Well, until today the presidential candidates have pretty much ignored us Northwesterners out here in the political boondocks. But we Washingtonians are feeling like somebody's darling right now. We've seen our first t.v. ads for this year's campaign. Clinton, Obama, McCain, and Huckabee's wife are all coming to town today or tomorrow. Adults are being courted, wooed, and trained to present their candidate's case to their precincts.
We caucus on Saturday. On Sunday, we'll probably feel like we were picked up in a bar and left on the side of the road with our socks inside out, as they'll all leave and take their t.v. ads with them, leaving nothing but the signs sticking in people's yards like someone else's dirty laundry.
Elections are fickle. But I do wish they'd take their laundry when they go.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Lenten Readings
Today's (Yesterday's -- Ash Wednesday's) readings: Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
What jumps out at me from the first reading are "return to me with your whole heart" and "For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment."
What is a whole heart? The image I have is a literal interpretation of the colloquialism "heart in hand". But the heart in my image is broken, or in pieces, or hurting, or sick. I am having a hard time with the concept of a whole heart.
"Gracious and merciful..." The contrast of the God the prophet describes as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and relenting in punishment with the actions called for by the people of gathering to plead for God's mercy and relenting confounds me. IS this God what is described at first or at second? Is this God relenting only when the people cast themselves down in fear, pleading for their lives? Has the anger been building for some time (as in, slow to anger but really boils when he gets there)? How much graciousness has this God shown these people already, is he at the end of his rope? I guess what I'm asking is, what are the terms of this relationship?
I'm not trying to be facetious. The prophet does confuse me. But more than that, I find myself asking myself how I think of God. What cultural portrayals of God did I grow up with and therefore use to paint God and all interactions with God? Is "my" God gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and relenting in punishment. Or is my God to be appeased in some appallingly degrading way in order to somehow gain an unlikely bit of mercy and relenting? Do I tell God everything like an approachable parent, or do I conceal in fear and then throw myself down in pleading, suspecting that punishment is sure unless an ego is appeased, because I know that I do not deserve the reprieve in any event? In other words, is this a healthy relationship or a bitter, biased, unhealthy one?
And what about my own graciousness, mercy, anger, and relenting?
Lenten Reflections -- this is what our church calls our activity during this time of year. I suppose it is an echo of looking through "a glass darkly".
What jumps out at me from the first reading are "return to me with your whole heart" and "For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment."
What is a whole heart? The image I have is a literal interpretation of the colloquialism "heart in hand". But the heart in my image is broken, or in pieces, or hurting, or sick. I am having a hard time with the concept of a whole heart.
"Gracious and merciful..." The contrast of the God the prophet describes as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and relenting in punishment with the actions called for by the people of gathering to plead for God's mercy and relenting confounds me. IS this God what is described at first or at second? Is this God relenting only when the people cast themselves down in fear, pleading for their lives? Has the anger been building for some time (as in, slow to anger but really boils when he gets there)? How much graciousness has this God shown these people already, is he at the end of his rope? I guess what I'm asking is, what are the terms of this relationship?
I'm not trying to be facetious. The prophet does confuse me. But more than that, I find myself asking myself how I think of God. What cultural portrayals of God did I grow up with and therefore use to paint God and all interactions with God? Is "my" God gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and relenting in punishment. Or is my God to be appeased in some appallingly degrading way in order to somehow gain an unlikely bit of mercy and relenting? Do I tell God everything like an approachable parent, or do I conceal in fear and then throw myself down in pleading, suspecting that punishment is sure unless an ego is appeased, because I know that I do not deserve the reprieve in any event? In other words, is this a healthy relationship or a bitter, biased, unhealthy one?
And what about my own graciousness, mercy, anger, and relenting?
Lenten Reflections -- this is what our church calls our activity during this time of year. I suppose it is an echo of looking through "a glass darkly".
Lent
Ash Wednesday, an ominous title, reminds us that we come from ashes and will return to ashes, or so many religious leaders tell us.
This day could also remind us that we all have dirt on our hands and so might bear that in mind when bearing with each other.
Or we might ponder the work of our hands and how our work feeds the fires that warm our families, friends, neighbors, world. How our work provides heat for cooking to feed the world.
Maybe the ashes remind us of our connection to all of creation, even to the very soil on which the ashes fall or the trees whence ashes come. This could lead us to stewardship of the earth and to reflect on the price we pay when we fail through hubris to recognize this critical connection.
And if we reflect today on our work, we realize that we can choose to work harmoniously or acrimoniously, but we do need to work. There is much to be done, but our work could take on the nature of the child's work -- which most of us call play -- as children are not averse to getting dirty, and can even find joy in doing so.
I will ponder the joy of unity with others and all things and the joy that comes from playing in the dirt (the physical soil or the mental and emotional dirt of community) in order to nurture this unity. How do I nurture not only the joy of unity, but the joy of the work in myself and others?
This day could also remind us that we all have dirt on our hands and so might bear that in mind when bearing with each other.
Or we might ponder the work of our hands and how our work feeds the fires that warm our families, friends, neighbors, world. How our work provides heat for cooking to feed the world.
Maybe the ashes remind us of our connection to all of creation, even to the very soil on which the ashes fall or the trees whence ashes come. This could lead us to stewardship of the earth and to reflect on the price we pay when we fail through hubris to recognize this critical connection.
And if we reflect today on our work, we realize that we can choose to work harmoniously or acrimoniously, but we do need to work. There is much to be done, but our work could take on the nature of the child's work -- which most of us call play -- as children are not averse to getting dirty, and can even find joy in doing so.
I will ponder the joy of unity with others and all things and the joy that comes from playing in the dirt (the physical soil or the mental and emotional dirt of community) in order to nurture this unity. How do I nurture not only the joy of unity, but the joy of the work in myself and others?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Best Free Entertainment in Town
Well, obviously the disclaimer reads: my child danced in the show. So here's the review:
If you're wondering what children can do to learn social studies, why not look to the arts? At Dearborn Park Elementary School in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood, the music and dance teacher, Helen Zhou (a/k/a "Miss Jo"), teaches the children songs and dances from different countries, cultures, and religions. The children learn about these different countries and peoples through artistic expression.
Before you think, "oh, isn't that quaint", check out some of the costumes and props (like the dragon below) that the teacher makes to go along with the learning experience. These are top notch artistic endeavors. And doing an intricate Chinese Fan Dance while snapping a couple of fans in and out in sync with other dancers takes a fair amount of skill and concentration if you watch closely.
The kids (and their teacher) amazed us all again with the high quality of their performance. Watching the big kids help the little ones backstage and afterward made my heart thump a little happy dance of its own.
This year the children performed native dances from China, Taiwan, Tibet, and Japan. (I may have missed a country, but think that's the list.) Over the next three days our little crew will perform at 3 other local elementary schools. We have reason to be proud. The schools they will visit will benefit from the cultural experience as well.
Happy Chinese New Year
It is chaos and creativity at Dearborn Park Elementary today. The
school prepares to perform dances and songs for the holiday.
Costumes, energy, and lots of time and talent. The anticipation
overwhelms the space and little bodies. I can't wait either.
school prepares to perform dances and songs for the holiday.
Costumes, energy, and lots of time and talent. The anticipation
overwhelms the space and little bodies. I can't wait either.
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