A Recurring Thought

At my place of work, there is a walkway connecting the two sides of the second floor. At one end stands an ultra high security door (you just need the right I-Disk to get in, so...that was sarcasm) guarding the entrance into the Donation Services section. I use this door multiple times in the day, seeing as it is one of the three pathways to the restrooms, to which I make frequent trips, not because of bladder problems, but because you don't have to do as much work when you go to the restroom eight times in the day. Okay, slight exaggeration, but not by much. Anyway, back to the door. Every time I walk through it and step onto the short bridge, I think for some reason that there will some time cease to be a bridge there, and instead of resting my foot on solid ground, I fall through the space in a Harry Potter, Hogwarts Castle kind of moment and find myself crashing to a stop on the first floor, undoubtedly breaking bones and probably spraining my ankle again. By the time I'm done contemplating this imagined disaster, I've already crossed the bridge and have started down the long wall adorned with award winning Worldwide Challenge pictures from decades past (my favorites being the one of the Filipino kid watching Jesus film, the little girl in the Church in some eastern European country, or the one of the guy and his grandson hanging out the window in some eastern European country).

Speaking of Harry Potter and Hogwarts Castle, anyone finished the 6th book yet? I finished last night, and I have to say, it was really really good. That is as far as I will go, so as not to spoil it for people (not that anyone actually reads this thing). I have only one question: when is the next one coming out?

Oh, for anyone who cares, I got an e-mail from the guy keeping the body count from summer project. More than 30 people total came to know Christ. Pretty cool, eh? I really should get on writing a newsletter for that. Hmmm...maybe later.

Differences

The last two days in Barbados were spent discussing things that will be different when we get home, how we would notice things about our own culture that we didn't notice before visiting a foreign country. For me, the biggest thing is how informed we are as Americans. This sounds like a good thing, right? Well, having been in a "no stress, no pressure" bubble for five weeks, I can say with great conviction that I would rather not know. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. Here are a few examples.

In the seven days that I have been home I have heard, seen...been absorbed by national and world events of all sorts. I have heard about a girl, kidnapped and found alive-her brother was not so lucky. I have heard about terrible explosions in the London mass transit system. I have heard about an Egyptian ambassador murdered by terrorists. I have heard about a hurricane bearing down on my state. I have heard about a girl missing in Aruba, her parents desperate to find her. Every day when I turn on my radio, TV or computer I see everything that is wrong in this world; a coup here, a kidnapping there. It is at moments like those that I think come soon, Jesus, come soon. Even good news, the wedding of a good friend, is overshadowed by the weather and storm clouds looming on the horizon.

I just returned from spending five weeks removed almost exclusively from television, radio and internet. I heard about the girl in Aruba, but briefly, and only because we were on a Caribbean island as well, and were instructed to be extra cautious. As I sat in the Miami Airport waiting for my connecting flight, I heard the voice of our president wafting across the busy waiting area on ever present CNN, and I thought I'm home. I'm home to a place where I will instantly hear of all of the bad things happening in the world, and none of the good.

My Chicken is Starting to Taste Nasty

You know when you reheat food, and it's just not as good as when it was hot of the grill/out of the oven? This is especially true of chicken. Whilst sitting at my desk for lunch (I know, I'm a loser) and reading e-mails from various persons, I munched on my chicken salad with Caesar dressing, that is until the gag reflex started kicking in and I started getting really grossed out. I'll give it a little time and try again later. There is absolutely no way that I would be able to sit through my already painfully boring job on an empty stomach...ok, half empty stomach.

If you couldn't already tell, I am no longer in Barbados, but home once again in Orlando working at my 8-5 desk job processing checks. Exciting sounding isn't it?

It's weird not having practically every moment of my time on demand, I guess I kind of miss it...although it was kind of nice sleeping in 'til noon and a half or so. It was weird waking up on Saturday morning and not being in Barbados. I kept half waking up and expecting to see the ocean out the window and my roommate across the gap between beds. I think I kept going back to sleep cause I thought it was a bad dream or something. It kind of sucks being back where all my hometown friends are either: 1) still on project; 2) still in some foreign country serving Jesus with some other missionary organization; 3) spending all summer with crazy kids in Colorado (at CSU and otherwise).

Well, I think I'm going to try and brave the chicken again. Wish me luck.