be-musings

I work in a non-profit which connects self-employed contractors and businesses. We match services to needs. Where we are a bit different is that most of our contractors have some kind of health issue, whether or not they are currently experiencing active symptoms of that health problem. Some people suffer from the pain of arthritis or migraines, others are paraplegic. Scott even made it to a contract assignment once - we do take healthy people to. I'll let you decide what "side" he is on. By the way, we also take people with some mental health issues (read between the lines).

This concept, begun by an entrepeneur with vast experience in the disability services field, started as primarily a social enterprise aspect, as a support for those who had great skills and experience, and needed to tailor their work hours and environment. In its inception a tagline "A Solution for Everybody" was developed. This was considered to handle the description well. Reliable Business Outsourcing is a solution for the contractor, as it meets their need to increase their marketing potential and increase their flexibility in work choices. This is also a solution for the businesses, because they don't have to advertise for an employee, interview, train, and manage as many people. They get a contractor for a short term of time, to fill the work need.
I know this sounds like an ad. It actually isn't, so please be patient.

At a meeting recently, what came out loud and clear from the contractors is that man of them have made a business decision to become self-employed, and they want to be marketed based on their ability, not their disability. Well, that makes sense. We were already trying to do that, but we also included some information about being a not-for-profit social enterprise. As we talked with the group we realized that "A Solution for Everybody" was vague and could best be explained from the angle of disabilities. We came to the conclusion that the social enterprise nature of this agency is alive from within, and doesn't need to be displayed strongly to the businesses. So, someone pitched the idea of "Real People Doing Real Work".

Have you been part of a process where something morphs and you think you have the answer? We tabled the tagline, though we were excited about it, and I was wondering why we didn't adopt it right then.

Now we're voting on the tagline, and what sounded great in the meeting doesn't sound so great with a few weeks breather in between. In fact, it raises the question: "If these people are real, what are the rest of the people?" We understood its transition and definition, but really it still addressed disabilities. We felt it was a power statement as to ability, but it still pointed to the fact that somehow there needed to be a catchy way of differentiating these people, when in fact it is the skill we want to differentiate. We haven't chosen a new tagline yet, but this process reminds me of something else.

Words are strong. They invoke images, gruesome, beautiful, Godly, sinful. They heal lives and destroy others. Often our use of them is inadequate for what we want to convey, yet other times the sting of them is deadly. One thing is certain. A written or spoken word directed at someone takes effect in most cases. And especially true is when those words are used to slash and deliver revenge.

I know some of those kind of people, whether they want to be that way or not. But even more, I know encouragers. These people don't often understand the importance or ways of their words. They don't even have to say much. In fact, perhaps these are the people who don't speak a lot. They just speak hope.

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 19:19)

• Do I have enough time? It seems some people put a lot of time and effort into setting up their profiles, tagging photos, sending messages to lots of people that they might not via regular email. Will it be snobbish or uncool if I do the minimum? And will I spend hours in it, out of curiosity?


• How secure or private is it? We teach our teens not to reveal too much information about ourselves for strangers to figure out who they are and where they hang out. Are we folllowing the same guidelines with Facebook? I understand that a full profile can't be viewed without an invitation, but what about when you join a mutual group?

Can you give me some input?

Here is the other souffle recipe. I've made it only once, but people loved it and thought it was a light, rich chocolate treat. I figured brownies would have been good too, but these more unique.

175 g (6 oz or 1 1/4 cups) chopped dark chocolate
5 eggs, separated
60 g (2 1/4 or 1/4 cup) superfine sugar, plus extra for dusting. For this, I bought berry sugar and then blended it until very fine. Probably you don't have to blend it though. Another recipe I have calls for regular sugar, but I haven't tried that one.
2 egg whites, extra
Icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 400C and put a baking tray into the oven to warm.

Use 6 ramekins, or one souffle/casserole dish. You can (should) make the walls 2 inches higher by putting aluminum foil around the dish, and securing to itself with tape. Baking paper can also be used. The souffle can rise better this way. Brush the dish(es) with butter/margarine, and dust with the extra superfine sugar, shaking out the excess. The sugar helps the souffle to grip the sides.

Place the chopped chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, then remove the bowl from the saucepan. Stir in the egg yolks and superfine sugar.

Beat the 7 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold one-third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen it. Then fold in the remaining egg whites until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish(es) and run your thumb or a blunt knife around the inside rim of the dish and the edge of the mixture. This helps the souffle to rise evenly. Place the ramekins on the preheated baking tray, into the oven, and pour one inch of hot tap water on the tray. One recipe doesn't include water, so I'll leave that up to you. I did it to be sure that it would work, and it did. Bake for 12-15 minuets, or until well risen and just set. Do not open the oven doors while baking.

Serve immediately, lightly dusted with sifted icing sugar.

My son, being a typical boy with high energy on top of that, doesn't like school very much. No offense to his great teachers, but he likes recess and lunch the best. Put him in a chair where he has to listen and be quiet doesn't work well for his "center of attention" temperament.
When I drop Matthew at school each morning, he doesn't complain. He is happy, because he is a morning person. It isn't a fight to get him there. It's the "there" that is the challenge. But although he isn't grumpy, he also isn't fast when walking to class. He has gotten better at maintaining an average pace, but initially I used to have to open the window as I was leaving the parking lot and encourage him to keep going up the stairs to class.
This morning was different. They were going to the Vancouver Aquarium. Matthew was in my room early this morning, to remind me that it was Aquarium Day. He was ready well in advance, waiting to be driven to school. When I dropped him off he RAN all the way down the sidewalk and up the stairs.
I wish every day was Aquarium Day.

I had heard of souffle, and it had a bad reputation. Shows had talked about them falling easily (like almost all the time) and burning. But then I tried souffle myself, and no! those were lies. Don't let these light entrees and desserts intimidate you - they're easy to bake to perfection. Allow yourself some time for the flavoring ingredients and to whip it. I'll post an entree recipe, and a dessert one another day. I have purchased ramekins from the dollar store at a good price, to make individual portions. You can do that, or use one round casserole dish (with a flat bottom). Don't grease the dishes. You will also need a pan to set it in, that water will be poured into for "oven poaching". Oven temperature is 375F.

Cheese Souffle (serves 4-5)

First you need to cook and crumble 3 slices of bacon. While you are doing this, make the following white sauce.

3 Tbsp butter or margarine
3 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
Seasonings of pepper, celery salt, a little grated onion, a pinch of dry mustard (or whatever you think is good).

Melt butter/margarine in saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in flour and salt. Add liquid slowly, stirring constantly until sauce is thickened and smooth.

Here are the rest of the ingredients:
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
4 egg yolks
4-5 egg whites
1 small onion, sauteed in the leftover bacon fat

Add all but a spoonful of cheese to the sauce along with the bacon and coked onion. Stir until the cheese melts; cool slightly.
Separate the eggs; beat the yolks lightly and stir the warm sauce into them. With a clean beater, beat the whites until stiff but not dry; stir one spoonful into the sauce. Fold the sauce into the remainder. You want it to be mixed gently so not to crush the air out of it.
Pour into your dish(es); sprinkle the reserved cheese on top.

Put the dishes in the oven pan, and put into the oven. Then pour water in the pan (not the souffle dishes) to at least halfway up the dish, if possible.

Cook for 20-25 minutes for individual dishes, or 40 minutes for larger dish. I don't usually need to test it much, but if you do, here are instructions.
Test 5 minutes before recommended finish time by moving the dish slightly. If the top seems firm, press it gently with the finger; if the crust springs back, it is done. Remove only when ready to eat immediately. If you aren't quite ready, leave in the oven with the heat off.
It might sag a bit once it starts to cool but this doesn't affect it's light texture.

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Brian's roommate, Jennifer, was. Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of a relationship between Brian and Jennifer, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Jennifer than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates."
About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?"
Brian said, "Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure. So he sat down and wrote:
Dear Mom: I'm not saying that you "did" take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you "did not" take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love, Brian

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read: Dear Son: I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now.

Love, Mom

I've been reading Messy Spirituality. When I say reading, I mean I have borrowed the book, started it, then it has been confiscated on a number of occasions by Nathan and Scott , then returned to me once they have finished it. Although I was the first to begin, I am the only one not finished. I'm just waiting for them to give it to someone else to read before I can finish the last couple of chapters!
One section of the book talks about something with which I identify. When I was a teen, our church went to the seniour citizen lodge and to the hospital. I was never comfortable with this. Some people are great with seniours - it's their gift. So, as the book talked about a man who stood at the back of the room during these visits I understood. But the guy (Daryl) did much better than me. As a man reached out and took his hand, he waited. Something touched his own life experience, and he didn't want to leave the man. But he had to go with the group, and unexplainably He expressed some sentiment with the seniour, and before he left told him he loved him. That was a strange thing to do to a stranger.
Every month Daryl came back and stood in the back, holding the man's hand. Words weren't exchanged between the two, but still Daryl would say "I love you" before leaving.
One day when Daryl came to the home, the man wasn't in the service. He went to the nurse, who escorted Daryl to the man (Oliver's) room. He was dying. Daryl stayed with Oliver as long as he could, but it came time to leave with the group. He squeezed Oliver's hand and said he loved him. Oliver squeezed back, and then Daryl turned to leave.
At the door was a woman, Oliver's granddaughter. She told Daryl that the night before Oliver woke up and told her to say goodbye to Jesus for him. Then he closed his eyes. She told him that she didn't need to say goodbye because he was going to be with Jesus soon. He replied "I know, but Jesus comes to see me every month, and he might not know I've gone." With that, he slipped into silence.

There are so many things I'm not comfortable doing. I try to cover my insecurities by not doing many of the things that are difficult for me, but sometimes that isn't possible. Or maybe more accurately, I MUST do some of those things. At one time that was teaching Sunday School, or going to the retirement home, or saying something in church when I know it isn't easy. Sometimes it's hard for me to say hello to a new person, or a person I know a bit. Sometimes I suck at being Jesus and turn the other way because I'm lazy or nervous or tired. But perhaps sometimes I manage to come through.
I can think of a few people who have become Him at different points of my life. There are people who are what I can't be, or what I wish I was. We are all reflections of Him at some point or another, even if we don't see it. Because sometimes Jesus comes in a subtle way that perhaps others don't see ... but it's not about the masses. It's about the one.