Washington
Boredom can lead to wonderful discoveries – Washington Daily News
Boredom can lead to wonderful discoveries
Published 2:02 pm Wednesday, May 29, 2024
In my church, we have Seasons of the Church Year, which means most Sundays have a specific theme or intention for the specific season. So, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas are the Season of Advent, when we wait with anticipation for the joys of Christmas. The period before Easter is the Season of Lent, when each Sunday is marked by an attitude of repentance. We have now entered into the Season after Pentecost, which this year extends until November 24th.
That’s a long time, and, since I like to be honest with you, I must admit that it can get kind of boring. There isn’t much flash associated with this season. There aren’t spectacular feasts like Christmas or Easter. The Sundays of this season don’t have much of a theme other than being normal, ordinary Sundays at church. And that, my friends, is why I say the Season after Pentecost is marked by a boredom that makes it easy to check out and return when things get more interesting.
We don’t talk much about how our religious patterns and practices can sometimes be dreadfully boring. Perhaps we are afraid of being sacrilegious if we ever dare to tell the truth about how boring it can be to hear 30 verses of Scripture that seem to have very little to do with being human in the 21st century. You don’t even have to be religious to admit how appealing it is to avoid boredom and boring things. We are an overstimulated people, saturated by entertainment, content, and a general busy-ness that keeps our minds from ever being able to slow down and be bored.
Here’s the secret, though. Being bored isn’t the terrible fate we’ve made it out to be. The late author David Foster Wallace said, “It turns out that bliss – a second-by-second joy and gratitude at the gift of being alive, conscious – lies on the other side of crushing, crushing boredom.” As a writer, he understood that allowing himself to be bored and less occupied mentally eventually gave way to a creative joy that he couldn’t access any other way.
Boredom: the secret to writing the great American novel! Boredom: the secret to fostering dreams in a world full of nightmares. Boredom: a key that unlocks a deeper level to life! Let’s get back to the boredom of religion. Perhaps embracing the boredom of normal, everyday religious life would allow you to see the beauty that you have discounted because it doesn’t come to you with flash and excitement. It’s all well and good to meet God with songs of praise and the loudest organ you’ve ever heard. It’s a different thing entirely to embrace the boredom of your religion as an invitation to go deeper, to find the buried treasures overlooked by a need to be stimulated and satisfied.
It’s the same with non-religious life. When is the last time you let yourself stop and allowed your mind an opportunity to wonder and explore? When was the last time you let your boredom become a launching pad for a new interest or new hobby you would never have embraced before? Being bored spurns creativity. It gives birth to new ideas, new insights, and new experiences. So, embrace the boredom of your religious practice and your everyday life. Let your brain rest from all the stimulation and see how rich your daydreams can become!
Chris Adams is the Rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington.
Washington
Capitals Acquire a Conditional First-Round Pick in Either 2026 or 2027 and a 2027 Third-Round Pick from Anaheim for John Carlson | Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals have acquired a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 NHL Draft or the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman John Carlson, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Should Anaheim qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim will transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim has the option to retain its 2026 first-round pick and transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington instead.
“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” said Patrick. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable. We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”
The Capitals own 22 total picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections and nine picks in the first three rounds. Washington also acquired a 2029 second-round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5.
Carlson, 36, recorded 46 points (10g, 36a) in 55 games with the Capitals this season and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Carlson has played his entire 17-season career with the Capitals and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) among defensemen. The Natick, Massachusetts native helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, and led all defensemen in playoff scoring with 20 points (5g, 15a) in 24 games played. Carlson was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.
Washington
Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey
WASHINGTON TWP., N.J. — Officers in Washington Township, said they finished a DoorDash food delivery after arresting the driver who had warrants out for his arrest.
Body camera video shows officers stepping in to deliver the food themselves, a move the department in southern New Jersey later shared on its Facebook page.
“I thought something happened. Oh my God, I got so scared,” said the customer when she answered the door.
The DoorDash customer, seen on police body cam video, was instantly relieved and appreciative upon learning why officers were at her door.
“Arrested your driver, but, yeah, we delivered your food,” one of the officers said.
It turns out a Washington Township police officer stopped the DoorDash driver during routine patrols in front of a high school over the weekend.
“He made a stop on it for a violation,” said Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik.
But then, Chief Gurcsik said the officer learned the driver had warrants out for his arrest in another county.
“He made the officers aware that he had two DoorDash meals in the car that he was in the middle of delivering,” Gurcsik said.
The officers went from cuffing the driver to ringing a doorbell to finish his delivery.
“I never heard of anything like that in the South Jersey area. It’s sort of a first for us here in Washington Township, definitely,” Gurcsik said.
Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey
It’s happened in other places, too, including in New Mexico last summer, when a motorcycle cop delivered someone’s Chick-fil-A order after arresting the driver.
“Hello, sir, got your DoorDash. Oh, thank you,” the officer said. “He’s a good kid, give him five stars. He just didn’t take care of a simple insurance ticket.”
And officers over in Arizona made a similar arrest during a traffic stop and were seen on body camera finishing the delivery.
“Your GrubHub, still delivered your pizza,” the officer said.
“We definitely serve the community in more ways than one,” Gurcsik said.
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