Life changes...

Life changes....all the time...it just never stands still. I've been dealing with that a lot lately - in some positive ways with Cat's Cradle (still need a better name for it) and in some challenging ways. As many of you know I started a new career path sharing my knowledge of the hospitality industry with students at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. It started out with a bang and confirmed what I had suspected - I LOVE to teach. Love it. I never knew how much.

What I don't love is the nature of teaching a class that does not have a huge base for enrollment. The classes have been up and down, and the last few have been canceled at the last minute due to low numbers. That's the business end of things I guess. The plus-side is that I have had a wonderful summer hanging out with my daughter and working around the house, but the downside is that following the recent cancellation of my fall class, I have come to the realization that it's time to go back to work. I'm not throwing in the towel on teaching yet - just not making it the sole source of income anymore...

So, does that mean I go back to the hotel industry and move to Texas, or Hawaii, or California? No - at least, not yet. That's where the jobs are, but I don't think that's what God has in store for me. I believe we moved home to Kalamazoo for a reason. We were convinced of that in 2006 and I'm still convinced of it now. Life has changed...it always does. I think this time, while it is a challenge to be patient, it is changing to show me a different route. Teaching revealed to me a gift - one that I didn't know I had and would never have discovered otherwise. Now the "life change" is to find the venue God wants me to use the gift in.

I have a couple thoughts on that, and a couple of irons-in-the-fire that will hopefully bear some fruit. In the meantime, I'm pressing on with the Cat's Cradle Project and praying for God to guide my next step so that I follow His path, not one of my own design. I have more worries than I had a couple weeks ago, but if I succumb to those then the Enemy wins. I have faith in the Father who time and time again has proven to me that Phil. 4:13 is true, not just for me but for all who believe in Him.

I am so amazingly blessed to have a wife who is patient and loving and supportive of this with me. I know that this has been a struggle for her also - being a bread winner is not new to her, but being the only bread winner is hard, especially when she has the gift of balancing our budget each month (the concept of money still escapes me - not when I'm making it for someone else, but when its my own). She and my daughter have been terrific in understanding - we have all had to tighten our belts, more than we have since college probably - and no one complains. I am so blessed.

Life changes...I think I would grow bored if it did not. But I am ready for the next phase. I am grateful for this rest I have had this summer - for those who have ever worked in the hospitality industry you will sympathize that there is no rest there...rest is for the guests. But I am truly ready to "get back to work" and learn what this next chapter of life holds in store.

Peace,
Scott

Attacks come fast, but Grace faster

With the first official week of the Cat's Cradle Project behind me I can say that it has been a roller coaster. The events of the last seven days (since the sites.google.com/site/catscradleproject site went live) have been painful, amazing, and educational.

First, and almost immediately came the attacks from the enemy. I knew to expect this but I still wasn't prepared. The short story is that after being unemployed for several months due to classes I was to teach being delayed, I was set to finally get back into the classroom this past Monday. That all changed with a phone call last Friday informing me that the class had been canceled. I am new to this so I guess I am partly to blame - I didn't know that it was possible to pull the plug on a class with so little notice, nor did I know that there was no protection or compensation for the instructor. So, the waiting game begins anew.

The great thing (and here's the educational part) is that as fast as the attacks come - grace comes faster. Staying faithful and positive and committed to this project has allowed me to witness God's grace and love in hard times. While my wife and I have decided that it is time for me to look for a "real job" again and join the working world, I have made a concerted effort not to let Cats Cradle slip. It would have been easy to...believe me - I've been pounding out resumes, applications and cover letters all week. It would have been very easy to say "well, it just isn't meant to be" and quietly push everything under the carpet. Yet having made it a point NOT to do that has opened the doors for three amazing and specific things to happen. Before I share those things I want to add, that in my experience, God doesn't mess around when sending me a message (He knows how hard of hearing I am) and so he usually sends things two or three times, just so I don't miss it.

In this case, I received an awesome email from a friend who has a full sound system he uses for mobile gigs. He has offered to lend the project his equipment until we are able to gather our own. Simply Amazing. The first concrete reinforcement to my belief that God will work through a multitude of channels in ways unknown and mysterious and...simply amazing.

The second event was in finding the first interesting location. Yeah, I said it - a location is on the radar. I don't know if it's perfect yet, but it is intriguing. What is really cool is how it came up: My wife and a few friends in her office go for daily lunch walks - a few days ago they happened by a building in downtown Kalamazoo that had a "lease" sign in the window for the basement level. Now, downtown isn't my "envisioned" location, but I have said all along that I know my vision of this needs to be malleable. Later that evening, we looked it up and the found the description of the space: "Great downtown location in the lower level of Kalamazoo Ballet. Take a look at the pictures. This has great ambiance. Some restaurant equipment available. Large bar and a small stage. Perfect for a small restaurant, cozy piano bar, pool hall, outreach center...use your imagination." Outreach? and it already has a stage! Pretty cool, huh?

I went and visited the space today - and it needs a LOT of work...but the owner of the building and the Realtor sound very...well...helpful? agreeable?....not sure the right word - but rent is something that sounds flexible, especially if the right group be willing to put some sweat equity into the space. Oh, and there is room to grow.

I'll post more on this in the discussion forum of the website under the topic "location" - please check that out there - I need some feedback on my "pro's" vs "cons" on this one. Also, check out the Cat's Cradle site under photos for some pics of the space.

Finally - and most amazing, was the precious gift we received yesterday. I have not asked for, nor even hinted at the need yet - but it is a reality I knew I'd have to address soon. A very good friend however, beat me to asking. An extremely generous donation to the project arrived in the mail - and while there is not a specific need yet, it is one more crystal clear symbol that this project is needed, supported and on the right track....Something I personally need to keep hearing.

So, week one is in the books. It has been a little quiet out there - if you haven't yet, please take the time to help me out by reading the site and sharing any thoughts you have. There are no bad ideas.

Also, a couple people have asked if they can share the site with friends that might be interested - the answer is a resounding YES. The only thing I ask is that you give them my email and encourage them to contact me directly. I can then add them to the email list if they wish so they can get any updates.

Thanks to everyone for chiming in so far, for encouraging this project, and for PRAYING - nothing happens without that.

God's Peace
and stay tuned.......

-Scott