Good People

I'm getting sort of a late start on this. I meant to lay out an introduction to this whole adventure before Ecumenical orientation in Chicago, but things didn't happen that way. And that's okay :). But I can tell you now that the journey has started. I got into Milwaukee late last night after twelve jam-packed days in Chicago. Here is what I learned:

~ Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are delicious right after you make them but are otherwise hard to get rid of
~ You can make a presenter as interesting or as dull as you want to make them
~ My concept of poverty differs from others' concept of poverty
~ Expect hospitality. Do not be thrown by hostility. Hope for blessing.
~ Abraham was kind of a schmuck.
~ Or maybe Abraham was just acting in the context of his culture.
~ Culture is not so easily defined.
~ Racism is not so easily defined.
~ My concept of racism differs from others' concept of racism.
~ There is indeed a donut shop that is open 24 hours.
~ My face looks pretty ridiculous when I have a big yawn.
~ Trying to find a parking spot in downtown Chicago results in a long drive.
~ So does going to a mosque on the other side of town and then coming back in rush-hour traffic.
~ The neo-futurists close their doors at 7:00pm. It will not serve you well to arrive at 7:09pm.
~ I'm still somewhat socially handicapped.
~ It takes an hour to get anywhere in Chicago. At least from 35th and Archer.
~ Some people talk a lot. Some people don't. If we all did one or the other, it would be real boring or a real mess.
~ Nesh!
~ It's really hard to make someone else understand that you're laughing at yourself, not at them.
~ There are good people and there are bad people. How that came about, I'm still not totally sure.
~ There were a lot of good people at LSTC.
~ Kitchen staff included.
~ Eighteen months is a long time.
~ Eighteen months is not a long time at all.
~ I hope I can do what I'm supposed to do.

The whole orientation was really incredible. It went by extremely fast, too. I thought I might be bored by the end of it, but having to leave the people made it difficult. I think John's slideshow really put a great perspective on things. With 50+ gathered in Chicago, getting ready to go to 20+ different countries around the world... It's pretty amazing to think about the ways we will influence and the ways in which we will be influenced. Here's to patience and an open heart...