The scent of summer

Have you ever noticed that various seasons smell different?

Winter smells clean, and sometimes prickly.
Spring starts with the smell of thawing earth, and then eases into the aroma of flowering bushes -- Lilac is my favorite.
Summer smells like cut grass, and if you're lucky, like Roses.
Fall used to smell like burning leaves (when it was still legal), but now tends to have a musty scent of rotting leaves.

There is a wonderful tree I pass on my way to work. It is fading now, but it has aromatic flowers that look like tiny little orchids. They strew the ground as if a profligate flower girl has escaped from a wedding. I have no idea what it is. I also like the fact that it flowers after all of the spring trees, but before the summer flowers really get going. It grows intertwined with a Maple, so I never even notice it until it is fully in bloom, and the aroma stops me and causes me to look around.

p.s. to anyone who drives down North village avenue, the tree is in between the tudor and the medical building. Do you have any idea what it is?

VLI is over

I can't believe that VLI is actually over. I'm left with a big muddle of thoughts and feelings.

• It's been two years (7 quarters, actually).
  
• It has been wonderful, but also tiring.
  
• I haven't cleaned my apartment in 2 years. (As a friend used to say, "when you're looking for an excuse any one will do".)
  
• I've learned a lot. Although I'm a little afraid that I've turned into a little Steve Robbins clone. Not that I know anywhere near as much as he does, but I've been fully indoctrinated into the Steve Robbins zeitgeist.
  
• I'm sold on the concept and plan of how VLI balances the requirements -- some is taught at a distance (which gives the opportunity to hear from world renowned experts), and some is taught locally (which gives an opportunity for accountability). Some is academic (which provides a foundation) and some is practical (which also provides a foundation).
  
• It's clear that my personality is not suited to be a church planter. It sounds like a nightmare to me. I can't believe anyone wants to do that (although I'm glad they do, and I wish them well!)
  
• I really really recommend VLI...but you do have to count the cost.
  
• My younger classmates (both at my own church and elsewhere) really do memorize things much quicker and easier than I do. And they are much better as figuring out what they really need to spend time on, and what they can kind of gloss over. But it kind of reminds me of Fried Green Tomatoes. Remember the scene where the pretty teens swoop in and 'steal' the parking spot, and then obnoxiously explain "Face it lady, we're younger and faster!" Middle aged Evelyn then repeatedly crashes into their car (intentionally), and calmly replies: "Face it, I'm older and I have more insurance." Well, I'm older (and slower), and have better study habits. So it was quite interesting to see how we each compensate with our own strengths.
  
• I feel like I've learned about 10% of what was taught. And now I only remember about 5 percent of it. In fact, I almost wish I could take it again.
  
• Sometimes it was frustrating taking classes long distance. For example, several classes taught about teams, and how to choose people. In most of the church situations I've been in, however, it ends up being a question of desperately accepting any available warm bodies who volunteer. So how do you get enough volunteers that you even have the option of making a selection?
  
• It was a little scary hearing how often the teachers mentioned how cool it would be to be a martyr. Maybe it didn't actually come up that often, but it sure made an impact on me. Cool was not exactly the adjective I was thinking of.
  
• One of the best things about VLI was that the teachers combined academic qualifications with passion. It is such a privilege to hear from highly qualified teachers who really want to teach.
  
• At the beginning of VLI, I came up with a list of ideas for how to maximize my time to make it through. Most of these ideas actually worked well. The best ones were: getting a headset for my phone at home, so I can do stuff while on the phone, and cutting out random TV watching. I still watch a few favorite shows, but I don't watch aimlessly.
  
• I think most people who take VLI will find some pressure point. For me it was doing the projects. I really stressed out over that.
  
• It's a little humbling to realize that I'm still totally clueless about the major timeframes and people in the Bible. It's not that they didn't teach it, but my attention span was mainly on the concepts, and the dates and names kind of went in one ear and out the other.
  
• Unless you have an extraordinarily good memory, it really helps to come up with mnemonics or rhymes. For instance, the phrase "I Do Eat Peanuts, Not Olives" reminds me to consider whether a Biblical passage is Illustrative, Demonstrative, Exemplary, Prescriptive, Normative, or Obligatory. And then there were the 10 major historical events of the divided kingdom, which I set to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas: For the first major historical event, the kingdom was to-orn in two. For the se-cond major historical event, dynasty of Omri and the kingdom was torn in two... I don't remember all 10 anymore, but at least I remember a few.
  
• And somehow, the whole VLI experience has made me really respect and appreciate pastors even more. Thanks guys!
  

25 years later

I just returned from my 25th year college reunion. It's interesting to see what has changed, and what has stayed the same.

• The smart people are even smarter now.
  
• The sweet ones are even sweeter.
  
• The selfless ones are still helpful.
  
• The library still smells the same. We were all experiencing 'deja smell'.
  
• The big sycamore tree still stands proudly on the front lawn. It has been dying for the past 30 years. The replacement tree that was planted years ago is now about 30 feet tall, but the original one won't give up.
  
• The showers still switch suddenly from hot to cold (or back again) for no apparent reason.
  
• The lake is still beautiful.
  
• The stagecoach is still brought out for special events, complete with black horses, and a driver in uniform and white gloves.
  
• It's still a wonderful, supportive community.
  But...
  
• The spiral staircase seems steeper than it used to be. The hills are steeper too.
  
• The beds are narrower. (I actually fell out of bed!)
  
• The food is better (although maybe they made a special effort for us).
  
• The professors are younger.
  
• The Alma Mater is more dated, but also more touching.
  
• Only one person was skinnier than she used to be. (And it wasn't me).