Issue 3/Volume 4

Thank You to the Shaffers

It is being touted as the best Super Bowl ever (though that might depend on who you were for) and we saw the show in the warmth and comfort of the Shaffer house.  We want to thank the Shaffers for opening their home to our group and for being the most gracious hosts.  It was a great game and a great place to gather as a group!  

UMYF Meets for Food and Gossip

This week at UMYF we kick things off with a Youth Meal provided by parent volunteers. Please bring $1 to defray the cost of the food and enjoy a potato bar with all the fixings.  Following the food we will worship and have a great program on the topic of gossip.  We all do it and Sunday we will look at how to avoid it and how to head it off before it hurts the people we care about.  Come for the food, stay for the worship, be inspired by the conversation with friends.  See you all Sunday evening 6:00-8:00 for Faith, Fellowship and Fun at UMYF!

YLT to Meet this Sunday with Senior Council

The YLT will meet this Sunday from 12:00-1:30 in the Youth Basement.  We have much on our agenda but we will be honored with guests from the Senior Council to talk about how we can plan an inter-generational event for our two groups.  We will also review updates on the remodeling plans, sweatshirts and the senior high retreat.  Pizza provided as usual and we will see you all there.  Please let me know if you cannot make the meeting!

TUF Meeting this Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Teens United in Faith (T.U.F.) will meet this Sunday for their monthly activity.  This is a group for Girls in 6th-12th grades and is the teen circle of the United Methodist Women (UMW).  They will meet at the church at 4:00 p.m.  For more information about T.U.F. Contact Dea Carol (deacurt@aol.com) or Bev Winsett (joewins@frii.com).

Sunday School for February

This Sunday is the first week of Sunday school in February and also the first Sunday School for Lent.  We began Lent yesterday with Ash Wednesday and we find ourselves in the midst of this great time of reflection and focus on the life and teaching of Jesus.  Come and worship at 9:15 with classes to follow.  Senior High Retreat registration forms will be available, donuts provided and see you all there!

Senior High Retreat Registration Out

Attention all Senior High Youth:  We are planning a retreat open to all youth in 9th-12th grade.  We are going to the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO from Friday March 28 to Sunday March 30.  The theme is “I am Who I Am:” an exploration of identity.   We will work through issues of identity including sexuality, friends, family and self esteem.  You can count on a lot of fun, great worship and meditation experiences and time with friends in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.  Registration forms are available from me and will be at Sunday School and UMYF until they are due.  Registration deadline is March 9th and the cost in $100 for food, lodging, travel, program and sponsor expenses.  Scholarships available so don’t let money keep you from going on this amazing retreat experience. Come join us for a fabulous weekend filled with faith, inspiration and fun!

UMYF Planning Teams to Meet next Wednesday

The UMYF Planning Teams are up and running.  We have just completed planning for our second UMYF meeting and our new process is working well.  Our next planning meeting will be Wednesday (February 13) afternoon from 3:30-4:30 and we will be planning the February 17th UMYF.  The Team Members for February are Abi Peterson, Robin Nicolai, Lyndsey Shaw, Kelly Rappe’ and Tess Stackhouse.  If you cannot make the meeting let me know and I look forward to a great experience working to provide the best in programming for UMYF!

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net.  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!

Volume 3/Issue 3

Party at the Shaffer’s

This Sunday the unbeaten Patriots and the the New York Football Giants square off in the biggest pro football game of the year.  As is our custom the UMYF will be holding a Super Bowl Party starting at 4:00 p.m. Till the game is over and this year’s event will be hosted by the Shaffer family.  (Direction Below) If your last name starts with A-M bring a snack to share with others.  If you last name starts with N-Z bring a drink to share.  Our host house boasts a 104 inch TV for our football viewing, commercial judging bash as well as another TV for games, etc. and a long drive for Skate Boarding if the weather holds up.  Come enjoy the game or friends or both at the UMYF Super Bowl Party.

Directions to the Shaffer’s:
1724 Misty Creek Lane
Fort Collins, CO  80524
970-224-2785

Easiest directions:  Head north on Taft Hill Road.  Cross CR 54 (there is an American Legion building on northwest corner) and continue approximately 1 mile.  Turn right on Misty Creek Lane — it’s easy to miss!  There is a stone marker that reads “Misty Creek Ranches” outside the development, but if you’re going too fast, it’s easy to drive right past and not see it.  I’ll put some balloons or a sign or something up to make it easier to see.

Our house is at the very end of the street, last house on the left.

Youth Room Remodeling Hopes to Begin SOON!

We have been talking about, planning, obtaining approval and raising money to remodel the Youth Area in the Basement of the church education wing. With the success of the Advent Dinner Theatre we now have enough money to move forward with our plans and that means a few work days will be scheduled for the coming months.  We will have one Saturday to take out the dividers and build permanent walls with new electrical outlets.  A second day will be for building two steps in the Senior High Room (risers for the couches) and one final day to paint like crazy.  These work days will be scheduled soon so if you would like to help (Youth, Parents, etc.) Keep watching for those specific dates and consider helping make our youth rooms an exciting place to nurture young faith.

Senior High Retreat Has a Home

With no Up With Youth to attend this spring the youth program is planning a Senior High retreat open to any youth in 9th-12th grades.  With a little phone tag and investigation we have secured a great cabin facility at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO for March 28-30.  This location will be the perfect place for our retreat and we are excited about this opportunity.  We have plenty of room and now that we have a place, the registration forms for this event will be out this Sunday at the Super Bowl Party or you can get them from Joel starting Sunday morning.  Registration deadlines will be announced next week in the Young Methodist Reporter and the cost of the trip will be $100 for food, lodging, travel and sponsor expenses.  Scholarships are available if needed so get signed up early and join us for a wonderful weekend of faith fellowship and fun in God’s beautiful creation.

Youth, Sexuality and God Set for 7th & 8th Graders

It has been a long time coming but we can finally announce the scheduling of a Human Sexuality Workshop  we are calling Youth, Sexuality and God for 7th and 8th graders.  This will be a two day event on April 5th and 6th here at the church.  We are bringing back Rev. Gary Haddock who led the last workshop of this kind back in 2002 and are excited by this opportunity to engage in a deep and meaningful experience exploring the confusing and often scary topic of teen sexuality.  This workshop will have a small fee and registration will be required.  It includes sections for youth and parents alone as well as some together as parents and youth learn to open up discussion about human sexuality.  More details and registration forms will be coming out in the next couple of weeks so be looking for those and keep looking in future Reporters for more information on how you can be a part of this important ministry.

UMYF Planning Team Reminder

With the Super Bowl Party this Sunday we will not meet to plan UMYF but mark your calendars for Wednesday February 6th from 4-5 p.m.  The planning team for UMYF on Feb. 10th includes Mike Rowlett, Jordan Raab, Chelsea Shaffer, Evan Mackes and Mackenzie Wrobbel. We will meet in my office and please let me know if are not going to make the meeting so we can get your input and assign tasks for Sunday Feb. 10th.  If you would like to be on a UMYF planning team in the coming months, please e-mail me.

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net> .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!
   

Issue 3/Volume 2

Wishes for a Happy New Year

Another year has come and gone and with winter break fast ending it is time to get things back to relative normal here at FUMC.  I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and fun New Years.  With a new year comes new commitments and goals.  Some might like to better themselves by reading more or working out.  Perhaps others will try something new or retry something old.  Whatever might be on your list of goals for 2008 keep in mind that no one can go it alone.  If you want to work out more, find a friend to help motivate you.  If you want to read more join a club or form a new one.  If you want to try something, talk a friend into trying it with you.  And always remember that God is our source of strength and love and that God’s presence in our lives will be with us long after we’ve given up on the Nobel Prize or six pack abs.  

UMYF Kicks off the New Year this Sunday

This Sunday will mark the first regular UMYF in over two months.  Can you believe it.  We have been so busy with special events that we have not had a regular program.  Well for all of you anxious to get back to basics we will be meeting from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. this Sunday at the church.  We will be introducing a new way of planning UMYF events approved and lead by the YLT in the coming months and we will worship with music and conversation.  We will even play around!  Come and join us for UMYF this Sunday and check out the Youth Blog for updates, more information and the entire Youth Schedule for January 2008 (see link below).

UMYF Heads for the Mountains: Ski Trip Coming Fast

With sign ups for this in October it is hard to believe that the Ski Trip is just Next Weekend.  The youth and adults signed up to go will be meeting at the church at 3:45 and hoping to leave no later then 4:15.  If you are going on the trip please make sure you have all your equipment rented and with you before we leave.  We will be returning to the Copper Junction Condos at Copper Mountain and we look forward to a great weekend of winter fun.  We will have movies, games, food and more for the down times and plenty of snow.  I have most of the deposits but my records are still incomplete for Kelsey Hartman, Abi Peterson, Danny Quinn and Greg Rushing.  If you could please check your records and let me know if you have turned in a payment that I failed to document or get back to me with questions or payments.  All Participants will need a total of $25 for food while on the trip.  You will turn in $10 on Friday before we leave to cover the cost of food at the condos.  The other $15 is to be kept for meals on the road ($10 for Beau Jo’s on Friday Night and $5 for fast food on the way home).  We hope to return by early evening on Sunday but bad weather and worse traffic always make exact times hard.  We will prompt youth to call parents as we approach Fort Collins.  If you have any questions about the trip or cannot go please let me know ASAP!

Lady’s shoes Found at Advent Dinner Theatre

With all the work it took to put on the Advent Dinner Theatre it is no small wonder that the only thing left behind was a pair of Lady’s heals.  They are a Gold open-toed high heal and they are in my office.  Now, as much as I need a pair heals I hope to reunite these shoes with their owner.  If your closet is missing a pair of heals please come by my office ASAP to claim them.  

Youth Sports Minute

If you know of any sports highlights from youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net>  and make your sports-voice heard!
 

Youth & the Performing Arts

If you know of any music, art, drama, etc. events that involve a youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net and make your artistic-voice heard!

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net> .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!
   

 Issue 3/Volume 1

Another year has come and gone and with winter break fast ending it is time to get things back to relative normal here at FUMC.  I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and fun New Years.  With a new year comes new commitments and goals.  Some might like to better themselves by reading more or working out.  Perhaps others will try something new or retry something old.  Whatever might be on your list of goals for 2008 keep in mind that no one can go it alone.  If you want to work out more, find a friend to help motivate you.  If you want to read more join a club or form a new one.  If you want to try something, talk a friend into trying it with you.  And always remember that God is our source of strength and love and that God’s presence in our lives will be with us long after we’ve given up on the Nobel Prize or six pack abs.  

UMYF Kicks off the New Year this Sunday

This Sunday will mark the first regular UMYF in over two months.  Can you believe it.  We have been so busy with special events that we have not had a regular program.  Well for all of you anxious to get back to basics we will be meeting from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. this Sunday at the church.  We will be introducing a new way of planning UMYF events approved and lead by the YLT in the coming months and we will worship with music and conversation.  We will even play around!  Come and join us for UMYF this Sunday and check out the Youth Blog for updates, more information and the entire Youth Schedule for January 2008.

UMYF Heads for the Mountains: Ski Trip Coming Fast

With sign ups for this in October it is hard to believe that the Ski Trip is just Next Weekend.  The youth and adults signed up to go will be meeting at the church at 3:45 and hoping to leave no later then 4:15.  If you are going on the trip please make sure you have all your equipment rented and with you before we leave.  We will be returning to the Copper Junction Condos at Copper Mountain and we look forward to a great weekend of winter fun.  We will have movies, games, food and more for the down times and plenty of snow.  I have most of the deposits but my records are still incomplete for Kelsey Hartman, Abi Peterson, Danny Quinn and Greg Rushing.  If you could please check your records and let me know if you have turned in a payment that I failed to document or get back to me with questions or payments.  All Participants will need a total of $25 for food while on the trip.  You will turn in $10 on Friday before we leave to cover the cost of food at the condos.  The other $15 is to be kept for meals on the road ($10 for Beau Jo’s on Friday Night and $5 for fast food on the way home).  We hope to return by early evening on Sunday but bad weather and worse traffic always make exact times hard.  We will prompt youth to call parents as we approach Fort Collins.  If you have any questions about the trip or cannot go please let me know ASAP!

Lady’s shoes Found at Advent Dinner Theatre

With all the work it took to put on the Advent Dinner Theatre it is no small wonder that the only thing left behind was a pair of Lady’s heals.  They are a Gold open-toed high heal and they are in my office.  Now, as much as I need a pair heals I hope to reunite these shoes with their owner.  If your closet is missing a pair of heals please come by my office ASAP to claim them.  

Youth Sports Minute

If you know of any sports highlights from youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net  and make your sports-voice heard!
 

Youth & the Performing Arts

If you know of any music, art, drama, etc. events that involve a youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net and make your artistic-voice heard!

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!
   

“Pieces of You”

 by Jewel

Jewel burst onto the scene in 1994 with the album named for this track.  It did not get a lot of airplay but those who bought the album were quick to notice the dark and painful truths imbedded in lyrics of “Pieces for You.”  This song took on new meaning for me when I was in college at CSU here in Fort Collins.  During my time at CSU a gay man, Matthew Shepherd was beaten and killed in Wyoming.  That year at the CSU Homecoming Parade, a tasteless and cruel float made light of that murder.  The harsh tones of the third verse strike me as reflective of a reality faced by people brave enough to own their sexuality or any difference for that matter.  This event brought me face to face with a hatred and bigotry that I had ignored up to that point, but I could ignore it no longer!

When we look deeper into this song, Jewel is simply taking those elements in our society that make people so obviously different that they can be singled out.  You have the contrast of the “Ugly” and “Pretty” girls, the gay man and the Jew all singled out because of their physical appearance.  They are different and everyone can see it!  But isn’t everyone different in some way?  Some differences can be locked away; hidden from the cruel and unforgiving eyes of others. 

This song asks the most profound question of identity: ‘Do you hate others because they are pieces of you?’  The news of the last year has shown many painful examples of this worst kind of prejudice.  We see a minister rail against homosexuality “as though it were a sin to be born” only to discover he had been engaging in sex with a gay prostitute.  And we have a senator from Idaho with a record of voting against equal rights for same-sex couples only to have him arrested for soliciting a gay prostitute who turned out to be an undercover police officer on a sting.  Sometimes we publicly despise and even persecute others because we are so afraid they will find out the truth about us, and what would they say?  That fear drives us to express ourselves in dangerous, unhealthy ways rather then embrace the beauty of the person God has created us to be.

The world can sometimes make us ashamed to be who we really are.  We hide the beautiful creation that is us and project what we think others want from us.  But if we spent more time caring about the other then we spend hiding ourselves we might just find we have more in common then we thought.  The most profound thing we all have in common is that we are all created by God, each of us unique and yet connected.  God, I think calls us to unite around those ways we are the same and to celebrate in the ways we are not.  When we instead make those difference the criteria for separating into groups, I believe God’s heart breaks!  In the basement of life we all have a piece of God in us and therefore I will always have pieces of you, in me!  Lets remember to act like it!

You can watch a compelling video set to this song on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIguaB3fro

“Pieces Of You”

She’s an ugly girl, does it make you want to kill her?

She’s an ugly girl, do you want to kick in her face?

She’s an ugly girl, she doesn’t pose a threat.

She’s an ugly girl, does she make you feel safe?

Ugly girl, ugly girl, do you hate her

‘Cause she’s pieces of you?

She’s a pretty girl, does she make you think nasty thoughts?

She’s a pretty girl, do you want to tie her down?

She’s a pretty girl, do you call her a bitch?

She’s a pretty girl, did she sleep with your whole town?

Pretty girl, pretty girl, do you hate her

‘Cause she’s pieces of you?

You say he’s a faggot, does it make you want to hurt him?

You say he’s a faggot, do you want to bash in his brain?

You say he’s a faggot, does he make you sick to our stomach?

You say he’s a faggot, are you afraid you’re just the same?

Faggot, Faggot, do you hate him

‘Cause he’s pieces of you?

You say he’s a Jew, does it mean that he’s tight?

You say he’s a Jew, do you want to hurt his kids tonight?

You say he’s a Jew, he’ll never wear that funny hat again.

You say he’s a Jew, as though being born were a sin.

Oh Jew, oh Jew, do you hate him

‘Cause he’s pieces of you?

“The Stranger”

by Billy Joel

Billy Joel has long been a favorite of mine.  No, it has nothing to do with the fact that we share a name but more that his music feels good when you hear it; His lyrics hit home when you take them in.  Joel is also one of only a handful of people inducted into both the Rock and Roll and the Songwriter’s halls of fame.  “The Stranger” has long been one of my favorite Billy Joel offerings because it exposes humanity to a reality that we rarely experience.  The stranger is a metaphor for the images we project to the outside world.  When we think about who we are verses who we let people think we are, we often find different realities.  Sometimes they look similar to each other but with careful filters in place to protect the darkest corners of our personality.  Sometimes we can project a completely different person keeping everyone away from our true selves. 

This always gets me thinking about two things.  First, if we do this in our lives in general then how does that affect how we project ourselves as Christians?  If we are so busy carefully crafting our image, how do we craft our Christianity to the outside world?  We might put our best foot forward, so to speak; keeping our good deeds in the forefront and hiding all of those things that might contradict our stated beliefs.  On the other hand we might spend our time crafting an a-typical Christian persona.  As a “Liberal” or I prefer progressive Christian, I find myself emphasizing the ways in which I differ from the dominant perception of Christianity.  If the stereotypical Christian is a clean cut person who only listens to Christian radio stations, then I will wear four earrings and write about bands like Led Zeppelin & Dave Matthews.  I have even found myself relishing those times when people meet me outside the church and then discover I am a minister prompting their “You’re a minister?” response.  The fact is that we Christians are not perfect, but we wear masks that disguise our imperfections or emphasize them, but is that what God calls us do?

The second thing I think about is how we try to put on these masks for God.  Do you ever find yourself hiding your true self from God?  It is only natural, because we spend so much time hiding from others it only makes sense that we would carry that over into our relating to God.  But if God knows us better then we know ourselves, why waste our time hiding?  We all hide; sometimes even from ourselves because we cannot face the implications of our own reality.  What will people think?  How would things change if they only knew about …?  Sometimes we need to protect our most vulnerable secrets but when we model our faith for God and for others we must not get caught up in the race of who’s a better Christian.  This leads us to overlook those parts of our lives that still need work and make faith seem distant and unattainable to anyone seeking. We must, instead seek to do the best we can and acknowledge when we fall short…acknowledge to our selves, to others and to God.  Only then can we grow in faith and model that faith to others; overcome “the stranger in (ourselves).”

For laughs check out a video of Billy Joel playing “The Stranger” from back in the day on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryhDgFXT-XA&mode=related&search=

“The Stranger” (Lyrics)

Well we all have a face that we hide away forever


And we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone


Some are satin some are steel some are silk and some are leather


They’re the faces of the stranger
 but we love to try them on.

Well, we all fall in love but we disregard the danger


Though we share so many secrets there are some we never tell


Why were you so surprised that you never saw the stranger



Did you ever let your lover see the stranger in yourself?


Don’t be afraid to try again everyone goes south


Every now and then


You’ve done it, why can’t someone else?


You should know by now, you’ve been there yourself?


Once I used to believe I was such a great romancer


Then I came home to a woman that I could not recognize

When I pressed her for a reason she refused to even answer


It was then I felt the stranger kick me right between the eyes.


You may never understand how the stranger is inspired


But he isn’t always evil and he isn’t always wrong


Though you drown in good intentions you will never quench the fire


You’ll give in to your desire when the stranger comes along.


“Anna Begins”

by Counting Crows

Some spend their lives longing after someone; a deep and genuine connection with another soul.  They look so hard for that connection they can imagine it even when it is not there.  Others spend there time developing casual connections with many souls; feeding off the social energy of others.  They don’t bother imagining a connection because they have many, yet they can still feel alone.  Still others take these to the extreme; never fully connecting with anyone for fear of being tied down or left broken.   “Anna Begins”is from Counting Crows’ breakthrough album August and Everything After and I have always been drawn to it’s mysterious ambiguity and free-flowing form.  Counting Crows made it big when I was a freshman in high school, and this song spoke to the confusion and chaos of that time in my life.  By all account,  “Anna Begins” recounts the tortured deliberations of a man in a relationship with Anna.  The voice of the song battles a hesitation to commit to Anna despite her pleas.  Over the course of the song the voice opens up to the idea of committing to this only to have her slip away in his hesitation leaving him to find new meaning in the hook “I’m not ready for this sort of thing.”  Now he’s not ready for the pain of loosing something he actually wants. 

While this song talks about a human-to-human relationship, I think that it sheds light on how we relate to God.  I believe that God calls us into relationship with God and with each other.  We humans have developed many strategies for avoiding God’s call on us; turning instead to our own selfish bent.  We try anything to talk ourselves out of caring about anyone or anything that does not suit us.  Like the voice of “Anna Begins,” we resist accepting God as a partner in life, choosing instead to seek fullness in people, things, activities that attract our personalities.  We hide from God in the “package of lies” and myths that sustain us and in the dark corners of our self-doubt and fear.  Sometimes we don’t turn to God out of our fear of turning to nothing; we think “(we’re) not ready for this sort of thing.” 

The thing we must remember about God is that, unlike Anna, God is never gone.  No matter how much time and energy we waste ignoring God’s call on our life, it always remains.  Each of us can, at any moment, turn to God and understand the nonsense of this world through a different lens.  We can choose to see a world that is full of potential and love rather then a cold, dark dangerous place from which we must hide.  With time God begins to change our minds and open us up to the possibility of loving another and becoming the “gong” that moves someone else closer to God through love.  There will always be times when we doubt and question but with God we can always begin again.

Watch a live version of “Anna Begins on YouTube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjw8ZEs99qM&mode=related&search=

“Anna Begins” - Lyrics

My friend assures me, “It’s all or nothing.”

I am not worried

I am not overly concerned

My friend implores me, “For one time only,

make an exception.” I am not worried

Wrap her up in a package of lies

Send her off to a coconut island

I am not worried I am not overly concerned

with the status of my emotions

“Oh,” she says, “you’re changing.”

But we’re always changing It does not bother me to say this isn’t love

Because if you don’t want to talk about it then it isn’t love

And I guess I’m going to have to live with that

But I’m sure there’s something in a shade of grey,

Something in between,

And I can always change my name

If that’s what you mean

My friend assures me, “It’s all or nothing.”

But I am not really worried I am not overly concerned

You try to tell yourself the things you try to tell yourself

To make yourself forget I am not worried

“If it’s love,” she said, “then we’re going to have to think about the consequences.”

She can’t stop shaking

I can’t stop touching her and…

This time when kindness falls like rain

It washes her away and Anna begins to change her mind

“These seconds when I’m shaking leave me shuddering for days,” she says

And I’m not ready for this sort of thing

But I’m not going to break and I’m not going to worry about it anymore

I’m not going to bend, and I’m not going to break and I’m not going to worry about it anymore

It seems like I should say, “As long as this is love…”

But it’s not all that easy so maybe I should

Snap her up in a butterfly net Pin her down on a photograph album

I am not worried I’ve done this sort of thing before

But then I start to think about the consequences

Because I don’t get no sleep in a quiet room and…

The time when kindness falls like rain

It washes me away and Anna begins to change my mind

And every time she sneezes I believe it’s love and

Oh lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing

She’s talking in her sleep

It’s keeping me awake and Anna begins to toss and turn

And every word is nonsense but I understand and

Oh lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing

Her kindness bangs a gong

It’s moving me along and Anna begins to fade away

It’s chasing me away

She disappears and

Oh lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing