like a fire

I am in shock. One of my favorite sites (Creating Passionate Users) has just shut down. That doesn’t shock me. What shocks me is the reason. It was shut down because the author has been the recipient of deaths threats and verbal abuse. I just can’t believe someone would be that sick and have that much lack of respect for someone else.

I have been the source of some hate myself on occasion. I have even been harassed and threatened (though not with death) on sites that are dedicated to the cause of Christ, specifically a certain youth ministry site with a popular forum, but this is just beyond my understanding.

CPU has been a source for inspired views of what makes someone pursue a product or service over another, or what makes someone passionate about what they do. The posts, though at times a little irreverent, have been a source of rethinking how people turn something into a phenomenon instead of the status quo. I guess that attracts some pretty sick people.

I hope that this opens up some dialog for the future.

Today Cathy had the schedule of 11-7 and we made the most of the time at home. What that means is that Cathy was running late by the time she started getting ready to go. So I offered to make her a lunch to take to work with her. It was a very pleasing exchange.

Cathy: (running around trying to get herself ready and getting lunch at the same time)

Me: “Would you like me to make your lunch for you?”

Cathy: slight pause “OK”

“But, could you cut the crusts off the bread… ”

Me: (big smile)

“and cut the sandwich into squares… ”

Me: (all-out laughter) “Are you sure you wouldn’t like triangles?”

Cathy: “No squares. I’ll do it anyway if you don’t”

Me: “Would you like pickles or cheese?”

Cathy: “No, just ham and mayo.”

“And some salsa and chips.”

Me: (too pleased) “OK”

There are times when being a stay at home dad (SAHD) that are just hilarious.

This last Sunday we spent at Shades Valley Community Church. I am constantly amazed at how much they can teach me in one day. It’s not that they have any more profound knowledge than anyone else, though. It’s that they live as they church so much more profoundly than most churches I have been to. This is the most diverse and sincere group of believers I have ever seen.

The message was onsticking with God, even when you don’t feel like it. Very appropriate for me right now. Again, nothing really new, but something that really resonated with me.

To top all of that off, they had the children sing in part of the service. That isn’t unusual at all, but seeing Jane wave her palm branch and sing along was just what this father needed that morning. She didn’t know the significance of what she was doing, but that didn’t matter. One day she might and then later she might understand a little more. As I watched her, I thought to myself, “Do I understand the significance of it?” Probably not; certainly not completely, but I just sing along anyway hoping that it pleases God the way it pleased me to see my little girl singing to God. I was on the verge of tears just watching and being happy.

That may have been my best Sunday.