I volunteered over at Desperate Vision (actually, several days ago now) to continue the “Tag, You’re It” interviewing blog-a-thon. It’s a sort of blogger meet-and-greet — which I think is a good thing, a way to chip away at those cyber walls. So here are Amber Lynn’s questions to me — and my answers. ( I’ll say up front that I found a few of them hard to answer, but here is my best, honest attempt):
1. What is the one memory you would never want to lose?
So, admirably, right off the bat here, I’m gonna cheat because two things come to mind:
A trip to Montana with MB several summers ago. He was working on a promotional video for a ranch/resort and I got to tag along as his phenomenally indispensable “key grip” or “best boy-girl.” The deadline was tight and the client seemed to expect nothing less than a veritable Noah’s ark assortment of critter shots. And, you know, controlling God’s creation is harder than you might think. But the Lord had mercy — amazing mercy. We worked our bums off, but the shoot was done on time and the final product was extraordinary. (I say as the proud wife.) The whole experience being there was just exhilarating, exhausting, and jawdroppingly beautiful.
(And the part where I got a little too enthused about finally seeing the elusive Mamma and Baby Moose, jumped off the ATV, and started running giddily, stupidly, towards them? Uh, yeahhhh …. let’s pretend that didn’t happen.)
And my cheater-cheater second one?
A pivotal apology I received a few years ago from a fellow Christian. It came — not right away, not right after the offense — but over two years later, which actually made the apology that much more valuable to me, that much sweeter, because I knew the passage of time had made it that much harder for the person to apologize.
Because I grew up in a Christian family that did not proactively practice grace, this issue of apologizing, of seeking forgiveness, is a true touchstone for me. I can literally count on one hand the number of times someone has sought my forgiveness (outside the spousal relationship). But this believer, approaching me in person, just simply, eloquently, apologized and asked forgiveness. How can your respect for a person not skyrocket in the face of such immeasurable courage and humility? Those moments open a door for The Divine, for the Lord to come down and dwell in the midst of forgiveness sought, given, and received. It binds you together. It’s transformational. Because it’s the foundation of everything we believe. I will never forget it and I will always treasure it.
2. What do you like the most about yourself?
Ughhh …. hard. (But I’m sure most people would say that when asked.) After some thought, I say this: That I am sl-o-o-o-wly becoming better at seeking forgiveness in my own life — and not just from the Lord. Humbling ourselves before an Almighty God is a little easier than humbling ourselves before another flawed and fleshly human. But we’re called to do both. And the Lord has called me over the last while to crucify my flesh and seek forgiveness — no matter how painful, no matter what the outcome.
3. If you were going to go blind, what is the last thing you would want to see?
Ah, thank you, Amber Lynn, for an easy one! No brainer: My Beloved.
4. What calms you down?
Singing. Going for a long drive. Reading a Psalm. When MB holds me. There, that one was relatively easy. Phheww ….
5. Who is your role model or hero and why?
Another tricky one. Hmmm …. I don’t have one. (That possibly sounds pathetic. Ah, well.)
I find I admire specific characteristics that people possess, but, to me, having a role model or hero implies admiration and emulation of the total person. Haven’t found that in any one person, except for the Lord.
Thank you for the great questions, Amber Lynn. Made me work me noggin a bit, which I appreciate.
So here’s the deal, peeps. To keep the “Tag, You’re It” community of interviews alive, I now extend an offer to interview one of you. It works like this:
1. Leave me a note in the comments section saying “Interview Me.”
2. I’ll post some questions in my comments section for you to answer.
3. You’ll post those answers on your blog — hey, and let me know when you’ve answered, so I can come and check ’em out.
4. You will then include an offer on your blog to interview someone else with 5 original questions.
(Wow. Now I’m nervous that no one will say “yes” …. It’s like when we girls were supposed to ask the boys to that wretched Sadie Hawkins Dance. That freaked me out, too. So someone, have pit-eeee ….)
And don’t click on the “continue reading” link below, because thar ain’t no more! I just can’t make it go away. Well, I imagine I can, but I don’t know how ….