"I xeroxed a copy mirror. Now I have an extra xerox machine." - Stephen Wright

I had an interesting day. I usually use that descriptive as a wiggle word, but in this case it fits. I met Jim, the pastor at Celebration, at Starbucks where we spent over two hours talking theology, pastoral challenges, preaching style, comparative sociology.... All stimulating, and the theology part helpful to me as I work on the eschatology section of my writing project.

From there we went to GBC where Jim and I were joined by Matt to record an edition of the podcast they post monthly. Its targeted to others in ministry and our conversation was easy and enjoyable. They did a great job making me feel like we were doing just that - conversing, not recording for the internet.

I picked Pam up when I got back, about 12:30, and we got a quick bite of lunch on our way to DeVos Children's Hospital downtown. Pam worked there for several years, and she'd tell you that was both the most challenging and best job she's ever had. They do tremendous work there, a real team effort that treats some of the sickest children with leading edge therapies. Pam worked on the oncology floor, so she worked with incredibly dedicated dr.'s and nurses who treated children, not just patients. Everybody there cares about those kids as kids, not just medical cases. Part of her job was to spend time each day with the youngest and sickest kids, children who need the extra touch - emotional and physical - to get through the day.

We went down there to visit Tammi, one of my former students who because one of my kids. She's got a wonderful story. (Everybody has one, but hers is the stuff of a TV show.) She left GBC as an average student, was badly mistreated in a bad marriage, and got out and pulled herself up to earn a nursing degree with straight A's. She returned to her home state (MI), got a job at DeVos Children's Hospital, and rose to a supervisor position. She's now halfway through her MBA degree, with which she'll move up that ladder further.
We love Tammi. She's not just an achiever, she's a heart, someone who fits perfectly with the ethos of that place. It was great to spend time with her.

We got home in time to go to dinner with Pam's brother and his wife to a tiny joint in Burnips, a tiny farm community with a stop sign and not much else. Her mom is at an organizational dinner for a youth camp that Con, Pam's step dad, was instrumental in building.

I'm looking forward to more of the same tomorrow. I'm meeting Grant for morning coffee. We were roommates back in college and haven't seen each other since then. I learned he lives here in G.R. made contact via Facebook, and we'll catch up with life tomorrow over some java. Then I'll spend some time in the afternoon with the director of the mission that has sent me on my three trips this last year. We'll talk about the potential for future trips to other countries.

All of that aside, I'm ready to get back to Baker Rd. and return to our routine and projects. I can't help it; I think of the work that needs to be done before winter fully arrives, and the goats arrive....
Yep, I'm ready to get on that plane. But that doesn't happen until Thursday night.