Michael Venske

On this day 63 years ago, Marion May Richter and Gordon James Venske decided to get real and make it official.

Every day I look at their photo and marvel at their epic love story. The commitment they made to each other — and continue to honor — before God, friends, and family is an inspiration.

I think of all the storms they weathered together and feel such pride!

And so today we should all raise a glass in honor of their marriage. May their caring compassion, concrete commitment, and classy compromises, continue to be cradled in Christ’s loving kindness.

I love you, Grandma & Grandpa! Thank you for showing me how it’s done!

~Michael James

Last week I went horseback riding with my friend Danielle.

Riding a horse in The People’s Republic of China was never something I imagined I’d be doing, but I’m glad I went!

Before we arrived at the stable Danielle took me to a small 12′ x 12′ x 12′ cage holding two patas monkeys.

Twice a week Danielle brings the monkeys fruit and vegetables.

While we were feeding the monkeys I took out my mobile phone, turned on the self-facing camera feature, and got the monkey’s attention. Then Danielle got out her hand mirror and the monkey was instantly curious about who this other monkey in the mirror was.

The monkey made all sorts of faces! Even the following face — where he looks angry — but he wasn’t, he was just saying “AHHH!”

Here’s a short video of that monkey’s reaction:

Every day there’s something new to discover in China! This is just another thing to add to my “reasons I love China” list.

MICHAEL VENSKE is an expert mistake-maker whose faith and enthusiasm cause him to leap without looking. One such jump landed him in China where he’s currently teaching kindness, compassion, and the fine art of physical comedy.

Do you have a quip or question? Click here and send Michael a message.

Walking to lunch recently I saw two first graders on the walkway play-fighting.

Then they started real-fighting.

I ran to the boys. Now at this point one of them was crying. The other was just beginning to run when I lifted him off the ground and set him in front of the other boy.

As a child in school I used to get picked on. I’m sensitive to bullying, fighting, and general unkindness. Fighting is not okay. Name calling is not okay.

When I see things like this I intervene. Not because it’s my job as a teacher at the school, but because I’m a human being that cares about other creatures great and small.

For instance, a few weeks ago a bee was trapped in a fourth grade classroom. A few students saw the bee and started screaming. Instead of telling the students to be quiet or killing the bee on sight I took large roll of tape and two small sheets of paper to the window.

Curiosity got the best of the students and they grew quiet.

Using a piece of tape I secured one sheet of paper to the side of the roll creating a cylinder with a top. Swiftly sliding the remaining sheet of paper under the bee, I placed the tape roll’s center over the bug. The bee was trapped.

I opened the window, moved the insect to the opening, and safely released the bee.

Whatever English skills the students learn from me is secondary to the actions they observe. Monkey-see monkey-do. In my bio I don’t say I’m teaching English as a foreign language. I’m teaching kindness, compassion, and making kids laugh with physical comedy.

Now back on the walkway with the two boys I’m kneeling at eye level. I say to the instigator what he did wasn’t okay. He responds in Chinese that he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. He’s lying and trying to distance himself from the situation by running away, but I have a firm hand around the small of his back. He isn’t going anywhere.

I looked at him and gestured to the crying boy. In Chinese I said, “This isn’t okay.” The boy nodded. He was ashamed of his actions. He wouldn’t look at his crying classmate.

Occasionally people, children and adults alike, are cruel. However, human beings on the whole are intelligent and kind. So I don’t buy into the “she’s just a child, she didn’t know” mentality. Age has nothing to do with inflicting pain. Children know hurting another person or creature is wrong.

Just then another Chinese teacher was walking by. I flagged her over. She doesn’t speak English, but I thought she’d understand why I stopped her, then make sense of the situation and proceed accordingly.

That is not what she did.

She said she doesn’t understand English, waved at me, and continued walking to the cafeteria. Her blatant indifference and disregard to the child’s suffering shocked me.

As the adults or “the big monkeys” in a child’s life, we need to demonstrate loving kindness and compassion. We need to show them how.

And even if we don’t understand the language we know when someone’s suffering. Our actions speak all languages.

MICHAEL VENSKE is an expert mistake-maker whose faith and enthusiasm cause him to leap without looking. One such jump landed him in China where he’s currently teaching kindness, compassion, and the fine art of physical comedy.

Do you have a quip or question? Click here and send Michael a message.

OPENING & CLOSING TONIGHT

For one night only in Duluth, Minnesota, check out Rubber Chicken Theater’s Chicken Hat Plays!

If you happen to find yourself on the North Shore and are looking to see a group of fearless talented artists make magic on stage you’re in luck! Tonight at the Harbor City International School Theater you have an opportunity to see eight world premieres!

Eight directors and a bunch of actors showed up this morning at the theater. Each director drew a script and cast from a hat then started rehearsing. This evening the audience will enjoy eight original world premiere plays from the area’s bravest theatrical artists! The night is sponsored in part by Pizza Luce.

Over the years I’ve acted in five Rubber Chicken Chicken Hat productions. Last fall I couldn’t make it to Duluth to participate due to a wedding commitment: This summer I couldn’t make it because I’m teaching English in China:

Being yet again too far to come and play in the plays so I wrote a short script based on the following prompts:

Who: Infamous Duluth businessman (The Last Place On Earth) Jim Carlson
What: A magic bean
Where: Sewer
Closing line: “Holy cats, that’s a big hat!

All plays will have a common cameo from WDIO’s Brittany Falkers. When I heard Brittany was going to be involved I got totally excited. The last time Brittany worked together was in 2010 on Someone, Something.

It’s a bummer being so far away and not getting to see all the amazing people doing their thing on stage (and off). Brian and the whole Rubber Chicken family have been so kind and welcoming to me over the years! I always look forward to seeing their work, passion, and ideas come to life during the Chicken Hat Plays.

Definitely check out the show!

Break a leg, everyone!

MICHAEL VENSKE is an expert mistake-maker whose faith and enthusiasm cause him to leap without looking. One such jump landed him in China where he’s currently teaching kindness, compassion, and the fine art of physical comedy.

Do you have a quip or question? Click here and send Michael a message.

A little over a month ago, on April 20th, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province. Over 200 people died, 12,000 were injured, and many are still missing.

On that same weekend a small group of my students gave a presentation on the earthquake. Halfway through this tribute our Chinese co-teacher started crying and the students didn’t understand why.

At the end of the video, attempting to make sense of why the other teacher was crying I said:

“You think you will live forever. You won’t.

We won’t.

We are born, we live, we die.

It’s sad. It’s okay to cry. To be sad.”

Of course by this point I was crying adding more drama to an already emotionally charged issue.

(And even now putting this post together I’m upset. Thinking of the people who died and the families they left behind just chokes me up. Thinking of my students innocent voices asking why we were crying is just something you don’t forget.)

I love my students. I’m so happy we can discuss these serious issues with candor.

Michael

MICHAEL VENSKE is an expert mistake-maker whose faith and enthusiasm cause him to leap without looking. One such jump landed him in China where he’s currently teaching kindness, compassion, and the fine art of physical comedy.

Do you have a quip or question? Click here and send Michael a message.