Published on
January 10, 2009 in
Thoughts.
Most people, when they put things on their car, are pretty consistent. They either have religious things, or political messages (to the left or the right), and sometimes even offensive words and things. Some folks want nothing at all applied to their vehicle. You can kind of get a hint about what is important to someone by what they put on their car.
An exception to that is if someone buys a car and leaves on whatever the previous owner had applied, even though it does not represent him or her. We did this when we bought our Jeep. It had a cool “Mountain Home, Idaho” sticker with a little fighter jet that Deanne and I both thought was pretty cool, and a Fox sticker (motorcycle racing apparel?) that also stayed. Weird huh? I can’t explain it!
I pulled in behind this vehicle in the Taco Bell drive-through. It was different and it kinda took me by surprise. The first thing I noticed were the chrome naked ladies by the license plate… then the fish… and then the praying hands. What?
This person either wants it both ways, straddling the fence you might say… or could it possibly be a case of “his and hers”?
It got me thinking deeper about my own life. Am I personally consistent? Am I sending out mixed messages? Are the messages I am sending really mine, or are they somebody elses? Can people tell where my passions are? Am I a “sold-out” friend of Jesus, or am I thinking I’m following Him and at the same time trying to chase after the things of this world?
Something worth considering, for sure.
I have had a very adventurous life, having lived for extended periods in many different places around the world. In each place, I have been blessed with the friendship of many special and wonderful people. Sadly though, as I moved from place to place, I lost contact with all or most of the special people from the previous places that I had left. Letter writing and phone calling just weren’t (and still aren’t) my thing…
Recently, through various internet tools (Facebook being the main one, but also Linked-In and Google), I have been reconnecting with friends from most of the different phases of my life! This is awesome!
Examples:
- Rondo: A 4th and 5th grade classmate from the American Cooperative School in La Paz, Bolivia, who now lives in California
- Ricky and many other friends and classmates from Newberg High School (several who were my friends from 6th grade at Central Elementary School all the way through graduation)
- Ed: A Canadian classmate from the Torchbearer Bible Schools I attended in Germany and Austria
- Joel, Chris, Tina and Michele: friends from the Graphic Design program at Portland Community College
- Monika (from Austria): One of my six “sisters” from when I was on staff at the summer camp in Spain
- Many friends and co-workers from the last twenty-something years here in Oregon
Wow! I am really loving this! I am recovering some of the valued friendships and connections I thought were lost! I am looking forward to more contact with these friends, as well as finding additional “long-lost friends”!
Here are the many important places and treasured phases of my life:
- Bolivia 1961-72 ( (birth through 5th grade) We moved many times, including to Oregon three times. I went to 5 different elementary schools!
- Oregon 1972-79 (6th-12th grades)
- West Germany and Austria 1979-80 (Bible college)
- Oregon 1981-83 (Portland Community College)
- Spain 1985 (working at Mar Cristalino, a camp on the Mediterranian sea)
- Oregon 1986-2009 (marriage and family, and work at Printistry, Barclay Press, and Vineyard Graphics)
All three of my kids gave meaningful Christmas gifts to me again this year. They know what I like! And (as I requested), they didn’t spend very much. Austin gave me fine point black pens and Snickers, Aaron gave coffee and a wonderful letter, and Alison painted me a picture of one of my favorite places… Black Butte in Central Oregon. I know I am loved.
Recent Comments