Band Camp

Last week I worked(!) as an instructor during Asheville High School's band camp. This makes the 7th time out of eight years that I have taught the drumline.


Not only was this a means to some income during my 'in between jobs time,' but it is also one of my favorite things to do each year. Going back to my old high school, seeing my old band director and walking the familiar (though somehow different) hallways always gets me all nostalgic.


The week was not an easy one. Monday and Tuesday we worked from 9am - 8:30pm. In the morning and after dinner we were outside on the field practicing how to march correctly and learning the formations for the half-time show. During the hott afternoon we broke the band into sectionals and worked worked worked those kids till they could play perfectly (or at least better). The other three days went from 9am - 5pm, again outside for half the day and inside during the afternoon.


Each night, after coming home all I had the energy for was food and bed. The sun, and being on my feet all day along with maintaining control of a dozen high school kids depleated me of all energy. Still, it's fun!


I hope to come back next year, but each year it becomes more difficult as I move into a different jobs and career like responsibilities. Either way, I will always love marching band, playing music and drumming.


Here's a video of the drumline (my kids) playing this year's cadence. Enjoy.

Saturday

"What day is it?" During my 'in-between-time' (some like to call this unemployment) I have asked this question a lot. I lose track of the day because everyday feels like Saturday.

Be it actually Tuesday or Thursday, my day still functions much like a lazy Saturday. Maybe today I'll go to the pool, or hit golf balls, or mow the lawn, watch cartoons, sleep late or whatever people typically do on Saturday. Alas, for I do these things any and every day.

In Genesis when God created the earth, God rested on the 7th day, God took a rest. We call this day the Sabbath (or Shabbat in Hebrew). Most Christians recognize the sabbath on Sunday; however, the original sabbath is recognized by the Jews on Saturday. The early Christians moved their sabbath from Saturday to Sunday in an effort to separate themselves from the Jews of the time.

Sabbath: a day of rest after a week of work. Well, what does it mean that for me everyday is a day or rest. Perhaps I'm recognizing a season of rest after a season of work. I worked through four years of college, then four years of grad-school and then a CPE residency, the most rigorous year of my life. Maybe I need a season of rest? Or maybe, everyone else works hard all the time, and I should get snappin.' Maybe.

I'm sure I'll busy myself soon with some sort of meaningful work again; but, for now I think I'm going to go take a nap, after all I got up today at 11am.

To Own A Dragon, by Donald Miller and John Macmurray

This is the third book by Don Miller I've read, which should show you that I like him as an author. In college I read his best-selling book Blue Like Jazz, and a few years later I read his follow up Searching For God Knows What. Both books were pertinent and helpful looks at what I might call non-dogmatic spirituality. After finishing his second book, years ago, I randomly ordered online his latest, To Own A Dragon: Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father. Years later, I finally plucked it from the shelf and read.

It's a short read, and like all of Miller's books is written in what is called a Bohemian style (though I must confess I don't really know what that means). Miller's style is somewhere between stream of consciousness and well thought out reflectiveness. Maybe that's Bohemian style. Who knows.

Any who, I'm not quite sure why I read the book, because I grew up with a father. Predominantly, this book is written to men and young men who like Miller did not have a father in their young years. It is clear that Donald Miller has done some therapy (whether formal or informal) on the issue and how it has affected his spiritual and emotional life. In this book he makes an worthwhile and successful effort to put down his revelations on paper. I imagine, just like the book I recently reviewed on 'How to be a man,' this book is very helpful to fatherless guys and their unique struggles with relationships.

The book is co-authored with John Macmurray, a friend and mentor to Don Miller, and much of the content is based on his experiences and conversations while living

with Mr. Macmurray.

It's necessary to say that Don Miller is a gifted and smooth writer. If you've read anything from him, you'll know they're quick reads but with deep insight into life. He has helped me to better understand the emotional plight of men who grew up with a caring male role model. For one example, Miller writes, "Tell a guy who grew up without a father that he is not a man unless. . . and he will automatically assume he isn't one. I didn't need manipulation. I needed affirmation."

I would recommend this book to, of course, men I noticed struggling due to the handicap of fatherlessness. However, for some victims of abusive fathers, no father would've been the better option. I might also recommend it to someone trying to live with our understand a man with no father.

To me, the book was a bit benign; but, I imagine this would not be the case to a friend I know who grew up just him and his mom. To him, it may be greatly appreciated.