Stuff IStuff I’’ve Learnedve Learned

1992 1992 -- 20092009

Breathing RoomBreathing Room

The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit

Rhythms

Language of

Others

Our own Imaging

of God

Structure and

Precision

ItIt’’s all about me.s all about me.

Well, sort ofWell, sort of……

Driving along the main coastline, my Driving along the main coastline, my

recollections clasped the leather recollections clasped the leather

stickshiftstickshift of my 91 of my 91 HarlotteHarlotte and shoved and shoved

it into overdrive, catapulting the it into overdrive, catapulting the

lengthy vehicle past three tenlengthy vehicle past three ten--spots; spots;

past a random house; and finally past past a random house; and finally past

the limits of Hyperbole into the the limits of Hyperbole into the

uncharted depths beyond."uncharted depths beyond."

--””Sticks & StonesSticks & Stones”” by Charles Meyerby Charles Meyer

"Head down into the storm they "Head down into the storm they

went, pressing barehanded to their went, pressing barehanded to their

chests an unshielded sense of chests an unshielded sense of

peril."peril."

““Star TrekStar Trek---- First FrontierFirst Frontier”” by Diane Carey and by Diane Carey and

James Kirkland James Kirkland

Louise Woodward leaned back in her chair like an Louise Woodward leaned back in her chair like an Eskimo sliding into a hot tub, a cigar clamped in Eskimo sliding into a hot tub, a cigar clamped in her teeth like a walleye in a mousetrap. The laugh her teeth like a walleye in a mousetrap. The laugh that escaped from her throat was half purr, half that escaped from her throat was half purr, half

growl, and as warm as San Antonio in August, but growl, and as warm as San Antonio in August, but behind those behind those siltysilty blue lashes her eyes were as cold blue lashes her eyes were as cold

as a hospitalization insurance claim reviewer's as a hospitalization insurance claim reviewer's heart.heart.

--””Ice MaidenIce Maiden”” by Kristine by Kristine BateyBatey

The Road (First Paragraph)The Road (First Paragraph)

When he woke in the woods in the dark and the When he woke in the woods in the dark and the

cold of the night hecold of the night he’’d reach out to touch the child d reach out to touch the child

sleeping beside him. Nights dark beyond darkness and sleeping beside him. Nights dark beyond darkness and

the days more gray each one than what had gone the days more gray each one than what had gone

before. Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming before. Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming

away the world. His hand rose and fell softly with each away the world. His hand rose and fell softly with each

precious breath. He pushed away the plastic tarpaulin precious breath. He pushed away the plastic tarpaulin

and raised himself in the stinking robes and blankets and raised himself in the stinking robes and blankets

and looked toward the east for any light but there was and looked toward the east for any light but there was

nonenone..

The Road (Last Paragraph)The Road (Last Paragraph)

Once there were brook trout in the streams in the Once there were brook trout in the streams in the

mountains. You could see them standing in the amber mountains. You could see them standing in the amber

current where the white edges of their fins wimpled current where the white edges of their fins wimpled

softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand.

Polished and muscular and Polished and muscular and torsionaltorsional. On their backs . On their backs

were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world

in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing that could in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing that could

not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep

glens where they lived all things were older than man glens where they lived all things were older than man

and they hummed of mystery.and they hummed of mystery.

ImitationImitation

Europeans are going to have to feather their nests with Europeans are going to have to feather their nests with somebody elsesomebody else’’s travelers traveler’’s checks this years checks this year……Some says itSome says it’’s fear s fear of terrorism. Some say itof terrorism. Some say it’’s Chernobyl fallout. Some say its Chernobyl fallout. Some say it’’s the s the weak dollar. But all of that ignores one basic fact: This place weak dollar. But all of that ignores one basic fact: This place sucks. sucks.

--P.J. OP.J. O’’RourkeRourke

No one is watching professional basketball anymore. SNo one is watching professional basketball anymore. Some ome say itsay it’’s because of high ticket prices. Others blame the power of s because of high ticket prices. Others blame the power of specialty cable sports channels. A few point out that there are specialty cable sports channels. A few point out that there are just too many sporting events to attend. But all of this fails tjust too many sporting events to attend. But all of this fails to o recognize one basic fact: Basketball sucks. recognize one basic fact: Basketball sucks.

--Grade 11 studentGrade 11 student

ImitationImitation

““In June of this year, the patient experienced an attack of vertiIn June of this year, the patient experienced an attack of vertigo and go and nauseanausea……Emotionally, she has alienated herself almost entirely from the Emotionally, she has alienated herself almost entirely from the world of other human beings.world of other human beings.””

The patient to whom this psychiatric report refers is me.The patient to whom this psychiatric report refers is me.

--Joan Joan DidionDidion

““The driver was pulled over and taken into handcuffs. He confesseThe driver was pulled over and taken into handcuffs. He confessed to d to stealing the gold bricks and masterminding the entire operation.stealing the gold bricks and masterminding the entire operation. He was He was therefore booked and fingerprinted.therefore booked and fingerprinted.””

This is what the police report said about me that nThis is what the police report said about me that night.ight.

--grade 6 studentgrade 6 student

ImitationImitation

First of all, letFirst of all, let’’s dispense with this absurd s dispense with this absurd stereotypical notion that the French are rude. The stereotypical notion that the French are rude. The French are not rude. They just happen to hate you. French are not rude. They just happen to hate you.

--Dave BerryDave Berry

II’’d like to clear up this whole idea that Canadians d like to clear up this whole idea that Canadians are too polite. Is that okay with you? As long as itare too polite. Is that okay with you? As long as it’’s not s not too much trouble. too much trouble.

--grade 12 studentgrade 12 student

Touchstone PoetryTouchstone Poetry

Gravel, Dust, ChatterGravel, Dust, Chatter

Pavement, QuietPavement, Quiet

Swerve, Terror, GlassSwerve, Terror, Glass

Silence.Silence.

LifeLife

(Don(Don’’t tell Mom)t tell Mom)

Cause/EffectCause/Effect

Sin Sin →→ BrokennessBrokenness

Forgiveness Forgiveness →→ FreedomFreedom

BE A SERVANTBE A SERVANT

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

——Matthew 20:26 Matthew 20:26

Get on the Fast Track!Get on the Fast Track!

$ 0.00$ 0.00

Supposition: Choose a job that Supposition: Choose a job that

you really arenyou really aren’’t meant to do t meant to do

and write about a day at that and write about a day at that

job.job.

Classification: There are ___ Classification: There are ___

kinds of success.kinds of success.

BE A SERVANTBE A SERVANT

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.——

Matthew 20:26 Matthew 20:26

BE A SERVANTBE A SERVANT

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.——

Matthew 20:26 Matthew 20:26

ArgumentArgument

Some of the greatest joys in life Some of the greatest joys in life

require struggle and difficulty require struggle and difficulty

first.first.

FormsForms

�� Narration Narration

�� DescriptionDescription

�� PoetryPoetry

�� Compare/ContrastCompare/Contrast

�� Cause/EffectCause/Effect

�� DefinitionDefinition

�� ClassificationClassification

�� SuppositionSupposition

�� ArgumentArgument

Grammar CourtGrammar Court

BookletBooklet

This workshop: This workshop: ““have a few have a few laughlaughttss””

My biography: He has taught in a variety of My biography: He has taught in a variety of

contexts, from middle school to gradcontexts, from middle school to gradee school.school.

My body's a begging bowlMy body's a begging bowl

That's begging to get backThat's begging to get back

Begging to get back to my heartBegging to get back to my heart

To the rhythm of my soulTo the rhythm of my soul

To the rhythm of my unconsciousnessTo the rhythm of my unconsciousness

To the rhythm that yearnsTo the rhythm that yearns

To be released from control.To be released from control.

-- ””Moment of SurrenderMoment of Surrender””

Extra Time:Extra Time:

--intentional and incidental FOFintentional and incidental FOF

--sample of G.C. sheetsample of G.C. sheet

--writing crawlswriting crawls

--ethnographyethnography

--life graphlife graph