Inadvertent Volunteer Battle

Memphis. Sunday at lunch time. Cracker Barrel.

Our name was called, so we were the baby ducks following Mama Duck Hostess through the maze of tables. Suddenly she stops and we're just clogging up the aisles - apparently our table wasn't quite ready. Oops. I was feeling awkward - just standing there in the aisle - and I saw a rocking chair, so I sat down - mainly to get out of the way. Until then, I didn't see the man sitting in the other rocking chair - across the checker board from me. I had unwittingly challenged what appeared to be an octogenarian to a battle! He leaned over his folded up walker and accepted the challenge, "It's your move."
So, I picked up a checker and moved it. A twinkle appeared in his eyes - eyes that, by my estimation, have seen many days and many stories. "I'm not very good," he admitted. "Oh, uh, me neither," I said, unsuccessfully attempting to convey that I wasn't even sure of all the rules.
He corrected me when I tried to ignore a "jump" that I had to take. Eventually, it got down my two "kinged" pieces and his two "kinged" pieces plus one "non-kinged" piece. I was able to run down his "non-kinged" piece and he let out a frustrated monosyllabic disapproval of his own efforts. Then he looked up and said, "It's a draw. When you have two kings each, it's a draw game." "Oh, okay." I was undefeated!
We chatted for a few minutes: I told him I was from middle-Tennessee and he told me about a time he had visited Franklin - and that it was very nice. He then started talking about some Memphis-area politician, but I couldn't really hear him well because his voice wasn't strong enough to overpower the after-church crowd's volume. I got that his name was Lenny and then I went and joined my friends who had already ordered my pancakes and bacon for me.
After we finished eating, I noticed that Lenny was eating by himself. So, I went and patted him on the back and said that it was nice to meet him. He grabbed me by the arm and gave me a tourist tip:

"While you're here, you should visit the Forrest Memorial. You know who that is?"
"Yes."
"Well, it's very nice - you should pay it a visit. Did you know I was born on July 21st?"
"The 21st, you say?"
"You know what happened that day?"
"No sir, I don't."
"That's the day we started the war - the First Battle of Manassas. If General Forrest had gotten to Manassas, we would've won the war."
[Pause]
"Well, it was nice to meet you."

Just to complete the picture, about 75% of the patrons and employees that day were African-American.

I haven't done much fact-checking on his claim, but that's not really the point.
To say we're now a "post-racial" nation is, I think, naive and incorrect.

The week in review

This past weekend was filled with music. I spent the majority of Saturday and Sunday arranging "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz for Vocal Union (6-piece a cappella). Then we rehearsed at my house both Monday and Tuesday. Why? Well, we had an audition in Atlanta on Wednesday for an "American Idol"-type show for a cappella groups called "Sing Off." It was a lot of work and kind of fun to do, though I don't recommend using Audacity for Windows if you're going to do much recording. Anyways, we went to the audition and we weren't what they were looking for, but it was neat to see the process. Another group from The Acappella Company also auditioned (Durant) and got a similar summary dismissal. I was really disappointed that night because I had poured a lot of time and effort into it (as had my fellow singers), but I think I'm over it now because I really didn't expect that we'd make it. However, I did have to miss Wicked - which I heard was awesome!

Last night, I went to McCreary's pub with Breton and had a great time getting some relationship advice. For some reason, it's different coming from him now that he's married.

After work today, we leave for Snyder, TX. I'm usually over-the-top in my insults toward Texas (mainly to annoy my Texan friends), but I'm really looking forward to this trip. I always love a road trip and this one definitely qualifies. Estimated travel time to get to Snyder by bus: 17 or 18 hours. Sweet!
On our way back, we'll sing in Memphis on Sunday night, then back to work on Monday.
I believe over the next 2 months, we have 2 weekends off. I LOVE it!

Currently reading:
Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp - I'm at about 80% right now and can tell you I will read this book multiple times and so should you!

Want to read:
When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris - I might need something a little lighter after Dr. Camp
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Don Miller - he's the author of at least two books in my Y2K-America-Bible

Cool links from the week:
Michael Jackson Medley
Vocal Union on Twitter
Shuffletime - only if you want to waste a lot of time. (I ordered the Mystery box)

This I Believe

There's a series on NPR from time to time called "This I believe." It's very interesting to hear these passionate people proclaim their beliefs - I highly recommend it.

The following is NOT an entry from that program, but perhaps it should be. It is a prepared message by Dr. Lee Camp (yes, again) which was delivered this past Wednesday at a worship service at Otter Creek.

I've transcribed the whole thing (300-ish words), but here's a link to the audio. Again, I claim all typos and bad punctuation as my own.

"I believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit and the holy catholic church. Which is all to say, I believe in the Creed. I believe God is love - a love greater than my self-condemnation, greater than my lusts and greed and ambition, greater than armies and terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. I believe God is nearer than my very breath, knows me better than I know myself and desires good for me beyond anything pride or ambition could ever devise.
"I believe there are no tears more bitter than those that precede repentance, grieving the loss of our old ways. I believe that detoxing from the old man is a hard and narrow road, like grieving the death of an old friend who has kept us company for many lonely days.
"I believe there are no tears sweeter than those that come spontaneously while sitting on the porch alone early in the morning years later when one realizes how good God has been, and kind and merciful, keeping me from pits of death which would swallow me whole.
"Which is to say that the day comes when in grieving the loss of the old, we learn that we have been grieving the loss of but an illusion, a lie. And that what we thought was our friend was in fact our mortal enemy. And then, deep laughter swallows up the tears. And then one is free to live.
"I believe that I am like the demon-possessed man, set free from his bondage and sent home to tell how wonderful are the works of God.
"I believe the fact of my freedom does not mean the old man has left me. He is always there, looking over my shoulder, seeking always to engage me in pleasant conversation, offering me poisons which taste and smell, at least at first, like good wine.
"I believe the world desperately needs people set free from fear - fear of shame and isolation, free from the fear of prison and the fear of social stigma, free to love, to speak the truth, to share all things needful, free to sing and laugh and to tell good stories.
"And I believe that God is good. I have tasted and I have seen. And I love this Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Though so poorly do I love. But I do.
"Amen."