By Bob Hulteen
For most human beings, Isaac Asimov is a renowned writer of science fiction and popular science. He is one of the most prolific authors in American literary history. (Oh, and he was a professor of biochemistry at Boston University; nice side gig.)
Ah, but at the synod office, Isaac Asimov is our excuse to eat lunch together and do the Isaac Asimov Quiz in that day’s StarTribune. (Truly, one of the best things about holidays is that the next day we as a staff get to do two Asimov quizzes. Okay, that is probably a little too revealing.)
Okay, no one won an all-expense-trip anywhere during the game. We were asked to take the game show staff along if we chose to pay for it ourselves.
“The clue is ‘Moo.’ What’s the animal?”
We are pretty good on days when the theme is literature (thank you, Karen and Peg) or history (thank you again, Karen and Peg). Of course, everyone does well on the days that the theme is something like “animal sounds.” The clue is “Moo.” What’s the animal? I got this.
Not all of themes are that easy. Some are downright difficult. And, of course, there is a bias to the quiz. You have a better chance of knowing 1960s history if you lived it, after all. And, often nine out of nine questions revolve around something that a male human did. But, we do it as a group activity and (most of us) see it as more of a team sport.
I REVEAL THIS BEHIND-THE-CURTAIN scene about the synod staff to remind everyone that we can occasionally have fun, even in the midst of (and maybe especially in the midst of) an ongoing pandemic that is redefining church. Sometimes we just need to take a break from our work of congregational conflict management and back-to-back Zoom calls (okay, let’s be honest, it’s more like putting the colored markers into the storage closet and deciding on the theme of the upcoming Tool Kit) to rebuild relationships and re-connect to our shared hope and joy.
The winning team graciously invited “the other team” to join them in the victory photo. The happiest-looking people are the ones on the winning team.
In fact, last week most of us were able to take an hour off and drive to Game Show Battle Rooms in Golden Valley for a team-building staff adventure. Once everyone arrived, we formed two teams (mine won, not that that’s important) to compete on three different “game shows.” We battled over song titles, survey results, and prices of a variety of cheap department-store-bought items.
But, we also cheered one another on as we laughed ‘til we cried. (Well, my team just laughed, but that’s not important.)
Spiritual guru Nick Tangen was quite the whiz at The Drop. I am sure there is theological importance in that.
“My team won, not that that’s important.”
These days, when the rough and ragged is seemingly ever-present, it is good to be reminded that we, even in the midst of our humanity, are striving for similar futures, trusting in the love of God and the capacity of the redeemed human spirit to at least occasionally do the fair, just, and holy thing for our friends and neighbors.
When dealing with all the challenges of being church in the world today, sometimes a few guffaws (or tears) at the end of the work day is the best we got to offer (well, in addition to the Good News of Our Lord and Saviour). Are you with me? If so, “come on down.”