time

Drive-Ins And Still More Random Stuff

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The last time before tonight that I went to a drive-in movie theatre, I saw Liar Liar and The Saint. That should tell you how long it’s been. I know it was sometime around the mid-90’s. Those of you who are better at math than me can figure out how long that’s been.

Tonight (or technically last night, since it’s 1:23 am), I went to the drive-in at Waterford. It was definitely like stepping back in time. Even the movies were vintage, starting with Back to the Future and ending up with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And yes, Ferris is still my hero.

Life was different back then, at least for me. It didn’t seem so fast and people didn’t seem to be in so much of a hurry. It seems like anymore people are so worried about getting to the next place they often miss where they are now. Says one who is guilty of such.

Sometimes, the most important part is not getting a head start on traffic, but not missing the moment. Savoring a beautiful summer night with breezes hinting of a fall yet to come and stars out in full glory. I’d rather get home 20 minutes later than miss out on that.

Earlier today, I helped Belmont students move into their dorms. It reminded me of my own days as a college student when I moved all my belongings into a dorm room. Those were good days, but I won’t say they were the best.

The best days, I think, are now because that’s where God is and that’s where He is speaking to us and working in us. That’s where I want to be, waiting to see what God will do next. I can’t imagine what it will be, but I know it’s gonna be good.

Like Ferris said, life is pretty short. If you don’t stop every once in a while and look around, you could miss it.

Bye-Bye, Borders (Farewell to Another Favorite Bookstore)

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Dear Borders,

I’ve read the news and seen the signs. You’re going away forever soon, and that makes me sad. Soon there will no longer be any more Borders.

You were my second favorite bookstore.  #1 bit the dust when David-Kidd went away, and now #2 is going bye-bye. I guess that leaves Barnes & Noble as my new favorite by default.

You were a place I could go and walk around when I needed to detox from a stressful day. You had books, music, movies, and those weird novelty gadgets to browse that made killing time such a pleasure. You had the cafe with those oh-so-good freshly baked cookies. Where will I get those now?

I confess sometimes I would see one of your products and go find it online cheaper. I feel bad about that now. Maybe if I had paid a few more dollars a few times, you might still be around after September. Or maybe not. Who knows?

I still have my Borders card, which is pretty much useless now, but I think I will keep it on my keychain for a while to remember all the good times I had with you. Even that weird night with all the older ladies wearing red hats. That was a little awkward.

I discovered some good music. I found some good movies. I even bought some hand soap (it was 75% off). But most of all, you were my happy place. You were the place I went to where I knew I would be happy for a little while.

Now I have one less happy place.

Thank you, Borders, for making my life a little better and a little happier. You were a little pricey and sometimes you didn’t have what I was looking for, but you made my inner book-nerd very happy. I always joked that I could put a hammock in one of your aisles and live there.

Now you’re going away. I will miss you and all your booky goodness. Thanks for the memories. The next time I read a good book with a freshly baked cookie, I will think of you.

The Way of the Heart . . . So Far

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 1 Comment

I think I’ve established the fact that I am a supreme book nerd. I pretty much start salivating when I walk into Borders. For some reason, I don’t get quite the same effect at Barnes & Noble. Not sure why.

Anyway. I’ve been reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, titled The Way of the Heart. The book is based on the teachings of the Desert Fathers of the 4th and 5th century. The idea is that in order to grow in your salvation you must “flee, be silent, and pray.”

Thus the three tenets of the book are solitude, silence, and prayer. We need each one to be able to tune out the distractions and tune into God’s heart for us.

Solitude keeps us from passively drifting along with society and its values and being conformed by the world around us. It takes us out of the world, so we can be in the world and not of it. We’ll never have time to get away to spend time with God unless we make time.

Silence is in response to what Nouwen calls the “wordy world” where we are constantly being bombarded with messages all day long. Silence means that the words we do speak have more meaning because they are fewer and more deliberately chosen. It means we avoid the pitfalls of words spoken flippantly or angrily or vainly. It allows us to hear God speaking to us.

Prayer is not so much finding out more about God and gaining knowledge of His will, but in immersing all of our being into God and being transformed by Him there. It is an acknowledged dependence on God in everything for everything always.

I am 79 pages in, and I am almost tempted to start the book over when I get finished. I can’t say that about too many books I’ve read, and I’ve read plenty. Remember me the uber book nerd?

I recommend anything by Henri Nouwen or Brennan Manning to speak directly to your world wherever you are. At least that’s what happens for me when I read either one of them.

I think I’ll close with a quote from Henri Nouwen:

“It is in solitude that compassionate solidarity grows. In solitude we realize that nothing is alien to us, that the roots of all conflict, war, injustice, cruelty, hatred, jealousy, and envy are deeply anchored in our own heart. In solitude our heart of stone can be turned into a heart of flesh, a rebellious heart into a contrite heart, and a closed heart into a heart that can open itself to all suffering people in a gesture of solidarity.”