Story:

I know I haven't posted forever and today I posted like three times, get over it there is a story I want to tell.

As a sophomore in college I hated children. Ok maybe hate is a strong word, I just didn't understand them, I had never really worked on being a child myself, I spent my childhood trying to be an adult. I saw two options if I was going to be a minister, Preacher or Youth Minister. I chose Preacher because I hated teenagers, ok yes I know it is a strong word I am fallen get over it, even more than children. I also didn't want to go home for a week from Arkansas to West Virginia, it didn't seem to make sense, so I signed up very late to this campeign to Fortworth Texas.

I didn't know what this Campaign was about I just knew that my buddy Charlie was going so I signed up for that Christain Jubilee. I found out after I paid in full, we were teaching inner city children about God all week. I was not happy about this but hid my distain to the team members, but not to my friends. I complained all over the place. I complained also to God, "Lord you got to do something with this because I can't." Sometimes I wish God had not listened.

Well there was this girl named Hillary. I liked her I don't think she really ever returned that, but it was ok I was in her wedding a few years later, wonderful event still one of my best memories of college. She had taken me to WalMart to get the things I needed the day before, see I didn't have a car. At Walmart we came accross the balls, they were probably a foot in diameter and she seemed taken with them so I put it in my cart and bought the ball. I informed her that we needed to try the ball out so we went to a local park and kicked it around for a while. As the sun set we sat below a jungle jim, looked sort of like thunderdome, Hillary, the Ball and me. As the sun is setting I am considering making a move, and the playground floods with children. I don't know where the hell they came from but they were all over the place. It had been empty and quiet all that time before.

Yet, the children avoided us like the plague, Hillary had made a comment about that. Well, okay there was one little girl who sheepishly came over and said through a staggard tone, "Can I play with your ball." Sure I said. thirty seconds later thunderdome is covered with children and we are in the center. At the end of the night I found that girl and asked her if she wanted the ball, she did. God was listening. At that point I didn't worry about the comming week.

Since that time I have taught children in different countries, and all over this one. I spent two years as an innercity Children's minister and now I am a Pediatric Chaplain. God was truly listening, sometimes I wish he would forget and make me a maitenence man. I should have added something to that prayer, "God do something with THIS COMMING WEEK," but then would he have blessed me this far? I don't know if I will work with children the rest of my life, but I know right now I am, and it is because God put me here.

Some morning at my hospital I look at the diagnosis of the patient I am walking in to talk to and I don't know what to say. Broken bones, broken families, broken promises, broken people. What can I say, most of the time I don't know. But if I am really on those mornings before I walk in I say, "God I got nothin, you need to do something." I remember thunderdome and I knock on the door.

check out this guy

What do you think? This is from the halloween party I went to, I was an Episcopal priest

Just an update

So what is going on with me lately.

Had to buy a car, I slapped the DNR tag to mine and bought something reliable I found a 2002 Nissan Sentra GXE. Been happy with it so far.

Happy about the election for the most part. I was a little sad about how Tennessee turned out on certain issues. I like the guy elected for the House from Shelby County and I like Bredisen but I was sad no. 1 passed and I was sad Ford Jr. Lost. He lost support in Memphis because he wouldn't support Cohen. It happens, I hope he runs again.

Still working at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis Tennessee, I was tired this morning but I generally like my job.

I will probably get to go home for Christmas, the country roads will take me there, looking forward to seeing my family especially my niece Anna. I hear she has been causing oh such a fuss.

Note on dancing:
I will be in West Virginia for a week during Christmas so if anyone knows of any swing dancing that goes on around wheeling or up into pittsburg let me know.