For I will be in meetings the next few days, at our denominational headquarters, in a stupid, over-priced downtown hotel that doesn't provide free internet access. Meanies.
Anyway, for going away on a trip, I'm feeling remarkably together. I'm supposed to leave in ten minutes. I'm packed. My house is as clean as it's been in ages. I even remembered to make new nectar for the hummingbird feeder, which is currently cooling in the freezer. So the only thing I have left to do is fill and hang the feeder.
I am sad for my cat, who will be all alone the next few days. Sweet Girl will come to feed him, but she doesn't really have time to hang out. He'll survive though, and by Tuesday, he won't even remember he was ever abandoned.
I think things are together at church. I have a fair amount of that kind of church work to do yet while I'm gone. (One devotion to write, one memo to write up and email, class to prepare, sermon to write.) But I think it will be fine.
I am hoping and planning and praying that I'll go salsa dancing on Thursday night. I really, really need to do that. Even if it requires taking a cab, I think it just needs to happen.
I had a pretty major epiphany about some dynamics at my church last night. Some stuff that explains assessments of my ministry style that have always seemed a little bit true, but mostly over-wrought. So it will be interesting to talk that through with some colleagues this weekend.
So here I go, to the meeting that probably won't be that bad. And salsa dancing!
Have a great end of May! Ciao!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Eliminating Dread, or Just Managing It?
In general, I believe that if there are things in one's life that one dreads, one should do what one can to remove those things from one's life. Except of course, that sometimes dread is a false indicator.
For instance, this week I have to go to a three-day board meeting. Now, I'm sure some of you automatically think you understand why this would be connected to dread, but you need to understand that, in general, I actually enjoy meetings. There is a large part of my personality that is well-suited to the life of a bureaucrat. I do not, categorically, dread the idea of a three-day board meeting.
But these particular board meetings seem to come pretty close. And yet, I keep going. Partly because though I reject the false fetish this country has with "not being a quitter" I do believe in following through on commitments I have made. Partly because part of the reason this board is so hard on me is because I have taken on the role of loyal opposition and I don't want to abandon my post.
But the other thing about it is that it's never as bad as I think it will be. I think I have a higher tolerance for conflict than a lot of people, and there is, at least within my heart and mind, a lot of conflict at these meetings. But the people that I find so easy to dismiss as blow-hard, angry, stuck-in-the-past, short-sighted, annoying tools when I'm just thinking about them seem to have a consistent habit of becoming humans, fellow Christians even, when we're actually together.
So yes, if there is something in your life that causes you dread repetitively, examine it. If the dread is fair and justified, and the results of experiencing the dread are not worth it, get out. But if that's not the case, it's helpful to remember one of the lessons my mother taught me: Sometimes being a grown-up means having to do things you don't like doing.
For instance, this week I have to go to a three-day board meeting. Now, I'm sure some of you automatically think you understand why this would be connected to dread, but you need to understand that, in general, I actually enjoy meetings. There is a large part of my personality that is well-suited to the life of a bureaucrat. I do not, categorically, dread the idea of a three-day board meeting.
But these particular board meetings seem to come pretty close. And yet, I keep going. Partly because though I reject the false fetish this country has with "not being a quitter" I do believe in following through on commitments I have made. Partly because part of the reason this board is so hard on me is because I have taken on the role of loyal opposition and I don't want to abandon my post.
But the other thing about it is that it's never as bad as I think it will be. I think I have a higher tolerance for conflict than a lot of people, and there is, at least within my heart and mind, a lot of conflict at these meetings. But the people that I find so easy to dismiss as blow-hard, angry, stuck-in-the-past, short-sighted, annoying tools when I'm just thinking about them seem to have a consistent habit of becoming humans, fellow Christians even, when we're actually together.
So yes, if there is something in your life that causes you dread repetitively, examine it. If the dread is fair and justified, and the results of experiencing the dread are not worth it, get out. But if that's not the case, it's helpful to remember one of the lessons my mother taught me: Sometimes being a grown-up means having to do things you don't like doing.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
A Visit
Way back in March, I think it was, I finally got around to purchasing a hummingbird feeder, making some nectar and hanging it up outside the window of my home office. I had all sorts of good intentions about replacing the nectar every few days.
But I'm really bad at those sorts of things. So I didn't. And I never saw any hummers come to it, so I sort of gave up. And it hung there with that first batch of nectar in it for an irresponsible amount of time.
But then! O happy day! On Friday, I happened to be in my office, on the phone, and one pretty little bird came by for every so brief a second. In fact, it was sort of like he saw the feeder, checked it out, and said to himself, "This stuff is nasty!" before flying off.
But just in case he was a forgiving sort of bird, I instantly reformed in my habits. As soon as I got off the phone, I got out the ladder, brought the feeder down, washed it out, made new nectar, and hung it up again.
And he was back this morning. Do you have any idea how cool it is to get to watch a hummingbird while you're writing a sermon?
I didn't put the ladder back in the basement; I found a spot for it on the back porch so it won't be so hard to replace the nectar. I really don't want to make the little birds sick. I guess this was one of those have-to-see-to-believe sorts of things. They could have been coming all along, just in moments I wasn't around to notice. But now I have, and inspiration has returned.
P.S. Nature is not all enjoyable prettiness though. This afternoon while opening a window on the porch, I suddenly had a bunch of tiny, little ants all over my hand! And ever since, I keep feeling like I still them crawling on me. Ick.
But I'm really bad at those sorts of things. So I didn't. And I never saw any hummers come to it, so I sort of gave up. And it hung there with that first batch of nectar in it for an irresponsible amount of time.
But then! O happy day! On Friday, I happened to be in my office, on the phone, and one pretty little bird came by for every so brief a second. In fact, it was sort of like he saw the feeder, checked it out, and said to himself, "This stuff is nasty!" before flying off.
But just in case he was a forgiving sort of bird, I instantly reformed in my habits. As soon as I got off the phone, I got out the ladder, brought the feeder down, washed it out, made new nectar, and hung it up again.
And he was back this morning. Do you have any idea how cool it is to get to watch a hummingbird while you're writing a sermon?
I didn't put the ladder back in the basement; I found a spot for it on the back porch so it won't be so hard to replace the nectar. I really don't want to make the little birds sick. I guess this was one of those have-to-see-to-believe sorts of things. They could have been coming all along, just in moments I wasn't around to notice. But now I have, and inspiration has returned.
P.S. Nature is not all enjoyable prettiness though. This afternoon while opening a window on the porch, I suddenly had a bunch of tiny, little ants all over my hand! And ever since, I keep feeling like I still them crawling on me. Ick.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
"The War Upon Women Rages On"
Let there be no doubt about this: the wars this country conducts could not be maintained without the continual exploitation of women.
The military has, of late, been trying to polish its reputation when it comes to its treatment of women soldiers. But it's window-dressing if you look at the numbers. Soldiers are told one thing in class and then taught another thing entirely by their experience. Women who report sexual harassment or rape are punished. The men culpable have their knuckles rapped.
Why is this so? I believe it is two reasons: A) There is still a large percentage of men in the military who don't want women there and they are more than willing to promote an atmosphere of hostility to women in order to convince them to leave. B) If the military kicked out every male soldier who behaved indecently toward a woman, they wouldn't have enough people left to fight their wars. So they feel they can't afford to take women's safety and integrity seriously.
Helen Benedict, a journalism professor at Columbia, has a book coming out about the plight of women soldiers. This excerpt from her book is available over at The Nation. It paints a horrifying picture. Something must be done.
The military has, of late, been trying to polish its reputation when it comes to its treatment of women soldiers. But it's window-dressing if you look at the numbers. Soldiers are told one thing in class and then taught another thing entirely by their experience. Women who report sexual harassment or rape are punished. The men culpable have their knuckles rapped.
Why is this so? I believe it is two reasons: A) There is still a large percentage of men in the military who don't want women there and they are more than willing to promote an atmosphere of hostility to women in order to convince them to leave. B) If the military kicked out every male soldier who behaved indecently toward a woman, they wouldn't have enough people left to fight their wars. So they feel they can't afford to take women's safety and integrity seriously.
Helen Benedict, a journalism professor at Columbia, has a book coming out about the plight of women soldiers. This excerpt from her book is available over at The Nation. It paints a horrifying picture. Something must be done.
Friday, May 22, 2009
One of the Things I Love about Being a Pastor
Even before I really knew anything about it, I knew that being a pastor would mean I would have lots of different kinds of jobs. Most people would qualify ministry as a professional job, a thinking job, something that requires a vibrant intellectual training (well, most of the people talking about the kind of pastorate I have pursued, anyway).
But one of the things about being a pastor that I love is that I get to do lots of other kinds of things too, things that aren't so much about thinking as they are about building things, or creating things, or working out physical solutions to physical problems (like how to create privacy for a baptism when there isn't any).
There is an interesting piece in the NYT today about the attraction of jobs that require doing actual physical work. It may seem weird, but I can relate. (Warning: It's adapted from a book, so it's way longer than you might expect. But interesting and well-written.)
But one of the things about being a pastor that I love is that I get to do lots of other kinds of things too, things that aren't so much about thinking as they are about building things, or creating things, or working out physical solutions to physical problems (like how to create privacy for a baptism when there isn't any).
There is an interesting piece in the NYT today about the attraction of jobs that require doing actual physical work. It may seem weird, but I can relate. (Warning: It's adapted from a book, so it's way longer than you might expect. But interesting and well-written.)
The Current Challenge
in the health care reform debate, as succinctly explained by Paul Krugman.
Let us all pray that Obama will stand up to these highway robbers. If he doesn't, he's going to lose 90% of my support. And probably more support from the rest of America than he calculates. I believe that this is one of those issues that some people say things about that they don't really mean. They say they want such-and-such, like a five-year-old who wants to eat candy, but they're really wishing someone would make them do the thing that's good for them. At least, I hope that's true.
Let us all pray that Obama will stand up to these highway robbers. If he doesn't, he's going to lose 90% of my support. And probably more support from the rest of America than he calculates. I believe that this is one of those issues that some people say things about that they don't really mean. They say they want such-and-such, like a five-year-old who wants to eat candy, but they're really wishing someone would make them do the thing that's good for them. At least, I hope that's true.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Mississippi Cool Breeze
"Change is gonna come..."
And in Philadelphia, Mississippi, it arrived recently, when the town elected its first black mayor.
This is the town where James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner lost their lives trying to register voters. If you weren't alive at the time, you might have watched "Mississippi Burning" which came out in 1988.
You can read about it in the NYT here.
I did a project in high school about this story. It was a complicated history thing where I took on the role of a college student who'd gone down there with them and gotten almost involved with one of the guys. It was presented in a series of letters back to and from my pretend family (whom I believe I made up to be New York Jews -- don't know what that was about exactly, but oh well). I wonder if anyone knows where that project is anymore? Maybe if someone did, they should write a comment about it, don't you think?
And in Philadelphia, Mississippi, it arrived recently, when the town elected its first black mayor.
This is the town where James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner lost their lives trying to register voters. If you weren't alive at the time, you might have watched "Mississippi Burning" which came out in 1988.
You can read about it in the NYT here.
I did a project in high school about this story. It was a complicated history thing where I took on the role of a college student who'd gone down there with them and gotten almost involved with one of the guys. It was presented in a series of letters back to and from my pretend family (whom I believe I made up to be New York Jews -- don't know what that was about exactly, but oh well). I wonder if anyone knows where that project is anymore? Maybe if someone did, they should write a comment about it, don't you think?
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Yet Another Reason
why churches need to partner with artists to help people become more tolerant of ambiguity.
Daniel Gilbert's piece in the NYT says that what's got us in this funk is not that we know times are bad, but that we don't know for sure how bad they are.
Uncertainty is a given; you'd think we'd get used to that. As Shawn Colvin sings, "If there's one thing certain, it's there ain't nothing for sure." But we don't.
Churches could help with this. I consider it one of our greatest callings. Yet, so many churches seem bent on the exact opposite: convincing people that they need to know things exactly, the Gospel Truth, the Right Way, and that if they come here, we'll tell them how. How does that equip anyone for living life?
I prefer, instead, to get better and better at telling people "I don't know" in ways that won't frighten them. It's not that easy, but we're working on it.
Daniel Gilbert's piece in the NYT says that what's got us in this funk is not that we know times are bad, but that we don't know for sure how bad they are.
Uncertainty is a given; you'd think we'd get used to that. As Shawn Colvin sings, "If there's one thing certain, it's there ain't nothing for sure." But we don't.
Churches could help with this. I consider it one of our greatest callings. Yet, so many churches seem bent on the exact opposite: convincing people that they need to know things exactly, the Gospel Truth, the Right Way, and that if they come here, we'll tell them how. How does that equip anyone for living life?
I prefer, instead, to get better and better at telling people "I don't know" in ways that won't frighten them. It's not that easy, but we're working on it.
Things My Cat Does That Are Adorable
1. Snores ever so gently.
2. Rolls over sideways, kind of inside out, with his head upside down, while he's sleeping.
3. Falls asleep washing his hand, so that his face is cradled in his paw.
4. Comes and sits on me and the pillow next to me in the mornings, patiently awaiting time for breakfast. (A definite improvement over the days when he just meows LOUDLY from the bedroom door.)
5. Allows me to sit him in my lap, on his butt so that his belly hangs out all funny, for a surprisingly long time.
2. Rolls over sideways, kind of inside out, with his head upside down, while he's sleeping.
3. Falls asleep washing his hand, so that his face is cradled in his paw.
4. Comes and sits on me and the pillow next to me in the mornings, patiently awaiting time for breakfast. (A definite improvement over the days when he just meows LOUDLY from the bedroom door.)
5. Allows me to sit him in my lap, on his butt so that his belly hangs out all funny, for a surprisingly long time.
Small Victories
So remember a while back when I was whining pre-emptively because I finally had two good local friends but they were both about to leave (well, within six months)?
Well, now one of them might not. My walking buddy who was in an interim position now has the possibility of staying on as the interim. (And yes, she knows all the reasons why that might be a bad thing, blah, blah, blah. It's a thoroughly dissected decision.)
The crappy part for her is that now her role has changed and they're now in a five-month period of discernment. Which basically means that she is having a five-month long job interview. But we're pretty sure they actually like her, and didn't just think they liked her because they knew she was leaving. At least, we hope so.
I'm happy. Because my exercise habits were going to wither after October otherwise!
Unfortunately, I still have to work up enthusiasm to be happy for my dear non-church friend who's still moving to Boston for grad school. I guess you can't win them all!
Well, now one of them might not. My walking buddy who was in an interim position now has the possibility of staying on as the interim. (And yes, she knows all the reasons why that might be a bad thing, blah, blah, blah. It's a thoroughly dissected decision.)
The crappy part for her is that now her role has changed and they're now in a five-month period of discernment. Which basically means that she is having a five-month long job interview. But we're pretty sure they actually like her, and didn't just think they liked her because they knew she was leaving. At least, we hope so.
I'm happy. Because my exercise habits were going to wither after October otherwise!
Unfortunately, I still have to work up enthusiasm to be happy for my dear non-church friend who's still moving to Boston for grad school. I guess you can't win them all!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Devotional Message from Last Week
So this is where I'm hoping our church is with Evangelism at this point. Learning to light the lamp...
Matthew 5:14-16 – ”You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (NRSV)
Despite the fact that our congregation’s understanding of and appreciation for evangelism have been growing and deepening throughout almost two years now of intentional engagement with it, there are still many of us who harbor knee-jerk discomfort with the issue. This scripture passage probably evokes the same reaction.
We don’t consider it good manners to “let our light shine before others”. We don’t want to show off, and we don’t want to be seen as pushy. The idea of parading our good works doesn’t even seem Christian to us. What on earth is Jesus thinking here?
Look closely! This passage isn’t about showing off. It’s about showing Christ to the world through the way we live and interact with others. What Jesus actually says is that we are to behave in such a way that people will notice and give glory to God. If the response to our actions is that people give glory to God, it’s probably because we have grown to the point in our own spiritual journeys that Paul described when he said, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
The point here is that evangelism begins by deepening our own relationships with Jesus Christ. If we don’t take time to notice and open ourselves to the good works God has done in our lives – through worship, prayer, Bible study and sharing our journeys with fellow Christians – nobody is going to notice the presence of God in the good works we do. A lamp on a lampstand doesn’t illuminate anything if it isn’t lit!
Collect for the Week: Creator God, who called forth the sun to light the day, ignite the fire of your Spirit in our hearts, that we might live as Christ, bringing glory to you and hope to your people in need. Through Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Matthew 5:14-16 – ”You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (NRSV)
Despite the fact that our congregation’s understanding of and appreciation for evangelism have been growing and deepening throughout almost two years now of intentional engagement with it, there are still many of us who harbor knee-jerk discomfort with the issue. This scripture passage probably evokes the same reaction.
We don’t consider it good manners to “let our light shine before others”. We don’t want to show off, and we don’t want to be seen as pushy. The idea of parading our good works doesn’t even seem Christian to us. What on earth is Jesus thinking here?
Look closely! This passage isn’t about showing off. It’s about showing Christ to the world through the way we live and interact with others. What Jesus actually says is that we are to behave in such a way that people will notice and give glory to God. If the response to our actions is that people give glory to God, it’s probably because we have grown to the point in our own spiritual journeys that Paul described when he said, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
The point here is that evangelism begins by deepening our own relationships with Jesus Christ. If we don’t take time to notice and open ourselves to the good works God has done in our lives – through worship, prayer, Bible study and sharing our journeys with fellow Christians – nobody is going to notice the presence of God in the good works we do. A lamp on a lampstand doesn’t illuminate anything if it isn’t lit!
Collect for the Week: Creator God, who called forth the sun to light the day, ignite the fire of your Spirit in our hearts, that we might live as Christ, bringing glory to you and hope to your people in need. Through Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
May I Vent?
So my day started too early when I took a parishioner to the doctor in the big city (hour long drive) and then we came home without seeing the doctor because nobody had told her she was supposed to pick up and bring her films herself. I'm taking her back Thursday when I have to go to a meeting anyway.
Then I found out that a certain someone did not do what she was instructed to do yesterday and certain someone, of course, will not answer her phone to explain why.
Plus, another parishioner is trying to run things by sending the pastor bossy emails.
And at our Habitat Board meeting, there were horrible, depressing stories about people we have to foreclose on because they're just not doing it, and other people we should, in theory, foreclose on but haven't because they're doing the best they can. It so sucks.
Oh, and the lectionary scriptures are starting to get really, really boring and repetitive. So I'm making up my own for Sunday. Or, I should say, choosing my own. I write hymns, but I don't really have the authority to make up scripture. I did, in the process of all that, remember that last year, I re-wrote "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" so that all the annoying parts are replaced. But I don't think I can make them sing my words two weeks in a row.
At least we had a good time in Bible study talking about the four horsemen of the apocalypse (who are already here and have been all along, by the way) and the scary, locust/scorpion/horse beasts that kill with smoke and fire and sulfur.
The most amazing thing in the book of Revelation: When the seventh seal is opened, "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." That is so weird and cool and mysterious. Is it a sabbath reference? Or did John's listeners need a potty break?
Then I found out that a certain someone did not do what she was instructed to do yesterday and certain someone, of course, will not answer her phone to explain why.
Plus, another parishioner is trying to run things by sending the pastor bossy emails.
And at our Habitat Board meeting, there were horrible, depressing stories about people we have to foreclose on because they're just not doing it, and other people we should, in theory, foreclose on but haven't because they're doing the best they can. It so sucks.
Oh, and the lectionary scriptures are starting to get really, really boring and repetitive. So I'm making up my own for Sunday. Or, I should say, choosing my own. I write hymns, but I don't really have the authority to make up scripture. I did, in the process of all that, remember that last year, I re-wrote "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" so that all the annoying parts are replaced. But I don't think I can make them sing my words two weeks in a row.
At least we had a good time in Bible study talking about the four horsemen of the apocalypse (who are already here and have been all along, by the way) and the scary, locust/scorpion/horse beasts that kill with smoke and fire and sulfur.
The most amazing thing in the book of Revelation: When the seventh seal is opened, "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." That is so weird and cool and mysterious. Is it a sabbath reference? Or did John's listeners need a potty break?
Monday, May 18, 2009
Traffic Hazard
I have a new theory about traffic accidents.
I think they should start asking people who do risky things and cause accidents what sorts of traffic difficulties they were going through just before the thing that caused the accident.
Because my theory is that there is a certain amount of build-up that makes us take risks.
I say this because I know it's true of me. The other day, I was trying to pull out of a parking garage that is near a notoriously annoying intersection. I had to wait and wait and wait. So by the time I got out, I had this pent-up annoyance and a profound sense of the traffic gods owing me one.
So when I saw that the traffic light ahead of me was green (and then yellow), the one that you usually have to wait for forever, I made the decision to go for it. Despite the fact that I was way too far from the actual intersection for that to be a good idea. I'm pretty sure it was red by the time I got there, but I went through anyway. Because I felt entitled to something, for having had to wait so long to get on the road.
That is crazy.
But I sincerely doubt I am the only one who ever does this. What sort of inner monologue would it take to stop ourselves from allowing one incident (having to wait, or having someone cut you off, or missing an exit) to affect the way we handle the next situation?
Anyway, I think they should start asking, because it might eventually convince municipalities to pay more attention to annoying intersections, if they're causing people to make poor decisions in other places too.
I think they should start asking people who do risky things and cause accidents what sorts of traffic difficulties they were going through just before the thing that caused the accident.
Because my theory is that there is a certain amount of build-up that makes us take risks.
I say this because I know it's true of me. The other day, I was trying to pull out of a parking garage that is near a notoriously annoying intersection. I had to wait and wait and wait. So by the time I got out, I had this pent-up annoyance and a profound sense of the traffic gods owing me one.
So when I saw that the traffic light ahead of me was green (and then yellow), the one that you usually have to wait for forever, I made the decision to go for it. Despite the fact that I was way too far from the actual intersection for that to be a good idea. I'm pretty sure it was red by the time I got there, but I went through anyway. Because I felt entitled to something, for having had to wait so long to get on the road.
That is crazy.
But I sincerely doubt I am the only one who ever does this. What sort of inner monologue would it take to stop ourselves from allowing one incident (having to wait, or having someone cut you off, or missing an exit) to affect the way we handle the next situation?
Anyway, I think they should start asking, because it might eventually convince municipalities to pay more attention to annoying intersections, if they're causing people to make poor decisions in other places too.
Day Off
One thing that has surprised me about blogging is that I hardly ever write on Mondays. Which seems weird because Monday is my day off, so you would think I would have lots of time for writing.
But I think maybe the thing is that Monday comes right after Sunday, and my teeny-tiny inner introvert is tired of communicating and just wants to stay home alone and not talk or write or put words together cleverly. Or not.
Maybe it's that part of my day-off orthodoxy is that it's best to face the week of long, hard work after a day of total laziness. And even blogging feels like too much effort.
Or maybe it's that being at work, doing things that cause me to interact with the rest of the world, is what gives me stimuli that prompt me to write.
Anyway, I'm doing it right now, so maybe none of those reasons have anything to do with reality anyway. Which is kind of in keeping with my Mondays anyway, given that "everyone else" has to hate Mondays because they're going back to work and I live in this alternate reality where Monday is like Saturday.
So how are you today?
But I think maybe the thing is that Monday comes right after Sunday, and my teeny-tiny inner introvert is tired of communicating and just wants to stay home alone and not talk or write or put words together cleverly. Or not.
Maybe it's that part of my day-off orthodoxy is that it's best to face the week of long, hard work after a day of total laziness. And even blogging feels like too much effort.
Or maybe it's that being at work, doing things that cause me to interact with the rest of the world, is what gives me stimuli that prompt me to write.
Anyway, I'm doing it right now, so maybe none of those reasons have anything to do with reality anyway. Which is kind of in keeping with my Mondays anyway, given that "everyone else" has to hate Mondays because they're going back to work and I live in this alternate reality where Monday is like Saturday.
So how are you today?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Yay for Germany!
There is an interesting article in today's New York Times about Germany learning to love itself again. I find the recent history of Germans' sense of national self very fascinating, especially as it compares to the U.S.'s history of, for instance, coming to terms with slavery. Quite frankly, I think they've done a much better job, but the situations aren't all that comparable either.
I remember being very aware, when I was there, of Germany trying to make sure it learned its lesson and inculcated it into its children. I don't feel like we do that here. I wonder if the different time scale has anything to do with it. The Holocaust was a horrible, horrific, evil thing, but it only lasted a few years. Slavery, on the other hand, lasted over 100 years. And the genocide of indigenous peoples went on even longer. So does it take longer to repent of such things, or even to realize and admit that we need to repent?
National identity is such a weird thing. The problem I have with American national identity is that it's so dependent on denial, for the most part. I was always impressed by Germany, in say, the late 90s when I was there, because they were so not about denial. I am aware that there was a phase of that. The movie "The Nasty Girl" is very revealing in that regard. I recommend it.
Meanwhile, Happy Anniversary to Germany -- 60 years of democracy and 20 years since the Wall fell!
I remember being very aware, when I was there, of Germany trying to make sure it learned its lesson and inculcated it into its children. I don't feel like we do that here. I wonder if the different time scale has anything to do with it. The Holocaust was a horrible, horrific, evil thing, but it only lasted a few years. Slavery, on the other hand, lasted over 100 years. And the genocide of indigenous peoples went on even longer. So does it take longer to repent of such things, or even to realize and admit that we need to repent?
National identity is such a weird thing. The problem I have with American national identity is that it's so dependent on denial, for the most part. I was always impressed by Germany, in say, the late 90s when I was there, because they were so not about denial. I am aware that there was a phase of that. The movie "The Nasty Girl" is very revealing in that regard. I recommend it.
Meanwhile, Happy Anniversary to Germany -- 60 years of democracy and 20 years since the Wall fell!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Workers of the World, Unite!
Some exciting stories from Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein over at the Nation.
It's so hard for me to imagine Americans getting up the energy to occupy a factory. There is so much working against that, tv, pressure to conform, pressure to believe other people know better than you, pressure to be a "good loser".
So it's exciting to see these stories from all over the world about workers taking over the means of production, and especially heart-warming to see Americans included in it.
It's so hard for me to imagine Americans getting up the energy to occupy a factory. There is so much working against that, tv, pressure to conform, pressure to believe other people know better than you, pressure to be a "good loser".
So it's exciting to see these stories from all over the world about workers taking over the means of production, and especially heart-warming to see Americans included in it.
Friday Five - Friends Edition
Over at RevGalBlogPals, they are asking about friends today. Different kinds of friends from different seasons of your life. It makes me a little nervous to pick out just five, so I'm not going to mention names, and I'm going for variety. I love all my friends (all my real friends, not necessarily all my facebook friends), so if you don't get a mention here, please don't feel hurt. I'm going for distinctive type and life-range, in chronological order.
1. Childhood backyard friend: A friend who was in my second grade class who would come over to my house and play in the jungle that was my backyard. We made this stuff we called "grinch" (no relation to the Seuss being) from the poisonous (!), purple pokeberries in my backyard. Sometimes we dressed up and played house with it. It was strange, but we enjoyed ourselves.
2. Adolescent camp friend: my best friend from camp was probably the beginning of a life-time friendship pattern for me. We could be very good friends, occasionally communicate between seeing each other, and then when we did, pick up right where we'd left off. We actually became close enough and got old enough that we could see each other between camp each summer because we learned to drive.
3. Life-long friend: Lots of you fit into this category. There are people I bond with, and like camp friend, we don't always talk that often, but the connection is maintained. This is probably the only kind of friend I can really have, because I'm not very good at staying in touch. I appreciate the level of comfort and lack of pressure of knowing that these people are my good friends, without having to check in every week. There are people in this category from early and later stages of my life.
4. Non-church friend: Every pastor should have at least one. A local person who is never going to join your church so the pressure is off and you can just have fun. Unfortunately, mine is going to move away. Boo.
5. Accountability friends: These are people who probably fit into category three also, but they have additional special functions. One is my walking buddy, who helps me stay faithful to exercise. The other is my prayer partner, who helps me remember to check in with God. Thanks, friends!
The bonus is all of you that I've become closer with through blogging. I'm still very new at this, but I am pleasantly surprised at the depth of friendship sharing comments and thoughts can develop. Thanks! I love you all!
1. Childhood backyard friend: A friend who was in my second grade class who would come over to my house and play in the jungle that was my backyard. We made this stuff we called "grinch" (no relation to the Seuss being) from the poisonous (!), purple pokeberries in my backyard. Sometimes we dressed up and played house with it. It was strange, but we enjoyed ourselves.
2. Adolescent camp friend: my best friend from camp was probably the beginning of a life-time friendship pattern for me. We could be very good friends, occasionally communicate between seeing each other, and then when we did, pick up right where we'd left off. We actually became close enough and got old enough that we could see each other between camp each summer because we learned to drive.
3. Life-long friend: Lots of you fit into this category. There are people I bond with, and like camp friend, we don't always talk that often, but the connection is maintained. This is probably the only kind of friend I can really have, because I'm not very good at staying in touch. I appreciate the level of comfort and lack of pressure of knowing that these people are my good friends, without having to check in every week. There are people in this category from early and later stages of my life.
4. Non-church friend: Every pastor should have at least one. A local person who is never going to join your church so the pressure is off and you can just have fun. Unfortunately, mine is going to move away. Boo.
5. Accountability friends: These are people who probably fit into category three also, but they have additional special functions. One is my walking buddy, who helps me stay faithful to exercise. The other is my prayer partner, who helps me remember to check in with God. Thanks, friends!
The bonus is all of you that I've become closer with through blogging. I'm still very new at this, but I am pleasantly surprised at the depth of friendship sharing comments and thoughts can develop. Thanks! I love you all!
Bucket List 2
So I actually watched that movie about doing certain things before you die the other night. And I still have problems with it.
There is a short feature with the film's creator at the end that was even more annoying. Because he ignored the things in his movie that make it unrealistic, and thus ended up accusing the rest of us of being too apathetic to follow our dreams.
The thing he ignored: one of the old guys in the movie was disgustingly rich. It's even implied that he didn't necessarily get his money in nice ways. So when the time comes to go sky-diving and travel the world, "money is no object". Terribly realistic, eh?
Two other things about the movie that bugged me a little:
One, the common complaint of many black-white buddy movies: Morgan Freeman was sort of type-cast into that uber-wise, ethnic guru friend role that people of color so often are in movies. It's a bit tired. Sure, the Jack Nicholson character taught Freeman a lesson to, but the dynamic was pretty clear: Uneducated, but wise mechanic accompanies rich, unhappy CEO on spiritual journey. Blah
Also, by having Morgan Freeman be the narrator at the very beginning (and I'm about to spoil the movie for you, just so you know), it gives the impression all through the movie that one of them isn't going to die. Why is it that even in a movie about death, we can't let go?
There is a short feature with the film's creator at the end that was even more annoying. Because he ignored the things in his movie that make it unrealistic, and thus ended up accusing the rest of us of being too apathetic to follow our dreams.
The thing he ignored: one of the old guys in the movie was disgustingly rich. It's even implied that he didn't necessarily get his money in nice ways. So when the time comes to go sky-diving and travel the world, "money is no object". Terribly realistic, eh?
Two other things about the movie that bugged me a little:
One, the common complaint of many black-white buddy movies: Morgan Freeman was sort of type-cast into that uber-wise, ethnic guru friend role that people of color so often are in movies. It's a bit tired. Sure, the Jack Nicholson character taught Freeman a lesson to, but the dynamic was pretty clear: Uneducated, but wise mechanic accompanies rich, unhappy CEO on spiritual journey. Blah
Also, by having Morgan Freeman be the narrator at the very beginning (and I'm about to spoil the movie for you, just so you know), it gives the impression all through the movie that one of them isn't going to die. Why is it that even in a movie about death, we can't let go?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Another New Hymn
It is pretty true that necessity is the mother of invention. Or more to the point, in this case, dissatisfaction is the mother of inspiration.
I wrote another hymn today, again to the tune Austrian Hymn ("Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken"). I wrote it because I couldn't find anything else in the whole hymnal that I was satisfied with for the particular spot I was looking to fill. (And probably because I had seven gallons of work I should have been doing instead, but that's a different issue, now isn't it?) I used this same tune because I've been wanting to sing it (and I never actually used the Easter version).
To be honest, this hymn doesn't exactly give me what I wanted either, but I think I would have to have written a new tune for that, and those are skills I have not yet developed. But now there is a hymn commemorating one of my favorite, under-used stories from the Book of Acts, the tale of Peter and Cornelius. Since it's the earliest watershed moment of Gentiles getting invited into the Body of Christ, you'd think we'd make a bigger deal of it than we do.
I would like to institute a new church holiday called the Festival of the Clean Sheets that celebrates this story. I would put it around September First (which just happens to be my ordination anniversary) because that would put it smack dab in the middle of ordinary time, right where we need a holiday. The primary focus of the celebration would be a big crazy, ecumenical picnic with lots of crazy food. Anyway, go read Acts 10, and then come back and see what you think of this hymn.
"Visions of a Common Family"
Visions came to good Cornelius:
God had heard his faithful prayer.
“Send for Peter, at the seaside;
Though he now is unaware,
He will bring you words of wonder,
comfort, welcome and release.”
Doors are opening to the stranger;
Can God’s children live in peace?
Peter praying on the rooftop,
challenged by the Lord’s command,
first protested his own righteousness,
then saw Love in this demand.
All are welcomed; enter freely.
God’s own house is your domain!
What our God has named as holy,
we must never call profane.
As the words of Life were spoken,
friends and servants gathered round,
Gentiles each and every one of them;
by our barriers, all are bound.
Then God’s Spirit came upon them,
baptizing with Christ’s own power!
Visions of a common family
even now begin to flower.
I wrote another hymn today, again to the tune Austrian Hymn ("Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken"). I wrote it because I couldn't find anything else in the whole hymnal that I was satisfied with for the particular spot I was looking to fill. (And probably because I had seven gallons of work I should have been doing instead, but that's a different issue, now isn't it?) I used this same tune because I've been wanting to sing it (and I never actually used the Easter version).
To be honest, this hymn doesn't exactly give me what I wanted either, but I think I would have to have written a new tune for that, and those are skills I have not yet developed. But now there is a hymn commemorating one of my favorite, under-used stories from the Book of Acts, the tale of Peter and Cornelius. Since it's the earliest watershed moment of Gentiles getting invited into the Body of Christ, you'd think we'd make a bigger deal of it than we do.
I would like to institute a new church holiday called the Festival of the Clean Sheets that celebrates this story. I would put it around September First (which just happens to be my ordination anniversary) because that would put it smack dab in the middle of ordinary time, right where we need a holiday. The primary focus of the celebration would be a big crazy, ecumenical picnic with lots of crazy food. Anyway, go read Acts 10, and then come back and see what you think of this hymn.
"Visions of a Common Family"
Visions came to good Cornelius:
God had heard his faithful prayer.
“Send for Peter, at the seaside;
Though he now is unaware,
He will bring you words of wonder,
comfort, welcome and release.”
Doors are opening to the stranger;
Can God’s children live in peace?
Peter praying on the rooftop,
challenged by the Lord’s command,
first protested his own righteousness,
then saw Love in this demand.
All are welcomed; enter freely.
God’s own house is your domain!
What our God has named as holy,
we must never call profane.
As the words of Life were spoken,
friends and servants gathered round,
Gentiles each and every one of them;
by our barriers, all are bound.
Then God’s Spirit came upon them,
baptizing with Christ’s own power!
Visions of a common family
even now begin to flower.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day and otherwise
Maybe it's the rain, maybe it's just where my ministry is at the moment, but today, I'm feeling very aware of the complications of celebrating Mother's Day in public ways.
Today, I am thankful for my mother, and the other mothers in my life. But I'm also remembering women who have tried and tried to become mothers and not been able to, and children (adult or not) whose mothers are aging or ill or fighting cancer, and people who have lost their mothers, and people whose mothers weren't really mothers to them, and new mothers suffering from post-partum depression.
I am amazed that anyone is willing to have children, as I find it the most terrifying thing I can imagine doing on purpose. You are brave. I also don't have the stomach for that kind of self-sacrifice. So I'm glad you do it, because I ain't going to.
But in the midst of all the pink and the marketing and the flowers, I want to give a shout-out to all those for whom this day is complicated or hard. God bless us all, whatever our lot!
Today, I am thankful for my mother, and the other mothers in my life. But I'm also remembering women who have tried and tried to become mothers and not been able to, and children (adult or not) whose mothers are aging or ill or fighting cancer, and people who have lost their mothers, and people whose mothers weren't really mothers to them, and new mothers suffering from post-partum depression.
I am amazed that anyone is willing to have children, as I find it the most terrifying thing I can imagine doing on purpose. You are brave. I also don't have the stomach for that kind of self-sacrifice. So I'm glad you do it, because I ain't going to.
But in the midst of all the pink and the marketing and the flowers, I want to give a shout-out to all those for whom this day is complicated or hard. God bless us all, whatever our lot!
A Reality that Could Be Very Different
So it's possible I broke my toe. Probably I didn't. Probably I just stubbed it (well, really stubbed my foot) really hard and it's bruised but not broken.
I've gotten lots of conflicting advice from facebook friends -- just ice it, eat bananas, get it x-rayed, they won't do anything so tape it yourself -- none of whom, of course, have actually seen my toe. I have iced it and I wrapped it when I went to bed last night and again today when I went to church. It doesn't hurt too terribly bad today, but it does still hurt.
I had considered calling my doctor this afternoon, because she's good about me calling her at home. But it's Mother's Day. And it doesn't hurt as much as it did.
One person told me that untreated broken toes can lead to bone spurs. And the thing is__I've never broken a bone before, so I'd kind of like to get an x-ray just to know if I broke something. But I don't know if I will.
At this point, I think I've decided that if it still hurts substantially tomorrow, I'll go to the urgent care place and see about getting an x-ray.
But here's the thing: we're nowhere close to having used up our deductible yet, so all of these decisions are made with finances in the mix. And from what I know, if we had single-payer health care like they do in Canada or Britain, I would probably have gone this afternoon just to check it out. And then I would know. Instead, I sit here weighing my options and trying to figure out how much something should hurt before you do something about it.
Things could be different.
Oh, and don't try to take off your shoes while you're walking. It could be dangerous!
I've gotten lots of conflicting advice from facebook friends -- just ice it, eat bananas, get it x-rayed, they won't do anything so tape it yourself -- none of whom, of course, have actually seen my toe. I have iced it and I wrapped it when I went to bed last night and again today when I went to church. It doesn't hurt too terribly bad today, but it does still hurt.
I had considered calling my doctor this afternoon, because she's good about me calling her at home. But it's Mother's Day. And it doesn't hurt as much as it did.
One person told me that untreated broken toes can lead to bone spurs. And the thing is__I've never broken a bone before, so I'd kind of like to get an x-ray just to know if I broke something. But I don't know if I will.
At this point, I think I've decided that if it still hurts substantially tomorrow, I'll go to the urgent care place and see about getting an x-ray.
But here's the thing: we're nowhere close to having used up our deductible yet, so all of these decisions are made with finances in the mix. And from what I know, if we had single-payer health care like they do in Canada or Britain, I would probably have gone this afternoon just to check it out. And then I would know. Instead, I sit here weighing my options and trying to figure out how much something should hurt before you do something about it.
Things could be different.
Oh, and don't try to take off your shoes while you're walking. It could be dangerous!
Friday, May 8, 2009
A Tribute
I have a lot of trouble getting out of bed some days. Maybe most days. The reason for this is that I go to bed too late.
Last night, after going to bed too late (see previous post that was supposedly published "today"), I realized that today was the deadline for sending in letters to celebrate my college advisor who is retiring this spring. And I really, really wanted to do one. Especially since I missed the deadline for my other favorite college professor a couple years ago. I don't want to be that person, but so often I am. So I got up again and went to bed way too late instead of just too late.
My college advisor was a Catholic nun who taught me many important things, mostly outside class. So here it is, with identifying details removed:
What a gift you are! Congratulations – not just on your retirement, but on 29 years of sharing your considerable gifts and wisdom with generations of College students. I pray that this next chapter will be another time of growth and enjoyment for you! But before you go, I want to join with others in thanking you for all you’ve done and letting you know the deep impact you had on my life. I am so sorry I cannot be there for your celebration.
Of course, the most vivid memories we shared are those from when I assisted you in moving out of your apartment after the fire there. You probably don’t remember it, but you introduced me to Mu Shu Pork one of those nights; it became a favorite. The courses that I took from you were some of the most foundational for my life as a Christian and a minister. But the teachings that have stuck with me the most are things you said to me in your office. I’m not sure I realized at the time that you were one of the best advisers I ever had. Three things in particular stand out.
I received my call to ministry the summer before I arrived at College, but I spent my first two years assuming I would be a sociology major. When I finally realized that I belonged in the Religion department and dealt with the embarrassment of changing my major two weeks after declaring, I was assigned to you as an advisee. You wisely counseled me to see my time at College as a chance to indulge in the World Religion nature of the department, assuring me that I would have plenty of time to specialize in seminary. That advice led me to take Introduction to Islam, which cemented in me a conviction that all Christian pastors should learn more about Islam. It led me to take at least one more course in Islam in seminary, and together those experiences have enabled me to lead discussions on a couple of books on Islam that have proved especially enlightening and fruitful for our Ecumenical Book Group here in town.
Another thought that always brings you to mind is what you taught me about compromise, conflict and community, by comparing Catholics and Protestants. You pointed out to me that, unlike we quarrelsome Protestants who would just go start our own party if we got mad – each preferring to do things exactly our own way – as long as dissenting Catholics didn’t leave, the Church of Rome had some level of obligation to hear them. It makes the room very big, you said. I was skeptical, but I have found myself coming back to this point repeatedly, not necessarily with reference to Rome, but when surrounded by quarrelsome Protestants that I discover, with frustration, I cannot abandon.
Finally, the quote of yours that has come up the most in my ministry: “The poor cannot eat guilt.” There is so much thought and prayer behind that, so much humility and wisdom and insight. I have used it in sermons and other writings. It comes to mind when I’m dealing with people in need who show up at our downtown church office door, always after the hours of local service agencies. For me, it sums up the integrity of your life as a teacher and a follower of Christ. You were not there merely to play with ideas, but to challenge your students to allow ideas to impact the way they lived their lives. I thank you for that.
I wish you many wonderful things as you move into retirement. Good books, cozy and beautiful spaces, interesting travel plans, and the company of people who approach life with the reverence, gratitude, seriousness and enjoyment that you do. May God carry you close, gently, firmly and lightly. Go in peace.
Last night, after going to bed too late (see previous post that was supposedly published "today"), I realized that today was the deadline for sending in letters to celebrate my college advisor who is retiring this spring. And I really, really wanted to do one. Especially since I missed the deadline for my other favorite college professor a couple years ago. I don't want to be that person, but so often I am. So I got up again and went to bed way too late instead of just too late.
My college advisor was a Catholic nun who taught me many important things, mostly outside class. So here it is, with identifying details removed:
What a gift you are! Congratulations – not just on your retirement, but on 29 years of sharing your considerable gifts and wisdom with generations of College students. I pray that this next chapter will be another time of growth and enjoyment for you! But before you go, I want to join with others in thanking you for all you’ve done and letting you know the deep impact you had on my life. I am so sorry I cannot be there for your celebration.
Of course, the most vivid memories we shared are those from when I assisted you in moving out of your apartment after the fire there. You probably don’t remember it, but you introduced me to Mu Shu Pork one of those nights; it became a favorite. The courses that I took from you were some of the most foundational for my life as a Christian and a minister. But the teachings that have stuck with me the most are things you said to me in your office. I’m not sure I realized at the time that you were one of the best advisers I ever had. Three things in particular stand out.
I received my call to ministry the summer before I arrived at College, but I spent my first two years assuming I would be a sociology major. When I finally realized that I belonged in the Religion department and dealt with the embarrassment of changing my major two weeks after declaring, I was assigned to you as an advisee. You wisely counseled me to see my time at College as a chance to indulge in the World Religion nature of the department, assuring me that I would have plenty of time to specialize in seminary. That advice led me to take Introduction to Islam, which cemented in me a conviction that all Christian pastors should learn more about Islam. It led me to take at least one more course in Islam in seminary, and together those experiences have enabled me to lead discussions on a couple of books on Islam that have proved especially enlightening and fruitful for our Ecumenical Book Group here in town.
Another thought that always brings you to mind is what you taught me about compromise, conflict and community, by comparing Catholics and Protestants. You pointed out to me that, unlike we quarrelsome Protestants who would just go start our own party if we got mad – each preferring to do things exactly our own way – as long as dissenting Catholics didn’t leave, the Church of Rome had some level of obligation to hear them. It makes the room very big, you said. I was skeptical, but I have found myself coming back to this point repeatedly, not necessarily with reference to Rome, but when surrounded by quarrelsome Protestants that I discover, with frustration, I cannot abandon.
Finally, the quote of yours that has come up the most in my ministry: “The poor cannot eat guilt.” There is so much thought and prayer behind that, so much humility and wisdom and insight. I have used it in sermons and other writings. It comes to mind when I’m dealing with people in need who show up at our downtown church office door, always after the hours of local service agencies. For me, it sums up the integrity of your life as a teacher and a follower of Christ. You were not there merely to play with ideas, but to challenge your students to allow ideas to impact the way they lived their lives. I thank you for that.
I wish you many wonderful things as you move into retirement. Good books, cozy and beautiful spaces, interesting travel plans, and the company of people who approach life with the reverence, gratitude, seriousness and enjoyment that you do. May God carry you close, gently, firmly and lightly. Go in peace.
Devotional Message for Mother's Day
Psalm 131 – O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time and forevermore. (NRSV)
My Bible puts a heading on this psalm that implies that David wrote it. Despite the fact that it was clearly written from the perspective of a mother. I love this psalm for two reasons: first of all, it’s so mysterious. Who was this woman? How did her simple yet powerful poem manage to be included in the grand liturgical songbook of the Hebrew scriptures? It’s so short, and yet so distinctive among the psalms because the imagery is so personal.
And what a beautiful moment it describes. Those precious moments when you’re holding a child who doesn’t need anything from you but the cuddling really are as rare as the moments we spend sitting with God without demanding something ourselves. That the author chose to specify a weaned child rather than a nursing child communicates a satisfaction that few of us enjoy very often, despite the abundance of blessings and other stuff in our lives.
This week as we approach Mother’s Day, I invite you to think of a moment like that, when you’ve held a child for a brief, still moment, before the wriggling or the fussiness began. If you’ve never had such a moment, try to imagine one. Now can you imagine yourself as that child, in the arms of God? What would it take for you to relax into the satisfaction, the contentment of just having God hold you, without worrying about what else you might need later? Can you find that calm for your soul?
Collect for the Week: Caring, Compassionate God, who in Christ longed to gather your children under your wings like a mother hen, grant that we might set aside our worries and our work for a while and find rest in your loving arms, that we in turn might attend to your world with a mother’s love. Through Jesus Christ our Brother and the Holy Spirit whose breath gives us life, Amen.
My Bible puts a heading on this psalm that implies that David wrote it. Despite the fact that it was clearly written from the perspective of a mother. I love this psalm for two reasons: first of all, it’s so mysterious. Who was this woman? How did her simple yet powerful poem manage to be included in the grand liturgical songbook of the Hebrew scriptures? It’s so short, and yet so distinctive among the psalms because the imagery is so personal.
And what a beautiful moment it describes. Those precious moments when you’re holding a child who doesn’t need anything from you but the cuddling really are as rare as the moments we spend sitting with God without demanding something ourselves. That the author chose to specify a weaned child rather than a nursing child communicates a satisfaction that few of us enjoy very often, despite the abundance of blessings and other stuff in our lives.
This week as we approach Mother’s Day, I invite you to think of a moment like that, when you’ve held a child for a brief, still moment, before the wriggling or the fussiness began. If you’ve never had such a moment, try to imagine one. Now can you imagine yourself as that child, in the arms of God? What would it take for you to relax into the satisfaction, the contentment of just having God hold you, without worrying about what else you might need later? Can you find that calm for your soul?
Collect for the Week: Caring, Compassionate God, who in Christ longed to gather your children under your wings like a mother hen, grant that we might set aside our worries and our work for a while and find rest in your loving arms, that we in turn might attend to your world with a mother’s love. Through Jesus Christ our Brother and the Holy Spirit whose breath gives us life, Amen.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Things that Bug Me from the Newspaper
1. Today there is an ad for Mother's Day jewelry that includes the saying, "God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers." For people who believe in God, this is just offensive (if they think about it), and for people who don't believe in God, it is irrelevant and silly. So why would you say it? I believe it relates to the creepy mother/nuclear family fetish our country has. It's the same thing that led churches to cancel Sunday morning services when Christmas fell on a Sunday, because "people should be with their families." Christianity is not a tribal, not a family-centered religion. It is, in fact, a faith that openly pulls us out of our families of origin by expanding the family to include others. More to the present point, I bet if I asked the person who ran that ad if they really believe that God isn't everywhere, they would be shocked at what they'd done. Just shocked.
2. Today and yesterday, there were ads (for different agencies) that talked about how people "serviced" the community. I'm pretty sure they meant "served". Because as far as I'm aware, "servicing" someone connotes a very particular kind of action, and it isn't something local non-profits want to be associated with. Even non-profits ought to be able to find someone to proof-read their ads. Heck, I'd do it if they asked!
3. Finally, and most importantly, there was an article in our paper yesterday about the country's stockpile of chemical weapons and the progress we're making in getting rid of them. The original deadline was 2007, but it was pushed back to 2012, a date our local facility is supposedly going to meet but others are probably not. (Yes, here in my Heart of Dixie town, we have a chemical weapons incinerator, and no, I'm not going to link the article in an illusory attempt to maintain my anonymity.)
The truly scary thing about the article was the part where it said that "60 percent of the declared US stockpile of chemical weapons has been destroyed." Did you catch that? The DECLARED stockpile. Implying there is an undeclared stockpile that we're not even trying to destroy. Or at least, that they're not going to tell us whether it's being destroyed or not. Doesn't that sort of make any kind of chemical weapons destruction treaty moot? Grrrr. These people make me so angry. I will grant that the Cold War make people crazy in such a way that they maybe really did believe they might "need" these weapons. But I would bet my eye-teeth (since I don't know what those are) that we're spending money right now making something we'll never need that we'll have to waste more money on later getting rid of because it's a risk to our own people.
Just to be clear... There are lots of things I like about my hometown paper. They do good work. It's the news that's annoying. (Oh, and the ridiculous ads.)
2. Today and yesterday, there were ads (for different agencies) that talked about how people "serviced" the community. I'm pretty sure they meant "served". Because as far as I'm aware, "servicing" someone connotes a very particular kind of action, and it isn't something local non-profits want to be associated with. Even non-profits ought to be able to find someone to proof-read their ads. Heck, I'd do it if they asked!
3. Finally, and most importantly, there was an article in our paper yesterday about the country's stockpile of chemical weapons and the progress we're making in getting rid of them. The original deadline was 2007, but it was pushed back to 2012, a date our local facility is supposedly going to meet but others are probably not. (Yes, here in my Heart of Dixie town, we have a chemical weapons incinerator, and no, I'm not going to link the article in an illusory attempt to maintain my anonymity.)
The truly scary thing about the article was the part where it said that "60 percent of the declared US stockpile of chemical weapons has been destroyed." Did you catch that? The DECLARED stockpile. Implying there is an undeclared stockpile that we're not even trying to destroy. Or at least, that they're not going to tell us whether it's being destroyed or not. Doesn't that sort of make any kind of chemical weapons destruction treaty moot? Grrrr. These people make me so angry. I will grant that the Cold War make people crazy in such a way that they maybe really did believe they might "need" these weapons. But I would bet my eye-teeth (since I don't know what those are) that we're spending money right now making something we'll never need that we'll have to waste more money on later getting rid of because it's a risk to our own people.
Just to be clear... There are lots of things I like about my hometown paper. They do good work. It's the news that's annoying. (Oh, and the ridiculous ads.)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Honesty or Cleanliness: Which is Closer to Godliness?
I am not a neat and tidy person. I do not come from neat and tidy people. I do not have a neat and tidy house. I do not come from neat and tidy houses.
My husband comes from neat and tidy people. And he is sort of neat and tidy, at least more than I am, but that's not saying a lot.
He's also the one who's usually around during the day, and thus he is aware of the monthly schedule of when the Bug Guy comes. So usually, some time on the morning of that day (the first Tuesday of the month) he makes the bed that I rolled out of and promptly forgot existed, except as something to lean on when putting on my socks.
But as it turns out, on this first Tuesday of the month, my husband is out of town. There was a point last week, when it crossed my mind that the Bug Guy would be coming today. But it didn't this morning. It didn't occur to me until I got home this evening and found his bill on the kitchen counter (along with a lot of other junk and crumbs -- did I mention that I'm not neat and tidy and I'm currently living alone?).
And I was immediately filled with a brief wave of mortification. (I think that word must be etymologically linked to "dying of embarrassment".) Crap! The bed wasn't made. Even the guest bed, that's usually made, wasn't made because I rolled out of it way too early one day last week to go to the airport after someone had been packing when I wanted to sleep. It had actually occurred to me that I should make it again, a couple times when I happened to glance down the hall and see its disarray. But yesterday I did dishes. Doing dishes and making a bed on the same day is not my idea of a fun time.
At least I had done the dishes last night. But the den is a mess; the dining room table is covered with various papers, mail, junk. An empty birth control box was one of the random things still sitting on the kitchen counter right where Bug Guy left the bill, for Pete's sake! My house was not clean, not even Bug Guy clean.
And for a fleeting second, I had the notion of one day inviting Bug Guy to my home when we've had the chance to properly clean it, just so he can see that we do know what a clean house is supposed to look like. And then I laughed.
One of the things about being a Bug Guy is that you end up seeing people for who they really are. Probably even more than a pastor does.
My sister and I have a theory of house-cleaning that sees having company as useful because it gets you to clean the house. And since it's nice to have a clean house, having the extra motivation is a good thing once in a while. Because while it is nice to have a clean house, it's not nice enough to spend too much time on it when that extra motivation isn't there.
My brother-in-law refutes this theory on the premise that it's dishonest. He believes, or at least he says he does, that to clean house for company is to pretend you are someone you're not. My sister and I see it as a sign of respect and a good excuse. I think he's mostly being obstreperous, but I see his point. Especially when it comes to the Bug Guy.
The truth is that I just don't find cleaning all that important. Even if I said I did, it would be a lie, as evidenced by how little of my time and energy I'm willing to put into it. So I'm going to try to get over being embarrassed that the Bug Guy saw the sheets. And the laundry, and the crumbs, and the paper napkins on the couch. They are part of my life. At least I'm into clean enough that I have a Bug Guy!
My husband comes from neat and tidy people. And he is sort of neat and tidy, at least more than I am, but that's not saying a lot.
He's also the one who's usually around during the day, and thus he is aware of the monthly schedule of when the Bug Guy comes. So usually, some time on the morning of that day (the first Tuesday of the month) he makes the bed that I rolled out of and promptly forgot existed, except as something to lean on when putting on my socks.
But as it turns out, on this first Tuesday of the month, my husband is out of town. There was a point last week, when it crossed my mind that the Bug Guy would be coming today. But it didn't this morning. It didn't occur to me until I got home this evening and found his bill on the kitchen counter (along with a lot of other junk and crumbs -- did I mention that I'm not neat and tidy and I'm currently living alone?).
And I was immediately filled with a brief wave of mortification. (I think that word must be etymologically linked to "dying of embarrassment".) Crap! The bed wasn't made. Even the guest bed, that's usually made, wasn't made because I rolled out of it way too early one day last week to go to the airport after someone had been packing when I wanted to sleep. It had actually occurred to me that I should make it again, a couple times when I happened to glance down the hall and see its disarray. But yesterday I did dishes. Doing dishes and making a bed on the same day is not my idea of a fun time.
At least I had done the dishes last night. But the den is a mess; the dining room table is covered with various papers, mail, junk. An empty birth control box was one of the random things still sitting on the kitchen counter right where Bug Guy left the bill, for Pete's sake! My house was not clean, not even Bug Guy clean.
And for a fleeting second, I had the notion of one day inviting Bug Guy to my home when we've had the chance to properly clean it, just so he can see that we do know what a clean house is supposed to look like. And then I laughed.
One of the things about being a Bug Guy is that you end up seeing people for who they really are. Probably even more than a pastor does.
My sister and I have a theory of house-cleaning that sees having company as useful because it gets you to clean the house. And since it's nice to have a clean house, having the extra motivation is a good thing once in a while. Because while it is nice to have a clean house, it's not nice enough to spend too much time on it when that extra motivation isn't there.
My brother-in-law refutes this theory on the premise that it's dishonest. He believes, or at least he says he does, that to clean house for company is to pretend you are someone you're not. My sister and I see it as a sign of respect and a good excuse. I think he's mostly being obstreperous, but I see his point. Especially when it comes to the Bug Guy.
The truth is that I just don't find cleaning all that important. Even if I said I did, it would be a lie, as evidenced by how little of my time and energy I'm willing to put into it. So I'm going to try to get over being embarrassed that the Bug Guy saw the sheets. And the laundry, and the crumbs, and the paper napkins on the couch. They are part of my life. At least I'm into clean enough that I have a Bug Guy!
Monday, May 4, 2009
An Archaic Idea
I was listening to Talk of the Nation briefly today, and they were inviting people to call in and talk about why they are Republican and what that means to them.
One thing that you hear a lot when people are talking about conservatism, that was brought up by one of the callers was the concept of "states' rights". (Except I'm guessing they don't put an apostrophe on it when they say it, do they?)
Anyway, it got me thinking... I really think states' rights is an idea whose time has come and gone. I can see why some people were sort of into it, say, around 1859 or so. But the truth is__the further we move into the future, the less attached people are to a particular state.
People are more mobile now. They change hometowns. They have family in multiple different states. They live less and less on the same land or even in the same county as the previous generations of their family. It makes less and less sense to us that laws should be so substantially different in different states.
The more mobile our society becomes, it seems to me, we will increasingly think of the federal government in DC as our government, rather than having attachment to our state houses. Which is fine with me.
In a few more years, I'm guessing "states' rights" is just going to sound quaint. Not necessarily as negatively backward as, say, complaining about "miscegenation", but simply irrelevant.
I could be wrong, but personally, I'd love for someone to come in and clean up the politics in my state. Otherwise, it's going to take us at least another 100 years to reach the year 2000 around here.
One thing that you hear a lot when people are talking about conservatism, that was brought up by one of the callers was the concept of "states' rights". (Except I'm guessing they don't put an apostrophe on it when they say it, do they?)
Anyway, it got me thinking... I really think states' rights is an idea whose time has come and gone. I can see why some people were sort of into it, say, around 1859 or so. But the truth is__the further we move into the future, the less attached people are to a particular state.
People are more mobile now. They change hometowns. They have family in multiple different states. They live less and less on the same land or even in the same county as the previous generations of their family. It makes less and less sense to us that laws should be so substantially different in different states.
The more mobile our society becomes, it seems to me, we will increasingly think of the federal government in DC as our government, rather than having attachment to our state houses. Which is fine with me.
In a few more years, I'm guessing "states' rights" is just going to sound quaint. Not necessarily as negatively backward as, say, complaining about "miscegenation", but simply irrelevant.
I could be wrong, but personally, I'd love for someone to come in and clean up the politics in my state. Otherwise, it's going to take us at least another 100 years to reach the year 2000 around here.
Another Case for Collective Guilt
This piece by Jacob Weisberg in today's Slate magazine explains why "simple" prosecution is not a sufficient response to our policy of torture.
He compares it to the ugly chapter of our history that included Japanese internment. I pray we can deal with this better and sooner than we ever have with that. (Given that lots of Americans still don't even know that happened!)
He compares it to the ugly chapter of our history that included Japanese internment. I pray we can deal with this better and sooner than we ever have with that. (Given that lots of Americans still don't even know that happened!)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Punctuation Dilemma Update
I had a radical new idea for my punctuation dilemma (the dramatic, but brief pause replacing the word "that") on the way home today. An attached (no spaces) double underscore.
The truth is__we're scared.
What do you think? I knew I would have to see it before I could tell, and I'm still not sure, but I think I like it. It's like a dash functioning as a comma. A single underscore doesn't do the trick, but the double one does. It creates a break, but not a huge one. A colon is the obvious, "grammatically" correct choice, but it just feels like too much to me.
So will this catch on? Someone tell me who to write to!
The truth is__we're scared.
What do you think? I knew I would have to see it before I could tell, and I'm still not sure, but I think I like it. It's like a dash functioning as a comma. A single underscore doesn't do the trick, but the double one does. It creates a break, but not a huge one. A colon is the obvious, "grammatically" correct choice, but it just feels like too much to me.
So will this catch on? Someone tell me who to write to!
Greatest Strength = Greatest Weakness?
I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Toni Craven of Brite Divinity School speak on the Psalms today. And it made me have a thought (in addition to giving me some good stuff for my Revelation class.)
I wonder if part of the reason we have such a problem with Biblical literalism in this country is because of our language? English has way more words than most languages. And I love that about it. But what if that excess of vocabulary gives us an over-developed ability to be precise? Or even an inability to avoid wanting to know exactly what a word means?
There are lots of languages in the world that survive with fewer words. Which presumably means, at some level, that the words they do have carry greater possibilities for meaning -- multiple meanings, broader connotations, vaguer meanings. It would be hard to be a literalist with a mind that is shaped by such a language. You notice this when you listen to a Hebrew scholar trying to explain what certain words mean: "Well, it probably means this, but it could also mean that, and in some circumstances, it's used this way." That doesn't happen so much in English.
In English, we have enough words that we can be pretty darn precise. And I think that might shape the way we think. We want words to mean one thing, because if you were trying to say something else, you would use a different word. (And yes, I know that there are plenty of English-writing poets, but you see what I mean.)
I love that there are so many words in English. But this is a pretty high price to pay. I think it calls for extra doses of abstract art to help us increase our tolerance for ambiguity. What say you?
I wonder if part of the reason we have such a problem with Biblical literalism in this country is because of our language? English has way more words than most languages. And I love that about it. But what if that excess of vocabulary gives us an over-developed ability to be precise? Or even an inability to avoid wanting to know exactly what a word means?
There are lots of languages in the world that survive with fewer words. Which presumably means, at some level, that the words they do have carry greater possibilities for meaning -- multiple meanings, broader connotations, vaguer meanings. It would be hard to be a literalist with a mind that is shaped by such a language. You notice this when you listen to a Hebrew scholar trying to explain what certain words mean: "Well, it probably means this, but it could also mean that, and in some circumstances, it's used this way." That doesn't happen so much in English.
In English, we have enough words that we can be pretty darn precise. And I think that might shape the way we think. We want words to mean one thing, because if you were trying to say something else, you would use a different word. (And yes, I know that there are plenty of English-writing poets, but you see what I mean.)
I love that there are so many words in English. But this is a pretty high price to pay. I think it calls for extra doses of abstract art to help us increase our tolerance for ambiguity. What say you?
All Hail Pete!
The Nation has some great Pete Seeger tributes.
Like this one from a few years ago by Studs Terkel.
And this more recent one from Peter Rothberg.
The man is turning 90 years old tomorrow, and I'm just so glad he's still alive. Especially since Studs left us in November.
My facebook status updates this weekend are all Peter Seeger song quotes. (Which doesn't necessarily mean he wrote them, just that I hear them in his voice.) If you have any good suggestions, I'd love to hear them; I'm finding myself disturbingly rusty.
Like this one from a few years ago by Studs Terkel.
And this more recent one from Peter Rothberg.
The man is turning 90 years old tomorrow, and I'm just so glad he's still alive. Especially since Studs left us in November.
My facebook status updates this weekend are all Peter Seeger song quotes. (Which doesn't necessarily mean he wrote them, just that I hear them in his voice.) If you have any good suggestions, I'd love to hear them; I'm finding myself disturbingly rusty.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Some Basic Econ from MoJo
It's almost Mother's Day, so here's some more radical goodness from Mother Jones.
Two articles about retirement security. One about how young folks don't know the difference between a pension and a 401(k) that encourages us to get together and demand better.
And another that uses a sad personal narrative to show us how we got where we are. (And in case you're unaware of where we are, for most people, it's a place where they can't afford to retire.)
I am one of those few people who does actually have a defined benefit pension. But from the looks of a report I got from them the other day, it's clearly not going to be enough to support me in retirement anyway. If that's true for me, what about all the people who don't have pensions?
Great tag line on the second article, by the way: What starts with "f," ends with "k," and means "screw your workers"? That's right--401(k).
By the way, did you know that the song "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" is about Mother Mary Harris Jones? "We'll all have chicken and dumplings when she comes!" Happy Mother's Day!
Two articles about retirement security. One about how young folks don't know the difference between a pension and a 401(k) that encourages us to get together and demand better.
And another that uses a sad personal narrative to show us how we got where we are. (And in case you're unaware of where we are, for most people, it's a place where they can't afford to retire.)
I am one of those few people who does actually have a defined benefit pension. But from the looks of a report I got from them the other day, it's clearly not going to be enough to support me in retirement anyway. If that's true for me, what about all the people who don't have pensions?
Great tag line on the second article, by the way: What starts with "f," ends with "k," and means "screw your workers"? That's right--401(k).
By the way, did you know that the song "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" is about Mother Mary Harris Jones? "We'll all have chicken and dumplings when she comes!" Happy Mother's Day!
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream...
What if the world's one remaining super power forgot how to make H-bombs?
As it turns out, we have. But the only result is more wasted tax-payers' money.
It would be hilarious, if it weren't so sad.
P.S. Weird that I chose that title, as I only just now (7 hours later) found out that Pete Seeger is turning 90 on Sunday.
As it turns out, we have. But the only result is more wasted tax-payers' money.
It would be hilarious, if it weren't so sad.
P.S. Weird that I chose that title, as I only just now (7 hours later) found out that Pete Seeger is turning 90 on Sunday.
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