Mossden

                 This entry has the potential to be very long.  For you sake (and for my own as well), I’ll try to make it as concise as possible.  Just know that there’s a lot more I could say this time.

                My flight out of New Zealand was canceled.  I don’t know the word to describe how I felt, my attitude was not especially positive.  And my attitude is almost always positive.  I tried to convince myself that there was a purpose here, some way I could make use of three extra days in Christchurch, but I didn’t have any idea what it could be or how to find it.  I’d much rather have been going home.

                I took a bus from the airport to Papanui street, from which I had to walk about 20 minutes (with about 60 kg of baggage) to the motel.  If it sounds like I’m complaining, it’s because at that time, I was complaining inside.  Quiet little personal grumblings.

                A block from the motel, I bumped into an elderly man on the sidewalk who wanted to chat with me.  He asked me where I was from, what I do, where I was staying, and how much they were charging me (he said I was paying way too much, which I didn’t really want to hear at the time).  He said that if I wasn’t busy, I should go to his house down the street and join him for a cup of tea one of these days.  He also said that I should just sleep in his house in his spare room and save myself the money.  He also said he was a licensed physical therapist, and he’d be happy to give me rub-down, no charge of course.

                All I could think of was, this guy seems suspicious to me.  I didn’t know if he was just old, or if he meant harm.  I’ve never been offered a free rub-down by a total stranger.  We offered our names (his was Mossden) and shook hands, and as I walked towards the motel reception, I thought to ask them if they knew the old man.  Maybe he’s just the crazy guy down the street, or a registered sexual predator in the area.  I didn’t ask, though.

                I spent that day and the next pretty much by myself.  I slept a lot.  Watched some movies.  Wasted time on the computer.  It came to my mind that I should go and take Mossden up on his offer, but I “couldn’t be bothered.”  That’s a phrase I’ve picked up in Australia.  What it means, in this case, is that I’d rather be lazy and vaguely dissatisfied and bored than get out of my warm room, face the cold, and try to find this guy’s house for what could be a long, awkward conversation.  I told myself he might be dangerous, but I didn’t really believe it.  I just tossed it in the pile with the rest of my excuses.

                But that second day left me so dissatisfied and guilty, I knew I had to do something.  So this morning, while reading my Bible and talking with God, I decided I have to get out and catch life, “grab life by the horns.”  So I grabbed my runners and hit the sidewalks.  As I was running, I happened to bump into Mossden.  He invited me in, and I knew I had to say yes.

                He made me a cup of coffee, and we ended up talking for at least an hour.  He’s lived in the area for his whole life.  We talked about earthquakes, geology, human nature, religion and faith, politics, health, sports, and everything in between.  He did most of the talking; I was just happy to listen and learn.  Then he told me about his divorce, and losing his children.  Then he told me a story from his childhood, when a sexual predator at the horse races tried to kidnap him.  He said the man’s face haunted him for years.  At the end of the story, he said he never told anyone.  I don’t know if he meant he never told anyone at the time, or if he’s never told anyone before me.  About that time, he said he should get some stuff done around the house, and I left.

                As I walked back to my room, all I could think was that I am such a… word I can’t type in this blog.  Here was this sweet old man who just wanted some company, and I was too lazy to knock on his door.  Here I’d suspected him of being a predator, when he was only ever a victim.

                Since then, I’ve been productive.  I’m not wasting any more time.  I’m going to chase life.  And I’m not going to take the easy way out when God lays something on my heart.  No more excuses.  Mossden invited me over to watch TV tonight.  I’ll take him up on that offer.

                Seeing as how this is my last day before I’m home (flight conditions allowing), this might be my last blog entry.  I know this isn’t exactly the best summary of my trip.  Maybe I’ll post something like that from home.  And I don’t know if I’ll continue this blog or not.  I’ll do some thinking and praying about it.

                Thank you for reading.  Family, friends from either hemisphere, thank you, for being a part of my life.  I’m a very blessed man.  God has done incredible things in my life and in the lives of people I know.  All the credit, all the glory, goes to Him.