75 Wedding
Originally uploaded by tynemann
Picture of my mom and dad getting married.
10.15.2008
The Cost
I apologize for the inconsistency with these two posts. I felt I wanted to share what's been happening the past week.
(Written in Oradea Romania Oct. 08 2008)
3 weddings. 4 birthdays. 1 Anniversary. Easter. Thanksgiving. If I had a giant scale and I asked you to put things on one-side that you feel you’d never want to loose what would you put there? Would family be first? Material possessions? Accomplishments? A job? What would go on the other side that would balance or tip the scale so that these things were less important than the other side? What could you put on one side of the giant scale that would balance out your job? Your house? Your family? Is there anything?
Being on the field a lot during the year there are things that you miss. There are events and functions and yearly traditions that you’re not able to be a part of. Before you start thinking I’m complaining or bragging about what I give up each year, I’m not. I look at myself and see that there are people who’ve given or lost more than I may ever be asked. There are young people in India and Indonesia today working with Book of Hope teams and other evangelism projects who literally may loose their lives because of what they believe in.
In March I had the chance to visit some of these National workers who’ve chosen to make a commitment to seeing that children and youth are reached with God’s message of love and salvation. It was difficult to stand there among them as I realized that these are the true missionaries. These are the true heroes and giants of our faith. And they were young. Some of the members on the teams were 17-19 years old. Many of the team members had come from Hindu families. Some of the girls were being told to return home as they had been promised in marriage to a son of their father’s prospective business partner. Yet here they were. Carrying loads of books, film equipment and flyers. Here they stayed in small one-room houses under the church they were faithfully ministering with. Here they prayed, for the strength to continue in the work that God had brought them to. And there I stood very humbly listening to their stories.
In Luke 14:25-27 Jesus speaks words that can be read very harshly. We read words that we want to excuse or try to explain away.
v.26… If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes even his own life- he cannot be my disciple…
I wonder how differently our field staff in India, Indonesia and other parts of the world would explain these verses. How have they taken the message of these verses and integrated them so they live them out everyday?
I read them and they shock me. To hear Jesus say we must hate our families and our own lives? What did that mean then? What does that mean now?
I can’t say that I have any answers. What I’m learning though is that nothing should tip that giant scale in our pursuit of - and our relationship with - Christ. No matter how much we load the other side with responsibilities, careers, music, possessions, family; nothing should ever tip so the scale so that something else is first priority in our lives. There are heroes in parts of India who have measured and found that there is nothing more important than this.
So the cost? This year it was some very special weddings, a brother’s three-year anniversary, moms and all my brothers birthdays. Easter was celebrated in Romania distributing the Book of Hope. My birthday was in Ukraine assessing national programs. Fourth of July was England distributing the Book of Hope. Thanksgiving I’m not sure about yet and Christmas might be celebrated a little late.
I started thinking about all this the other day when I got a really strange email from home. My mom had been in contact with my grandmother who said my father was in the hospital. Some kind of problem after a surgery he had.
I’ve never really had a close relationship with him. I’ve only met him twice in my life that I remember. I learned a lot from him during one of those visits. I learned that he’s the one who missed out on my brother and I growing up. I learned that he’ll never have a second chance to fix things, he’s the one who missed out on my first day of school. I guess you can turn that around and ask me whether I’ve ever made a move to amend anything.
On Tuesday Oct. 7th in an email my mom says they are going to unplug him. Six hours after that, Marvin Eugene Moran, the man I never knew as a father had died.
I sat there and just stared at the email. Part shock, part acceptance and part confusion. The next few days were a little blurry. I wrote a lot during that time. I kept most of it to myself and didn’t say anything about what had happened.
A lot of things go through your mind. A lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts and decisions. None too formulated or processed. You don’t really experience one thing or another, just lots of thoughts all floating around. I question whether I should go home. I question what I should say or think or should I cry or what?
There was no funeral for him. No one there to really mourn his death. So add one more event that I’ll miss this year. Add one more thing to the scale.
As I search for answers and come up with more questions, one thing becomes very clear, my heavenly Father is still there. He still sees and cares and feels and knows my heart more than anyone else.
It seems that the cost this year has been a little higher than I may have planned or expected, but the scale doesn’t tip.
thanks for reading
matt
(Written in Oradea Romania Oct. 08 2008)
3 weddings. 4 birthdays. 1 Anniversary. Easter. Thanksgiving. If I had a giant scale and I asked you to put things on one-side that you feel you’d never want to loose what would you put there? Would family be first? Material possessions? Accomplishments? A job? What would go on the other side that would balance or tip the scale so that these things were less important than the other side? What could you put on one side of the giant scale that would balance out your job? Your house? Your family? Is there anything?
Being on the field a lot during the year there are things that you miss. There are events and functions and yearly traditions that you’re not able to be a part of. Before you start thinking I’m complaining or bragging about what I give up each year, I’m not. I look at myself and see that there are people who’ve given or lost more than I may ever be asked. There are young people in India and Indonesia today working with Book of Hope teams and other evangelism projects who literally may loose their lives because of what they believe in.
In March I had the chance to visit some of these National workers who’ve chosen to make a commitment to seeing that children and youth are reached with God’s message of love and salvation. It was difficult to stand there among them as I realized that these are the true missionaries. These are the true heroes and giants of our faith. And they were young. Some of the members on the teams were 17-19 years old. Many of the team members had come from Hindu families. Some of the girls were being told to return home as they had been promised in marriage to a son of their father’s prospective business partner. Yet here they were. Carrying loads of books, film equipment and flyers. Here they stayed in small one-room houses under the church they were faithfully ministering with. Here they prayed, for the strength to continue in the work that God had brought them to. And there I stood very humbly listening to their stories.
In Luke 14:25-27 Jesus speaks words that can be read very harshly. We read words that we want to excuse or try to explain away.
v.26… If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes even his own life- he cannot be my disciple…
I wonder how differently our field staff in India, Indonesia and other parts of the world would explain these verses. How have they taken the message of these verses and integrated them so they live them out everyday?
I read them and they shock me. To hear Jesus say we must hate our families and our own lives? What did that mean then? What does that mean now?
I can’t say that I have any answers. What I’m learning though is that nothing should tip that giant scale in our pursuit of - and our relationship with - Christ. No matter how much we load the other side with responsibilities, careers, music, possessions, family; nothing should ever tip so the scale so that something else is first priority in our lives. There are heroes in parts of India who have measured and found that there is nothing more important than this.
So the cost? This year it was some very special weddings, a brother’s three-year anniversary, moms and all my brothers birthdays. Easter was celebrated in Romania distributing the Book of Hope. My birthday was in Ukraine assessing national programs. Fourth of July was England distributing the Book of Hope. Thanksgiving I’m not sure about yet and Christmas might be celebrated a little late.
I started thinking about all this the other day when I got a really strange email from home. My mom had been in contact with my grandmother who said my father was in the hospital. Some kind of problem after a surgery he had.
I’ve never really had a close relationship with him. I’ve only met him twice in my life that I remember. I learned a lot from him during one of those visits. I learned that he’s the one who missed out on my brother and I growing up. I learned that he’ll never have a second chance to fix things, he’s the one who missed out on my first day of school. I guess you can turn that around and ask me whether I’ve ever made a move to amend anything.
On Tuesday Oct. 7th in an email my mom says they are going to unplug him. Six hours after that, Marvin Eugene Moran, the man I never knew as a father had died.
I sat there and just stared at the email. Part shock, part acceptance and part confusion. The next few days were a little blurry. I wrote a lot during that time. I kept most of it to myself and didn’t say anything about what had happened.
A lot of things go through your mind. A lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts and decisions. None too formulated or processed. You don’t really experience one thing or another, just lots of thoughts all floating around. I question whether I should go home. I question what I should say or think or should I cry or what?
There was no funeral for him. No one there to really mourn his death. So add one more event that I’ll miss this year. Add one more thing to the scale.
As I search for answers and come up with more questions, one thing becomes very clear, my heavenly Father is still there. He still sees and cares and feels and knows my heart more than anyone else.
It seems that the cost this year has been a little higher than I may have planned or expected, but the scale doesn’t tip.
thanks for reading
matt
Fixing Errors
(written in Oradea Romania- Oct. 11th 2008)
I suppose I should just write and keep writing almost without using the backspace except to fix spelling errors. Cause those bother me.
My father is gone. It’s a weird thing. A strange thing to think that the life that brought me into the world has breathed it’s last and has stopped existing.
There’s all these things you feel and think. All these unsaid emotions and feelings and thoughts and regrets. All these things I wish I could’ve said before he died. I wish I could’ve told him that I wasn’t angry at him. I wasn’t upset or mad about the things he did. I know I’d told him before, years ago that I wasn’t upset or anything but I wish I could have two days. Or even two hours just to say what I feel. To say all these things that I’ll live with for the rest of my life. I want to see where he’s buried, but I don’t even know what that will be like I don’t know if it’s just a plaque or a sign on a wall. I need to see something. I’m afraid though of seeing all these things. But I have to.
I wish I had two hours. To find out where he was born and what he wanted to do with his life. To find out where he went to school and who his friends were and what happened to the motorcycle. Two hours to listen and see and apologize for not being more involved in his life.
I wish I would have gone to see him. To see where he lived and what he did. To maybe give him a little light and hope to continue living. In the end my father just wanted to die. He wanted to leave this world. He wanted to stop breathing and be done with everything. His body was tired and exhausted. He had no desire. No drive. Nothing to live for.
And I’m surprisingly ok. For the most part. One minute I’m totally fine. The next minute I’m crying. Then I’m questioning. Then I’m trying to understand what I need to do and how to find resolve and closure. I have a feeling it’ll be more difficult to find than I expect.
I don’t think I’ve ached like this in a long time. I actually don’t remember ever feeling this way about anything before. Ever. It’s like a constant nagging of something so heavy on your heart. Like in Peru when you’re up in the mountains and you feel like someone is pushing against you trying to keep you from breathing. That’s what it’s like. Like I struggle to breath.
Everything seems to bother me right now. I feel like I fake laughter. I feel like everybody knows and they just stare at me waiting for me to cry.
Life goes on. True. But it hurts.
I start to cry multiple times during the day. And I stop myself.
My father wanted to die. He chose to be alone at the end of his life. He chose to walk away from me and mom and Micah. Yet somehow I still feel like I should’ve done more. Like I will always regret not picking up the phone.
And God knew. He knew I would be feeling this. He felt it. He feels it everytime someone dies. Hurt.
Marv died. That’s all my mom’s email said. One email saying he was going to be taken off life support. And then six hours later those two words. Now in some way I’m supposed to have the emotional and physical and spiritual capacity to lead 10 people I’ve never met into schools and balance my work and home life while being 10,000 miles away.
I don’t want to be here. I want to be home where I can sit in my room all day and not think about anything. And not have people ask me questions or talk to me. I want to be home. Before when people went home early I always scoffed and thought how ridiculous that was that people would leave the ministry or the programs. How stupid to change all that stuff to be able to go back. It’s not like you can do anything about it now. You can’t really change anything or fix it or somehow solve anything. When people would go home because someone’s marriage was junk or someone died. They couldn’t fix any of that.
It’s not about fixing the problem at that point. It’s about fixing yourself. It’s less about what happened to someone and more what’s happening to you. It’s about healing yourself and finding restoration and the ability to continue doing what you do and continue living. Letting it hurt so you can open a wound and it can be healed so you can someday help others.
Someone on my team once went home early because of a death. Before they left they said that I wouldn’t have done that. They said I would have stayed. I thought they were right. I thought that I would have stayed if someone in my family had died. But they were wrong. I’m going home. Not to try and bring back my father. But to bring back me. It’s not about bringing closure, but about bringing understanding.
I want my life to count. I don’t want my death to be mourned and remembered as a grievance of missed opportunities. I will try to loose the guilt and the feelings of never being able to fix the errors I feel that I’ve made.
My father wanted to die. That’s what my mom said. But I didn’t want him to.
Please pray for my family and I as we seek God and His healing.
Thanks for reading.
matt
I suppose I should just write and keep writing almost without using the backspace except to fix spelling errors. Cause those bother me.
My father is gone. It’s a weird thing. A strange thing to think that the life that brought me into the world has breathed it’s last and has stopped existing.
There’s all these things you feel and think. All these unsaid emotions and feelings and thoughts and regrets. All these things I wish I could’ve said before he died. I wish I could’ve told him that I wasn’t angry at him. I wasn’t upset or mad about the things he did. I know I’d told him before, years ago that I wasn’t upset or anything but I wish I could have two days. Or even two hours just to say what I feel. To say all these things that I’ll live with for the rest of my life. I want to see where he’s buried, but I don’t even know what that will be like I don’t know if it’s just a plaque or a sign on a wall. I need to see something. I’m afraid though of seeing all these things. But I have to.
I wish I had two hours. To find out where he was born and what he wanted to do with his life. To find out where he went to school and who his friends were and what happened to the motorcycle. Two hours to listen and see and apologize for not being more involved in his life.
I wish I would have gone to see him. To see where he lived and what he did. To maybe give him a little light and hope to continue living. In the end my father just wanted to die. He wanted to leave this world. He wanted to stop breathing and be done with everything. His body was tired and exhausted. He had no desire. No drive. Nothing to live for.
And I’m surprisingly ok. For the most part. One minute I’m totally fine. The next minute I’m crying. Then I’m questioning. Then I’m trying to understand what I need to do and how to find resolve and closure. I have a feeling it’ll be more difficult to find than I expect.
I don’t think I’ve ached like this in a long time. I actually don’t remember ever feeling this way about anything before. Ever. It’s like a constant nagging of something so heavy on your heart. Like in Peru when you’re up in the mountains and you feel like someone is pushing against you trying to keep you from breathing. That’s what it’s like. Like I struggle to breath.
Everything seems to bother me right now. I feel like I fake laughter. I feel like everybody knows and they just stare at me waiting for me to cry.
Life goes on. True. But it hurts.
I start to cry multiple times during the day. And I stop myself.
My father wanted to die. He chose to be alone at the end of his life. He chose to walk away from me and mom and Micah. Yet somehow I still feel like I should’ve done more. Like I will always regret not picking up the phone.
And God knew. He knew I would be feeling this. He felt it. He feels it everytime someone dies. Hurt.
Marv died. That’s all my mom’s email said. One email saying he was going to be taken off life support. And then six hours later those two words. Now in some way I’m supposed to have the emotional and physical and spiritual capacity to lead 10 people I’ve never met into schools and balance my work and home life while being 10,000 miles away.
I don’t want to be here. I want to be home where I can sit in my room all day and not think about anything. And not have people ask me questions or talk to me. I want to be home. Before when people went home early I always scoffed and thought how ridiculous that was that people would leave the ministry or the programs. How stupid to change all that stuff to be able to go back. It’s not like you can do anything about it now. You can’t really change anything or fix it or somehow solve anything. When people would go home because someone’s marriage was junk or someone died. They couldn’t fix any of that.
It’s not about fixing the problem at that point. It’s about fixing yourself. It’s less about what happened to someone and more what’s happening to you. It’s about healing yourself and finding restoration and the ability to continue doing what you do and continue living. Letting it hurt so you can open a wound and it can be healed so you can someday help others.
Someone on my team once went home early because of a death. Before they left they said that I wouldn’t have done that. They said I would have stayed. I thought they were right. I thought that I would have stayed if someone in my family had died. But they were wrong. I’m going home. Not to try and bring back my father. But to bring back me. It’s not about bringing closure, but about bringing understanding.
I want my life to count. I don’t want my death to be mourned and remembered as a grievance of missed opportunities. I will try to loose the guilt and the feelings of never being able to fix the errors I feel that I’ve made.
My father wanted to die. That’s what my mom said. But I didn’t want him to.
Please pray for my family and I as we seek God and His healing.
Thanks for reading.
matt
7.16.2008
Two-Sixty-Seven
If anyone ever offers an unforgettable journey to the top of a tower, be sure to ask whether they’ve actually completed the climb before; and also ask a few questions of the employees about what happens if you want to turn back halfway.
York Minster is a historical landmark in England. Hundreds of years old and a beautiful building to see and step into, the church is truly breathtaking. There are thousands of stained glass windows throughout the building. The high ceilings, stone and woodworking are sights that you rarely see. There was something else that day that caught my attention as we toured the old church.
We climbed the 260 or so steps in the circular staircase to the top of the tower. The stairs actually curve upward to the left instead of to the right. So as you walk up them your right arm is touching the middle column area and your left arm is holding the small handrail. Hundreds of years ago when invaders would try to rush up the staircases they would be at a disadvantage as your sword arm (right arm) would be impeded by the small confines. The defenders of course coming down the stairs would have their right arm free to slash away and repel the attack. (Small history lesson there…)
I guess the best part about it is that when you finally force your feet onto the top of the tower you’re greeted by an incredible view of York. This is quite a reward as there are many points along the climb when your legs are telling you to stop, but the people behind you or your own self-determination push you upwards.
The day was perfect as well. Bright white clouds and a sharp blue sky made the red and grey tile rooftops even more brilliant. The different shades of green from trees and grass areas made the view even more spectacular. As I walked the square rooftop viewing the sight from the different angles, my gaze focused on the ground below us.
There near the base of the building was a school I hadn’t noticed when we first came up. I saw about twenty or so school children scurrying in the areas below. The children played carefree as the great towering cathedral stood behind them. They ran back and forth between sunlight and shadows, yet they are enraptured with their own games and activities giving no second thought to the building near which they play. I thought about this for a moment, how these children can play freely in the shadows of a mighty building that represents an authority and presence so important to the city.
And then somehow, the life lesson is revealed.
Today among other things, fuel prices are rising. We face an election that will probably change the face of our country. The housing market is crashing. The unemployment rate is past 5%. The price of commodities is rising. Yet in all this, my creator still sits on the throne.
In that moment of seeing those children run and play I saw myself in them. I saw how God wants me to stay next to Him. How the problems in life will seem much smaller as my view of Him gets bigger.
I will not look to who sits in the President’s seat to solve my problems. I will not pray more or less depending on which party wins or loses in the next few months. I will not trust in a job or in money. I will not fear when the world around me seems to say all is lost. I will trust in my Father as I rest in His shadow.
I stood there for a moment that day and watched the children playing in the schoolyard. Their laughter and yelling could be heard way up here, 267 steps from the ground below. I took a picture that day of the children playing in their blue, white and grey school uniforms. I’ll probably use it someday to remind me that regardless of how the wind blows, regardless of what storms come I will rest and put my trust in the One who never changes. The One who holds the universe in His hand is bigger than all the worlds problems and certainly bigger than mine.
So after taking in the thoughts way up high on the rooftop that day. I started to question how we would get back down. I was hoping for a fireman’s pole or an elevator, to hasten the journey back to sea level. To my dismay it turns out you get down the same way you got up. The 267 stairs way. As I walked back towards the staircase I stopped to ask one of the employees if anyone ever had to be rescued from the confined quarters of the winding staircase. Yes she replied; someone recently had to be airlifted off the roof where I was currently standing. It sure sounded like a much more exciting way to get down, but I did have to wonder who would pay for that?
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jer. 17:7-8
Thanks for reading
York Minster is a historical landmark in England. Hundreds of years old and a beautiful building to see and step into, the church is truly breathtaking. There are thousands of stained glass windows throughout the building. The high ceilings, stone and woodworking are sights that you rarely see. There was something else that day that caught my attention as we toured the old church.
We climbed the 260 or so steps in the circular staircase to the top of the tower. The stairs actually curve upward to the left instead of to the right. So as you walk up them your right arm is touching the middle column area and your left arm is holding the small handrail. Hundreds of years ago when invaders would try to rush up the staircases they would be at a disadvantage as your sword arm (right arm) would be impeded by the small confines. The defenders of course coming down the stairs would have their right arm free to slash away and repel the attack. (Small history lesson there…)
I guess the best part about it is that when you finally force your feet onto the top of the tower you’re greeted by an incredible view of York. This is quite a reward as there are many points along the climb when your legs are telling you to stop, but the people behind you or your own self-determination push you upwards.
The day was perfect as well. Bright white clouds and a sharp blue sky made the red and grey tile rooftops even more brilliant. The different shades of green from trees and grass areas made the view even more spectacular. As I walked the square rooftop viewing the sight from the different angles, my gaze focused on the ground below us.
There near the base of the building was a school I hadn’t noticed when we first came up. I saw about twenty or so school children scurrying in the areas below. The children played carefree as the great towering cathedral stood behind them. They ran back and forth between sunlight and shadows, yet they are enraptured with their own games and activities giving no second thought to the building near which they play. I thought about this for a moment, how these children can play freely in the shadows of a mighty building that represents an authority and presence so important to the city.
And then somehow, the life lesson is revealed.
Today among other things, fuel prices are rising. We face an election that will probably change the face of our country. The housing market is crashing. The unemployment rate is past 5%. The price of commodities is rising. Yet in all this, my creator still sits on the throne.
In that moment of seeing those children run and play I saw myself in them. I saw how God wants me to stay next to Him. How the problems in life will seem much smaller as my view of Him gets bigger.
I will not look to who sits in the President’s seat to solve my problems. I will not pray more or less depending on which party wins or loses in the next few months. I will not trust in a job or in money. I will not fear when the world around me seems to say all is lost. I will trust in my Father as I rest in His shadow.
I stood there for a moment that day and watched the children playing in the schoolyard. Their laughter and yelling could be heard way up here, 267 steps from the ground below. I took a picture that day of the children playing in their blue, white and grey school uniforms. I’ll probably use it someday to remind me that regardless of how the wind blows, regardless of what storms come I will rest and put my trust in the One who never changes. The One who holds the universe in His hand is bigger than all the worlds problems and certainly bigger than mine.
So after taking in the thoughts way up high on the rooftop that day. I started to question how we would get back down. I was hoping for a fireman’s pole or an elevator, to hasten the journey back to sea level. To my dismay it turns out you get down the same way you got up. The 267 stairs way. As I walked back towards the staircase I stopped to ask one of the employees if anyone ever had to be rescued from the confined quarters of the winding staircase. Yes she replied; someone recently had to be airlifted off the roof where I was currently standing. It sure sounded like a much more exciting way to get down, but I did have to wonder who would pay for that?
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jer. 17:7-8
Thanks for reading
5.02.2008
3.27.2008
Helicopters
I took a walk the other day. I suppose it was for no other reason than being outside on a beautiful California day. I walked in the general direction of a shopping center near our house, a small Christian bookstore I’d never been in before was where I was headed. After crossing the intersections and waiting for a police officer to pass I quickly jaywalked and stepped into the store.
I realized pretty quick that I wasn’t going to find the book I was looking for here amongst the Catholic icons and prayer beads. So I turned, thanked the lady and headed back home. As I passed neighbors houses that I didn’t know and homes and lawns that I usually drive by without really thinking about I slowed as my eyes caught sight of something laying in the street.
Before your minds race with the thoughts of dead animals or thousand dollar bills let me tell you it wasn’t anything like that. In fact it was something much simpler. Something that for ages had been lost in the recesses of my mind. There was something on the ground that began to stir in me the remembrance of careless days. Lying there in the street were helicopters.
Two weeks ago I entered a school in Ukraine. This isn’t a normal average High School that you would probably ever encounter here in the U.S. The students here were all defined loosely as orphans in one way or another. Through either an inability of the parents to care for them or the complete absence of parents; these kids lived here and studied here. They would spend most of their lives here striving and attempting to live out semi-normal existences.
Our responsibility that day was a simple one. We went to the school to distribute the Book of Hope to the children and show the animated film we use in schools around the world. As one of the groups of students were watching the film I noticed that there were other students still in class. Later I found out that the church we were working with had already been in the school and already distributed to and shown the film to the other students. Vitalek’s story would capture our attention.
Just 13 years old he lived at the school without parents. Regardless of what happened to his parents he was there and none of us wanted to ask what had brought him to the school. The teachers began telling us more of his story. He wasn’t a very good student. He was very disrespectful, used bad language and didn’t get a long with the other students. The teachers had always had a difficult time with him. At one point he ran away from the school to Kiev. Leaving the familiarity of friends, teachers and “home” he left to go two-hours away to the capitol. After living there for a few months he returned to the school and a few days later the church team arrived to show the film and distribute the Book of Hope.
As Vitalek sat and watched the film the scenes of Jesus being crucified on the cross brought tears to his eyes. The teachers would tell us they were all confused and shocked to see this happening. Vitalek’s toughness and years of rebellion began melting away. The teachers would tell us afterward that they’ve seen a complete change in his life. His attitude and behavior has changed. He is kind and caring. He no longer uses bad language and he does something now he never used to do… he smiles. Something none of the teachers had ever seen before. When I asked Vitalek what happened in his life and why he had left the school he replied softly and simply “I’ll never do that again”.
Do you remember helicopters? That’s what we called them. People may have called them something different. But I have a feeling you probably remember them. Those little seeds that fell off some kind of tree that had that one little “wing” on them. We would throw them up into the air and they would spin in circles coming down over us. We would gather up handfuls of them and throw them up into the air. It was always so exciting looking up and seeing hundreds of little spinning helicopters floating down towards you.
As I walked passed them that day I wanted to stop and pick them up and throw them into the air and recall many times of boyhood and the simple times before life got complicated and difficult. I wanted to stop and pick up as many as I could and throw them into the sky. For some reason I started to think about what my neighbors would think if they saw me throwing my arms around as these little things floated down around me. I began to think about how silly that might look and what people would say.
Do you remember the simple times? Remember when life was easy? Remember when your biggest concern was what mom had packed in your lunch that day? You didn’t think to not stop to pick up as many helicopters as your hands could hold because you didn’t care what people thought or what people would say… you just did it.
So I stopped. I picked one up and looked at it for a moment and I thought about Vitalek, a boy who’s probably lived more difficult and harsh days in his life than I’ll ever live in mine. I thought about how in comparison to his life, mine seems easy. I looked at it again and threw it as high as I could and watched it come down… spinning in circles over me. And I thought about how compared to many people around the world, my life is easy.
I realized pretty quick that I wasn’t going to find the book I was looking for here amongst the Catholic icons and prayer beads. So I turned, thanked the lady and headed back home. As I passed neighbors houses that I didn’t know and homes and lawns that I usually drive by without really thinking about I slowed as my eyes caught sight of something laying in the street.
Before your minds race with the thoughts of dead animals or thousand dollar bills let me tell you it wasn’t anything like that. In fact it was something much simpler. Something that for ages had been lost in the recesses of my mind. There was something on the ground that began to stir in me the remembrance of careless days. Lying there in the street were helicopters.
Two weeks ago I entered a school in Ukraine. This isn’t a normal average High School that you would probably ever encounter here in the U.S. The students here were all defined loosely as orphans in one way or another. Through either an inability of the parents to care for them or the complete absence of parents; these kids lived here and studied here. They would spend most of their lives here striving and attempting to live out semi-normal existences.
Our responsibility that day was a simple one. We went to the school to distribute the Book of Hope to the children and show the animated film we use in schools around the world. As one of the groups of students were watching the film I noticed that there were other students still in class. Later I found out that the church we were working with had already been in the school and already distributed to and shown the film to the other students. Vitalek’s story would capture our attention.
Just 13 years old he lived at the school without parents. Regardless of what happened to his parents he was there and none of us wanted to ask what had brought him to the school. The teachers began telling us more of his story. He wasn’t a very good student. He was very disrespectful, used bad language and didn’t get a long with the other students. The teachers had always had a difficult time with him. At one point he ran away from the school to Kiev. Leaving the familiarity of friends, teachers and “home” he left to go two-hours away to the capitol. After living there for a few months he returned to the school and a few days later the church team arrived to show the film and distribute the Book of Hope.
As Vitalek sat and watched the film the scenes of Jesus being crucified on the cross brought tears to his eyes. The teachers would tell us they were all confused and shocked to see this happening. Vitalek’s toughness and years of rebellion began melting away. The teachers would tell us afterward that they’ve seen a complete change in his life. His attitude and behavior has changed. He is kind and caring. He no longer uses bad language and he does something now he never used to do… he smiles. Something none of the teachers had ever seen before. When I asked Vitalek what happened in his life and why he had left the school he replied softly and simply “I’ll never do that again”.
Do you remember helicopters? That’s what we called them. People may have called them something different. But I have a feeling you probably remember them. Those little seeds that fell off some kind of tree that had that one little “wing” on them. We would throw them up into the air and they would spin in circles coming down over us. We would gather up handfuls of them and throw them up into the air. It was always so exciting looking up and seeing hundreds of little spinning helicopters floating down towards you.
As I walked passed them that day I wanted to stop and pick them up and throw them into the air and recall many times of boyhood and the simple times before life got complicated and difficult. I wanted to stop and pick up as many as I could and throw them into the sky. For some reason I started to think about what my neighbors would think if they saw me throwing my arms around as these little things floated down around me. I began to think about how silly that might look and what people would say.
Do you remember the simple times? Remember when life was easy? Remember when your biggest concern was what mom had packed in your lunch that day? You didn’t think to not stop to pick up as many helicopters as your hands could hold because you didn’t care what people thought or what people would say… you just did it.
So I stopped. I picked one up and looked at it for a moment and I thought about Vitalek, a boy who’s probably lived more difficult and harsh days in his life than I’ll ever live in mine. I thought about how in comparison to his life, mine seems easy. I looked at it again and threw it as high as I could and watched it come down… spinning in circles over me. And I thought about how compared to many people around the world, my life is easy.
2.25.2008
A likely conversation
-Shop Owner: Namaste.
-Driver: Namaste.
-Shop Owner: Can I help you? (said in Tamil, the local language here)
-Driver: Well yah actually, I’m looking for something, I’m looking for a horn. (Also said in Tamil, as is most of this conversation)
-A horn? We have plenty of those here. What kind of car is it for or what kind of sound are you looking for?
-Well I really want something that is pretty unique.
-Ok, let’s start with what kind of sound you’re wanting. You want something Loud and Proud? Something High and Shrill? Maybe something in the middle of those?
-Well, no not really, I’m kind of after something that’s really unique. Something that when people hear it they absolutely unmistakably know that it’s me.
-Shop Owner: Wow. Well that changes things. What kind of car do you have?
-Driver: I suppose I should have cleared that up at the beginning. It’s actually for a government bus that I drive. I need a new horn for it.
- Now I’m tracking. I know how you government buses run. You guys only have one speed “Get outta my way!”
- Haha. Yah that’s us.
- Well I guess I could set you up with something big and loud, you know something that’ll really scare those pedestrians, cars, auto rickshaws, bicyclists, cow carts, donkeys, other buses, trucks, cows, sheep and motorcyclists that get in your way.
- Um, I don’t know, like I said I’m looking for something really unique. Well, here’s what’s going on. You see there’s this tall missionary white guy coming here to Madurai. He’s going to be on my bus for at least 6 hours going from Salem to Madurai. My friends and I are just trying to make sure it’s an event he’ll never forget.
- Shop Owner: Haha! Those foreigners, they shake your hand one minute and pull out the germ killer the next… Haha… So besides the horn what else do you have planned? I mean did you strip down your seats so there’s a heavy metal bar in his back the whole time?
- Check
- Did you make sure there would be plenty of other people on the bus so he’s sitting on a bench seat crammed between a person and the window that the sun will be blazing through the whole time?
- Check
- Did you move the bench seats closer together to make sure his knee is grinding into the metal seat in front of him?
- Check
- Did you work down your gear box and transmission so every time you shift it grinds the gears and makes him think the bus is gonna break down?
- Check
- Did you make sure the road you’re taking is full of “diversions” that will take you over extremely bumpy gravel roads? And you’re going to have to be swerving around the whole time?
- Check and double check.
- Did you plan on stopping only once during the 6 hours for him to stretch and stand out in the hot sun drinking lukewarm coconut juice?
- Driver: Yep. Got it all. The whole experience.
- Shop Owner: Haha. Man that’s great. So now you’re looking to fill in the sound? You want to really send this kid home with an experience unlike any other?
- That’s the idea. See before he gets on my bus he’ll have spent 20 hours on the overnight train, and we both know how that can be. He’s gonna be on the top bunk with five other people in the cabin. The fans just inches above his head will be going all night. I already have people who’re planning on flicking on the lights every couple minutes. The coffee and tea guys are going to continually be walking through the halls, people’s phones will be going off all night, the guy across from him will cough loudly in his direction, other trains will pass and blow their horns and there will be a definite lack of sleep. So, by the time he gets on my bus he…
- Will he basically loathe the day he was born?
- Maybe not loathe, but definitely despise to a great degree any choice he had in coming here.
-Shop owner: Haha. Ok I think I got it.
-Driver: So what do you have?
- Shop owner: Well if I’d have known that was what you’re looking for, I would’ve taken this baby out a long time ago. Take a look at this. This my friend is the MASH- ITW 6000
- WOW. The what?
- The MASH- ITW 6000. The Most Annoying Sounding Horn In The World 6000. Guaranteed to make that kid’s hair stand up on the back of his neck. Scientifically proven to make them grit their teeth and make their toes pop.
-Driver: What’s it sound like? I mean can you describe it?
-Shop Owner: Hard to, but actually they have a description on the box here. Let’s see, one part “baby’s shrill cry”, one part “cat’s temperature being taken”, one part “nails on a chalkboard”, one part “hands on an inflated balloon” and of course one part “Early AOL dial-up”.
-Driver: Wow sounds exactly like what I’m looking for.
-Shop Owner: Well it probably is if you’re really looking to make that kid squirm in his seat. Here’s the deal though. You’ve got to really ride this thing. I mean you’ve really got to use it. See it uses some kind of special high pitched whistling mechanism that starts to deteriorate if you don’t use it every 30 seconds. And when you use it, really try to do multiple shots in quick succession or a long drawn out sound like when you stop at a station and the bus in front of you isn’t moving and you need to make sure he knows you’re behind him. So when I say really ride it, you’ve got to sound that thing loud for at least 45 seconds to a minute and a half.
-Driver: Wow this is great. Thanks for your help. I think this is exactly what I’m looking for. This should be just the thing to put him over the edge. I think I’ll take it.
- Shop Owner: Great. Anything else?
- Driver: No, I think that’s it. Thanks so much.
- Shop Owner: Well I’m glad I could help out. Hope that works for you. Have a good day….
- Driver: Thanks.
- Shop Owner: Sure thing… hey wait just one minute…
- Driver: Yah?
- Shop Owner: How exactly do you know so much about this kid? I mean how do you know all these things about him?
- Driver: Huh?... oh that? I just read his blog.
- Shop Owner: Got it, alright, good luck.
- Driver: Thanks.
-Driver: Namaste.
-Shop Owner: Can I help you? (said in Tamil, the local language here)
-Driver: Well yah actually, I’m looking for something, I’m looking for a horn. (Also said in Tamil, as is most of this conversation)
-A horn? We have plenty of those here. What kind of car is it for or what kind of sound are you looking for?
-Well I really want something that is pretty unique.
-Ok, let’s start with what kind of sound you’re wanting. You want something Loud and Proud? Something High and Shrill? Maybe something in the middle of those?
-Well, no not really, I’m kind of after something that’s really unique. Something that when people hear it they absolutely unmistakably know that it’s me.
-Shop Owner: Wow. Well that changes things. What kind of car do you have?
-Driver: I suppose I should have cleared that up at the beginning. It’s actually for a government bus that I drive. I need a new horn for it.
- Now I’m tracking. I know how you government buses run. You guys only have one speed “Get outta my way!”
- Haha. Yah that’s us.
- Well I guess I could set you up with something big and loud, you know something that’ll really scare those pedestrians, cars, auto rickshaws, bicyclists, cow carts, donkeys, other buses, trucks, cows, sheep and motorcyclists that get in your way.
- Um, I don’t know, like I said I’m looking for something really unique. Well, here’s what’s going on. You see there’s this tall missionary white guy coming here to Madurai. He’s going to be on my bus for at least 6 hours going from Salem to Madurai. My friends and I are just trying to make sure it’s an event he’ll never forget.
- Shop Owner: Haha! Those foreigners, they shake your hand one minute and pull out the germ killer the next… Haha… So besides the horn what else do you have planned? I mean did you strip down your seats so there’s a heavy metal bar in his back the whole time?
- Check
- Did you make sure there would be plenty of other people on the bus so he’s sitting on a bench seat crammed between a person and the window that the sun will be blazing through the whole time?
- Check
- Did you move the bench seats closer together to make sure his knee is grinding into the metal seat in front of him?
- Check
- Did you work down your gear box and transmission so every time you shift it grinds the gears and makes him think the bus is gonna break down?
- Check
- Did you make sure the road you’re taking is full of “diversions” that will take you over extremely bumpy gravel roads? And you’re going to have to be swerving around the whole time?
- Check and double check.
- Did you plan on stopping only once during the 6 hours for him to stretch and stand out in the hot sun drinking lukewarm coconut juice?
- Driver: Yep. Got it all. The whole experience.
- Shop Owner: Haha. Man that’s great. So now you’re looking to fill in the sound? You want to really send this kid home with an experience unlike any other?
- That’s the idea. See before he gets on my bus he’ll have spent 20 hours on the overnight train, and we both know how that can be. He’s gonna be on the top bunk with five other people in the cabin. The fans just inches above his head will be going all night. I already have people who’re planning on flicking on the lights every couple minutes. The coffee and tea guys are going to continually be walking through the halls, people’s phones will be going off all night, the guy across from him will cough loudly in his direction, other trains will pass and blow their horns and there will be a definite lack of sleep. So, by the time he gets on my bus he…
- Will he basically loathe the day he was born?
- Maybe not loathe, but definitely despise to a great degree any choice he had in coming here.
-Shop owner: Haha. Ok I think I got it.
-Driver: So what do you have?
- Shop owner: Well if I’d have known that was what you’re looking for, I would’ve taken this baby out a long time ago. Take a look at this. This my friend is the MASH- ITW 6000
- WOW. The what?
- The MASH- ITW 6000. The Most Annoying Sounding Horn In The World 6000. Guaranteed to make that kid’s hair stand up on the back of his neck. Scientifically proven to make them grit their teeth and make their toes pop.
-Driver: What’s it sound like? I mean can you describe it?
-Shop Owner: Hard to, but actually they have a description on the box here. Let’s see, one part “baby’s shrill cry”, one part “cat’s temperature being taken”, one part “nails on a chalkboard”, one part “hands on an inflated balloon” and of course one part “Early AOL dial-up”.
-Driver: Wow sounds exactly like what I’m looking for.
-Shop Owner: Well it probably is if you’re really looking to make that kid squirm in his seat. Here’s the deal though. You’ve got to really ride this thing. I mean you’ve really got to use it. See it uses some kind of special high pitched whistling mechanism that starts to deteriorate if you don’t use it every 30 seconds. And when you use it, really try to do multiple shots in quick succession or a long drawn out sound like when you stop at a station and the bus in front of you isn’t moving and you need to make sure he knows you’re behind him. So when I say really ride it, you’ve got to sound that thing loud for at least 45 seconds to a minute and a half.
-Driver: Wow this is great. Thanks for your help. I think this is exactly what I’m looking for. This should be just the thing to put him over the edge. I think I’ll take it.
- Shop Owner: Great. Anything else?
- Driver: No, I think that’s it. Thanks so much.
- Shop Owner: Well I’m glad I could help out. Hope that works for you. Have a good day….
- Driver: Thanks.
- Shop Owner: Sure thing… hey wait just one minute…
- Driver: Yah?
- Shop Owner: How exactly do you know so much about this kid? I mean how do you know all these things about him?
- Driver: Huh?... oh that? I just read his blog.
- Shop Owner: Got it, alright, good luck.
- Driver: Thanks.
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