“remedy” is here!
O glorious day — “Remedy” is here! The wait is over; let the rejoicing begin.
No time to write — too much listening to do!
m-e-s-s-i-a-h, go Messiah!
I took in my first ever Messiah College men’s soccer game on Saturday, and I’m still feeling totally thrilled by the experience. The footwork — done with such precision — was amazing, the ball always seemed placed with a purpose, and the game just flew by. Messiah won, 4-0. They pretty much dominated the other team — so much so that Rachel and I wondered if our goalie was ever tempted to text message his friends from the field. “Just hangin’ out at Shoemaker. Oh, TTYL, guys — the ball is mid-field…”
Speaking of Rachel, she is crazy about men’s soccer at Messiah, and she was gracious enough to educate me on some of the finer points of soccer etiquette. Messiah’s fans proved to be the biggest mystery to me — the chants and cheers were…well, unique. My husband Jeff (an `02 alum) assures me that many of them are steeped in tradition. While I made peace with that explanation, the boys from our youth group that we brought to the game with us seemed less convinced!
All in all — it was a great night for soccer, and I suspect that I have attended only my first of many Messiah men’s soccer games!
In case you forgot over the weekend, “Remedy” comes tomorrow! You know, the new David Crowder Band CD? It has a green cross on it which is like the Red Cross, only green.
odds & ends
More than a week has passed since my last post, and I have much to say. Given the randomness of my comments, I thought I would title this little piece Odds & Ends. Bear with me.
First, may I sway you to make a purchase? “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” was released today. This book examines tradition and exemplification of forgiveness in the Amish community and was co-authored by Messiah’s very own Dave Weaver-Zercher. With particular focus on the Amish response after the tragic Nickel Mines school shooting, the book is an outstanding glimpse into Amish culture. Dave answered countless media calls after the tragic events last October, and I had the pleasure of observing his thoughtful, humble manner firsthand. Case in point — Dave and the other authors are donating their royalties from the sale of “Amish Grace” to the Mennonite Central Committee. Once you’ve skimmed the book, you’ll certainly want to attend Dave’s lecture on campus on Wed., Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel.
Lancaster County is in the news today for reasons other than Dave’s book. Floyd Landis was officially found guilty of doping in the 2006 Tour de France. Shocking.
On another disappointing note, today is Justin Sentz’s last day as manager of web services at Messiah. I think he’s made some important contributions to the world of web at Messiah, and I will miss his dry humor and willingness to help me manage my little pieces of Messiah’s web presence. Best to him as he begins a new chapter at Shippensburg University.
To end on a happy note, just four days until the new David Crowder Band release, “Remedy!” You’ll note the green cross on the cover is like the Red Cross, only green.
where were you 9/11/01?
I have asked this question — where were you on Sept. 11 — and been asked that question numerous times in the past six years. The events of that day –through the horror and tragedy — seem to create a sense of unity and commonality as we each recall the events of the day.
I was employed at a local government association, and I had been working for months to arrange a luncheon in the Pittsburgh area for prospective members. I was thrilled — some of my key recruitment targets had accepted the lunch invitation and the day held tremendous promise from a membership standpoint. My boss, Rick, and I left early that beautiful morning for our drive across the turnpike. We were listening to the radio and busy chatting when the first news bulletin came across announcing that a plane had flown into one of the Trade Center towers. Given our line of work, we started speculating about the type of day the mayor of New York City would have because of this tragedy. We had no idea.
Then, Rick’s phone started ringing. And my phone started ringing. And the events of the day began unfolding as we headed further and further west. We were stopped at the rest area in Somerset when the news about Flight 93 crashing just miles away came through. We continued west until our executive director called — the city of Pittsburgh was closing all incoming bridges, the mayors that were coming to our lunch needed to stay in their municipalities, and the overwhelming sense of uncertainity was too much. We were to turn back.
The ride back across the turnpike was quiet. Rick and I listened to the radio, occassionally taking phone calls from people wanting to make sure we were ok. Harrisburg was eerily quiet. I didn’t realize until I got home how strange it was that we listened to all this news unfold while millions watched it. I couldn’t stand the images. I watched little television that week; it was just too heartbreaking.
Now, it’s six years later. In some ways, 9/11/01 feels like a lifetime ago. Movies have been made, books have been written, and music has been recorded — all inspired by that terrible day. I think about those directly affected and wonder what today feels like for them. Does their loss seem as real as though it happened yesterday? Or does it feel like a lifetime ago?
thus endeth my vacations.
It’s Labor Day, and I’m laboring. Seriously. I’m sitting at my desk on the third floor of Old Main listening to a train go by and thinking about all the lucky people who aren’t laboring today — like my husband, my parents, my brother, my neighbor Joe, my pastor, my friends who teach, my former PLCM co-workers, people who deliver my mail, my friend Erica the bank teller; well, you get the picture. Apparently, it’s not uncommon in higher education to work on Labor Day. Not uncommon, but certainly unfortunate.
This day typically signifies a defining moment — the change from summer to fall. Though the autumnal equinox does not take place until later in September, many perceive Labor Day as the turning point from lazy summer days marked by school and cooler days with waning daylight. That’s true indeed at Messiah. Students start classes tomorrow, and everything that comes with the students’ return is right on track — a new schedule of Lost Films, lectures, performances, concerts, athletic events, and on and on. Summer vacation is truly over.
I’m grateful for two vacations this summer — one that involved some mom time and one that involved some Jeff time. However, when I look ahead, I feel a bit anxious. No vacation until Thanksgiving? Yikes. I feel like I need a day off just to adjust to this information.