my meeting with Pastor Bigger

I woke up this morning around 6 or 6:30AM, which left me alone in Mechelle's house with her two animals, Pava the dog and Zinnia the cat, both female. Both animals are very friendly, and while Mechelle's a bit concerned about how Pava (apparently, this is Spanish for "turkey") might react should I come home while no one else is around, I feel quite comfortable with both pets, and they haven't bothered me at all.

Ever since I reached Walla Walla, I've been dealing with major hay fever issues. As I get older, the list of things to which I'm allergic gets longer. Today was no exception; I woke with a stuffy, runny nose, but decided to tough it out and forgo the Claritin. The animals hung back in another part of the house while I shuffled about and prepped for my normal morning ritual.

My goal was to leave by 8AM to give myself time to figure out the bus system and get to Walla Walla University in time for the 11AM appointment with Pastor Bigger. I walked out to Alder Street and stood at the bus stop just in front of an elementary school (my new digs are located close to the intersection of Alder and Sinclair; for privacy's sake, I won't say more). The bus came around 8:30 and sped me into town. A very helpful lady directed me to the next bus stop, which was on Main Street, close to the Subway sandwich shop where Chuck, Lori, and I ate this past Sunday. That bus arrived a little late, around 9:10AM. With help from the bus driver, I was able to get off at the first campus stop at 9:40 and walk the rest of the way to the Admin Building, where Pastor Bigger, a member of the Theology Department, keeps his office. Because I was so early, I hung outside and finished up that 9/11 entry before actually entering the building.

The Admin Building looks brand new, and when the elevator doors opened onto the third floor, I was wowed by... well, not the opulence of the place, for it wasn't opulent, but by how well-appointed it was. Think: carpets, good wood, and cushy leather furniture, not scuffed walls and beat-up chairs made of plastic and metal. I had the chance to meet a few of the staffers, including the Theo Department's administrative assistant, before Pastor Bigger himself arrived; like me, he was early.*

Pastor Bigger, who is, among other things, a retired Rear Admiral in the US Navy, briskly shook my hand and told me he would meet me at 11; I could tell he was a busy man. As it turned out, this day was particularly busy because he was involved in a few 9/11-related memorial events.

We met again at 11 and went to the pastor's office. I broke out the recorder and received quite an education about the Seventh Day Adventist Church's history, polity, and theology. It wasn't until near the end of our half-hour talk that Pastor Bigger began to speak about his own beliefs as relates to the question of religious diversity. I asked him the "metaphor" question from my "Ten Religious Questions" list (see here, or click the link on the sidebar); his answer was quite interesting. You'll have to wait to see it.

Pastor Bigger had invited me to a Rotary International meeting, so we went to his car and drove into town; the meeting was being held in a very large hotel ballroom/convention space. The pastor paid for my meal and signed me in as a guest; I donated a dollar to the Rotarians. The meal was buffet-style, and everyone I met was friendly and welcoming. I got my meal and sat down at one of the round tables beside my host; he introduced me to some of the folks at table with us.

Having never been to a Rotary International meeting before, I was curious as to how it would proceed. After people had had some time to eat, there was an opening prayer, a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, a brief speech or two, and then a presentation. If I'm not mistaken, today's speaker hailed from Canada, and she spoke about a project called Rotaplast, a two-week event in which medical experts volunteer pro bono services to help children and adults with cleft lips and palates. The speaker spoke mainly about a recent Rotaplast event in Peru (see here), and she encouraged people to provide funding or to volunteer their time and effort for one of the next projects, which will take place in Nepal (see the mission calendar here).

Visiting Rotarians and guests of Rotarians were introduced, so Pastor Bigger stood up when it was his turn and told the crowd a little about who I was and what I was doing. The agenda moved to something called "Happy Bucks," which I didn't quite understand at first but which turned out to be a sort of fundraising moment in which people would stand, take a microphone, describe a reason to be happy (daughter made the soccer team, etc.), and attach a small dollar amount to it, actually giving cash to a person assigned to collect the Happy Bucks. Most memorable comment: "I've got seven Happy Bucks for the seven years we haven't been attacked since 2001."

While I failed to network and grab part-time employment opportunities, I might have another person to talk religion with while in Walla Walla: Mike T., a local businessman and strong advocate of the Seventh Day Adventist way of life. I should also note that, while I was rolling along Alder Street this morning, I saw my first synagogue, a place called Beth Israel. I'll have to talk with those folks before I leave the city.

The Rotarian meeting ended with some closing remarks, and Pastor Bigger very kindly drove me to Whitman College's library, which is where I've been all day. I'm about to go out and hunt down some dinner; I'm quite happy with how productive today was, and thankful that the Rear Admiral took time out of his busy schedule to meet and talk shop with me.

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*I'm rarely early to anything, being most punctual when there's a high fear factor-- first day of the semester, first time meeting someone of importance, being the church liturgist, etc.


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