Nothing Like The Olympics

Friday night while watching the most amazing opening ceremony of olympic history I was reminded of the importance of such an event. Not only is it a terrific display of athleticism and competition at it’s highest level, but at the same time it’s such a significant display of global unity. As I watched athletes from around the world marching into the stadium I couldn’t help but notice how proud they were to be there representing their country. It didn’t matter if they were a team of 1 or several hundred. It didn’t matter if their country was small or large, or what economic advantages they did or didn’t enjoy they were thrilled to be an official ambassador for their homeland. 

During the Parade of Nations, which I have to admit I don’t view as the highlight of the opening ceremonies I observed and learned many things about the cultures of the various countries. It’s amazing what you can learn by watching the facial expressions and body language of people as they make their way around the track. Some people were over-the-top boisterous while others were much more reserved and stoic. Their body language says as much about their culture as their official olympic costume, perhaps more.

And then there was the nine year old boy helping lead the home team of China into the stadium. This little national hero is a survivor of the earthquake that killed so many people earlier this year. The great part of his story is how after he’d been rescued he went back into his school to help free his classmates from the rubble. I think that too speaks to the culture of his country and the values they hold. I think China is scoring big points these days and making the most of these games to boost their image. There’s nothing like the olympics to help tell you story!

Happy Birthday…Again

When I turned 50 back in March my wife did some very cool things, and one of those allowed me to celebrate all over again by going to a concert with Chicago and The Doobie Brothers — two of my all-time favorite bands. The thing that ended up being so cool about the gift is the way my wife let it be my night.

The concert was outside and unless you’ve been living under a rock lately you know the midwestern part of the U.S. has gotten a lot of rain. As luck would have it, the closer we got to the date of the concert the worse the forecast became. We left home that evening under some sort of warning (I think Jacque’s blog gives you those details) and drove to the outdoor venue of the concert. We stayed dry until we were near the end of The Doobie Brothers set. I wanted to believe people were taking pictures with a really bright flash, but I knew that wasn’t true. Right as what became their final song ended the rain began. At that point we entered a rain delay situation.

Fortunately Starlight Theatre has some covered areas that most of us retreated to as the rain came down. We assumed the concert would restart — at least we hoped it would since Chicago was more our band of choice (although the Doobies are really incredible musicians–especially for old guys). Finally they came to the stage and began playing as the rain continued to fall. Now, any other time Jacque would have voiced her concerns about the weather, pushed for going home, etc. but this night we both sat in the rain and sang hit after hit with Chicago. I’m sure we looked pretty silly in our rain ponchos (not to mention the singing at the top of our lungs) but neither of us cared as we re-lived memories of the past and created new memories to carry into the future.

We got soaked but we had one of the best times ever. Thanks Jacque, for not letting a little rain dampen your gift. It was great fun celebrating 50…again!

Churches, Homes, Bed & Breakfasts

For a number of years now I’ve had this romance with old churches. Wherever we travel I enjoy seeing them, and if possible just walking through to take a closer look. It’s fascinating to imagine all that happened inside those walls throughout its history. Perhaps this romance began in high school during my first visit to Europe. No matter which village or town you go to there’s a church of some sort. I guess it could also have something to do with me being a former pastor, but I think it’s deeper than that. There’s a real connection with these old buildings of faith. So much so that I’d love to buy one and convert it to a home.

Whenever I walk into an old church there’s an instant connection deep within my soul. It sort of draws me in and envelopes my spirit – it’s hard to explain. I can feel it even when the building has been repurposed and is no longer being used for public worship. As mystical as this sounds, it’s as if there are spiritual remnants left behind that begin to minister to me from the moment I walk into the space. This past weekend Jacque and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary at a bed & breakfast in Liberty MO — a bed & breakfast that’s in an old church.

From the moment we pulled up in front of the old building (the cornerstone says 1847) I knew it was going to be a special place. When we opened the heavy, solid-oak doors I could see through the foyer, down the center aisle to the front of what used to be the sanctuary of a neighborhood Catholic church. As we stepped across the threshold I turned to Jacque and we “wowed” in unison. I’ll admit that part of that was due to the romanticized notion I’ve created in my mind, but most people would agree that there’s just something about an old church. And there’s something special about The Steeple Inn.

The two guys who own and operate this B&B have only been open for business for a few months but you can easily see their vision coming to life. The overall vibe of the place is serene and peaceful as you’d expect, the breakfast presentation matched the setting and was very tasty. In addition they offer massage services in the lower level of the old church. A great weekend that just fueled my desire to buy an old church. Who knows what might happen.

Now That’s Service

Last night I had an amazing dinner at a remarkable restaurant in Sedona AZ. We’d eaten there before but last night I was reminded why we enjoy it so much. The setting is somewhat surreal, nestled in the gorgeous red rocks surrounding Sedona. The evening was one of those amazing Arizona nights where the air is spectacular and the atmosphere somewhat magical.

The restaurant itself is somewhat new but has real old-world charm. When my wife and I first ate there in 2004 it was relatively new and undiscovered. Now, four years later reservations are usually required and you’ll likely need to park quite a distance from the door. The fresh bread, accompanied by green chile infused olive oil is a great surprise to your palate and something hard to describe or even imagine. I don’t mean for this to sound like I’m trying to get a job as a restaurant reviewer but it really was an amazing experience. 

The food, wine, atmosphere, setting, everything that comprised the experience of the evening was designed for our pleasure. On top of all of the tangibles was something most of us may consider intangible. However, good service is a mix of the tangible and the intangible. The good service began when we arrived as we were taken to our table with efficiency and it continued throughout the meal and even as we left. The most tangible form of the great service came in response to us commenting on how much we enjoyed the house salad dressing. To that comment our server thanked us but also said they made it available for purchase at the gourmet food shop next door. When we expressed an interest to go next door to buy some he told us the store had already closed for the day, but if we’d like he could get into the store and get some for us. 

He didn’t offer to do this because he had nothing else to do, or because it was going to add a large sum to his tip. He offered because he wanted to be of service and wanted to extend our experience beyond the evening. We left, with our salad dressing in hand, but also with the intent of returning as soon as possible to enjoy another wonderful evening. In the meantime however, we will enjoy the memories, and the salad dressing. Now that’s service!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! Today I’m officially 50 years old! One half of a century. That seems like a stinkin’ long time but then on the other hand it really has flown by. I got a card from my older brother yesterday welcoming me to the second half century of life. He crossed that threshold a few years ago. His card talked about all of the memories we’ve shared as brothers. And we’ve had some great ones, and hope to have many more in the years ahead. That got me thinking about my life so far.

Looking back over the 50 years of my life there are only a few things I’d change, and not much of that carries too much weight. Overall it’s been a great journey. I’m surprised by how great I feel this morning about my age – I’m 50, and it feels good! I think I used to wonder if I’d feel anything when I turned 50, but life is good!

Here’s to the next 50!