Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
We held our very first "Coffee with Jonna" yesterday!
"Coffee with Jonna" is a virtual coffee time with Jonna who is a volunteer chaplain at our YMCA. Before we talk about "Coffee with Jonna" it was brought to my attention that I made a booboo the other day. I must address this before I continue.
I haven't fact checked this yet, I will leave this to MSNBC, but evidently I only had 14 "v's" in one of the times that I spelled Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor in my last post. For this I must apologize.
As I look at my CEO's mythical name (remember this is not his real name, but every story is much better with a name attached) and as I say his mythical name in my head "Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor", it has this doppler effect. You know what I mean. It is like when a train goes by and goes:
Choooo-choooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Since I am in charge of mythical names in the Daily Bread for Ragamuffins I think I shall make his full name Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor Doppler Effect Left (Anyone who actually knows our CEO's real name will get the funny in all of this nonsense).
Back to "Coffee with Jonna".
Jonna is this truly amazing gem of a person. She has this unique way of really connecting with people and this God given talent of making them feel better, and actually seen and heard.
Jonna is a gift from God, our YMCA is extremely blessed to have her.
If your "Y" has a Jonna, you know what I mean. If it doesn't, go find a Jonna and you will.
"Coffee with Jonna" is like a talk show, except the audience gets to talk too; what a cool idea. Jonna's first guest was "Liz" (Not her real name...) Liz was a fantastic choice for Jonna's first guest. They played off each other like to sisters in a pod, or is that to peas in a family? not sure if I am mixing metaphors or not. I am pretty sure I am mixing something.
Everyone had a wonderful time with "Coffee with Jonna".
You can tune into "Coffee with Jonna" every Monday and Wednesday at 2pm PST.
Just go to: https://www.ymcacw.org/locations/clark-county-family-ymca and go through the virtual check-n process and then find "Coffee with Jonna" in the virtual workout section. As a matter of fact you can find activities for you and your kids in this section too. Everything from workouts for you to Y-time activities for the kids.
Living life can be hard.
Let's live it together and help one another.
Jesus prayed this prayer once:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
Funny thing is the YMCA was birthed on this prayer back in 1844.
"Coffee with Jonna" embodies this prayer. Well done Jonna.
Let us be together.
Let us live in unity.
See You at the next "Coffee with Jonna".
Blessings,
Roger
My Book
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I am back at the dairy farm again today, actually I am on a dairy farm field trip today. My normal Chemo treatment place is closed (another Covid-19 adjustment) and I am at a new place. It is your typical dairy farm with all the same accoutrements. I even saw one of my normal farm workers, she must be on a field trip too. She told me that they are using this dairy farm because it is more conducive for social distancing. One thing you should know, dairy cattle are not good at social distancing.
Our CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but a story is always better with a name attached) told me that he prefers to spell his mythical name with 15-v's, so here we go. Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor has been working very hard to help the "Y" continue to do all the good things that we do; like feed kids, work with lonely seniors, help families be their best.
This Covid-19 thing has caused us to be creative!
We are adding tutoring, virtual camps, Coffee with Jonna (if you haven't seen Jonna yet, tune into the Clark County Family YMCA Wednesday at 2pm; I think Liz (again not her real name) will be her special guest, this Wednesday will be a real Hoot.
Anyway I told Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor that I would try and help. If you look to the right side of the blog page you should see a "Help us help others" If you click it you can go to a donation page and help us help others.
I am sitting at the dairy farm watching nurses (farm workers) help others as they also help me.
They truly are amazing individuals. and the dairy cattle are some of the best people I have ever met.
Like I have said before, "The more stuff you go through, the less wrapped around axles you get." You realize what is truly big stuff and what isn't. Honestly, there is not that much big stuff to get wrapped up about, most of the stuff falls into to "isn't" category.
I am humbled and honored to be part of such an amazing group of people and organization that continues to be outward focused and intent on serving others in the midst of a storm, they are courageous.
Courage isn't just blindly running into a firestorm, that is just foolish.
Courage is knowing what can happen when you run into a firestorm and running into it anyway.
The staff at my YMCA are courageous.
-Do they get anxious? Yes they do.
-Are they sometimes fearful? Yes they are.
-Do they sometimes get down a bit? Yes they do.
Do they still run to the firestorm? Yes they do!
They are courageous!
One of my jobs is to give them the tools they need to do the amazing things they do.
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Check out the donation tab.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I am back at the dairy farm again today, actually I am on a dairy farm field trip today. My normal Chemo treatment place is closed (another Covid-19 adjustment) and I am at a new place. It is your typical dairy farm with all the same accoutrements. I even saw one of my normal farm workers, she must be on a field trip too. She told me that they are using this dairy farm because it is more conducive for social distancing. One thing you should know, dairy cattle are not good at social distancing.
Our CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but a story is always better with a name attached) told me that he prefers to spell his mythical name with 15-v's, so here we go. Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor has been working very hard to help the "Y" continue to do all the good things that we do; like feed kids, work with lonely seniors, help families be their best.
This Covid-19 thing has caused us to be creative!
We are adding tutoring, virtual camps, Coffee with Jonna (if you haven't seen Jonna yet, tune into the Clark County Family YMCA Wednesday at 2pm; I think Liz (again not her real name) will be her special guest, this Wednesday will be a real Hoot.
Anyway I told Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor that I would try and help. If you look to the right side of the blog page you should see a "Help us help others" If you click it you can go to a donation page and help us help others.
I am sitting at the dairy farm watching nurses (farm workers) help others as they also help me.
They truly are amazing individuals. and the dairy cattle are some of the best people I have ever met.
Like I have said before, "The more stuff you go through, the less wrapped around axles you get." You realize what is truly big stuff and what isn't. Honestly, there is not that much big stuff to get wrapped up about, most of the stuff falls into to "isn't" category.
I am humbled and honored to be part of such an amazing group of people and organization that continues to be outward focused and intent on serving others in the midst of a storm, they are courageous.
Courage isn't just blindly running into a firestorm, that is just foolish.
Courage is knowing what can happen when you run into a firestorm and running into it anyway.
The staff at my YMCA are courageous.
-Do they get anxious? Yes they do.
-Are they sometimes fearful? Yes they are.
-Do they sometimes get down a bit? Yes they do.
Do they still run to the firestorm? Yes they do!
They are courageous!
One of my jobs is to give them the tools they need to do the amazing things they do.
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Check out the donation tab.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, April 24, 2020
I hate change! Someone said that once
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I was in an almost meeting yesterday with our CEO, he brought up our Daily Breads. He thought we should change the name to "Daily picking on Trevor bread for Ragamuffins."
Thoughts?
Later that day, almost sounds like a movie Segway (Oops, I said almost, it must virtually sound like a movie Segway.) I was talking with one of the staff I will call her Jennifer (not her real name but as I say, a good story is always better with a name.) and she seemed upset.
I asked her, "Have I offended you?"
She said, "No."
I then asked, "Have I made you mad?"
She said, "No."
I then asked (because I am good at this stuff and can, if I am really paying attention, tell when people are mad at me; like my wife, she was only mad at me for a week and 3-days before I noticed she was mad. She was then mad at me for 2-things:
1. The original reason for being mad.
2. The fact I didn't notice for a week and 2-days.
Like I said, I am good at this stuff.
Jennifer, you seem distant and when you talk you are to the point.
She responded, "I hate change, and that is all we have right now is change. I make plans and work plans. Now I always have to change plans, which makes it seem as if I don't have a plan.
Oh, the mind of a Program Director.
The funny thing about the "Y" is that we are change agents. It is deeply imbedded in our Mission Statement, it is in our mantra's, we talk about how good we are at being an agent of change; yet, when we are forced to change because of circumstance, we hate change.
Oh these are tough times to be a shrubbier!
Back to Trevor (Yes, in case you hadn't noticed, that was a Segway)
Trevor loves change. It is because he understands being a change agent. He likes to say when he meets people, "Hi, my name is Trevor and I save lives."
The "Y" saves lives, now more than ever.
The way we provide that change is changing (see what I did there? I thought it was kinda cool).
Jennifer will be alright. We will have changed our summer camps into an Academy (her idea later in the evening and then emailing us. Yes, she was working late, not because she has to, but because she lives this stuff.) A change in the programming that will be as big as when we changed our ChildWatch babysitting service into "Y-Time; where kids learn and play". A true program in which we teach kids. Imbedded in that teaching is love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service.
The "Y-Academy" will do this as well.
Change is hard.
Someone once said," people will not change until the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same." I believe this to be true.
At the "Y" we just want to lesson the pain.(sp? Not sure lesson is a real word for what I am using it for, I heard it a lot as a kid growing up in Kansas, "Oh the horse kicked you in the head? Here put this mud on your head, it will lesson the pain." maybe it is a Kansas thing.)
Should I spell Trevor will 1-v or 2-v's (Just seeing if our CEO is reading all the way tot he end:)
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I was in an almost meeting yesterday with our CEO, he brought up our Daily Breads. He thought we should change the name to "Daily picking on Trevor bread for Ragamuffins."
Thoughts?
Later that day, almost sounds like a movie Segway (Oops, I said almost, it must virtually sound like a movie Segway.) I was talking with one of the staff I will call her Jennifer (not her real name but as I say, a good story is always better with a name.) and she seemed upset.
I asked her, "Have I offended you?"
She said, "No."
I then asked, "Have I made you mad?"
She said, "No."
I then asked (because I am good at this stuff and can, if I am really paying attention, tell when people are mad at me; like my wife, she was only mad at me for a week and 3-days before I noticed she was mad. She was then mad at me for 2-things:
1. The original reason for being mad.
2. The fact I didn't notice for a week and 2-days.
Like I said, I am good at this stuff.
Jennifer, you seem distant and when you talk you are to the point.
She responded, "I hate change, and that is all we have right now is change. I make plans and work plans. Now I always have to change plans, which makes it seem as if I don't have a plan.
Oh, the mind of a Program Director.
The funny thing about the "Y" is that we are change agents. It is deeply imbedded in our Mission Statement, it is in our mantra's, we talk about how good we are at being an agent of change; yet, when we are forced to change because of circumstance, we hate change.
Oh these are tough times to be a shrubbier!
Back to Trevor (Yes, in case you hadn't noticed, that was a Segway)
Trevor loves change. It is because he understands being a change agent. He likes to say when he meets people, "Hi, my name is Trevor and I save lives."
The "Y" saves lives, now more than ever.
The way we provide that change is changing (see what I did there? I thought it was kinda cool).
Jennifer will be alright. We will have changed our summer camps into an Academy (her idea later in the evening and then emailing us. Yes, she was working late, not because she has to, but because she lives this stuff.) A change in the programming that will be as big as when we changed our ChildWatch babysitting service into "Y-Time; where kids learn and play". A true program in which we teach kids. Imbedded in that teaching is love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service.
The "Y-Academy" will do this as well.
Change is hard.
Someone once said," people will not change until the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same." I believe this to be true.
At the "Y" we just want to lesson the pain.(sp? Not sure lesson is a real word for what I am using it for, I heard it a lot as a kid growing up in Kansas, "Oh the horse kicked you in the head? Here put this mud on your head, it will lesson the pain." maybe it is a Kansas thing.)
Should I spell Trevor will 1-v or 2-v's (Just seeing if our CEO is reading all the way tot he end:)
Blessings,
Roger
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Dancing with God
Good Morning,
I pray that the day is finding you well.
The wind was blowing the other day.
I noticed a leaf being blown in the wind.
First it blew one way, then another.
I watched as it went back and forth tumbling along. Tumbling over its stem then over the tips of the leaf.
I sat there for quite a while watching this leaf.
At first I was amused by the back and forth action, thinking about how the wind changed direction causing the leaf to change its direction.
I thought about how the leaf really didn’t have any say, or influence, on where it wanted to go. The wind was in control.
I began to think about how most of us live and work at the whim of others. If someone decides to go another direction, or the economy takes another dip, our job might go away, and we will have just about as much say in it as the leaf does with the wind.
Then God said, “Relax and watch the leaf.”
I sat silently watching the leaf.
After a while my heart began to change.
I began to see the leaf differently.
I began to see it dance.
It no longer was this out of control leaf being pushed here and there. The leaf was dancing.
A still small voice said, “This leaf makes me smile. It is dancing with me.”
I sat there and watched the leaf for quite a while.
In the end, I was no longer thinking in a negative fashion. My thoughts went to thinking about all the blessings, and small miracles that happen everyday. I just need to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
My prayer is that we all choose to see the beauty in God’s creation, to see a leaf dance; to ask the question, are we dancing with God or merely allowing ourselves to be blown out of control?
It is a matter of perspective.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray that the day is finding you well.
The wind was blowing the other day.
I noticed a leaf being blown in the wind.
First it blew one way, then another.
I watched as it went back and forth tumbling along. Tumbling over its stem then over the tips of the leaf.
I sat there for quite a while watching this leaf.
At first I was amused by the back and forth action, thinking about how the wind changed direction causing the leaf to change its direction.
I thought about how the leaf really didn’t have any say, or influence, on where it wanted to go. The wind was in control.
I began to think about how most of us live and work at the whim of others. If someone decides to go another direction, or the economy takes another dip, our job might go away, and we will have just about as much say in it as the leaf does with the wind.
Then God said, “Relax and watch the leaf.”
I sat silently watching the leaf.
After a while my heart began to change.
I began to see the leaf differently.
I began to see it dance.
It no longer was this out of control leaf being pushed here and there. The leaf was dancing.
A still small voice said, “This leaf makes me smile. It is dancing with me.”
I sat there and watched the leaf for quite a while.
In the end, I was no longer thinking in a negative fashion. My thoughts went to thinking about all the blessings, and small miracles that happen everyday. I just need to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
My prayer is that we all choose to see the beauty in God’s creation, to see a leaf dance; to ask the question, are we dancing with God or merely allowing ourselves to be blown out of control?
It is a matter of perspective.
Blessings,
Roger
Monday, April 20, 2020
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I got up this morning and wondered what I would do today? I opened up the YMCA page in my browser and saw that there were a lot of options. The options were virtually limitless (did you notice how I snuck the word virtual in there, that was on purpose.)
Oh the times, they are a changing.
On T.V.:
-We have doctors on one channel saying to stay home, and doctors on another channel to leave the house.
-We have journalist that are so busy telling us what they think, that they aren't really reporting anything anymore.
-We have television celebrities acting as if they have a PHD in the subject they are discussing.
It is no wonder why people are confused, anxious, angry...the list goes on.
I haven't even started with the politicians yet.
In the midst of all this we have our YMCA. Your YMCA is busy checking on you; doing its best to provide classes,and points of connection so that we can come together and get through this.
The YMCA is a beacon of light amidst the darkness that seems to surround us.
I really don't watch the news much anymore. I see it for what it is.
I would rather watch a video on how to make a pirate hat, or Tressa's workouts.
I talked the other day about "What is in your cup?"
When I watch a YMCA video, or take a virtual class I see things like love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service spilling out of the cup of the YMCA.
I see good things.
When I watch big network news the things I see spilling out of their cup is very different and frankly not very appealing.
The other day I talked about what you put in your cup is what comes out.
It is easy to see what the staff of the YMCA is putting into their cups, because of what we see coming out.
It is also easy to see what the big box news is putting into their cups as well.
What are you putting into your cup?
You have heard the term GIGO, garbage in garbage out.
Have you heard the term BIBO? Beautiful in Beautiful out.
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I got up this morning and wondered what I would do today? I opened up the YMCA page in my browser and saw that there were a lot of options. The options were virtually limitless (did you notice how I snuck the word virtual in there, that was on purpose.)
Oh the times, they are a changing.
On T.V.:
-We have doctors on one channel saying to stay home, and doctors on another channel to leave the house.
-We have journalist that are so busy telling us what they think, that they aren't really reporting anything anymore.
-We have television celebrities acting as if they have a PHD in the subject they are discussing.
It is no wonder why people are confused, anxious, angry...the list goes on.
I haven't even started with the politicians yet.
In the midst of all this we have our YMCA. Your YMCA is busy checking on you; doing its best to provide classes,and points of connection so that we can come together and get through this.
The YMCA is a beacon of light amidst the darkness that seems to surround us.
I really don't watch the news much anymore. I see it for what it is.
I would rather watch a video on how to make a pirate hat, or Tressa's workouts.
I talked the other day about "What is in your cup?"
When I watch a YMCA video, or take a virtual class I see things like love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service spilling out of the cup of the YMCA.
I see good things.
When I watch big network news the things I see spilling out of their cup is very different and frankly not very appealing.
The other day I talked about what you put in your cup is what comes out.
It is easy to see what the staff of the YMCA is putting into their cups, because of what we see coming out.
It is also easy to see what the big box news is putting into their cups as well.
What are you putting into your cup?
You have heard the term GIGO, garbage in garbage out.
Have you heard the term BIBO? Beautiful in Beautiful out.
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, April 17, 2020
I want to be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper.
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I visited a virtual "Y-Time" class.
What is "Y-Time" you ask?
"Y-Time" is a program that we developed to help kids learn while they play. We used to have an offering called "Child-Watch". "Child-Watch" was exactly what it sounds like. When parents would come to the "Y" to work out or take some sort of class, they would put their kids in "Child-Watch" and we would watch their children for them. We changed that a few years ago to "Y-Time" where kids learn and play.
We developed staff to become teachers and developed age appropriate lessons. This was a game changer.
While it would be nearly impossible to have a "Virtual Child-Watch"; I guess we already have that, it is called T.V., "Y-Time" is a true benefit.
In the class the instructor read a book, I wish I could remember the title, but the book was a about the question, "Are you a bucket filler, or are you a bucket dipper?"
A bucket filler is someone who fills other peoples emotional/spiritual bucket.
A bucket dipper takes another persons emotional/spiritual stuff out of their bucket.
The thing about being a bucket dipper is that they dip from another person's bucket in an attempt to fill their own. This comes in the form of:
-Putting someone else down.
-Bullying
-Making fun of someone
This mindset goes like, "If I make someone else feel worse, I will feel better, or, I will look better if I make someone else look bad. Thus my bucket will be full.
The problem with that is the fact that no matter how much someone dips out of someone else's bucket, their bucket never gets full.
The only way to fill your bucket is by filling someone else's, the Acceptance Paradox.
I have athiest friends that tell me that I am not doing good because of my faith but because it makes me feel good. My response back has always been, "Why can't it be both? Maybe God made it possible to feel good when I help someone else as a barometer of how I am living out my faith."
I think they were trying to be bucket dippers when they asked, just sayin.
Anyway, "Y-Time" was busy teaching kids to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers.
I am not sure if I had mentioned that our YMCA had adopted an emergency room at a local hospital. The kids in our Child Development Centers make card of appreciation for the Nurses, Doctors, and support staff to try and fill their buckets.
Virtual "Y-Time" in their class activity (We always have a class activity) made cards of appreciation for people. The kids could pick who they wanted to give them to. Family, Grocery workers, firemen, policemen... It was fun to watch the kids make their cards and fill the buckets of others.
I think I will fill someone's bucket today.
Will you join me, and fill someone's bucket too?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I visited a virtual "Y-Time" class.
What is "Y-Time" you ask?
"Y-Time" is a program that we developed to help kids learn while they play. We used to have an offering called "Child-Watch". "Child-Watch" was exactly what it sounds like. When parents would come to the "Y" to work out or take some sort of class, they would put their kids in "Child-Watch" and we would watch their children for them. We changed that a few years ago to "Y-Time" where kids learn and play.
We developed staff to become teachers and developed age appropriate lessons. This was a game changer.
While it would be nearly impossible to have a "Virtual Child-Watch"; I guess we already have that, it is called T.V., "Y-Time" is a true benefit.
In the class the instructor read a book, I wish I could remember the title, but the book was a about the question, "Are you a bucket filler, or are you a bucket dipper?"
A bucket filler is someone who fills other peoples emotional/spiritual bucket.
A bucket dipper takes another persons emotional/spiritual stuff out of their bucket.
The thing about being a bucket dipper is that they dip from another person's bucket in an attempt to fill their own. This comes in the form of:
-Putting someone else down.
-Bullying
-Making fun of someone
This mindset goes like, "If I make someone else feel worse, I will feel better, or, I will look better if I make someone else look bad. Thus my bucket will be full.
The problem with that is the fact that no matter how much someone dips out of someone else's bucket, their bucket never gets full.
The only way to fill your bucket is by filling someone else's, the Acceptance Paradox.
I have athiest friends that tell me that I am not doing good because of my faith but because it makes me feel good. My response back has always been, "Why can't it be both? Maybe God made it possible to feel good when I help someone else as a barometer of how I am living out my faith."
I think they were trying to be bucket dippers when they asked, just sayin.
Anyway, "Y-Time" was busy teaching kids to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers.
I am not sure if I had mentioned that our YMCA had adopted an emergency room at a local hospital. The kids in our Child Development Centers make card of appreciation for the Nurses, Doctors, and support staff to try and fill their buckets.
Virtual "Y-Time" in their class activity (We always have a class activity) made cards of appreciation for people. The kids could pick who they wanted to give them to. Family, Grocery workers, firemen, policemen... It was fun to watch the kids make their cards and fill the buckets of others.
I think I will fill someone's bucket today.
Will you join me, and fill someone's bucket too?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
I took an almost class yesterday
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I took a virtual class yesterday. It was Virtual High Fitness with Mary!
While it was a virtual class or should I say:
-Nearly a class
-Almost a class
-not completely a class
In the strictest definition of the word.
-The sweat felt real.
-The lack of oxygen in my lungs felt real.
-This morning my sore muscles feel real.
Hmmm, so this "almost a class" feels very real to me this morning.
During the "nearly a class" I felt really free. Free to:
-Not have to know the choreographed moves and do my own thing.
-Make funny faces when the "nearly a class" got hard.
-Flail my arms around and dance to the music.
When I had finished the not "completely a class" I looked at my Garmin watch I had:
-Worked out for an hour, without leaving my home.
-Over 6,000 steps on my tracker.
-Pulled a hammy, actually I didn't but I thought it was funny (Much different than the cloud remark)
Bonny called me later to ask how the class went.
I said, "I loved it! I didn't feel self-conscious at all. When I didn't know the moves I could just flail around until I figured them out."
Bonnie responded, "I really liked the flailing of the arms part." Yes she could see me in the virtual class. Which raised a another set of questions in my mind (it is loud in my head).
Since Bonnie could see me in the virtual class does that mean I was:
-Nearly a participant
-Almost a participant
-not completely a participant
Things you can think about when you are not worried about looking cool in a Virtual high Fitness with Mary.
This whole exercise, and I mean exercise in the sense of trying something new, not the exercise where I flail my arms a lot, got me to thinking.
Since it is easier to be me when I don't think anyone is judging my performance, all-be-it in a gym this time. How much easier is it to relax and just be with God When you are not worried about singing off key, or "Is now the right time to raise my hands?" Do I sit or stand? Where do I sit? or in the Russian Orthodox tradition, "Am I standing in someone's spot?" Which actually happened to me once. The next time I went I was informed that I could stand there now because Martha was in Palm Springs that week.
Maybe, this whole Covid-19 Worship experience with the virtual church has some upside to it?
Maybe, since we are stuck at home anyway, we can be more intentional, less restricted, about our conversations with God.
This coming Sunday when I go to my virtual church service, you know the one:
-Nearly a service
-Almost a service
-not completely a service
I will:
-Do more flailing
-Sing louder offkey
-Dance like no-one is watching
After all the important thing is to talk with God, not hold back because I am afraid of looking foolish.
I am going to take an almost class again today, after all the YMCA is working on my insecurities as they work on my fitness. Maybe, they can help you too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I took a virtual class yesterday. It was Virtual High Fitness with Mary!
While it was a virtual class or should I say:
-Nearly a class
-Almost a class
-not completely a class
In the strictest definition of the word.
-The sweat felt real.
-The lack of oxygen in my lungs felt real.
-This morning my sore muscles feel real.
Hmmm, so this "almost a class" feels very real to me this morning.
During the "nearly a class" I felt really free. Free to:
-Not have to know the choreographed moves and do my own thing.
-Make funny faces when the "nearly a class" got hard.
-Flail my arms around and dance to the music.
When I had finished the not "completely a class" I looked at my Garmin watch I had:
-Worked out for an hour, without leaving my home.
-Over 6,000 steps on my tracker.
-Pulled a hammy, actually I didn't but I thought it was funny (Much different than the cloud remark)
Bonny called me later to ask how the class went.
I said, "I loved it! I didn't feel self-conscious at all. When I didn't know the moves I could just flail around until I figured them out."
Bonnie responded, "I really liked the flailing of the arms part." Yes she could see me in the virtual class. Which raised a another set of questions in my mind (it is loud in my head).
Since Bonnie could see me in the virtual class does that mean I was:
-Nearly a participant
-Almost a participant
-not completely a participant
Things you can think about when you are not worried about looking cool in a Virtual high Fitness with Mary.
This whole exercise, and I mean exercise in the sense of trying something new, not the exercise where I flail my arms a lot, got me to thinking.
Since it is easier to be me when I don't think anyone is judging my performance, all-be-it in a gym this time. How much easier is it to relax and just be with God When you are not worried about singing off key, or "Is now the right time to raise my hands?" Do I sit or stand? Where do I sit? or in the Russian Orthodox tradition, "Am I standing in someone's spot?" Which actually happened to me once. The next time I went I was informed that I could stand there now because Martha was in Palm Springs that week.
Maybe, this whole Covid-19 Worship experience with the virtual church has some upside to it?
Maybe, since we are stuck at home anyway, we can be more intentional, less restricted, about our conversations with God.
This coming Sunday when I go to my virtual church service, you know the one:
-Nearly a service
-Almost a service
-not completely a service
I will:
-Do more flailing
-Sing louder offkey
-Dance like no-one is watching
After all the important thing is to talk with God, not hold back because I am afraid of looking foolish.
I am going to take an almost class again today, after all the YMCA is working on my insecurities as they work on my fitness. Maybe, they can help you too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
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