O.Live.People! [Online]
Looking for the heart fully alive
The Compri-Combo
Mar 26th
Today I split a combo with a friend for lunch. There is an excellent poutine place in downtown Guelph called Pierre’s Poutine. They sell burgers, hot dogs, etc. as well as their amazing poutine. They offer a combo deal with the choice to upgrade to a poutine, instead of fries. So, my pal and I opted for the cheeseburger with a poutine and a ginger ale. We split it all down the middle. But that’s the simple version of the story…
This was a meal all about compromise. My friend and I have similar tastes in a number of areas, but toppings apparently are not one of these areas. Compromise #1 – which kind of poutine. Pierre’s has many types, not just the classic… my friend likes the classic, so I opted to forgo my usual “healthy” vegetarian version with sauteed mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. Choices #1 & 2 – with cheese? yes – with bacon? no. We came to these agreements fairly easily today. Choice #3 – we agreed on Ginger Ale to drink. Compromise #2 – pickles were present on the burger… but the fine burgermaster put them on one side only and said he would , so this worked well for us both. Only a hint of pickle could be detected from the once nearby pickles. Choice #4 – ketchup! no problems here. Compromise #4 – mustard. Bleck… my friend did without. Compromise #5 – onions. I did without. Compromise #6 – relish. I don’t usually, but don’t exactly mind it either. Choices #5 & 6 – lettuce and tomato. No problems here. Compromise #7 – mayo. I didn’t even bother asking. I guess I could have. I was hungry at this point and excited that the guy was actually going to cut the burger in half for us.
In the end, we had a meal we could share. In fact, she paid this time around and I’m on to pay for the next time. Maybe not exactly what either of us would get on our own, but it was still good and it all worked out. We had food to eat and were still friends at the end of all the choices and compromises. 
It was quite the journey. Maybe a nuissance to the shop workers, but even they seemed to support our complicated effort at the same time. And then back at the office it was all about teamwork to successfully split the food up… and dividing up poutine evenly is not a simple endeavour, for anybody wondering. But we did that too!
Friendship reigned surpreme this day. And the poutine was excellent as usual. Even without the veggies. (heehee)
Gourmet Hot Dog Joint?
Mar 25th
So tell me… who dreams of a gourmet type hot dog joint, where all the Salvation Army folk go before a big concert or event???? There’s a huge line-up and it’s like being at Swiss Chalet before the National final program or the Festival of Gospel Song. Except it’s not… because it’s the gourmet hot dog place. The signs are bright yellow. The location is downtown (New York, I think….?) and you can get to it from the back door or the front… although it takes longer from the back. And it’s just across the street from the hotel where we’re all staying. Which is actually kind of like the Axiom in Wall-E, with tracks for chairs that take you places…. except when you fall off or outsmart the system. Man, I wish I remembered more… it was one crazy weird dream.
So Now What?
Mar 25th
About a month ago, in the mess of pre-anniversary weekend stuff, I was in a minor car accident. I was rear ended (in my lovely new car with less than 3000km on it at the time) in some messy weather. I didn’t see it coming… I didn’t brace myself, so the injury to myself was a little bit of stiffness for a day or so, and mostly just the shock of it all.
I did the common, yet admittedly risky, thing of not going through insurance — at the request of the person (let’s call her Sheila) who bumped into me. Sheila asked that of me, I told her I didn’t care as long as I got the money to cover the repairs, and we went from there. Now, being in the present day and age, automobile bumpers are no longer made of materials that actually endure being bumped into like, say, steel! No, now we have plastic bumpers that crack, or shatter, or (in my case) find a rather large screw permanently embedded in it. And so proper repairs do not come cheap. I wasn’t satisfied with a filler patch on my brand new car. That actually would have been nearly as expensive as the replacement… crazy eh? So, a full rear bumper replacement it was for me.
I had the repairs done and passed on the final cost to Sheila. Then, these past two Wednesdays I have met with my new acquaintance to receive partial payments from her. Tonight I received the outstanding amount and now we’re done. Sheila and I never have to meet or speak again.
The thing is… the bumper is fixed… the money is paid to me before the Visa bill has even come due… but can’t stop thinking about her. She’s not a bad person. She’s not an unreasonable person. It was a hard way to meet a new person, but overall I found Sheila to be nice and responsible, willing to take on the consequence of what happened. In our various conversations, perhaps most notably tonight’s, I have learned little pieces about Sheila and what she’s gone through this last little while. Basically I see somebody that needs… possibly longs for… a friend. We have next to nothing in common, except our bumpers meeting each other a month ago… and yet I find myself concerned for her and her welfare.
I think I might call her in a few weeks just to see how she is doing. So random. So out of my normal way of doing things. Yet so very likely that I will find myself doing just that.
Hi – my name is Donna Harris, and I just surprised myself again.
100 Push-ups!
Mar 24th
NO! I cannot do 100 push-ups…. not yet anyway!
In fact, I can hardly do any at all… not of the real type… not yet anyway!
BUT, I have a plan! (This is the Donna we all know and love!)
There is a website called hundredpushups.com and it is a plan to be able to do 100 push ups at the end of a 6 week program. I just officially started today. Granted, I am only doing the knee-based push-ups, but doing 100 of those should give me enough upper body strength to get going on real push-ups.
You can keep track of my progress, help keep me accountable, etc. by checking out my Twitter page. All my progress on the 100 push-up plan goes here, because I have it linked up with the companion site to the 6-week plan, www.pushupslogger.com … so automatically Twitter gets updated when I log my workout sessions. Neat eh?
There is also a 200 sit-ups site and logger site. I may or may not do these… it only focuses on one kind of sit-up and I know there are many types… depends if there is a reason to do this for me. More research is needed. But for anybody interested, these sites are: http://twohundredsitups.com and http://www.pushupslogger.com/plog/situps
Let me know if you decide to follow these plans, or other similar online plans!
Thinking About Discipline
Mar 22nd
Often I find that whenever I consider discipline or self-discipline I am focussing on a specific aspect or area of life. Maybe it is discipline to rehearse music or do technical work like scales and studies. Or perhaps the discpline of exercising regularly, or choosing healthy options when eating. We often hear about things that will grow us spiritually, such as spending time in prayer, being still and listening for God’s voice, and studying the Bible.
New Year’s comes and New Year’s goes. We say “this year I will exercise 3 times a week for half an hour” or “this year I will commit to read through the entire Bible”. We set these goals, sometimes not quite so specifically. I am very skilled at opting for vague goals. I think somewhere along the line I felt this might increase my chances of success when I could re-interpret by years end. For example, “I want to spend more time in prayer” or “I want to cultivate more intentional relationships”. The only thing I can be accountable to is my original intention behind setting the goal in the first place. There is nothing within these goals that truly define anything.
So, it’s mid-March and I’m going on about discipline and New Year’s resolutions and you ask “Why is that?” Maybe if I applied more discipline in crafting a clear-cut blog post you might already have your answer. But alas, you’re stuck with what you see. As for the “why” of this post, it certianly isn’t because I have answers. But I had a thought last night. (Just one… I have a quota and I try not to go over it very often.)
What if we take a more holistic view of discipline? What if we allow the motivation for our physical exercise to be a by-product of our prayer life which in turn helps us focus on others, who may be the people we end up exercising with and then later praying with? What if we listen to podcasts of solid Scriptural teaching or audio books of C.S. Lewis (for example) while running/walking/treadmilling, or do memory work of Bible verses while we do push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups? What if we practise our music for band, but make it part of our devotional time when we look up and reflect upon the words of the featured tunes? What if getting up in the morning to meet with God could become the opportunity to literally walk with Him and talk with Him?
Just thinking…. but also wondering what discipline and lifestyle really are about.
Until another random thought… O Live, People!
Considering Maturity
Mar 21st
Well, it’s official. I am blogging again, and I am doing so from my own website and linking it up to Facebook. Greetings Facebook friends! 
No lengthy post tonight. Just a thought that’s been on my mind recently considering the world view of “maturity”. To say that one is a “mature person” has a totally different meaning than the disclaimers on television: “Mature subject matter… viewer discretion advised.” It just seems awfully ironic to me that the very thing that is supposed to be the mark of adulthood (that is, maturity) is also the word used to describe some childish and/or foolish behaviours. Last time I checked, blowing somebody away in a video game is not mature. And it continues to baffle me why “mature” people would want to do that.
So much I could go on about. But in the promise to keep this short I’ll just throw out the thought: what’s so mature about “mature subject matter”?
Until another post: O live, people!
Location: Guelph
Mar 20th
Tonight I am in Guelph. I am in my room sitting on my bed. Probably blogging and chatting online while I should asleep instead. Soon enough that will come.
I am reading a super great book right now. Normally I wouldn’t go on too much about a book before I finish reading, but I have no concerns about this one. The book is called “Springtime Of The Soul” and it is written by Carole Hamm. Carole’s book came into our possession after a stay at her family run hotel in Lewisburg, PA last summer. The name of the hotel is the Country Cupboard Inn and each room has a complimentary copy waiting for each new set of visitors.
My mom devoured the book while we were there and many months later I am making my own way through it. The subtitle of the book is “A season of spiritual renewal and growth”. It’s a well timed read for me. I need something that is restorative and retreat-like in nature, as I have had to skip two retreat-type weekends in a row this month due to an annoying and nagging bug that just won’t let go.
My mom also has turned into a major supplier of sorts, circulating copies of this book to a number of others. And I see why now. I might just be finding myself doing the same in the not too far off future.
I don’t intend this blog post to be a book review. It is not organised or deep enough in nature to be that. But I do recommend this book already. And maybe I will launch into a book review? Who knows!
As for life in general, no recent trips but a few things coming up. And hopefully some other things worth mentioning at some point. But regardless, I hope to keep writing. I need to be doing this again. If nothing else, it will help later on when I’m finding myself farther afield.
Until the next time… O Live, People!
Have we “caught the vision splendid”?
Nov 20th
We have caught the vision splendid
Of a world which is to be,
When the pardoning love of Jesus
Freely flows from sea to sea,
When all men from strife and anger,
Greed and selfishness are free,
When the nations live together
In sweet peace and harmony.
(SA Songbook #833)
I sit in front of a screen a lot. I work in front of two of them. I go home and work, play, communicate in front of another one or two of them. I still watch TV from time to time. I’m not a big gamer, but I do enjoy a good game of Wii Sports or Guitar Hero. That’s a lot of visual, digital processing for my brain to handle in your average week.
Recently I have been pondering the draw to things digital and virtual. I’m confident that there are many papers written on the implications of our gazing into screens, including the addictive nature. I know I’ve proven it so in my own life, and in seems to be backed up with a lot of ammunition in the world around me.
In this recent pondering, I am particularly taken with the idea of the visual and “vision”. There was one time long ago that I remember playing real-life (actual cards!) solitaire SO MUCH that I actually dreamed about where to place the Jack. Such intense concentration maybe? Sure… but I also just plain played too much. However, I can recount a multitude of digitally influenced dreams and visions. Anything from dreaming about my programming assignments in university, to playing enough Guitar Hero (or any other video game) that I can close my eyes hours later and still see the fretboard with the notes coming at me. Sometimes not even needing to close my eyes….
Like I said, I am not a gamer. I have to choose not to be. I have too many already existing digital habits and addictions to cope with — I don’t need another one. But consider how much of the western population is taken with gaming. There’s some fun stuff, and a great deal of questionable and objectionable stuff… let’s just say I’m glad that my post-video game visions are of notes coming at me or bowling balls going down the alley and not wars and variations on the theme of depravity and iniquity. There is also a widely accepted demographic that makes up the majority of the gaming community – generally speaking, it is comprised of young males.
Joel 2:28 (KJV) reads:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
I wonder what visions our young men are seeing? What dreams our old men are dreaming? What foundation sons and daughters have to prophesy on?
It got me to thinking, we sing “Be Thou my Vision”. We quote the passage from Joel that this prophecy comes from, and many of us hope that it belongs to us here and now. But I can’t help but wonder if what we are doing and allowing into our sight is blocking our ability to view visions – whether visions of God or from God. If our minds are so filled up with visions of things we shouldn’t be watching on the small or silver screens, if our minds are so over-actively engaged and distracted with video games even after we’re done playing them, if our view is less than clear… then mustn’t that indicate something about what we are absorbing in the natural life? The possible spiritual implications of all our digital and visual bombardment in the modern day should be a concern, if not outright alarming.
I have no answers beyond that which I know is true: anything that I am choosing in my daily life which deafens, blinds, or removes me from what God has for me is a choice that needs to be re-made.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all
The 1st day of the rest of my life
Nov 5th
So, I have hit a breaking point today.
I have harboured all sorts of stress and strain, tried to be super-duper-woman, gotten more and more bitter, and have just been plain tired and stupid with my time.
So here I sit stretched out in bed, having left work early. About ready to conk out for a little while, if at all possible. But as I type here and reflect on the last few weeks, I see how warped I’ve let myself become. And am actually thankful for the humbling experiences of my day, and hopeful that it isn’t too late to recover from my own bad habits.
I need to find the joy again…. I know where it is found, I just don’t know why I haven’t been looking! And that’s what this blog is supposed to be about! The joy, the glory of the heart fully alive in Christ. So right now I am not fully alive… not quite dead either, but the pulse has weakened as my focus has shifted. Let us renounce the weakening pulse and spring up with renewed joy and passion for the God we serve and the life He calls us to live in order to show His Son to others. After I have my nap, that is…. This is definitely a moment for a quiet time to allow Him to renew my spirit. Thank God for sleep and rest.
I am blogging-challenged…
Oct 2nd
Apparently, as great of an idea as this was to keep track of the journey, I haven’t been doing a very good job of it. I have loads of photos I want to share, and great stories to tell…. I just hope I remember them by the time I get blogging about them. I decided that I should carry on just the same from right now.
The original plan was for me to return home on October 3rd but it is looking like I will be staying until October 10th now. More details to follow.
Also, I just had a fantastic evening. A good meal (that wasn’t room service!), a nice conversation or two with family at home, a nice conversation connecting up with some Salvation Army officers down here, and then an in person visit with my friend who is staying down here. So very cool.
And now, it is time to sleep… perchance to dream… and hopefully not about the software I’m helping to test. 
Photos soon I hope…. and stories too… I really want to share!!
