I have no idea why, but I’ve always liked Groundhog Day. Really, anyone with a critical bone in their body realizes that a rodent coming out of his hole can’t predeict anything, but it’s these little things that help the sanity stay right on that red-line, ya know?

I’ve also always loved the movie Groundhog Day, and I’m not sure if it was that movie or Ghostbusters, but I have a mammoth man-crush on Bill Murray. Whatever it is – that line – “What if there was no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.” has always stuck with me a little bit.

The building that my office is located in is currently under construction, so I had to vacate for a while. I guess the noxious fumes from welding, the colorful language of the workers, the new layer of heavy dust greeting me each morning and the random police scene type tape in new areas of the building each day made focusing a little bit difficult. So, the other youth minister and I are nomads – taking over the office of whomever has off on a given day. All week, we’ve been in the main parish office, and well, it isn’t as fun as our regular office area. People have come to call our Ministry Center building “The Fun Island” over the past few years because we like to keep the energy a bit high.

So we’re feeling a little bit cramped and a little bit… what’s the word… supervised over in the main office. And we decided that today was the day to make our move. Groundhog Day. We’ve been ridiculous. Randomly yelling “Happy Groundhog Day!” Stomping on the ground to wake up the groundhogs so they can do whatever it is they’re supposed to do. And Steffanie even made groundhog puppets out of lunchbags that we’ve been taking everywhere and totally disturbing everyone with goofy noises and voices. Not long ago, our pastor commented that he’s not sure he likes us over in the office.

Mission Accomplished! Is there an old unused banner with that on it that we can use?

Over in this office, time stands still. Before lunch, after lunch, each day of the week – it all feels exactly the same. Sorta like the movie. Over in the fun island – it’s always different. Different people visiting at different times. Kids coming over to practices after school lets out. Different groups in each day – always stopping in to say hi. There is a distinct feel about each day – and even different times during the day. Over here – it feels like there’s no tomorrow.

Let me just say, I cannot wait for that construction to end. As Phil (Bill M.) sums it up from the movie “There is no way that this winter is *ever* going to end as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don’t see any other way out. He’s got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.” Rather, I feel like going over, grabbing a hammer, and helping construction get done – because I gotta get back to my Fun Island.