Friday, June 27, 2003

TIMES OF BLESSING

Lakeside, Ohio is a place that has taken on near mythical imagery in our family. It's a place to reconnect and recharge. To rest. To unplug.

This is where our family, on Amy's side, has converged annually each summer for many years and part of its appeal is there are no electronic exits. There will be no blogging at Lakeside. The house actually has a phone, unlike any we've rented in previous years, and a few other modern amenities, like a TV and VCR, but their use is discouraged if not banned outright. We will face facts and family...together.

I can attest that it is easy to drift away from your family. It's impossible to do at Lakeside.

To the outsider, Lakeside appears to have little to offer. Cramped quarters. Somewhat archaic entertainment choices. An ice cream shop. Candy stores.

But there is a sense of what's important at Lakeside. There is a peaceful passion to this place.

It's not all bliss. There will be confusion. Emotions will erupt. Moments of discomfort are inevitable as generations collide.

This is family.

Tomorrow I turn 46...and go back in time.

Thank you God for the opportunity of this blessing.

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/27/2003 08:51:00 PM  

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Harmony

Many voices talking all at once. Children squealing. Small verbal skirmishes over planning. Hugs...howls of laughter

The instruments of a convulsive commotion.

The symphony of our family.

I like to sit, listen and savor the melody.

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/27/2003 05:58:00 AM  

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Thursday, June 26, 2003

ARRIVALS

Okay, so maybe I'll post a bit while on vacation.

Relatively uneventful flights. A small problem with our "carry on" luggage. Amy found a portable "cooler" that is essentially a carry on bag.

"You know you're a redneck if your carry on luggage is a cooler"- Jeff Foxworthy


Anyway, as they squeeze customers on airliners these days they squeeze out space for things like luggage. The "cooler" didn't fit in the over head compartment, or under any seat. We managed to sweet talk the flight attendants into stashing it elsewhere. I suspect it's an unwritten rule that you don't ask a lot of questions of people carrying frozen meat onto airplanes. This is no doubt a defense mechanism against hearing too many stories about "well, it's road kill we couldn't waste", or worse.. Sort of self imposed "Dahmer denial".
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As usual I set off all the security bells and whistles at the airport. Had to remove my shoes, unbuckle my belt, stand like a scarecrow and be "wanded". I also discovered when I opened my suitcase last night that it had been "searched". The Transportation Security Agency left a nice little note telling me so, but I would have realized it anyway, because it was packed much neater than how I left it.
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We started today by taking a clunker car Joey bought to a mechanic we've been told is honest to see if the car has any chance for redemption. It was overheating, dying, and spewing steam every inch of the way there, so I don't hold out much hope. However, you never know. Maybe they'll be able to fix it cheap, then I can drive it back to San Antonio. That would be an adventure...no telling how much frozen meat it can hold.

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/26/2003 08:36:00 AM  

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Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Blogage

I've been kicking around the idea of taking a small notebook with me on vacation and making notes to write here upon my return....today I'm rejecting that idea.

Perhaps while on vacation I may find a computer and dash out a thought or two, but I doubt it. I am fulfilled in knowing that I have lived up to my challenge to write something here every day, but I am not going to be in bondage to blogging (blogage?).

I spoke with a close friend last night about the benefits of blogging as a discipline and why we feel compelled to write. I believe we are fleshing ourselves out, which is exactly what God asks of us. It's far too easy to live a lengthy life, only to discover you never explored its width.

Vacation is indeed a time to cast aside my daily burdens, but maybe it's also a time to set aside some of my daily joys and pleasures. I think I might appreciate them more that way. I am leaving some of our good friends behind for this short period of time,and I will leave The Main Point untended also. My friends will be here when I get back....and so will this space.

Besides I think everyone who reads this blog, with one or two exceptions, is going on vacation with me.

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/24/2003 01:04:00 PM  

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Monday, June 23, 2003

BLUE SKIES AHEAD AND A BEHIND

This is the forecast for my vacation destination:

Day Conditions Temp Rain chance


Sat
Jun 28 Partly Cloudy 75°/63° 20 %
Sun
Jun 29 Mostly Sunny 78°/65° 20 %
Mon
Jun 30 Partly Cloudy 78°/66° 10 %
Tue
Jul 01 Partly Cloudy 76°/65° 10 %
Wed
Jul 02 Partly Cloudy 77°/65° 10 %

Exactly the weather I've been praying for...hopefully the weatherman will be right for a change. It will be a wonderful way to recharge no matter the weather, but if we aren't all sweating it will add to the enjoyment. As I've stated here repeatedly...I can't wait for vacation to begin and I will be renewed when it concludes.
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Not all things end well. Last week, a guy whose become known as "Thong Man", got another blitz of publicity for riding his bicycle barely clad. I gleefully mentioned him here.

Now Thong Man is dead.

He was found dead in Big Bend national Park, a rugged area in West Texas. He apparently fell, or perhaps jumped, from a 100 foot cliff.
He was naked when he was discovered.

Odds are his proclivity for flashing his rear was his way of crying out for help. Perhaps we couldn't see that because we were so fixated on what he was showing publicly.

Thong man came into this world bare bottomed, lived his life parading that bottom out in public , and died bottom's up at the bottom of a cliff . There is only one fitting way to sum up his story.

"The End."

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/23/2003 05:00:00 PM  

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Sunday, June 22, 2003

WELL, OBVIOUSLY

Today was a special day at church. We marked Gordon's tenth anniversary as Pastor. The "ceremony" has been in the planning stages for a few weeks and thanks to the work of several devoted individuals we pulled it off without Gordon or his wife Jeanene catching on.
For the past couple of weeks people have been coming up to me at the church, literally in the sanctuary within a few feet of Gordon or Jeanene, and handing me mysterious envelopes or cash. The antics went undetected. I could have been dealing crack out of the church just as easily.

In actuality, the envelopes contained letters written by members of the congregation and the cash was for token gift certificates to mark the anniversary.

It's part of being human to be focused on the day ahead, the task at hand, and ourselves more often than others. That Gordon overlooked clues that a conspiracy was afoot is not surprising to me whatsoever, and it didn't surprise him either.

What I think is surprising is that perhaps Gordon and Jeanene don't recognize how truly inspirational they are to the people around them. That quality is not rooted in their positions in the church, but in their very nature. They are on a journey to be closer to God and they welcome others to share the roadway.

Among those letters written by our church members were testaments about what Gordon and Jeanene mean to us. They were presented to Gordon by our littlest church members in a scrapbook carefully crafted by the talents of Cynthia.



It's abundantly clear "to us": We love Gordon and Jeanene. They are valued.



Our mistake is in assuming that others see what we see so plainly.

I think God was telling me today to spend more time letting people know the wonderful qualities I see in them.

Obviously.

posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main 6/22/2003 05:58:00 PM  

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