregation's Christmas dinner and party. The last two years, they had tried to portray Santa as a kind of scold, disappointed in the greediness of just about everyone. It's not that that message is so awful - I just didn't think Santa, a fun-loving guy if there ever was one, should be the one delivering the rebuke. Oh, no, I was told. You won't be Santa, but St. Nicholas, and you'll have a costume of your own and the freedom to say whatever you like in about five minutes. I agreed.
I have noticed over the years that every little job, no matter how simple it appears, can be fouled up, most of them in many ways. I didn't want to foul this up because some little children might go away thinking the wrong thing, for the wrong reason. I had some plans on how to pull it off, sure. But that didn't keep me from being nervous.
Luckily. I had help. The local costume shop put together an outfit that didn't look like Santa's at all. St. Nick came off as more of a 19th century party host/big game hunter type.I had a guy help me with a mobile microphone, and he had help getting the big guy heard, but not scary/loud to the littlest tykes. The beard and hair the costume folks came up with were terrific.
And....it actually came together pretty well. I didn't have to shout at the 150 or so people there, didn't have to take kids on my knee one by one, and was gone after a few minutes, reading Luke 2 in just a bit more of a story telling mode than you usually get at church. I don't think any of the little moppets were scared, and while no one give out any tips, several people were kind about the whole thing the following day in our regular meetings. I'm left to wonder if I could find a way to work in a tennis racket next year, ya think?
In the Hope Springs Eternal department, I see that Rush Limbaugh is headed to the marriage alter for the fourth time. Since the bride-to-be is just over half his age, it's evident that either he's still a handsome dude, or perhaps she just goes crazy for guys with a nine figure net worth. It's unknown how many attorneys will be in the official wedding party.
And the Quote of the Week goes to local attorney and National Guard veteran Allan Dollison, who notes in regard to Afghanistan "It's very, very hard to teach people that they're going to have to kill their own people". In fairness to Dollison, he was actually trying to make the point that peaceful means seem to make more friends than violence.
I hesitated when asked a couple of weeks ago to take on the role of St. Nicholas at the congregation's Christmas dinner and party. The last two years, they had tried to portray Santa as a kind of scold, disappointed in the greediness of just about everyone. It's not that that message is so awful - I just didn't think Santa, a fun-loving guy if there ever was one, should be the one delivering the rebuke. Oh, no, I was told. You won't be Santa, but St. Nicholas, and you'll have a costume of your own and the freedom to say whatever you like in about five minutes. I agreed.
I have noticed over the years that every little job, no matter how simple it appears, can be fouled up, most of them in many ways. I didn't want to foul this up because some little children might go away thinking the wrong thing, for the wrong reason. I had some plans on how to pull it off, sure. But that didn't keep me from being nervous.
Luckily. I had help. The local costume shop put together an outfit that didn't look like Santa's at all. St. Nick came off as more of a 19th century party host/big game hunter type.I had a guy help me with a mobile microphone, and he had help getting the big guy heard, but not scary/loud to the littlest tykes. The beard and hair the costume folks came up with were terrific.
And....it actually came together pretty well. I didn't have to shout at the 150 or so people there, didn't have to take kids on my knee one by one, and was gone after a few minutes, reading Luke 2 in just a bit more of a story telling mode than you usually get at church. I don't think any of the little moppets were scared, and while no one give out any tips, several people were kind about the whole thing the following day in our regular meetings. I'm left to wonder if I could find a way to work in a tennis racket next year, ya think?
posted by Mark at 2:03 PM
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