“Between Wyomings, My God and an iPod” – Book Review

danroark — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:06:05 +0000

Between Wyomings, My God and an iPod on the Open Road, written by Ken Mansfield and published by Thomas Nelson, is a very interesting read – to say the least. Particularly if the reader grew up in the sixties and seventies, or is merely interested in the culture (music in particular) of that time in history. Mansfield was a record producer and record-label executive from the 60′s through the 90′s. He is also an ordained minister and public speaker.

The book is both a journey Mansfield is taking with his wife – each with their iPods – and a journey backward he is taking in his mind. At least in the trip with his wife, we get travel directions and points of interest. For the journey in his mind (his years in the music industry), the reader has no map or directional compass. Somewhat chronological from his beginning in the music industry, Mansfield is prone to jump to any moment of the entire journey.

Thrown in the mix are “God moments.” Theological vignettes, as it were, that seemingly come out of the blue. While I would be the first to agree that God moments tend to come out of nowhere, in the context of a book there needs to be some type of cause and effect. These vignettes appear as if he inserted them during the editing stage – thinking it had been a while since he had added a God moment.

It took me longer to read Between Wyomings than usual when reviewing a book, partly because of the happenings of life with three teenagers, but mostly because the book lacks continuity. A connection from one short chapter to another. It just seems to be a collection of stories and essays. He writes, as he says in the introduction, like a “Christian on acid.” But the stories are interesting and fairly readable within themselves.

One thing struck me when reading the book, having lived through a lot of those times myself. Which was that if he as an ordained minister can look back on that kind of life with a certain fondness, I can certainly consider myself forgiven for my sins. He does not dwell on the wild side of the music business, yet also does not act as if it did not happen. Anyone who is interested in the music business and culture in those decades and personal journeys with God should read this book. It just might be a while before they finish it.

Peace be with you.

“Step on a Crack, Break Your Mother’s Back”

danroark — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:23:21 +0000

I was walking to our youngest son’s school with his football gear he had forgotten that morning stuffed in my backpack. Cyndy takes all three boys when she goes to work, opening up the waking atmosphere to sleepy-eyed confusion in which things can slip teenage minds. It was a hot and fairly humid day. Which was not quite conducive to walking long distances on sidewalks with slight – as well as intermittent – shade.

I watch the ground while I walk for several reasons. For one thing, I walk quickly which requires watching the terrain. By watching the ground ahead of me, I am not constantly reminded of how far away my goal is at any given time. I also happen to find quite a few coins that way. But inevitably, while walking along, I recall something we used to say when I was younger. I’ve heard it recently, but not nearly as much as I used to.

“Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.”

Did I really believe it? Not really. Did I avoid the cracks? You betcha – just in case, and to be on the safe side. And I will have you know that to this day my mother has not broken her back. A few other things maybe, but not her back. I will also have you know that I do not think my avoiding cracks had a thing to do with it.

Yet, as I was walking to my son’s school, I was avoiding the cracks. More to set up a rhythm in my stride, but avoiding the cracks nonetheless. That got me to thinking – as life and walking are wont to do – about avoiding cracks and hedging bets.

As a general rule, I can set a rhythm or pace and move quickly along avoiding the cracks. As we as Christians can go about our life in the secular world. But then I come across a section of sidewalk – or life – that has begun to show wear, causing a conundrum. There are so many cracks that even a hop-scotch afficionado would have trouble traversing the area. Or the incline on the street corner purposely has a considerable number of cracks – much like on the side of the highway if you drift too far onto the shoulder.

So which cracks count in the break your mother’s back scenario? If it is a natural part of the sidewalk which was purposefully made that way, is that actually considered a crack? Is it just the actual cracks that have developed over time from wear and weather that count? Or do all cracks count causing the situation to be crucially problematic?

Fortunately, “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” is just a game. Unfortunately, life is not a game. Even though it might seem that way at one time or another. Some of the cracks we try to cross in life are wider and deeper than we would have ever imagined.

When we reach those “rough spots” we wonder if we simply took the wrong path to begin with and we are on the wrong sidewalk. Then we realize that no path is an easy path. How will we ever know if we took the wrong path? When the fact is, we only took this one. Sadly, we did not think enough about it in the first place.

On the other hand, if we put our faith in the Lord and Christ, the path will open up before us – we will trust the path we take. All paths have cracks in the sidewalk and other obstacles. But by the grace of God we make it to the end of life’s sidewalk.

Peace be with you.

Think on These Things

“Between Wyomings, My God and an iPod” – Book Review

“Step on a Crack, Break Your Mother’s Back”