Eddy was a hermit crab
He never came out of his shell
Eddy, he was shellfish
You know him very well
His peers just down the sandy beach
Found him to be crabby
Was it just his stone-washed genes
That made him so unhappy?
These are the lyrics of a little song, Stephen Burbidge and I wrote a number of years ago. I have always considered it to be one of the cleverer poem/songs to which I have contributed. Oh, that Eddy and his angst.
Friday, November 25, 2005
When you are shovelling it's hard to see the sparkle
I arose early this morning to try to swell the tide of the rising snow on our walk and driveway. As I bumbled about trying to drag out my boots for the first time this season and bringing down the shovel from its abode for the past eight months, I did not feel particularly joyous.
After a number of minutes shoving the snow in various directions (to my pleasant surprise it was not as heavy as I had feared), I began the work on the driveway. I must admit my mind was fairly focussed on the mundane moment of my existence.
But this comatose state was soon to be lifted as my landlady appeared from her garage to drag her garbage to the crestfallen curb. As she headed back to the house she commented how she "loved the sparkle" as the early light and streetlights caught it at just the right angle. I realized suddenly that I had failed to notice the beauty in what lay around me. Sure enough, unbeknownst to me, indeed there was a sparkle in the blanket that covered the yards in all directions. My snowblindness consisted of earthly-mindedness. I had failed to observe the beauty of God's handiwork because I had been caught up in the inconvenience and selfishness of the thoughts of a sleep cut short and the little pain in the shoulder from the constant rotor-cuff motion.
"The heaven's declare the glory of God", as does all his creation. This was a good reminder to stop and consider Him, no matter what the moment might make us feel.
When you shovel, look for the sparkle!
After a number of minutes shoving the snow in various directions (to my pleasant surprise it was not as heavy as I had feared), I began the work on the driveway. I must admit my mind was fairly focussed on the mundane moment of my existence.
But this comatose state was soon to be lifted as my landlady appeared from her garage to drag her garbage to the crestfallen curb. As she headed back to the house she commented how she "loved the sparkle" as the early light and streetlights caught it at just the right angle. I realized suddenly that I had failed to notice the beauty in what lay around me. Sure enough, unbeknownst to me, indeed there was a sparkle in the blanket that covered the yards in all directions. My snowblindness consisted of earthly-mindedness. I had failed to observe the beauty of God's handiwork because I had been caught up in the inconvenience and selfishness of the thoughts of a sleep cut short and the little pain in the shoulder from the constant rotor-cuff motion.
"The heaven's declare the glory of God", as does all his creation. This was a good reminder to stop and consider Him, no matter what the moment might make us feel.
When you shovel, look for the sparkle!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Why the title "take a whiff"?
In case you might be wondering why the title "Take a whiff" I will hope to give out a number of reasons. In a lot of ways it touches various aspects of my biographical sketch and it also has spiritual connotations. In general, to sum up, before I give my lengthy list, smell is curiously important to me.
Here's a few reasons behind the title:
1. I like baseball. "To whiff" means to miss the pitch. I always prided myself on my pitching more than I hitting so this is a positive thing.
2. "Take a Whiff" was my suggestion for a slogan for my friends' band (as I recall it was for a T-shirt). The name of their band was "Abel's Offering" (featuring Stephen Burbidge and Todd Bearisto and no longer in active service) because it was an acceptable offering to God and I thought it was a great slogan-- kind of catchy and with the implication that others were benefitting from their worship. Turns out they hated it; in fact, Todd really hated it and laughed every time I suggested it. I still like it.
3. The smell particle was an elusive scientific theoretical phenomenon that made up a surprisingly significant aspect of my highschool conversation with my closest friends. I still believe that this is an underdeveloped science area.
4. My alias is "B.O. Man." This not-so-fictional character was created at an all-nighter event at Westmount Bible Chapel back in 1994 by Gary Telford for a video. For some strange (I like to think there was no correlation to my particular odor that evening) reason I was selected to play the lead role. It was great fun and an iconic figure was born that would last for another decade of film-making. My friend and I did one half-hour movie called the "Eh Bomb" and then a second longer film was in production that included a larger cast (of staff from Fair Haven Bible Camp in New Carlisle, Quebec) which was never completed and remains on various VHS tapes in my possession.
5. Finally, as the subtitle aludes, Christ's death for us is referred to as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. We are also called to give our lives as "living sacrifices" (Rom. 12:1). Our good things that we do for others are also seen a fragrant offering and pleasing to God (Phil. 4:18). The sacrifice of Christ has pleased God and we are called to emulate that sweet-smelling gracious gift to others around us. That is what this life is all about.
May others be able to "take a whiff" of you!
Here's a few reasons behind the title:
1. I like baseball. "To whiff" means to miss the pitch. I always prided myself on my pitching more than I hitting so this is a positive thing.
2. "Take a Whiff" was my suggestion for a slogan for my friends' band (as I recall it was for a T-shirt). The name of their band was "Abel's Offering" (featuring Stephen Burbidge and Todd Bearisto and no longer in active service) because it was an acceptable offering to God and I thought it was a great slogan-- kind of catchy and with the implication that others were benefitting from their worship. Turns out they hated it; in fact, Todd really hated it and laughed every time I suggested it. I still like it.
3. The smell particle was an elusive scientific theoretical phenomenon that made up a surprisingly significant aspect of my highschool conversation with my closest friends. I still believe that this is an underdeveloped science area.
4. My alias is "B.O. Man." This not-so-fictional character was created at an all-nighter event at Westmount Bible Chapel back in 1994 by Gary Telford for a video. For some strange (I like to think there was no correlation to my particular odor that evening) reason I was selected to play the lead role. It was great fun and an iconic figure was born that would last for another decade of film-making. My friend and I did one half-hour movie called the "Eh Bomb" and then a second longer film was in production that included a larger cast (of staff from Fair Haven Bible Camp in New Carlisle, Quebec) which was never completed and remains on various VHS tapes in my possession.
5. Finally, as the subtitle aludes, Christ's death for us is referred to as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. We are also called to give our lives as "living sacrifices" (Rom. 12:1). Our good things that we do for others are also seen a fragrant offering and pleasing to God (Phil. 4:18). The sacrifice of Christ has pleased God and we are called to emulate that sweet-smelling gracious gift to others around us. That is what this life is all about.
May others be able to "take a whiff" of you!
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