What might Iowans reflect upon after a few days in the DC area speaking at a special needs ministry conference? Here’s what I’ve been thinking about the trip.
10. The bushes around the Pentagon have been trimmed with military precision. Imagine the standard military haircut. On a bush.
9. Savoring a really good cup of decaf coffee during an airplane delay makes everything better.
8. The overwhelming number of people of color in service positions at airports, hotels, and restaurants waiting on an equally overwhelming number of Caucasians is troubling.
7. Sometimes, Iowans have to travel all the way to DC to meet people who live only 45 minutes from them to learn that exciting special needs ministry events are being planned in our home state.
6. A dawn trip to the airport on a route that go past the softly lit Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Memorials is a wonderous experience. Much prettier than the opening credits for House of Cards.
5. When Midwesterners shake hands with people of Asian, Indian, and African descent during the “say hi to your neighbor” portion of Sunday worship, they realize they’re not in Kansas anymore.
4. Anyone who presents a workshop at a conference really should bow down and kiss the feet of the tech people who make sure equipment runs properly. But they won’t let you. Don’t ask how I know this.
3. Rule of thumb for speaking at special needs conferences: The speaker will cry at least once. Possibly more.
2. When co-presenting a workshop with Katie Wetherbee, it’s like being at a party.
1. Going out to supper with friends only seen once a year, after 36 intense hours at a special needs ministry conference, is an amazing blessing from God.
Have you ever been to DC? What do you remember? Leave a comment.
Took a bus tour once. Saw JFK external flame gravesite….Lincoln memorial briefly….and Arlington cemetery. So glad I went. Thanks for sharing your post. Made me smile.
We were in Washington DC over the 4th of July and to be there made one proud to be an American. We were honored for our 35th year in SM while there and the speakers were George and Barbara Bush!! Barbara was the predominant talker!! We were at the beginning of the parade and had taken pictures with one of the Tomb of the Unknown guards (from Minnesota), sat on the Lincoln steps and watched the BEST of all Fireworks, and enjoyed the pre-4th Concert the night before sitting on the grass on Capitol grounds. And when I went through the security someone hollered Janet Benson and looked around and there was a 1963 HS classmate!!! Small world within Washington DC it is!!!!!! P.S. YES I can still answer by my maiden name if need be!!!!
What a fun trip!