Finding Meaning in the Trivial

I knew it was going to be one of those weeks. And no, I didn't psyche myself out with this. I just knew a lot was going to fall on my plate at once. I had been playing phone tag with the bus companies for over a week trying to arrange transportation for a high school retreat. I was trying to get quotes from places for another summer trip. I'm also preaching this Sunday on the hefty topic "What Is God's Will For My Life?" Whew! Add to that a council meeting on Monday night and musical practice on Tuesday night and all the usual meetings on Monday morning and Tuesday morning and afternoon and Wednesday programming and well, you have one busy, slightly stressed intern pastor/interim youth director.

And yet on Wednesdays, I know I will always find a respite, a break in a hectic week that will give me enough to carry me through Thursday and any possible weekend church activities. I meet up with a group of friends to play trivia at DD Pecker's Wing Shack. The trivia is anything from old and new school TV (we had questions about both Grey's Anatomy and Happy Days tonight) to movies to sports to geography to music to random tidbits of news. We play for both pride and a free round of beer. There are four rounds and each round is ten questions. If there is a tie, there usually is a tie breaker consisting of name that tune (either title or artist). Our team has its specialists (we suffer if one of our TV people isn't there) and generalists (me). And somewhere in there I got designated the official tie breaker representative so if we tie I go up and attempt to guess the song. And our team isn't half bad. We usually can win or tie for a round at least once a week

It's definitely been something to look forward to during the week and tonight was no exception. Even though I was actually in good position (sermon written except for editing, buses booked) I still knew I needed this time to unwind. Plus, we hadn't won a round in a long time. And tonight was perfect! I found time to rest, take my eyes off a computer screen, socialize with people that have no connections to my church, and even attempt to answer some of the questions (What are the three actresses that starred opposite of Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies?). And we went 10 for 10 the first round. However, the tie breaker song was Hank Williams. Yeah, there was no way I was going to get that. Second round we tied with four other teams and I yet again found myself waiting nervously for the song... Wait, I know this... "SWEET CAROLINE!!!"

I seriously don't know how I was the first person to get the song. I think I was just the loudest. But free beer for the team and my losing streak was snapped at two. It's a good note to end a hectic half a week on. And trivia always seems to be the push that gets me through that last day of the work week. Even though it proves how much useless knowledge I have crammed into my head (What number did Cal Ripken Jr. wear?) it has become my Wednesday night escape. It has shown me how trying to figure out who the drummer of Led Zepplin was can bring together a group of strangers. And I am extremely grateful for the chance to make new friends and do something different.

Now, I just have to make it through Thursday, some major sermon editing and then I have Mute Math Concert Part II to look forward to!