outWORD by Matte Downey

Today is one of those days when I need the super-powers of decision-making and forward-thinking. There are so many things to plan and direct in the next few months and it all starts now. I have to construct a tentative schedule for our small group for the next three months so that we don't all just show up and stare at each other while we eat potato chips (though admittedly that's not the worst thing that could happen). I have to choose which reading to do a class presentation on (which means skimming the whole coursepak ) and get a topic for a Christology paper for this term. I have a paper to edit and submit to a publication and a major funding application to complete which needs me to outline what great contribution I will be making to society with my MA in Theological Studies. And I haven't even started my second course yet! Probably the largest decisions right now (besides what to have for lunch) are choosing a track to follow for my MA project and selecting the area...

Last night I gave a talk at church on "What Type of Plant are You?" It went something like this... 1. Annual - This is a plant that lasts for one season. It is beautiful and impressive and grows quickly, but it cannot withstand a harsh climate. It is around as long as things are sunny and warm and comfortable, but once the hard times come, it is gone. It is bright and flashy and a pleasure to have around, but it is not around for long. 2. Perennial - This type of plant is seasonal. You plant it once, and it comes and goes according to the seasons. It does not like the harsh climate either, so it will be dormant when things are unpleasant, but it makes its appearance once things warm up. There will be long periods of inactivity and some slow growth over the years as it comes and goes according to the climate. 3. Artificial - These flowers and plants look great, never fade, and bloom all the time, but they are not alive. They are static, without growth or movement,...

I am supposed to be outside right now. This morning, I did all my correspondence and inside work, then started to get ready to head outside on a grand walk to run a lot of errands, buy some food, check out a new hairdresser and maybe even the library. As I looked at my grocery list, I decided I would need my backpack to carry the milk and orange juice, so I scooped a sleeping feline off my black canvas bag and was annoyed to find it covered in cat fur. Egads , these cats need to pick a different spot to sleep than on my backpack! I began to brush and wipe and clean the stubbornly sticky tufts of brown fur off the bag and was starting to get slightly disgusted with how slow and unproductive I can be sometimes when I heard the light patter and then the pounding torrent of water on the roof. At that moment, I thanked God for Jazz and fur and slowness. Here I sit inside and dry instead of being caught unaware in the rain, far from any shelter. The best plans of man (and woman and cat) are ...