what seems so simple... is still teachable

Last week, I had the privilege of waiting in line at our local Fedex Kinkos store. Ironically, this is a 24 hour location, very similar to the one I frequented on late night project completions during my Concordia University Irvine days.

While there and waiting for 350 flyers to be tri-folded by their fancy-dancy machine, a man came up beside me to get help from a Kinkos representative.

I paid no attention to him as I was there to do the same and didn’t feel the need to overhear his business… that was, until I heard the conversation progress.

I do not have the memory to recall word for word details, but let me share with you the synopsis.

A man, in his 40’s, with a handwritten note in hand, asked the Kinkos employee to email something for him. After checking with a higher up, he was told no due to company policy. As the representative responded, she shared other avenues for him to accomplish his goal, such as using one of the computers that you could rent time on the internet. This avenue seemed quite simple and understandable to me, and most likely to you as you read this.

The man responded with, “I don’t have email. I haven’t used a computer. Can’t you just do it for me?

Now, I’m not sure if he was really sharing that he had never once touched a computer in his life or was exaggerating in order to gain some momentum to get his goal accomplished, but it still made me think.

In today’s world, filled with technology, people still exist who have not used the ease of email, loaded a graphics charged online video, or even typed a word document.

This man, with his handwritten note he wanted emailed, was just asking for someone to help him accomplish a task that was foreign to him. Without the resources to help him, the woman was left to leave the man with her words of what he could do next, but not hands to guide him.

The minute of conversation I observed helped to make me more aware as a teacher that I need to not just use my words to guide on tasks - tasks that seem so simple and common in my eyes, may be seen as stressful, fearful, or foreign to the eyes of my students… and to fellow Kinkos customers.

i heart my earth... i heart my cars

This past weekend proved wonderful for me. I had the opportunity to take a weekend away from the LBC and head up to the mountains for an escape. If you have ever paid attention to my ramblings, you’d remember that I see the mountains as one of the best vacations possible. This weekend proved the same, right on Big Bear Lake.

Our high school youth had a "Winter Retreat," and I say the word "winter" as you can see by the picture it felt refreshingly "Spring." This opportunity allowed the kiddies to meet youth from three other churches, hear other youth leaders speak on topics they are passionate about, and generally be refueled – Jesus style.

As part of this weekend, I had the chance to drive a 2007 Chevy Tahoe in order to transport our church’s youth. This was my first opportunity to drive, for more than a few miles here and there, a large SUV. I was greatly impressed with the comfort this vehicle provided the seven youth we packed into the vehicle. Further, I was impressed with the build quality that has been put into the vehicle. Previous SUV’s and their multi-platform designs (taking parts from existing vehicle and making them work on a “new” vehicle… AKA… Ford and Chevy for quite a few years) had made me less than impressed with SUV’s. This past weekend and this article gave me hope for the future – both as someone who would like the ability to transport large quantities of youth as I continue to volunteer in youth ministry, and as someone who would love to continue my environmental conservation.

Ultimately my thoughts bring me to ponder: Can I afford one right now? Ha, no. Could I look for a used version in the next few years? Yeah… but only if I could convert the engine to bio-diesel. Seriously, what youth group wouldn’t want a ride in a comfy SUV that has exhaust gasses smelling of French fries?