By Steve

Weekend wingdings:

Do you ever wonder what the following week will have in store? I do. It was just 7 days ago that I was speaking with Chantelle, the homeless girl that I have been trying to help. I saw her sitting on the sidewalk, staring at the wall, so I approached her, said hello and struck up a conversation. My assumptions of her were wrong, and I am even more eager now to help her find work (other than stripping) and a place to live (besides the streets).

After that encounter, I wondered what would be next. What would happen this next week, (As I type I am now thinking of the next 7 days).

Recounting the past few days...On Thursday a small group of friends went to Big Bear for a few days of camping. I don't love camping, but I really enjoy the mountains, trees and stars. For many reasons, this was an exceptional trip...but it was especially good for me to explore over 20 miles of trail on my mountain bike. One trail wound its way through a forest that was destroyed by fire last year. It was creepy biking through death. The only sign of life we encountered (besides a few birds and squirrels) were two wolves, probably seeking food in the ravished forest. The wolves looked at us with hungry eyes so we quickly biked on.

On Sunday, we went to our church service. I thought it was a great morning. We left church (of course only to go out to live as the church) and packed in a few events. We attended the grand opening events of the new childrens museum. The event was okay, the museum is great. We walked from the museum to Seaport Village to watch the Red Bull Air Races.

It's hard to predict a crowds reaction. The crowd cheered most loudly, not at the skilled flying through the race course, but at what the pilot would choose to do as he flew out of the course...crazy tricks mostly. The more tricks, the more cheers...if no tricks, boos. One of the biggest reactions from the crowd was credited to a seagull. The bird caught a fish, so we thought, and paraded its catch in front of the large crowd of people. What we all quickly realized was that it was no fish, but a baby duck - the crowd, in unison, let out a loud, ahh.

We left the races and found ourselves sitting with friends at our favorite downtown sports bar for a few minutes, and then back to church (our Sunday night home church). It was a busy and great 7 days.

I woke up this morning surprised to learn that a pipe bomb had been detonated in front of the courthouse just several blocks from my home early Sunday morning. No one was hurt; how could I miss such a serious happening. I just hung up with someone who was laid off from her job, when I asked if she was okay, she simply said everything happens for a reason.

And I believed her. I agreed with her. So I wonder what will happen this week. And for what reason.