Last Saturday I had the pleasure of giving a talk to a group of people at our Church. They were treasurers for congregations in various parts of the world including a gentleman from the Ivory Coast who did not speak English. I dug deep into my memory and conjured up some French phrases so that he would feel included: “Bonsoir mesdames et messieurs. . .” After a day of meetings the people were ready to laugh. I told them about how at my retirement as pastor of this congregation ten years ago, we were given, among other things,  a set of luggage and a camera.

When I showed this photograph of the well-worn luggage, there were ripples of laughter. We had lugged them to various destinations such as: England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Minnesota, Bryn Athyn Pennsylvania and Berkeley California.

Later I showed this picture of me using a camera.

The moment the picture came on the screen, they all laughed. Then I told them how I have had the experience of lying down on the ground, grey hair flying, and having a passerby approach with deep concern, “Sir, are you all right?”
More laughter. But the biggest laugh came when I said, “This picture was taken by my psychiatrist.” Howls of laughter. I had not finished my sentence – it was my psychiatrist friend, Ed.

Anyway, it proved to be a very pleasant evening, and I achieved one of my goals, to stimulate interest in the beauty and wonder of grasses. I showed them flower and tree pictures, plus some of the grass pictures I have posted on this blog.