I am probably going to blow my cover with this post, not that most of you don't know who and where I am anyway, but I have to express my enthusiasm for the show I just saw.
Here in the capital of East Central Heart of Dixie, we have a thriving civic art life, the center piece of which is a "concert" series. "Concert" because that is loosely defined (blessedly), ranging from musical theater to ballet to Marvin Hamlisch to America to symphonies. Mostly, they are better shows than you would expect to find in such a small metropolis, especially since they're performed in the auditorium of the local almost-universally-dumped-on high school.
I should also mention that I usually only get to go to these shows when people give me their tickets because they don't want to go. It's pricy. One year a parishioner gave me season tickets, which was lovely. But it only happened once. There are lots of possible reasons for that! Well, yesterday, I was given tickets to tonight's show. Good thing I rarely have weekend night plans! My sweetie is having allergy ickiness and doesn't love ballet, so after calling around fruitlessly to find a date, I went by myself. It's kind of wet and nasty out, and I feel some obligation to provide a good audience to people who come from so far away to our little burg. I was so glad I went.
Tonight was the Russian National Ballet Theater's production of "Don Quixote" and it was AWESOME! I always forget how much I love ballet. It's lovely and beautiful and all, but I think the main thing is how freaking impressive it is.
The first two acts were kind of long, with moments of amusement and great dancing. There was one unfortunate choice which was to have the dancers actually make noise along with the music, with their hands and with tambourines and fans. You would think ballet dancers would have pretty good rhythm. Maybe they couldn't hear the music very well, although that seems unlikely. They weren't very together.
One other choice that interested me was a costuming thing in the second act. The majority of the ballet is presumably set in Spain (except for Don Quixote's dream where he meets the Queen of the Wood Nymphs, which is set in magical forest land or somehere like that). But in Act Two, Kitri and Basilio (the young, star-crossed lovers on the lam from her father) fall in with a band of gypsies.
Keep in mind that this is a Russian ballet company. So why were the gypsies dressed like Cossacks? You know, boots, black pants, red shirts, etc. (Incidentally, I was kind of dressed like a Cossack myself, in tribute. Plus, it's cold and wet here, so boots were in order.)
As far as I am aware, most Europeans (and Eurasians?) don't like Gypsies (or Roma, to be PC) much at all. So why would they want to associate the band of gypsies with their own cultural heritage? I'm guessing it was a cost-saving measure -- use what we have, but still. It seemed odd. The only "gypsy" sterotype in the costuming was the the women had scarves and chains around their waists. Maybe I'm wrong; maybe Russians loves Gypsies. Someone please educate me.
Anyway, Act Three was the best, which I'm assuming is pretty normal. The first scene included an incredible show from some of the secondary dancers, as a toreador and flamenco dancer. Her dress was fabulous and what she did with it even more so. I thought at that point, this was going to be my favorite part.
But in Act Three, Scene Two, the Grand Pas de Deux came, and it was absolutely amazing. Kitri was great, and Basilio was incredible. The duet was awesome. And then they all kept coming out and doing more and more incredible solos. The leaps, the spins, the leaping spins, the lifts, the spinning lifts... And it wasn't just those two; some of the other leads took turns too. The Grand Pas de Deux had broken through the audience's clapping-during-dancing barrier, and the applause just kept breaking in.
At some level, ballet is about human beings sitting and watching other human beings being really impressive. There is something soul-feeding about it. There are the pageantry of the costumes and the drama and the staging, which add a lot. But the thing about ballet, which is a fairly artificial medium in which the fourth wall is broken with regularity, is that it's upfront about the fact that the people on stage are doing incredible things that most of us can only dream of ever, ever being able to do. You know you are seeing something that requires an intense amount of dedication, skill and sacrifice. And there is something beautiful about the fact that some people make it possible.
Thank you, Russian National Ballet Theater! My soul is full.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Harpsichord Music and Other Benefits Civilization Provides Me
I had too many too late nights this week at work. (Hence the blogging silence...)
One of the things I like about working late, though, is what's on the radio on my way home. That is, if I didn't have a cd playing earlier. If I didn't, I get to hear NPR briefly.
I usually get to hear about 2 minutes of Wednesday Night Opera, since I've got a service that night and frequently a meeting after. (Operas are long, so it rarely matters what time things get over; it's still there.)
But this week, coming home somewhen between 11 and 12 on Tuesday and Thursday both, I got to hear harpsichord music. I love harpsichord music. But it's one of those things that I don't usually think about loving. If somebody asked me what kind of music I like to listen to, it probably wouldn't even make the list. But I love the sound of the harpsichord. We had one once, for a while, growing up. It was on loan from the college, I think, because they didn't have anywhere else they wanted to put it. So it lived in my keyboardist sister's room for a while. She hardly ever played it though.
I have to make a confession now. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a pledging member of public radio. I would like to be. I feel like I should be. But I also haven't had a raise in 3 years, and the money I do give away goes to things that are more directly related to feeding and housing people. And the main thing, here, is that I only hear public radio in the car, and I live 2 blocks from work, so I'm not in the car much on a regular basis. The station comes from the big city in the middle of the Heart of Dixie, so the reception over here in east Central HoD is not always that reliable. This is how I've rationalized it at least.
The point of all this is to say, I am really grateful that once in a while, I get to hear harpsichord music on the radio. And I would miss it, if only unconsciously, if it were gone. So I am very, very grateful to the pillars of civilization who make sure that it isn't gone, along with all the other wonderful things on NPR and various other cultural enrichments available to me. As soon as we become a two-income family, I hope to join you. Thanks!
One of the things I like about working late, though, is what's on the radio on my way home. That is, if I didn't have a cd playing earlier. If I didn't, I get to hear NPR briefly.
I usually get to hear about 2 minutes of Wednesday Night Opera, since I've got a service that night and frequently a meeting after. (Operas are long, so it rarely matters what time things get over; it's still there.)
But this week, coming home somewhen between 11 and 12 on Tuesday and Thursday both, I got to hear harpsichord music. I love harpsichord music. But it's one of those things that I don't usually think about loving. If somebody asked me what kind of music I like to listen to, it probably wouldn't even make the list. But I love the sound of the harpsichord. We had one once, for a while, growing up. It was on loan from the college, I think, because they didn't have anywhere else they wanted to put it. So it lived in my keyboardist sister's room for a while. She hardly ever played it though.
I have to make a confession now. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a pledging member of public radio. I would like to be. I feel like I should be. But I also haven't had a raise in 3 years, and the money I do give away goes to things that are more directly related to feeding and housing people. And the main thing, here, is that I only hear public radio in the car, and I live 2 blocks from work, so I'm not in the car much on a regular basis. The station comes from the big city in the middle of the Heart of Dixie, so the reception over here in east Central HoD is not always that reliable. This is how I've rationalized it at least.
The point of all this is to say, I am really grateful that once in a while, I get to hear harpsichord music on the radio. And I would miss it, if only unconsciously, if it were gone. So I am very, very grateful to the pillars of civilization who make sure that it isn't gone, along with all the other wonderful things on NPR and various other cultural enrichments available to me. As soon as we become a two-income family, I hope to join you. Thanks!
If I were a Motivational Speaker...
We were watching an old episode of Law and Order the other day, and there was a hit man whose wife (and presumably a number of other people) thought his real job was as a motivational speaker. He had clearly spent quite a bit of money on merchandise with inspirational sayings on it. "Enthusiasm is the fuel that propels you up the ladder of success" and such.
It got me thinking. If I were a motivational speaker, what would my schtick be?
Here it is. Don't you dare steal it and make piles of money, because this is where you saw it first.
"Working like Grown-Ups"
The whole point would be that maturity is the key to a happy, productive work place. The mug would say "Remember, you're a Grown-Up." The post-it notes would say "Act Your Age!" Stuff like that.
The contents of the workshops would encourage people to be honest, to take responsibility for their own neuroses while not stigmatizing them, to give others and themselves the benefit of the doubt, to forgive, to face problems instead of passing them on or covering them up.
The idea is that when you're a parent, no matter how hard it is or how unreasonable your kid is being, at some level you just have to suck it up and be the adult. If everyone did this at work too, none of us would have to do it all that often.
The sad thing about this idea is that I'm guessing ordinary workers might appreciate it more than management, and presumably management would be the ones making decisions about which motivational speakers to hire. I guess I'll end up like the dad in "Little Miss Sunshine" with a pile of ideas no one will buy.
In the meantime though, let me just say that, as a pastor, I would like for people to not leave these ideas at work either. You'd be amazed how many grown-ups who are perfectly capable of the responsibilities of full-time employment become 12-year-olds when it comes to church. They need constant reminders about what they said they'd do. They don't show up. They don't do their homework. It's strange. Oh well. People are human, even the "grown-ups"; our job is to love them anyway!
It got me thinking. If I were a motivational speaker, what would my schtick be?
Here it is. Don't you dare steal it and make piles of money, because this is where you saw it first.
"Working like Grown-Ups"
The whole point would be that maturity is the key to a happy, productive work place. The mug would say "Remember, you're a Grown-Up." The post-it notes would say "Act Your Age!" Stuff like that.
The contents of the workshops would encourage people to be honest, to take responsibility for their own neuroses while not stigmatizing them, to give others and themselves the benefit of the doubt, to forgive, to face problems instead of passing them on or covering them up.
The idea is that when you're a parent, no matter how hard it is or how unreasonable your kid is being, at some level you just have to suck it up and be the adult. If everyone did this at work too, none of us would have to do it all that often.
The sad thing about this idea is that I'm guessing ordinary workers might appreciate it more than management, and presumably management would be the ones making decisions about which motivational speakers to hire. I guess I'll end up like the dad in "Little Miss Sunshine" with a pile of ideas no one will buy.
In the meantime though, let me just say that, as a pastor, I would like for people to not leave these ideas at work either. You'd be amazed how many grown-ups who are perfectly capable of the responsibilities of full-time employment become 12-year-olds when it comes to church. They need constant reminders about what they said they'd do. They don't show up. They don't do their homework. It's strange. Oh well. People are human, even the "grown-ups"; our job is to love them anyway!
Funny
I didn't watch Bobby Jindal's response to the President's speech the other day for the same reason I didn't watch the president's speech -- I was finally getting my Ash Wednesday service together. Ah, procrastination!
So I'm glad that someone else noticed this and put it where I would see it. Because Jindal's speaking style is creepily reminiscent of Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock. Weird.
I'm pretty sure Kenneth is supposed to be funny. What was Jindal going for?
So I'm glad that someone else noticed this and put it where I would see it. Because Jindal's speaking style is creepily reminiscent of Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock. Weird.
I'm pretty sure Kenneth is supposed to be funny. What was Jindal going for?
Feeling the Temptation of Us and Them
Mother Jones has done some scary reporting on John Bolton's appearance at the recent CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) meeting.
I have to confess that this man doesn't bring out the best in me. He makes me want to say those same things that conservatives used to say about liberals during the Bush administration, that he's "un-American" and unpatriotic, that he's putting American lives at risk, that he's giving "aid and comfort" to our enemies. I believe those things, but I also don't like the person I become when I feel them. (And actually, I only believe he's un-American using one of a few definitions I might use.)
It is unreasonable to toss around the suggestion of a nuclear attack on Chicago in the context of a joke targeting the president. That is not acceptable public discourse. Except, of course, that I believe in freedom of speech, so John Bolton is free to be as tasteless as he likes.
It is very hard for me to find a balance I am comfortable with when I'm trying to respond to this sort of baiting. Grrrr. The terrorists win again!
I have to confess that this man doesn't bring out the best in me. He makes me want to say those same things that conservatives used to say about liberals during the Bush administration, that he's "un-American" and unpatriotic, that he's putting American lives at risk, that he's giving "aid and comfort" to our enemies. I believe those things, but I also don't like the person I become when I feel them. (And actually, I only believe he's un-American using one of a few definitions I might use.)
It is unreasonable to toss around the suggestion of a nuclear attack on Chicago in the context of a joke targeting the president. That is not acceptable public discourse. Except, of course, that I believe in freedom of speech, so John Bolton is free to be as tasteless as he likes.
It is very hard for me to find a balance I am comfortable with when I'm trying to respond to this sort of baiting. Grrrr. The terrorists win again!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Poor, Neglected Blog
Wow, it's been so long since I posted that Google signed me out.
Ash Wednesday and newsletter deadline shouldn't get to happen in the same week. (And yes, I am fully aware that one could have planned ahead for either or both of those realities. But I enjoyed the blissful ignorance of their coincidence that led me to work on completely deadline-less extracurricular projects last Thursday and Friday.) Ash Wednesday was lovely anyway.
I have been thinking some little thoughts though, so I shall return very soon. Right now, I'm going to get my hairs cut. Ciao!
Ash Wednesday and newsletter deadline shouldn't get to happen in the same week. (And yes, I am fully aware that one could have planned ahead for either or both of those realities. But I enjoyed the blissful ignorance of their coincidence that led me to work on completely deadline-less extracurricular projects last Thursday and Friday.) Ash Wednesday was lovely anyway.
I have been thinking some little thoughts though, so I shall return very soon. Right now, I'm going to get my hairs cut. Ciao!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Good Mail Day
I love it when my day off coincides with great stuff in the mail box.
I got my prescription refill today for the first anti-depressant that's absorbed through your eyeballs.
I highly recommend that you subscribe, if you like to laugh out loud.
I got my prescription refill today for the first anti-depressant that's absorbed through your eyeballs.
I highly recommend that you subscribe, if you like to laugh out loud.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Well... I like being a woman anyway!
There was a comment made on Saturday at the lovely Regional event that made me a little sad.
Someone was remarking on his plans to cooperate with certain other local cousin congregations to mark the 200th anniversary of a certain document from our shared history. They are going to have a communion service together on World Communion Sunday in October.
But I probably can't do that. Because those same cousins here in town probably don't want to play church with me. Because I'm a girl.
I suppose I could press the principle and ask them anyway. Who knows? Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. But I doubt it, and that makes me sad.
Someone was remarking on his plans to cooperate with certain other local cousin congregations to mark the 200th anniversary of a certain document from our shared history. They are going to have a communion service together on World Communion Sunday in October.
But I probably can't do that. Because those same cousins here in town probably don't want to play church with me. Because I'm a girl.
I suppose I could press the principle and ask them anyway. Who knows? Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. But I doubt it, and that makes me sad.
Shaking Hands as the Body of Christ
I really like to worship with my Regional church. And when I do, I like to sit on the aisle. Now I know most people prefer to sit on the aisle all the time. Lots of folks need to feel they have an easy escape.
I don't really care about where I sit most of the time. But if there's going to be communion, and it's going to be by intinction, and people are going to walk forward to receive it, I want to be on the aisle.
I remembered this on Friday in worship, as so many people I don't see nearly often enough walked past me on their way to the Bread and the Cup. And rather than it being distracting from my own personal prayer time, the hands that we extended to one another were my personal prayer. It is hard to experience the horizontal nature of the Body of Christ during communion, unless maybe everyone is serving their neighbor (which hardly ever happens). But the act of silently but joyfully greeting so many brothers and sisters while singing "Santo, Santo, Santo" as they made their way forward was a holy experience of the Body of Christ for me.
I'm so glad I ended up on the aisle.
I don't really care about where I sit most of the time. But if there's going to be communion, and it's going to be by intinction, and people are going to walk forward to receive it, I want to be on the aisle.
I remembered this on Friday in worship, as so many people I don't see nearly often enough walked past me on their way to the Bread and the Cup. And rather than it being distracting from my own personal prayer time, the hands that we extended to one another were my personal prayer. It is hard to experience the horizontal nature of the Body of Christ during communion, unless maybe everyone is serving their neighbor (which hardly ever happens). But the act of silently but joyfully greeting so many brothers and sisters while singing "Santo, Santo, Santo" as they made their way forward was a holy experience of the Body of Christ for me.
I'm so glad I ended up on the aisle.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Big One
The conversation this country needs to be having about race is so huge it's hard to know where to start. Attorney General Eric Holder thinks we're cowards for not having it more often. He could be right. Or maybe we're too busy, or too tired, or too apathetic, especially those of us (white folks) who are racially "normal" and therefore don't have to deal with race unless we feel like it.
Charles Blow has a solid response in the NYT to Holder's recent speech that includes a link to an interesting project researching people's unconscious biases. You can take demonstration tests there, which are pretty interesting. Try it and see if you learn anything. I can't decide if I thought it told me the truth or not.
Special Dedication: I would like to designate this as my official Black History Month blog post and dedicate it to the hard-working people who serve with me on the Anti-Racism Team that I am part of. We got some really great work done this week, and I am very proud and pleased to be part of that.
Charles Blow has a solid response in the NYT to Holder's recent speech that includes a link to an interesting project researching people's unconscious biases. You can take demonstration tests there, which are pretty interesting. Try it and see if you learn anything. I can't decide if I thought it told me the truth or not.
Special Dedication: I would like to designate this as my official Black History Month blog post and dedicate it to the hard-working people who serve with me on the Anti-Racism Team that I am part of. We got some really great work done this week, and I am very proud and pleased to be part of that.
Equity
I am not going to blog in detail about bailout programs, but let me just say one thing. Nobody gets to complain about helping people who bought houses they couldn't afford unless they're going to make sure that bankers and industrialists who drove their companies into the ground don't get any help either. Otherwise, I'm going to call it class warfare. So there.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday Night's Devotional
(I guess I was feeling a little righteous grumpiness...)
Psalm 59:1-2,4-6,14-15
See, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear. Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. …
No one brings suit justly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity.
They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper.
Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. …
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter.
Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.
As Christians, we have been warned about pronouncing judgment on fellow sinners. We are taught to forgive as God has forgiven us. The mercy of God is something that can only flow into us, if it is also flowing out of us. And yet…
We are living in very dramatic times. As a nation, indeed as a global community, we are experiencing the consequences of too many years of greed gone wild. Millions of people, including many within our own community, are losing their jobs, their homes, and their health care. And yet, as we listen to the reports of the titans of industry and finance who go to Washington to testify, it’s as if they’re living on another planet.
In times like these, it is comforting to know that when judgments cry out to be made, the biblical witness is there to support us. We can stay true to the path of Christ, even when we occasionally step into the footsteps of the prophets. There are times when the words of scripture are a relief simply because they describe our present situation so well. “Truth stumbles in the public square.” “They cannot cover themselves with what they make.”
That last phrase may seem to have a double meaning in our present situation. In the context of the psalm, it clearly refers to the weavers of this destructive mess who cannot, once their cover has been blown, justify why they were so richly rewarded for moving money around without creating anything new. But standing alone, “they cannot cover themselves with what they make” seems to describe the many families who are making difficult decisions each month about which bills to leave unpaid. As Christians, our call is to pray that both groups will experience the grace of God, whether that means turning away from lives of greed and selfishness, or receiving a helping hand from strangers.
Collect for the Week: Almighty God of Justice and Mercy, who sent prophets throughout the ages to uplift the poor and down-trodden and cleansed the temple of money-changers, grant that we might be filled with the Spirit of your righteousness, that we might cry out for justice and truth, and carry the light of hope to those who are despairing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.
Psalm 59:1-2,4-6,14-15
See, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear. Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. …
No one brings suit justly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity.
They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper.
Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. …
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter.
Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.
As Christians, we have been warned about pronouncing judgment on fellow sinners. We are taught to forgive as God has forgiven us. The mercy of God is something that can only flow into us, if it is also flowing out of us. And yet…
We are living in very dramatic times. As a nation, indeed as a global community, we are experiencing the consequences of too many years of greed gone wild. Millions of people, including many within our own community, are losing their jobs, their homes, and their health care. And yet, as we listen to the reports of the titans of industry and finance who go to Washington to testify, it’s as if they’re living on another planet.
In times like these, it is comforting to know that when judgments cry out to be made, the biblical witness is there to support us. We can stay true to the path of Christ, even when we occasionally step into the footsteps of the prophets. There are times when the words of scripture are a relief simply because they describe our present situation so well. “Truth stumbles in the public square.” “They cannot cover themselves with what they make.”
That last phrase may seem to have a double meaning in our present situation. In the context of the psalm, it clearly refers to the weavers of this destructive mess who cannot, once their cover has been blown, justify why they were so richly rewarded for moving money around without creating anything new. But standing alone, “they cannot cover themselves with what they make” seems to describe the many families who are making difficult decisions each month about which bills to leave unpaid. As Christians, our call is to pray that both groups will experience the grace of God, whether that means turning away from lives of greed and selfishness, or receiving a helping hand from strangers.
Collect for the Week: Almighty God of Justice and Mercy, who sent prophets throughout the ages to uplift the poor and down-trodden and cleansed the temple of money-changers, grant that we might be filled with the Spirit of your righteousness, that we might cry out for justice and truth, and carry the light of hope to those who are despairing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.
Economic Crisis Arrives
People in my church have been asking me for a while now if I know of anyone in the congregation who is in danger of losing their job. As it turns out, this week, I've heard of two different families that will be facing job loss in May.
And meanwhile, crises of other natures don't stop just because there is a larger thing going on. So I've got a family dealing with unplanned (unwed) pregnancy too.
And of course, upcoming surgeries, less work for people who do home construction, etc., stuff, and just generally people getting old.
It kind of feels like a lot this week. Let's all pray.
And meanwhile, crises of other natures don't stop just because there is a larger thing going on. So I've got a family dealing with unplanned (unwed) pregnancy too.
And of course, upcoming surgeries, less work for people who do home construction, etc., stuff, and just generally people getting old.
It kind of feels like a lot this week. Let's all pray.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ten on Tuesday
1. I received notice on Saturday that I won a contest. That was kind of cool. I got a gift certificate for $50 worth of books because I made the best suggestion for the company's new website. I actually hardly ever even let myself look at the catalogs because I can't really afford to buy stuff, so I hope I don't choose poorly.
2. I love men's pants. Like the corduroys I was wearing today. I looked forever for corduroys in the women's departments, but all they ever had were annoying pants that feel like they're falling down. I hate that. Plus, women's pants have developed stunted pockets recently, whereas men's are still entirely functional. Finally, I looked in the men's department and found exactly what I wanted almost immediately. Note to self: next time, look there first and save time.
3. I have also become an advocate of the dreaded "mommy jeans." These are jeans of a particular cut that come up relatively high (to the waist or slightly below) and are slightly narrower at the ankle. In many fashion blogs, including clergy fashion blogs, they are the most derided article of clothing in existence. Well, I got a pair of Eddie Bauer mommy jeans at a thrift store two years ago and they are the most comfortable pair of jeans I own. And I'm not even a mommy; I'm just someone who values comfort. So there.
4. Continuing on the fashion theme, I realized last night at my county chorale rehearsal that only one woman in the whole choir (as far as I could tell) colors her hair. This is most unusual here in the Heart of Dixie. I was struck by what that must imply about the peculiar cultural sub-demographic that makes up the chorale. Interesting...
5. We began our discussion of Studs Terkel's book on death today in book group. It was a fabulous conversation that went 20 or so minutes overtime (my fault -- I should have reined it in). At one point, someone said, "Who knew talking about death could be so much fun?" I'm looking forward to the next 12 weeks.
6. We have a lot of dessert at our house. Three pieces of cake (two flavors), key lime pie, and chocolate mousse. Feel free to stop by for tea, as long as you're not on a diet. This happy circumstance is the result of a sorry turn-out for our fund-raiser on Saturday. Failure never tasted so sweet.
7. I got to hear the governor speak on Friday. It made me realize that the speeches I hear people give in my head are usually funnier than the ones they're actually giving. He was scolding the local politicians. Forgive my crassness, but I kept expecting to hear him say, "Quit dicking around." Being a good Baptist, he didn't. But now I have. Good thing this blog is "anonymous"! But you have to appreciate the assonance of the phrase, at least. (Assonance being the satisfying sound of two similar vowel sounds in partnership in a phrase or sentence.)
8. I want to get a humming bird feeder, and it's almost time to put it up if I'm going to. Help me remember. They say if it's not up by early March they'll never bother to find it.
9. I walked with my walking buddy today. Today was the first day when the truth of needing a walking buddy really hit me. It was dreary and gray and I was super sleepy, and I realized that if I hadn't made an agreement to meet her there, there was no way I would have gone and walked. She said that she thought about cancelling at least once too, but didn't. Yay for exercise buddies!
10. It is supposed to be in the twenties here by Thursday night. But there is a daffodil trying to bloom in my back yard. In fact, there are daffodils that are blooming very successfully in other places around town. There are things I love about living in the Heart of Dixie, and early spring is one of them!
2. I love men's pants. Like the corduroys I was wearing today. I looked forever for corduroys in the women's departments, but all they ever had were annoying pants that feel like they're falling down. I hate that. Plus, women's pants have developed stunted pockets recently, whereas men's are still entirely functional. Finally, I looked in the men's department and found exactly what I wanted almost immediately. Note to self: next time, look there first and save time.
3. I have also become an advocate of the dreaded "mommy jeans." These are jeans of a particular cut that come up relatively high (to the waist or slightly below) and are slightly narrower at the ankle. In many fashion blogs, including clergy fashion blogs, they are the most derided article of clothing in existence. Well, I got a pair of Eddie Bauer mommy jeans at a thrift store two years ago and they are the most comfortable pair of jeans I own. And I'm not even a mommy; I'm just someone who values comfort. So there.
4. Continuing on the fashion theme, I realized last night at my county chorale rehearsal that only one woman in the whole choir (as far as I could tell) colors her hair. This is most unusual here in the Heart of Dixie. I was struck by what that must imply about the peculiar cultural sub-demographic that makes up the chorale. Interesting...
5. We began our discussion of Studs Terkel's book on death today in book group. It was a fabulous conversation that went 20 or so minutes overtime (my fault -- I should have reined it in). At one point, someone said, "Who knew talking about death could be so much fun?" I'm looking forward to the next 12 weeks.
6. We have a lot of dessert at our house. Three pieces of cake (two flavors), key lime pie, and chocolate mousse. Feel free to stop by for tea, as long as you're not on a diet. This happy circumstance is the result of a sorry turn-out for our fund-raiser on Saturday. Failure never tasted so sweet.
7. I got to hear the governor speak on Friday. It made me realize that the speeches I hear people give in my head are usually funnier than the ones they're actually giving. He was scolding the local politicians. Forgive my crassness, but I kept expecting to hear him say, "Quit dicking around." Being a good Baptist, he didn't. But now I have. Good thing this blog is "anonymous"! But you have to appreciate the assonance of the phrase, at least. (Assonance being the satisfying sound of two similar vowel sounds in partnership in a phrase or sentence.)
8. I want to get a humming bird feeder, and it's almost time to put it up if I'm going to. Help me remember. They say if it's not up by early March they'll never bother to find it.
9. I walked with my walking buddy today. Today was the first day when the truth of needing a walking buddy really hit me. It was dreary and gray and I was super sleepy, and I realized that if I hadn't made an agreement to meet her there, there was no way I would have gone and walked. She said that she thought about cancelling at least once too, but didn't. Yay for exercise buddies!
10. It is supposed to be in the twenties here by Thursday night. But there is a daffodil trying to bloom in my back yard. In fact, there are daffodils that are blooming very successfully in other places around town. There are things I love about living in the Heart of Dixie, and early spring is one of them!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Potentially Exciting Secret Knowledge
I may have just discovered an important secret.
There was a weird charge on my phone bill this month, or to be honest, I thought there was. Turns out, I was a little confused, but there was still this $5 charge for something I never asked for that they wouldn't get rid of last time.
So I had to call my phone company, whose name starts with A and ends with T. (Oh, and it's only 3 letters long.) I have had to do this a lot lately. In fact, I have developed a theory that they specialize in long waits on purpose.
A few months ago, they sent me a letter promising to cut almost $30 off my bill, if I would just call and ask. I did. But I was on hold for almost half an hour before they picked up. I think they do things like this so that they can tell someone (I'm not sure who cares) that they're trying to reduce consumers' costs, without having to lose much money because most people can't afford to waste that much time.
So today, knowing I had to deal with them, I called as I was beginning to pay my bills, assuming I would just go about my business while I waited for them to pick up. (This is where the sweetie's obsessive need for a phone head-set comes in handy.)
I can't remember if this happened before, but this time, there was actually a recording that said something like, "We know your time is important. We are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls at this time. You may want to call back at another time. We are sorry for the inconvenience." No suggestion to check out the website, just "you probably don't want to do this right now."
This seemed utterly ridiculous to me, especially the part about them being sorry. I knew they were just trying to test me. I wasn't about to hang up. But because I was feeling cheeky, I muttered, "The hell you are."
And do you know what happened? A couple seconds later, the recording said something like, "I see. I will connect you to someone who can help with questions about your bill." I figured this was where the long wait would come in.
But instead, the phone rang a couple times, and someone picked up! She had such a calm voice, that for a moment, I thought it was another recording. But she wasn't. It was a live person! There was no wait.
So, do you think it's really possible that [the Phone Company] has set up their system to recognize sarcasm and/or cuss words and put those people on the fast track? If it is true, aren't you glad to know? Please let me hear about the results of any experiments you conduct to test this theory.
There was a weird charge on my phone bill this month, or to be honest, I thought there was. Turns out, I was a little confused, but there was still this $5 charge for something I never asked for that they wouldn't get rid of last time.
So I had to call my phone company, whose name starts with A and ends with T. (Oh, and it's only 3 letters long.) I have had to do this a lot lately. In fact, I have developed a theory that they specialize in long waits on purpose.
A few months ago, they sent me a letter promising to cut almost $30 off my bill, if I would just call and ask. I did. But I was on hold for almost half an hour before they picked up. I think they do things like this so that they can tell someone (I'm not sure who cares) that they're trying to reduce consumers' costs, without having to lose much money because most people can't afford to waste that much time.
So today, knowing I had to deal with them, I called as I was beginning to pay my bills, assuming I would just go about my business while I waited for them to pick up. (This is where the sweetie's obsessive need for a phone head-set comes in handy.)
I can't remember if this happened before, but this time, there was actually a recording that said something like, "We know your time is important. We are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls at this time. You may want to call back at another time. We are sorry for the inconvenience." No suggestion to check out the website, just "you probably don't want to do this right now."
This seemed utterly ridiculous to me, especially the part about them being sorry. I knew they were just trying to test me. I wasn't about to hang up. But because I was feeling cheeky, I muttered, "The hell you are."
And do you know what happened? A couple seconds later, the recording said something like, "I see. I will connect you to someone who can help with questions about your bill." I figured this was where the long wait would come in.
But instead, the phone rang a couple times, and someone picked up! She had such a calm voice, that for a moment, I thought it was another recording. But she wasn't. It was a live person! There was no wait.
So, do you think it's really possible that [the Phone Company] has set up their system to recognize sarcasm and/or cuss words and put those people on the fast track? If it is true, aren't you glad to know? Please let me hear about the results of any experiments you conduct to test this theory.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Persona and Alter-Ego Together At Last
One of the great things about pastoring a small, yet open-minded and flexible congregation is that they will let you do just about anything.
I pastor a church like that, which means that my actual role in the world got a chance to bond with my alter-ego this weekend. My alter-ego really wants to be a lounge singer in Rome. We weren't in Rome, but I sort of got to be a lounge singer.
Our organist, who also has a very jazzy alternate universe in which he travels, and I were the primary entertainment for a Valentine's Coffeehouse charity benefit last night. We did stuff like "My Funny Valentine," "Five Foot Two," "Night and Day," and even -- what I didn't dare last time we did this -- "Lady Is a Tramp."
There wasn't dancing, but there could have been. I was trying to encourage them, but I don't think they realized I was serious. I am so grateful that once in a while I can do that sort of thing and have it count as work.
But there is something even deeper here, which I realized during prayer tonight. There is a part of me, yes, that wants to be a lounge singer. And it's that same part of me that makes it possible to stay positive even when the crowd is small.
We didn't have the turn-out we were hoping for last night. Evidently, competing with other holiday options wasn't such a good idea. I was disappointed. But I realized this evening that it didn't occur to me for even a minute last night to put less into the performance or cut it short. We went all out for the whole two hours we were performing, despite the somewhat skimpy audience.
Because that's what we do. Sometimes we end up doing it on Sundays too. And what's important is that the people who are there get your best, because that's what they, and God, deserve. The tenacity to keep singing with feeling, even when the bar is almost empty, is the same thing that makes it possible for pastors of small-membership churches to write a fresh sermon every week.
So nice when you realize the parts of who you are that seem like extras or indulgences are actually vital parts of the main deal. It's never only a Paper Moon.
I pastor a church like that, which means that my actual role in the world got a chance to bond with my alter-ego this weekend. My alter-ego really wants to be a lounge singer in Rome. We weren't in Rome, but I sort of got to be a lounge singer.
Our organist, who also has a very jazzy alternate universe in which he travels, and I were the primary entertainment for a Valentine's Coffeehouse charity benefit last night. We did stuff like "My Funny Valentine," "Five Foot Two," "Night and Day," and even -- what I didn't dare last time we did this -- "Lady Is a Tramp."
There wasn't dancing, but there could have been. I was trying to encourage them, but I don't think they realized I was serious. I am so grateful that once in a while I can do that sort of thing and have it count as work.
But there is something even deeper here, which I realized during prayer tonight. There is a part of me, yes, that wants to be a lounge singer. And it's that same part of me that makes it possible to stay positive even when the crowd is small.
We didn't have the turn-out we were hoping for last night. Evidently, competing with other holiday options wasn't such a good idea. I was disappointed. But I realized this evening that it didn't occur to me for even a minute last night to put less into the performance or cut it short. We went all out for the whole two hours we were performing, despite the somewhat skimpy audience.
Because that's what we do. Sometimes we end up doing it on Sundays too. And what's important is that the people who are there get your best, because that's what they, and God, deserve. The tenacity to keep singing with feeling, even when the bar is almost empty, is the same thing that makes it possible for pastors of small-membership churches to write a fresh sermon every week.
So nice when you realize the parts of who you are that seem like extras or indulgences are actually vital parts of the main deal. It's never only a Paper Moon.
Friday, February 13, 2009
All You Need Is Love
I would never have guessed that Valentine's Day could have such a positive effect on world politics. But it looks like it is.
Ah, Civic Religion...
So I had to attend a Chamber of Commerce banquet today. It was the kind of thing that involves both the national anthem and an invocation. (At least I didn't have to give the invocation!)
And actually, I'm not even going to get into all the reasons that is a slippery, sloppery mess. What I'm distressed by is what has happened to the national anthem.
Because we didn't sing the national anthem today. We had it sung to us. Some, maybe most people "participated" by putting their hands over their hearts. But doesn't it seem like a disturbing symptom of the wretched state of our commons that the national anthem has become an occasion for performance rather than communal singing? Singing together is a very powerful force, and we have left it behind.
I tried, sort of, to sing along today, if only to myself. But this performance mentality has come so far that it wasn't even really possible, because of the recorded arrangement the performer was singing along with. It was a little different here and there, which meant that you really weren't welcome to sing along.
I think there should be a law that if you're going to have the national anthem used at all, it has to be "led" not performed, and people should be encouraged to sing along. Is that really asking so much? It would be interesting to see how many people even remember the words any more, since they hardly ever have to sing them. Sad, sad, sad.
And actually, I'm not even going to get into all the reasons that is a slippery, sloppery mess. What I'm distressed by is what has happened to the national anthem.
Because we didn't sing the national anthem today. We had it sung to us. Some, maybe most people "participated" by putting their hands over their hearts. But doesn't it seem like a disturbing symptom of the wretched state of our commons that the national anthem has become an occasion for performance rather than communal singing? Singing together is a very powerful force, and we have left it behind.
I tried, sort of, to sing along today, if only to myself. But this performance mentality has come so far that it wasn't even really possible, because of the recorded arrangement the performer was singing along with. It was a little different here and there, which meant that you really weren't welcome to sing along.
I think there should be a law that if you're going to have the national anthem used at all, it has to be "led" not performed, and people should be encouraged to sing along. Is that really asking so much? It would be interesting to see how many people even remember the words any more, since they hardly ever have to sing them. Sad, sad, sad.
And I thought things were getting better...
The results of Tuesday's elections in Israel were pretty scary. A far right-wing party that can legitimately be called fascist got way more votes than makes any sense. The result is that the majority coalition in the Knesset is made up of politicians opposed to a two-state solution to the conflict. (I am somewhat opposed to a two-state solution myself, but for totally different reasons. And though I don't find it ideal, I agree that it's the best option that is currently anything close to realistic.)
It's strange that these were the results, just when I was starting to feel like the American public was gaining a more thorough perspective on the issues and coming to understand what makes sense. Whatever else he did, George Bush said "two-state solution" out loud, which hadn't happened before, and that seems to me to be a sign of a major shift in "conventional wisdom" about the conflict in this country.
The other odd thing about these election results, according to this article by Neve Gordon a political scientist at Ben Gurion University, is that supposedly a majority of Israelis believe in a two-state solution too. So why did they elect these people?
It's weird that this is even any of our business, but the truth is, the US is so intertwined with this conflict that we have an obligation to do something. Gordon's suggestions seem like a good place for Obama to start. Too bad it just got harder to follow them.
It's strange that these were the results, just when I was starting to feel like the American public was gaining a more thorough perspective on the issues and coming to understand what makes sense. Whatever else he did, George Bush said "two-state solution" out loud, which hadn't happened before, and that seems to me to be a sign of a major shift in "conventional wisdom" about the conflict in this country.
The other odd thing about these election results, according to this article by Neve Gordon a political scientist at Ben Gurion University, is that supposedly a majority of Israelis believe in a two-state solution too. So why did they elect these people?
It's weird that this is even any of our business, but the truth is, the US is so intertwined with this conflict that we have an obligation to do something. Gordon's suggestions seem like a good place for Obama to start. Too bad it just got harder to follow them.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Who Doesn't Love Proverbs?
Here's the latest installment from our weekly email newsletter...
Proverbs 24:29 – Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done to me.”
I flipped back to Proverbs for our devotional this week, and near the end, I found this little gem. If you’re ever bored, sit down and read part of Proverbs; it is full of interesting sayings, some of which make sense. This particular verse catches the eye, doesn’t it? At first glance, it appears to be the direct opposite of the teachings of Jesus.
But it’s not, is it? Jesus taught that we should treat other people the way we would want them to treat us, not the way they actually treat us. This verse from Proverbs reminds us that Jesus also taught us that if someone slaps us on one cheek, we should offer them the other one as well.
It’s very easy to be nice to people who are nice to us. But as Jesus says, “even sinners” do that (Luke 6:32). The trick of following Christ is to love those who don’t love us, to be nice and polite and forgiving and gracious to those who treat us badly or unfairly or meanly or rudely. The human desire for revenge can be very strong. And as the writer of Proverbs knew, we have the tendency to dress it up by pretending that we’re really interested in fairness, in something we would call justice, in people getting “what they deserve”.
Don’t do it, Proverbs says. Just don’t. It’s not the way of God. It’s not the way of Jesus. It may seem “fair”, but fair isn’t up to us. We are in charge of neither judgment nor sentencing. Fortunately, the grace of God can make it easier for us to let go of our need for revenge. The more we ground ourselves in God’s life-giving mercy, the more than mercy will flow through us and from us, into our interactions with even the most difficult people.
Collect for the Week: God of Grace and Love, who has already forgiven us over and over and will continue to do so eternally, grant that we might be filled to overflowing with the love of Christ so that we might treat each person we meet with grace no matter how they treat us, and thus be witnesses to your redeeming love. Through Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Proverbs 24:29 – Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done to me.”
I flipped back to Proverbs for our devotional this week, and near the end, I found this little gem. If you’re ever bored, sit down and read part of Proverbs; it is full of interesting sayings, some of which make sense. This particular verse catches the eye, doesn’t it? At first glance, it appears to be the direct opposite of the teachings of Jesus.
But it’s not, is it? Jesus taught that we should treat other people the way we would want them to treat us, not the way they actually treat us. This verse from Proverbs reminds us that Jesus also taught us that if someone slaps us on one cheek, we should offer them the other one as well.
It’s very easy to be nice to people who are nice to us. But as Jesus says, “even sinners” do that (Luke 6:32). The trick of following Christ is to love those who don’t love us, to be nice and polite and forgiving and gracious to those who treat us badly or unfairly or meanly or rudely. The human desire for revenge can be very strong. And as the writer of Proverbs knew, we have the tendency to dress it up by pretending that we’re really interested in fairness, in something we would call justice, in people getting “what they deserve”.
Don’t do it, Proverbs says. Just don’t. It’s not the way of God. It’s not the way of Jesus. It may seem “fair”, but fair isn’t up to us. We are in charge of neither judgment nor sentencing. Fortunately, the grace of God can make it easier for us to let go of our need for revenge. The more we ground ourselves in God’s life-giving mercy, the more than mercy will flow through us and from us, into our interactions with even the most difficult people.
Collect for the Week: God of Grace and Love, who has already forgiven us over and over and will continue to do so eternally, grant that we might be filled to overflowing with the love of Christ so that we might treat each person we meet with grace no matter how they treat us, and thus be witnesses to your redeeming love. Through Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Thirteen on Thursday
1. I haven't blogged since Saturday, and while I never promised anyone anything, I feel like I owe you an explanation. Except that I don't really have one besides that I wasn't really home on my day off and I haven't felt like it. I'm sure you've been handling the disappointment okay though, right?
2. I can't decide if teenagers' (and adults') tendency to get all excited about something they'd like to do but won't actually follow through on is annoying or charming. It's nice to see enthusiasm, and churches should be aiming higher than they're going to get, but it makes planning kind of a pain when people act like such-and-such is going to happen and you have to pretend like you believe them when you know they will never really do anything to make it happen.
3. I wish I lived closer to my niece. It is hard to be a good aunt from a distance.
4. I discovered this week that it's actually very easy to email photos from my laptop. I'm not a huge tech geek, but I mostly assume I can figure stuff out. But I have had a major mental block about learning how to deal with pictures for a long time. We didn't get a digital camera till last spring, which is part of it. But maybe it's slowly going away. It's possible there could even be a picture on this blog some day, I suppose.
5. I made a Funny Cake Monday night for the women's group that met at my house on Tuesday. Funny Cake is mixed in the pan, and it was considered great fun when I was growing up. However, I'm now convinced that it was mostly designed as an exercise to learn what "homogeneous" means. You have to stir it forever! (And I think I still had some lumps.)
6. I don't understand why John McCain is suddenly disturbed about taking out a loan from our grandchildren now that it comes to investing in infrastructure in ways that would create or save jobs, but he isn't bothered by such irresponsible borrowing when it comes to paying for an unnecessary war or ridiculous tax cuts for the rich.
7. I wish Obama would get more hard-core about protecting the poor and the working class and the middle class. It's time to stop letting the rich people run things, even a little bit. They're all delusional.
8. When I get stressed, my body reacts. The other day, I had a twitch in a brand new place: the fleshy side part of my right palm. It was weird. But it went away.
9. When I'm tired and start to eat something without drinking anything first, I frequently get hiccups. It's strange, because as soon as I take the first bite, I can tell it was a mistake not to take a drink. I can feel the hiccups coming on, even though they don't start for a little bit. But at that point, it's too late to drink something. There is nothing I can do to make the hiccups not come. And they usually last a while, and come back at the slightest provocation, even laughing. But I rarely have them come back the next day, which is nice.
10. This year has 2 Friday the 13ths in a row. I haven't heard anyone report about that much yet, but I'm guessing we will start hearing about it tomorrow. At least I'm not doing this "Thirteen on Thursday" on Friday the 13th. (Of course, that wouldn't really make sense, would it?)
11. I am supposedly pretending that today is Sunday, by getting up early to write my sermon. Haven't actually gotten to that yet, although I did do the part where I type up the scriptures and get my formatting ready. I got way-laid by the computer on the way to the shower. Ooops. I still believe it's possible. Saturday is going to be a long, tiring (though fun) day, so I thought I should try to adjust my peculiar sermon-writing strategy. Sometimes when I'm extra tired, it doesn't work so well. And I want to give them a good one this week.
12. I am singing with the County Chorale again this spring. Because it's the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth, we are singing a couple of his pieces, in addition to the Rutter Requiem which is the main course. I am very happy because we are singing "How Lovely Are the Messengers" which I have loved and wanted to sing again ever since I first sang it in college.
13. I love the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5 which is this Sunday's OT reading. I can rarely resist the urge to have people act it out. I'm sort of planning to make my Children's Time about having the kids pantomime the actions and emotions this Sunday. Hope it doesn't take way longer than it should.
2. I can't decide if teenagers' (and adults') tendency to get all excited about something they'd like to do but won't actually follow through on is annoying or charming. It's nice to see enthusiasm, and churches should be aiming higher than they're going to get, but it makes planning kind of a pain when people act like such-and-such is going to happen and you have to pretend like you believe them when you know they will never really do anything to make it happen.
3. I wish I lived closer to my niece. It is hard to be a good aunt from a distance.
4. I discovered this week that it's actually very easy to email photos from my laptop. I'm not a huge tech geek, but I mostly assume I can figure stuff out. But I have had a major mental block about learning how to deal with pictures for a long time. We didn't get a digital camera till last spring, which is part of it. But maybe it's slowly going away. It's possible there could even be a picture on this blog some day, I suppose.
5. I made a Funny Cake Monday night for the women's group that met at my house on Tuesday. Funny Cake is mixed in the pan, and it was considered great fun when I was growing up. However, I'm now convinced that it was mostly designed as an exercise to learn what "homogeneous" means. You have to stir it forever! (And I think I still had some lumps.)
6. I don't understand why John McCain is suddenly disturbed about taking out a loan from our grandchildren now that it comes to investing in infrastructure in ways that would create or save jobs, but he isn't bothered by such irresponsible borrowing when it comes to paying for an unnecessary war or ridiculous tax cuts for the rich.
7. I wish Obama would get more hard-core about protecting the poor and the working class and the middle class. It's time to stop letting the rich people run things, even a little bit. They're all delusional.
8. When I get stressed, my body reacts. The other day, I had a twitch in a brand new place: the fleshy side part of my right palm. It was weird. But it went away.
9. When I'm tired and start to eat something without drinking anything first, I frequently get hiccups. It's strange, because as soon as I take the first bite, I can tell it was a mistake not to take a drink. I can feel the hiccups coming on, even though they don't start for a little bit. But at that point, it's too late to drink something. There is nothing I can do to make the hiccups not come. And they usually last a while, and come back at the slightest provocation, even laughing. But I rarely have them come back the next day, which is nice.
10. This year has 2 Friday the 13ths in a row. I haven't heard anyone report about that much yet, but I'm guessing we will start hearing about it tomorrow. At least I'm not doing this "Thirteen on Thursday" on Friday the 13th. (Of course, that wouldn't really make sense, would it?)
11. I am supposedly pretending that today is Sunday, by getting up early to write my sermon. Haven't actually gotten to that yet, although I did do the part where I type up the scriptures and get my formatting ready. I got way-laid by the computer on the way to the shower. Ooops. I still believe it's possible. Saturday is going to be a long, tiring (though fun) day, so I thought I should try to adjust my peculiar sermon-writing strategy. Sometimes when I'm extra tired, it doesn't work so well. And I want to give them a good one this week.
12. I am singing with the County Chorale again this spring. Because it's the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth, we are singing a couple of his pieces, in addition to the Rutter Requiem which is the main course. I am very happy because we are singing "How Lovely Are the Messengers" which I have loved and wanted to sing again ever since I first sang it in college.
13. I love the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5 which is this Sunday's OT reading. I can rarely resist the urge to have people act it out. I'm sort of planning to make my Children's Time about having the kids pantomime the actions and emotions this Sunday. Hope it doesn't take way longer than it should.
Killer Bees!
The New York Times has a short article today about "Africanized" bees being found in Utah. (I'm not really sure what to say about their decision to call them that. They are a cross between bees from Africa and European honey bees. But still, it seems like a loaded name, doesn't it?)
These are the bees more commonly known as "Killer Bees". And there was a period in my life when I was terrified of them.
I can still remember exactly where in the Middle School library I was sitting for the weird non-class we had with Mr. Studebaker (Study Skills? Is that was it was called?) in which we learned about Killer Bees. What I don't remember is what it was about the lesson that mis-informed to the point that I got the impression that Killer Bees might be just around any corner.
Now, in general, I like bees and I did even then. But however this lesson was presented, it was clear that you should be very, very frightened of these bees. Because they were mad, and they would get you.
Eventually, I did figure out that they weren't even in the States yet. (They got started in Brazil according to today's article.) What's weird is that this article is really just about them crossing the state line in Utah ("We've been saying not if but when for a long time," one guy says.) from Nevada, where they evidently arrived in 1999. Why was I not warned then?
People shouldn't mess with nature. That was probably supposed to be the point of the lesson that terrified me. It's probably safe to assume I will never run into Killer Bees in my whole life. And I still mostly like bees. But the idea of dying from being swarmed by them is still pretty scary. Good thing I'm not Mormon and I don't like to gamble.
These are the bees more commonly known as "Killer Bees". And there was a period in my life when I was terrified of them.
I can still remember exactly where in the Middle School library I was sitting for the weird non-class we had with Mr. Studebaker (Study Skills? Is that was it was called?) in which we learned about Killer Bees. What I don't remember is what it was about the lesson that mis-informed to the point that I got the impression that Killer Bees might be just around any corner.
Now, in general, I like bees and I did even then. But however this lesson was presented, it was clear that you should be very, very frightened of these bees. Because they were mad, and they would get you.
Eventually, I did figure out that they weren't even in the States yet. (They got started in Brazil according to today's article.) What's weird is that this article is really just about them crossing the state line in Utah ("We've been saying not if but when for a long time," one guy says.) from Nevada, where they evidently arrived in 1999. Why was I not warned then?
People shouldn't mess with nature. That was probably supposed to be the point of the lesson that terrified me. It's probably safe to assume I will never run into Killer Bees in my whole life. And I still mostly like bees. But the idea of dying from being swarmed by them is still pretty scary. Good thing I'm not Mormon and I don't like to gamble.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Sometimes Interesting is as Important as Important
I dreamed that I was having lunch with Barack Obama yesterday. Michelle was there too. I'm not sure where I was. It was clearly a gathering of lefties, but my mother was the only one I knew.
It was maybe a potluck, or maybe just a few people provided lunch. We were sitting around a folding table like the kind at my church. Barack was at the head of the table, and I was sitting to his right, but nobody else was paying much attention to him. In fact, when they started serving lunch, they brought plates to the people at the other end of the table first. (This clearly disturbed the woman sitting to my right, who brought her plate to Barack, who hadn't been served yet.)
We chatted a little, but not much. At one point, I turned to tell my mother about something we had eaten a few days earlier. All in all, it was not that exciting. The only specific interchange I remember having with Barack was when Michelle, who was seated to his left, had gotten up, and for some reason, he'd taken her seat. I said something like "I guess you get tired of always being at the head of the table, huh?" And he agreed. And then I think I said something about the head of the table being wherever he was sitting. Now that I think about it, that kind of folding table has legs in the way if you're sitting on the end. Why would they put him there?
Anyway, this is all preface to my real point. The other day, Judith Warner had a column in the New York Times about how the president has "seeped into our collective consciousness." She wrote about people having dreams about him and Michelle. (The NYT is clearly controlling my dreams now. Should I be worried?)
It was interesting, as are most of Warner's columns. What gets me are the people who add comments about how she should write about something more important.
Who are these people? You see them a lot if you read comments on pretty much any quasi-public/political blog, NYT and Huffington Post especially. They make the decision to read what is clearly fluff journalism, and then they scold the writer for writing it. If you aren't interested, don't read!
There is clearly a multiplicity of uses for the internet. Sometimes, we read for information and for interchange about important ideas like healthcare reform or poverty or how to get Congress in line. But a lot of the time, people are on the internet for fun. We want to read things that are interesting, but trivial. We aren't in the mood to think deeply or be disturbed.
I have noticed this in my own internet reading habits. I may read a couple articles or columns about "important" things, but then I move onto things like the article about how color affects how well our brains do certain kinds of tasks. Interesting? Sure. Important? Probably not.
I've noticed this with you too, my dear readers. The posts here that get comments are not the political posts, but the trivial but interesting ones. And that's okay.
The truth is that our brains can only handle so much depth at a time. But they crave more stimulation despite having reached their quota for deep thought. I think shallow thinking is a basic brain need, like sleep. Sometimes that unimportant information may end up becoming important, sometimes it may provide interesting small talk for relating to others, but most often, it's just a way of keeping our brains in shape. And that's important too.
So why don't we all just admit that we don't need to or want to be deep and important all the time? There shouldn't be any shame in that.
It was maybe a potluck, or maybe just a few people provided lunch. We were sitting around a folding table like the kind at my church. Barack was at the head of the table, and I was sitting to his right, but nobody else was paying much attention to him. In fact, when they started serving lunch, they brought plates to the people at the other end of the table first. (This clearly disturbed the woman sitting to my right, who brought her plate to Barack, who hadn't been served yet.)
We chatted a little, but not much. At one point, I turned to tell my mother about something we had eaten a few days earlier. All in all, it was not that exciting. The only specific interchange I remember having with Barack was when Michelle, who was seated to his left, had gotten up, and for some reason, he'd taken her seat. I said something like "I guess you get tired of always being at the head of the table, huh?" And he agreed. And then I think I said something about the head of the table being wherever he was sitting. Now that I think about it, that kind of folding table has legs in the way if you're sitting on the end. Why would they put him there?
Anyway, this is all preface to my real point. The other day, Judith Warner had a column in the New York Times about how the president has "seeped into our collective consciousness." She wrote about people having dreams about him and Michelle. (The NYT is clearly controlling my dreams now. Should I be worried?)
It was interesting, as are most of Warner's columns. What gets me are the people who add comments about how she should write about something more important.
Who are these people? You see them a lot if you read comments on pretty much any quasi-public/political blog, NYT and Huffington Post especially. They make the decision to read what is clearly fluff journalism, and then they scold the writer for writing it. If you aren't interested, don't read!
There is clearly a multiplicity of uses for the internet. Sometimes, we read for information and for interchange about important ideas like healthcare reform or poverty or how to get Congress in line. But a lot of the time, people are on the internet for fun. We want to read things that are interesting, but trivial. We aren't in the mood to think deeply or be disturbed.
I have noticed this in my own internet reading habits. I may read a couple articles or columns about "important" things, but then I move onto things like the article about how color affects how well our brains do certain kinds of tasks. Interesting? Sure. Important? Probably not.
I've noticed this with you too, my dear readers. The posts here that get comments are not the political posts, but the trivial but interesting ones. And that's okay.
The truth is that our brains can only handle so much depth at a time. But they crave more stimulation despite having reached their quota for deep thought. I think shallow thinking is a basic brain need, like sleep. Sometimes that unimportant information may end up becoming important, sometimes it may provide interesting small talk for relating to others, but most often, it's just a way of keeping our brains in shape. And that's important too.
So why don't we all just admit that we don't need to or want to be deep and important all the time? There shouldn't be any shame in that.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Funny Part of My Shopping Trip
So the other thing I was looking for turned out to be impossible to find. I want a heart-shaped pillow, or a stuffed heart, you might say, as a prop for this program we're doing during Lent.
You would think, what with it being barely a week till Valentine's Day, that such a thing would be easy to find. I actually did find one, but it was almost furry which would have been a give-away that it started life as a Valentine. So I kept looking.
And then, at the Hallmark store at the mall, where I was contemplating buying a bear just to cut off his big stuffed Valentine, even though it said "I Love You" in big letters, I got some advice.
The sales clerk motioned for me to come closer up to the register. And she proceeded to suggest that I check out "Love Stuff." Hilariously, this had already occurred to me, since I'd seen their sign when I parked at the mall. "Hmmm," I thought, "Wouldn't it be ironic if I bought something for church THERE? No, I think that would be a bit much. I probably shouldn't do that."
And I wouldn't have even tried, except that this woman also thought they might have one, so I figured maybe I should check, since there was nothing at the mall.
She had clearly never been there. And now I have. Let's just say that some people -- including the people selling this "Stuff", but probably not just them -- get confused about the difference between love and other things that are sometimes, but not always, connected to love.
Anyway, I didn't find a heart-shaped pillow there either. I looked around a bit, just to see if there was one, lingered briefly waiting to ask, but gave up because I was actually feeling a little awkward being there. It was hard to know where to direct your gaze.
What was really funny was that as I was leaving, I almost put my car into drive instead of reverse. Can you see the headline? "Local Pastor Rams Car into Notorious Erotica Shop"
You would think, what with it being barely a week till Valentine's Day, that such a thing would be easy to find. I actually did find one, but it was almost furry which would have been a give-away that it started life as a Valentine. So I kept looking.
And then, at the Hallmark store at the mall, where I was contemplating buying a bear just to cut off his big stuffed Valentine, even though it said "I Love You" in big letters, I got some advice.
The sales clerk motioned for me to come closer up to the register. And she proceeded to suggest that I check out "Love Stuff." Hilariously, this had already occurred to me, since I'd seen their sign when I parked at the mall. "Hmmm," I thought, "Wouldn't it be ironic if I bought something for church THERE? No, I think that would be a bit much. I probably shouldn't do that."
And I wouldn't have even tried, except that this woman also thought they might have one, so I figured maybe I should check, since there was nothing at the mall.
She had clearly never been there. And now I have. Let's just say that some people -- including the people selling this "Stuff", but probably not just them -- get confused about the difference between love and other things that are sometimes, but not always, connected to love.
Anyway, I didn't find a heart-shaped pillow there either. I looked around a bit, just to see if there was one, lingered briefly waiting to ask, but gave up because I was actually feeling a little awkward being there. It was hard to know where to direct your gaze.
What was really funny was that as I was leaving, I almost put my car into drive instead of reverse. Can you see the headline? "Local Pastor Rams Car into Notorious Erotica Shop"
Uniformity
So I tried to go shopping today. We have this Valentine's gig coming up, so I sort of thought a new dress would be nice, and I had a gift card.
I really don't like shopping. And today, I remembered why.
I find it very depressing. Usually, as today, I have a pretty specific idea of what I want in my mind. And it has nothing to do with what's available in the stores. But what's sad is that once you've been in a couple of stores, you could almost skip the rest of them. Because even though the individual items of clothing are technically different from the ones at other stores, they're not really.
At any given time, there are about 5 colors of clothing you can buy in the mall. Today, it was black and white (sometimes accented with bright yellow), bright red, aubergine (fancy mall-speak for dark purple), turquoise-based prints and a weird green. Unfortunately for me, I was looking for something burgundy-ish, between bright red and aubergine. But that color doesn't really exist right now.
I remember this from high school. You could stand outside any one store and if you tried to look at the store as a whole, only three or so colors would stand out. If you wanted something different, you were out of luck. Even more depressingly, it's not just true for colors; the design and shape of the garments are also basically uniform from store to store. So if a particular cut doesn't suit you, you'd better hope the clothes from the last trend continue to fit you till the current one passes.
The same thing is true of shoes. If you wanted a certain shape of shoe, you'd better hope it's what all shoes look like right now, or you're not going to find it.
Obviously, this reality is not complete, or there would have been no point at all in my continuing my quest past the second store. (As luck would have it, the store with the gift card had no dresses at all. Did I mention that I hate shopping?) At, say, every other store there will be one or two garments that are actually not like what you've seen before.
Today turned out to be a good day, in fact. At the very last place I looked -- and I mean, the last place I was going to look before giving up -- I actually found what I wanted, almost. It was almost exactly the cut of dress I had in my head when I started. Hadn't seen anything like that anywhere. It was majorly on sale, like most of what I'd seen. (The stores are clearly hurting.) And it fit, even though it was a size smaller than I usually wear. (I suspect size flattery.) It wasn't burgundy though -- it was the exact same color of purple as the stuff in the other 15 stores. (That's how I knew to call it aubergine; it was on the label.) But even though the color was a little darker than I was wanting, I decided to get it, once I realized it was even more on sale than I'd originally thought. Eighteen bucks, actually, down from seventy.
But I still came home depressed about my foray into consumerism. Because the total uniformity of the clothes in stores means one or both of two things: 1) the designers don't let themselves have original ideas and just copy off each other. 2) they've figured out that the people who shop mostly feel most comfortable if they know that they will be wearing what everyone else is wearing, which they'll have to be because they are the only clothes available in stores. I suspect it's more number two than number one, though I know nothing about the world in which these decisions are made.
This is why thrift store shopping has become such a symbol for independent thinking. A thrift store is the only place you can actually find things that express something other than "I'm wearing what everyone else is wearing." And when thrift stores sell "aubergine" it's retro and probably called "purple".
I really don't like shopping. And today, I remembered why.
I find it very depressing. Usually, as today, I have a pretty specific idea of what I want in my mind. And it has nothing to do with what's available in the stores. But what's sad is that once you've been in a couple of stores, you could almost skip the rest of them. Because even though the individual items of clothing are technically different from the ones at other stores, they're not really.
At any given time, there are about 5 colors of clothing you can buy in the mall. Today, it was black and white (sometimes accented with bright yellow), bright red, aubergine (fancy mall-speak for dark purple), turquoise-based prints and a weird green. Unfortunately for me, I was looking for something burgundy-ish, between bright red and aubergine. But that color doesn't really exist right now.
I remember this from high school. You could stand outside any one store and if you tried to look at the store as a whole, only three or so colors would stand out. If you wanted something different, you were out of luck. Even more depressingly, it's not just true for colors; the design and shape of the garments are also basically uniform from store to store. So if a particular cut doesn't suit you, you'd better hope the clothes from the last trend continue to fit you till the current one passes.
The same thing is true of shoes. If you wanted a certain shape of shoe, you'd better hope it's what all shoes look like right now, or you're not going to find it.
Obviously, this reality is not complete, or there would have been no point at all in my continuing my quest past the second store. (As luck would have it, the store with the gift card had no dresses at all. Did I mention that I hate shopping?) At, say, every other store there will be one or two garments that are actually not like what you've seen before.
Today turned out to be a good day, in fact. At the very last place I looked -- and I mean, the last place I was going to look before giving up -- I actually found what I wanted, almost. It was almost exactly the cut of dress I had in my head when I started. Hadn't seen anything like that anywhere. It was majorly on sale, like most of what I'd seen. (The stores are clearly hurting.) And it fit, even though it was a size smaller than I usually wear. (I suspect size flattery.) It wasn't burgundy though -- it was the exact same color of purple as the stuff in the other 15 stores. (That's how I knew to call it aubergine; it was on the label.) But even though the color was a little darker than I was wanting, I decided to get it, once I realized it was even more on sale than I'd originally thought. Eighteen bucks, actually, down from seventy.
But I still came home depressed about my foray into consumerism. Because the total uniformity of the clothes in stores means one or both of two things: 1) the designers don't let themselves have original ideas and just copy off each other. 2) they've figured out that the people who shop mostly feel most comfortable if they know that they will be wearing what everyone else is wearing, which they'll have to be because they are the only clothes available in stores. I suspect it's more number two than number one, though I know nothing about the world in which these decisions are made.
This is why thrift store shopping has become such a symbol for independent thinking. A thrift store is the only place you can actually find things that express something other than "I'm wearing what everyone else is wearing." And when thrift stores sell "aubergine" it's retro and probably called "purple".
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Too Much Martha-ing Lately
Luke 10:38-42 – Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Lately, as we’ve been getting ready for Lent, when “Unbinding Your Heart” will kick off, I’ve been feeling ”worried and distracted by many things.” It’s like the week before you go on vacation, when you have to figure everything out ahead of time and make sure arrangements are in place for emergencies.
It’s hard, when we’re that busy, to imagine making room for sitting still and listening for God. But as Lent approaches, it’s good to remember that part of the discipline is letting go of certain things. If you’re going to be part of a weekly small group, there may be some TV that won’t get watched or some house-cleaning that won’t get done. Personally, I’m just hoping that once everything is organized, there will be less to worry about. But I’m planning to let God worry about it once Ash Wednesday gets here, whether I’ve got it all figured out or not.
I’ve usually assumed that Jesus’ last comment to Martha meant that, No, he was not going to ask Mary to help her. But today, it struck me differently. Maybe he was simply pointing out that Mary had chosen to give her attention to things that can’t be taken away, that is, eternal things; whereas Martha had been pouring herself into tasks that would have to be done again and again. Martha’s food would satisfy only temporarily; whereas Mary was eating from the Bread of Life.
The trick of the life of faith is to find the right balance – in a given day, a particular week, each season and throughout your lifetime – between attending to the everyday and attending to the eternal. We need to eat every day. But we also need to feed our souls. Can you find a way to worry less about the daily bread, so that there can be more room for the Living Bread?
Collect for the Week: Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, who formed the galaxies and the smallest blossoms and each of us in love, grant that we might find rest from distraction and be opened to the True Nourishment you give us in Jesus, that eternity might break into our every day. Through Jesus Christ the Living Bread and the Holy Spirit that sustains us through all things, Amen.
Lately, as we’ve been getting ready for Lent, when “Unbinding Your Heart” will kick off, I’ve been feeling ”worried and distracted by many things.” It’s like the week before you go on vacation, when you have to figure everything out ahead of time and make sure arrangements are in place for emergencies.
It’s hard, when we’re that busy, to imagine making room for sitting still and listening for God. But as Lent approaches, it’s good to remember that part of the discipline is letting go of certain things. If you’re going to be part of a weekly small group, there may be some TV that won’t get watched or some house-cleaning that won’t get done. Personally, I’m just hoping that once everything is organized, there will be less to worry about. But I’m planning to let God worry about it once Ash Wednesday gets here, whether I’ve got it all figured out or not.
I’ve usually assumed that Jesus’ last comment to Martha meant that, No, he was not going to ask Mary to help her. But today, it struck me differently. Maybe he was simply pointing out that Mary had chosen to give her attention to things that can’t be taken away, that is, eternal things; whereas Martha had been pouring herself into tasks that would have to be done again and again. Martha’s food would satisfy only temporarily; whereas Mary was eating from the Bread of Life.
The trick of the life of faith is to find the right balance – in a given day, a particular week, each season and throughout your lifetime – between attending to the everyday and attending to the eternal. We need to eat every day. But we also need to feed our souls. Can you find a way to worry less about the daily bread, so that there can be more room for the Living Bread?
Collect for the Week: Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, who formed the galaxies and the smallest blossoms and each of us in love, grant that we might find rest from distraction and be opened to the True Nourishment you give us in Jesus, that eternity might break into our every day. Through Jesus Christ the Living Bread and the Holy Spirit that sustains us through all things, Amen.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Ten on Tuesday
1. I am currently in rehearsal for two different gigs, one churchy music and one not. Church organist is accompanist for both. He hates coming to a final decision about any arrangement. I like decisions. All things considered, we do remarkably well.
2. My sweetie is happy this week because a certain computer company whose name rhymes with Snapple is giving him a brand new computer. Why? Because they've had his since January 12th and can't seem to find the part they need to fix it. So now they're ordering a new one and they're going to transfer all his stuff onto it. Nice, eh? Make sure you pay the extra for SnappleCare. It pays off.
3. I had a three hour visit today with church "members" who haven't been active since the mid-90's. I think they might be in church again very soon. Cool.
4. I have been walking 40 minutes twice a week for a few weeks now, with a local clergy colleague. Two lady preachers on the Baptists' track. Hee hee. It's a good thing.
5. Our cat still doesn't really have a name. But this week, he has a new one auditioning: Mister Shane. As in, "I Hear Mister Shane" that song I recently learned, as understood by my sweetie when he first heard it years ago.
6. Sweetie played it for me and I realized that he had saved me from major embarrassment. I had wondered why said organist was pronouncing the German so oddly and wrongly. So I was saying it correctly (as per my understanding of correct German pronunciation, which isn't schooled, but experienced and not flawless, but not clueless either). As it turns out, it's supposed to rhyme. Who knew? Not me till I heard the Andrews Sisters singing it and realized I would sound totally ridiculous pronouncing it "correctly". Just goes to show there's more than one way to be right.
7. I know some of you are living in frigid temperatures much worse than ours, but it's cold here. I heard a new theory today that I like: Because it keeps going back and forth (sometimes in a single day) between frigid and warm, we don't have the chance to acclimate. That's why it seems so cold.
8. I really need to go to the eye doctor. I mostly notice this when I'm on this computer. I'm squinting and moving my glasses around all the time to get things focused. It's been two years. I'm probably due.
9. I watched "The Way We Were" last night for the first time ever. It holds up better than a lot of movies made around the same time. The relationship at the center is more complicated than you might guess. And the politics are very informative.
10. Someone ought to make a cartoon summation of Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States." Last night's movie made me realize this. How else will we retain memory of the Old Left? Who makes movies with people protesting Franco anymore? Someone needs to keep that history alive!
2. My sweetie is happy this week because a certain computer company whose name rhymes with Snapple is giving him a brand new computer. Why? Because they've had his since January 12th and can't seem to find the part they need to fix it. So now they're ordering a new one and they're going to transfer all his stuff onto it. Nice, eh? Make sure you pay the extra for SnappleCare. It pays off.
3. I had a three hour visit today with church "members" who haven't been active since the mid-90's. I think they might be in church again very soon. Cool.
4. I have been walking 40 minutes twice a week for a few weeks now, with a local clergy colleague. Two lady preachers on the Baptists' track. Hee hee. It's a good thing.
5. Our cat still doesn't really have a name. But this week, he has a new one auditioning: Mister Shane. As in, "I Hear Mister Shane" that song I recently learned, as understood by my sweetie when he first heard it years ago.
6. Sweetie played it for me and I realized that he had saved me from major embarrassment. I had wondered why said organist was pronouncing the German so oddly and wrongly. So I was saying it correctly (as per my understanding of correct German pronunciation, which isn't schooled, but experienced and not flawless, but not clueless either). As it turns out, it's supposed to rhyme. Who knew? Not me till I heard the Andrews Sisters singing it and realized I would sound totally ridiculous pronouncing it "correctly". Just goes to show there's more than one way to be right.
7. I know some of you are living in frigid temperatures much worse than ours, but it's cold here. I heard a new theory today that I like: Because it keeps going back and forth (sometimes in a single day) between frigid and warm, we don't have the chance to acclimate. That's why it seems so cold.
8. I really need to go to the eye doctor. I mostly notice this when I'm on this computer. I'm squinting and moving my glasses around all the time to get things focused. It's been two years. I'm probably due.
9. I watched "The Way We Were" last night for the first time ever. It holds up better than a lot of movies made around the same time. The relationship at the center is more complicated than you might guess. And the politics are very informative.
10. Someone ought to make a cartoon summation of Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States." Last night's movie made me realize this. How else will we retain memory of the Old Left? Who makes movies with people protesting Franco anymore? Someone needs to keep that history alive!
Monday, February 2, 2009
One Bright Spot
I was paying bills and balancing the check book and feeling generally broke, and then I discovered that this was the second month in a row that the bank thought we had $100 more than I thought we had. I decided to believe them.
I consider myself pretty much in the middle on financial on-top-of-things-ness. I do balance the check book every month, though not always as soon as my statement gets here. But there was no way I was going to track down where that extra $100 actually came from.
There were a few months in a row when the balance was off by $20 in one direction and 2 cents in the other direction. (Some people would describe that as being off by $19.98, but I don't.) Eventually, I just changed my balance to match the bank.
My approach is to write down my results on the statement each month. If they're off from the bank, I try a couple times at least. Then I wait to see if it's the same the next month.
I suppose if it were really off in the bank's favor, I would try harder. But for now, though I would usually wait longer than two months, I think I'm taking the hundred bucks.
How do you make your balance work?
I consider myself pretty much in the middle on financial on-top-of-things-ness. I do balance the check book every month, though not always as soon as my statement gets here. But there was no way I was going to track down where that extra $100 actually came from.
There were a few months in a row when the balance was off by $20 in one direction and 2 cents in the other direction. (Some people would describe that as being off by $19.98, but I don't.) Eventually, I just changed my balance to match the bank.
My approach is to write down my results on the statement each month. If they're off from the bank, I try a couple times at least. Then I wait to see if it's the same the next month.
I suppose if it were really off in the bank's favor, I would try harder. But for now, though I would usually wait longer than two months, I think I'm taking the hundred bucks.
How do you make your balance work?
More Bad News, Sorry
The economy fell apart a long time ago for the poor.
Check out this story from Mother Jones about qualified people being kept off of welfare so states can use the money elsewhere.
If I were one of those people who thought God directly punished countries for their behavior, I would say that the current financial meltdown is God's response to evil like this.
Check out this story from Mother Jones about qualified people being kept off of welfare so states can use the money elsewhere.
If I were one of those people who thought God directly punished countries for their behavior, I would say that the current financial meltdown is God's response to evil like this.
When it rains, it pours...
Two families are deserving of your prayers this morning.
First of all, my regional minister's step-dad passed away, somewhat suddenly yesterday. They are traveling there today. But to make matters worse, he (RM, not step-dad) was robbed at a gas station, in broad daylight on Saturday, and their son's guitar was stolen as well. Lots of pain and hassle.
And even more sadly, over the weekend, a local family had trial number three. They lost their mom to cancer a year or so ago. The daugter was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks or months later and has been struggling with it ever since. She is most likely terminal at this point. Then, this weekend, the dad had a heart attack and had to have stents installed in emergency surgery. There is a little boy in the family as well.
Please keep these people in your prayers. It's so hard to understand why some people are hit so hard.
First of all, my regional minister's step-dad passed away, somewhat suddenly yesterday. They are traveling there today. But to make matters worse, he (RM, not step-dad) was robbed at a gas station, in broad daylight on Saturday, and their son's guitar was stolen as well. Lots of pain and hassle.
And even more sadly, over the weekend, a local family had trial number three. They lost their mom to cancer a year or so ago. The daugter was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks or months later and has been struggling with it ever since. She is most likely terminal at this point. Then, this weekend, the dad had a heart attack and had to have stents installed in emergency surgery. There is a little boy in the family as well.
Please keep these people in your prayers. It's so hard to understand why some people are hit so hard.
Being Pedantic
Just in case you were not certain, the contraction that is used, supposedly mostly in the South, to shorten the words "you all" is not spelled "ya'll". It is a contraction of the words "you all" after all, and as we learned in school, when building a contraction, the apostrophe goes where the letters are missing. Which letters are missing? The "ou" from "you". So clearly, the word is spelled "y'all".
I say all this because I'm very tired of seeing it spelled wrong on facebook. I am aware that when typing it, the fingers frequently get confused because it feels unfamiliar and type "ya'll" instead. But that is a typo and should be corrected. Please.
Thanks for listening!
I say all this because I'm very tired of seeing it spelled wrong on facebook. I am aware that when typing it, the fingers frequently get confused because it feels unfamiliar and type "ya'll" instead. But that is a typo and should be corrected. Please.
Thanks for listening!
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