Sunday August 3 2008 El Companero Dificil
Sunday Sermon
Good Sunday Morning to all!
As usual, it is my hope to inspire, uplift and encourage you noble reader. I give my usual disclaimer: I am only a fellow journey-er. I make plenty of mistakes. I ask that my fellow-man be patient with me.
In 1992 I was in Santiago, Chile in a sector called Alicahue as an LDS missionary. My new companion was a Chilean named Segundo Nanco. As I was waiting in the chapel with another missionary named Elder Opazo, I was lamenting that I had been stuck with a number of “hard” companions and how I hoped that Elder Nanco would be easy to get along with.
Elder Opazo looked at me earnestly and said, “Usted Elder Gately es el companero dificil.”
“YOU are the difficult companion.”
So, I took out my notebook and wrote down some resolutions.
- One, that I would compliment him sincerely three times each day. Sincerely.
- Two, that I would not say anything negative about him either in public or in private.
- Three, that I would change any habit that he didn’t like without question.
We had a great time. We got along famously. I couldn’t change him. But I could change myself and my own perceptions.
I found out later that when he was assigned to me as a companion he was in a deep depression and had thought of giving up. But that two months later when we parted ways he was lighter of spirit and he served the rest of his mission.
This same attitude and principles have served me well in my marriage as well. Though I admit I haven’t been as consistent.
One of my favorite books of all time is Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball. It’s a hard book to read, but I’ve read it at least eight times. And by hard I mean it’s impossible to get through without finding something to improve on, or some difficult, but much-needed insight.
Here is an expanded version of one of my favorite passages from the book:
Before Spencer W. Kimball received confirmation of his calling as an Apostle, he felt he needed to make a visit to his hometown.
“Spencer’s worst worry was how to live up to his call. What about people he had offended? Would they resent him? He started visiting every man he had done much business with, to explain his new situation: ‘I’ve been called to a high position in my Church. I cannot serve in good conscience unless I know my life has been honorable. You and I have had dealings. If there was any injustice … I’ve brought my checkbook.’ Most shook hands and refused to hear any more. A couple of men fancied that in fairness they should have got a few hundred dollars more on certain sales. Spencer wrote the checks.
“Spencer’s worst worry was how to live up to his call. What about people he had offended? Would they resent him? He started visiting every man he had done much business with, to explain his new situation: ‘I’ve been called to a high position in my Church. I cannot serve in good conscience unless I know my life has been honorable. You and I have had dealings. If there was any injustice … I’ve brought my checkbook.’ Most shook hands and refused to hear any more. A couple of men fancied that in fairness they should have got a few hundred dollars more on certain sales. Spencer wrote the checks.
“He visited a neighbor. The two men had had a difference over use of the irrigation ditch that ran past their home lots. Spencer knocked at his door and apologized. ‘I felt very definitely that he had been the offender largely and that he had hurt me terribly, but I knew that no quarrel was one-sided and therefore I was willing to forgive and forget. …’
“A clerk in the stake whom Spencer had once taken to task for carelessness in keeping some Church financial records had been cold toward him ever since. Now Spencer looked him up and said he could not begin his apostleship with bad feelings between them. They talked it out.
“There was a woman in his stake so bitter she would cross the street to avoid him. She had never told him why. Spencer’s stenographer remembered him fidgeting in the Kimball-Greenhalgh office one morning, a folder under his arm. … ‘I hate to go. I never did anything so hard.’ But he went. He asked the woman, ‘What have I done against you?’ She thought he had intervened with the governor to oppose her husband’s being named to a state office.
“ ‘Who told you that?’
“ ‘My friends.’
“ ‘They were mistaken. I wouldn’t do that. And I don’t have that kind of influence with the governor anyway.’
“Their talk patched things up between them” (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977], pp. 197–98).
Family Land
It was a great Sunday as usual, a lazy morning watching some movies, then off to church for some up-lifting. Afterwards we went for a walk and ended up chatting with a neighborhood family (the Barrowes) for about two hours, eating some grilled salmon and hummus.
In the evening, after the kids were in bed, I watched Stargate: Continuum with my wife while reading the Monster Manual. It’s a good life.
Saturday August 2 2008 Status Report
Picture: One of a pair of Basilisks. These are heavy support for an Imperial Guard army.
At this moment I am up at 5am with my daughter watching Flash Gordon, one of my favorite all time movies. (of course I FF through the scary parts).
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Friday, I went out to eat with some of the artists and we recounted disturbing tales of rats and dogs and juvenile delinqency down at the local Subway. We also had a brain-storm about sculpting and casting figures, and also creating some games down the line.
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In fact, we have just cast our first whole sculpt. More on that forthcoming. That’ll get painted up over the weekend.
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The following projects are under the brush and are due for completion in the next 4-10 days. There have been some delays mostly due to waiting for specialty orders. As usual, if you don’t see your project and want to get an update just contact me and I’ll respond promptly.
Empire 03 KO
Imperial Guard 01 ML
Imperial Guard 01 JT
Reptus 05 TC locked
Tau Verdaan 02 MM
Inquisition 03 RT
Imperial Guard 01 SM fw tanks
Khorne 03 JB (may be delayed one week)
Burning Sons 01 JR
Eldar 01 JR (may be delayed one week)
Biel Tan 01 CH
Anima 03 TC
Vampire Counts 02 LG
Emperors Champion BS
Ulthwe 01 AH
40K Radio Models
Terrain 02 AS
Bretonnians 01 JJ (first part only—knights)
Empire 03 KO
Imperial Guard 01 ML
Imperial Guard 01 JT
Reptus 05 TC locked
Tau Verdaan 02 MM
Inquisition 03 RT
Imperial Guard 01 SM fw tanks
Khorne 03 JB (may be delayed one week)
Burning Sons 01 JR
Eldar 01 JR (may be delayed one week)
Biel Tan 01 CH
Anima 03 TC
Vampire Counts 02 LG
Emperors Champion BS
Ulthwe 01 AH
40K Radio Models
Terrain 02 AS
Bretonnians 01 JJ (first part only—knights)
The following projects are in Assembly and are going under the brush in early August:
Emperors Gauntlets 02 SM
Dragonfly Nids 03 MG
Anima 03 TC
Reptus 05 TC
Black Orcs 01 ER
Imperial Guard 01 ML
Warhammer Buildings 01 AS
Daemons 01 JF
Urban Bases 02 JM
40K Radio figures
Angry Goats 01 TB bf
Elven Archer LN
Emperor’s Children 09 EB er
Khorne 03 JB
Questing Knights 05 JH
Ultramarines 01 AC
Ultramarines 01 MN
Tau 09 TO (bitz finally arrived)
Thursday July 31 2008 Trout Farm
Jonah and I headed out to a local trout farm to do some fishing. It was good to get away and spend some time with him. It’s a pond brooded over by willows. Jonah caught three fish and I caught none.
It’s good to get away from the world and to spend time with my eldest son. He’s two grades above in reading, and he likes to make plays on words. He’s the smart one in the family.
Those fishes were delishes.
Wednesday July 30 2008
Picture: a Death Korps of Krieg model. Part of this balanced breakfast. This is a complete line of models from Forge World.
It’s a slow news day in Game Land today. Pretty much just catch up. The bitz wall is all sorted out, which is unusual. Think about it. With an army a day coming through that’s a lot of extra pieces. So we make a lot of money on that, right? Nope. It’s actually a monthly expense to get it all sorted. But we keep it because it allows us to do really cool conversions on your projects.
Also, we are now taking terrain projects. Cost is $200-400 for a densely packed table (that can also regularly pack two tables). You set the budget and set broad parameters.
August is close to being filled:
- August 18-25: Three Slots
- August 25-30: Seven Slots
Materials Needed
I’m on the hunt for the following:
60mm round beveled bases (1/8″ thick) by GW
40mm rounds
40mm squares
Eldar canopies
I will be glad to trade bitz or kits for them and also to credit for a project you might have cooking.
Tuesday July 29 2008 Thermo
Picture: a Steam Dwarf from Rackham. I loved these models and painted up a whole bunch many years ago. I wish I could get more.
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Game Land
We are proceeding apace on all projects. There are three projects in digital photography, those should be through tomorrow (Tyrion, Fantasy Figures, and Black Templars).
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I have a bunch of figures coming through for D&D. I’m being smart and looking forward to resale. Today it was ghouls, hounds of khorne (used as hellhounds!), two nephilim from Hordes, and a dark elf hydra. The studio Dark Elf army is almost half collected. They will be doubling as Drow down the line.
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In fourth edition D&D a single Drow could wipe out a party of low-level adventurers (well, maybe a few Drow.
The Hounds of Khorne are going to play a dual role in the Wyches of Thoth army.
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The following slots are open for Painting (assembly is wide open– things can get immediate attention):
August 11-18: One Slot
August 18-25: Four Slots
August 25-30: Eight Slots
These are steadily getting filled. I am laser beam focussed on getting them filled up before July 31. Maybe I’ll get a day off!
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By all means contact me if you’d like something done.
Family Land
We went to play miniature golf for FHE last night. Griffin grabbed a low lamp and burned his fingers really badly. It was tough to see him suffering last night, but after tending and comforting him for some time he finally nodded off and had a good night’s sleep. He was feeling much better this morning and running around like a baboon all day today. He has four large blisters, one on the tip of each finger. That light was hot as an iron (we have resolved the matter with the proprietors of the establishment, by the by).
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My wife is making apricot jam, a yearly ritual. During the year we use it to break the ice with new people who move into the neighborhood. She brought home like two laundry baskets full of apricots to make it from, and yet the boughs are still laden.
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I had a bit of a revelation today: I think my progress in life is just about right for my age. I need to stop my hand-wringing. Life is good.
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I am going fishing with Jonah later this week. I’m looking forward to that.
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Oh, a PS about Griffin’s burnt fingers. He keeps that hand tucked away in his pants leg (not on his crotch mind you), but he looks like a little Al Bundy running around the house.
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We had a family from the ward over for dinner. This was the same family who watched our kids while we were at Adepticon. I don’t know if I told you this back story, but when I went to pick them up the mother of the family told me that Jonah and “Kimball” were kissing. My first question, “Is Kimball a boy?” Thankfully, no, sparing me that particular conversation. Just this absolute cute button of a girl. Well, we put an end to that (as adorable as it might be), and evidently Kymble was crestfallen when told the rule would still be in effect for today’s visit!
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We had hamburgers, hot dogs, and salad. You know, typical american fare. Boy, I could go for another grilled hamburger right now.
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After dinner we went for a walk around the neighborhood, a temperate and overcast summer day. We ran into a variety of characters from the ward.
Kind Words of Thanks
Shawn,
I just wanted to say thanks for taking such great care of me with my 4 projects. Everything you guys have done for me up to this point has met or exceeded my expectations. It’s rare to find a business that always does better than expected. You run a first class operation, and even with the issues of owning your own business the product never suffers. I commend you and your staff for a great job. Please let me know if you ever need anything from MyHighSchoolLocker.Com or Diablo Bats. I would be honored to help you out.
Have a great week, and I’m sure we will talk soon.
Romeo C. Filip
Arizona
Sunday July 27 2008 Rank Hypocrisy
Skies near Provo from here.
Here is my humble offering for this Sunday. For those just joining the program, Sunday is for non-game-related topics. Sort of an open mic.
Rank Hypocrisy
My first year teaching, I travelled between classes doing ESL and Spanish. In one fourth grade class there was a girl named Angel who was renowned for world-class tirades. However, whenever I would show up, she would move to the front of the class and pay close attention.
My first year teaching, I travelled between classes doing ESL and Spanish. In one fourth grade class there was a girl named Angel who was renowned for world-class tirades. However, whenever I would show up, she would move to the front of the class and pay close attention.
One day, a girl to one side of her hissed, “Don’t pretend you’re an angel…” And another girl on the other side leaned in and completed, “Because you’re not!”
I leaned down and said, “Yes, pretend you’re an angel, because that’s how you become one.”
I like going to church. It’s a habit now. I can’t imagine not going. Mormons still dress up; white shirt and tie. Everyone puts on a smile. Everyone is on their best behavior. I have sometimes thought that this is a bit of hypocrisy (on my part). I will speak for myself here. I burn in the face sometimes that Shawn outside of church is a bawling and bawdy jester, and so “what am I even doing here?”
I joke with the Bishop that he should keep a fire extinguisher handy up at the pulpit in case I burst into flames. I’m always tempted to do a routine when I walk in like “it burns. It BURNS!”
I’ve come to think of church more as a dress rehearsal. It’s practice. Sort of like practicing a pose hoping that it will “stick”. Each time my life gets a little better. I leave inspired to improve myself, with ideas to be more Christ-like.
C.S. Lewis wrote that Christianity is like whitening toothpaste. Sure that brother’s teeth may still be yellow, but how yellow would they be if he didn’t use the toothpaste?
And that’s true of my life. Sure, my character may be full of holes. But you haven’t seen in vision the Shawn that I could have become had I not been using the whitening toothpaste. He lives in a urine-smelling apartment with a single bare light bulb, a rank alcoholic, dodging the police and back child support. So, I thank my grandma Laurie for sending me to “bible camp”, and Pastor Anderson who first led me to read the New Testament, and to the two LDS Sisters who knocked my door back in 1985.
I have hope. Hope that by plugging along, I will eventually wriggle out of my old snakeskin and become something better. I have no illusions. I am like a leper on a long journey to be healed by the Savior. What can I say when I kneel at His feet? My case is bleak. “I’m not getting any better, but I’ve come all this way knowing that You can help me.”
The Savior didn’t heal people of the common cold. He only took on hopeless cases; lepers, blind, lame, deaf, and (in once case) even dead. That was to make a point. There are those (like me) who have spiritual leprosy. “But that thou see that the Son of Man hath power also to forgive sins, I say Rise, take they bed and walk.” [paraphrase, read the whole thing in Mark 2].
Abraham Lincoln said, “It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.”
I leave you, noble reader, this day with a word of encouragement: keep your chin up! And lastly with these quotes from On Being Worthy, one of my favorite talks.
Perhaps we all live under some misconceptions when we look at each other on Sundays as we attend our meetings. Everyone is neatly dressed and greets each other with a smile. It is natural to assume that everyone else has his life under control and doesn’t have to deal with dark little weaknesses and imperfections.
There is a natural, probably a mortal, tendency to compare ourselves with others. Unfortunately, when we make these comparisons, we tend to compare our weakest attributes with someone else’s strongest. For example, a woman who feels unschooled in the gospel may take particular note of a woman in her ward who teaches the Gospel Doctrine class and seems to have every scripture at her fingertips. Obviously these kinds of comparisons are destructive and only reinforce the fear that somehow we don’t measure up and therefore we must not be as worthy as the next person.
We need to come to terms with our desire to reach perfection and our frustration when our accomplishments or behaviors are less than perfect. I feel that one of the great myths we would do well to dispel is that we’ve come to earth to perfect ourselves, and nothing short of that will do. If I understand the teachings of the prophets of this dispensation correctly, we will not become perfect in this life, though we can make significant strides toward that goal.
“Now, this is the truth. We humble people, we who feel ourselves sometimes so worthless, so good-for-nothing, we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are children of God and that He has actually given His angels … charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.” (Gospel Truths, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, 1:2.)
Saturday July 26 2008 Soaked
Picture: a Wargods of Aegyptus Khemru by http://www.crocodilegames.com/ I’m a huge fan of these models. They are very, very nice.
Game Land
So, what’s new at the studio? We are caught up. Well, I don’t mean all the projects are done. Everything is proceeding apace and the studio is clean, organized (eg all the bitz sorted, pics taken etc.). It’s a good feeling.
We’re still some projects short for August:
August 4-11: One Slot
August 11-18: Five Slots
August 18-25: Eight Slots
August 25-30: Eight Slots
August 11-18: Five Slots
August 18-25: Eight Slots
August 25-30: Eight Slots
I have a single painter with no work to do and it is really bothering me.
I have ordered some Legion of Everblight models to use in the D&D game. I’d like to say a few things about fourth edition D&D. It’s a great miniatures battles game. It easily converts to non-grid without really any thinking at all. And it is a ton of fun.
One of the things I like best are minions: they go down in one hit, just like in the movies. It is very satisfying to run them and also to beat the crap out of hordes of them.
Another thing is that Hit Points are now more like cinematic stun damage. You can get your “second wind” once per battle and heal up 1/4 HP without any healing spells. The bottom line is that it keeps PCs in the game and makes other things more important like “conditions” (eg stunned, dazed, immobilized). Basically, the creators of the game just made is more abstract and more fun. It worked spectacularly.
Our group is painting like 20-40 new figures a week for the game. I am doing this with an eye for sale-ability down the line. I want to be able to use then in a game of Warhammer Fantasy, too.
Speaking of which, I threw down the gauntlet for Mike’s Orcs. I’m working steadily on the studio Dark Elf army. Models for the Witches of Thoth (40k Daemons army) are coming in on Monday.
I am still looking to sell the Dragons of Moloch. I have also sold almost every model in the studio. Out with the old and in with the new. You’ll notice that the For Sale section of the website has been all but completely cleared.
Family Land
With things in hand at the studio (other than lining up projects as much as I would like), I am able to actually spend some time with the family.
I went to swim lessons with the kids this morning. Griffin is having trouble standing in line as usual.
This evening we went to a swim park at a neighboring city, but lightning in the distance forced the pool to clear out no less than two minutes after we got there. The kids were ever so disappointed, so we crashed a friend’s house to use their pool. That was quite a special time; giving the children “turtle rides” and throwing daddy into the deep end. The kids are happy, healthy and confident.