Driftwood drizzles

[primsong]

There are few things more soothing and therapeutic than just wandering a beach, picking up bits of rock and shell, examining giant mounds of kelp, looking for sand-dollars and chasing gulls. Even in the rain when you're freezing.

Spent yesterday at the coast with a wagon-load of five teens in a non-stop drizzle - yes, we were that determined to get to the beach before Spring Break was gone. One went into the water and froze herself but loved it anyway, everyone had huge sugar-cookies shaped like starfish and the art galleries and coffee-shops were still joy. Lots of happy, wet dogs, lots of shivering people watching the taffy-guy making warm taffy on the giant taffy-puller. That stuff is so fragrant, I wish I liked to eat it - every now and then I forget I don't like it and eat one and go 'bleah!' At least they smell good. Brought stuff for a beach fire, but we decided against it because it was just too wet.

With the kids help I managed to collect a couple little tubs of interesting driftwood bits as I want to drill them and make a 'wind-chime' for my back deck, wood being a gentler sound than metallic clanging. If it goes well I may go back for more and use it as a craft thing for the women's retreat.

Also got the cheerful approval from the pastor to do a humorous Sunday school class using The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass Aged 37 3/4- what a hoot, just need to formulate some discussion questions and hunt down copies off of Amazon. This'll be great for summer.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

Sounds like fun.

And: Adrian Plass!!! Isn't he great? My favourite is A Year at St Yorick's. (The notices with typos are priceless, especially December. "The vicar's wife will be showing off the contents of her stockings, as she has done every year since she arrived." and "Sing a long with Satan - he might even put in a guest appearance." I keep stealing it off my Dad, but he asks for it back. I have most of the others, though.) I'm very intrigued as to how you'd do a Sunday school programme from it.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of discussion along the lines of "why are we laughing? - is it because we've been there?" with comparison on the various crazy things we fall into because we think it's the 'right' or 'expected' thing to do and when sometimes it isn't really what is asked of us... the way we come across to people who have preconceived notions of what being a believer is about... how we react to or deal with others whose expression of their faith isn't quite the same as ours without being judgmental or getting pulled off track, etc. Not taking ourselves too seriously. There's a wealth of honest 'Christian living' in there. :-)

[thisbluespirit]

Aha. I'm still impressed though - it'd be a bit much for most of our sunday school!

Heh. "Darling, why did you tell that paperclip you'd straighten it out if it didn't get its act together?"

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

What beach did you go to? It just sounds lovely even though it was raining...I just *love* driftwood. Those wind chimes sound great! I don't care much for the metallic clanging except for the real low toned big pipes...love those!

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

....with comparison on the various crazy things we fall into because we think it's the 'right' or 'expected' thing to do and when sometimes it isn't really what is asked of us... the way we come across to people who have preconceived notions of what being a believer is about......how we react to or deal with others whose expression of their faith isn't quite the same as ours without being judgmental or getting pulled off track, etc.

Amen to that! Years ago, when I was in our singles group at Scottsdale Bible, someone mentioned that as Christians we tend to fall into the trap of talking about "church" and church involvement a lot, thinking that this is a testimony to others...I sure did. But all that really does is impress in other peoples' minds that you are "religious" and they are not and creates a barrier between you and them...in other words, that's just you and it doesn't affect them in any way...and perhaps more negatively, they may see you (collective you here) as judgmental.

However, if you mention (occasionally) how *God* has turned your life around in some ways then that is much more personal and creates a challenge for them to look at God and see that they can have a personal relationship with Him too. I hope that makes sense... its kind of hard to put all that in writing. I know I way toned down talking about "church" after that...if the opportunity arises I try to talk about God has helped me personally ;)

I am not familiar with Adrian Plass...is he a Christian comedian?

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I love those huge chimes too, though they cost a mint. We went to Cannon Beach and then up to Seaside, mostly because they're a nice straight shot from the Sunset and the weather wasn't nice enough to bother with a longer drive.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

He's a Christian author/speaker in the UK, less known here so it's easier to get his books online than in the local shop. He is SO worth reading - not all of his stuff is funny, but all of it has something to teach through what happens to regular people in real life. Totally recommend him.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

We offer two adult classes when we can, one that follows a lighter 'devotional' level study together and one that they can sink their teeth into. My church history series scared off a few of them to the devotional class, but most of them stuck with me - I think they'll be just fine... especially since I intend to spring Erasmus on them in the fall just to stretch them a little, it'll be a good 'lighter discussion' time.

[thisbluespirit]

Ah. Sunday School pretty much always means a children's group over here. I like your enlightened approach! :-)