Christmas this year was delightful. I was invited to spend it with a very dear friend and her family. I came bearing gifts, and lemme tell you, the Shaggin' Wagon truly earned its keep hauling this load around.
As I mentioned before, my friend runs a home-schooling co-op through her church. A hobby of mine is salvaging and rebuilding older computers, and her needs just happen to give me a way to dispose of them once I'm done playing.
This Christmas, I took over two monitors, two scanners, and seven computers. The PCs ran between 150 MHz and 233MHz for the most part, terribly obsolete but sufficient for her needs. (The exceptions were two former corporate work stations, PIII-600's that lacked optical drives -- they need the low-profile drives to fit in there, and I didn't have any.)
So, anyway, I'm off to this friend's home where she and her entire family (husband and five children) are all very devout Christians. (The two dogs, three cats, and assorted chickens and ducks might also be, but I neglected to ask.) It's arguably the holiest day of the year for Christians, and I'm bearing gifts for her and her church.
On the other hand, I'm a confirmed, born-again, dyed in the wool agnostic. I respect her faith, but I don't share the slightest shred of it.
I figure this might be a sign. This might be someone's way of indicating that it's about time I got over my agnosticism and find within me a way to acknowledge the existence of a higher power, that there really is something beyond my baser instincts that I should listen to.
About that time I was travelling through Nottingham, NH (I live in Manchester, and they live in Maine), and I happened to look up and see the sign for this place off to the left.
Unfortunately, they're only open to couples and families...
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Comments (14)
LOLYou could still... (Below threshold)1. Posted by seawitch | December 26, 2005 6:18 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
LOL
You could still take it as a sign that there really is something beyond your baser instincts. After all, isn't it just a bit too cold to go to one of those places this time of year?
1. Posted by seawitch | December 26, 2005 6:18 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 06:18
2. Posted by goddessoftheclassroom | December 26, 2005 7:12 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Actually, Easter is the holiest day of the year. Christ's birth is wonderful, but His resurrection--priceless.
Anyway, Merry Christmas, and may your faith be renewed.
2. Posted by goddessoftheclassroom | December 26, 2005 7:12 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 07:12
3. Posted by Francis W. Porretto | December 26, 2005 7:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, it's actually the second holiest day of our calendar, but you've got the general idea.
Jay, the transition to faith isn't something you can force. It happens, or it doesn't, on its own schedule. Much depends on the reading you do, the company you keep, and the goals you choose to pursue.
Especially the company you keep. If you surround yourself with persons of a spiritual inclination, you're more likely to feel the call...unless they're the sort of prigs who want to make everything either compulsory or forbidden. If you surround yourself with case-hardened unbelievers and resolute skeptics, you're more likely to remain indifferent to matters of the spirit...unless they're the sort of vapid scoffers or malevolent despoilers who'd thrust you in the opposite direction by the power of your revulsion. It's worth thinking about.
3. Posted by Francis W. Porretto | December 26, 2005 7:15 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 07:15
4. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 7:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Brrrr...bet those pews are cooolllllddddd...brrr.
Funny story, Jay Tea.
~:-D
4. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 7:24 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 07:24
5. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 7:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And, get yourself one of these for the Shaggin' Wagon.
5. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 7:29 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 07:29
6. Posted by Taz | December 26, 2005 8:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They did define couples as "man and woman"; that is funny...can't have any of that socially embarrassing 'homo' stuff! Ha Ha.
6. Posted by Taz | December 26, 2005 8:50 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 08:50
7. Posted by Wonder Woman | December 26, 2005 8:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
All you need Jay, is to pair up with an adventurous atheist, and you're set!
Happy Ho-Ho, Jay!
7. Posted by Wonder Woman | December 26, 2005 8:54 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 08:54
8. Posted by Sabba Hillel | December 26, 2005 9:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
In a way it is funny as an agnostic is:
ag�nos�tic �playAudio� (g-nstk) KEY �
NOUN:
1.
1. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.
It seems amusing since someone who has dyed-in-the-wool opinions, holds them strongly and will not change them:
So that means that you strongly believe that you do not know whether or not there is a G-d and you will not allow yourself to make up your mind one way or the other.
8. Posted by Sabba Hillel | December 26, 2005 9:36 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 09:36
9. Posted by Todd | December 26, 2005 9:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay Tea -
I have an original IBM PC from 1980-81. You're more than welcome to have it. You can use it for an anchor. Or, I've heard NASA may need the spare parts. Either way, its yours if you want it.
I'm disappointed Cedar's closed this time of year. I wanted to spend Christmas Eve with the congegationalists. Aren't there northern pike in that lake?
Speaking of 'homo' stuff, look who's leading the gay pole for Pesident '08.
9. Posted by Todd | December 26, 2005 9:47 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 09:47
10. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 11:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So, Todd, is the campaign for Pesident a race to see who's the best Pez Dispenser, or, what?
Ha.
10. Posted by -S- | December 26, 2005 11:29 AM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 11:29
11. Posted by Jim | December 26, 2005 12:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wonder Woman already gave you advice similar to what I was about to suggest. She said "All you need Jay, is to pair up with an adventurous atheist, and you're set!" I'd just like to modify her suggestion to say that your partner in full exposure need nod be an adventurous atheist -- you just need a woman of any degree of belief or non-belief who is open to non-textile experience.
11. Posted by Jim | December 26, 2005 12:57 PM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 12:57
12. Posted by Maggie45 | December 26, 2005 6:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay, I'm glad you had a good Christmas. You're a good person.
12. Posted by Maggie45 | December 26, 2005 6:29 PM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 18:29
13. Posted by Foyle | December 26, 2005 6:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Someone I respect once said "People do what makes sense to them." If it doesn't make sense to you, there are probably some good reasons, some of which may be hard to articulate. (And if it all makes total sense, you're probably either dead or crazy).
One guy who helps it make sense to me is a young pastor named Rob Bell (from Michigan of all places). If you're interested, check out his book: Velvet Elvis. It just came out. I really enjoyed it.
13. Posted by Foyle | December 26, 2005 6:40 PM |
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Posted on December 26, 2005 18:40
14. Posted by G Braden | December 27, 2005 2:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If you are in the mood, I would recommend Philip Yancey's Rumors of Another World, written for those who may be searching for purpose and answers to life questions. It is not preachy.
14. Posted by G Braden | December 27, 2005 2:18 PM |
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Posted on December 27, 2005 14:18