Got to see Fantastic Mr. Fox, and it was indeed fantastic, and there will be more on its way here, and like every single movie reviewer in America is pointing out whether they have anything insightful to say about it or not, there are a lot of interesting parallels with Wild Things.
But that's not the point right now, the point is this quote from Roger Ebert's 3 1/2 star review:
"Children, especially, will find things they don't understand, and things that scare them. Excellent. A good story for children should suggest a hidden dimension, and that dimension of course is the lifetime still ahead of them. Six is a little early for a movie to suggest to kids that the case is closed. Oh, what if the kids start crying about words they don't know? -- 'Mommy, Mommy! What's creme brulee?' Show them, for goodness sake. They'll thank you for it. Take my word on this."
And this one from A.O. Scott:
"Is it is a movie for children? This inevitable question depends on the assumption that children have uniform tastes and expectations. How can that be? And besides, the point of everything Mr. Anderson has ever done is that truth and beauty reside in the odd, the mismatched, the idiosyncratic. He makes that point in ways that are sometimes touching, sometimes annoying, but usually worth arguing about. Not everyone will like 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'; and if everyone did, it would not be nearly as interesting as it is. There are some children — some people — who will embrace it with a special, strange intensity, as if it had been made for them alone."
And while you're at it, read this worthwhile article by Scott, as he's saying most of things I'm trying to think and can't tie together.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
(still waiting)
Don't let the long posts below distract you. I'm still waiting for responses about book recommendations. Yes -- you!
True Freedom: Fifth Graders, Wild Things, and Slaves to Righteousness
The more I think and read about Where the Wild Things Are, the more I realize just how much there is to unpack. I appreciated things here, resonated with this one, and found this one that showed up on a quick Google search to be kinda intriguing. It's something I'll probably keep talking about from time to time.
There's no doubt the movie gets inside the tumultuous mind of a child like nothing else I've seen. And one of the primary themes that rose from that reminded me quite a bit of things learned as a teacher as well as a sermon I had heard shortly prior.
It doesn't take long sitting in a Sunday school room to hear Christians say that life in Christ offers the only true freedom. I've always had a hard time understanding or believing that, because it seems rather clear that life in Christ leads to doing certain things you wouldn't normally do and not doing certain things you kinda want to do. If it's the opposite of what you want, how is that freedom?
A recent message on a Sunday morning kinda made sense of it all for me for the first time, but while I listened, I really was reminded of my classroom.
If you ask kids what they want to do in a typical school day, they'll all answer the same way. They want free time. No rules, no lessons, no schoolwork, no notetaking, no exercises, and definitely no homework. They want to do whatever they want. They want to be, essentially, free.
But it doesn't take a world-class teacher to understand that this would lead to, essentially, chaos. It might be fun for a little while or at certain moments, and at some points the kids just might be able to get together and organize something interesting, and they just might even learn a little something from it. But much more likely and inevitable, they'd be so focused on themselves that they'd end up bored, they'd get into disagreements and scuffles, feelings would be hurt, things would be unsafe, they wouldn't learn, they wouldn't grow, and most of all, they wouldn't be as happy as they thought they would.
You learn awfully quick as a teacher that while kids say they want no rules, what they really want is structure. They might not realize it and they definitely won't admit it, but they want clear boundaries, clear expectations, clear rules. Sure enough, they'll push those boundaries and rebel against the rules, but that's only because they want to make sure they're still there. Despite the grumbling, at the end of the day they're happy, because it's a safer environment, they can experience community and teamwork, they're creativity is allowed to shine and be embraced, they can express themselves, they're productive, and they can learn.
Which is true freedom? No rules? Or functioning within structure?
The Wild Things had been living for too long without structure. And they seem to be desperate for some, so much so that they quickly pronounce Max as their new king, and one insightfully exclaims, "Life is so much better with a King!" Something tells me she didn't really understand the truth in that statement.
But, like most fifth graders, the Wild Things are confused with what they want. Before long, they're not too happy with their King, probably because he's not exactly providing the structure they had been longing for. They insist that he needs to let them do whatever they want to do, do whatever makes them happiest. They sound a little like fifth graders protesting: "You're supposed to give us free time on Fridays! You're not supposed to give us homework on weekends!" Now that they finally have their King, they want to throw off any rules he puts forth, or at least tell him what the rules should be, not realizing that this so-called "freedom" is exactly what's making them so sad and miserable in the first place. That "freedom" allows a great deal of selfishness, where each person wants to create the rules that suit themselves best. It's what's causing fractured relationships and hurt feelings. It's undoing order and replacing it with chaos.
Which is true freedom? Life without a King? Or life with one?
Some friends and I recently finished reading Romans together. We were reminded that our world's idea of freedom--no rules, or only rules I prefer--is really slavery in the strongest sense. That selfishness creates chaos, unhappiness, and a host of negative consequences, leaving us misguided, lost, and unable to exercise our God-given gifts, abilities, skills, and talents. Becoming instead a "slave to righteousness" allows us to function under our King's structure. In it we find safety, order, relationship, community, and happiness--the qualities in life that 5th graders and Wild Things are searching for. We are free to reach our fullest God-given potential.
It seems odd to describe freedom in terms of slavery, but it seems that in the way we were created, we will always be a slave to something. So which is true freedom? Being slaves to sin? Or being slaves to righteousness?
Or maybe the questions are more like these: Do we as adults ever really grow out of our deep desire for order and structure? Can we really handle governing ourselves? Are we really happiest making our own rules?
"So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
There's no doubt the movie gets inside the tumultuous mind of a child like nothing else I've seen. And one of the primary themes that rose from that reminded me quite a bit of things learned as a teacher as well as a sermon I had heard shortly prior.
It doesn't take long sitting in a Sunday school room to hear Christians say that life in Christ offers the only true freedom. I've always had a hard time understanding or believing that, because it seems rather clear that life in Christ leads to doing certain things you wouldn't normally do and not doing certain things you kinda want to do. If it's the opposite of what you want, how is that freedom?
A recent message on a Sunday morning kinda made sense of it all for me for the first time, but while I listened, I really was reminded of my classroom.
If you ask kids what they want to do in a typical school day, they'll all answer the same way. They want free time. No rules, no lessons, no schoolwork, no notetaking, no exercises, and definitely no homework. They want to do whatever they want. They want to be, essentially, free.
But it doesn't take a world-class teacher to understand that this would lead to, essentially, chaos. It might be fun for a little while or at certain moments, and at some points the kids just might be able to get together and organize something interesting, and they just might even learn a little something from it. But much more likely and inevitable, they'd be so focused on themselves that they'd end up bored, they'd get into disagreements and scuffles, feelings would be hurt, things would be unsafe, they wouldn't learn, they wouldn't grow, and most of all, they wouldn't be as happy as they thought they would.
You learn awfully quick as a teacher that while kids say they want no rules, what they really want is structure. They might not realize it and they definitely won't admit it, but they want clear boundaries, clear expectations, clear rules. Sure enough, they'll push those boundaries and rebel against the rules, but that's only because they want to make sure they're still there. Despite the grumbling, at the end of the day they're happy, because it's a safer environment, they can experience community and teamwork, they're creativity is allowed to shine and be embraced, they can express themselves, they're productive, and they can learn.
Which is true freedom? No rules? Or functioning within structure?
The Wild Things had been living for too long without structure. And they seem to be desperate for some, so much so that they quickly pronounce Max as their new king, and one insightfully exclaims, "Life is so much better with a King!" Something tells me she didn't really understand the truth in that statement.
But, like most fifth graders, the Wild Things are confused with what they want. Before long, they're not too happy with their King, probably because he's not exactly providing the structure they had been longing for. They insist that he needs to let them do whatever they want to do, do whatever makes them happiest. They sound a little like fifth graders protesting: "You're supposed to give us free time on Fridays! You're not supposed to give us homework on weekends!" Now that they finally have their King, they want to throw off any rules he puts forth, or at least tell him what the rules should be, not realizing that this so-called "freedom" is exactly what's making them so sad and miserable in the first place. That "freedom" allows a great deal of selfishness, where each person wants to create the rules that suit themselves best. It's what's causing fractured relationships and hurt feelings. It's undoing order and replacing it with chaos.
Which is true freedom? Life without a King? Or life with one?
Some friends and I recently finished reading Romans together. We were reminded that our world's idea of freedom--no rules, or only rules I prefer--is really slavery in the strongest sense. That selfishness creates chaos, unhappiness, and a host of negative consequences, leaving us misguided, lost, and unable to exercise our God-given gifts, abilities, skills, and talents. Becoming instead a "slave to righteousness" allows us to function under our King's structure. In it we find safety, order, relationship, community, and happiness--the qualities in life that 5th graders and Wild Things are searching for. We are free to reach our fullest God-given potential.
It seems odd to describe freedom in terms of slavery, but it seems that in the way we were created, we will always be a slave to something. So which is true freedom? Being slaves to sin? Or being slaves to righteousness?
Or maybe the questions are more like these: Do we as adults ever really grow out of our deep desire for order and structure? Can we really handle governing ourselves? Are we really happiest making our own rules?
"So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving
It was a good thanksgiving, one that I began to call “In-Law Fest 2009” or the “Seven-Degrees-Of-Separation Gathering.” I won’t bother trying to explain who was in attendance, other than saying 2/5 of the Shorb family was there, 7/11 of the Checkeye family was there, and more or less all of the Ravier family was there. We had the pleasure of hosting it at our new place in “The Big Room.” It was a fun day.
Erica cooked the turkey, and it came out nice and moist and tender, and she was rightfully proud of her work. She makes a killer pumpkin pie with streusel topping, too.
Another 2/5 of the Shorb family came at the end of the day, making 4/5 total, and we finished with a game of hide and seek in the new house. Uncle-in-Law Wes took things to a new level, hiding IN the fireplace on the last round.
And while I've been complaining a little bit about the "feast" that comes with Thanksgiving, I get really excited about the grilled Thanksgiving sandwiches I get to make with all the leftovers. Today's lunch was stuffing, turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and gravy between fresh baked bread and grilled to perfection.
There’s plenty for which to be thankful. As I reflected a bit, this year, it’s God’s strength. In expressing some frustrations to Travis last weekend, he reminded me of the massive transition that Erica and I are in and will continue to be in until we’re settled in France. He was right, and that realization combined with a number of things we’ve been faced with recently makes me thankful that when God calls us, he equips us. His strength fills in the gaps of our weakness, our competence comes from him, and through the strength he gives us, we can do all the things he calls us to. When things get difficult, the Holy Spirit is a counselor and a comforter. All of this makes it much better than trying to get it done on my own.
In a more readily practical sense, I am thankful for the financial means for both of us to complete graduate school. Erica’s done in a matter of weeks, and I’ll be done in a matter of months. Instead of racking up more debt, we’ve actually been steadily reducing it. Woo!
Even more practically, I am thankful for the new (to us) dishwasher that did most of the cleaning after yesterday’s company.
Another 2/5 of the Shorb family came at the end of the day, making 4/5 total, and we finished with a game of hide and seek in the new house. Uncle-in-Law Wes took things to a new level, hiding IN the fireplace on the last round.
And while I've been complaining a little bit about the "feast" that comes with Thanksgiving, I get really excited about the grilled Thanksgiving sandwiches I get to make with all the leftovers. Today's lunch was stuffing, turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and gravy between fresh baked bread and grilled to perfection.There’s plenty for which to be thankful. As I reflected a bit, this year, it’s God’s strength. In expressing some frustrations to Travis last weekend, he reminded me of the massive transition that Erica and I are in and will continue to be in until we’re settled in France. He was right, and that realization combined with a number of things we’ve been faced with recently makes me thankful that when God calls us, he equips us. His strength fills in the gaps of our weakness, our competence comes from him, and through the strength he gives us, we can do all the things he calls us to. When things get difficult, the Holy Spirit is a counselor and a comforter. All of this makes it much better than trying to get it done on my own.
In a more readily practical sense, I am thankful for the financial means for both of us to complete graduate school. Erica’s done in a matter of weeks, and I’ll be done in a matter of months. Instead of racking up more debt, we’ve actually been steadily reducing it. Woo!
Even more practically, I am thankful for the new (to us) dishwasher that did most of the cleaning after yesterday’s company.
The Response of Gratitude
This Thanksgiving I’ve been kind of preoccupied by our strange and contradictory holiday rituals. “We’re so thankful! Let’s gorge ourselves!” I’m just wondering how we arrived at the place where gluttony is an overflow of gratitude.
I was kind of daydreaming about a better Thanksgiving, and just thought it would be nice one year to not overdue it so much, just have a few specially chosen dishes, keep it rather simple, quality over quantity. I more or less tested this idea on Wes the night before, and he pretty much immediately told me it was a terrible idea, even un-American, which could very well be part of the reason it appeals to me.
As if gluttony isn’t bad enough, it’s the slothfulness that goes with it, the stuffed feeling that causes you to just sit around and do absolutely nothing all day aside from doze a bit or watch the television mindlessly. Sinfulness aside, it just feels crappy if you ask me.
I initiated a Thanksgiving walk a few hours after eating, and to my surprise, everyone joined in. We kept our coffee mugs in hand and walked up the big hill that continues past our house. The people took it much more seriously than I had intended, and when I expected to turn around and return at the stop sign, they just kept walking and walking, watching the sun set, and eventually making it down to the reservoir nearby. All of this was not only a lot of fun and amusing and memorable and quite picturesque, it helped my preoccupation with the laziness associated with the day.
And then, as if gluttony and sloth aren’t bad enough, there’s the Black Friday madness that starts a day early with browsing through catalogs and advertisements. So now we’ve got the greed and covetousness to deal with, too.
Maybe I’m sucking all the fun out of a perfectly innocent holiday. Maybe I’m being a little too holy. Maybe it’s just the expected human condition, always having a tendency to warp and pervert things unknowingly. I’m probably worrying too much, thinking too much. It’s just that if our hearts were really filled with gratitude, wouldn’t we practice just a little bit more self-control and intentionality? Wouldn’t we think twice before diving into three of our most favorite deadly sins?
The other thing I’ve been a bit worried about lately is my status as a Debbie Downer. I guess posts like these don’t really help. Call me Naysayer Nate, I suppose.
I was kind of daydreaming about a better Thanksgiving, and just thought it would be nice one year to not overdue it so much, just have a few specially chosen dishes, keep it rather simple, quality over quantity. I more or less tested this idea on Wes the night before, and he pretty much immediately told me it was a terrible idea, even un-American, which could very well be part of the reason it appeals to me.
As if gluttony isn’t bad enough, it’s the slothfulness that goes with it, the stuffed feeling that causes you to just sit around and do absolutely nothing all day aside from doze a bit or watch the television mindlessly. Sinfulness aside, it just feels crappy if you ask me.
I initiated a Thanksgiving walk a few hours after eating, and to my surprise, everyone joined in. We kept our coffee mugs in hand and walked up the big hill that continues past our house. The people took it much more seriously than I had intended, and when I expected to turn around and return at the stop sign, they just kept walking and walking, watching the sun set, and eventually making it down to the reservoir nearby. All of this was not only a lot of fun and amusing and memorable and quite picturesque, it helped my preoccupation with the laziness associated with the day.
Maybe I’m sucking all the fun out of a perfectly innocent holiday. Maybe I’m being a little too holy. Maybe it’s just the expected human condition, always having a tendency to warp and pervert things unknowingly. I’m probably worrying too much, thinking too much. It’s just that if our hearts were really filled with gratitude, wouldn’t we practice just a little bit more self-control and intentionality? Wouldn’t we think twice before diving into three of our most favorite deadly sins?
The other thing I’ve been a bit worried about lately is my status as a Debbie Downer. I guess posts like these don’t really help. Call me Naysayer Nate, I suppose.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
City Living: 1 -- Small Town Living: 1
City Living scored a point for using their cops in places other than watching stop signs like overzealous hawks.
But tonight, Small Town Living comes from behind to tie the score for having a better view of the stars.
But tonight, Small Town Living comes from behind to tie the score for having a better view of the stars.
Used Books
I'm well aware that posting has been few and far between lately. That's partly because I've been trying to find the time to further digest Where the Wild Things Are here, and partly because life has been wringing us at a rate that leaves little time for rumination.
Several exciting things are on the horizon in the next two weeks, like hosting Thanksgiving in our big room, seeing Do Make Say Think in Philadelphia (listen to the new album here), my friend Dan's crazy new art show, and my friend Kyle opening a used bookstore in Emmaus.
But it's the bookstore that's inspiring this post. I don't talk much about literature here because I don't read as much as I'd like to and I don't really like to read as much as I'd like to. (Although, I have been really really enjoying reading The Phantom Tollbooth with my kids. Maybe I'll post some thoughts on that soon.)
But I know I've got some well-read friends--you know who you are, don't be shy now--who check in on this blog from time to time. In efforts to spark a little life around here and help out Kyle and Matt as they keep working on their inventory, the question is this:
What books would you want to find on the shelves of your new favorite used book shop?
Answers from any and all genres are accepted and encouraged.
Several exciting things are on the horizon in the next two weeks, like hosting Thanksgiving in our big room, seeing Do Make Say Think in Philadelphia (listen to the new album here), my friend Dan's crazy new art show, and my friend Kyle opening a used bookstore in Emmaus.
But it's the bookstore that's inspiring this post. I don't talk much about literature here because I don't read as much as I'd like to and I don't really like to read as much as I'd like to. (Although, I have been really really enjoying reading The Phantom Tollbooth with my kids. Maybe I'll post some thoughts on that soon.)
But I know I've got some well-read friends--you know who you are, don't be shy now--who check in on this blog from time to time. In efforts to spark a little life around here and help out Kyle and Matt as they keep working on their inventory, the question is this:
What books would you want to find on the shelves of your new favorite used book shop?
Answers from any and all genres are accepted and encouraged.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Fighting
In the past two days, I've dealt with boys who have thrown punches. Relatively speaking, neither scenario was a huge deal. One was matter of invasion of personal space. The other happened after someone stole a churro off another's cafeteria tray. Citations were issued, lessons were learned, and one tough guy welled up with tears admitting, "My mom's gonna kill me."
Boys will be boys, but the thing is, this never happens at our school. Besides a few playground scuffles that never amounted to anything, I'm pretty sure these were the first fists I've seen after 2+ years.
To have it happen two days in a row jolted me a bit, especially because both times I had to drop what I was doing and rush over to the situation before things escalated.
What's been most surprising is that it's instantly taken me back to my former school, bringing vivid flashbacks of some nauseating fights I witnessed there. Two boys rolling over desks in the back of math class, punches to the face, splatters of blood and clumps of hair laying in the hallway, the girl who showed so much promise one afternoon and was never seen again after she beat up another girl the next day. The stress seemed to rise with the flashbacks, a heart heavy with the burden of the darkness inherent in senseless violence.
The school's been on my mind a lot lately after interesting discussions at grad class, some contact with former colleagues, and now this. I can't say I regret leaving, but there is some regret that I couldn't stay, some regret that I couldn't do more. And maybe it's just a mourning of kids who have lost their way and resort to lashing out.
Even if it is just personal space or a stolen churro.
Boys will be boys, but the thing is, this never happens at our school. Besides a few playground scuffles that never amounted to anything, I'm pretty sure these were the first fists I've seen after 2+ years.
To have it happen two days in a row jolted me a bit, especially because both times I had to drop what I was doing and rush over to the situation before things escalated.
What's been most surprising is that it's instantly taken me back to my former school, bringing vivid flashbacks of some nauseating fights I witnessed there. Two boys rolling over desks in the back of math class, punches to the face, splatters of blood and clumps of hair laying in the hallway, the girl who showed so much promise one afternoon and was never seen again after she beat up another girl the next day. The stress seemed to rise with the flashbacks, a heart heavy with the burden of the darkness inherent in senseless violence.
The school's been on my mind a lot lately after interesting discussions at grad class, some contact with former colleagues, and now this. I can't say I regret leaving, but there is some regret that I couldn't stay, some regret that I couldn't do more. And maybe it's just a mourning of kids who have lost their way and resort to lashing out.
Even if it is just personal space or a stolen churro.
Monday, November 09, 2009
if research means to search again, i think i'm rerereresearching by now.
the wife's away, which is usually when my productivity level takes a major nose dive, and it's just in time for two grad class assignments due thursday and another due sunday. i haven't really started on any of them. i've known about the two due thursday since the beginning of the semester. just now started trying to find the resources to complete them. i'm coming up mostly empty. glad i finally figured out how to search databases through my local library, but still not finding what i need. not sure what to do. i'm getting sick of boolean phrases. i want to get out of this barnes and noble, but i know if i go home, the couch will suck me in and never let me go. anyone have the text "american education" by joel spring? i'll get it back to you by friday. maybe i'll pull an all-nighter at some point this week. or fake the swine flu.
is this a blog entry from 2003? seems like it.
is this a blog entry from 2003? seems like it.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
City Living: 1 -- Small Town Living: 0
I lived in the city of Bethlehem for four years and never once got pulled over by a police officer, as they were all busy doing things like chasing bank robbers, controlling drunken Musikfest crowds, or corralling the middle schoolers I used to teach.
I've lived in the town of Hellertown for two weeks and started my Friday morning off with a $100 fine for pausing too briefly at a stop sign, despite the fact that we graciously gave an officer permission to time from our driveway the other week. Welcome to the neighborhood, I guess, where the cops have to get paid to do something. And just be sure to watch those stop signs and speed limits.
I've lived in the town of Hellertown for two weeks and started my Friday morning off with a $100 fine for pausing too briefly at a stop sign, despite the fact that we graciously gave an officer permission to time from our driveway the other week. Welcome to the neighborhood, I guess, where the cops have to get paid to do something. And just be sure to watch those stop signs and speed limits.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Costumes
American Gothic and Pinnochio and Geppetto
Michael Phelps and Nancy Kerrigan, Scooby Doo and Shaggy
The Beatles
Captain Canada and a Bag of Jelly Beans
Lady Gagas and the Baker's family
Karl Blau as Father Nature
Monday, November 02, 2009
Heaven
Tried to post this a while ago, but couldn't find an embeddable link. Here it is! Even more fun to watch now that they played in our living room! (A little disappointed they didn't play this song though.)
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Happy Halloween
So the Fifth Annual Shorb Family Halloween Costume Extravaganza is history, but it was a success.
To be honest, the past two weeks have been a huge source of stress, a whirlwind of busy days and late nights with literally never an hour to pause and relax. The move has taken up most of the time really, but work, graduate homework, extra meetings, church responsibilities, and the rest have packed in whatever holes would have been left open.
The party seemed to be the culmination of it all (although if I realistically look at my calendar, the stressful schedule will no doubt last through November), the goal to which we were working towards, the deadline to get moved in and settled to a certain extent, not to mention more free holes filled up with costume design, sound system set up, decorating, food prep, etc.
Wes and Roshelle agreed to be costume partners this year, the duo expanding to a foursome. Without their help, I’m not sure costumes would have happened for us, at least not up to typical caliber. And so, with their super hard work, four Mighty Morphin Power Rangers showed up to the party, costumes chosen mostly for their ridiculous nature.
When we laughed and laughed just picturing it in our minds, we knew there was no turning back. But on Friday night when we were all exhausted the costumes were still in haphazard pieces, it was evident that morale was low. We were a little late to our own party, but it all came together in the end.
On Saturday morning, running last minute errands, I grew a little bit anxious about having a “house show” and hosting a band and whatnot. It’s a little intimidating inviting a band into your house without knowing them, not knowing exactly what they want or need, how they’ll behave, and not knowing how friends will enjoy it.
But the seven of them showed up and were immediately so kind and friendly and respectful and gracious and appreciative and sweet. They were content with the modest PA system I provided, they had prepared costumes earlier in the day, and they didn’t think twice about putting plywood or cardboard underneath their amps to protect the brand new hardwood floors. And they stayed that kind and friendly and respectful and appreciative all the way through their stay when they set off for Baltimore this afternoon.
Karl Blau and LAKE played their sets and played them well, turning our “great room” into a legitimate venue. People seemed to really enjoy them, dancing ensued just like I hoped it would, and everything clicked. It was officially a party.
Then, even the Beatles played! Stan, Kyle, and Matt closed the evening out with 5 Beatles covers and they sounded great. It was fun to see them rocking out.
It felt good to throw a party. I was so excited and contented after it ended, and that’s lasted into today. People don’t throw enough parties. Maybe we don’t know how to party. Maybe we can’t find reasons to party. But I think my life would be a little more joyful if we had a few more.
Maybe the word in itself has too many harrowing connotations, with all of its illicit drugs and booze and sex and rock and roll, and of course that’s not at all what I’m referring to. I suppose I mean coming together to be joyful, act a little sillier than usual, enjoy one another’s company, laugh, eat some good food, and let all the other worries drift away for a few hours. Yes, more of that. If it takes getting a good band to play in your living room, then by all means, get a good band to play in your living room.
The most unexpectedly transcendent moment of the night was when LAKE played their song “The Places We’ll Go.” Erica and I spontaneously took the center of the dance floor and sang along as we danced in one another’s arms and all of a sudden it felt like we were in a room completely alone. There we were, just two goofy Power Rangers dancing like we were in love or something, literally like no one was watching, and the words we sang took on new meaning at what appears to be our last Halloween party for the foreseeable future for obvious reasons: “Oh, the places we’ll go…Oh, we don’t actually know.”
The next year will be a whirlwind in itself no doubt, but in that moment there was a sense of calm, peace, joy, and rightness about it all. Where the world will see just two weirdos carelessly dancing, may we find a sense of meaningful belonging in the stage God is setting for us. We don’t know where it will all lead, and that’s OK.
This new house is a pretty amazing one. People seemed to love it last night. It’s our hope that we’ll be able to use it to its fullest potential without getting too attached. Last night was a great start.
And finally, give LAKE and Karl Blau a listen, or check to see if they’re coming to your town. Not only are they really creative and talented musicians who believe in what they’re doing, but they’re super nice people, too.
To be honest, the past two weeks have been a huge source of stress, a whirlwind of busy days and late nights with literally never an hour to pause and relax. The move has taken up most of the time really, but work, graduate homework, extra meetings, church responsibilities, and the rest have packed in whatever holes would have been left open.
The party seemed to be the culmination of it all (although if I realistically look at my calendar, the stressful schedule will no doubt last through November), the goal to which we were working towards, the deadline to get moved in and settled to a certain extent, not to mention more free holes filled up with costume design, sound system set up, decorating, food prep, etc.
Wes and Roshelle agreed to be costume partners this year, the duo expanding to a foursome. Without their help, I’m not sure costumes would have happened for us, at least not up to typical caliber. And so, with their super hard work, four Mighty Morphin Power Rangers showed up to the party, costumes chosen mostly for their ridiculous nature.
On Saturday morning, running last minute errands, I grew a little bit anxious about having a “house show” and hosting a band and whatnot. It’s a little intimidating inviting a band into your house without knowing them, not knowing exactly what they want or need, how they’ll behave, and not knowing how friends will enjoy it.
But the seven of them showed up and were immediately so kind and friendly and respectful and gracious and appreciative and sweet. They were content with the modest PA system I provided, they had prepared costumes earlier in the day, and they didn’t think twice about putting plywood or cardboard underneath their amps to protect the brand new hardwood floors. And they stayed that kind and friendly and respectful and appreciative all the way through their stay when they set off for Baltimore this afternoon.
Karl Blau and LAKE played their sets and played them well, turning our “great room” into a legitimate venue. People seemed to really enjoy them, dancing ensued just like I hoped it would, and everything clicked. It was officially a party.
It felt good to throw a party. I was so excited and contented after it ended, and that’s lasted into today. People don’t throw enough parties. Maybe we don’t know how to party. Maybe we can’t find reasons to party. But I think my life would be a little more joyful if we had a few more.
Maybe the word in itself has too many harrowing connotations, with all of its illicit drugs and booze and sex and rock and roll, and of course that’s not at all what I’m referring to. I suppose I mean coming together to be joyful, act a little sillier than usual, enjoy one another’s company, laugh, eat some good food, and let all the other worries drift away for a few hours. Yes, more of that. If it takes getting a good band to play in your living room, then by all means, get a good band to play in your living room.
The most unexpectedly transcendent moment of the night was when LAKE played their song “The Places We’ll Go.” Erica and I spontaneously took the center of the dance floor and sang along as we danced in one another’s arms and all of a sudden it felt like we were in a room completely alone. There we were, just two goofy Power Rangers dancing like we were in love or something, literally like no one was watching, and the words we sang took on new meaning at what appears to be our last Halloween party for the foreseeable future for obvious reasons: “Oh, the places we’ll go…Oh, we don’t actually know.”
The next year will be a whirlwind in itself no doubt, but in that moment there was a sense of calm, peace, joy, and rightness about it all. Where the world will see just two weirdos carelessly dancing, may we find a sense of meaningful belonging in the stage God is setting for us. We don’t know where it will all lead, and that’s OK.
And finally, give LAKE and Karl Blau a listen, or check to see if they’re coming to your town. Not only are they really creative and talented musicians who believe in what they’re doing, but they’re super nice people, too.
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