A good day

Yesterday I spent time with two different people I have great respect and admiration for. It was a good day. I need to do it more often.

I worked from 5-9 am and then had breakfast with a former co-worker. We went to a place just around the corner called Proximo and sat outside. Doug is a 70+ year-old retired railroad man. He has also had his own public access TV show for ~35 years and counting. In his younger days he tried out for the the Second City Comedy troupe, and he was actually on an early episode of the David Letterman Show. He is now an avid gardener, entertainer, pickleball player, and teaches 3 classes a week at the Y (different than where I work).

To say Doug is a character is an understatement. He's also one of those people that almost everyone knows! Some might suggest he has near-legend status in this area. I admire his energy, enthusiasm, and love for life.

One thing he was particularly excited about yesterday is that he started taking lessons from a pickleball instructor. Even though he has played for YEARS, and is actually who first told me about it years ago, he still wants to learn. I mumbled something about learning and he nonchalantly made this profound observation:

"When you stop learning, you're f*cked."

So true. That made the whole breakfast worthwhile (not that it wouldn't have been anyway). Then, he paid for my meal, and off we went!

***

Next I headed down I-69 to Gas City, Indiana to a little place right next to the former James Dean museum called Payne's. I met up with another old (but much younger) friend for lunch.

I first met Matt when our son attended Anderson University. He was the pastor at the church the boy attended (The Mercy House). Matt planted the church which drew a number of university kids and became quite the hub of missional living and seeded several small businesses. He was closer in age to our son than to us, and had huge influence on a number of lives.

We seemed to connect through our several brief interactions, as well as online. We share a number of friends, acquaintances, and influences. Matt has dabbled in a number of endeavors between Anderson, Nashville (TN), and now Indianapolis. He now writes full-time, mostly in the areas of music and sports, and still some theology. I believe he said he works for about 10 different organizations - from the Kansas City Chiefs, Relevant magazine, Spotify, and his own venture The Resistance. I'd guess most of his days are spent interviewing musicians and professional athletes. Sounds like quite the gig to me!

The two of us spent a couple hours discussing our shared desire for and fear of returning to ministry work again someday. It's funny how different our lives are, but how similar people we are inside. At any rate, he told me he was currently grooving to the latest Taylor Swift release. I shared that I had always secretly liked her music - especially the early stuff - but was too afraid to admit it publicly. He put my mind at ease by assuring me she was, in fact, an incredible musician. I trust his judgment.

***

So, two great meals yesterday, with two great people, and two great conversations. I call that a good day, which was good for my soul. It was not only a reminder that I need to do this more often, but to keep learning new things, and to not be afraid to reach out to kindred hearts I can be vulnerable with.

***

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:24-25)