IN but not OF...

You'll have to read all of this to really get what I want to say. Sorry about that. My son's first car is a '74 Gran Torino in electric blue with a white vinyl roof. It is in great shape and only has 38000 miles on it. Sometimes I go and pick him up in his own car and we go places and do things. I drove it a few days ago and picked him up to go to the shooting range (odd hobby for a minister, but there you are...), get our parrot's nails and wings clipped, and maybe check out a music store.

As a long time shooter I am licensed to carry concealed in quite a few States. It is easier to transport a pistol in its holster so it was under my jacket that day. The parrot? His name is Scooby and he thinks he's a dog. Really. We take in birds and make them healthy and happy and then find them homes. This one is ours, though. He's a weird little guy, but he's a keeper.

One more piece needs to be added here. I own lots of guitars and love each of them. However, recently we heard IZ singing a solo version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" accompanied only by a ukulele. Duncan -- my son -- and I were entranced by the wonderful voice and the sweet sound of the ukulele so we both rushed out and bought a couple ukes and IZ's CD so we could learn the song. It has been a real hoot and a half to learn the new chords and voicings.

Okay, the picture is complete. I found myself sitting in an electric blue '74 Gran Torino, strumming a ukulele with a parrot on my shoulder singing along and a Glock under my jacket. And I wondered: is this it? Have I become this eccentric? I fear I know the answer before I even ask the question. The bizarre situation felt normal. Should I be troubled?

I don't think so. We have been told by God to be in the world, but not of it. My dad used to tell me, "Patrick, I didn't raise you to get along with everybody." Short, sweet and profound. We aren't supposed to look like, sound like, or live like the world. We are supposed to be so full of the Spirit that we seem as odd to the world as drunks do to us ('be no longer filled with wine, but filled with the Spirit"). If I seem somewhat odd to you, that is fine. I won't be here long. I'm just passing through. Hear that? I think another tentpeg gave way.... and I'm another step along the road from here to home...