If today is the end of the world, it's already tomorrow in Australia

"It's the end of the world as we know it . . . ."

Yes, and I am feeling fine.

I've seen a bit of the news about the end of the world, on Saturday, May 21st, at 6 pm. Daylight or Standard time?  But I'm unsure as to which time zone the prediction was referring.  It's already Sunday in New Zealand, which is (apparently) still there.

I guess the ancients who encoded all this secret stuff in holy writ didn't specify.  I'm not so worried, though I'd like not to have to prepare for work tomorrow.  And, (it's now 4 30 p EDT) there may not be much time left.  Unless your on the West Coast.  Is it still there?  Hello California, we salute you.

Those who see things encoded in scripture have confused their King James Version with Sudoku and the crossword.

I've got to get to work.  I have a Rapture Party to attend tonight.
Cheers, all.

Fair to partly cloudy

Rain has moved on.  The sun  is shining.  Still, my life is partly cloudy.  Folk have been keeping my really busy of late.  Really.  I'm giving up on treading water and hoping to find my snorkel and flippers.  It's deep, but not circling fins have been sighted, yet.

Bears in the garden.

I've been honored to be asked my opinions on some things by a few readers, here and there. 
I am always happy to respond to questions.  Email is on the profile.
Not sure I'm so wise or experienced, but being in an odd sort of work, it interests some others in this odd sort of work.  Too bad none of them live closer by.  I'd like to meet some folk in this odd work who are, well, odd-like-me.

This summer, I hope to have some time away from work, but there are no plans as of yet.  And no money to go with the, as yet, unmade plans.  I'm always happy to stay with friends here and there (and always welcome invitations).  Though space is limited here, always glad to have company.  There's only the sofa, or my bed.  Take you pick.

Right now I'm so tired, I'm wandering.  Best to get back to some emergency assistance at hand.  It's always when I'm off the clock,  except, I never am.

Cheers to all.

Come out! - On having lived in a foreign country

In talking with a friend about my journey (years of living the life I thought I was supposed to have, marriage, children, suburbia, etc.) he said to me, "Oh, so you really know what it's like to live in a foreign country."

Of late, I am living more and more into being Out.  Having sojourned in a different land (in which I convince myself that I am a sorely mixed-up straight boy who just needs to get over this desire to rub up on some hairy men) I have come to discover that I've been speaking a strange dialect that I've never quite mastered.  Now, I am learning to return to my native tongue - and it is coming back to me, so to speak.  {Now look, I know the previous sentence may seem to be full of double entendres.  I didn't mean it that way; or did I?}

The gospel lesson a few Sundays ago was the story of the raising of Lazarus.  It is not lost on me what Jesus says "in a loud voice:"  Lazarus, come out!

Yes, there you have it.  Jesus himself commands us to come out.  Ha!  Tell that one to Fred Phelps.  (Don't bother; he wouldn't get it anyway).

When, in fact, Lazarus does come forth, he is bound up with all the burial clothes.  He is bound up, dressed for death.  But now, Lazarus is given another chance.  Jesus does not remove the wrappings. He gives other instructions: Jesus tells the family and friends gathered (their mourning put on hold for some other occasion) to "unbind him and let him go."  Jesus may raise the dead, but it takes the whole community to unbind him.  It takes a village to help him come out.

It certainly does.

Thank you all.  Chris & Simon, James, Jeffrey & Jeff, Rich, Sean & Jeffrey,  John+ & John, Guy, Jack, Joe, Jane, Mahan-Dan-Liz-Miles, Porter, Bob, Dr. Ur-Spo, Wayne, RG, Benji, Raven~, Troll, Dave, Betty, Birdie, Michael, Bigg, Larry & Greg, Merritt, Paul,  Gregory, Michael, Mark, Austin-Rob-Michael-Mickey-Joel, Richard, Migs, Harry,  . . . . . . . . . . . .and so very many more.  thank you.


It's nearly Easter, but resurrection seems to be lagging a bit, for me. (Maybe I need some res-erection.  Sorry).
I am so looking forward to next week, and some time away!  It won't be far away, and comes only through the gift of a local establishment given for the health and well-being of folk in my weird job rather strange vocation.

Come out!

Hey

It is most inconvenient when life interferes with blogging.  But alas.  Such is the case.

I am alive and well, all things considered.  Work has been consuming much time, energy, and spirit.  I've been dealing with several serious cases, in my work with a certain religious non-profit agency.  Life and death, to be exact.

I hope to get some things written before too long.

I rejoice in the arrival of Spring.  [sniff, sneeze, drip]

Ouch - and - the power of song

I must remember how to tie shoes.  No, it's not the mechanics of handling the laces that eludes me (though, I must admit, it took me quite a while to learn, as a child).  It is the mechanics of bending over to tie them.

I "threw my back out."  Again.  Ugh.

It's not so bad as last time.  I am much better after just a few days.  But still.  This is not the way I wanted to spend "a few days off."  But it has forced the issue of taking some time off (which was sorely needed - no pun intended).

So, lying here in bed, legs supported gently, I've slept, read, watched YouTube videos (and some others), and done some work needed for today.  It was stuff  for which I was responsible for a business meeting.  I did not have to lead the "stuff", just have it prepared.  And so, over the weekend, I got it all done, emailed to appropriate folk.  It was an out-of-town meeting that I don't mind missing.  That wasn't really how I wanted to take time off, either.

And, I've got a big presentation thingy at work on Wednesday night.  So, I'll have time to work on that.

And in other news . . . . .

As mentioned, I watched some things on-line.  Several of the oft-touted It Gets Better videos, once again, moved me to tears.  Why does that always happen?  Some of the most moving ones involved several gay men's choruses.  So I Googled several and watched more youtubes of them.  I cried more.  Good stuff.  The power of song, the wonder of men's voices, the strength of other gay men singing out together.  The Heartland Men's Chorus has a wonderful mission:  "our voices enlighten, inspire, heal, and empower."  They are out and proud and take that mission seriously, I think.  Many other gay men's choruses do that, as well, and I was inspired and healed by hearing stories of others.  And music that sings to my soul.  There are some great It Get's Better videos with both music and interviews from the London Gay Men's Chorus, The Gay Men's Chorus of DC and the Vancouver Men's Chorus.  Worth watching.

Love wins

A friend of mine said he did not believe that God would condemn anyone to "hell" but that all will go to heaven.  It's just that some of them won't like it one damn bit.

There are always some who will complain.  No matter what.

My relationship with God has no need for anybody's condemnation.

I saw recently this video by Rob Bell.  Don't know if I'll buy the book, but his premise is compelling. Impressive.

LOVE WINS. from Rob Bell on Vimeo.

Restless

It is tough going to work.  And ain't it a shame how this work stuff gets in the way of life!  Can't they just send me the check each week?  Oh, yeah, the pay check.  Well, I guess that is a reason to go to work.  OK, if I must.  And, yeah, I guess I must.

Being in such an odd profession, time off to "recharge the batteries" is important.  I know, you wish you could have it too, right?  Well, coming form retreat tome back into work time, right into a board meeting was a big mistake.  I sort-of "grumped out."  Not good.  It wasn't terrible, but I should have taken some more transition time.  (Or, I should have just run away while I had the chance).

Now I'm feeling a bit restless.  Just a shade unsettled.  It's my day off, and I'm in my office.  There were some personal things I needed to get done here.  But I ended up doing a wealth of other work-related things too.  I ain't too bright, I know.

But maybe it's some other condition of restlessness or frustration or something . . . . .

I'll try to behave myself.
Well, probably mostly. And definitely safely, if anything.

Noisy, Public Sex

We are having a veritable heat wave!  Went well into the 60's today.  Glorious!  And, after some rough winter, you know what that brings out . . . .

The damn frogs!  My housemates have a lovely, good-sized pond in the front yard.  Now, at this moment, as I write this, there must be fifty frogs who have shown up, (seemingly out of nowhere) have loud sex.  The water will be clouded with semen before long.  Ugh.

Not that I'm opposed to loud, public displays of semen, but really. . . . .

Odd Bear in Silence

I'm still away from home, spending time in silence.  It's odd that I might enjoy this.  I'm very much gifted (or afflicted) [or both] with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  I've not been too extreme in the hyperactivity part, but there have been evidences of that.  I just don't sit still that long, that well.

Except, or course, when I do.  There is something about contemplation that just gets to me.  Why on earth would this be something I could do:  sit.  In silence.  Still. (somewhat) focused.  For thirty minutes.  Yes.  Me.

Sparse, but comfortable

It is very strange to me.  And it feeds my soul.

On my trip down, a friend invited me to stay over.  It wasn't that far along my way, only about 30 miles, but it was a start, and a chance to visit, have supper, etc.  We had a great time.  Lots of etc., too.  That's another thing about me that seems strange.  I so very enjoyed the etc., and I'm so very much enjoying my time in silence.  I suppose it could be a sign of some sort of a maturity that the sacred and sexual parts of my life seem to blend, to meld, to work together, and not at odds.  It just seems like the most natural thing.

I'm odd that way.  Maybe, not so odd.

Into Silence

OK, so, I'm in this strange kind of job, you know?  Really.  It's just different from what most people do.  Unexpected for a gay man, who's been divorced.  Just not what you'd think.

And, it can be a very draining profession.  Dealing with a many needs, on many levels, in many ways; and there is seldom a dull moment.  Long days; sometimes long nights; always weekends.  So, every now and then, one has to get away.  Way away (sort of).

Having no money, there are some resources upon which I may draw for away time that is work related.  No, it's not a convention in Las Vegas.  It's a retreat.  A real retreat; an old-fashioned retreat. 

Silence.

I'm leaving today for about 3 days of silence with a bunch of folk who live in community, and don't talk.  Meals, prayers, silence.  right now, it sounds like heaven to me!  I am really excited.

On the way, I'll stop over for a night with a friend.  That part of the trip won't be silent.  But there may be parts of it where I will be unable to talk.

A film maker did a documentary on a group of silent folk called Into Great Silence.  I recommend it.  I'll be with Trappists, though, not Carthusians, if you care to know!

I will be writing some but not sure if I'll have Internet connection.  Maybe I'll post something if so inclined.  No TV, no chatting, no noise.  Long walks, some books to read.  Silence.

I am so gonna love this.