Friday Five: Word Association

This week's theme comes from Reverend Mother, who writes: "This one is patterned off an old Friday Five written by Songbird, our Friday Five Creator Emerita: Below you will find five words. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story. [All five words come from readings assigned for this Sunday's lectionary]"

1. vineyard
   The vineyard is a common image in both Jewish and Christian scripture. For most suburban Americans, it is about as meaningful as "sheep" and "shepherd", since it is not part of our daily experience.
      I have, however, seen a few vineyards in various stages of development. The first was one in Texas Hill Country; as I recall, Brother Dave took me there 2-3 years ago.
      Vineyards are a relatively recent development in Oklahoma. I have been to Grape Ranch, in Okemah, OK. They offer music at the same time as the Woody Guthrie Festival in July. I may go to the "Red Dirt Harvest Festival" to be held there over Labor Day weekend.
      One of the professors I work with has bought property a few miles east of Oklahoma City which he hopes to develop into a vineyard. He took me to visit the property early last fall; it's a very impressive rolling landscape.
      I no longer drink wine outside of communion, so I don't know whether these vineyards produce a decent product. I did sip a wine slushy last year – which I don't count as a fair test – and it was a little sweet for my taste. Just the fact it was offered as an option is likely offensive to true oenophiles.
      My superficial impression of vineyards are they are relatively inhospitable environments for the average human. The terrain is open and shade-free. Good wine grapes love the heat; that's why areas of Oklahoma and Texas have been good prospects for vineyards. The vines are tangled and have (to my eye) a somewhat threatening aspect.


2. root
   This word, by intricate association, links with "radical". The word "radical", I have been told, is related to radish – whose fruit is the root. Thus, the denotation of radical is "fundamental" or "basic". Granted, the general connotation is "an extremist with whom I disagree".
      I have the impression that most people, when they talk about getting to the root of the problem, imagine there is a single cause of that problem. Furthermore, they believe that once this cause has been identified and addressed, the problem will be resolved.
      I suppose this might sometimes be the case, though I don't care to hazard a guess as to how often that might be. In botany, a root may not be singular as we commonly think of it; many plants, like most trees, have a root system. They may begin from a single seed, but some root systems are quite complex and can extend for yards.
       I suspect this application of the metaphor is more accurate than the "single cause" image. A problem may have a "triggering event", but repurcussions spread like a complex root system. Discerning the "triggering event" may be helpful, even necessary, but it will not resolve the ancillary repurcussions.


3. rescue
   Immediate association – the Rolling Stones song "Emotional Rescue". This counts as one of the best song titles for a song I don't like.
      The popular evangelical question "Are you saved" is often understood to mean "Have you been rescued". And some individuals within the evangelical community will understand this to mean rescue from the fiery pits of Hell.
      I don't suppose Jesus meant his life and witness, or our ministry as his disciples, to be a sort of fire insurance policy. The word commonly translated as "saved" is actually closer to the modern "salve"; Jesus is talking about healing, rather than rescue.
      I think one of the main healings Jesus offers is, ironically, a sort of rescue: rescue from a "me" centered universe. Any number of religious traditions offer escape from that stiffling universe, which suggests the illness is endemic to human nature.
      My reading of Jesus' Good News suggests that the quickest escape route from my constricted personal universe is to serve others. Even praying for another can open a door, so to speak. Better to help that person in some way. Perhaps best, where possible, to work with that person to help her/him-self.


4. perseverance
   One of my college professors insisted on emphasizing the second syllable when saying this word: "per Sehv erance". This is possibly preferable to a mispronounciation I'm often guilty of: "PER sur veerance".
       Incidentally, that professor was talking about a mideval morality play, "The Castle of Perseverance". This play is similar to the better-known "Everyman": the main character faces a series of life-challenges and temptations en route to the Castle.


5. divided
   A house divided against itself, quoth the Emanicpator, can not long stand.
       This is as true on the micro level as it is on the macro level. That is, it is possible to experience conflict between what one proclaims on Sunday and how one lives the rest of the week. I've talked about this before in terms of integrity or congruence.
       If one's actions reflect the faith one proclaims, that person is living a congruent life. I would count him or her as a person of integrity; which is to say that her or his actions are integrated with, or reflect, what they proclaim.
       On the other hand if one proclaims love and forgiveness on Sunday, but holds grudges the rest of the week or works to harm another, it might said that person's life and profession are incongruent. That person is divided against him/her-self.
       I'll admit there are people who seem able to live this way for extended periods of time. These people seem unaware of the dissonance between their actions and their Sunday prayers. I would guess these people are lying to themselves at some level, or don't perceive particular instances as really counting.
      But I suspect that if a person is painstaking honest about whether her or his actions are congruent with their professions, they will be incapable of maintaining that tension for long. Either they will dismiss the profession (as is often the case), or they will strive to bring their actions into congruence with their words.

Bonus
In the vineyard
where the fruit is pressed
where the sun ascends
where a figure bends
let us begin:

The fruit has taken root
its seed unfolds
it drinks the sun
while a figure bends
the growth begins

The sun will rescue this growth
will ignite the tang,
the tanis, the swirling aroma
while a figure kneels
the leaves begin

With perseverance
the vine ascends
the fruit descends
and a figure gathers
the harvest begins

Good fruit from bad is divided
the good is pressed
The juice explodes
soon a figure sits
and the feast begins

Idée d’jour

Zen has been used for healing people's sicknesses, but it has also been used by the samurai for chopping off people's heads!
— Alan Watts

The Yazidi “Practice Mythology”?

I listen to NPR every morning and evening, while commuting to and from work. In reporting on the recent massacre in northeastern Iraq, the Yazidis were described as "practicing mythology".

How does one "practice mythology"? Fairly or not, the word "mythology" has a negative connotation, so its use here seems a judgment of the Yazidis. It is, at best, inexact; at worst, it is a form of editorial comment.

A quick search of Google News led me to an article in the International Herald Tribune which stated that the Yazidis practice "an ancient Persian religion". Zoroastrianism seems a likely candidate; the Wikipedia article on the Yazidis mentions a few other possibilities*.

It immediately occurs to me that people like Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, or Richard Dawkins might say I "practice mythology" because I am a self-defined Christian. What is more, I practice a type of Christianity which involves a great deal of ritualized activity - e.g., kneeling; this ritualized activity is shared by a number of "liturgical" churches, primarily Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopal.

As a lay student of Joseph Campbell, I understand that "mythology" is not synonomous with "untruth". My reading of Campbell suggests that mythology is an attempt to express deep truths that cannot be expressed in any other way. These deep truths include questions of ultimate meaning, such as "Why am I here?" or "Why do bad things happen to good people?".

The religious tradition of the Yazidis may seem odd to us, at a distance. According to both NPR and the International Herald Tribune, their beliefs combine elements of "an ancient Persian religion" with Islam and Christianity. This may appear quaint or perverse.

This view ignores the history of Christianity, which has borrowed elements from any number of religious traditions, including the so-called "myths" of ancient Rome. Obvious examples include the celebration of Christmas and Easter, both of which occur near the time of holidays celebrating Roman gods or goddess.

Earlier I mentioned Zorastrianism, which pre-dates Christianity; this religious tradition included a figure named Mithra who died for the sake of humanity and rose again. Sound familiar?

Historically, Christianity has been as "syncretic" as the Yazadi tradition. It seems the worst sort of hubris to call their beliefs "myth" while claiming a special truth for our own.

*I'm aware a recent news story calls the reliability of Wikipedia articles into question; unfortunately, this is the best resource I have available at the moment.

Haiku d’jour

The firefly
 gives light
  to its pursuer.
— Oemaru

Idée d’jour

God builds his temple in the heart on the ruins of churches and religions.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Idée d’jour

Forget not that the earth likes to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
— Kahil Gibran

Friday Five: Stress

This week's questions are from Sally, and look at how one deals with the stress monster:

1. First, and before we start busting stress, what causes you the most stress, is it big things or the small stuff?
   Most honest response - the small stuff. I tend to obsess over perceived slights and missed connections. Big stuff I seem to be able to release with a little more ease.


2. Exercise or chocolate for stress busting ( or maybe something else)?
   Exercise is the healthy answer; chocolate is the more honest one. TV is even more likely than chocolate, though the caffinated option is my drug of choice during working hours.


3. What is your favourite music to chill out to?
   The "Ambient" playlist on my iPod has several favorites: Edgar Meyer's "Appalachian" series; some John Fahey (notably America); Goreski's Third Symphony; a fair selection of "California Elevator Music" (Windham Hill & its imitators).


4. Where do you go to chill?
   My recliner, which sits at an approximate 45° angle to the TV set. There is a nice park not far from my house which is an occasional destination. I keep meaning to take my camera for a walk through its gardens, but the 100° temperatures discourage this worthy outing.


5. Extrovert or introvert, do you relax at a party, or do you prefer a solitary walk?
   A solitary walk. When I was striving to walk a couple of times a week, I used a local mall. Though I saw other people, I didn't need to interact. Like most of my ambulatory compatriots, I wore ear phones; listening to music or a podcast made this an ideal activity.
      I can enjoy a gathering of friends, but a party with a large proportion of strangers or casual acquaintances tends to be stressful. I find myself playing the part of an out-going person, which can be quite tiring.

Haiku d’jour

The shell of a cicada —
  it sang itself
   utterly away.
Basho

Definition d'jour

Pray, v. To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a
single petitioner confessedly unworthy.
— Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), [The Devil's Dictionary, 1906]

Quote of the Day

“Oh, George Bush, don't go by the bridge! You'll just make things worse!”
— Katie Fecke (age 4), responding to a news report that President Bush would visit the 35W Mississippi River Bridge site on Saturday.
Courtesy of the folks at Shakesville.

Friday Five: Post-Pilgrimage Edition

This week's theme courtesy of Reverend Mother, who recently returned from a pilgrimage to Iona, "the cradle of Scottish Christianity".

1. Have you ever been on a pilgrimage?
   I believe the closest I've come to a pilgrimage similar to RM's visit to Iona was my visit to the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO. The actual shrine is at the top of a hill. There is a path to the shrine, with plaques for the Rosary along the way. So, I very intentionally prayed the Rosary as ascended the hill, stopping to briefly meditate at each plaque.
      Reverend Mother recently posted a poem which, as I read it, suggests that any point in life's path may be a pilgrimage. The difference between a hike up a hill and my ascension of that hill in Golden, CO is intention and focus.
      I talk about my annual pilgrimage to the Walnut Valley Festival. This is not a blatantly religious event. Excepting the first year, when I began each morning in prayer, I have not engaged in obviously religious activities while there. Yet, my journey is intentional: I carefully pack, I plan what music I will listen to enroute, and the week is focused on music and fellowship. Since music is a major aspect of my spirituality, this journey can, and often has, enriched my spiritual life.
      I just finished an article in the July 2007 issue of Shambhalla Sun which suggests the primary difference between normal thought and meditation is a matter of awareness. I suggest the same applies to the difference between a ordinary trip or vacation and pilgrimage.


2. Share a place you've always wanted to visit on pilgrimage.
   Iona seems an excellent destination.


3. What would you make sure to pack in your suitcase or backpack to make the pilgrimage more meaningful? Or does "stuff" just distract from the experience?
   "Stuff" has distracted from the experience. Again, I think intention and awareness plays a large part. I have taken my guitar on retreat at least twice: one time playing music was a part of my prayer; a few years later, playing music distracted, in a sense, from my prayer. Same guitar, possibly even the same songs; the only difference was me, my discipline and intentionality.
      A book I have taken on retreat is the St. Augustine's Book of Prayer. It's extremely Anglo-Catholic, but I like many of the prayers included, it's small (light-weight and easy to pack), and the copy I have originally belonged to Padre – so it has sentimental value.


4. If you could make a pilgrimage with someone (living, dead or fictional) as your guide, who would it be?
   Ummm ... Virgil? Dante? William Blake? I did start a poem, years ago, in which I played guide to Dante.


5. Eventually the pilgrim must return home, but can you suggest any strategies for keeping that deep "mountaintop" perspective in the midst of everyday life?
   Boy, the person who could develop successful strategies for that could make a mint!
      Thing is, we already know the way. Being fully awake to each moment is hard work, so most of us chose to be fully awake for relatively brief periods of time, for retreats or pilgrimages.
      Previous pilgrims, such as Brother Lawrence or Dorothy Day, suggested ways of finding the sacred in the ordinary, in quotidian activity.
      It is humanly possible. Thing is, we're easily distracted (oo, pretty!), and sometimes we're lazy.

Cat Friday

From the archives: the Lady when she was about six months old. Reverend Mommy recently posted some shots which suggested the framing technique used here.

Revenge

Now is the time
this is the place
where her hand counts the cost

Now is the time
this is her hand
placed in her lap

This is the place
now is her hand
where her breath costs

Now her hand is a bird
this is the cage
placed in your heart

Placed among hollow walls
this is the moment
now, when you wonder

The time is shadows
beneath her eyes
her head on your shoulder

Her face is the place
now is the wonder
where the wound rests

She dresses the wound
in its tender place
where time meets time

This is her hand
now is her time
where you finally sleep

Placed in her lap
this is the tender place
Now is the time

Idée d’jour

You can't outhate a fundamentalist. They will always win.
— Yossi Klein Halevi

Jonah Warhol

Inspired by work Ms. Birdie did with a recent photo, I decided to try to spin a recent self-portrait into a "Warhol".

I can say, in all humility, that I think Birdie came closer to the mark than I did.

My Blog Addiction

62%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?
Honestly, not as bad as I thought it might be.

Today's Koan

Does your pain feel pain? Is your fear fearful?

---

This koan is adapted from questions asked by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the July 2007 issue of Shambhala Sun. He writes:

Have you ever noticed that your fear is not afraid even when you are terrified? Or that your awareness of depression is not depressed; that your awareness of your bad habits is not a slave to those habits; or perhaps even that your awareness of who you are is not who you think you are?

You can test out any of these propositions for yourself any time you like simply by investigating awareness—by becoming aware of awareness itself. It is easy, but we hardly ever think to do it because awareness, like the present moment itself, is virtually a hidden dimension in our lives, embedded everywhere and therefore not so noticeable anywhere.

Madona & Child

I created this from a picture taken sometime around 1982. The subject is Lissa and her son Blake. I played in Photoshop, incorporating ideas gleaned from Reverend Mommy and Birdie.

Ideé d’jour

... transcendent goals like peace and justice are always made possible, or rendered impossible, by the patterns of the human heart.
— Krista Tippett, in her new book, Speaking of Faith (Viking, New York, 2007)
I strongly recommend Ms. Tippett's radio program of the same name, available on-line at SpeakingOfFaith.org.

Idée d’jour

There are no holy places and no holy people, only holy moments, only moments of wisdom.
— Jack Kornfield

Friday Five: Floods & Droughts

This week's theme suggested by Sally.

1. Have you experienced living through an extreme weather event – what was it and how did you cope?
   The first thing that comes to mind is the year the creek flooded less than a block from the rental house we lived in, sometime between 1963 and '65. The water came up to our front steps, and Cousin Jenni went swimming in a one-piece bathing suit. My poem "Year of the Flood" memorializes my memories of that time.
      Coping was not an issue, not that I can recall. Houses on the north side of the street (closest to the creek) received significant water damage. We were on the south side of the street; as I say, the water didn't come higher than the porch.


2. How important is it that we wake up to issues such as global warming?
   Very important. Whether or not we can turn back the damage done is certainly a question, but I think we owe it to ourselves, and to our heirs, to try.
      There is a quote, supposedly from Native American tradition, to the effect that we have the world, its environment and resources on loan from the next generation.
      In this sense, then, we are renters. We are leasing these resources from the next generation. In which case, one could argue that we have been very poor tenants indeed.
      No matter that the damage began innocently, with hopeful naivite about progress and comfort. Nature has given us any number of warnings of the wounds inflicted - beginning with various forms of cancer. Yet, we persisted on our path of progress with a sense of manifest destiny. Some of us persisted with the notion that there would be no reckoning, no balance due; and that, if there were, someone else would pay it.
      It's well past time to treat our little corner of creation as we would hope a guest would treat our home.


3. The Christian message needs to include stewardship of the earths resources agree/ disagree?
   It seems to me the issue of stewardship is a profound opportunity for evangelism. I would argue that the task for Christians is more in action than in words. Or, as St. Francis reportedly said, "Preach at all times. When necessary, use words."
      We preach through our vote, and through letters to Congress. We preach through church-based recycling programs. We preach through living the smallest carbon footprint possible. We intentionally struggle with decisions between attending our local church, regardless of comfort or denomination; or attending the church we called to be part of, even if the commute is 8-10 miles away from our house.
      Here's another example: the Cathedral most often uses plastic plates and eating utensils. Plastic stays in the landfills forever, effectively. There are some biodegradable alternatives to styrofoam, but I don't know whether plates are made from any of these materials. I have been told, from a trusted source, that biodegradable detergent is the best alternative.

On a happier note:

4. What is your favourite season and why?
   Spring. In Oklahoma, the temperature tends to be very temperate, between 65 and 71 degrees. A variety of colors come into the world. Also, predominantly low humidity.
      Second favorite is Autumn, for much the same reason. The only draw back to spring and autumn is that these seem to be seasons with significant triggers for my allergies.


5. Describe your perfect vacation weather....
   As described above.

Idée d’jour

The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
— Maria Montessori, educator (1870-1952)

---

Today's quote is dedicated to Pam.

Movie Review: Babe, Pig in the City

In brief: don't bother

I rented "Pig in the City" on the basis of someone saying they preferred it to the first movie.  The person in question definitely does not have the same taste as me.

I often choose which movies I’d like to watch based on teasers and previews.  If I don’t like the teaser, which is supposedly been edited and produced to display the best qualities of a movie, then odds are good I won’t like the movie.  The teasers for "Pig in the City" made it look like an episode of "Lancelot Link".

I was 15 when Lancelot Link aired. It was a spy show spoof done with chimpanzees. I think I got through a few minutes of one episode before I dismissed it as a one-note gag. Sure, there were some puns and slapstick, but the main gag seemed to be in the chimps performing human functions. The same applies to this film; the only difference is in the number and variety of animal species involved.

The story here is even more thread-bare and unbelievable than the first movie. Babe flies to a generic American city (a combination of L.A., Seattle, and others) to save the farm. She ends up a dingy hotel which accepts animals (via the backdoor). Infinite complications ensue, which include an animal taking advantage of Babe's naivité.

The film includes a pair of slapstick set pieces. The second set piece not only feels long, but seems demeaning to the actress playing Mrs. Hogget. Much of the intended humor derives from her size and weight.

In conclusion: I'm sorry I rented this movie. Hopefully, the next film in my Netflix que will make up for it.

The Russian Agent

The Russian agent stepped out
from behind the blue sky curtain.
He held the gun firmly in his hand.
The oak wardrobe stood in the corner.

Downstairs, the guests were chatting.
The prime minister was already sleeping
in the library. Champagne
and triple-aged scotch.

Stars over the patio.
Horse-shaped hedges reared
in half-moon shadow.
The senator’s wife laugh
echoed across the yard.

The Russian agent heard fireworks.
The wife heard a shot.
The hedges heard a starting pistol.
Drinks were spilled.

The oak wardrobe stood in the corner.

Idée d’jour

Think sideways!
— Edward de Bono

Mowing Music

This is what I listened to on my iPod while mowing the lawn this morning:

• Suzy Thompson, "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues" and the title track from Adam and Eve Had the Blues
  I learned of Suzy Thompson through Sing Out! magazine. Her music seems very much in the tradition of the jug band revival of the early 60s. She's got a dynamite voice, and plays a mean fiddle
• Pink, "Dear Mr. President"
  I haven't heard any of Pink's music aside from this track, which I gather is unlike most of her style. Happily, this is a topical song with a shelf life of only a few more months.
• Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"
  I learned of this track through Entertainment Weekly's "Down-load This" feature. It combines some rap and soul elements, hearkening back to the best of Marvin Gaye.
• The Shins, "Phantom Limb"
  Another song featured in EW's "Down-load This". The tune seems to echo elements of "Power Pop" as practiced by Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello back in the 80s.
• The Bird and The Bee, "I'm a Broken Heart"
  The arrangement owes much to the Beach Boys, circa "Pet Sounds". The happiness of the melody belies the melancholy of the theme: "I try to make the best at happiness / I'm a broken heart ... / My love is bleeding..."
• The Good, The Bad, and the Queen, "Kingdom of Doom"
  A pit of dark pop that reminds me of Costello, circa Armed Forces or Imperial Bedroom
• Borne, "The Guide"
  iTunes has a weekly free tune of the week. "Kingdom of Doom" was one, this is another. It reminds me a bit of Styx; it's not awful, but it isn't great either. I don't mind keeping it on my iPod - it's OK background for mowing. But I'm not interested in hearing more.
• Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"
  I've recommended Ms. Winehouse before. She's got a real good sense of 60s soul, right there with the Supremes. She might not be in Aretha's territory, but a couple of You Tube clips of her singing with just a guitar have convinced me she's the real deal. The production on this album is great, but she shines even without the production.
• Dar Williams, "The Christians and the Pagans"
  I forget where I read about this tune, but it sounded like fun. Dar Williams has gotten a lot of press, in places I respect, as an alt-folk artist. While the song is just as much fun as I thought it would be, Dar Williams is an acquired taste I don't yet have.
• Jonathan Byrd, "The Cocaine Kid"
  A talking blues that reminds me of Dylan in the "Freewheeling Days". The words and the rhymes role out of this guy at a furious pace.
• Johnny Proctor, "All Creatures of Our God & King"
  Another Beach Boys tribute. Mr. Proctor used multi-tracking to harmonize with himself ala "In My Room". A fun and sweet take on one of my favorite hymns.
• The Sevens, Pearl O' Shaughnessy's (et al, medley)
  I think this came from a Sing Out CD. Just a bouncy medley of Irish jigs
• Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On"
  Speaking of soul, Marvin is where it's at. It wouldn't be hard to draw a line from "Rehab" to this, but "What's Going On" has more in common with Barkley's "Crazy". Both songs have some interesting production values - e.g., the party chatter at the opening of "What's Going On", the strings in "Crazy". "What's Going On" is blatantly topical - it's almost impossible to listen to the lyrics without thinking of the late 60s - but it still holds up. You can enjoy it, in other words, without a history lesson. "Crazy" may not be topical in the same way, but it can lead one to reflect on the dichotomy of sane/crazy in new ways. It could be a love song, or it could be addressed more universally.

One day I might arrange these songs in a different order; there are times the play list is bit jarring. But I like all but one ("The Guide") almost equally. On the whole, it is a play list that is just plain fun.

Idée d’jour

Words may express it,
Words cannot hold it:
The way of letters leaves no trace,
Yet the teaching is revealed.
— Dogen

Ideé d’jour

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
— T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)

Ideé d’jour

I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.
— Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

---

Do I belittle my own soul when I say I hate B*sh? Does the person in question qualify as a "man"? Would Will Rogers have liked him?

Friday Five: Harry Potter

This week's magical theme suggested by Reverend Mother.

1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?
   Probably the first. This is not to disparage the remaining books in the series - and I have read all but the penultimate book (The Half-Blood Prince). The first book charmingly creates a world very much like our own, and thoroughly describes a more-or-less parallel magical universe. If this book had not done its job so well, the series would not be as popular.


2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?
   On my bad days, I resemble Harry at his fussiest (see Order of the Phoenix), with none of his positive qualities. On my good days, I think I resemble Ron: a loyal friend who is slightly less adept than the hero.
      I'd like to visit with Ron or Hermoine. I admire Hermoine's sense of justice (see Chamber of Secrets).


3. How careful are you about spoilers?
   I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip.
      Since I've taken my own sweet time about reading the series (I have yet to begin Half-Blood Prince) spoilers must be accepted as a fact of life. But, as the first option suggested, the journey is more important than particular points along the way. I've recently learned which charecter dies in Half-Blood Prince, for example, but I don't think it will spoil my enjoyment of the book.


4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.
   The good guys will win, and the bad guys will lose. Ms. Rowling has said the series is primarily about death, and has announced that two major characters will die in the final book.
      It seems safe to assume that Lord Voldemort will be one of those two people. A number of people have persuasively argued that Harry Potter will be the other character to die.
      One of the dominant themes of folk tales and myth (no question that this is a type of modern folk tale) is that death is not the end. As a rule, even if the hero dies, his or her legacy continues in some manner.
      The series has not been overtly Christian, in the same way that C.S. Lewis' Narnia series is, yet it does evoke a morality that is, at least, consistent with orthodox Christian teaching. See, for example, see Reverend Mother's two sermons inspired by the series.
      So, while Harry may not resurrect (as Aslan does in LWW), he will conquer death in some fashion. 


5. Rowling has said she's not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or storylines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued?
   Hagrid's history.

Idée d’jour

A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.
— Dogen

Idée d’jour

... we live in dark ages whenever we become preoccupied with power.
— Paraclete Press, in promotional material for Light in the Dark Ages by Jon M. Sweeney. The book is a "popular history" of the Middle Ages, with a focus on Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi.

If this definition be true, then we are currently living in a very dark age, indeed.

At the Movies

A correspondent recently asked what movies I've seen lately, and which ones I would recommend. With that in mind, I created the following table.

Dark Habits	Pedro Almodovar	No
Monster House	Gil Kenan	Rent
The Descent	Neil Marshall	No
3 Women	Robert Altman	NFAL
Bad Education	Pedro Almodovar	OK
United 93	Paul Greengrass	Rent
Orphic Trilogy Blood of a Poet Orpheus Testament of Orpheus	Jean Cocteau	NFAL
Into the Woods	Stephen Sondheim	Rent
Pan’s Labyrinth	Guillermo del Toro	Buy

This table lists nine movies, and one trilogy, that I have recently watched. They are, more or less, in inverse order of when I watched them. All were seen via Netflix, with the exception of Pan's Labyrinth, which I originally saw in the theater.

The rating system is fairly simple: No (don't bother), OK (neither great nor aweful), NFAL - "Not for all tastes" (I enjoyed it, but recognize the movie is not exactly commercial), Rent (definitely worth renting), and Buy (so good, you'll probably want the movie in your permanent library).

I hope to flesh out the reasons for my ratings over the next few weeks, as time permits.

I will say, by way of introduction, that watching Cocteau's Orpheus Trilogy gave me a new appreciation of the work of David Lynch, and may have prepared me for non-linear (or practically non-existent) narrative, as found in Altman's 3 Women.

Idée d’jour

The knife does not cut itself, the finger does not touch itself, the mind does not know itself, the eye does not see itself.
— Zen Saying

---

This saying inspired the poem which appears immediately below.

I Am Not I

I am not I.
I am not my hazel eyes,
that change shade with the seasons.
I am not my thin hair.
I am not my gray beard.
I am not my thin mouth.

I am not that reflection.
I am not I.
I am not my voice.
I am not my thoughts.
I am not my desires.
I am not my nightmares.
I am not my dreams.

I do not see my eye.
I am not that twinkling eye.
I am not my shadow.
I am not the one you see,
or the one you think you see.
I am not I.

I am not the song.
I am not the singing.
I am not the slender fingers
on my guitar fretboard,
nor the fingers that
pluck each string.
I am not the harmonica moan.

I am not the prayer
or the pray-er.
I am not my breath.
I am not that distant figure.

The finger does not touch itself.
The eye cannot see itself.
I am not I.

Idée d’jour

What is to give light must endure burning.
— Viktor Frankl

---

As a survivor of the Holocaust, Mr. Frankl perhaps had an accurate sense of what it means to "endure burning", and could count the cost.

Oakerhater VBS, Pt Two

The Oakerhater Vacation Bible School began in earnest on Wednesday. The theme this year was "Peace". This is the same theme chosen for our local church's VBS. It was chosen partly because two of our main leaders were also leaders of the local church VBS.

No question, giving young people some tools and guidelines for living in peace is important. Perhaps even more so in a small and economically depressed town like Watonga.

The curriculla was primarily designed by my friend Pam. Each day focused on a different Biblical story which illustrated a different form of peace or peace-seeking.

Pam began the time on Wednesday by asking the children to join her in some simple relaxation techniques. You can do one right now, while you read this blog entry.

First, breath in as deeply as you can. Then, breath out as slowly as you can.

If you're anything like me, or like the children at this VBS, you might have been tempted to make a sound as you breathed. There is something so satisfying and real about making a little "uhhhhh-uh" sound as you inhale, and a "whooooosh" as you exhale.

But you don't need those noises. Try it. Inhale as deeply as you can, without making a sound. Then exhale, also silently.

If you do this breathing exercise a few times in a row, you may find yourself feeling calmer – more peaceful – than you felt prior to the exercise.

Each day, Pam would tell a version of a Bible story which exemplified or illustrated peace. The story for Wednesday was the story of creation. Just the way Pam told the story helped me feel peaceful. The final day – the Sabbath, the day of rest – was also a gift; a day devoted to being peaceful.

The story on Thursday was the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

Quote d’jour

...I am not a Buddhist. And the Buddha would not have minded this in the least. He would have been happy to hear it. He was not, himself, a Buddhist. He was the thing itself: an enlightened being. Just as Jesus Christ was not a Christian, but a Christ, an enlightened being.
— Alice Walker, "Suffering Too Insignificant for the Majority to See", Shambhala Sun, May 2007, 55.

Extraordinary Event

Received via e-mail:
Something quite extraordinary happened at The White House [on Monday, June 25]. It was covered in the news, but barely. The lack of media attention doesn’t diminish the uniqueness of the occurrence however.

Yesterday, the 2007 Presidential Scholars were received and welcomed at the White House. It’s quite a remarkable collection of young adults. Each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were represented by one male and one female high school senior selected for this honor. It would have been quite a brain trust assembled to be addressed by the President of the United States at the event. But that’s not what was extraordinary.

Although it was not officially part of the ceremony, one of the Presidential Scholars handed George W. Bush a letter. The letter was brief, to the point, and criticized our continued involvement in Bush’s needless war. The letter encouraged him to realize his policies were failing and bring an end to the quagmire he helped create. The letter was signed by the individual who presented it to Bush. The letter was also signed... by every single 2007 Presidential Scholar! George W. Bush paused to read the letter, set it aside, and went on with his pre-scripted speech.

The 2007 Presidential Scholars were there representing blue states and red states. We can only assume some were Democrats, some Independents, and certainly some Republicans. The 100% consensus of the entire group was detailed in the letter to the president. Perhaps it can have some impact in providing George W. Bush with a dose of reality outside of his bubble. If so, we’ll have a group of teenagers, a remarkable group of teenagers, to thank for it.

---

Correction: according to this article, the letter requested that Guantanamo detainees be treated humanely.

Oakerhater Vacation Bible School, Pt One

Nine of us went to Watonga, in western Oklahoma, to offer a Vacation Bible School. Most of us arrived a little after 6 Tuesday evening. After checking in to our motel, we immediately went to the site where we were offering the VBS in order to get things set up.

A group from our church has been going to Watonga for the past seven years, I've been told, and this is the fourth year I've been involved.

We go to Watonga because it is where St. David Pendleton Oakerhater based his ministry to his fellow Native Americans in Oklahoma. This small town remains the home of our church's ministry to Native Americans.

We started setting things up between 6:30 and 7. People worked together very well, and were assertive about asking for help as needed. When it was suggested that we accomplish just one more task before we ate supper, I became assertive. My blood sugar was low, and protein and some carbs were required - stat!

We went out for pizza, which definitely balanced out my blood sugar. As we were eating, the restaurant's TV began running severe weather alerts for the area. A major system seemed to be moving towards us; in fact, we could see extremely black clouds through the restaurant's north-facing windows.

Most of us had finished eating by this point, and returned to the motel, which was just a short walk away.

I decided to sit on the hood of my car and watch the system as long as possible. As I was sitting there, a young man approached and started visiting with me.

The young man appeared to be of Native American heritage. He was in town, it turned out, for the wheat harvest. He was originally from Iowa, but now lives in northwestern Kansas. He follows the harvest circuit from Kansas through Oklahoma to Texas and back north to the Dakotas.

We watched the storm clouds to the north. I saw a lightning flash as we visited. The young man reported that the harvest in the Watonga area was not good - the rains had come too late.

He mentioned that he preferred his new home in Kansas to his home town in Iowa. When I asked him why, he said the people in Kansas seemed more down to earth. Then I asked him for an example.

He looked directly ahead, at the ever-darkening clouds. "It's like this," he said, "A couple years ago, I went back to spend Christmas with my family. My dad wanted me to attend Midnight Mass with him. I stopped having any use for church a long time ago, but I agreed to go, in order to please him."

The young man had dark hair that reached to the bottom of his collar. His muscles and upper body made clear he did hard manual labor for a living, but his clothes and appearance were clean.

"After the service, the preacher came up to me and chewed me out for being poorly dressed for the service. I told him, 'Look, I didn't come here for you. I came here to make my dad happy.' My dad was behind me; he was talking about me to all his friends. You could tell from his expression that he was proud of me.

"'See,' I said, 'I came here for him.'"

We had never exchanged names. I felt honored that he had shared this personal story with me. He didn't know I was in town for a church-related activity. He probably didn't notice the Episcopal shield – which includes a cross – on my rear window. He trusted me with his story. There was only one true response to the story:

"Good for you!"

Friday Five: Gifts and Talents

This week's theme suggested by Sally.

1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?
   I like them. Many on-line personality tests, such as "What poet are you", are pleasant pass-times, but reveal little of one's personality.
      I find the Jungian personality types helpful (introverted, judging, etc), and have taken various versions of the Meyers-Briggs. For it's worth, though, I can never remember all four of the letters.


2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture?
   I would say creative and intellectual. Practical — not so much. Imagine if I found practical applications for my creative and intellectual abilities/talents! Imagine if I could be even a little organized in the use of these abilities! Might be in a different place. Speaking of which...


3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had your yet? If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?
   I've been on local TV four times, and was a radio DJ for about five years.
      The first two times I was on local TV was as a child, on the Foreman Scotty Show (a kids' program).
       The next two times were on the news, in my guise as a musician. The first was a performance at the wedding of two of the survivors of the Edmond Post Office massacre. The other was as a musician at a peace march.
      I also directed a cable-access program, and appeared on it at least once.
      My radio work was on a local NPR-affiliate. I hosted and produced "Ambient Morning Music," which aired Saturday and Sunday mornings from 5 - 7. I also hosted jazz programing many evenings, and occasionally subbed on other locally-produced shows.


4. If you were given a 2 year sabatical ( oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art.....something completely different...share your dream with us...
   Would you believe .... All of the above? I've become a great believer in "following my muse". Right now, my muse seems to be more related to music than art or writing. A month from now, it might be focused on photography (which I consider an art form). Let the spirit lead!


5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
   I am a serviceable guitarist, but there's much room for improvement. I keep hoping I can develop some serious "Finger-style" skills. The talent which seems to be beyond me is playing the piano.

Bonus question: Back to the church — what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
Although this is not a buzz term I've heard before, I suspect the meaning is similar to "the priesthood of all believers", the phrase sometimes used in my denomination.
   Historically, the congregation has looked to the people at the front of the church to serve multiple functions. These specially ordained people have been expected to be many things — administrator, theologian, counselor, cheer leader, etc. They are also expected to be all things to all people. So, the first hurdle to overcome is the notion that a person requires seminary training to minister. Special training may be required for parish adminstration (incidentally, only a recent addition to some seminary curricilla), or for counselling, but there's no reason lay people couldn't serve these functions.
   Next, ordained clergy must be willing to delegate and allow lay people to function with limited interference. I have often experienced a situation where a clergy person claims he or she supports lay ministry, and delegates responsibility to a person or group, then promptly reclaim control of the project. Lay people should be allowed to follow the course the Spirit leads them in, so long as it is not contrary to church teaching or polity. The ordained clergy may not always agree with the methods, or even the goals, but must allow the project to succeed or fail with limited interference. This seems to me to absolutely necessary for an effective lay ministry.
   Finally, everyone concerned must accept the reality that some in the congregation are simply uninterested in being ministers, or in being recognized as ministers. Some people come to church just to be fed, and have little interest in feeding others in any overt way. I think the reality is that these people may minister by their presence, and many minister through their financial contributions. I am mindful that Jesus appears as the person needing ministry, as well as the person serving as minister. In other words, accepting the help of others can be as much a "ministry" as offering that help.

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.

Idée d’jour

Never eat more than you can lift.
— Miss Piggy, a character in the The Muppet Show

Idée d’jour

I think all religions are trying to approach the same mystery, and that there are different religions for the same reason that there are different cuisines.... What I find interesting, though, is that religions always tell stories. Religions always have characters and the characters tell tales.... So that's what's interesting about people with religious faith — they interpret life through a story.
– Yann Martel, from interview with Shambahla Sun, May 2007, 26

Tornado Season

It’s tornado season.  As a TV junkie, to me this means most network programming will be pre-empted by local weathermen.  Like political parties, TV stations have discovered the way to keep you glued to their station is to scare you: “Our new Doppler system will tell us when the twister is knocking on your door!  Stay tuned!”

In my case, these fear tactics generate a response similar to the towns’ people to the boy who cried wolf.  I am, in a word, cynical.  I won’t worry until I hear tornado sirens.

The quiet suburban  neighborhood I live in is far from traditional tornado paths.  The infamous May 3rd tornado of 1999 did not come significantly close to this area.  Tornadoes this weekend, along the Texas panhandle, and in southern Kansas, were significant distances from Oklahoma City, which is almost dead center of the state.

There were a number of tornado warnings last night.  The closest I’m aware of was near Wolf, which is almost 70 miles southeast of OKC.  As I say, I’ve gotten skeptical of the constant barrage of mostly redundant information provided by local TV.  I’ve chosen to wait for the sirens. 

Once I hear the sirens, then I turn on the TV to see how close the system is. Otherwise, I refuse to get caught up in their manipulation.

I almost turned on the tube early this morning, even though there were no sirens. I became aware of repeated lightening strikes a bit before 3 a.m. It was a major lightshow, and one could barely say "one Mississippi" between the flash of the lightening and the thunder. This told me the system was quite near.

I wasn't afraid, really, but DJ was. She ran from window to window meowing. She did her own form of feline storm tracking.

Try sleeping through thunder and meowing. It's an effective alarm system. However, I was still groggy enough to lack the inertia to get out of bed.

Happily, DJ and I survived. By the time I got up (around 6), there was only a shallow stream of water down the middle of the street; the water in the gutter was only about three inches deep. Easily passable.

Coworkers' yards flooded. One lives just a mile or so north of me; the other lives several miles south. So, I count myself lucky.

And we're all lucky compared to the people of Greensburg, KS.

Idée d’jour

What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy?
— Ursula K. Le Guin, author (1929- )

Interview, Part One

I'm borrowing questions asked of Reverend Mother by Mindy. I've requested personalized questions, and will post those when and if received.

1. What is your favorite word?
   Dance, and variations thereof. It has become one of "fall back" words in recent poems; therefore, I'm doing my best to avoid it.


2. If there was a movie made of your life, who would play you?
   Michael Gross. This is sort of obvious type casting, as a number of people have told me I resemble him. Mr. Gross is best known for his role as the father in "Family Ties". He's also played a father in recent episodes of "How I Met Your Mother".
   
   I am not a father, though I was a step-father. I do not currently play a father, even on the blogosphere. I am, however, a decent "Dutch Uncle".
   
   Mr. Gross is about 10 years older than I am, and seems to be losing hair in ways similar to myself. So, recent publicity shots may give me a clue as to how I'll look in 8 or 9 years.


3. Paper or plastic and why?
   This is a theological question more potent than the current controversy over human sexuality.
   
   It's been a really long time since I've been given a choice. Most of the time, the grocery store gives me plastic, while the health food store gives me paper.
   
   Paper is - generally - recyclable. Both are reusable. I keep a stock-pile of plastic bags which I use primarily for trash can liners. Large paper bags are among my cat's favorite toys.
   
   Once she has gotten finished with those paper bags, they are especially ready for recycling.
   
   I don't know if there is a net gain from recycling paper. That is to say, does the benefit of recycling my paper bag outweigh the environmental impact of pollution produced by the recycling plant? Is that a fair trade-off to reducing land fill use?
   
   My gut feeling is recycling is superior overall to the negative impact of plastic. So, when given a choice, I request paper.


4. If you could be on a reality TV show, which show would you want to be on and why?
   The question assumes I would want to be on a reality TV show. Since I think so-called reality TV is symbolic of the collapse of Western Culture, I would not be inclined to implicitly endorse it by being on such a show.
   
   If I had to be on a reality show, I guess it would be "American Idol" - assuming they loosened the age restriction.


5. What would be your super hero talent?
   My impulse response was "flying", but that's a talent I would like to have. What if talents I already possess were magnified in some way, such that they were considered "super powers"?
   
   In that case, ability to charm with my voice (words, speaking, singing) would be one. That's the gift of Orpheus.
   
   The other would be the capacity to retain vast amounts of basically useless trivia. Super Nerd!
   

Can We Agree?

Rev. Sarah Dylan has posted a list intended to find common ground between "reasserters" (sometimes called "conservatives") and progressives within the Episcopal Church. It seems she believes real communication is most likely to occur if we begin our discussion with points we can agree on.

• Jesus is Lord.


• Jesus and the God who created the universe are one.


• The Old and New Testaments were inspired by God, and are useful for teaching and Christian formation (a la 2 Timothy 3:16-17).


• Jesus of Nazareth was an actual historical person who was born of Mary, gathered disciples and taught, healed, and confronted evil powers in ministry [to]the first-century Roman province of Palestine, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate's authority.


• Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Christ of God.


• The God of Israel raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead.


• Jesus' disciples met the risen Jesus — some had visions, some corporeal encounters (though Jesus' body was different in some ways — e.g., he didn't seem to need doors to be opened or unlocked to get into a room), but in all cases reported in the New Testament it was Jesus they met.


• The list of canonical books in the New Testament is a good one. There is no non-canonical gospel that I would have liked to see in the canon, and no book currently in the canon that I'd exclude if I could.


• The kingdom of God was inaugurated in Jesus' ministry, and that Jesus will come again to realize fully his work among us.


• The God of Israel has chosen Jesus, the Christ, as judge of the nations.


• Jesus is really present in the sacrament of the Eucharist.


• Jesus is really present wherever people gather in his name.

I interpret Dylan's question as being, "What do *you* agree with?" rather than, "What do you think *everyone* can agree with?" The only question I can answer meaningfully, at any rate, is the former.

I agree with almost everything on this list. Like many others (on both sides), I see some challenges in defining phrases such as "Jesus is Lord".

Is it necessary to agree on definitions? Many on both sides have said we *do* need to agree on definitions; meaning, of course, that we must agree on their definitions.

I am reminded, however, of the Elizabethan compromise regarding the nature of the Eucharist. When confronted with two seemingly opposing views, the solution was to say "both".

What I mean to suggest is that unity may occur through agreeing on certain points, so long as definitions are kept as broad as possible (or totally ambiguous). We can agree on the phrase "Jesus is Lord" so long as the implications of what that phrase means are left up to each individual.

Dr. Pierce's Golden Pills

Lilly of the valley sky
where clouds breach
over burned furrows.

My sister has just arrived,
wearing an empire dress.
Her face is sun-burned.

Her hands are idle.
Coquettish clouds halo her hair.
Her eyes are on the barn.

It looks like rain, but rain
won't spoil the dance.
Wind blows from the southeast.

Sister has brought
Dr. Pierce's golden liver pills.
She says they're not fake.

We'll be off
to the green-roofed barn
just after sunset.

---

Written in response to this challenge.

Commission Report Reflects on Iraq Policy

Interesting news out of Israel yesterday:  the government-appointed Winograd Commission released a preliminary report criticizing Prime Minister Olmert’s decision to enter into a full-blown war against Hezbollah following a Hezbollah raid last July (see NPR article).
Among the commission’s criticisms:

• failed to adequately assess the Israel Defense Forces' war-readiness


• did not have a clear exit strategy;


• did not consider alternatives to a full-scale conflict; and


• outlined unattainable goals;


• all of which "add up to a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution"

It seems to me a similar report could be issued regarding Pres. B*sh’s decision to invade Iraq.  All that would need to change are the proper nouns.

To whit:

• The Administration did not assess whether our military had sufficient forces to launch attacks on two fronts while maintaining a presence in Europe, South Korea, and elsewhere around the world. This failure of planning has lead to the need to divert the National Guard to a foreign conflict, and to institute stop-loss measures across all branches of the military.


• The lack of an exit strategy becomes clear as one examines the shifting reasons given for invasion. In other words, how can one exit when one has not clearly defined what constitutes the end goal?
      It seems to me that, if "Democracy" were the true goal, the Administration could have declared victory shortly after the first round of elections.
      We are now in the odd position of trying to support a predominantly Shiite government - hardly the electoral outcome we were banking on.


• The Administration chose to invade Iraq just as it seemed that the combination of diplomacy and the threat of invasion were working.


• Establishing Western-style Democracy in Iraq has long been the stated goal for invading Iraq (once it was clear there was no need for a "pre-emptive" strike). Anyone familiar with the history of the Mideast in general, and of Iraq specifically, would recognize this was (at least) an unrealistic goal. It's very likely unattainable as well.

As with the Omert's full-scale strike against Hezbollah, this policy reveals "a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution."

As I have suggested before, this Administration has offered aid and comfort to the enemy. Weapons being used against our forces are from stockpiles we failed to guard following the invasion. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has proven to be an excellent recruiting tool for al Queda and similar radical movements.

Surely, providing aid and comfort to the enemy is an impeachable offense!

My Time Behind Rock-Star Shades

I was a rock star Sunday morning, ever so briefly.

This past Sunday was the 7^th Annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. This is among the annual events that commemorate the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. The organizers have local bands perform at different spots along the course to entertain runners, spectators, and volunteers.

Now, Ben and I have been working on an acoustic set since late last year and have actually had a gig. I got an email from Ben while I was visiting Brother Dave, asking if I was interested in doing music for the marathon. I’m the first to admit to being a ham, so I eagerly agreed.

However, by the time I responded, the Ben’s concept had shifted. He had also contacted a group he does rock music with – The Space Heaters – and asked if they were available and interested. The regular rhythm guitarist was out of pocket, so I stood in for him. I don’t know that many could hear my non-amplified (but miked) guitar over everything else, but strumming gave me something to do when I wasn’t singing.

We were told to be at the site – about six blocks from the finish line – around 6:30 a.m. Runners were expected to be coming around the spot around 7:30. Now, I’m an early bird – but even I think 6:30 a.m. is rather early.

It took at least 20 minutes for bleary-eyed musicians to agree on where to set up the gear. Then, about 30 minutes to set up. By the time we had set up, the first runner came by. So, that hour for set up was a good idea.

We played mostly oldies: Great Balls of Fire, Like a Rolling Stone, Lucille, and Fortunate Son. I sang lead on Mr. Tambourine Man and All Along the Watchtower. We hadn’t rehearsed the latter; it’s something I played to cover while the lead guitarist replaced a broken string. Since “Watchtower” is basically 2-3 chords (simplest way to play it is with Am and F), it was a good filler. I also filled time by playing harmonica between each of the three verses.

Guess I did OK. When we were done, Ben said, “We’re definitely adding that one to the set list.”

We did a couple more songs, then it was time for me to sing The Mighty Quinn. I started to tear into it – like Dylan did at the Isle of Wight concert – and suddenly, my mind went blank. For the life of me, I could not remember the first verse.

Next thing we knew, the power was gone.

Did I mention that the site was a car dealership? Specifically, a Jaguar dealership? Did I mention that no one met us to tell us where we could plug in?

There two outlets outside the display room, and we had plugged into one of those. Hard to believe we had blown a fuse. Surely, a Jaguar dealership can afford to pay it’s electric bill.

Anyway, that was my brief moment as a rock star. It was fun, and I hope I can do it again.

Idée d’jour

If you devote your life to seeking revenge, first dig two graves.
— Confucius, philosopher and teacher (c. 551-478 BCE)

Friday Five: What Are You...

This week's laconic theme suggested by Reverend Mother; "What are you":

1. Wearing
   I am wearing my traditional Friday garb: black shirt and black pants. Since it was chilly this morning (46°), I am also wearing my off-white linen jacket.


2. Pondering
   "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" Brain asks of Pinky.
   "That ‘W’ should be forced to complete his enlistment in the National Guard and be stop-lossed to Iraq?"


3. Reading
   The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama. I have only read the first two chapters so far. He is very intentional about finding a middle path.


4. Dreaming
   I'm sure I dream; it's just been so long since I've remembered one. There are times when I attempt automatic writing that curious images and verbal constructions come forth which may be dream refugees; see, for example, "Jack Frost Is Dead".


5. Eating
   Breakfast - mixed cereals, consisting of Kashi Go Lean Crunch and a generic granola. Lunch - whatever is on special at the cafeteria. Dinner - an entree from the Prairie Gypsies, a local catering company which also sells delicious entrees directly to individuals. This latter is one of my traditional Friday indulgences.

Best Of 2006

I've finally selected the "best" entries for the past "fiscal" year. Since I began this blog in March 2003, I observe a "fiscal year" from March to March.

Yep, believe it or not, I've been blogging in this space since March 2003 — that's four years! My Jonah 365 blog has gotten more attention of late, but I still add an entry here now and again. My intent is to use this space primarily for politics and poetry. The Jonah 365 space intended to be more focused on images - primarily photographic, but some imagist poetry has appeared over there as well.

Anyway, check out what I've selected as the "Best Of" for the past year, and see if you agree. Nominations are still being accepted for alternate entries.

Idée d’jour

I'm not young enough to know everything.
— J.M. Barrie (author of Peter Pan)

Idée d’jour

When we ask "Where is God," we are like fish in the ocean asking where all the water is.
— Sufi saying

Virginia Tragedy

Larry Johnson, at TPM Cafe, notes that the death of 32 people at Virginia Tech yesterday is, more or less, equivalent to a normal day in Baghdad. He wonders why Americans are shocked by the former, and not by the latter. Let's face it, the majority of those who favor prompt withdrawl of American troops are thinking primarily of American sons and daughters rather than the children of Iraq.

Let us not, however, minimize one tragedy by comparing it to another. What happened in Viginia Monday morning and early afternoon was tragic. Dateline, on NBC, ran a news special on the event Monday evening. CBS will have a news special on Wednesday evening. I have no doubt that many commentators will perform long-distance psychoanalysis to explain why this person went berserk.

The boys at Columbine were loners. They were abused and ostracized by fellow students. They killed for revenge. I might seek revenge as well, but never to that degree.

University officials are still reluctant, as I write this, to say the same person was responsible for the incident in the morning and the one in the afternoon. The first incident was considered to be a domestic disturbance. According to the New York Times, the man who eventually killed himself, after killing at least 30 others, was Seung-Hui Cho, an Asian student. There are suggestions this man is relatively new to our country.

So, he also may have been an object of verbal and physical abuse. Photographs suggest the campus is primarily Caucasian. It's possible Mr. Cho was an object of ridicule and/or prejudice. Granted, one of the victims was black, but this doesn't negate my hypothesis.

Now, like one of those commentators, I'm trying to explain Mr. Cho's actions. We want to understand. We want to discern a motive. "Bull goose crazy" may be acceptable, but we much prefer explanations we can understand. If we can, order is restored. And, while we may understand the motive, we can reassure ourselves that we would never do something similar.

Someone once said, "Nothing human is foreign to me." What this writer meant, I think, is the full range of human emotions is available to us. As is the full range of human response to those emotions.

Hitler is not an aberration. Timothy McVeigh was a true believer. The boys in Columbine displayed one type of violence, just as the people who teased them displayed another.

The people who rush to help others after a tragedy may be braver than some, but each of us the capacity for that same level of caring and self-sacrifice.

Human beings are neither intrinsically good, nor intrinsically evil. Human beings have the capacity for the full range of that ethical pole. Any one of us are capable of the same sort of extremes I've mentioned.

I could be a Hitler. There are times, in my most egotistical moments, when I want to rule the world. Times when I believe I know the right way to behave and think, and I want to impose it on the rest of the world.

I'm not typically the sort of person who rushes to help in an accident. I reason, given my limited skills, I'm more likely to be a hindrance than a help. I can pray, but first aid is not one of my gifts. But I have reached out to others, and have a patience and thoughtfulness others have admired.

I suspect, if you do an honest self-inventory, you will see you have these same capabilities. Just magnify your best and worst qualities, and you'll recognize you are also capable of being Hitler or Mother Theresa.

A fundamental guideline of human ethics, mirrored in every major world religion, is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It follows that, as I do not want to die or being seriously injured, I will strive to avoid killing or injuring others.

And yet, we constantly find justifications for killing others. Most often, for revenge; or, most recently, as a sort of preemptive revenge.

Seung-Hui Cho, the man who killed so many at Virginia Tech, undoubtedly convinced himself he was justified in killing so many. We may never know why.

President B*sh, who reportedly expressed "shock and sadness" in response to this tragedy, is ultimately responsible for many multiples of 32 human beings in Iraq and Afghanistan. He can be saddened by the first tragedy, and not the second, because he has convinced himself the deaths in those two countries are justified. That, somehow, these deaths will lead to a greater good for America. He may even sincerely believe all these deaths will lead to Western-style democracy in these two countries.

He has convinced himself, in other words, that the ends justify the means. Just as the boys at Columbine did. Just as Tim McVeigh did. Just as, perhaps, Mr. Seung-Hui Cho did.

Friday Five: Dental Edition

This week's theme suggested by Reverend Mother. She and Cheesehead have both recently gone to the dentist with various oral maladies.

1. Are you a regular patron of dentists' offices?
   dentist? what is this "dentist" thing you speak of?
   
   I haven't been to the dentist in over *mumble* years. I think my teenage experience with my orthodontist scarred me for life.


2. Whatever became of your wisdom teeth?
   I'm not sure they ever came in.


3. Favorite thing to eat that's BAAAAAD for your teeth.
   [Sings] "I like candy ...." And cake. And chocolate. And sweets. And ....


4. Ever had oral surgery? Commiserate with me.
   I did have a root canal, sometime in my late teens or twenties. As I recall, it was not quite as traumatic as advertised.
   


5. "I'd rather have a root canal than _________________."
   I'm speechless. Guess I'd have another one, if my life depended on it. Or if I were in severe pain. I'm a wimp that way.

Bonus: Does your dentist recommend Trident?
I refer you to my response to the first question. However, I have started chewing a stick of Ice Breakers after lunch. A friend got me started on this habit.

Last Station: Dancing Day

Station: Holy Saturday

A.
Beloved Daughter, Blessed Mother,
this is your son.
Do not look upon this broken body;
look to your right.
Adopt the young face you look upon.
Beloved Friend, this is your mother.

I thirst.

This is not my dancing day.
I cannot dance on this wormy wood.

Beloved daughter,
will you not leave this place?
Beloved friend,
will you not shield your mother's face
from this horror?

I thirst.

Hear my voice.
I cry from the horns of unicorns.
Bulls of Bashan surround me.
I am a reproach of men,
they laugh and mock me.
They gave me a robe in jest,
now they gamble for it.

Daddy! hear my voice.
Forgive them.
Bless this mother.
Preserve this adopted son.

I thirst for life
I thirst for love
I thirst for forgiveness
I thirst for compassion
I thirst for justice

Father, have I completed
the work you gave me to do?

Yes.
It is finished.

B.
They took the body down.
It was laid
in a stranger's tomb.
A stone was rolled unto the door of the tomb.
And Mary Magdalene
and Mary the mother of Joses
beheld where he was laid.