you know that second, when a cartoon character starts to run (usually away from something or someone about to squash them), and their legs start to spin like propellors but their upper-body and head doesn’t move an inch yet. it’s usually accompanied by a little tinkly sound (not sure how else to describe it). this is recreated in live-action form in the amazing movie kung fu hustle, which i finally rented and watched last week.

that’s what i’m doing right now, here in pittsburgh, waiting for traction. many of the ys staff have been in reasonably full sprint for a day or two already. but my work doesn’t really start ’til today. i have eight meetings (well, one of them is speaking at the women in youth ministry critical concerns course) from noon today ’til 11pm. and tomorrow, saturday and sunday are no different, but all day long. monday, a bit less, but i’m speaking in the closing session again.

we have 3000 coming this time, a few less than sacramento, but still a great crowd. it’s so fun that jeannie gets to be with me in all three cities this year. she’s doing spiritual direction here in pitts. if you sign up for her as a spiritual director, don’t worry — she doesn’t tell me anything! and, my brother-in-law and nephew from detroit are coming tonite, and staying in my adjoining room. zack, my nephew, is a college freshman, and interested in going into ministry of some sort. he’s the one i wrote the open letter to last spring, upon his high school graduation.

pray for me, for strength, clarity, energy, compassion. pray for the 100 ys staff and volunteers. pray for the 3000 attendees. and pray for the poor people of pittsburgh who won’t know what hit ’em!