Book Commercials & Misanthropic Observations

Giving a super-spiritual answer to a normal question

I was at a picnic yesterday and sat down across from some people I hadn’t met. Now, while I am a true misanthrope at heart, I have a firm belief in social kindness, so I introduced myself, asked a few questions and a friendly round of small talk began. They were a very nice older couple, and we had some mutual friends in common.

The man, (whose name I did not register) asked me what I do. We live in America- this is a common, friendly question that is most often answered with a job description, or sometimes a passionate hobby, and the correct, thoughtful answer is not too long and boring, but tells the questioner something about you (more than 1 word) and leaves an opening for follow up questions, should they want to go that route, or a reciprocal description of what the questioner does. This can very often lead to getting to know that person better, and laying the groundwork for an acquaintance that can grow to actual relationship later. This is not the time for spiritual showing off.

I said “I work for Larry”. My boss happened to be very friendly with this couple and was sitting right next to us. Knowing that this would establish even more mutuality, we both knew him well, and could have lead to a whole ‘nother bunny trail of conversation. But it didn’t- because we were interrupted by someone who felt that was not spiritual enough and told the couple that I don’t work for Larry, I work for God.

Well, that shut the conversation down. I was now a super-spiritual person who worked for God while these poor schleps across from me merely worked for, well, I never found out.

My biggest problem with this answer was that it implied that working at a church is somehow working more for God than other Christians on their jobs. This is the false idea that causes people guilt that they have never quit their accounting job to work in “ministry”, instead of working at that job with integrity and excellence and being the gospel to people in your company.

The other problem is, that’s not what the old guy was asking- come on, people, any one with half a cup of social skill can tell what question is being asked, and if someone asks “Have you seen my car keys?” and you answer “I can share with you the true key to salvation!” you’re just not helping them or anyone else who is trying to build actual relationship in the hopes of being salt and light. You’re just inoculating them against the weird phrases of Christian-ese and allowing them to block it out because they’ve heard it all before.

Note to self

Don’t give someone a book to read, unless they ask for a book to read.

Dear Hannah Ding

It’s cucumber season. Makes me miss the hours we would spend chatting at the kitchen counter over a sliced cucumber and some salad dressing for dipping. Not as fun without you.

Love, B

Probably a wise idea

I’ve cut down on the strictness of my diet because I don’t want to accidentally deprive my eyes of nutrients they may need to heal and modified it to simply avoiding bread and snacking. No real deprivation; I’m making a few choices to avoid unnecessary carbs but not counting them or worrying about it too much.

And I keep my computer on the treadmill – the carrot that gets me walking at least a little.

Lasik

On Tuesday I had Lasik eye surgery. While my current results may not be considered perfect by many, (everyone looks like a 1972 soft focus prom picture) You gotta understand my starting point. I was an “over 6” – shorthand in the optometry world for legally blind. Without my glasses I could not see faces, just colors, differences in brightness of light and soft shapes.

I went without glasses for 1 ½ hours before the procedure, and am grateful for the extended time to understand how poor my sight truly was on Tuesday afternoon. I hope I can remember the difference as time goes by, but I suspect I will forget.

Why not just keep my glasses, with the better resulting vision than my currently corrected version? Because I am only 34 and if I am legally blind at 34, it’s pretty much a given I am truly blackout blind in my old age. And to a reader like me, that’s depression.

Once my eyes settle, I will potentially have a 2nd surgery to get to 20/20. But, this is only day 3, and my corneas are still really swollen, and I had a more drastic procedure than most who get Lasik. I may only need one surgery. I have been crying for days with joy since the first moment I saw the surgeon’s face, a face I hadn’t seen, only heard his kind voice up until then.

Dear smokers

I think I have new empathy for anyone who has tried to quit smoking. I have “quit” snacking for a little over a week now. I get bored, don’t know what to do with my hands, and have been a little cranky about it especially around 8:30 at night when I usually unwind with some cheez-its in front of the TV. I had NO IDEA how much I depend on a little bowl of something, like popcorn, to keep me occupied.

I seriously cannot imagine how hard it would be to quit smoking. Props to anyone who has succeeded or even given it a good effort before going back to it. I think I can see how it would just suck you back in.

I finally decided to go with Flickr

Why?

• because managing my own photo Album, even with an easy to use open source code like Coppermine (which I recommend), is a lot of putzin’ around.
• I can have quick and easy access to other friend’s albums who are already on Flickr, like Tim Porter
• Coffee Cup Pix Converter (I LOVE coffeecup software) automatically uploads to Flickr for me after resizing the photos for the web. EASY. I like easy.

See my flickr

Piper on the trials of Martin Luther

Seeing such things in the lives of the saints has caused me to think twice before I begrudge the trials of my ministry. How often I am tempted to think that the pressures and conflicts and frustrations are simply distractions from the business of ministry and bible study. Luther (along with Psalm 116:67, 71) teaches us to see it all another way. The stresses of life, the interruptions, the disappointments, the conflicts, the physical ailments, the losses- all this may be the very lens through which we see the meaning of God’s word as never before.

Piper, When I don’t Desire God; p.135

To be fair

I emailed Borders.com tech support with my recent tirade, and the search store inventory feature has now shown up on the newer titles, at least. I bet I’ll be found browsing the online sociology section like I used to browse it in person…

Borders, you are losing me to Amazon

Yes, Borders, your new website is very pretty. Nice use of flash on the bookshelf. However, I wasn’t even able to find your search store inventory feature, which was often what would convince me to get in my car and drive over to Woodbury in the first place.

With one step into the store 2 weeks ago it was clear, with your new spacious walkways and outward facing book covers, that you have drastically reduced your physical inventory. This does not bode well for browsers like me.

I will miss the regular adventures to your stores, being surrounded by the smell of new books, and the happy unpredicted possibilities for a new topic of reading. I won’t be wasting gas at these prices on such an anemic experience as you offer these days.