Idée d’jour

Live the questions now. Perhaps, then, someday far into the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live you way into the answer.
— Rainer Maria Rilke

Friday Five: On Books

This week's theme suggested by Sally.

1. Fiction what kind, detective novels, historical stuff, thrillers, romance????
   I do enjoy what's often described as genre fiction: sci-fi, mysteries, etc. I don't care for historical fiction that much.
   I also enjoy genre books that serve dollops of factual information along with their story. My understanding of the Four Corners area, and the traditions of the people indigenous to that region, have been greatly enriched by Tony Hillerman's books. I've gathered a wealth of arcane information on Roman Catholic beliefs and traditions from mysteries by Fr. Andrew Greeley and William Kienzle.


2. When you get a really good book do you read it all in one chunk or savour it slowly?
   Most of the time, I stick with a good book until it's done. It's rare that I read a book in a single sitting; but that has more to do with how I budget my time than with the book in question.


3. Is there a book you keep returning to and why?
   I've re-read Mr. God, This Is Anna several times. For me, it's just a feel-good. This may be partly nostalgic, because Padre introduced the book to me. So, regardless of the book's merits, it inspires fond memories of Padre.


4. Apart from the Bible which non-fiction book has influenced you the most?
   This Is It by Alan Watts; an invaluable introduction to Zen philosophy distilled by an enthusiastic popularizer.


5. Describe a perfect place to read. ( could be anywhere!!!)
   The place I get the most reading done, per capita, is Brother Dave's living room. The house is still. Texas Hills hold vigil to the west. Deeply meditative. I can't seem to duplicate the experience anywhere else, though a local monastery came close.

Ideé d’jour

I'll tell you how the sun rose —
A ribbon at a time.
– Emily Dickinson, poet (1830-1886)

Go Like Walt Whitman

by George Wallace

sometimes i wonder why it feels like i am the only sunny day i know
anyhow this is america, all the bright day long dogwoods unravel before my eyes
bees like yo-yo trees attack the sun, there are peepers down at the pond
someone wearing black clothes is comforting someone
like a frog quoting scripture near an old rock
when a nation has dirty hands it smears everything it touches
when a nation is up all night it gets cranky
it will feed on anything it can find
including the fears and appetites of the weak
sometimes a president will get out of hand and blame it on the weather
the clouds have exceptional needs, he says
the rainfall is incredibly dangerous
this is one crazy country! a ruffian of unwarranted powers
sometimes it will plant peace into the brains of the people, like yellow roses
other times it will plant you face first into the window box of war
america, just because it is possible to cowboy your big red barn
through the neighbor's living room
that does not mean it is right or proper to do so
when i see you misbehave like this, america
i want to go like walt whitman
i want to roar like angels out of your tonsorial dawn

---

Mr. Wallace is the former poet laureate of Suffolk County, NY. You may learn more about him at his MySpace page. I am proud to call him friend, in both the virtual and phenomenal world.

Quote d’jour

“It's important to preserve the culture. There are three things that maintain a culture — language, religion, and art. You lose those three, and you lose the culture completely. So it's very important to retain all of them.”
— Jackie Parsons (Blackfeet), 2005
Left, dress made in the 19th century. It is made entirely of European trade materials and influenced by Western fashion.
Right, Crow elk tooth dress, ca. 1890

Both the pictures and the text are from a brochure promoting the latest exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibit is entitled "Identity by Design: Tradition, Change, and Celebration in Native Women's Dresses".

For more information on the exhibit, see the museum's website.

Quote d’jour

Alice Walker, on why she says she is not a Buddhist, even though she has studied under a number of Buddhist masters:

“The whole point of anything that is really, truly valuable to your soul, and to your own growth, is not to attach to a teacher, but rather to find out what the real deal is in the world itself. You become your own guide. The teachings can help you, but really, we're all here with the opportunity to experience the reality of hereness. We all have that. I trust that.” From the interview titled "We Live in the Best of Times," Shambhala Sun, May 2007, pg 46.

Ms. Walker is best known as the author of the novel The Color Purple; her most recent book is We Are the Ones We have Been Waiting For.

Today's Required Reading

1. Avian commentater registers opinion of Prez B*sh's speech. See also One Bird's Opinion


2. Dr. Omed's latest "Poem of the Day", titled “Magnificat”, in honor of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Cat Friday, Part Two

See Part One at Jonah 365.

Idée d’jour

The sound of water says what I think.
— Chuang-Tzu

Ideé d’jour

Butterfly listens
 at the flowerpot:
  true teaching.
— Issa

Idée d’jour

Underground nuclear testing, defoliation of the rain forests, toxic waste ... Let's put it this way: if the world were a big apartment, we wouldn't get our deposit back.
— John Ross

The Muffin Joke

[Overheard at lunch]
Two muffins were baking in the oven. The first muffin said, “Gee, it's hot in here.”

The other muffin said, “EEEK! A talking muffin!”

Idée d’jour

Scripture says, “No one knows the Father but by the Son.” Therefore, if you want to know God, you must not only be like the Son, you must be the Son.
— Meister Eckhart

Friday Five: RevGal Meet-Up

As confirmed by the link in the left column, I am a lay member of the RevGal blog list. Last summer, this group officially incorporated as a non-profit organization. One of the goals of this group was to organize and fund a large-scale "meet-up". In this spirit, Songbird requests responses to the following five questions:

1. What would the meeting be like?
   The model that immediately comes to mind is the “Nurturing Weekend” sponsored in my Diocese by our Christian Formation Commission. This event is intended as a retreat for people involved in Christian Ed/Formation throughout our Diocese (which encompasses the state).
      This event takes place over three nights and two days. It includes some of the elements mentioned by Songbird in her original question: slumber party, workshops, care and share, etc. For example, there is an on-site beauty consultant, a massage therapist, and craft opportunities. People also bring DVD's to share following dinner, in true slumber party fashion.
       In lieu of a key note speaker, there has been a chaplain who offers a number of meditations throughout the weekend on a central theme (more on this below).


2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend?
   July or August would be best for my work schedule.


3. Where would your dream meeting location be?
   Far from the madding crowd. New Mexico sounds appealing. Our Diocese (Oklahoma) just happens to have a pair of rural retreat centers that I can heartily recommend.....


4. Who would make a great keynote speaker?
   I join my voice with those who recommend Rev. Atkinson, aka Real Live Preacher. Other names that come to mind are Fr. Jake, and Mother Sarah Dylan. None of these people are, to my knowledge, members of the RevGal group; yet all of them are supportive of women in the ministry.
      In the chaplain model I mention above, the chaplain announces the theme the first evening, then gives a brief (20-30 minute) meditation on this theme. My memory is there are two mediations per day - one in the morning, and one in the evening.


5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?
   Since our group is international in scope, and some may not be able to attend, I suggest we be intentional in including them in some fashion. A dedicated chatroom immediately comes to mind. We might have a space and computer/lap top dedicated to a chatroom where local participants could chat with those unable to attend due to distance or economy.
      Which raises the issue of scholarships. Are there currently funds available to assist those of limited means? If so, who will decide the disbursements of those scholarships?
      Finally, do not neglect times of corporate worship. Perhaps different orders have daily worship could be selected from each of our representative denominations.

Jerry Falwell, RIP

Jerry Falwell, founder of the infamous Moral Majority, died Tuesday afternoon. He died at the age of 73, which is relatively young. The latest reports have not detailed the cause of death, although the on-line Guardian Unlimited quotes his doctor as saying Rev. Falwell had a history of heart problems.

Photographs of Rev. Falwell suggest he had a weight problem. So a heart attack may have been a natural outcome of various life-style choices. Or to paraphrase an infamous comment Rev. Falwell made on Sept. 14, 2001, his death was a sign of God's judgement on those who do not honor their body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Here's what Rev. Falwell said: "I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America; I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.' "

He said this on Pat Robertson's TV program, The 700 Club; both men seemed to agree the attacks were a sign of God's judgement on a "secularized" America.

Yesterday evening, NPR's All Things Considered interviewed Paul Weyreich, who had co-founded the Moral Majority with Falwell. Mr. Weyreich described the late Rev. Falwell as a man who showed compassion to those with "alternate lifestyles" (code for gays). Mr. Weyreich's estimation suggests the late preacher was able to "hate the sin, but love the sinner".

You sure wouldn't think so based on Rev. Falwell's pronouncements concerning homosexuals. For example: "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals." In other words, in his view, it was not enough that gays burn in hell; they had to suffer extended agonizing deaths as well.

In brief, Rev. Falwell gave Christians a bad name. Any time I say I'm a Christian, I'm tempted to say I'm not the same sort of Christian that Falwell was, or that Pat Robertson is.

It's easy to judge people who act or believe differently than I do. I struggle against judging the late Rev. Falwell, against picturing him enduring the eternal punishments he would have wished on others.

Problem is, I proclaim myself a hypocrite the moment I make that judgement. The late Rev. Falwell deserves as much compassion as anyone else. Jesus might have called him "a white-washed tomb", as he did certain judgmental religious leaders of his own time. But, I suspect, Christ would accept Jerry Falwell into the Kingdom of Heaven.

That's assuming, of course, that Falwell was willing to enter once he learned that Heaven was full of gays, lesbians, transgendered individuals, ACLU members, and Democrats.

Rose for all the mothers

This rose is for all the mothers
whose sons will not come home
from the war.
This is a rose for the mothers
whose sons will lose their limbs.
This rose is for the mothers
whose daughters learn to kill,
whose daughters close their wombs
because of the blood they've shed.
This is a rose for the mothers
who want to forget vengeance
and seek to learn forgiveness.
This rose is for the mothers
whose daughters have lost husbands,
whose husbands are torn by shrapnel,
by nightmare murders, by broken speech.
This is a rose for the mothers
who would study peace and compassion;
who refuse to study war.
This rose is for the mothers
who close their ears
to murderous lies.
This rose is for you.
This rose is for you,
pray to practice the beautiful path.
Pray to study peace.
Pray to walk with compassion.

Friday Five: Potato, Po-tah-to Edition

This week's polarizing theme suggested by Reverend Mother.

1. Mac or PC?
   While I'm well aware that this is a profound theological question, my choice was determined by environment. Somewhat like my initial "choice" to be a Christian.
      The first computer I used at work was an "IBM clone." Shortly after, I took a series of classes at the local Vo-Tech, also PCs. When we could afford to buy our own computer, PC made sense for the simple reason that my former wife and I were already familiar with it.


2. Pizza: Chicago style luscious hearty goodness, or New York floppy and flaccid?
   Afraid this choice is quite capricious. Sometimes I want thick crust, sometimes I prefer thin. Past few times I've bought frozen pizza, it's been doughy.


3. Brownies/fudge containing nuts:
   There are pure fudge brownies, solid fudge that has the effect of mainlining. It is an offense to the Lord of Chocolate to add anything to this type of brownie.
       Then there are "cake" style brownies. These are less intense than pure fudge brownies. Depending on the consistency of the cake (I prefer a little fluff), some chopped nuts can add a pleasing textural note.


4. Do you hang your toilet paper so that the "tail" hangs flush with the wall, or over the top of the roll like normal people do?
   The tail must be closer to the toilet than to the wall. Therefore, over the top.
      The additional challenge is the fact that the roll is directly above the air conditioning vent. The loose end flaps when the system cycles on, making a very attractive target for her Royal Catness. She doesn't shred the paper; she simply unspools a significant portion of the roll.
      Thus, the loose flap must be on top of the roll. That is, if I prefer not to re-roll the spool every few days.


5. Toothpaste: Do you squeeze the tube wantonly in the middle, or squeeze from the bottom and flatten as you go just like the tube instructs?
   Bottom, and roll it up, of course. This is not mindless fealty to the instructions, mind you, but a matter of practical economy.
      At least, that's my reasoning. My former wife always squeezed from the middle. I finally had to ignore it in order to protect my sanity.

Bonus: Share your favorite either/or.
Work or Play: Play wins (as current behavior proves).
Life or Death: I've become so enamored of the phrase "Life delights in life" that I'm convinced I stole it from William Blake
Poetry or Prose: Both
Beatles or Elvis (c.f. Pulp Fiction): Beatles.
Rolling Stones or Beatles: I lean a little more toward the Beatles, but I like them both (prefer early Stones, before Brian died).

Dr. Omed Lives

Dateline: Tulsa, OK
Dr. Omed is alive, well, and continuing his ministry. As you'll see via the link, TVRR Doctor recently officiated at a wedding. Thanks to the miracle of the internet, Dr. O is an ordained minister, and may officiate at weddings. Recognized by the state, and everything.

I wish I had known about the wedding, as I have met the couple. The gentleman on the right of the picture is Randy, a fantastic mandolin player. We are the traditional live entertainment at Dr. Omed's annual Winter Solstice gathering.

Idée d’jour

If one could understand a flower as it has its being in God — this would be a higher thing than the whole world!
— Meister Eckhart

A New Bishop for Oklahoma

I'm taking a brief break in sharing my travel photos at Jonah 365 in order to share something more recent: a picture from a historic occasion. This is the scene from the election of a new Bishop for the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma.

It is historic for a number of reasons, but primarily because the Bishop was elected on the first ballot. Our current bishop, Robert Moody, was also elected on the first ballot - 20 years ago. At that time, he was the seventh bishop in the Episcopal Church to be elected on the first ballot. I'm sure there have been one or two others in the past 20 years, but I doubt there were many.

Everyone I spoke to express surprise concerning the first ballot election. First, there was a slate of six well-qualified candidates, three of whom were natives of Oklahoma (only one of which is still resident in Oklahoma). Second, there are the issues which are supposedly tearing our communion apart - issues having to do, primarily, with human sexuality.

I had expected this division to be reflected in the election results. All of the candidates pledged to uphold current policy (no ordinations of homosexuals, no same-sex weddings or blessings). None expressed an opinion that the policy should be different. One or two, however, expressed an interpretation of Scripture which would put them in the conservative camp.

One, whose brother was gay, and had died of AIDS, was especially sympathetic to a "progressive" view.

Another candidate was rumored to be involved with the "Anglican Communion Network", which supports a "literal" interpretation of scripture and supports crossing of Diocesean borders by foreign bishops. The candidate in question denies any link to the "Network", but there are hints in his profile that he is sympathetic to their cause.

Given these factors, it was a great blessing to elect someone on the first ballot.

Oklahoma's bishop-elect is the Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny (kun NYETZ nee). I have heard positive reports on "Father Ed" which suggest he has the gifts of humility, compassion, and loving assertive leadership.