Sunday, October 17, 2010

the veggie oil and mistakes

We are in Kentucky.  We just finished a gathering in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest. We watched the leaves change while we were there. We were a small kitchen this year, but we had others join us and it was a peaceful and quiet time at the Jesus Kitchen.
Lets talk about Veggie oil for a minute. Nigel has been in the process for the last two years of converting our bus to run on veggie oil. My husband is a very talented man who has no fear about trying new things.
The veggie oil has been "getting the kinks out" for quite a while now. I like to think I have been quite patient and supportive during this process, but I am sure that is not a hundred percent true...
We had another kink in the veggie oil yesterday. My immediate reaction was to call it quits and be done with the veggie oil once and for all. I look at Nigel and he seemed calm and collected, just trying to figure it out.
I realized something about the way the two of us approach new things. Nigel is not scared to make a mistake. It is all part of the process for him. He jumps right in with both feet, gives it all hes got, and if it dosent work out he tries again. And sometimes again and again and again.
Now me, I do not like making mistakes. I avoid them at all costs. If I am going to do something new I think it all out ahead of time. I look at all the angles, think through all the possibilities, and if it seems too risky then I just walk away.
My husband and I are so different. I love it sometimes. He pushes me to try things I wouldn't normally do.
And I like to think I keep him from jumping in too deep at times.
Balance.
So we are in KY. We have about 5 days to get to Nashville. That is about a 2 hour trip:) So slowly we travel down south. Enjoying the journey.