so there's an application you can ad to facebook that allows you to test your geography/travel memory/recognition. It's crazy addictive with the little quiz. It tells you a place or shows you a photo and you click on the place on a map.
Now, the map is too small to really get right on anything (except by sheer luck) though the application seems to think you can do that.
In any case, I want desperately to be good enough at it to advance past level 10.
So, I am going to bed right now with a map of central and eastern Europe rattling around in my head so maybe I'll recognize Croatia and Belarus and Bulgaria next time. I mean, really. I call myself well traveled and intelligent and I mixed up Belarus and Bulgaria. oy.
;-)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
resting
Yesterday I finally took a real day off. And while I was off from work I decided to also be off from...oh, everything else. I left my laptop in the office so I couldn't check email or headlines or blogs. I didn't go to the gym so I wouldn't watch CNN or MSNBC or Oprah or whatever. I don't have any TV channels anyway (literally--the television is only for DVD watching). I didn't listen to the radio in the car. I was off, unplugged, media fasting, whatever.
I hopped a train into the city, met some friends for a few minutes, got horrible blisters from wearing new but adorable shoes, and saw panels from the Gates of Paradise at the Art Institute. They are amazing. Saw the replica doors in Florence a couple of years ago, but there's nothing like seeing these restored panels up close and personal. So cool. Met up with a church member/friend on the train, took him home when we arrived, got invited in by his wife (who happens to be the music director and also a good friend) for bread, cheese, and wine, and ended up there for more than 5 hours, just talking talking talking.
It was awesome.
Today I have gone out shopping for cat food and people food and also some clothes...fall/winter is coming! I have eaten mushroom brie and a baguette for lunch, followed by mango sauce (yum). Now I'm getting ready to make my own veggie broth, to roast and freeze some eggplant, and probably to make deviled eggs or something. I also need to practice this piece of music I'm supposed to have all learned by Monday night...hmmm.....
I think I might take a nap first. Maybe while the veggies are simmering into vegetable stock?
Remind me again why I don't take days like this every week?
I hopped a train into the city, met some friends for a few minutes, got horrible blisters from wearing new but adorable shoes, and saw panels from the Gates of Paradise at the Art Institute. They are amazing. Saw the replica doors in Florence a couple of years ago, but there's nothing like seeing these restored panels up close and personal. So cool. Met up with a church member/friend on the train, took him home when we arrived, got invited in by his wife (who happens to be the music director and also a good friend) for bread, cheese, and wine, and ended up there for more than 5 hours, just talking talking talking.
It was awesome.
Today I have gone out shopping for cat food and people food and also some clothes...fall/winter is coming! I have eaten mushroom brie and a baguette for lunch, followed by mango sauce (yum). Now I'm getting ready to make my own veggie broth, to roast and freeze some eggplant, and probably to make deviled eggs or something. I also need to practice this piece of music I'm supposed to have all learned by Monday night...hmmm.....
I think I might take a nap first. Maybe while the veggies are simmering into vegetable stock?
Remind me again why I don't take days like this every week?
Monday, September 17, 2007
everybody's doing it...
This is funny to me because a) that's pretty much what my hair looks like and b) this is almost exactly the outfit I'm wearing right now (brown pants, burgundy top) except for the shoes (olive green dansko mary jane clogs..."madrigal" style).from SimpsonizeMe
Sunday, September 16, 2007
A time for everything?
Reverendmother has already written eloquently on the concept of time scarcity. After much thinking, I am ready to sign on. I've been thinking a lot about time management and all the things that are expected of us, and how difficult it is to get volunteers and to get youth involved in church things and all kinds of other stuff.
You see, we started this new Wednesday Evening program, which is awesome and so far has been a wonderful success (in its two weeks!). But I'm having trouble getting volunteers to help out with things like children's storytime, helping coordinate food/catering, and cleanup. If we continue like this, the program will last maybe another month before I die. That sounds melodramatic, but I mean it. There's just not enough time for me to do all of the things involved in WEAVE and also the youth and also supervising sunday school and also teaching confirmation and also leading worship and also and also and also...you see what I mean.
Now, I know that people are busy. I understand that none of us have the amount of time we want to do the things we want/need to do. The question is: how do we still get things done? I don't know the answer to that yet. I want to be like Jesus: just stop in the middle of the work and take a rest. but I haven't done it yet--it's been three weeks since I had a whole day off. Or even a half a day REALLY off.
On to the real point of this post. Given the fact that no one has the amount of time they would like to have, why is it that we feel the need to be busier than other people, or to suggest that our time is more valuable than others' time, or to prove that our things or our busyness is more important than others? Can we not just say "we're all busy, how can we spread the work-love?" instead of "don't tell me how busy you are...I'm even more busy!" or "it's just a small inconvenience for you to do that." Both of those are unhelpful and condescending things to say, and they only make us defensive. Or at least, they make me defensive. I recognize that's not a helpful response, but it's my response nonetheless. And the follow up response is to prove my busyness by being more busy, which is, frankly, stupid.
So, how can I stop being stupid?
It's clear that I need to change this pattern ASAP because the fall will kill me, either physically or spiritually. My brain is full, things fall through the cracks (like my hardboiled eggs, the most benign of the examples from last week), and that makes people anxious. but part of my job is to not be the one producing anxiety. you know?
I think that's all I have to think about for today. I'm sure there will be more as I continue to think about this. For now, I'm going to eat dinner, listen to Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me by podcast, and figure out the children's time for tomorrow. yippee!
You see, we started this new Wednesday Evening program, which is awesome and so far has been a wonderful success (in its two weeks!). But I'm having trouble getting volunteers to help out with things like children's storytime, helping coordinate food/catering, and cleanup. If we continue like this, the program will last maybe another month before I die. That sounds melodramatic, but I mean it. There's just not enough time for me to do all of the things involved in WEAVE and also the youth and also supervising sunday school and also teaching confirmation and also leading worship and also and also and also...you see what I mean.
Now, I know that people are busy. I understand that none of us have the amount of time we want to do the things we want/need to do. The question is: how do we still get things done? I don't know the answer to that yet. I want to be like Jesus: just stop in the middle of the work and take a rest. but I haven't done it yet--it's been three weeks since I had a whole day off. Or even a half a day REALLY off.
On to the real point of this post. Given the fact that no one has the amount of time they would like to have, why is it that we feel the need to be busier than other people, or to suggest that our time is more valuable than others' time, or to prove that our things or our busyness is more important than others? Can we not just say "we're all busy, how can we spread the work-love?" instead of "don't tell me how busy you are...I'm even more busy!" or "it's just a small inconvenience for you to do that." Both of those are unhelpful and condescending things to say, and they only make us defensive. Or at least, they make me defensive. I recognize that's not a helpful response, but it's my response nonetheless. And the follow up response is to prove my busyness by being more busy, which is, frankly, stupid.
So, how can I stop being stupid?
It's clear that I need to change this pattern ASAP because the fall will kill me, either physically or spiritually. My brain is full, things fall through the cracks (like my hardboiled eggs, the most benign of the examples from last week), and that makes people anxious. but part of my job is to not be the one producing anxiety. you know?
I think that's all I have to think about for today. I'm sure there will be more as I continue to think about this. For now, I'm going to eat dinner, listen to Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me by podcast, and figure out the children's time for tomorrow. yippee!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
lots
There's tons I want to blog about, but not tons of time to blog.
Maybe this Saturday?
by then the things I want to say about the whole Petraus/Crocker hearings will be irrelevant, but maybe my temper will have cooled down by then too. I mean, who says "Sunni Arab"???? Sunni is a religious term, Arab is an ethnic term...they are not used together except by uninformed people. It disturbs me that a man who is "leading" our armed forces on the ground in Iraq uses a phrase like that.
Also, I'm tired of hearing about how factions within Islam are the only religious groups in Iraq or anywhere else in the middle east. It's just not true. There are Christians, there are Zoroastrians, there are some other small minority religious groups, and guess what? They're all persecuted like crazy. No to mention Kurds, who get no mention at all; even when there's talk of "partition" they only talked about Sunnis and Shiites. News flash: Iraq is more diverse than we give it credit for. Where's the US military for those other people? Somewhere else, apparently. Talking about "Sunni Arabs" as though that's even a thing. And saying things that come out sounding an awful lot like "we can't leave because it would force the Iraqis to work together and that wouldn't be good." I mean, really. You went into a country where you didn't understand the culture or language or really anything else, and now that it's all falling apart (or fallen apart, as the case may be) you're talking about how they don't work together the way we do...well duh...and that it's better not to have an authoritarian government (which is sort of true but culturally not true because strong authority is a key value in Arab culture) but eventually they'll do things "our way" (one of them actually said that). Honestly.
One more thing. I'll be the first to admit I don't understand all the complexities of this, but I have a basic logic question. IF "Al Qaeda in Iraq" is in fact linked to Al Qaeda the original, THEN doesn't it make sense that spending resources dismantling (the polite way to say killing, unfortunately, since we can't seem to see any nonviolent way to dismantle anything) Al Qaeda the original would ultimately put a stop to AQI? If there's no command central, then organizations like that (particularly in the middle east where authoritarianism is valued) tend to crumble, right? So we could actually solve the AQI problem by focusing on Afghanistan? I have yet to hear a convincing argument against this, though it must be out there in the ether I don't understand...otherwise, wouldn't we be doing that? I can't be the only one who's thought of this.
Okay, so apparently I let all of that out today instead of Saturday. But there's more, about other stuff, so that will have to wait because now I have to do some work. ta.
Maybe this Saturday?
by then the things I want to say about the whole Petraus/Crocker hearings will be irrelevant, but maybe my temper will have cooled down by then too. I mean, who says "Sunni Arab"???? Sunni is a religious term, Arab is an ethnic term...they are not used together except by uninformed people. It disturbs me that a man who is "leading" our armed forces on the ground in Iraq uses a phrase like that.
Also, I'm tired of hearing about how factions within Islam are the only religious groups in Iraq or anywhere else in the middle east. It's just not true. There are Christians, there are Zoroastrians, there are some other small minority religious groups, and guess what? They're all persecuted like crazy. No to mention Kurds, who get no mention at all; even when there's talk of "partition" they only talked about Sunnis and Shiites. News flash: Iraq is more diverse than we give it credit for. Where's the US military for those other people? Somewhere else, apparently. Talking about "Sunni Arabs" as though that's even a thing. And saying things that come out sounding an awful lot like "we can't leave because it would force the Iraqis to work together and that wouldn't be good." I mean, really. You went into a country where you didn't understand the culture or language or really anything else, and now that it's all falling apart (or fallen apart, as the case may be) you're talking about how they don't work together the way we do...well duh...and that it's better not to have an authoritarian government (which is sort of true but culturally not true because strong authority is a key value in Arab culture) but eventually they'll do things "our way" (one of them actually said that). Honestly.
One more thing. I'll be the first to admit I don't understand all the complexities of this, but I have a basic logic question. IF "Al Qaeda in Iraq" is in fact linked to Al Qaeda the original, THEN doesn't it make sense that spending resources dismantling (the polite way to say killing, unfortunately, since we can't seem to see any nonviolent way to dismantle anything) Al Qaeda the original would ultimately put a stop to AQI? If there's no command central, then organizations like that (particularly in the middle east where authoritarianism is valued) tend to crumble, right? So we could actually solve the AQI problem by focusing on Afghanistan? I have yet to hear a convincing argument against this, though it must be out there in the ether I don't understand...otherwise, wouldn't we be doing that? I can't be the only one who's thought of this.
Okay, so apparently I let all of that out today instead of Saturday. But there's more, about other stuff, so that will have to wait because now I have to do some work. ta.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
so maybe my brain doesn't work right
I put a dozen eggs on to boil so I could turn them into pre-gym breakfasts and egg salad lunches.
Then I forgot about them for about an hour.
11 are intact...can I still eat them? the cracked one smells burned...are the others burned too? They were still covered with water, so it's not as though they just sat in a hot pan or anything. Of course the yolks will be discolored, but is that bad for you? Please advise.
Comments on my Saturday evening absent-mindedness welcome as long as they come with egg advice.
Then I forgot about them for about an hour.
11 are intact...can I still eat them? the cracked one smells burned...are the others burned too? They were still covered with water, so it's not as though they just sat in a hot pan or anything. Of course the yolks will be discolored, but is that bad for you? Please advise.
Comments on my Saturday evening absent-mindedness welcome as long as they come with egg advice.
apropos of nothing....
I came across this in a facebook group called "good grammar is hot"--a letter that exemplifies the badness of grammar, especially among teens. oh my. It's hilarious and painful all at the same time.
Turn your sound up when you go here so you can hear the letter read aloud. It's worth it.
WARNING: not so much family friendly--there are a couple of swear words. also, the grammar and spelling and punctuation are so bad it's painful. Plus there's general teen pain as well. but with the reading out loud, oh wow.
I am still laughing at the dramatic reading.
Turn your sound up when you go here so you can hear the letter read aloud. It's worth it.
WARNING: not so much family friendly--there are a couple of swear words. also, the grammar and spelling and punctuation are so bad it's painful. Plus there's general teen pain as well. but with the reading out loud, oh wow.
I am still laughing at the dramatic reading.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
more on WEAVE...
...this time from a personal perspective rather than just the program/ministry/institution perspective.
I don't have volunteers to work on this yet. We need a team or committee who organizes things like catering, set up and clean up, hosting, etc. But those people are hard to recruit during summer months, so we went ahead without it. We won't last long without it, though. Yesterday I did all the set-up of tables and chairs, and all the tear down of the same, myself. I (and the church secretary) organized the catering, and she went to pick it up. Eventually this will get even more stressful, I think, as the need for a variety of foods increases (ie we can't have the same thing every week, though it would be easier!). And the time involved in setting up/tearing down tables and chairs for 60-100 people every week is significant.
But at the same time, there is something immensely satisfying about moving tables and putting chairs back on the rack. I came from a big church with "housemen" (they were all men then) who did all of that. I never moved a single chair or table in my four years of every-sunday (and often every-day) time there. In the small church where I interned and worked, I moved some tables and chairs but not many--it's one of the few things I could get volunteers for (perhaps cuz it was in the South and I'm a girl...). And while I'm not one of those who thought, "once I'm an ordained pastor I'll never have to move another chair," I also never thought, "moving chairs and tables is a really satisfying work." But you know what? When you talk, write, read, and follow up with youth on facebook all day, when you listen, have small groups where people share their journeys, lead Bible studies, and do all of those "pastor things" that you almost never see the fruit of, ALL DAY, there is something really fabulous about moving a bunch of chairs and tables. I can look around the fellowship hall and think "I did something and it had tangible results." And while moving them, I had all kinds of time to think about how the first night of WEAVE had gone and what could be improved (specify that we don't want spicy spaghetti, issue personal invitations to youth for the Bible Study, tablecloths vs. placemats, etc) and how exciting it all is and who I was surprised to see and who I was glad to see back after a long summer away, etc. Plus I got kind of a workout.
Having said all of that, I still really need some volunteers who want to make WEAVE a part of their ministry here at RCLPC. Maybe people who find moving chairs and tables a really satisfying mindless activity. People who enjoy washing dishes (thanks Sally for stepping up last night!). People who have their fingers on the pulse of restaurants and catering options in the area. You know...people.
In the meantime, yay! I'm really excited about WEAVE.
I don't have volunteers to work on this yet. We need a team or committee who organizes things like catering, set up and clean up, hosting, etc. But those people are hard to recruit during summer months, so we went ahead without it. We won't last long without it, though. Yesterday I did all the set-up of tables and chairs, and all the tear down of the same, myself. I (and the church secretary) organized the catering, and she went to pick it up. Eventually this will get even more stressful, I think, as the need for a variety of foods increases (ie we can't have the same thing every week, though it would be easier!). And the time involved in setting up/tearing down tables and chairs for 60-100 people every week is significant.
But at the same time, there is something immensely satisfying about moving tables and putting chairs back on the rack. I came from a big church with "housemen" (they were all men then) who did all of that. I never moved a single chair or table in my four years of every-sunday (and often every-day) time there. In the small church where I interned and worked, I moved some tables and chairs but not many--it's one of the few things I could get volunteers for (perhaps cuz it was in the South and I'm a girl...). And while I'm not one of those who thought, "once I'm an ordained pastor I'll never have to move another chair," I also never thought, "moving chairs and tables is a really satisfying work." But you know what? When you talk, write, read, and follow up with youth on facebook all day, when you listen, have small groups where people share their journeys, lead Bible studies, and do all of those "pastor things" that you almost never see the fruit of, ALL DAY, there is something really fabulous about moving a bunch of chairs and tables. I can look around the fellowship hall and think "I did something and it had tangible results." And while moving them, I had all kinds of time to think about how the first night of WEAVE had gone and what could be improved (specify that we don't want spicy spaghetti, issue personal invitations to youth for the Bible Study, tablecloths vs. placemats, etc) and how exciting it all is and who I was surprised to see and who I was glad to see back after a long summer away, etc. Plus I got kind of a workout.
Having said all of that, I still really need some volunteers who want to make WEAVE a part of their ministry here at RCLPC. Maybe people who find moving chairs and tables a really satisfying mindless activity. People who enjoy washing dishes (thanks Sally for stepping up last night!). People who have their fingers on the pulse of restaurants and catering options in the area. You know...people.
In the meantime, yay! I'm really excited about WEAVE.
excellent
WEAVE, our new Wednesday evening program, kicked off last night with quite a bit of success. Lots of kids in the children's choirs, lots of people here for dinner, lots of people in the adult ed class, and (by all accounts I've heard, anyway) an energetic and intense adult choir rehearsal. I'm really excited about this program and the opportunities it presents us as a congregation! Opportunities for spiritual growth, for fellowship, for good music, for all kinds of things! Good times were had by all last night, and we even had leftovers. :-)
(What does WEAVE stand for, you might wonder? Wednesday Evening AVEnues. Cuz we are weaving together a bunch of different things on one evening--get it?)
In other excellent news, I've had some luck getting people to help with confirmation. Now I just need senior high leaders and all will be in readiness. In theory, anyway!
(What does WEAVE stand for, you might wonder? Wednesday Evening AVEnues. Cuz we are weaving together a bunch of different things on one evening--get it?)
In other excellent news, I've had some luck getting people to help with confirmation. Now I just need senior high leaders and all will be in readiness. In theory, anyway!
Monday, September 03, 2007
labor day
why is it that on labor day no one labors?
just asking, not complaining.
I know, I know, we celebrate and recognize the people who have labored to make this country great, or something like that.
I just think it's a funny name for a day when very few people actually work.
I've been in my house all day reading and napping and eating and learning french by podcast and all kinds of random things. It's sunny and beautiful out so my sliding doors are open, my cats are sleeping in various places around the house (which, when put that way, makes it sound like I have significantly more cats than I actually do), and I ate leftover homemade Indian food for lunch, followed up with irish coffee cheesecake. Which is still amazing.
I just finished A Spot of Bother, which I started earlier today. (yes I'm a fast reader when I have uninterrupted time and when the book is interesting...) It was good...I recommend it. It's frustrating and sad and brilliant and funny all at the same time. Since it's about family and life, I suspect that means it's just surprisingly well written, rather like the Curious Incident was--no surprise since it's by the same author. I expected the book to be good, an expectation which is rarely met...and was happy to find my expectations exceeded. enjoy.
just asking, not complaining.
I know, I know, we celebrate and recognize the people who have labored to make this country great, or something like that.
I just think it's a funny name for a day when very few people actually work.
I've been in my house all day reading and napping and eating and learning french by podcast and all kinds of random things. It's sunny and beautiful out so my sliding doors are open, my cats are sleeping in various places around the house (which, when put that way, makes it sound like I have significantly more cats than I actually do), and I ate leftover homemade Indian food for lunch, followed up with irish coffee cheesecake. Which is still amazing.
I just finished A Spot of Bother, which I started earlier today. (yes I'm a fast reader when I have uninterrupted time and when the book is interesting...) It was good...I recommend it. It's frustrating and sad and brilliant and funny all at the same time. Since it's about family and life, I suspect that means it's just surprisingly well written, rather like the Curious Incident was--no surprise since it's by the same author. I expected the book to be good, an expectation which is rarely met...and was happy to find my expectations exceeded. enjoy.
varieties of fun
On Friday, Amy, Noell, and I went to Madison for the day. I love Madison because it has lots of fun restaurants in its small downtown, and other fun shops too. I got new shoes, Nepali food, and butterscotch cream pie all in the same day! However, it's a college town and school is just starting, so the place was packed with students. passing all the first years on the sidewalk, or being in crowded stores with them, made me feel old. They're furnishing their first dorm room with stuff from Urban Outfitters, they're walking around town in shorts that are too short and in flip-flops that are not the same shape as their feet...they may as well not be wearing shoes, since their feet are hanging off the shoes (often on the inside...weird). I'm not sure about the fashion choices of today's college student, I guess. I'm also not sure when college students started looking so young. I mean, I was a freshman not THAT long ago. Well, okay, 9 years ago this year, but still.
We hung out with Amy's grandparents a bit--they were awesome. They bought us both lunch and dinner, AND Nonna made us cookies! The cookies were amazing. I took some to Richard too, since I should not eat all those cookies. He concurs that they are some of the best cookies ever. Thanks Amy's Nonna! (notice how I just made that spelling up? whatever.)
Yesterday I made another visit to the Apple store--hopefully this time the grey screen of death will be gone for good. I am not excited by the grey screen of death and I pretty much never want to see it again. After 2 hours in the store I have all my photos back in iPhoto AND no apparent death screen. I hope it stays that way! Now I have to learn how to rename photos in iPhoto so they don't disappear but I can also recognize them by file name rather than having a long list of numbers. I also bought an iPod Shuffle (the littlest one) so I can take it with me to the gym. It clips on your clothes! How clever is that? I am downloading French by Podcast and planning to load the french lessons so I can brush up. I'm also thinking of downloading the arabic lessons from ArabicPod so I can keep up some Arabic too. What better way to pass the time at the gym than to immerse myself in languages I already sort of know, rather than mindlessly watching CNN for an hour of the same four news stories repeated ad nauseum? Just saying.
MM made me a cheesecake this weekend--it's amazing. Irish Coffee, made with Jameson Irish Whiskey. It's an incredible tasting cheesecake and I will NEED to spend more time at the gym as I am planning on basically eating the entire thing before heading back to work on Tuesday. :-)
Speaking of fun, I'm off to read a new book. I bought a whole bunch of new ones at Borders last week. Yes, I'm terrible. I need to use my library card more often. Or I need to figure out if bookcrossing is alive and well in the suburbs, or something else like it. The main trouble being, of course, that I don't like to give up my books. I love having lots of books. I grew up in the middle of a huge personal library, and now I have one too and it's awesome. They're like constant friends. But bookcrossing is cool too because then I could travel with my books. So who knows....
off to eat cheesecake and read..ta!
We hung out with Amy's grandparents a bit--they were awesome. They bought us both lunch and dinner, AND Nonna made us cookies! The cookies were amazing. I took some to Richard too, since I should not eat all those cookies. He concurs that they are some of the best cookies ever. Thanks Amy's Nonna! (notice how I just made that spelling up? whatever.)
Yesterday I made another visit to the Apple store--hopefully this time the grey screen of death will be gone for good. I am not excited by the grey screen of death and I pretty much never want to see it again. After 2 hours in the store I have all my photos back in iPhoto AND no apparent death screen. I hope it stays that way! Now I have to learn how to rename photos in iPhoto so they don't disappear but I can also recognize them by file name rather than having a long list of numbers. I also bought an iPod Shuffle (the littlest one) so I can take it with me to the gym. It clips on your clothes! How clever is that? I am downloading French by Podcast and planning to load the french lessons so I can brush up. I'm also thinking of downloading the arabic lessons from ArabicPod so I can keep up some Arabic too. What better way to pass the time at the gym than to immerse myself in languages I already sort of know, rather than mindlessly watching CNN for an hour of the same four news stories repeated ad nauseum? Just saying.
MM made me a cheesecake this weekend--it's amazing. Irish Coffee, made with Jameson Irish Whiskey. It's an incredible tasting cheesecake and I will NEED to spend more time at the gym as I am planning on basically eating the entire thing before heading back to work on Tuesday. :-)
Speaking of fun, I'm off to read a new book. I bought a whole bunch of new ones at Borders last week. Yes, I'm terrible. I need to use my library card more often. Or I need to figure out if bookcrossing is alive and well in the suburbs, or something else like it. The main trouble being, of course, that I don't like to give up my books. I love having lots of books. I grew up in the middle of a huge personal library, and now I have one too and it's awesome. They're like constant friends. But bookcrossing is cool too because then I could travel with my books. So who knows....
off to eat cheesecake and read..ta!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I love vacation!
It's an excellent time when you can hang out with good friends, eat good food, stay in your pj's most (or all) of the day, read books, watch Buffy, cook, and love on your kitties. And, of course, play Scrabble with foreign words and no points. :-)
I love being on vacation.
I want to be on vacation more often.
Like every day.
;-)
I love being on vacation.
I want to be on vacation more often.
Like every day.
;-)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
tradition working for you
overheard yesterday afternoon:
B&G head into phone: "Well, sheriff, we've been parking there since 1874. When the car was invented, we painted lines for parking spots there and we've been parking cars there ever since."
B&G head into phone: "Well, sheriff, we've been parking there since 1874. When the car was invented, we painted lines for parking spots there and we've been parking cars there ever since."
House Rules (formerly "Whole-y Community")--a sermon for Ordinary 21 C
Rev. Teri Peterson
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
House Rules (formerly Whole-y Community)
Ordinary 21 C—August 26, 2007
Luke 13.10-17
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
I want to tell you something that is probably no secret and will come as no surprise: I love words. I love talking, listening, reading, writing, learning new languages, figuring out how words, grammar, and rules work. I often don’t like when people misuse language—I want people to be precise with what they say. I have been known to correct my best friends’ grammar when they are in mid-sentence. I am particular about things like quotation marks, apostrophes, and trying not to use nouns as verbs. I know the rules about when to say “who” and when to say “whom.” At the same time, I love learning about language so I can figure out how to work it, how to massage it to work for me, how to make up my own words, to coin new phrases, to…not really break the rules, per se, but to use them in a new way that helps me communicate with people.
The people Jesus was teaching knew all the grammar rules of their community—when to sit and when to stand, when to speak and when to listen, what to eat and with whom, when to work and when to rest. They knew that their rules, especially their rules about resting and their rules about eating, were what made them who they were. The leader of the synagogue was charged with keeping the community inside the bounds of good grammar, making sure every t was crossed and i dotted, making sure there were no apostrophes loose in the sacred community of covenant people.
He had just such loose apostrophe, a rulebreaker, on his hands, it seems. But he was a rulebreaker who earned respect, a rulebreaker who spoke with authority, a rulebreaker who was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day—not the time for a rebuke, not the place for a tongue lashing, and no way to do it without shaming a man who was extremely popular, thus putting his own reputation and life at risk.
As a woman, as a woman with an illness, as a woman with an illness attributed to a spirit, she lent herself to his need. Someone needed to be brought down, and here was a perfect victim—someone so burdened she could see only the dirt and feet, someone already victimized, someone used to public humiliation. And so the leader of the synagogue turns to his congregation and, rather than praising God as the woman does, shouts over the hubbub, over and over again, that this is not the day to come and be healed—there are plenty of days when you won’t find us all together here in the synagogue, there are plenty of days for work to be done, there are plenty of days for you outcasts to come and try to be healed. The day for new life to be given is not the Sabbath day. The day for experiencing God’s amazing grace is not the Sabbath day. The day for encountering the Living Word of God loose in the world, making up new phrases and re-defining old ones, is not the Sabbath day. The day for drinking from the streams of living water is not the Sabbath day—at least, not for you. Certainly, you may lead your animals, your livelihoods, your means of self-preservation, your status symbols, to the stream, but you may not come and be filled yourself. That is for another day.
Every community has rules. We have rules of the road that are designed to keep us safe. We have rules for games so that everything is fair and everyone’s chances are equal. We have rules in our church about who can stand in this pulpit and what we do in this room and who you ask when you want something done. We spent time this spring naming our own community’s written and unwritten rules—norms about families in worship, about liturgists, about education, about how we expect our clergy to behave and what we do in worship and how we treat one another and what we expect of children, youth, and parents.
Sometimes people get together and change the rules, or bend them into “house rules.” So if you come to my house to play Scrabble, we’ll agree ahead of time that foreign words are allowed, in spite of what the instructions say about English-only.
Sometimes, instead of changing the rules together ahead of time, we bend or break the rules first and ask forgiveness later. It is, after all, easier to ask forgiveness than permission. But when the rules we have are keeping people out, are placing more value on animals or objects than on people, or worse yet are holding up the rules as more important than the community they serve, then Jesus says that rulebreakers need ask neither permission nor forgiveness. This woman has been bound for 18 years. She has been as good as dead to you, and because of your hard-heartedness your community is just as broken as her body. When the woman stands up straight to look up to heaven and praise God for the first time in probably more than half her life, Jesus also reconciles her with her people and the whole community is healed. This woman, a daughter of Abraham, is much more valuable than your ox or donkey—and here Jesus has given both her life and ours back. Grace has fallen like rain on the just and the unjust, and the body that once was lame has been made whole again.
This is a scary thing. We like our rules—they make life easier to understand, easier to predict, easier to handle. These rules give us order and purpose and meaning. The trouble is just this: they are our rules. God asks us to play by different rules—rules founded on love, not fear. God says “Love me and love your neighbor.” God says “show compassion to the poor, the orphan, the widow.” God says “come and follow me.” God says, “come to me and I will give you rest”—rest from always being perfect, rest from upholding artificial boundaries, rest from paying so much attention to yourself that you have no time for others, rest from the human way, rest from trying to be God, rest that renews and restores and releases you from bondage, healing rest—Sabbath rest.
In following the letter of the law, we sometimes miss the spirit. While we follow all the grammar rules, no one can understand us. While we impose our rest on others, we keep ourselves from receiving healing and from true restorative, reconciling Sabbath keeping. While we keep the loose apostrophes and commas under control, the Word is loose in the world and can’t be contained in all our quotation marks. While we hold so tightly to the thing we think will keep our holy community whole-y, it shatters in our hands and we end up broken and bleeding, yet clinging to the shards and praying not for bandages but for glue.
Then the Living Word marches right into our midst and gives neither glue nor bandage, but instead living water, grace that falls like rain, true healing, new sight. And all of us, the entire crowd, rejoice together, whole at last, daughters and sons of Abraham, children of the holy covenant, people who belong to God forever.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
House Rules (formerly Whole-y Community)
Ordinary 21 C—August 26, 2007
Luke 13.10-17
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
I want to tell you something that is probably no secret and will come as no surprise: I love words. I love talking, listening, reading, writing, learning new languages, figuring out how words, grammar, and rules work. I often don’t like when people misuse language—I want people to be precise with what they say. I have been known to correct my best friends’ grammar when they are in mid-sentence. I am particular about things like quotation marks, apostrophes, and trying not to use nouns as verbs. I know the rules about when to say “who” and when to say “whom.” At the same time, I love learning about language so I can figure out how to work it, how to massage it to work for me, how to make up my own words, to coin new phrases, to…not really break the rules, per se, but to use them in a new way that helps me communicate with people.
The people Jesus was teaching knew all the grammar rules of their community—when to sit and when to stand, when to speak and when to listen, what to eat and with whom, when to work and when to rest. They knew that their rules, especially their rules about resting and their rules about eating, were what made them who they were. The leader of the synagogue was charged with keeping the community inside the bounds of good grammar, making sure every t was crossed and i dotted, making sure there were no apostrophes loose in the sacred community of covenant people.
He had just such loose apostrophe, a rulebreaker, on his hands, it seems. But he was a rulebreaker who earned respect, a rulebreaker who spoke with authority, a rulebreaker who was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day—not the time for a rebuke, not the place for a tongue lashing, and no way to do it without shaming a man who was extremely popular, thus putting his own reputation and life at risk.
As a woman, as a woman with an illness, as a woman with an illness attributed to a spirit, she lent herself to his need. Someone needed to be brought down, and here was a perfect victim—someone so burdened she could see only the dirt and feet, someone already victimized, someone used to public humiliation. And so the leader of the synagogue turns to his congregation and, rather than praising God as the woman does, shouts over the hubbub, over and over again, that this is not the day to come and be healed—there are plenty of days when you won’t find us all together here in the synagogue, there are plenty of days for work to be done, there are plenty of days for you outcasts to come and try to be healed. The day for new life to be given is not the Sabbath day. The day for experiencing God’s amazing grace is not the Sabbath day. The day for encountering the Living Word of God loose in the world, making up new phrases and re-defining old ones, is not the Sabbath day. The day for drinking from the streams of living water is not the Sabbath day—at least, not for you. Certainly, you may lead your animals, your livelihoods, your means of self-preservation, your status symbols, to the stream, but you may not come and be filled yourself. That is for another day.
Every community has rules. We have rules of the road that are designed to keep us safe. We have rules for games so that everything is fair and everyone’s chances are equal. We have rules in our church about who can stand in this pulpit and what we do in this room and who you ask when you want something done. We spent time this spring naming our own community’s written and unwritten rules—norms about families in worship, about liturgists, about education, about how we expect our clergy to behave and what we do in worship and how we treat one another and what we expect of children, youth, and parents.
Sometimes people get together and change the rules, or bend them into “house rules.” So if you come to my house to play Scrabble, we’ll agree ahead of time that foreign words are allowed, in spite of what the instructions say about English-only.
Sometimes, instead of changing the rules together ahead of time, we bend or break the rules first and ask forgiveness later. It is, after all, easier to ask forgiveness than permission. But when the rules we have are keeping people out, are placing more value on animals or objects than on people, or worse yet are holding up the rules as more important than the community they serve, then Jesus says that rulebreakers need ask neither permission nor forgiveness. This woman has been bound for 18 years. She has been as good as dead to you, and because of your hard-heartedness your community is just as broken as her body. When the woman stands up straight to look up to heaven and praise God for the first time in probably more than half her life, Jesus also reconciles her with her people and the whole community is healed. This woman, a daughter of Abraham, is much more valuable than your ox or donkey—and here Jesus has given both her life and ours back. Grace has fallen like rain on the just and the unjust, and the body that once was lame has been made whole again.
This is a scary thing. We like our rules—they make life easier to understand, easier to predict, easier to handle. These rules give us order and purpose and meaning. The trouble is just this: they are our rules. God asks us to play by different rules—rules founded on love, not fear. God says “Love me and love your neighbor.” God says “show compassion to the poor, the orphan, the widow.” God says “come and follow me.” God says, “come to me and I will give you rest”—rest from always being perfect, rest from upholding artificial boundaries, rest from paying so much attention to yourself that you have no time for others, rest from the human way, rest from trying to be God, rest that renews and restores and releases you from bondage, healing rest—Sabbath rest.
In following the letter of the law, we sometimes miss the spirit. While we follow all the grammar rules, no one can understand us. While we impose our rest on others, we keep ourselves from receiving healing and from true restorative, reconciling Sabbath keeping. While we keep the loose apostrophes and commas under control, the Word is loose in the world and can’t be contained in all our quotation marks. While we hold so tightly to the thing we think will keep our holy community whole-y, it shatters in our hands and we end up broken and bleeding, yet clinging to the shards and praying not for bandages but for glue.
Then the Living Word marches right into our midst and gives neither glue nor bandage, but instead living water, grace that falls like rain, true healing, new sight. And all of us, the entire crowd, rejoice together, whole at last, daughters and sons of Abraham, children of the holy covenant, people who belong to God forever.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Happy Birthday Mom
Dear Mom,
Happy 49th! I hope it's a good one.
I'm away by myself on your birthday, only the second one since you've been gone. I didn't have time to cook at home today--this is a busy time in church cuz we're getting ready for fall, plus there was a newsletter that had to be done today. So I almost didn't get to eat enchiladas, but never fear! For lunch I went to my favorite local Mexican restaurant and ordered my favorite enchiladas suizas rojas (with the mild red sauce) with refried beans on the side. I took all the people who work at church and the people who were here for Bible Study with me and we drank margaritas. Five of us toasted you and wished you a happy birthday over our Mexican food, and then we didn't even have to wash the dishes.
Lots has happened in the last year...since your last birthday I got a real job, I've traveled a bunch, I broke up with my boyfriend, I bought a condo, I got a new cat, I've made new friends, I've been through some crazy weather, and who knows what else. I don't know what you've been doing this past year, floating on the waves of the ocean, spreading out to the parts of the world you've never seen, visiting marine wildlife you've only dreamed of before now, maybe you're even beginning to turn into pearls or you're becoming a sand castle or being mixed into glass or cement and holding up someone else's house. You've held up my "house" for a long time, and you still do...I'm glad you are out doing it for others too.
I still miss you. I hope you have a great birthday and that there are lots of cheese enchiladas and home-made refried beans where you are. I love you lots.
Happy Birthday!
love,
Teri
Happy 49th! I hope it's a good one.
I'm away by myself on your birthday, only the second one since you've been gone. I didn't have time to cook at home today--this is a busy time in church cuz we're getting ready for fall, plus there was a newsletter that had to be done today. So I almost didn't get to eat enchiladas, but never fear! For lunch I went to my favorite local Mexican restaurant and ordered my favorite enchiladas suizas rojas (with the mild red sauce) with refried beans on the side. I took all the people who work at church and the people who were here for Bible Study with me and we drank margaritas. Five of us toasted you and wished you a happy birthday over our Mexican food, and then we didn't even have to wash the dishes.
Lots has happened in the last year...since your last birthday I got a real job, I've traveled a bunch, I broke up with my boyfriend, I bought a condo, I got a new cat, I've made new friends, I've been through some crazy weather, and who knows what else. I don't know what you've been doing this past year, floating on the waves of the ocean, spreading out to the parts of the world you've never seen, visiting marine wildlife you've only dreamed of before now, maybe you're even beginning to turn into pearls or you're becoming a sand castle or being mixed into glass or cement and holding up someone else's house. You've held up my "house" for a long time, and you still do...I'm glad you are out doing it for others too.
I still miss you. I hope you have a great birthday and that there are lots of cheese enchiladas and home-made refried beans where you are. I love you lots.
Happy Birthday!
love,
Teri
Monday, August 20, 2007
brief whine
it'll be brief, then over, I promise...
...I do not like rainy summers. I do not like humidity. It's icky outside and I want it to stop. Where are the sunny, warm but not roasting, summer days? where where where? rain rain, go away, and take your stupid humidity and clouds with you.
...I am in need of Senior High Youth Group leaders. I am praying hard that someone will step up and say yes when I ask, but so far....
...Even inside my house is humid and I can't do anything about it. gross.
...I do not like ironing.
...September is only two weeks away. How is that possible? How is one supposed to do all of the tasks required by September in a mere two weeks? (I know, I had all summer....except for the mission trip planning and going, and the week away at the preaching conference with fabulous young women clergy...yeah, all summer. right.)
...I want to eat ice cream every day and not get fat. why is that not possible?
At least it's not polluted and humid like it was in Atlanta. I guess there's an up-side to everything. dumb silver lining.
{end whine}
...I do not like rainy summers. I do not like humidity. It's icky outside and I want it to stop. Where are the sunny, warm but not roasting, summer days? where where where? rain rain, go away, and take your stupid humidity and clouds with you.
...I am in need of Senior High Youth Group leaders. I am praying hard that someone will step up and say yes when I ask, but so far....
...Even inside my house is humid and I can't do anything about it. gross.
...I do not like ironing.
...September is only two weeks away. How is that possible? How is one supposed to do all of the tasks required by September in a mere two weeks? (I know, I had all summer....except for the mission trip planning and going, and the week away at the preaching conference with fabulous young women clergy...yeah, all summer. right.)
...I want to eat ice cream every day and not get fat. why is that not possible?
At least it's not polluted and humid like it was in Atlanta. I guess there's an up-side to everything. dumb silver lining.
{end whine}
Sunday, August 19, 2007
new foods
tonight I ate TVP for the first time. It was not bad. I mixed it with kidney beans, cooked barley, onions, green bell peppers, tomato sauce, and fresh yellow tomatoes. It didn't even need cheese.
I also ate not-the-usual eggplant but instead a rounder, white (with a hint of purple) eggplant for the first time tonight. It was good. I turned it into a variation on the "eggplant sandwiches" recipe from the farm newsletter this week. Their recipe involved breading the little sandwiches (made from eggplant and cheese). Instead I put down a layer of nutritional yeast on the pan, then eggplant slices, then fresh mozzarella medallions, tomatoes, and basil. Topped with another eggplant slice and some parmesan shavings. baked about 20 minutes, then sprinkled with salt and pepper and ate. yum.
Then I was wishing desperately for some of the cookies that are in my office right now. I contented myself with Trader Joe's Mango Sauce--like applesauce only better because it has nothing to do with apples. everyone knows that only homemade applesauce is good. But who has the patience to make mango sauce? Only my friend Trader Joe. Thanks Joe.
I also ate not-the-usual eggplant but instead a rounder, white (with a hint of purple) eggplant for the first time tonight. It was good. I turned it into a variation on the "eggplant sandwiches" recipe from the farm newsletter this week. Their recipe involved breading the little sandwiches (made from eggplant and cheese). Instead I put down a layer of nutritional yeast on the pan, then eggplant slices, then fresh mozzarella medallions, tomatoes, and basil. Topped with another eggplant slice and some parmesan shavings. baked about 20 minutes, then sprinkled with salt and pepper and ate. yum.
Then I was wishing desperately for some of the cookies that are in my office right now. I contented myself with Trader Joe's Mango Sauce--like applesauce only better because it has nothing to do with apples. everyone knows that only homemade applesauce is good. But who has the patience to make mango sauce? Only my friend Trader Joe. Thanks Joe.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
sartorially speaking...
At the YCW conference we had many engaging discussions, some that provoked heated responses within our group of fabulous clergy women. Among my favorite new phrases are these: “princess parts” and “negotiate for the sisterhood” and “preacher paparazzi.”
One of these engaging discussions involved clothing, makeup, and hair choices. Now, as one with amazing and beautiful hair (yes, I’m vain and high maintenance about this one thing—just let me have it, okay?), I understand the need for a good haircut and good hair products. As one who has been told in the past that no preacher with curly hair can be taken seriously because “curly haired girls are very sexual” I also tend to bristle when the topic comes up. Luckily, none of that was heard in this discussion—just the usual things like “if you can’t stop touching your hair in the pulpit, pull it up!”
In the midst of this discussion we talked much about dressing as your congregation dresses, or perhaps a little bit better. In an area like mine, and I suspect in many areas, this is not a financially responsible thing to attempt—as was pointed out by a lovely young woman who lives near my area. Even at the outlet mall or on sale. Also, in my context, it’s relatively unnecessary. RCLPC is a pretty laid-back place for the most part, people are relaxed…I’ve only seen one woman wear a hat and only a handful of families wear what I would call “traditional church clothes.” I do tend to dress well, not just on Sundays but everyday because I do have preacher paparazzi. There’s a lot going on in our congregation, much of it noteworthy, and so we are often in the newspaper which means photographs designed to “put a face on” the ministry, program, or event. It’s exciting that this is a vibrant enough place to warrant the paparazzi. I feel good about that and I dress accordingly…which is a good thing because I often run into people who say “I saw you in the paper!” At a wedding I did a few months ago one of the groomsmen looked at me and said “I see you in the paper every week!” and I said, “yes, yes you do. There’s a lot going on at RCLPC!”
Back to the point. In this discussion I felt that we were told (this may not have been what was said or what others heard, so it’s my hearing here) that we needed to have a variety of outfits at varied levels of fancy-ness. That we should have good-looking casual clothes, tailored and pulled together every-day wear, and high-quality Sunday-wear. That if people in our churches wear a different outfit every day of the month, so should we. That if people in our churches wear designer clothes, so should we.
Well….I really am going to have to disagree. Perhaps this comes from my experience as a YAV when we talked incessantly about living simply. the cliché “live simply so others may simply live” seems to apply here…as does the whole conversation we are constantly having about boundaries and modeling healthy behavior for our congregations. I mean, think about it. We supposedly model good time boundaries, setting aside Sabbath time and play time and family time and friend time and work time, keeping a good balance. Why do we not also model good boundaries with materialism? Why do we have to have 30 designer outfits? Can I be just as effective a pastor if I have 8 outfits? If I buy my clothes on sale at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft? Can I wear the same exact outfits every week (or maybe mix and match from the same 16 pieces)? If someone comments on it, can I say that I am trying not to be a slave to materialism, that it’s important to me to live simply and part of that is not having a closet full of clothes?
Since living simply is part of my life now (it has been for a while since I was so ridiculously unable to manage money in college), and since I’ve lived with people for whom living lavishly is not an option, I’m going to choose to answer yes to all of these questions. I’ve been here almost a year and no one has commented on my clothes besides to say “that’s a cute skirt” or some such thing…I’ve not had anyone say “didn’t you wear that last week?” or “hmm, I don’t think that’s the color for you” or anything negative at all about my clothes. I mix up my pieces but all told I seriously have about 8-10 options…a few pairs of pants in various colors, a pair of jeans, a few skirts (three summer and three winter), and about 10 tops of various styles (not counting the ubiquitous free t-shirt that comes with doing youth ministry or missionary work). And you know what? I’m okay with that. And I’m even in the paper every week.
One of these engaging discussions involved clothing, makeup, and hair choices. Now, as one with amazing and beautiful hair (yes, I’m vain and high maintenance about this one thing—just let me have it, okay?), I understand the need for a good haircut and good hair products. As one who has been told in the past that no preacher with curly hair can be taken seriously because “curly haired girls are very sexual” I also tend to bristle when the topic comes up. Luckily, none of that was heard in this discussion—just the usual things like “if you can’t stop touching your hair in the pulpit, pull it up!”
In the midst of this discussion we talked much about dressing as your congregation dresses, or perhaps a little bit better. In an area like mine, and I suspect in many areas, this is not a financially responsible thing to attempt—as was pointed out by a lovely young woman who lives near my area. Even at the outlet mall or on sale. Also, in my context, it’s relatively unnecessary. RCLPC is a pretty laid-back place for the most part, people are relaxed…I’ve only seen one woman wear a hat and only a handful of families wear what I would call “traditional church clothes.” I do tend to dress well, not just on Sundays but everyday because I do have preacher paparazzi. There’s a lot going on in our congregation, much of it noteworthy, and so we are often in the newspaper which means photographs designed to “put a face on” the ministry, program, or event. It’s exciting that this is a vibrant enough place to warrant the paparazzi. I feel good about that and I dress accordingly…which is a good thing because I often run into people who say “I saw you in the paper!” At a wedding I did a few months ago one of the groomsmen looked at me and said “I see you in the paper every week!” and I said, “yes, yes you do. There’s a lot going on at RCLPC!”
Back to the point. In this discussion I felt that we were told (this may not have been what was said or what others heard, so it’s my hearing here) that we needed to have a variety of outfits at varied levels of fancy-ness. That we should have good-looking casual clothes, tailored and pulled together every-day wear, and high-quality Sunday-wear. That if people in our churches wear a different outfit every day of the month, so should we. That if people in our churches wear designer clothes, so should we.
Well….I really am going to have to disagree. Perhaps this comes from my experience as a YAV when we talked incessantly about living simply. the cliché “live simply so others may simply live” seems to apply here…as does the whole conversation we are constantly having about boundaries and modeling healthy behavior for our congregations. I mean, think about it. We supposedly model good time boundaries, setting aside Sabbath time and play time and family time and friend time and work time, keeping a good balance. Why do we not also model good boundaries with materialism? Why do we have to have 30 designer outfits? Can I be just as effective a pastor if I have 8 outfits? If I buy my clothes on sale at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft? Can I wear the same exact outfits every week (or maybe mix and match from the same 16 pieces)? If someone comments on it, can I say that I am trying not to be a slave to materialism, that it’s important to me to live simply and part of that is not having a closet full of clothes?
Since living simply is part of my life now (it has been for a while since I was so ridiculously unable to manage money in college), and since I’ve lived with people for whom living lavishly is not an option, I’m going to choose to answer yes to all of these questions. I’ve been here almost a year and no one has commented on my clothes besides to say “that’s a cute skirt” or some such thing…I’ve not had anyone say “didn’t you wear that last week?” or “hmm, I don’t think that’s the color for you” or anything negative at all about my clothes. I mix up my pieces but all told I seriously have about 8-10 options…a few pairs of pants in various colors, a pair of jeans, a few skirts (three summer and three winter), and about 10 tops of various styles (not counting the ubiquitous free t-shirt that comes with doing youth ministry or missionary work). And you know what? I’m okay with that. And I’m even in the paper every week.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
from east and west: techno remix
A night on the town in DC includes:
--fantastic clothes and shoes;
--even more fantastic friends;
--a hip club;
--$66;
--an hour of dancing;
--people watching the amazing mix of ethnicities and cultures;
--returning to the hotel to eat ice cream.
The club, Lotus, was fun and expensive. There were lots of beautiful people there, some American Indian, some Asian, some Middle Eastern, some African, some vague Euro-American, and probably much more. It was fun to watch people dance, to watch people drink, to listen to all kinds of standard radio music of the 80s and 90s in techno remix...and to think "we are preachers...why don't we have our next sermon texts here so we can practice dislocation????" Also we realized that we are old for our generation. Very old. So old that one hour of loud music, dancing, flashing lights, and cold mists were more than enough for us.
We are 27.
A good evening. And now time for sleep, as tomorrow is Sunday!!
--fantastic clothes and shoes;
--even more fantastic friends;
--a hip club;
--$66;
--an hour of dancing;
--people watching the amazing mix of ethnicities and cultures;
--returning to the hotel to eat ice cream.
The club, Lotus, was fun and expensive. There were lots of beautiful people there, some American Indian, some Asian, some Middle Eastern, some African, some vague Euro-American, and probably much more. It was fun to watch people dance, to watch people drink, to listen to all kinds of standard radio music of the 80s and 90s in techno remix...and to think "we are preachers...why don't we have our next sermon texts here so we can practice dislocation????" Also we realized that we are old for our generation. Very old. So old that one hour of loud music, dancing, flashing lights, and cold mists were more than enough for us.
We are 27.
A good evening. And now time for sleep, as tomorrow is Sunday!!
Friday, August 10, 2007
awesome
well, the week with the young clergy women (and our slightly older facilitators/mentors/faculty/group leaders) was fantastic. I am glad I came. I met loads of fun people, had a good time, and heard amazing sermons. Not to mention that I love Anna. Plus now I have most of a sermon for August 26 ready. woohoo!
This afternoon when we finished I went over to the National Cathedral and purchased a stuffed gargoyle. It's awesome and I'm excited to put him in my office with glide-action Jesus and some other inanimate friends. :-)
Now we're off to a hotel where we'll spend the next couple of days hanging out in downtown DC and visiting other churches on Sunday. Good times await....ta!
This afternoon when we finished I went over to the National Cathedral and purchased a stuffed gargoyle. It's awesome and I'm excited to put him in my office with glide-action Jesus and some other inanimate friends. :-)
Now we're off to a hotel where we'll spend the next couple of days hanging out in downtown DC and visiting other churches on Sunday. Good times await....ta!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Conference
There are lots of fabulous women here. Lots of fabulous preachers here. Lots of people my age here. Who knew that there could be so many people in these overlapping categories?
I want, though, for there to be a day when we aren't "young" clergywomen--we're just clergywomen. Our age brings specific issues, issues that we need to talk about. I guess I just wish we weren't defining ourselves this way so constantly.
The preaching in my group yesterday was amazing. Tomorrow we all preach new sermons that we write in the next 26 hours. I suspect it will be amazing again.
Also amazing: the new friends, the meeting of blog-friends, and the companionship of other people on the same way.
It's like a huge blog meetup, really: St. Casserole is here, Stacey is here, Pastor Peters is here, Nueva Cantora is here, Amy (of course) is here, Erica is here...there are more, but those are the ones I know about and can name off the top of my head...it's fab.
edit: umm, I left out the anonymous bloggers. ReverendMother and the Polar Bear are here too. And some other people I didn't even know were bloggers until today, but now we're all friends. yay!
Today we are going out on the town to do the DC thing...and we're all carrying with us (either on pieces of paper or in our heads or both) the stories for our new sermons. Maybe something will cause us to be brilliant here in our nation's capital. Wouldn't that be a new thing for this town... ;-)
I want, though, for there to be a day when we aren't "young" clergywomen--we're just clergywomen. Our age brings specific issues, issues that we need to talk about. I guess I just wish we weren't defining ourselves this way so constantly.
The preaching in my group yesterday was amazing. Tomorrow we all preach new sermons that we write in the next 26 hours. I suspect it will be amazing again.
Also amazing: the new friends, the meeting of blog-friends, and the companionship of other people on the same way.
It's like a huge blog meetup, really: St. Casserole is here, Stacey is here, Pastor Peters is here, Nueva Cantora is here, Amy (of course) is here, Erica is here...there are more, but those are the ones I know about and can name off the top of my head...it's fab.
edit: umm, I left out the anonymous bloggers. ReverendMother and the Polar Bear are here too. And some other people I didn't even know were bloggers until today, but now we're all friends. yay!
Today we are going out on the town to do the DC thing...and we're all carrying with us (either on pieces of paper or in our heads or both) the stories for our new sermons. Maybe something will cause us to be brilliant here in our nation's capital. Wouldn't that be a new thing for this town... ;-)
Monday, August 06, 2007
leaving on a jet plane...again
Okay, so I've only been home for a week, but it's time to be gone for another week. This morning (after I take out the trash, finish packing, play with the kitties, and wonder what I forgot) I'm headed to Washington DC for a lovely conference with loads of awesome young clergywomen. I think someone (or possibly several someones) is (are) blogging the conference at the website. Depending on time, I may even blog here--who knows!
So of course, since I've only been home a week and I have needy kitties clinging all over me, naturally last night as I was doing laundry to have clothes to pack I had a washing machine disaster. As I may have mentioned before, I have a Miele washer/dryer, stacked/frontloading. Last night on the last load, the washer refused to drain. I should perhaps mention that all the instruction manuals and various writings on the machines are in German. I don't know any German at all beyond understanding "do you speak German" and saying "no."
Well, I looked up how to manually drain and open the door. But when I went to do that, I accidentally just opened the door and of course water went everywhere. I thought most of it was out but apparently not because when I pulled the filter out (clogged filter was most likely reason for non-drainage) a couple more gallons went on the floor. Perhaps now is the time to point out that the litter box is in the utility room where the laundry is, and I'd already used all my not-my-regular-bath-towels in the first cleanup. And also that it was 12.30 at night and I had planned to go to bed at 10.
After much sopping, swearing, and saying "ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod" over and over, I finally cleaned up the last of the wet kitty litter, cleaned the filter for the machine, tested it with no clothes inside, rinsed my pants that had been trapped in the machine in the bathtub and got them into the dryer, and put the yucky towels in the machine, hoping it would drain and spin properly when I woke up to advance the cycle (since it doesn't do that itself for some reason). I then went to bed, but not to sleep as I was busy panicking about whether water had lead through to my downstairs neighbor's house and how much that would cost if it had.
And that was my evening drama that led to me being very tired this morning. So I'll sleep on the plane, I hope!
see you in Washington!
So of course, since I've only been home a week and I have needy kitties clinging all over me, naturally last night as I was doing laundry to have clothes to pack I had a washing machine disaster. As I may have mentioned before, I have a Miele washer/dryer, stacked/frontloading. Last night on the last load, the washer refused to drain. I should perhaps mention that all the instruction manuals and various writings on the machines are in German. I don't know any German at all beyond understanding "do you speak German" and saying "no."
Well, I looked up how to manually drain and open the door. But when I went to do that, I accidentally just opened the door and of course water went everywhere. I thought most of it was out but apparently not because when I pulled the filter out (clogged filter was most likely reason for non-drainage) a couple more gallons went on the floor. Perhaps now is the time to point out that the litter box is in the utility room where the laundry is, and I'd already used all my not-my-regular-bath-towels in the first cleanup. And also that it was 12.30 at night and I had planned to go to bed at 10.
After much sopping, swearing, and saying "ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod" over and over, I finally cleaned up the last of the wet kitty litter, cleaned the filter for the machine, tested it with no clothes inside, rinsed my pants that had been trapped in the machine in the bathtub and got them into the dryer, and put the yucky towels in the machine, hoping it would drain and spin properly when I woke up to advance the cycle (since it doesn't do that itself for some reason). I then went to bed, but not to sleep as I was busy panicking about whether water had lead through to my downstairs neighbor's house and how much that would cost if it had.
And that was my evening drama that led to me being very tired this morning. So I'll sleep on the plane, I hope!
see you in Washington!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
rain, rain...
...go away, come again another day (preferably while I'm out of town)....
days like today make me want to stay in bed. I'll sing hymns in my bed if necessary.
sadly, I'm the pastor so I must go out in the rain, even if few others will......
also sadly, it's supposed to rain all day and I was planning to go to the Egyptian Festival today!! I wonder if they'll still be having it in the rain.
Well, I'd better go...out into the downpour...
days like today make me want to stay in bed. I'll sing hymns in my bed if necessary.
sadly, I'm the pastor so I must go out in the rain, even if few others will......
also sadly, it's supposed to rain all day and I was planning to go to the Egyptian Festival today!! I wonder if they'll still be having it in the rain.
Well, I'd better go...out into the downpour...
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
a week at home
In my one week at home between mission trip and preaching conference, I am working on:
* Kick Off Sunday and the ministry fair that goes with it
* Worship for this week and for August 26 (when I preach next)
* Next year's Confirmation Class--schedule, field trips, information, mentors, and lesson plans
* Youth Group plans
* Children's Worship Workshop plans
* Brainstorming a new Wednesday evening program and what we should call it
* Checking in on youth and friends whose grandmother died this week
* checking in on college students before they head back to school
* pretending to do above things while checking my own Facebook account
* getting a pedicure and a haircut (hey, I deserve them after "working" in the sun and heat all last week!)
* perusing potential lay-led adult education materials
* contemplating small groups
* session meeting (only 90 minutes! new record...)
* working on a new child protection policy and its attendant forms and necessities
It's been a busy week...and it's only Wednesday. dang. I used to wonder what pastors did with all their free time during the day. Now I know.
* Kick Off Sunday and the ministry fair that goes with it
* Worship for this week and for August 26 (when I preach next)
* Next year's Confirmation Class--schedule, field trips, information, mentors, and lesson plans
* Youth Group plans
* Children's Worship Workshop plans
* Brainstorming a new Wednesday evening program and what we should call it
* Checking in on youth and friends whose grandmother died this week
* checking in on college students before they head back to school
* pretending to do above things while checking my own Facebook account
* getting a pedicure and a haircut (hey, I deserve them after "working" in the sun and heat all last week!)
* perusing potential lay-led adult education materials
* contemplating small groups
* session meeting (only 90 minutes! new record...)
* working on a new child protection policy and its attendant forms and necessities
It's been a busy week...and it's only Wednesday. dang. I used to wonder what pastors did with all their free time during the day. Now I know.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
home
we're home. flight was only delayed about 45 minutes. we got to go in the cockpit afterward--awesome. everyone was picked up promptly at church.
I'm tired.
no work tomorrow--yay!
more later.
I'm tired.
no work tomorrow--yay!
more later.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
heading home
We're on our way home today, via the Closing Celebration here at Passport, and via the IMAX theater at the Audubon Institute, and possibly via the Lower 9th Ward, which is not on the way to the airport but should be on our mental, emotional, and spiritual journey nonetheless.
It's been a good week--the youth did lots of hard work, there's been some good opportunities for worship, celebration, study, and fellowship (both spiritual and just fun). But we're all tired after 6 days away that have also been filled with sleep deprivation and southern-college-cafeteria food. I'm ready to go home, pet my kitties, sleep in my bed, and eat some vegetables and fruits.
See you back in the CL....
It's been a good week--the youth did lots of hard work, there's been some good opportunities for worship, celebration, study, and fellowship (both spiritual and just fun). But we're all tired after 6 days away that have also been filled with sleep deprivation and southern-college-cafeteria food. I'm ready to go home, pet my kitties, sleep in my bed, and eat some vegetables and fruits.
See you back in the CL....
Friday, July 27, 2007
how you KNOW it's bad
(if you couldn't tell already, that is...)
Now, I have many many issues with the big W-M, so I can't say I feel sadness for the corporation when I see this sight. But I feel sad for the bigger picture of which this is just a small part.
There are more extensive reflections and many many more photos over here...enjoy!
Now, I have many many issues with the big W-M, so I can't say I feel sadness for the corporation when I see this sight. But I feel sad for the bigger picture of which this is just a small part.
There are more extensive reflections and many many more photos over here...enjoy!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
New Orleans, day 3
It was another busy day. My group went to a new site in a new neighborhood, right by the Six Flags. We could see the roller coasters from the corner, but of course they aren't running--the park has been closed since the storm.
The neighborhood was much more damaged than the one from the previous day. We could see water lines, the windows were blown out, the brick facades were damaged, the whole neighborhood was nearly deserted. The kids did a lot of really good work--they brought the ceiling down and all the insulation out, they gutted the second floor (not in that order!), and a group made short work of another person's yard...all in 2-1/2 hours before a thunderstorm came through and lightning put a stop to our work.
Last night's fun was the masquerade dance...the youth were awesome about making their masks and costumes. They were instructed to "imagine who you really are" and then make a costume that reflected their true selves. It seems to have gone reasonably well--we have two clowns, two princesses....average! :-) the dance was a great time, and everyone went to bed exhausted at the end of our third day.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
New Orleans, day 2
Well, we got to work at last. At least the kids did! I spent time supervising and taking pictures, as my job is supposed to be encouragement and supervision rather than actual working. So here's our first house--the debris pile at the end of the first day. You can see some of the kids in their suits in the driveway. They're super hot, apparently. The houses are full of mold, so we're gutting them down to the studs.
At the end of the first full day there was a huge rec party, with games galore. My favorite game to watch was the slip-n-slide Jenga...they had to slide down with the piece in their hand, then build the tower at the end. The team with the highest tower when time was called won. It looked really fun.
Today, being day three, deserves its own post after the activities are done, so I'll leave it for now. I'll just say that our group went to a different work site than yesterday, and it was....definitely different.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
New Orleans, day 1
hot. humid. people stopping us on the streets of the French Quarter to ask about our t-shirts (which say "Katrina Relief" on the back) and to thank us for coming down to help. Opening celebration which was like a party. leg wrestling with other leaders on stage. one mosquito bite so far. Talkative group--a nice change!
Here's our group in the French Quarter, at our fave intersection (good signage!)...
And now it's time to get moving for our first full day!
Here's our group in the French Quarter, at our fave intersection (good signage!)...
And now it's time to get moving for our first full day!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
BBC headline
"Final Potter book revealed"
And that is the end of my checking the news, or any other media outlet, until I get back from this trip and have a chance to read the book for myself.
Do not..I repeat, do NOT post any comments here telling me what happens. I will hunt you down and the scene will not be pretty. I'm going to be a week behind--it will be hard enough to not find out anything until then without people putting it on my blog!
No more news...no more surfing...I'm done until I can read for myself, beginning on the 29th. boo!!
And that is the end of my checking the news, or any other media outlet, until I get back from this trip and have a chance to read the book for myself.
Do not..I repeat, do NOT post any comments here telling me what happens. I will hunt you down and the scene will not be pretty. I'm going to be a week behind--it will be hard enough to not find out anything until then without people putting it on my blog!
No more news...no more surfing...I'm done until I can read for myself, beginning on the 29th. boo!!
Friday, July 20, 2007
getting ready
This is the time of year when we get ready for many different things...
Most immediately, 18 of us are getting ready to go to New Orleans for a week...t-shirts are here, notarized forms are turned in, plane tickets ready, van rentals organized, nametags made, "fun" activity reserved, directions printed out, dress code emphasized and re-emphasized.
Other things need to be made ready too...
...some of our youth are getting ready to go to college...
...some of our youth are getting ready to go to high school...
...we are getting ready for the September 9 Kick-Off Day...
...we are getting ready for a new year in Sunday School, with a new curriculum in place...
...I am getting ready for next year's Confirmation Class...
...I am getting ready for a new youth group season...
...the world is getting ready for the release of Harry Potter...and I am getting ready for the internet and media to be filled with spoilers (so no browsing for me until after I get back from New Orleans and get a chance to read the book!)...
...we are getting ready to articulate how we are church together and how we can be church better...
I wonder if we will ever be ready, really ready? What happens when the Holy Spirit breaks into our readiness and we find out we weren't ready at all? Part of me is desperate for everything to go according to plan, for my plans and my preparations to be perfect. But another part of me hopes that God will come and mess up the plan and show us all a more excellent way.
...I just hope the messing up the plan doesn't come in the form of injuries or illnesses on this trip. 6 days--we can all be healthy for 6 days, right?
We're as ready as we're going to be.
Most immediately, 18 of us are getting ready to go to New Orleans for a week...t-shirts are here, notarized forms are turned in, plane tickets ready, van rentals organized, nametags made, "fun" activity reserved, directions printed out, dress code emphasized and re-emphasized.
Other things need to be made ready too...
...some of our youth are getting ready to go to college...
...some of our youth are getting ready to go to high school...
...we are getting ready for the September 9 Kick-Off Day...
...we are getting ready for a new year in Sunday School, with a new curriculum in place...
...I am getting ready for next year's Confirmation Class...
...I am getting ready for a new youth group season...
...the world is getting ready for the release of Harry Potter...and I am getting ready for the internet and media to be filled with spoilers (so no browsing for me until after I get back from New Orleans and get a chance to read the book!)...
...we are getting ready to articulate how we are church together and how we can be church better...
I wonder if we will ever be ready, really ready? What happens when the Holy Spirit breaks into our readiness and we find out we weren't ready at all? Part of me is desperate for everything to go according to plan, for my plans and my preparations to be perfect. But another part of me hopes that God will come and mess up the plan and show us all a more excellent way.
...I just hope the messing up the plan doesn't come in the form of injuries or illnesses on this trip. 6 days--we can all be healthy for 6 days, right?
We're as ready as we're going to be.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
too good to be true?
Has anyone ever seen this place before? It seems too good to be true--what's the catch?
I am trying to find comfortable, functional, and stylish furniture that we can use to transform a section of the fellowship hall into a senior high youth area/fellowship area. We need a sectional couch and another couch, or, according to this place, I can get a three-sided sectional. Either way, it needs to be affordable, not hideous, and comfy. This place looks like they deliver on all three counts (plus the actual delivering via UPS!). We have amazing b&g people who can assemble.
so...what's the catch?
I am trying to find comfortable, functional, and stylish furniture that we can use to transform a section of the fellowship hall into a senior high youth area/fellowship area. We need a sectional couch and another couch, or, according to this place, I can get a three-sided sectional. Either way, it needs to be affordable, not hideous, and comfy. This place looks like they deliver on all three counts (plus the actual delivering via UPS!). We have amazing b&g people who can assemble.
so...what's the catch?
Monday, July 16, 2007
finally
I finally got my blog out of Lent...halfway through Ordinary Time. yay for the easy "new" layout changing in blogger!
Sunday, sunday, sunday
Well, my voice came back with me for today. Three services successfully preached! Many thanks to Senior Pastor who took the welcome and announcements at two services so I could keep my voice.
Now, after lunch with grandparents and a good long nap, I'm hanging with my kitties and watching Firefly. Witty dialogue galore! I wish that show had lasted longer.
no more cold here--I can breathe, I'm only coughing a little bit. Just stuffed up ears and a little voice irritation left. Hopefully all better by tomorrow! :-)
I'm pretty sure that's more than enough random nonsense for today. no need for more...I have nothing else to say for tonight. maybe tomorrow...
Now, after lunch with grandparents and a good long nap, I'm hanging with my kitties and watching Firefly. Witty dialogue galore! I wish that show had lasted longer.
no more cold here--I can breathe, I'm only coughing a little bit. Just stuffed up ears and a little voice irritation left. Hopefully all better by tomorrow! :-)
I'm pretty sure that's more than enough random nonsense for today. no need for more...I have nothing else to say for tonight. maybe tomorrow...
Friday, July 13, 2007
Street Smart--a sermon for Ordinary 15 C
This is just the first draft. Comments welcome and appreciated!
Rev. Teri Peterson
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Street Smart
Luke 10.25-37
July 15 2007, Ordinary 15 C
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You just have no common sense!” I used to hear this a lot. Apparently I often did things that grown-ups thought either ridiculous or wrong, and said things without thinking them through very clearly. Those were my younger days, of course…you know, back a few weeks ago. It seems that logic is not my strongest gift. So, when I was six and my brand new shoes were muddy, rather than traipse mud through the house I hosed them off while I was still wearing them. It turned out that wasn’t the right thing to do. When I wanted to know something, I just asked rather than thinking it all through first and coming to my own conclusions. The first thing I would see was a look, followed by a sigh or a “hmph” or a laugh, and then followed by a patient explanation of why I did not need to ask the question in the first place because I already knew the answer.
The lawyer in this story asks Jesus a question, and I can picture Jesus being a little bit like my grandparents—first the look, then the sigh, then the patient walk-through of how the man already knows the answer. But the lawyer takes it one step further, and Jesus takes the opportunity to tell a story.
But the story doesn’t go the way anyone expects. It goes against every grain of common sense we have, and if we try to plug ourselves into a character we quickly find that none of the characters are very street smart. Sure, I may have walked around Chicago alone at night many a time, but that’s nothing compared to the street un-smart of these people.
First there’s a man traveling along one of the most dangerous roads in the region. He’s alone, he’s an easy target, he probably looks as though he has something worth stealing and perhaps he’s even glancing all around, as though he doesn’t belong on the road. Everyone knows that you should always look straight ahead, walk purposefully, and use the buddy system. Everyone, that is, except this guy, apparently, because he ends up lying on the side of the road, robbed and beaten.
Then we have a priest. Now, religious professionals, everyone knows, are very holy, and very busy. There’s church business to attend to, sermons to write, worship to plan, and mission trips to lead. This priest knows what his job is, and it’s not to defile his ritual purity by helping a non-member. Besides, people on the side of the road are usually drunk, and everyone knows if you help them they’ll just buy beer and drugs, not food. It’s just common sense to pass on by.
Then we have a Levite. He’s just a Temple-helper, really, but he still has to worry about his image. Everyone knows that touching a dead, or half-dead, body, makes you unclean. And everyone knows you should stay away from people who look like troublemakers, and this man certainly got into trouble. It’s just common sense to stay away.
And then we have a Samaritan. He’s a foreigner, and everyone knows foreigners are dangerous. He’s got some weird religious ideas, and everyone knows we have to stay away from heretics. He sees the man beside the road, but instead of thinking of his image, or the trouble he could get in…really, instead of thinking at all, he feels. He feels compassion, and he stops to help. Not just a half-hearted “are you okay?” but a costly help—he uses his own oil and wine to disinfect and dress the man’s wounds, he burdens his own animal, he uses his own money to pay for a hotel room, and—most remarkably, I think—he delays his journey for a day to stay overnight with the man and ensure that he is okay. He acts without really thinking of the consequences. Not much common sense there.
I wonder what the wounded man thought, when he opened his eyes to find a Samaritan touching him, helping him, spending the night with him, caring for him. I wonder if he recoiled in horror at this inferior being. I wonder if he resisted. I wonder if he just smiled weakly and said, “thanks.” I wonder if he realized how different his life must be now that the enemy was his friend and neighbor. I wonder where his common sense went.
When the Samaritan leaves, he leaves money, instructions, and a promise with the innkeeper. Well, everyone knows a Samaritan can’t be trusted. How likely is it that he’ll really come back? He’s just like a group of teenagers in a department store—they must be watched carefully at all times. It’s just common sense.
The thing about this story is that common sense doesn’t seem to get us very far. The people who exercise common sense are the very ones Jesus makes out to be the bad guys, while the people who exercise no common sense at all are the good ones. Jesus leads the lawyer, and his other listeners, through an exercise in leaving common sense behind, and picking up kingdom sense on the way.
I wonder what Jesus would make of most of our “everyone knows” common sense statements. Everyone knows that groups of dark-haired, pale-skinned teenagers with skateboards are lazy good-for-nothings who destroy property. Everyone knows that people on welfare just work the system. Everyone knows that English is the only language we use here. Everyone knows that beggars make more money than we realize. Everyone knows a whole bunch of things, and most of them aren’t very nice. It seems like Jesus, with this story, is taking our street smarts and turning them on their heads. What if the “everyone knows” statements were more like, “everyone knows that all people are children of God” and “everyone knows that love is more powerful than hate” and “everyone knows that what you see on the surface doesn’t say much about what’s underneath.” For all we say “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” most of us still do. I’ll admit that when I figured out that I was in the Cabrini-Green housing project at night, whether it was with my tutoring student who lived there or not, I felt fear. I’ll admit that all those people who said moving to the Middle East was a sure-fire way to get myself killed weren’t alone in thinking it could be dangerous. I wonder if, as a church or a nation or individuals, we are willing to admit that sometimes we don’t look underneath what we can see on the surface. I suspect that we often use our common sense instead of our kingdom sense, and we end up walking by, or trying to get out of our responsibilities by asking questions to which we already know answers, or even something worse.
Using our kingdom sense means looking underneath the surface. Using our kingdom sense sometimes means throwing caution to the wind. Using our kingdom sense means sharing love far and wide, even if that means we share God’s love with the so-called “wrong” people. Using our kingdom sense means allowing others to help us, even if we think we’re superior. Using our kingdom sense means pushing the “what if’s” out and letting compassion take over. Using our kingdom sense means keeping our promises, because God always keeps God’s promises. Using our kingdom sense might even mean not using “everyone knows” statements anymore.
Jesus doesn’t answer the lawyer’s question—he answers it for himself. All Jesus says to the lawyer is the same thing he says to us: go and do likewise.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Rev. Teri Peterson
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Street Smart
Luke 10.25-37
July 15 2007, Ordinary 15 C
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You just have no common sense!” I used to hear this a lot. Apparently I often did things that grown-ups thought either ridiculous or wrong, and said things without thinking them through very clearly. Those were my younger days, of course…you know, back a few weeks ago. It seems that logic is not my strongest gift. So, when I was six and my brand new shoes were muddy, rather than traipse mud through the house I hosed them off while I was still wearing them. It turned out that wasn’t the right thing to do. When I wanted to know something, I just asked rather than thinking it all through first and coming to my own conclusions. The first thing I would see was a look, followed by a sigh or a “hmph” or a laugh, and then followed by a patient explanation of why I did not need to ask the question in the first place because I already knew the answer.
The lawyer in this story asks Jesus a question, and I can picture Jesus being a little bit like my grandparents—first the look, then the sigh, then the patient walk-through of how the man already knows the answer. But the lawyer takes it one step further, and Jesus takes the opportunity to tell a story.
But the story doesn’t go the way anyone expects. It goes against every grain of common sense we have, and if we try to plug ourselves into a character we quickly find that none of the characters are very street smart. Sure, I may have walked around Chicago alone at night many a time, but that’s nothing compared to the street un-smart of these people.
First there’s a man traveling along one of the most dangerous roads in the region. He’s alone, he’s an easy target, he probably looks as though he has something worth stealing and perhaps he’s even glancing all around, as though he doesn’t belong on the road. Everyone knows that you should always look straight ahead, walk purposefully, and use the buddy system. Everyone, that is, except this guy, apparently, because he ends up lying on the side of the road, robbed and beaten.
Then we have a priest. Now, religious professionals, everyone knows, are very holy, and very busy. There’s church business to attend to, sermons to write, worship to plan, and mission trips to lead. This priest knows what his job is, and it’s not to defile his ritual purity by helping a non-member. Besides, people on the side of the road are usually drunk, and everyone knows if you help them they’ll just buy beer and drugs, not food. It’s just common sense to pass on by.
Then we have a Levite. He’s just a Temple-helper, really, but he still has to worry about his image. Everyone knows that touching a dead, or half-dead, body, makes you unclean. And everyone knows you should stay away from people who look like troublemakers, and this man certainly got into trouble. It’s just common sense to stay away.
And then we have a Samaritan. He’s a foreigner, and everyone knows foreigners are dangerous. He’s got some weird religious ideas, and everyone knows we have to stay away from heretics. He sees the man beside the road, but instead of thinking of his image, or the trouble he could get in…really, instead of thinking at all, he feels. He feels compassion, and he stops to help. Not just a half-hearted “are you okay?” but a costly help—he uses his own oil and wine to disinfect and dress the man’s wounds, he burdens his own animal, he uses his own money to pay for a hotel room, and—most remarkably, I think—he delays his journey for a day to stay overnight with the man and ensure that he is okay. He acts without really thinking of the consequences. Not much common sense there.
I wonder what the wounded man thought, when he opened his eyes to find a Samaritan touching him, helping him, spending the night with him, caring for him. I wonder if he recoiled in horror at this inferior being. I wonder if he resisted. I wonder if he just smiled weakly and said, “thanks.” I wonder if he realized how different his life must be now that the enemy was his friend and neighbor. I wonder where his common sense went.
When the Samaritan leaves, he leaves money, instructions, and a promise with the innkeeper. Well, everyone knows a Samaritan can’t be trusted. How likely is it that he’ll really come back? He’s just like a group of teenagers in a department store—they must be watched carefully at all times. It’s just common sense.
The thing about this story is that common sense doesn’t seem to get us very far. The people who exercise common sense are the very ones Jesus makes out to be the bad guys, while the people who exercise no common sense at all are the good ones. Jesus leads the lawyer, and his other listeners, through an exercise in leaving common sense behind, and picking up kingdom sense on the way.
I wonder what Jesus would make of most of our “everyone knows” common sense statements. Everyone knows that groups of dark-haired, pale-skinned teenagers with skateboards are lazy good-for-nothings who destroy property. Everyone knows that people on welfare just work the system. Everyone knows that English is the only language we use here. Everyone knows that beggars make more money than we realize. Everyone knows a whole bunch of things, and most of them aren’t very nice. It seems like Jesus, with this story, is taking our street smarts and turning them on their heads. What if the “everyone knows” statements were more like, “everyone knows that all people are children of God” and “everyone knows that love is more powerful than hate” and “everyone knows that what you see on the surface doesn’t say much about what’s underneath.” For all we say “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” most of us still do. I’ll admit that when I figured out that I was in the Cabrini-Green housing project at night, whether it was with my tutoring student who lived there or not, I felt fear. I’ll admit that all those people who said moving to the Middle East was a sure-fire way to get myself killed weren’t alone in thinking it could be dangerous. I wonder if, as a church or a nation or individuals, we are willing to admit that sometimes we don’t look underneath what we can see on the surface. I suspect that we often use our common sense instead of our kingdom sense, and we end up walking by, or trying to get out of our responsibilities by asking questions to which we already know answers, or even something worse.
Using our kingdom sense means looking underneath the surface. Using our kingdom sense sometimes means throwing caution to the wind. Using our kingdom sense means sharing love far and wide, even if that means we share God’s love with the so-called “wrong” people. Using our kingdom sense means allowing others to help us, even if we think we’re superior. Using our kingdom sense means pushing the “what if’s” out and letting compassion take over. Using our kingdom sense means keeping our promises, because God always keeps God’s promises. Using our kingdom sense might even mean not using “everyone knows” statements anymore.
Jesus doesn’t answer the lawyer’s question—he answers it for himself. All Jesus says to the lawyer is the same thing he says to us: go and do likewise.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Accio Friday Five!!
As seen at RGBP, with many thanks to ReverendMother!!
1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?
hmm, tough call. 3 and 5 are my faves, I think, mainly because the characters really develop in those story lines. They are intense and real-feeling.
2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?
I'm such a Hermione. (anyone need an extra insufferable-know-it-all friend? I'm free.) I think I would love to get to know the twins--they crack me up, plus they're funny and smart all at the same time. That's a prerequisite for my friends.
3. How careful are you about spoilers?
a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still good
b) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip
c) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out
I do NOT like spoilers. I'll be out of town when the book comes out so I won't be starting the read until more than a week after everyone else gets theirs. Do not, I repeat, do NOT tell me anything, or else.
4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.
ooh, I am working so hard not to make predictions because I don't want to get my hopes up, and I don't want to become tied to my way only to discover it's not what happens at all. But I am with most others who insist that Snape is a good guy. I would love to see some reconciliation between Harry and Snape, but on the other hand I would be sad to see it come out all happy-ending-ish when that's not really how life works. I just hope that the end isn't fake feeling. and, selfishly, I want percy to die a slow and horribly painful death, preferably at the hands of one of those ministry officials he idolizes.
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?
I would love to see more of Neville's story, and maybe Luna's too.
1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?
hmm, tough call. 3 and 5 are my faves, I think, mainly because the characters really develop in those story lines. They are intense and real-feeling.
2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?
I'm such a Hermione. (anyone need an extra insufferable-know-it-all friend? I'm free.) I think I would love to get to know the twins--they crack me up, plus they're funny and smart all at the same time. That's a prerequisite for my friends.
3. How careful are you about spoilers?
a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still good
b) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip
c) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out
I do NOT like spoilers. I'll be out of town when the book comes out so I won't be starting the read until more than a week after everyone else gets theirs. Do not, I repeat, do NOT tell me anything, or else.
4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.
ooh, I am working so hard not to make predictions because I don't want to get my hopes up, and I don't want to become tied to my way only to discover it's not what happens at all. But I am with most others who insist that Snape is a good guy. I would love to see some reconciliation between Harry and Snape, but on the other hand I would be sad to see it come out all happy-ending-ish when that's not really how life works. I just hope that the end isn't fake feeling. and, selfishly, I want percy to die a slow and horribly painful death, preferably at the hands of one of those ministry officials he idolizes.
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?
I would love to see more of Neville's story, and maybe Luna's too.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
tireder and now with a cold
this time, Harry Potter kept me up.
Went to the midnight show of Order of the Phoenix last night.
It was quite good.
Possibly even awesome.
A different mood from the other movies.
quite a few differences from the book, but at least the movie still contained character development (unlike Goblet of Fire).
Less talking, more feeling in this movie.
It was very good.
Dark, but good.
Best line? hmmm...would need re-viewing to confirm, but I think Snape's second line might be it. "obviously." ha!
enjoy...and I'm taking my sore throat and stuffy nose to an early bedtime tonight!
Went to the midnight show of Order of the Phoenix last night.
It was quite good.
Possibly even awesome.
A different mood from the other movies.
quite a few differences from the book, but at least the movie still contained character development (unlike Goblet of Fire).
Less talking, more feeling in this movie.
It was very good.
Dark, but good.
Best line? hmmm...would need re-viewing to confirm, but I think Snape's second line might be it. "obviously." ha!
enjoy...and I'm taking my sore throat and stuffy nose to an early bedtime tonight!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
tired
I stayed up too late.
Anna Carter Florence's book Preaching as Testimony kept me up.
Well, that and the laundry I had to do in order to have a top to wear this morning. I neglected to remember the laundry during the many hours I was home and awake during the day, so had to put the load o'laundry in at 11.20.
And my washing machine doesn't advance from wash to rinse, so I had to stay awake until it was time to click it over manually.
That means it was midnight by the time I both finished the book AND dealt with the washing machine.
The book was awesome--I didn't want to put it down.
The clothes are clean and I am dressed.
But I'm very tired.
Anna Carter Florence's book Preaching as Testimony kept me up.
Well, that and the laundry I had to do in order to have a top to wear this morning. I neglected to remember the laundry during the many hours I was home and awake during the day, so had to put the load o'laundry in at 11.20.
And my washing machine doesn't advance from wash to rinse, so I had to stay awake until it was time to click it over manually.
That means it was midnight by the time I both finished the book AND dealt with the washing machine.
The book was awesome--I didn't want to put it down.
The clothes are clean and I am dressed.
But I'm very tired.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
writing
I haven't been writing much lately...I noticed as I went through my blog archives to write my 1,000th post that my blogging habits wax and wane much less regularly than the moon or tide or even the fortunes of the Cubs. Sometimes I write tons--lots of short posts every day, or medium-to-long ones several times a week. Sometimes I write very little--there's an entire year when I wrote less than 100 posts (unusual for someone as verbose and extroverted as I am).
I have been reading a lot lately, though. I canceled my cable TV so now I get zero channels. I have extremely fair skin and have already sustained three sunburns this summer, so I'm trying hard to stay indoors. I loaned my season 7 of Buffy out to a friend, which is no excuse for not watching Buffy since the previous six seasons still sit on the shelf. I've been cooking a little more, but nothing terribly exciting--just taking my farm-fresh veggies and turning them into dinner a couple nights a week.
Maybe I've not been writing because I don't generally blog in the daytime (since I feel like I should be doing something else with my "work" hours--ha!), and I tend not to take my computer home at night unless I really need to. I am not good at not checking my work email, for instance, if I have my 'puter handy, so I just leave it in my office Monday night to Thursday night, and then have it at home one my days off. (yes, I sometimes check my work emails on my days off, if they come from youth. But I don't answer them until Monday unless it's an emergency.)
Maybe I've not been writing because my life is full of things I can't write about here--namely church, church, and church.
I want to be writing more. I can tell that I need to write more if I'm to keep any sort of writing skills at all. So perhaps, soon, I will take up more regular blogging. I will try to remember some of my stories, stories I feel that I've lost and will have to work hard to retrieve from vaults deep in my memory bank. I will maybe just write about mundane things, or maybe about interesting things. Maybe I'll even figure out an interesting and amusing (and still confidential) way to write about church--who knows? (that sounds much harder, though, so....not yet.)
That's all. I'm off to the farmer's market now, in search of fruit. :-)
I have been reading a lot lately, though. I canceled my cable TV so now I get zero channels. I have extremely fair skin and have already sustained three sunburns this summer, so I'm trying hard to stay indoors. I loaned my season 7 of Buffy out to a friend, which is no excuse for not watching Buffy since the previous six seasons still sit on the shelf. I've been cooking a little more, but nothing terribly exciting--just taking my farm-fresh veggies and turning them into dinner a couple nights a week.
Maybe I've not been writing because I don't generally blog in the daytime (since I feel like I should be doing something else with my "work" hours--ha!), and I tend not to take my computer home at night unless I really need to. I am not good at not checking my work email, for instance, if I have my 'puter handy, so I just leave it in my office Monday night to Thursday night, and then have it at home one my days off. (yes, I sometimes check my work emails on my days off, if they come from youth. But I don't answer them until Monday unless it's an emergency.)
Maybe I've not been writing because my life is full of things I can't write about here--namely church, church, and church.
I want to be writing more. I can tell that I need to write more if I'm to keep any sort of writing skills at all. So perhaps, soon, I will take up more regular blogging. I will try to remember some of my stories, stories I feel that I've lost and will have to work hard to retrieve from vaults deep in my memory bank. I will maybe just write about mundane things, or maybe about interesting things. Maybe I'll even figure out an interesting and amusing (and still confidential) way to write about church--who knows? (that sounds much harder, though, so....not yet.)
That's all. I'm off to the farmer's market now, in search of fruit. :-)
Friday, July 06, 2007
Friday Five...
a not-that-oldie but still-goodie from ReverendMother at RGBP....
What are you:
1. Wearing? pajamas. It's Friday morning. I have no plans beyond reading and sleeping and maybe watching Buffy today. pjs are great for this.
2. Reading? Preaching as Testimony, A Room of One's Own, and I'm pondering a second re-read of the 5th and 6th Harry Potter books.
3. Eating? I was just eating Frosted Flakes, but right now, nothing. Later, portobella mushrooms, zucchini, and broccoli (from the farm). Maybe something with black beans. We'll see.... I also suspect there will be lots of popsicle eating in my day. It's kind of hot.
4. Doing? blogging. listening to the lawnmowers outside. petting the kitties. doing laundry.
5. Pondering? My 1,000th blog post (2 posts down from here)...
What are you:
1. Wearing? pajamas. It's Friday morning. I have no plans beyond reading and sleeping and maybe watching Buffy today. pjs are great for this.
2. Reading? Preaching as Testimony, A Room of One's Own, and I'm pondering a second re-read of the 5th and 6th Harry Potter books.
3. Eating? I was just eating Frosted Flakes, but right now, nothing. Later, portobella mushrooms, zucchini, and broccoli (from the farm). Maybe something with black beans. We'll see.... I also suspect there will be lots of popsicle eating in my day. It's kind of hot.
4. Doing? blogging. listening to the lawnmowers outside. petting the kitties. doing laundry.
5. Pondering? My 1,000th blog post (2 posts down from here)...
farms, flowers, and flutterbyes
It's summer in the midwest, which means a few things:
--farms full of corn that gets both taller and darker green every day
--wildflowers along every road--many near church are purple and orange
--butterflies
Since I live in an extremely strange place--in a suburb of a major metropolitan area, and yet on the edge of the rural midwest--I can go one direction for city or the other directions for farmland. Most of the farms grow corn--lots and lots of corn. Most of it is feed corn, so I'll never get to eat it, just look at it longingly as the ever darkening leaves flutter in the breeze. When there is a breeze to break up the humid heat.
Every Wednesday afternoon I drive 8 miles west from church to the salute! farm where I pick up a box of just-picked veggies, and where I cut some fresh herbs from a lovely herb spiral behind high fences. The drive out there involves hills and curves and a gravel road. The scenery includes old fashioned red barns, more corn, and very few cars. It's a lovely drive and I often make it with my windows rolled down (but the a/c still on!) so I can enjoy being out in "the country."
My regular drive to work is similarly pretty, but only part of it and for a different reason. In my ten minute commute, approximately 6 minutes is city driving, with traffic and djstores and lights and businesses. The last four minutes are past two cornfields, the pasture for some beef cattle (and their adorable calves!), a barn, a grain elevator, and a house where the people keep chickens and roosters--who regularly wander into the street causing me to have to wait until the rooster has decided to go back into the yard. Currently this last 4 minutes also include flower-lined roads. The purple flowers are definitely wildflowers, but the orange I'm not so sure. We have these same flowers planted alongside the church building, so I wonder if these, 1/4 mile away from our (or anyone else's) planting, are the result of wind and bees. Perhaps. (photo forthcoming, promise!)
With all these flowers and all this ruralia, the butterflies are swarming. There are tons and tons of them all around--monarchs, white, yellow, every color, every size. They are beautiful. When I see them I think of my mom--not because she particularly loved them, but because there was a lone butterfly in Dawson Hall, fluttering around the doorway of the flat where I made the phone call home, when I found out she was gone. Butterflies are great symbols of life, resurrection, hope, beauty, etc, and that butterfly that day helped me out. And now here they are, fluttering around every time I go outside. It's great. (almost as cool as the lightning bugs that hang out in the grass near the cornfields! at night they look like confetti along the roadside, flashing and flickering. They always make me smile!)
and now we return to your regularly scheduled summer friday programming....
--farms full of corn that gets both taller and darker green every day
--wildflowers along every road--many near church are purple and orange
--butterflies
Since I live in an extremely strange place--in a suburb of a major metropolitan area, and yet on the edge of the rural midwest--I can go one direction for city or the other directions for farmland. Most of the farms grow corn--lots and lots of corn. Most of it is feed corn, so I'll never get to eat it, just look at it longingly as the ever darkening leaves flutter in the breeze. When there is a breeze to break up the humid heat.
Every Wednesday afternoon I drive 8 miles west from church to the salute! farm where I pick up a box of just-picked veggies, and where I cut some fresh herbs from a lovely herb spiral behind high fences. The drive out there involves hills and curves and a gravel road. The scenery includes old fashioned red barns, more corn, and very few cars. It's a lovely drive and I often make it with my windows rolled down (but the a/c still on!) so I can enjoy being out in "the country."
My regular drive to work is similarly pretty, but only part of it and for a different reason. In my ten minute commute, approximately 6 minutes is city driving, with traffic and djstores and lights and businesses. The last four minutes are past two cornfields, the pasture for some beef cattle (and their adorable calves!), a barn, a grain elevator, and a house where the people keep chickens and roosters--who regularly wander into the street causing me to have to wait until the rooster has decided to go back into the yard. Currently this last 4 minutes also include flower-lined roads. The purple flowers are definitely wildflowers, but the orange I'm not so sure. We have these same flowers planted alongside the church building, so I wonder if these, 1/4 mile away from our (or anyone else's) planting, are the result of wind and bees. Perhaps. (photo forthcoming, promise!)
With all these flowers and all this ruralia, the butterflies are swarming. There are tons and tons of them all around--monarchs, white, yellow, every color, every size. They are beautiful. When I see them I think of my mom--not because she particularly loved them, but because there was a lone butterfly in Dawson Hall, fluttering around the doorway of the flat where I made the phone call home, when I found out she was gone. Butterflies are great symbols of life, resurrection, hope, beauty, etc, and that butterfly that day helped me out. And now here they are, fluttering around every time I go outside. It's great. (almost as cool as the lightning bugs that hang out in the grass near the cornfields! at night they look like confetti along the roadside, flashing and flickering. They always make me smile!)
and now we return to your regularly scheduled summer friday programming....
1,000
This is my 1,000th post to this blog.
1,000 posts ago, it was May of 2002 and I was intrigued by this blogging thing, and was finishing up my college and Chicago experience, getting ready to graduate from DePaul and go off to seminary.
900 posts ago I was writing about words I overuse, including "hilarious." (all of the words listed I still overuse.)
800 posts ago, I was sick and couldn't go dancing. It was apparently awful, for many reasons. I, of course, don't remember this at all.
700 posts ago, it was only the end of my first semester at Columbia and I was stressing about finals. I apparently wrote a lot those first six months.
600 posts ago I was happy about the end of the school year and planning to read a not-for-school book. (I'm seeing a theme...)
500 posts ago I was not blogging very much and was apologetic about it and made a resolution I didn't keep. then, for my next post, I posted my post-alternative-context-in-Jamaica sermon.
400 posts ago I was lamenting the fact that I had to figure out, in a mere six months, what on earth I wanted to do with my life, get a job, and move. Who did God think he/she was, calling me to ministry without a clear sense of what kind of ministry? silly God.
300 posts ago I had just returned to Egypt from being home for mom stuff, and was getting ready for Thanksgiving with the other american and canadian missionaries in Egypt. As you can see from 298 posts ago, it was awesome.
200 posts ago, I was writing to my mom on the first mother's day without her.
100 posts ago, I discuss whether or not I am postmodern.
It's been a busy 5 years, 1 month, and 7 days. well, busier sometimes than others, but a pretty busy 1,000 posts nonetheless.
here's to 1,000 more....
1,000 posts ago, it was May of 2002 and I was intrigued by this blogging thing, and was finishing up my college and Chicago experience, getting ready to graduate from DePaul and go off to seminary.
900 posts ago I was writing about words I overuse, including "hilarious." (all of the words listed I still overuse.)
800 posts ago, I was sick and couldn't go dancing. It was apparently awful, for many reasons. I, of course, don't remember this at all.
700 posts ago, it was only the end of my first semester at Columbia and I was stressing about finals. I apparently wrote a lot those first six months.
600 posts ago I was happy about the end of the school year and planning to read a not-for-school book. (I'm seeing a theme...)
500 posts ago I was not blogging very much and was apologetic about it and made a resolution I didn't keep. then, for my next post, I posted my post-alternative-context-in-Jamaica sermon.
400 posts ago I was lamenting the fact that I had to figure out, in a mere six months, what on earth I wanted to do with my life, get a job, and move. Who did God think he/she was, calling me to ministry without a clear sense of what kind of ministry? silly God.
300 posts ago I had just returned to Egypt from being home for mom stuff, and was getting ready for Thanksgiving with the other american and canadian missionaries in Egypt. As you can see from 298 posts ago, it was awesome.
200 posts ago, I was writing to my mom on the first mother's day without her.
100 posts ago, I discuss whether or not I am postmodern.
It's been a busy 5 years, 1 month, and 7 days. well, busier sometimes than others, but a pretty busy 1,000 posts nonetheless.
here's to 1,000 more....
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday Five on Saturday
I meant to do this yesterday, but I got carried away by the Taste of Chicago and then by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...so here I am, late to the party but playing anyway!
1. Personality tests; love them or hate them? ooh, I like them, at least sometimes. They can be really helpful, and sometimes they can just be silly and fun...
2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?
hmm, probably a mixture, with a teensy bit less "practical" than I need.
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?
Well, I was on the front page of the Northwest Herald (the county newspaper) because I came to this call from serving in Egypt--and I'd met the church not through the regular call process but through their trip to Egypt--and that's probably as famous as I'm likely to get...sadly. Or perhaps happily.
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...
I'd probably work on a book of liturgical pieces and prayers.
5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
dance...I would love to take ballet for beginning grown-ups.
Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
"every member ministry" to me means that the church is the place that empowers people to, sorry for the cliche, "live the Way of Christ in the world." It is possible. Now, if we want to talk about every member being a minister to other members, and it all having to do with "church" then I also think that's possible, but it takes people with serious organizational skills. I don't know where those people have been hiding...
1. Personality tests; love them or hate them? ooh, I like them, at least sometimes. They can be really helpful, and sometimes they can just be silly and fun...
2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?
hmm, probably a mixture, with a teensy bit less "practical" than I need.
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?
Well, I was on the front page of the Northwest Herald (the county newspaper) because I came to this call from serving in Egypt--and I'd met the church not through the regular call process but through their trip to Egypt--and that's probably as famous as I'm likely to get...sadly. Or perhaps happily.
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...
I'd probably work on a book of liturgical pieces and prayers.
5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
dance...I would love to take ballet for beginning grown-ups.
Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
"every member ministry" to me means that the church is the place that empowers people to, sorry for the cliche, "live the Way of Christ in the world." It is possible. Now, if we want to talk about every member being a minister to other members, and it all having to do with "church" then I also think that's possible, but it takes people with serious organizational skills. I don't know where those people have been hiding...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
it's about time....
I want to think this will make a big difference. I want to think that this would never happen to "my" girls from last year. but I know better.
but maybe this time it's different...
why does it always take someone dying before rules/laws get changed/enforced?
why did anyone ever think that FGM was a good idea?
what constitutes an "exceptional circumstance"???
Maybe this time the law will work for young women instead of against them. I hope so!
but maybe this time it's different...
why does it always take someone dying before rules/laws get changed/enforced?
why did anyone ever think that FGM was a good idea?
what constitutes an "exceptional circumstance"???
Maybe this time the law will work for young women instead of against them. I hope so!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
a good Sunday
Today we had three distinctly different services--the 8.30 alternative service, which was all about the theme "listen" and included a guided meditation that invited us to experience Elijah's story (instead of a sermon), the 9.30 Taize service, with its standard singing and silence M.O., and the traditional 11.00 service with a sermon about silence (bizarre, and you can read it in the post below this one)--including more than two minutes of actual silence! That's right, Presbyterians can in fact be quiet. I was extremely impressed with the level of silence achieved by the 50 people in the sanctuary--it was really, really quiet. So different from our usual deal.
I have become more comfortable with silence over the past several years. There was a time when I tried to fill every silence with words--I am a wordy extrovert, after all. But I've learned to just sit in the quiet, to leave anxiety about what to say next behind. Some of that probably has to do with living alone with no TV! Some probably has to do with living in a country where I didn't speak the language very well and couldn't go out on my own, at least not usually...and where in spite of all that there was still no silence. The cars, music, people, animals, buses, bike-bread vendors, and mosquitos kept the noise level high during pretty much my entire Egypt experience.
My Iona experience was not characterized by a ton of silence either--working there is not going on retreat, it's living in community (and that's not often quiet!). But in the Abbey church is the place I first learned that quiet times can go by surprisingly quickly. Sunday evening worship there is quiet--there are prayers at the beginning, then 15 minutes of silence in the near-darkness, then a blessing, and that's it. I used to take my watch off and put it in my pocket so I wouldn't check it constantly, and I found that 15 minutes sometimes felt like the 2 minutes we had this morning--not nearly enough time to clear the clutter in my brain and just relax and listen.
I live by myself, I once again have no TV, my neighborhood is pretty quiet (usual sounds: birds.), and I get to practice silence in my house every day. But today's silent times in church, surrounded by my community, were different. Even though I was "in charge" and even though I had to watch the clock, the quiet was profound and wonderful. I hope others thought so too.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming (in my case, reading and dreaming of travel...).
I have become more comfortable with silence over the past several years. There was a time when I tried to fill every silence with words--I am a wordy extrovert, after all. But I've learned to just sit in the quiet, to leave anxiety about what to say next behind. Some of that probably has to do with living alone with no TV! Some probably has to do with living in a country where I didn't speak the language very well and couldn't go out on my own, at least not usually...and where in spite of all that there was still no silence. The cars, music, people, animals, buses, bike-bread vendors, and mosquitos kept the noise level high during pretty much my entire Egypt experience.
My Iona experience was not characterized by a ton of silence either--working there is not going on retreat, it's living in community (and that's not often quiet!). But in the Abbey church is the place I first learned that quiet times can go by surprisingly quickly. Sunday evening worship there is quiet--there are prayers at the beginning, then 15 minutes of silence in the near-darkness, then a blessing, and that's it. I used to take my watch off and put it in my pocket so I wouldn't check it constantly, and I found that 15 minutes sometimes felt like the 2 minutes we had this morning--not nearly enough time to clear the clutter in my brain and just relax and listen.
I live by myself, I once again have no TV, my neighborhood is pretty quiet (usual sounds: birds.), and I get to practice silence in my house every day. But today's silent times in church, surrounded by my community, were different. Even though I was "in charge" and even though I had to watch the clock, the quiet was profound and wonderful. I hope others thought so too.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming (in my case, reading and dreaming of travel...).
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Earth, Wind, and Fire--a sermon for Ordinary 12 C
Rev. Teri Peterson
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Earth, Wind, and Fire
1 Kings 19.9-15a
June 24, 2007 11.00am, Ordinary 12C
1 Kings 19.9-15a (The Message)
Elijah walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.
Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"
"I've been working my heart out for God," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a dark and stormy night, both inside and outside Elijah. Inside, there was a chaos of pain, disappointment, and fear. He had triumphed brilliantly over the prophets of Baal, calling down the all-consuming fire of God onto his altar while theirs stood untouched, and so all 450 of them were killed. And yet the Israelites did not seem to be turning from their idol-worshiping ways, the queen was still wicked, and now she wanted him dead, so he had run away, to the desert, to die alone in his confusion and despair. Elijah fled to the desert—back to the wilderness from which his ancestors had come, back to the basics, the foundation of his faith: the mountain where God spoke with Moses and established the covenant that Elijah so fiercely defended. Inside Elijah, the night was dark and stormy indeed, as his thoughts and feelings and faith swirled about like a tornado.
Outside, there was a chaos of earth, wind and fire, all tumbling about. A dark and stormy night, chaos within and without, the end near.
And then….nothing. Some translations of this story say there was a sound of sheer silence. The King James says there was a “still small voice.” The translation we heard says a “gentle and quiet whisper.” In any case, it was very quiet. It was the opposite of the chaos that had been going on. It was the opposite of the chaos inside Elijah. It was the exact opposite of a dark and stormy night.
And into the silence, God spoke. Gently, quietly, perhaps in a whisper that could easily have been missed had it not been so quiet all around.
This is not the kind of silence we encounter much these days. There’s almost always some sound—our lives are filled with electronic sounds of fans, air conditioners, microwaves, televisions, radios, and lights, with people sounds of talking and laughing and singing, with natural sounds of birds and wind and rustling corn leaves and cicadas. Sheer silence is an unusual thing, and it often signals something unusual or important—when even the birds and insects make no noise, something’s coming. In Elijah’s case, God was coming.
God didn’t show up in the whirlwind, fantastic though it was, and useful as it would prove on Pentecost morning. God didn’t show up in the earthquake, though God had used them before and would use them again. God didn’t even show up in the all-consuming fire, though Elijah had just proved God’s supremacy over Baal with fire a few days before, though the tongues of fire would come on Pentecost, though the fiery pillar was the most recognized symbol during the Exodus, though God had come in fire on Mount Sinai once before. All of these special effects are great, they’re flashy, they’re high-budget and spectacular…but that’s just what they are—special effects, not the real deal. Most of the time God doesn’t give us a burning bush, a fiery pillar, a tornado, or a literally earth-shattering sign. Most of the time, what God is waiting for is for us to listen…to be quiet enough to hear the still small voice, the gentle whisper. Into the silence, God speaks gently and quietly—and sometimes hearing that voice can be more earth-shattering, more groundbreaking, more special than any flashy effects.
We Presbyterians aren’t good at silence. Perhaps even as people we’re not good at silence—with all the constant background noise, with all the talking we like to do, it’s hard for us to just be still, to just listen, with no agenda, no purpose, no pre-determined outcome, and no noise. Our lives are filled with auditory chaos, and many of us probably keep it going even when we pray—at least in worship, when we pray we spend a lot of time doing the talking and no time doing the listening. Silence can be uncomfortable. It takes practice to be able to be silent. But when the silence came, Elijah knew what was happening—he knew he was in the presence of God and it was time to listen up. Do we know what that silence is like? Do we know how to let the chaos subside and to be still in the alternative?
It seems a little odd to be standing here talking about silence. Earlier this morning we had a service in the style of Taize, which seems a little more appropriate. In a Taize service, we sing simple songs together, over and over, until they become a part of us. They become our prayers. And then the music subsides and we sit in silence, in the presence of God and each other, for ten minutes. Ten minutes can feel like a long time, or it can go by in a flash. What’s remarkable is the depth of silence. It’s so different from everyday life. And even the singing seems to come from a place of deep peace. The whole experience of just resting in God is one that I treasure. We normally gather for this service on the first Thursdays of the month, and it’s such a treat to find calm in the middle of a chaotic week. It seems the perfect way to experience Elijah’s story today.
Here I am, still talking about silence. There’s no way I can ever say the right words about the importance of silence, about how God speaks…partially because God speaks differently to each person. Moses, after all, got lots of special effects—burning bush, pillars of fire and cloud, fire surrounding the mountain he was to climb, the parting of the sea. Abraham just got a voice. Elijah got a sound of sheer silence followed by a quiet whisper. Jesus had both booming voice and quiet on the mountaintop. No matter how God speaks to us, though, we need to be listening. If we’re looking for miracles of earth, wind, and fire, will we notice if God speaks in silence and whispers? If we’re consumed by the chaos that is both within us and around us, will we hear the still small voice?
I think that, instead of me standing here talking about listening for God in the silence, we should practice. I promise to watch the clock so you do not need to worry about how long it will be. Just close your eyes, relax, let go of the chaos inside, let the alternative to the dark and stormy night creep in, and listen. Perhaps you will hear the very voice of God. (2 minutes silence)
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Earth, Wind, and Fire
1 Kings 19.9-15a
June 24, 2007 11.00am, Ordinary 12C
1 Kings 19.9-15a (The Message)
Elijah walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.
Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"
"I've been working my heart out for God," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a dark and stormy night, both inside and outside Elijah. Inside, there was a chaos of pain, disappointment, and fear. He had triumphed brilliantly over the prophets of Baal, calling down the all-consuming fire of God onto his altar while theirs stood untouched, and so all 450 of them were killed. And yet the Israelites did not seem to be turning from their idol-worshiping ways, the queen was still wicked, and now she wanted him dead, so he had run away, to the desert, to die alone in his confusion and despair. Elijah fled to the desert—back to the wilderness from which his ancestors had come, back to the basics, the foundation of his faith: the mountain where God spoke with Moses and established the covenant that Elijah so fiercely defended. Inside Elijah, the night was dark and stormy indeed, as his thoughts and feelings and faith swirled about like a tornado.
Outside, there was a chaos of earth, wind and fire, all tumbling about. A dark and stormy night, chaos within and without, the end near.
And then….nothing. Some translations of this story say there was a sound of sheer silence. The King James says there was a “still small voice.” The translation we heard says a “gentle and quiet whisper.” In any case, it was very quiet. It was the opposite of the chaos that had been going on. It was the opposite of the chaos inside Elijah. It was the exact opposite of a dark and stormy night.
And into the silence, God spoke. Gently, quietly, perhaps in a whisper that could easily have been missed had it not been so quiet all around.
This is not the kind of silence we encounter much these days. There’s almost always some sound—our lives are filled with electronic sounds of fans, air conditioners, microwaves, televisions, radios, and lights, with people sounds of talking and laughing and singing, with natural sounds of birds and wind and rustling corn leaves and cicadas. Sheer silence is an unusual thing, and it often signals something unusual or important—when even the birds and insects make no noise, something’s coming. In Elijah’s case, God was coming.
God didn’t show up in the whirlwind, fantastic though it was, and useful as it would prove on Pentecost morning. God didn’t show up in the earthquake, though God had used them before and would use them again. God didn’t even show up in the all-consuming fire, though Elijah had just proved God’s supremacy over Baal with fire a few days before, though the tongues of fire would come on Pentecost, though the fiery pillar was the most recognized symbol during the Exodus, though God had come in fire on Mount Sinai once before. All of these special effects are great, they’re flashy, they’re high-budget and spectacular…but that’s just what they are—special effects, not the real deal. Most of the time God doesn’t give us a burning bush, a fiery pillar, a tornado, or a literally earth-shattering sign. Most of the time, what God is waiting for is for us to listen…to be quiet enough to hear the still small voice, the gentle whisper. Into the silence, God speaks gently and quietly—and sometimes hearing that voice can be more earth-shattering, more groundbreaking, more special than any flashy effects.
We Presbyterians aren’t good at silence. Perhaps even as people we’re not good at silence—with all the constant background noise, with all the talking we like to do, it’s hard for us to just be still, to just listen, with no agenda, no purpose, no pre-determined outcome, and no noise. Our lives are filled with auditory chaos, and many of us probably keep it going even when we pray—at least in worship, when we pray we spend a lot of time doing the talking and no time doing the listening. Silence can be uncomfortable. It takes practice to be able to be silent. But when the silence came, Elijah knew what was happening—he knew he was in the presence of God and it was time to listen up. Do we know what that silence is like? Do we know how to let the chaos subside and to be still in the alternative?
It seems a little odd to be standing here talking about silence. Earlier this morning we had a service in the style of Taize, which seems a little more appropriate. In a Taize service, we sing simple songs together, over and over, until they become a part of us. They become our prayers. And then the music subsides and we sit in silence, in the presence of God and each other, for ten minutes. Ten minutes can feel like a long time, or it can go by in a flash. What’s remarkable is the depth of silence. It’s so different from everyday life. And even the singing seems to come from a place of deep peace. The whole experience of just resting in God is one that I treasure. We normally gather for this service on the first Thursdays of the month, and it’s such a treat to find calm in the middle of a chaotic week. It seems the perfect way to experience Elijah’s story today.
Here I am, still talking about silence. There’s no way I can ever say the right words about the importance of silence, about how God speaks…partially because God speaks differently to each person. Moses, after all, got lots of special effects—burning bush, pillars of fire and cloud, fire surrounding the mountain he was to climb, the parting of the sea. Abraham just got a voice. Elijah got a sound of sheer silence followed by a quiet whisper. Jesus had both booming voice and quiet on the mountaintop. No matter how God speaks to us, though, we need to be listening. If we’re looking for miracles of earth, wind, and fire, will we notice if God speaks in silence and whispers? If we’re consumed by the chaos that is both within us and around us, will we hear the still small voice?
I think that, instead of me standing here talking about listening for God in the silence, we should practice. I promise to watch the clock so you do not need to worry about how long it will be. Just close your eyes, relax, let go of the chaos inside, let the alternative to the dark and stormy night creep in, and listen. Perhaps you will hear the very voice of God. (2 minutes silence)
Thanks be to God. Amen.
what are you doing here?--a guided meditation for Ordinary 12C
Today we will walk in the footsteps of Elijah.
Close your eyes.
Put your feet flat on the floor, sit up straight, and be comfortable.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
Picture a place you like to go…
a place you go when you need to get away,
when you need some perspective,
when you need to be reminded of what’s important,
a place where you feel grounded and secure.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel?
Just be in the place, relax.
Why are you here? What are you doing in that place?
God is asking a question, right into your ear: what are you doing here?
After hearing your story, God says, to you,
I am coming to visit. Come and see.
(Wait for the Lord)
What does it look like when God comes to visit?
What happens?
A great wind, a Pentecost wind, begins blowing all around…
trees are bending…
papers are flying…
your hair is whipping about your face….
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
The earth is shaking,
the mountains tremble,
the rocks fall,
the barriers that divide people are torn away…
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
A bush is burning,
tongues of flame are dancing,
a pillar of fire whirls around…
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
And then…
nothing.
silence.
No birds. no breeze. no sound.
Like the silence that comes when something unusual is happening.
…………..
Finally, there are no distractions, no outside noise, no inner noise, no clutter around or within you, no chaos—just calm.
You stand up and hear a gentle, quiet, whisper calling your name.
God has come to visit.
What are you doing here?
(Wait for the Lord)
Into the silence, God whispers:
I am with you.
I will never leave you.
I am the rock on which you stand.
My grace is enough.
I have a job for you to do.
All that chaos, all that destruction, was not the end, but a beginning of new work.
Will you speak, sing, even shout, my word, my love, to the world?
Will you come and follow me?
(Be Still)
Close your eyes.
Put your feet flat on the floor, sit up straight, and be comfortable.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
Picture a place you like to go…
a place you go when you need to get away,
when you need some perspective,
when you need to be reminded of what’s important,
a place where you feel grounded and secure.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel?
Just be in the place, relax.
Why are you here? What are you doing in that place?
God is asking a question, right into your ear: what are you doing here?
After hearing your story, God says, to you,
I am coming to visit. Come and see.
(Wait for the Lord)
What does it look like when God comes to visit?
What happens?
A great wind, a Pentecost wind, begins blowing all around…
trees are bending…
papers are flying…
your hair is whipping about your face….
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
The earth is shaking,
the mountains tremble,
the rocks fall,
the barriers that divide people are torn away…
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
A bush is burning,
tongues of flame are dancing,
a pillar of fire whirls around…
is this God?
no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)
And then…
nothing.
silence.
No birds. no breeze. no sound.
Like the silence that comes when something unusual is happening.
…………..
Finally, there are no distractions, no outside noise, no inner noise, no clutter around or within you, no chaos—just calm.
You stand up and hear a gentle, quiet, whisper calling your name.
God has come to visit.
What are you doing here?
(Wait for the Lord)
Into the silence, God whispers:
I am with you.
I will never leave you.
I am the rock on which you stand.
My grace is enough.
I have a job for you to do.
All that chaos, all that destruction, was not the end, but a beginning of new work.
Will you speak, sing, even shout, my word, my love, to the world?
Will you come and follow me?
(Be Still)
Friday, June 22, 2007
mental clutter
There's been a lot in my brain this week...too much to get it into any coherent post. So, naturally, I've abandoned coherence as a goal and decided to write anyway. In no particular order:
I currently have a strange desire to eat French Toast and/or waffles. I cannot explain this.
re-reading Harry Potter and re-watching the movies. I'd forgotten some things about the first book, and while watching the first movie I was reminded how flat-out COOL it is to watch quidditch!
re-reading Walking the Bible and am reminded of how frustrated I was by Zionist overtones last time. As I read, I'm constantly talking to the book saying things like "when are you going to talk to a Palestinian who's just as connected to the land? Or an Israeli who is sympathetic to Palestinian concerns?"
Listening to the news early this week (like Monday) about Abbas dissolving the Palestinian government and appointing a new Prime Minister, and then hearing the Israeli government make comments like "now there's a new opening for peace talks" makes me angry. Wasn't there this same opening 18 months ago, before Hamas was democratically elected? Maybe if there'd been any significant progress in the past, maybe if people in the region actually saw a good-faith effort on the part of the Israeli government, maybe if there was real desire for the justice and compromise that need to be the foundation of peace...maybe then Hamas wouldn't have been elected to begin with, because Palestinians would see other options, another way out of the hell in which they live, surrounded by a 20 foot concrete wall and a hostile population. Just saying.
I am preaching on Elijah and the still small voice this week. It seems rather counter productive to talk about silence. So at 8.30 we are doing a kind of guided-imagery-meditation thing that allows us to place ourselves in the story and practice listening for the quiet whisper in the sound of sheer silence. At 9.30 we are doing Taize instead of a traditional service, so there will be an opportunity to practice silence there as well. At 11 it's traditional, with sermon and all. No, I have not yet written the sermon. I'm still trying to answer the preaching-prof question: "what do you want to say?" When I figure out what I want to say, then I'll be able to write it. I hope I figure that out sometime today.
The Lakeside Festival is this weekend. Taste of Crystal Lake (which I think is a funny thing since I used to live in Chicago and Taste of Chicago is awesome and huge), the cardboard cup regatta (where people build boats out of cardboard and then actually have to ride in them on a course on the lake--prizes for all kinds of things including Most Spectacular Sinking), etc...all this weekend. Fun. Must have sermon done in order to go....
Game night last night was fun. Grownups don't really get human battleship, but they figured it out and we had a good time.
It's cold in my office.
I don't think my thermostat at home actually works properly--I turned it up to 85 and my air has still been coming on sporadically. So I turned it up more and am using my beautiful new fan from Target.
I think that's all for now....I'm going to go satisfy my french toast needs.
I currently have a strange desire to eat French Toast and/or waffles. I cannot explain this.
re-reading Harry Potter and re-watching the movies. I'd forgotten some things about the first book, and while watching the first movie I was reminded how flat-out COOL it is to watch quidditch!
re-reading Walking the Bible and am reminded of how frustrated I was by Zionist overtones last time. As I read, I'm constantly talking to the book saying things like "when are you going to talk to a Palestinian who's just as connected to the land? Or an Israeli who is sympathetic to Palestinian concerns?"
Listening to the news early this week (like Monday) about Abbas dissolving the Palestinian government and appointing a new Prime Minister, and then hearing the Israeli government make comments like "now there's a new opening for peace talks" makes me angry. Wasn't there this same opening 18 months ago, before Hamas was democratically elected? Maybe if there'd been any significant progress in the past, maybe if people in the region actually saw a good-faith effort on the part of the Israeli government, maybe if there was real desire for the justice and compromise that need to be the foundation of peace...maybe then Hamas wouldn't have been elected to begin with, because Palestinians would see other options, another way out of the hell in which they live, surrounded by a 20 foot concrete wall and a hostile population. Just saying.
I am preaching on Elijah and the still small voice this week. It seems rather counter productive to talk about silence. So at 8.30 we are doing a kind of guided-imagery-meditation thing that allows us to place ourselves in the story and practice listening for the quiet whisper in the sound of sheer silence. At 9.30 we are doing Taize instead of a traditional service, so there will be an opportunity to practice silence there as well. At 11 it's traditional, with sermon and all. No, I have not yet written the sermon. I'm still trying to answer the preaching-prof question: "what do you want to say?" When I figure out what I want to say, then I'll be able to write it. I hope I figure that out sometime today.
The Lakeside Festival is this weekend. Taste of Crystal Lake (which I think is a funny thing since I used to live in Chicago and Taste of Chicago is awesome and huge), the cardboard cup regatta (where people build boats out of cardboard and then actually have to ride in them on a course on the lake--prizes for all kinds of things including Most Spectacular Sinking), etc...all this weekend. Fun. Must have sermon done in order to go....
Game night last night was fun. Grownups don't really get human battleship, but they figured it out and we had a good time.
It's cold in my office.
I don't think my thermostat at home actually works properly--I turned it up to 85 and my air has still been coming on sporadically. So I turned it up more and am using my beautiful new fan from Target.
I think that's all for now....I'm going to go satisfy my french toast needs.
Friday, June 15, 2007
oh.my.goodness
You need to see this. I thought it would be depressing, but instead it made my day.
(shamelessly stolen from Will Smama)
(shamelessly stolen from Will Smama)
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