Barrie and Pam

Reading back through my posts, I realise that I haven't actually introduced Barrie and Pam.
Here they are...true comfy cardy friends!

Sisters??

The most often asked question of this visit has been directed to Pam and me wherever we have gone...
"Are you sisters?"
Everyone has asked it - in stores, restaurants, checkouts, school, social gatherings and so on. Very fun...
It's made us both smile often!

So, what do you think? (This is an older photo of us both - standing on Crofter's Hill above Loch Tay in Scotland. I'll upload a current one of us also - once I get it off the camera.)

Sisters?

Time!

I can't believe it! The time has flown by...and yet in many ways I feel I have been here for ages. It's funny how subjective time is. During the midst of my stay, it was feeling deliciously long...and now, as I'm coming to the end, my visit here suddenly feels such a short time. Like, my arrival is becoming increasingly clearer in my memory and yet everyday takes it further into the past. Weird!

My current time puzzle is a humdinger. Or at least I thought it was until Barrie and I sat and figured it all out. My brain is still feeling a bit stretched!

So, the thing that started all of this was the realisation that I leave here this coming Sunday 4th Sept (still in slight denial about this and readying hankies) and arrive in Perth, Australia on the 6th September - 2 days later...! I know I cross the dateline - and so my question was, "Where does the time I lose go?'
At this point, somewhat stupidly it has to be said, I was thinking that my flying time was approx 15 hours. This left me with about 12 hours unaccounted for...12 hours that everyone else would live but I wouldn't because of the whole dateline thing...Hence my deeply profound questions...where does my time go? Will I just age 15 hours whilst everyone else ages 27 hours?? And so on...good questions, as I'm sure you'll agree?

At this point, Barrie said this just proves that the manmade invention of time is flawed! I thought he made a good point and presented it well...! He throughly enjoyed my thinking he was right, commenting that this wouldn't happen in real life but only in Blogsville! I am SO misunderstood!!

But then, we looked at each other and said...hold on, this CAN'T be right. Actually, Barrie's mega-mathematical brain kicked into action and he looked at me like I was speaking nonsense (a common occurrence - that particular look, I mean!) as I spouted all my questions as above .

To make an already too long story short...and to reassure you all that I have not actually lost the plot...
I won't lose any time as it's going to take me every second of those 27 hours to get to Australia! 27 hours!! Oh, man! And there I was thinking 15 hours would just about do it. Doh!

Well, there you go. It all goes to prove that the world is a big place...and that Pippa should read her itinerary much more carefully!

Thanks, 'arrie!

Willow Creek - a journey across the carpark

I went to church on Wednesday night as they have a midweek service and it was really good to be there.
It was a beautiful evening and my camera was handy so I did a bit of extremely amateurish filming on the way so that those who haven't been here can visualise where I am.
Apologies for the shaking...was trying not to look like a total tool as I walked along, talking away quite the thing (apparently to myself!)...
Truly, I feel that I am beginning to settle into this whole 'look-like-a-complete-tourist' thing. It is actually quite liberating.

So, you ready?

Lights...action...

Enjoy the movies!

Rain...Ummmm...maybe not

So, the rain didn't come like I predicted...! Instead it was sunny and 95F...!
The USA is SO different from Scotland - and I love it. When it rains, it really rains and then it all goes away and the sun comes out and it's hot again.
Love it!
Much as I love Scotland (and I really do), I am not going to miss the weather!

Checked the temps a couple of days ago.

Edinburgh in the middle of summer 59F....Auckland in the middle of winter 61F...

I know!!

Front Porch Thoughts...

I don't have my lenses in yet so the world is looking pretty blurry this morning from the front porch. The wind is picking up and the trees across the street are waving at me.
I think it might rain today. I love the rain here - it doesn't hold back one smidgeon, pelting down with full force and glorious freedom. The sky grumbles and light flashes. I love it!

Came across this little movie today. For those who don't know, Wellington in NZ recently had its first snow in over 80 years.  I think I love this little movie because I see the child in these people peeking out in wonder...stopping to savour and just plain old enjoy. I love the smiles on the faces and the instant camaraderie that is shared.
Captivated in the moment.
Just like kids...seeing things freshly that to us adults have become stale and invisible. It makes me want to see with their eyes.
I think this video captures some moments when that 'seeing' is happening.
Of all the things that kids can teach us (and they can teach us loads), this is way up there!

Makes me think of this neat quote from G. K. Chesterton...

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." 

I hope you have a day sprinkled with some unexpected moments of 'seeing'. 

Kiwi!

Love this!

Downtown!

We went downtown early this morning to gather together with loads of other people for the Willow Chicago service. It was great to be there!!
The church meets in the Auditorium Theatre - a gorgeous building - and we went today because they were celebrating the opening of their new ministry centre.
During the service, we heard the story of how the church has given and given (with joy!!) in order to gain a space in which they can really serve God. It was very cool! We had a tour around the ministry centre and it was just beautiful...and totally functional. It is where the kids in Promiseland will meet on a Sunday, the worship band will practice, the various admin/office-based roles will happen, where people will hang out....and...and....and...!
Very cool!

Then, having met with other believers and sung and listened and shared and learned and celebrated, we headed onto Michigan Avenue for some lunch.

Fortified, relaxed and REALLY enjoying the beautiful day, we headed across the street and into Millennium Park... The Air and Water Show is on in Chicago this weekend so there were loads of people, boats and aeroplanes! The jets rocketed by, flying so closely together that the thought crossed my mind that if one of the pilots were to sneeze, jerking the helm (right term?) even slightly they could be in real diffs!! Fun to watch though...and, I bet, VERY fun to fly!! "I feel the need...." ;)

We saw the famous Bean...

...strolled along to Navy Pier - my neck craning this way and that as I took in the skyline. I was such a tourist!! Fiona, think London...and multiply by about 10!! :)

But I couldn't help it...it was such fun to see it all! Check it out...

Pretty cool, huh?

As we meandered towards the car, we passed these guys. I love what they can do with a plastic bucket and a couple of drumsticks!!

Hope it plays for you.

So, a really good day!

No deeply profound thoughts or contemplations apart from a marvelling at the creativity of man... a wondering about how the city developed and took shape...an enjoyment of the sun on my shoulders....and a real contentment in hanging out with the Orrs...thanks, guys!

Benihana

Our dinner cooked in front of us accompanied by all sorts of tricks!

Lizzie and me

So many moments like this during my visit here - crippling laughter!! Snorts have been known to happen too!

A birthday photo!

What a fun night we've had. A birthday treat for me - thanks, Orr Family...

The Junk Yard Wonders

Here's a book that is... that is.... .... honestly, I'm finding it hard to find the words.
I sat in the Orr's kitchen today and read it. It was the middle of feeding time in the kitchen...BLT's were being made and consumed with gusto, mac n'cheese was on the go, spare bacon was being polished off by Lizzie...people were coming and going...and yet the moment I opened this book and began to read, I was transported into another world.
It's a book about being different. A bunch of kids whom everyone else looked at and saw junk...but a teacher looked at and saw a whole world of possibilities.
More than that, she persuaded them to see it too.

It's a really good book. I don't want to give any more away...suffice to say - I totally recommend it!!

Barnes and Noble...

Walking into Barnes and Noble today and breathing in that distinctly book-filled first breath was a neat moment! It's my first visit in years and yet that particularly B&N smell took me back to every other visit within a split second, bringing each of them to mind effortlessly.
A pile of books...a coffee...a comfy seat...and a good friend...it's a winning combination every time.

There was a female staff member greeting people as we walked in. She said, 'Hi, how are you?'
I was so fully living the memories and breathing in the aroma of books that I positively beamed at her and said, 'I am absolutely wonderful, thank you!!' (I grimaced inwardly as my cheese-o-meter ricocheted off the scale!)
She looked somewhat startled - hit as she was with the full force of both smile and exuberant response...
I recovered quickly and mumbled something about restrooms.
Following her pointing finger, I moved quickly forward, away from one of the more embarrassing moments of life!
Having said all that...I had SUCH a nice time in Barnes and Noble today!

The Help

A few of us went to see The Help tonight at the movies. What a story!
I was utterly convinced by the acting, sung to by the courage of so many of the women, spoken to by the harshness of the living existence and whispered to by the ache portrayed, the long ache of endurance. The many moments of laughter underlined the poignancy of the moments and the tenacious bravery of the women. On so many levels, a great movie!

I really recommend it!

Click here to watch the trailer

Dick and Sibyl's Leaving Party...and The Orrs!

Add caption

Here we are! At Dick and Sibyl's leaving do at Willow Creek. It was a fun evening!

I think every single person I know at Willow was in the room...so it was great to catch up. I also loved meeting the people behind familiar names too.

The celebration of Dick and Sibyl was just lovely! So well crafted and full of words spoken so well. Bill Donahue's version of American Pie was very fun - and clever! 

The sign of a great time is when laughter and tears co-habitate the room! 

It was a great time!

Between...

It's a funny thing to be between places. Between addresses. Between countries. Between communities. Between jobs. Between houses.
Liberating in many ways, like a sort of no man's land. Strangely similar in some ways to travelling long haul around the world and moving through airports following flight connections. Very little luggage...no demands...no expectations...free from normal routines...and yet also with the freedom to meet fellow travellers, exchange a smile or word...share the common experience...be present.
There are definitely occasional moments of disorientation at times, but by and large, I have settled into the rhythm of the Transition Trail - very much as I settle also into the rhythm of the long haul flight. You see, nothing big has changed.
I still have the same number of hours in each day
Am still following our Rabbi one step at a time (and am loving walking this Trail with him)
Still engage with the many small decisions which arise in any day or place
Still laugh and cry
Still learn and grow
Still breathe...

..in this Between.

Home

I realised again today how home is not so much a place for me as it is a collection of other less tangible things.
Primarily, home for me is being known and loved...and knowing and loving right back. It's comfy cardi friends...being safe...mocked(!)always with a barely concealed twinkle in the eye...being heard and hearing...doubling over with uncontrollable laughter, snorts exploding helplessly...places to walk...greenery...
I've found home here in Chicago.
And today as I have experienced home here, I find I'm anticipating home down under too.

Willow Creek Leadership Summit

So, this Leadership Summit is world renowned...anticipated all year by thousands and thousands of people...brilliantly put together...and I get to be here on the main site at South Barrington.
Two days of feasting on thoughts, ideas, stories and Wisdom. My brain has been stretched bigtime...!! Seriously!! And my heart has been moved...bigtime!! It's very cool.

Check out the website below. It looks like you can click to see the highlights. Worth doing.

Global Leadership Summit

Good bye Scotland!

Dark, grey, rainy with no sign of changing. That was the weather on Monday 8th August as I headed towards the airport. Willem, Lorna and I joked about the weather ("...it's a good day to go!"), in amongst chatting away... and then a lull would fall - not the uncomfortable, awkward sort...more the just-being-in-the-moment kind... before one of us would remark that this leave-taking just didn't feel real.
I agree. A few days into my travels, writing from the front porch of the Orr's house in Hoffman Estates, it still feels a bit unreal. I'm expecting it to hit sometime soon...but trusting that this new reality will sink in pretty steadily. I'm calling it the Transition Trail...now, there's an original title!
I'm in a good place to walk the TT. The sun is shining...I am surrounded by good friends...and I have a few weeks to play and rest.
Looking forward to what I see along the way!