"The four building blocks of the universe are fire, water, gravel, and vinyl." - Dave Barry

WAY too much stuff in my head for one post, so here comes a blast of buckshot:

I'm continuing to listen to Robinson Crusoe as an audio book. Can't tell you what chapter I'm in now, but you need to read this book! It's sneaky good, as much classical literature is. Yeah, you have to get past the somewhat archaic English, and this book includes longish descriptions of how he manages to survive alone on this island - setting up his cave, making basic implements, etc. It can seem tedious to read unless you find that stuff interesting (I do). But after one of those passages something he says jumps off the page and smacks you between the eyes.

The book is a retrospective, written after he gets off the island (spoiler). In a section I listened to this morning he talks about walking the island and discovering what he eventually realized was corn and rice plants coming up. Huh??? How, on this isolated and uninhabited island does that happen? He eventually figures out that the birds had eaten seeds from sacks carried on the wrecked ship, pooped them out on the ground, and....crops! Corn and rice for his meager dietary needs.

"But (paraphrased), it didn't occur to me to thank God for this near miraculous provision for my most basic needs. I was blind to his hand in this development. I was so thrilled at these plants that I completely overlooked the providential work of God."
Boom!

The pastor of the church we're attending spent the week in CO elk hunting. He posted a pic on FB of the bull elk he bagged and it is HUGE. (Here. I snagged it off FB.)
He was at church this morning, but because of his trip the youth pastor preached. I know what you're thinking; "Uh-oh. Another train wreck."
But this was a legit sermon with lots to think about and real life implications/applications.
I don't know anything about the guy and couldn't have identified him as a staff member before this morning. He's mid-30's (?) and Black. His sermon, from Jer. 29, was a pleasant surprise because he didn't misuse v. 11, a rare exception to what's become the rule in American evangelicalism. (Grrr.)
He also spoke very briefly about his experiences as a Black man growing up in OR. It wasn't at all self-centered or gratuitous, but fit well with the point he was making.
And it made me wish I could talk to him more about those experiences and their implications for me, a white guy living here. I've said it before here: we have too few opportunities for real dialogue with people who can provide insight on key issues without the overtones of conflict so typical in conversations today.

When we attended Emmaus Church we made friends with Gustavo and Karen, a couple slightly younger than us (mid-50's) who both grew up in Costa Rica. Yep, Ticos!! They're both involved in Eugene Opera, she singing some roles and he leading the chorus rehearsals and doing other work to prep for performances. Gustavo sent me an email earlier this week asking if we'd like discounted tickets to today's matinee of Beatrice and Benedict, a two act opera by Hector Berlioz.
YES!!
So after church we stayed in town rather than drive back in, and went to that 2:30 performance.
Love me some opera. This one is light, with no dead bodies or evil spirits, just people in love, weddings, and some beautiful singing.

After the opera we went to dinner with those Tico friends at a Thai restaurant downtown, then home. Long day, and we're tired, but it was a good day. And being 66 feels a lot like 65.
Now it's time for bed!