We all know that the world can be divided into givers and takers. Givers seek to add value to whatever situation or relationship they are in. Takers enter into situations and relationships for what they can get out of them.

But there is also a third category of people: fakers. These are people who look like givers, but aren’t. In reality they are takers who have learned that appearing to be a giver lets them take even more for themselves.

When it comes right to it, I believe most people give up on the church because they  believe that churches are fakers. Churches claim to be givers; after all, Jesus is perhaps the best example of a giver of all. But for many, they see churches as far less interested in Jesus and far more interested in perpetuating their own interests. Churches must therefore take from people, usually through guilt and manipulation, the minds, money, and manpower they need to achieve their ends.

As a clergy person, this is the kind of thing that keeps me awake at night, staring at the ceiling. When we built our latest buildings, for instance, a very good man left the church. We had done mission work together. I had been in his home several times. We had –and still have, I think--a good relationship.

“I thought you were different,” he said, “but you are just like every other church. All you’re interested in is money.” That’s pretty much an exact quote. And he’s not just done with our church, but with the Church in general.

And so I pray every single day, over and over again, that I would do a  better job of loving as radically and fearlessly as Jesus did; of  making the kind of self-sacrifices that he did for the sake of others; of crucifying my ego so that true relationships might live. And I pray that I might be genuinely helpful to the church (read, people) I serve, that together we might be genuinely helpful to the world around us,  and that therefore people both in and out of the church might experience us as the genuinely giving community we are always meant to be.

A blue bird takes up residence in a bluebird nesting box.  This blue bird, however, is actually a...  tree swallow.

So... what else made this past weekend such a good one?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  We got to spend some quality time with a hognose.  Some of you may remember that these snakes give Oscar-quality dramatic performances.

They generally start with a lot of puffing themselves up with air to look extra big and mean.  Then they exhale the air forcibly to create a very loud hissing effect, in itself enough for most people (and critters) to give them a wide berth.  At the same time, they flare the muscles and ribs of their neck to create a hood that makes them look for all the world just like a cobra.  In reality they are completely harmless and don't even bite.

Here's another view of the hood.  He looks quite pleased with himself so far, doesn't he?

When this doesn't work--say, when everyone is laughing instead of cowering in fear--they will take things to the next level.  They begin to strike aggressively.  But here's the amazing thing--they absolutely do not bite.  These actions are known as "false strikes", in that the snake never makes contact and never actually opens his mouth.  It's all about fear and intimidation, plain and simple.

And if that doesn't work?  If people are still laughing, maybe even harder now, at how passionate these animals are about their craft, he dies.

OK, not really.  It's still part of the show.  Going into theatric convulsions, he finally rolls over and "expires".  It would be more convincing if when you attempted to turn him right side up, he didn't roll over again with his belly to the heavens.

I promised every one a resurrection when we let him go.  But this guy would have none of it;  deep into his role, he refused to break character.   I think it was Scott who said we needed to give him three days, but at that point we all decided he had earned the right to be left alone.  We covered him with some damp moss and walked away.

So as it turns out, this man and I both used to compete in  the PA/NJ area back in 1980.   Only difference:  he still looks like that.  And I look like...   well, just a little different.  With the emphasis on little, I think.   Life just isn't fair, is it?

*GiG:  an opportunity to Grow in Grace...

A love of food is an essential part of being a Merola, and that means that celebrating Big Events requires food that is up to the occasion.  Our original plan to mark Mary's graduation was to drive across PA to the Oakhurst Tea Room for their Sunday Brunch.  As tempting as that was, however, we came to realize it meant quite a bit of driving for everyone involved, and that perhaps  this was best left for when we had more time.

What do do?  A fresh trout dinner seemed like the logical choice, with the added benefit of getting to go fishing.  Mary and Scott were up to the task, catching a couple nice stringers of brown and rainbow trout.  One thing we didn't think of was where to clean them, but the hotel sink served nicely.

With just a little butter, a few slices of lemon, and some salt and pepper, they cooked up very nice.

As long as I'm posting pictures of my brother's children, I may as well post my favorite of his son.  I am still sad Bill Watterson stopped creating Calvin and Hobbes, but this picture gives me great hope that the spirit of Calvin live's on.

My mom sent me this because she knew I'd get a kick out of it, and I did.  I especially like the use of the dog.   Perhaps this is something to log away for next year as unique and personal way of sending Mother's Day greetings.

No wonder my brother was always the favorite!

Having resisted including any of these images in my Mother's Day post, and in giving readers pictures of sweetness and light in warm and cuddly mammal yesterday, I am indulging myself  today.  I'm pretty excited about these pictures, actually.  This first one is three common water snakes sunning themselves and sharing body heat on a cool day.

The second is a close up of a common water snake. Though it's pattern has by and large faded to better blend in with the mud, in its remnant you can still catch some of the beauty of its coloration (if you are still reading, I figure you can join me in appreciating it for the marvel it is.)

Next is a first-time find for me:  an Eastern Worm Snake.  Small and shy, they have no interest in being found so I had to look close to come up with this one.

And finally, whatt probably could have been a decent picture if my flash had worked.   I heard these two black racers quickly crawling throught the leaves into the privacy of this log before I saw them.  The fact that they were mating didn't seem to slow them down a bit.  

In honor of Mother's Day yesterday, here's a very pregnant doe.  Notice how she has her ears trained in opposite directions, listening both ways.

And here's a couple animals I was surprised to see during the day.  They didn't pay me much mind, probably because they knew if it came right down to it, I was going to get the worst end of the deal by far.  I have a bunch of other pictures, but I thought this one was most interesting.   They waddle more than they walk, holding their tails straight out in a way that emphasized the motion and creates a rather comical effect.

And finally, here is what is perhaps my favorite picture I've taken so far.  After missing so many shots by just a second, I felt like I was in just the right place at just the right time for this one, when the ground hog (not Kirby) stuck his head out of the hole.  Look at those teeth!