The irony is not lost on me!
A mere two days ago I wrote of doing my laundry and pondering my leadership skills and style. Today, our last full day at the Disney Institute (we "graduate" tomorrow!) we had our second and final on site field trip to. . .yes, you guessed it, the laundry facility!
We saw only one operation -- housekeeping laundry (there are two others -- costuming and restaurant). It is a huge operation. Think huge and then think bigger than that. And all of it happens with the same commitment to vision and purpose that you would find in any other cast area, but in a total of eight different languages!
So, I am challenged tonight, as I slip the washcloth off the rack, to think not simply of the joy of having a clean one to use, but of the many hands which have touched and cared for this one item since last it was used. And to think that in their own way, they each have contributed to making my experience here a magical one!
We are not alone in this world, in this life. We depend on others -- seen and unseen. We depend on others -- who have learned lessons we have taught and lessons we have skipped. The trick is to be thankful. . .to be thankful with an abundant heart!
Laundry, who'd have thought!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Doing Laundry
Can there be a more mundane task -- while on vacation -- than to do one's laundry? At least we are no longer pounding it on rocks and leaving it to dry on the trees -- but here I am at Walt Disney World -- learning about Leadership Excellence at the Disney Institute and doing my wash (and dry) after hours. Go figure.
I've already had a good couple of days here at the Parks running around with a friend (okay, four and a half days). It has been beastly hot (low to mid-90's) and the ground radiates the heat, and I sweat like it is going out of style. Still, we have seen shows, ridden rides, met people, seen fireworks, played as pirates one evening (aaargh, matey!), and marveled at the number of things we were seeing for the first time (even when we've already seen the attraction countless time).
I think maybe the Leadership Excellence course is about these two things -- seeing my leadership approach and style with new or fresh eyes, and being willing to launder it -- clean it up a bit (or maybe a lot) and get it ready for all that is ahead.
Who knew that the laundry would be that productive?!?!?
I've already had a good couple of days here at the Parks running around with a friend (okay, four and a half days). It has been beastly hot (low to mid-90's) and the ground radiates the heat, and I sweat like it is going out of style. Still, we have seen shows, ridden rides, met people, seen fireworks, played as pirates one evening (aaargh, matey!), and marveled at the number of things we were seeing for the first time (even when we've already seen the attraction countless time).
I think maybe the Leadership Excellence course is about these two things -- seeing my leadership approach and style with new or fresh eyes, and being willing to launder it -- clean it up a bit (or maybe a lot) and get it ready for all that is ahead.
Who knew that the laundry would be that productive?!?!?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Post Rapture Radio
In his book by the same name, Russell Rathbun tells about un-covering a box of miscellaneous writings (sermons, random notes on the backs of cereal boxes, a journal and other writings) which once belonged to the Rev. Richard Lamblove. Lamblove is railing again the Contemporary Christian Culture Conspiracy (C4) and their seeming take over of the world. C4, among other things, seeks to preach the message of Christ to everyone, so that the whole earth would hear it, and Jesus would come back and the world would end.
In one of Lamblove's dreams (visions?) he is talking with "Idiot John" (John the Baptist? John of Patmos/Revelation?) about the end of the world.
"Is the world going to end?" (asks Lamblove)
And I'll tell you what he told me: "What if the world ends one person at a time? And what if the New World begins one person at a time? And what if you bring each person over the line, help them to die, by wasting time with them, listening to them, taking advice from them, or eating with them at a dinner table -- a communion table."
As Professor Andy Dearman at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary would say -- that'll preach! I like this book. Not everyone will. You might. Read it and see.
(Post-Rapture Radio: Lost Writings from a Failed Revolution, by Russell Rathbun, San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2005)
In one of Lamblove's dreams (visions?) he is talking with "Idiot John" (John the Baptist? John of Patmos/Revelation?) about the end of the world.
"Is the world going to end?" (asks Lamblove)
And I'll tell you what he told me: "What if the world ends one person at a time? And what if the New World begins one person at a time? And what if you bring each person over the line, help them to die, by wasting time with them, listening to them, taking advice from them, or eating with them at a dinner table -- a communion table."
As Professor Andy Dearman at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary would say -- that'll preach! I like this book. Not everyone will. You might. Read it and see.
(Post-Rapture Radio: Lost Writings from a Failed Revolution, by Russell Rathbun, San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2005)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
New Math
Wasn't it that great, iconic songwriter Tom Lehrer who once wrote about new math?
Hooray for new math. . .it's so simple, so very simple, that only a child can do it. (I remember quite well, my beloved father, throwing his hands up in the air when it was time for out math homework!)
I am back from my first visit to the Tennessee Fitness Spa (www.tfspa.com). I had a good week. Everyone walks in the morning. There are three groups -- A, B, & C -- and the water walkers. We (the C group) started at 2.5 miles and added mileage each day so that by Saturday it was a five mile walk. I averaged just over a twenty-minute-mile by Saturday! Stretching and water aerobics filled the rest of the day. I met some truly wonderful people who were encouraging and supportive.
Oh yeah, the new math.
I only lost 1/4 of a pound, but I lost a total of twelve inches -- that's right, twelve inches -- mostly in the thighs, but a bit "up north" as well. Turns out I was making lean muscle the whole week. New math, indeed!
Hooray for new math. . .it's so simple, so very simple, that only a child can do it. (I remember quite well, my beloved father, throwing his hands up in the air when it was time for out math homework!)
I am back from my first visit to the Tennessee Fitness Spa (www.tfspa.com). I had a good week. Everyone walks in the morning. There are three groups -- A, B, & C -- and the water walkers. We (the C group) started at 2.5 miles and added mileage each day so that by Saturday it was a five mile walk. I averaged just over a twenty-minute-mile by Saturday! Stretching and water aerobics filled the rest of the day. I met some truly wonderful people who were encouraging and supportive.
Oh yeah, the new math.
I only lost 1/4 of a pound, but I lost a total of twelve inches -- that's right, twelve inches -- mostly in the thighs, but a bit "up north" as well. Turns out I was making lean muscle the whole week. New math, indeed!
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