Tina Mitchell Wilkins
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Shows
  • Music
  • Spirit Is Ageless
  • Video
  • Love
  • Contact
  • Store
  • Blog

World Bible School Sunset Hill

7/6/2020

10 Comments

 

One of the best things about  living in our suburb, is that just around a corner or two, there is a hill that overlooks a limestone quarry.  The quarry is pretty active.  In fact they blast most days at 10am and 2pm.   We can feel it pretty significantly some days.  There is always a flurry of activity when one drives down the street that divides the quarry.  People tend to pay pretty close attention to the action, as to not hit the flag man or run into one of the gargantuan dump trucks crossing the street.   What very few people do notice is that up on the hill, right next to the quarry, there is a really insignificant looking building.  Almost a bunker, I would say.  The sign says "World Bible School".   I don't think I have ever seen anyone actually there, so I'm not sure if it is still in operation.    I try to see beauty in everything, but this building and the parking lot and the dead grass and the 2 sad flag poles, leave something to be desired.  You must really want to study the Bible if you go to this school... because let's face it,  you are next to a loud quarry, you have zero fun things around you and  you are surrounded by uninspiring architecture. It looks like it's pretty sad on the inside too... but who knows, maybe there is a grand sanctuary in the middle... and this is all a shell.  Symbolism of "what's inside that matters.."  Probably wishful thinking on my part.  Too many Super Soul Sundays with Oprah.   Maybe its not pretty because the WBS professors do not want the students to be distracted...because, well, World Bible School.   But I must say that the WBS folks and founders settled on a Mighty Hill.  And that hill has the best view of the sun setting over the Hill Country. (at least the closest and prettiest view that only takes us a minute to get to) 

We have been watching the sunset here on and off for many years.  Lately, with not being on the road.... we have ventured out there more.  Cool thing is that it now has been discovered by others too..  Mostly teenagers in trucks and jeeps.  They are also there to watch the sunset, maybe kiss and maybe drink beer. Which probably  breaks rules 1-3 in the WBS handbook.  

Last week I was driving home from the studio and drove up the hill to catch the very last ounce of the sunset.  I was on the hill by myself, but heard music over my left shoulder.   I squinted in the twilight and noticed a woman dancing.  I could not tell if she was dancing for someone or just for herself.  It was sweet... in a hippie at Woodstock kind of way.   The moon rose quietly  as the sun set... so she was literally Dancing in the Moonlight.   I thought that was awesome.  I also thought that she most definitely was breaking  WBS rule #4. 

I'd say tonight was my 3rd favorite sunset night.  It was a perfect setting.. just that big old orange ball, Ranger and me.   My 2nd favorite sunset night was when Walt, Luke and I discovered the crazy place... I think when Luke was in grade school   The winner night was when Walt decided to go to the hill to say a few prayers for his dad.   He called me and said that I needed to get there fast... because there was a bagpiper practicing as the sun was going down.   Coincidentally  I was already on my way there... as I had noticed the glimmer ofpink in the sky.    It was incredibly moving to hear bagpipes on the hill, bouncing off the WBS walls, falling on the ears of the teenagers in love and adding to the prayers of a son for his dad....who just so happens to adore bagpipe music.  

Maybe the WBS had it right all along.  We find our own beauty in the world... they don't have to decorate it. 











Picture
10 Comments

Parks & Bars

7/1/2020

0 Comments

 
March 13th I was in the stands watching the Leander High Baseball team take on Cedar Park.  It was a great night for a game.  Big crowd, beautiful early spring weather, the guys were playing great. Then I heard something really unusual.   One of the dads who worked at HEB grocery store was talking about people panicking and buying all of the toilet paper in the store,  Was I hearing the right?  I turned around and said, "Did you say toilet paper?"....

And so it began.  

March 14th we had an outdoor gig at Hayes City Store.  It was their anniversary celebration and we were playing for a large crowd.   That morning we heard all kinds of information about "social distancing"... not hugging.. staying 6 feet apart.  We saw a lot of friends that eve.. and it was very hard not to hug them.  We stood pretty close to each other though... maybe for comfort, maybe in disbelief.  

That day everything changed.  Watching the news it was clear that life, as we knew it... would be very different for awhile.  

We stayed home.  We washed our hands.  We wore our masks.  We cancelled everything.. and everything was cancelled for us. After a while, we were in a groove.  Peaceful walks, online concerts, online everything, really.   Toilet paper was back on the shelves.. along with bleach, paper towels and anything "clean" related.  Although, this time there was a 2 item limit. 


Then, Texas opened up. 


16 weeks after the shock and shutdown, we are seeing a 370% increase in Covid cases here in Texas.   Parks are closed again for this holiday weekend...and perhaps indefinitely.  Bars are closed...  Parks and bars.  Fun and Fun.  Fun is cancelled for awhile.  Boat ramps too.  Museums, tennis courts,  Stay home.  Do not pass go.. do not collect any fireworks.  

Then a Sahara Dust blew through.  Perhaps it blew away the murder hornets that were hanging around a month ago.  

Where to go when the world around you is closing in?  Church?  I am not sure if we can go to church yet.  The gym?  Kind of sketchy.  A good walk? Well, the Sarah Dust makes it unsafe to exercise outside.  I know.. we'll go to the beer garden down the street and hear some live music.  That will make us feel better.  Oh wait.. 

I guess we need to stay inside. I mean Real Inside.  Like to our very hearts and souls.  Meditate more.  Pray more.  Honor reading and writing and creating more. Garden more.   16 weeks wasn't enough time apparently, so here is more...time.  

And when we are in the clear, if that time ever comes, we will meet at the park... or the bar... and awkwardly hug.    


​



  
0 Comments

    Author

    TMW
    Observing things and hopefully writing about them. 

    The War of Art is my go=to book.  If you are a creator of things.. I recommend it highly. 

    Archives

    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Shows
  • Music
  • Spirit Is Ageless
  • Video
  • Love
  • Contact
  • Store
  • Blog