Dear Deer: Please don't commit suicide with my car

I have a stream of random things worth writing down/blogging about starting with the dear that ran into my car on my way home for thanksgiving. It dashed out into the road before I could make a reasonable decision. At the speed I was going, there was no stopping. I swerved around it, but the not so bright animal continued galloping into my side door. Unfortunately, my first thought was, "Is my car okay, and I hope I killed it!!!" I felt a little bad for the deer, but the thought of my car being messed up made me livid. I didn't bother to stop because the thought of blood on my car made me uneasy. Then I had to reason with myself: "Should I have sympathy for my car or the animal." My decision: forget both and get home!

Once I got home, I decided that I would take a look against my better judgement. To my surprise, I saw nothing significally ruined in the dark of the night. I jumped for joy and did a victory dance. One item unharmed. All I had to do now was convince myself that the deer was okay.

Then I woke up the next morning and saw my car in the sunlight.

That deer better be dead.

...and HARRY POTTER!!!!

Last week church had something extra added to shake up the crowd. As one of the women was finishing up the children's lesson in front the church, one child thought he should add a little addition to the end of the prayer. They had just got done doing a demonstration where the women related the popularity of Jesus to Justin Beiber and Harry Potter to ultimately give a lesson about being prepared when God calls on us or when Jesus comes. As she had the children finish up the prayer, on little boy added, "And thank you God for HARRY POTTER." There were a few gasps from the crowd, but I couldn't have been more entertained or prouder. That little boy was a true fan and I admired his guts. What an interesting kind of faith. I felt like adding an Amen. I wonder if thanking God for Harry Potter is a weird thing to do. I decided it's not weird as longer as you thank him for Jesus too. I am of the belief that God understands humor.

You know it is approaching winter when...

So last week I was walking to my car parked in a garage when a guy starts walking at the same pace beside me. He started chatting like it was normal to follow a girl to a parking garage and talk to her. Fortunately, he got lucky and that girl was me. From the look of him, I had nothing to be afraid of and did not mind being followed. Apparently, his car was parked in the same garage. He also went to the college. After small talk we finally parted ways because our cars were parked on the opposite side of the floor. Once I reached my car I realized my fly was down the whole time, a problem that I only worry about when it begins to get cold. Usually, I wear skirts until the chill kicks in, but that day I had on pants. I stood there wondering if I should be mortified, but decided against it considering my zipper was only an inch long to begin with. It is always aggravating to deal with because it is not long enough to have to worry about being exposed, but just long enough to be annoying when it is down. I quickly zipped it up and thanked God that I only have to deal with this problem for a quarter of the year. I don't think he noticed, but it I am am still bothered my my zipper is only one inch!! Just give me a button.

Oh cold weather, why must you make me wear pants!!!

Back without the toothbrush

So the toothbrush guy came back today, but this time he did not have his toothbrush with him. Once again he asked to turn out the lights in the laundry room, and I was impressed with his consistency. I was not expecting him to come back and thought by this time he would just send an email encouraging the building supervisor to save energy so he could save his own energy. I am amused to see how long this will go on for. Little does he know that there is still another laundry room in the building with the lights on 24/7. I can't image the nightmares he would have if he knew.

Random guy with a toothbrush

So it seems that anything worth blogging about keeps happening at the desk of my job. Tuesday this professor comes in carrying a toothbrush in his hands with an attitude too perky for the early hours of the morning. He approached and asked if he could turn out the lights in the laundry room to save energy. While I am an energy saver myself, this was definitely the strangest request I have gotten at the desk. There he was standing with his toothbrush in his fist as spunky as can be asking to turn out some lights. I just could not rain on his parade, and decided to let him do as he fancied. If it made him think he was saving the earth, then why not? He walked away feeling better and said it had been bothering him for days (I thought it was creepy that he had been watching the laundry room that long). It is funny what bothers people. As he walked away, I felt guilty for not telling him about the second laundry room we have and how the lights stay on in there all of the time too. He was so excited about turning that light off that I thought it would be best to keep our other energy wasting room a secret. I am still at lost as to why he had the toothbrush, but who knows...

Doctor or Officer

Today a faith building moment approached me when I least expected it. Upon returning to my dorm, I ran into a friend that I had hung out with this weekend talking to one of the public safety officers. She was looking for me, and luckily I had just walked in as she was about to give up her search. After handing me a card, she left me standing at the desk to be interrogated by the officer who had not seen my in a while.

"Ms. Hall where have you been?" he questioned noticing that I had not passed through the lobby much at night anymore.

"Busy with school," I said leading into a ten minute conversation where the officer filled me in on what was going on in his life. Then towards the end of the conversation he said words that almost made me cry. In a half conversational half prayer voice he said:

"I will be praying for you and your family, that God will continue blessing you..."

And the rest became a blur. I heard this main part of his prayer speech and felt touched. Suddenly, I began to think of how oblivious I had been to those around me who need prayer, but this one man took the time to pray for a random student that he rarely sees. He couldn't have chosen a better time for it. As I was about to walk away, I almost made the mistake of calling him doctor out of habit instead of officer. I quickly caught the mistake, but then asked myself if there was a difference. I call professors doctor all day long, but none of them have fixed anything in my life. Yet, here was this man that just spoke wisdom and healing into my life and society would consider him of less importance. I admit that I too had often avoided him, not knowing the wisdom he possessed. Tonight I had been reminded that people don't have to talk like theologians for God to convey his important messages through them. Sometimes they can be the quirky people that no one pays attention to. Next time I might address this officer by the title he most deserves--doctor. Unlike so many he knows who to turn to for remedies.