Communion
As the music began held my face in my hand
struggled with all that was pushing inside
lo not worthy oh Lord to share such a chord
take from me all my coarseness and pride
Then when row upon row came the time to let go
stood to wait for procession to yield
raised my eyes to the song giving voice all along
thought of favor and laver and field
When I came to the bread and the minister said
take you this now the body of Christ
held my palm to believe what my heart would receive
that His life was enough to suffice
Yet still there was more that would flow from the store
of redemption that had come in His blood
so I dipped that small piece in the wine of release
shed for me from compassion and love
Then with amen agreed headed back with the creed
while I carried that precious small load
and finding my place sat and bowed to the grace
opened up and consumed what had flowed
And friend listen hear that I shed a new tear
overwhelmed by his presence and peace
saying thank you sweet Lord only You be adored
once again this old life I release
Friday, April 29, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
U of M?
When I was doing the paperwork for test client Alasia she mentioned that she just got home for the summer from U of M. A few minutes into our drive we begin this conversation:
Me: "This U of M. Is it a college, like Calvin or Aquinas?"
She: "You got to be kidding. You don't know what U of M is? The University of Michigan? Football? Jim Harbaugh? I can't wait to tell my father."
Me: "I'll have to ask my wife Jackie. Maybe she has heard of it."
I don't show any further reaction but after a moment I ask:
"Do you have any classes with Jim Harbaugh?"
She: "He's the football coach!"
Me: "Don't football coaches have to be students?"
She, now getting frustrated: "No, they coach football, but Harbaugh use to be a student at U of M."
Me: "So he is a graduate student there?"
She: "He is a full time football coach, like Bo Schembechler who use to be his coach."
Me: "Is Shambacker still coaching?"
She: "He's dead!"
Me: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
Me: "How long has Harbaugh been coaching at U of M?"
She: "This was his first year."
A minute or two later I start up the conversation again.
Me: "Some of my kids went to Hope College and played athletics there but I don't remember them ever playing against U of M. Does U of M play schools like Michigan State?"
She: "Yes, we play State."
Me: "How did you guys do this year in football against State?"
She, grimacing: "Not so good. They beat us."
Me: "Well, that's OK. This was your coaches first year. I'm sure he'll figure things out."
Later on Alasia tells me that her father is a life long U of M fan and cried when she received her acceptance letter. Her sister currently goes to Michigan State and that initially was rough on her dad.
Me: "So you applied to U of M because you couldn't get into Michigan State?"
She: "ANYONE can get into Michigan State. They have a 67 per cent acceptance rate. U of M has a 32 per cent acceptance rate!"
Me: "Well good for you. Bye the way, when is U of M located?"
She: "Ann Arbor."
Me: "Oh, I know where that is. I've driven past Ann Arbor on my way to Detroit."
She: "And havn't you seen those giant M's colored in maize and blue all over the place?"
Me, no response.
We get done with the test and I tell Alasia that when I get home after work I will Google "U of M" and "Jim Harbazz".
Alasia looks at me and says - "That's HARBAUGH!"
Me: "This U of M. Is it a college, like Calvin or Aquinas?"
She: "You got to be kidding. You don't know what U of M is? The University of Michigan? Football? Jim Harbaugh? I can't wait to tell my father."
Me: "I'll have to ask my wife Jackie. Maybe she has heard of it."
I don't show any further reaction but after a moment I ask:
"Do you have any classes with Jim Harbaugh?"
She: "He's the football coach!"
Me: "Don't football coaches have to be students?"
She, now getting frustrated: "No, they coach football, but Harbaugh use to be a student at U of M."
Me: "So he is a graduate student there?"
She: "He is a full time football coach, like Bo Schembechler who use to be his coach."
Me: "Is Shambacker still coaching?"
She: "He's dead!"
Me: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
Me: "How long has Harbaugh been coaching at U of M?"
She: "This was his first year."
A minute or two later I start up the conversation again.
Me: "Some of my kids went to Hope College and played athletics there but I don't remember them ever playing against U of M. Does U of M play schools like Michigan State?"
She: "Yes, we play State."
Me: "How did you guys do this year in football against State?"
She, grimacing: "Not so good. They beat us."
Me: "Well, that's OK. This was your coaches first year. I'm sure he'll figure things out."
Later on Alasia tells me that her father is a life long U of M fan and cried when she received her acceptance letter. Her sister currently goes to Michigan State and that initially was rough on her dad.
Me: "So you applied to U of M because you couldn't get into Michigan State?"
She: "ANYONE can get into Michigan State. They have a 67 per cent acceptance rate. U of M has a 32 per cent acceptance rate!"
Me: "Well good for you. Bye the way, when is U of M located?"
She: "Ann Arbor."
Me: "Oh, I know where that is. I've driven past Ann Arbor on my way to Detroit."
She: "And havn't you seen those giant M's colored in maize and blue all over the place?"
Me, no response.
We get done with the test and I tell Alasia that when I get home after work I will Google "U of M" and "Jim Harbazz".
Alasia looks at me and says - "That's HARBAUGH!"
Sunday, April 24, 2016
A Father's Blessing
May I whisper in your ear sweet hope
hold you tight so that you cannot run
give you my strength and my blessing
Little one, you are special
you have won my heart without a word
you have given me joy by being you
See the twinkle in my eye
the grin that is just for you
my surprise at the simple things
Before you breathed air there was a plan
and I prayed that you would find it
search it out, embrace it
It was not easy to let you go
to find your step without my hands
to see you brave the giant
But little one, know that I was there
with my heart and my song
confident that you would find your own
Be strong for strength has been given to you
be brave because you have been well equipped
be soft because I love softness
And may the Lord of love show you
what is pure, and holy, and yours
and may you never forget how to laugh
hold you tight so that you cannot run
give you my strength and my blessing
Little one, you are special
you have won my heart without a word
you have given me joy by being you
See the twinkle in my eye
the grin that is just for you
my surprise at the simple things
Before you breathed air there was a plan
and I prayed that you would find it
search it out, embrace it
It was not easy to let you go
to find your step without my hands
to see you brave the giant
But little one, know that I was there
with my heart and my song
confident that you would find your own
Be strong for strength has been given to you
be brave because you have been well equipped
be soft because I love softness
And may the Lord of love show you
what is pure, and holy, and yours
and may you never forget how to laugh
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Prayer Meeting
The last worship chorus was sung, one that led to a deep reflection about surrendering everything we think we are to the One whom we call Almighty, Sovereign, All Powerful, Father.
Two of the guitars are softly still playing the worship tune and a woman quietly joins in, singing this time not in English but in her personal prayer language - "Ah day qua, ma sine, quo tow loco staa".
A man joins in following the same tune using his own personal gift of an unknown language - "So jay clakay, abom ka, kala kalon ka".
Quickly others join in, each with their tongue, but now someone branches off of the tune, harmonizing. And as that happens all of the rest gathered there join in, those who have a special prayer language with theirs, those who do not in English, all singing and improvising and harmonizing.
Those playing guitars and keyboard are also improvising but now instead of leading they are following.
There is a wave of a chorus in tongues from one side of the room which is met with a return wave from the other. The waves come together and splash back, beautiful sounds, uplifting, reverent.
After a minute all is quiet. The room waits, eyes are closed, most hands are open as each person is in prayer or are sensing, expecting that now the Lord has something more.
A man stands up and speaks, slowly, deliberately, several sentences in an unknown language. A woman then rises and gives the interpretation in English. She stops mid sentence and another women picks up right where the first lady left off. It is a message about trusting that God knows all of our needs, that He loves us, and that the questions that have been heavy on our heart are being answered.
Sitting in the back of the room is an unbeliever. He has come tonight more out of curiosity than anything else. All of this, the strange languages, the open worship he just saw without any apparent direction, and the man and women giving a message has been really odd to him.
And yet just this week he had been feeling lonely. Maybe that is why he had been attempting to pray, wondering if God, if there was a God, could or would ever answer his questions, or even hear his prayers for that matter. The "prophetic word" he thought made him feel like he just got slapped upside the head with a 2 X 4.
Then a tall black man gets up, opens his bible and shares a verse that he said struck him right between his ear lobes. It was from Luke, something about asking and knocking and God wanting to give good things to His children.
Next came a little old white grandma. She takes about twenty steps to cover 10 feet, stands in the middle of the group and tells a story about how kind God was to send someone special to visit her this week. Just when she thought that no one cared a neighbor came over, brought her some warm oatmeal cookies then stayed and talked for an hour. She too opens her bible and shares a verse about how God knows our needs even before we ask Him.
That is followed by a young college student who wanted to share with everyone that she hasn't had any bouts with anxiety since the group prayed for her last month. She was able to apply for an internship she really wanted and praise the Lord she had been accepted.
At this point a man gets up, takes his notes, waves them at the group and puts them back in his pocket, He then gives about a ten minute testimony about how he had grown up in the church but didn't have any kind of personal relationship with God but God pursued him and this is how he came to believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins personally.
When the man's message is ended he asks if there is anyone here who would like to have the same assurance that he does about having a relationship with the Lord who loves us so much. He says that he will be available to talk after the meeting is over
After he sits down there is a closing song, some couples are identified as being available to pray with anyone for healing or anything else they have a need for, and there is fellowship time.
The unbeliever doesn't seek out the man after the meeting but he is clearly shaken that this random prayer meeting spoke directly to him. He heads to the book table and finds one that looks quite interesting, brings it home. It answers some of his questions but now he has twice as many new ones.
The next week he comes back and is surprised when there is another "word" and two more sharings that help answer his new questions. As he is buying more books the man who talked at the first meeting comes over and introduces himself. He actually seems to be quite normal.
A few weeks later, alone in his apartment, confronted with his sinfulness, anxious to know the One who has not given up on him, he confesses his sins and steps out in faith. Gently, as sure as anything has ever been in his whole life, Jesus is alive in his heart.
The next week as the angelic chorus moves across the room his voice, speaking in a language just for him, joins theirs.
Two of the guitars are softly still playing the worship tune and a woman quietly joins in, singing this time not in English but in her personal prayer language - "Ah day qua, ma sine, quo tow loco staa".
A man joins in following the same tune using his own personal gift of an unknown language - "So jay clakay, abom ka, kala kalon ka".
Quickly others join in, each with their tongue, but now someone branches off of the tune, harmonizing. And as that happens all of the rest gathered there join in, those who have a special prayer language with theirs, those who do not in English, all singing and improvising and harmonizing.
Those playing guitars and keyboard are also improvising but now instead of leading they are following.
There is a wave of a chorus in tongues from one side of the room which is met with a return wave from the other. The waves come together and splash back, beautiful sounds, uplifting, reverent.
After a minute all is quiet. The room waits, eyes are closed, most hands are open as each person is in prayer or are sensing, expecting that now the Lord has something more.
A man stands up and speaks, slowly, deliberately, several sentences in an unknown language. A woman then rises and gives the interpretation in English. She stops mid sentence and another women picks up right where the first lady left off. It is a message about trusting that God knows all of our needs, that He loves us, and that the questions that have been heavy on our heart are being answered.
Sitting in the back of the room is an unbeliever. He has come tonight more out of curiosity than anything else. All of this, the strange languages, the open worship he just saw without any apparent direction, and the man and women giving a message has been really odd to him.
And yet just this week he had been feeling lonely. Maybe that is why he had been attempting to pray, wondering if God, if there was a God, could or would ever answer his questions, or even hear his prayers for that matter. The "prophetic word" he thought made him feel like he just got slapped upside the head with a 2 X 4.
Then a tall black man gets up, opens his bible and shares a verse that he said struck him right between his ear lobes. It was from Luke, something about asking and knocking and God wanting to give good things to His children.
Next came a little old white grandma. She takes about twenty steps to cover 10 feet, stands in the middle of the group and tells a story about how kind God was to send someone special to visit her this week. Just when she thought that no one cared a neighbor came over, brought her some warm oatmeal cookies then stayed and talked for an hour. She too opens her bible and shares a verse about how God knows our needs even before we ask Him.
That is followed by a young college student who wanted to share with everyone that she hasn't had any bouts with anxiety since the group prayed for her last month. She was able to apply for an internship she really wanted and praise the Lord she had been accepted.
At this point a man gets up, takes his notes, waves them at the group and puts them back in his pocket, He then gives about a ten minute testimony about how he had grown up in the church but didn't have any kind of personal relationship with God but God pursued him and this is how he came to believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins personally.
When the man's message is ended he asks if there is anyone here who would like to have the same assurance that he does about having a relationship with the Lord who loves us so much. He says that he will be available to talk after the meeting is over
After he sits down there is a closing song, some couples are identified as being available to pray with anyone for healing or anything else they have a need for, and there is fellowship time.
The unbeliever doesn't seek out the man after the meeting but he is clearly shaken that this random prayer meeting spoke directly to him. He heads to the book table and finds one that looks quite interesting, brings it home. It answers some of his questions but now he has twice as many new ones.
The next week he comes back and is surprised when there is another "word" and two more sharings that help answer his new questions. As he is buying more books the man who talked at the first meeting comes over and introduces himself. He actually seems to be quite normal.
A few weeks later, alone in his apartment, confronted with his sinfulness, anxious to know the One who has not given up on him, he confesses his sins and steps out in faith. Gently, as sure as anything has ever been in his whole life, Jesus is alive in his heart.
The next week as the angelic chorus moves across the room his voice, speaking in a language just for him, joins theirs.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Seeking First His Kingdom And His Righteousness
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
This verse came to me recently in a conversation with Madison, a young women who was beset by many problems. I asked her if she had a good church to attend and she responded that she had gone to church a few times but then she started giving me a list of reasons why it was difficult for her to go.
"Maybe I can just watch church on TV" she said. My response was; "That would be better than nothing but it's not the same".
I then quoted her the verse, well actually I sung her the first verse from the song listed below. This was from the first song book we used at the early Charismatic prayer meetings that met in the gym at St. Joe's and we included it in the song book we compiled and used for many years at our family prayer meetings. When the song is sung in a round the effect, even with our rather bad musical ability, was always quite beautiful.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God;
And His righteousness.
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask and it shall be given unto you;
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be open unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
After singing the song verse (not in a round) I quoted the bible verse and Madison repeated it slowly after me. I told her that the verse meant that if she would seek God's will and put Him first in every thing in her life, finances, money problems, work, and even situations with boyfriends, if she did that God always makes everything work out better than what she could imagine.
"And if your desire is to go to church and you ask God to provide a way He will always open a door for things like that to happen".
Madison then began to tell me a couple of thoughts she had about how she might be able to find a way to get to church. At that point I had to stop her.
"The point Madison is not going to church. Yes that is good and vital but the main point is that we need to seek God's will for every part of our life and we need to put Him first in every part of our life. Going to church should be a result of our desire to do that."
Hopefully Madison will take that first step and find a church that teaches from the bible, proclaims the good news about salvation and shows her how to have freedom in Jesus. I think if offered plainly she will jump at the chance.
Earlier in the 6th chapter of Matthew, verse 11, when Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray He includes the same advice found later in verse 33.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
I am amazed by the beauty and the simplicity in both of Jesus statements as recorded by Matthew. Yes I know we could do a word and subject study here about the Jewish understanding of what God's kingdom is and what righteousness means but right now I want to speak simply and direct.
Jesus is Lord of all, both in heaven and on earth. He is the Creator and loves all that He made.
And yet because of sin and rebellion there exists two kingdoms that struggle against each other - The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. One is an everlasting kingdom. One is subject to decay and death and will pass away.
You have no choice but to be a servant, either in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom of the world. That's just the way it works. Ignorance is no excuse.
God's kingdom and His righteousness are not of this earthly kingdom, but by seeking (actively desiring) those things first, God will provide for us everything we need, both in this earthly kingdom as well as in the heavenly kingdom.
Consider the lilies.
This verse came to me recently in a conversation with Madison, a young women who was beset by many problems. I asked her if she had a good church to attend and she responded that she had gone to church a few times but then she started giving me a list of reasons why it was difficult for her to go.
"Maybe I can just watch church on TV" she said. My response was; "That would be better than nothing but it's not the same".
I then quoted her the verse, well actually I sung her the first verse from the song listed below. This was from the first song book we used at the early Charismatic prayer meetings that met in the gym at St. Joe's and we included it in the song book we compiled and used for many years at our family prayer meetings. When the song is sung in a round the effect, even with our rather bad musical ability, was always quite beautiful.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God;
And His righteousness.
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask and it shall be given unto you;
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be open unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
After singing the song verse (not in a round) I quoted the bible verse and Madison repeated it slowly after me. I told her that the verse meant that if she would seek God's will and put Him first in every thing in her life, finances, money problems, work, and even situations with boyfriends, if she did that God always makes everything work out better than what she could imagine.
"And if your desire is to go to church and you ask God to provide a way He will always open a door for things like that to happen".
Madison then began to tell me a couple of thoughts she had about how she might be able to find a way to get to church. At that point I had to stop her.
"The point Madison is not going to church. Yes that is good and vital but the main point is that we need to seek God's will for every part of our life and we need to put Him first in every part of our life. Going to church should be a result of our desire to do that."
Hopefully Madison will take that first step and find a church that teaches from the bible, proclaims the good news about salvation and shows her how to have freedom in Jesus. I think if offered plainly she will jump at the chance.
Earlier in the 6th chapter of Matthew, verse 11, when Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray He includes the same advice found later in verse 33.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
I am amazed by the beauty and the simplicity in both of Jesus statements as recorded by Matthew. Yes I know we could do a word and subject study here about the Jewish understanding of what God's kingdom is and what righteousness means but right now I want to speak simply and direct.
Jesus is Lord of all, both in heaven and on earth. He is the Creator and loves all that He made.
And yet because of sin and rebellion there exists two kingdoms that struggle against each other - The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. One is an everlasting kingdom. One is subject to decay and death and will pass away.
You have no choice but to be a servant, either in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom of the world. That's just the way it works. Ignorance is no excuse.
God's kingdom and His righteousness are not of this earthly kingdom, but by seeking (actively desiring) those things first, God will provide for us everything we need, both in this earthly kingdom as well as in the heavenly kingdom.
Consider the lilies.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Dreams
Sometimes I dream of things that are
sometimes how things could be
sometimes they tell me what to do
to set the captive free
And so it was the other night
that you walked in my sight
your hair was perfectly coiffured
your eyes were dancing bright
A modern stylish blouse struck me
as did your long grey vest
and with this all you were at peace
yet radiating zest
I thought to mention a line you wrote
but heard a voice say wait
now's not the time just say hello
and see how to relate
Then right away another scene
I'm standing looking out
where once the beauty shouted loud
but now there left no doubt
That everything was leveled
a bulldozer came this way
and every flower branch and pond
had felt the blades full sway
Remaining now was fresh top dirt
just waiting to be used
I wondered what the plans would be
the art that you would choose
And knowing that this was a dream
still stood looking around
a tree or two was all remained
upon the precious ground
When dreams come close it usually shows
that each supports the pair
the meaning opened up to me
was positive and fair
The woman dressed so balanced
the back yard sunny and cleared
was not a change in who you are
but healed from hurts that seared
You have a waiting canvas
bright colors and a brush
and lots of time to enjoy your work
there is no need to rush
Someday when God is willing
He'll sit you by His side
and show you how the path cut thru
the story of His pride
sometimes how things could be
sometimes they tell me what to do
to set the captive free
And so it was the other night
that you walked in my sight
your hair was perfectly coiffured
your eyes were dancing bright
A modern stylish blouse struck me
as did your long grey vest
and with this all you were at peace
yet radiating zest
I thought to mention a line you wrote
but heard a voice say wait
now's not the time just say hello
and see how to relate
Then right away another scene
I'm standing looking out
where once the beauty shouted loud
but now there left no doubt
That everything was leveled
a bulldozer came this way
and every flower branch and pond
had felt the blades full sway
Remaining now was fresh top dirt
just waiting to be used
I wondered what the plans would be
the art that you would choose
And knowing that this was a dream
still stood looking around
a tree or two was all remained
upon the precious ground
When dreams come close it usually shows
that each supports the pair
the meaning opened up to me
was positive and fair
The woman dressed so balanced
the back yard sunny and cleared
was not a change in who you are
but healed from hurts that seared
You have a waiting canvas
bright colors and a brush
and lots of time to enjoy your work
there is no need to rush
Someday when God is willing
He'll sit you by His side
and show you how the path cut thru
the story of His pride
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Time In A Bottle
If I could hold time in a bottle I'd probably be telling the same jokes over and over again. Oh wait, who needs a bottle?
Tomorrow Jackie and I will be heading over to BAM! to celebrate grandson Gabe's fifth birthday. Gabe is the oldest of four grandsons that were born one each to my four daughters in the same year. When our family would get together we always referred to the oldest of our 18 grand kids as "the bigs" and the next grouping as "the littles". The question was then asked as to how should we refer to this quartet. It did not seem appropriate to call these boys "the minis" so when Gabe's father suggested we go with "the dudes" everyone was in agreement.
One day five years ago when Missy was still pregnant with Gabe she phoned me saying she had a crazy idea. Missy and I both share a passion for history and she is now in her 15th year teaching social studies at Bloomingdale, a little high school located in a tiny village planted smack dab in the middle of the blue berry farms of Van Buren county.
Missy was due to deliver during the school's spring break and she wondered if I would like to be her substitute for the last 8 weeks of the school year. She already had those weeks mapped out, we would go over lesson plans together and I could drop off any essay questions from tests for her to grade. If I was interested she was sure she could get Rick, her principle, to go along with the plan.
Thus is was that one day I walk into the teacher's lounge during one of my off hours. Sitting at the long rectangular table grading papers was the science teacher, an ex football coach who seemed like a nice guy to me. I sit down across from him and notice that the only other person in the room, his back to us, was Rick the principle who was making copies at the machine which was against the wall.
Missy had prepped me about all her various co-workers and she let me know that Rick was a very stern, straight laced, by the book principle. When she would have her annual review she always hoped it would be done by the assistant principle. Rick would go over each of the ten items on the review list, check them off one by one, say some required blah blah and then leave. The assistant principle would smile, glance at her file, say something like "it looks like everything is great again this year Melissa" and then ask what her plans were for the summer.
All of my cousins know much to their chagrin that the story about the pig with the wooden leg is the LaBarge family's favorite joke. I've been known to have told it on driving tests one, two, maybe three dozen times and to be honest, I just keep getting better at telling it. So I begin to relate the story to the science teacher without letting him know it is only a joke.
I begin; "On the way to school each day I drive past a lot of farm land and last week while passing a particular farm I saw a pen and sitting in that pen was a pig that had a wooden leg". As I'm relating the particulars of the tractor and the swimming pool and the kitchen fire I notice that Rick's body language has changed and that, although still facing the copy machine he is catching every word. By the time I relate the last line"Mister, if you had a pig that special . . . would you eat him all at the same time" Rick's shoulders are heaving up and down.
Rick never turns around and acknowledges my story but really, it's the little victories in life that are special.
Tomorrow Jackie and I will be heading over to BAM! to celebrate grandson Gabe's fifth birthday. Gabe is the oldest of four grandsons that were born one each to my four daughters in the same year. When our family would get together we always referred to the oldest of our 18 grand kids as "the bigs" and the next grouping as "the littles". The question was then asked as to how should we refer to this quartet. It did not seem appropriate to call these boys "the minis" so when Gabe's father suggested we go with "the dudes" everyone was in agreement.
One day five years ago when Missy was still pregnant with Gabe she phoned me saying she had a crazy idea. Missy and I both share a passion for history and she is now in her 15th year teaching social studies at Bloomingdale, a little high school located in a tiny village planted smack dab in the middle of the blue berry farms of Van Buren county.
Missy was due to deliver during the school's spring break and she wondered if I would like to be her substitute for the last 8 weeks of the school year. She already had those weeks mapped out, we would go over lesson plans together and I could drop off any essay questions from tests for her to grade. If I was interested she was sure she could get Rick, her principle, to go along with the plan.
Thus is was that one day I walk into the teacher's lounge during one of my off hours. Sitting at the long rectangular table grading papers was the science teacher, an ex football coach who seemed like a nice guy to me. I sit down across from him and notice that the only other person in the room, his back to us, was Rick the principle who was making copies at the machine which was against the wall.
Missy had prepped me about all her various co-workers and she let me know that Rick was a very stern, straight laced, by the book principle. When she would have her annual review she always hoped it would be done by the assistant principle. Rick would go over each of the ten items on the review list, check them off one by one, say some required blah blah and then leave. The assistant principle would smile, glance at her file, say something like "it looks like everything is great again this year Melissa" and then ask what her plans were for the summer.
All of my cousins know much to their chagrin that the story about the pig with the wooden leg is the LaBarge family's favorite joke. I've been known to have told it on driving tests one, two, maybe three dozen times and to be honest, I just keep getting better at telling it. So I begin to relate the story to the science teacher without letting him know it is only a joke.
I begin; "On the way to school each day I drive past a lot of farm land and last week while passing a particular farm I saw a pen and sitting in that pen was a pig that had a wooden leg". As I'm relating the particulars of the tractor and the swimming pool and the kitchen fire I notice that Rick's body language has changed and that, although still facing the copy machine he is catching every word. By the time I relate the last line"Mister, if you had a pig that special . . . would you eat him all at the same time" Rick's shoulders are heaving up and down.
Rick never turns around and acknowledges my story but really, it's the little victories in life that are special.
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