We’ve been in Nashville for about 3 weeks now and from that time I have made a few observations that are not quite what I’m used to in Ohio.
1. Everything is 3-5 miles away. Of course 3-5 miles takes about 15-20 minutes to drive.
2. Stop signs are optional.
3. Blinkers…optional as well.
4. Stopping randomly while driving to exibit some of that “southern hospitality” is another option.
5. Shutting down a highway/exit for construction without any signs or notice a regular event!
6. Saying “Ya’ll” at least 5 times from the pulpit during any given Sunday is an unwritten rule.
7. There shall be no less than 12 churches per square mile, of which at least half must be Baptist.
Ok…that about does it for now. Nashville isn’t all bad…it’s actually pretty similar to Cincinnati, minus the driving issues. 4 more weeks to go!
tuesday morning I recieved a package in the mail, some parts for my computer. I was excited about the change from my current Windows XP Home system, to Windows Media Center…the plan was to add a little tivo-like function to my computer, while adding a new tv tuner card and additional 250GB hard drive. Well…unfortunately, that all went south around 3pm. At first I just couldn’t get a driver to install, then I couldn’t get the video card to work right, then the system wouldn’t boot at all. So…here I am 24 hours later, no solution…no warrantee. So, hello whole new motherboard. Yeah, pretty much sucks…and then it’s Thanksgiving weekend…so, getting parts isn’t exactly easy…I know I’m whinning…but hey, what do you expect when your computer completely freaks out on you for no good reason?
We’ve been in Nashville for less than a week now and rehersals have been going on for what seems to be an endless 3 days. We’re doing “tech rehersals” now, which basically means that the crew is working on lighting, sound, and scene changes, while we’re getting a first glimpse of some of the set and props as well as hearing the track for the first time, but otherwise we’re mainly just standing around, literally. Jen warned me it would be slow and tedious…and she was right. Not to complain for too long, but to give you an idea of what i’m talking about…I came in Tuesday at 3:45pm…I went to my preset position (inside a 4 foot cubed box) at about 5:00…but didn’t get out of that spot for another hour and a half. All of that for 20 seconds worth of me being on stage. UGH! Oh well…our part should be over today and we’ll likely have most of the evening or possibly part of tomorrow off which will help to compensate.
Other than that things are going pretty well. Our hotel is pretty nice, Nashville is a decent city, and the cast seems to be gelling pretty well. It should be a good run, but for now I’m just looking forward to our opening so we can start a normal schedule!
Just thinking today about how people in general look for all kinds of things to fill their lives and spend all of their time searching for fullfillment, when all they really need is God. Even as Christians I think sometimes we look for happiness in the things of this world. Here’s lyrics to a song by Shawn McDonald that reminded me of all I really need.
All I Need
As I sit here and think
About all that You’ve done
About how You gave me Your one and only Son
And I’m trying to fathom
All that You are, but so far, Lord
You’re so beyond me
I fall down in reverence
And I fall down in fear
And I’m asking You, Lord, won’t You please draw near
Won’t You open my eyes
So that I can see
The way that You are working in me
All I need is Your love
To come and fill this heart of mine
My heart is a desert that has gone dry
And I need Your love to carry me bye , bye, bye, bye, bye
To carry me bye, bye, bye, bye, bye
To carry me bye
And I lay down my life
And I put it before You
All that I am is in Your hands
And I’m not going to question, why You’re so faithful
Why that You give me the blessing that You have
Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
Lift You up unto the throne
You are my God, You are my King
To You I give, I give You everything
All that I need is Your love, my God