hillsideslide

Transcript of Jay Bakker on Gay Marriage

2010-10-05T11:48:00.004-04:00

A friend asked for a transcript of Jay Bakker's stand for Gay Marriage.

(he wants to translate it into Portuguese. ...and the world continues to draw closer.)

Here it is:

I dream of God.

[clapping]

The dream, it’s the vision of community & change happening.

[applause & clapping]

I’ll tell you what. You are the temple of God. So in order for us to be able… we can live that dream because the dream is within us.

[applause… “Yes…” “Come on, Brother...” “That’s right!” “Oh yes…”]

And I love speaking here cuz you get a, “Oh yes… oh yes… " But uh, um…

[laughter]

And so often we don’t want a change in The Church. We don’t want to look at things differently. But we can, if we’re practicing things like justice and being gentle….

God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God.

[“Oh yes”]

Just recently I had a pastor tell me that he felt that God was against me, and that Jesus was against me. …He forgot the Holy Spirit, so that’s cool. I’m good with Him. [laughter] …and that my whole ministry was going to disintegrate & dissolve and be destroyed.

[“Mmm” “Wow” “Mmmm-umm” ]

Well, and… and the reason is is because I… I.. I came out in the church recently and said, “You know what? I don’t… I’m pro-gay marriage. I don’t believe that that’s a sin.”

[silence]

…okay, that got dang quiet. Everybody’s like, “I ain’t sayin’ nothing now.”

[silence]

I guess we’re not ready for this yet, are we?

[silence]

It… it… it’s hard for me when people who’ve been through such persecution, a-and been judged against, all of the sudden, they don’t want freedom for anybody else.

[silence]

We gotta start living it folks. That’s why it’s a narrow road. That’s why it gets quiet in a church where everybody was hootin’ and hollerin’ 5 minutes ago.

So maybe you’ll get mad and go home and yell… but maybe, eventually, you’ll get over it. And you’ll realize that you might not agree with me, but at least you’ll learn to love me.

[silence]

Martin Luther King said, “It is not the words of your enemies that you will remember, but the silence of your friends.”

That’s why I [chokes up] can no longer be silent… cuz I love my friends.

[silence]

Uncomfortable

2010-10-05T10:59:00.008-04:00

This was uncomfortable to watch.

It's in my nature to want to get along with folks. I don't love rocking the boat. I don't want to call people out or make them uncomfortable.

BUT, it's part of moving things forward. A necessary step in breaking down bigotry.

And it appears to be a thankless job most of the time.

But then I think of the countless people who had to, and continue to (right at this minute), endure far worse than social awkwardness from the business end of the bigotry barrel.

It seems like a small sacrifice compared to Matthew Shepard (and his family), or any one of the recent gay-bullying suicides that've only recently gotten a spotlight in the media.

We need to take courage & speak up.

Real people are suffering untold misery.

So next time I'm faced with rocking the boat, in my head I'll hear:

Uncomfortable awkward? Or..

Uncomfortable suicidal?

Uncomfortable gay bashed?

Uncomfortable lost my job?

Uncomfortable threatened?

Uncomfortable kicked out of the military?

Uncomfortable gang-raped?

Speaking out against bigotry is not as offensive as bigotry itself.

(I'm just reminding myself....)

Atheist's Challenge: Christians, Show Your Support for LGBTQ Rights!

2010-07-16T09:23:00.007-04:00

This is a post I prepared for Reconciling Ministries Blog. I wanted to get it up today since Rachel Held Evans posted a link to my Evolving in Monkey Town review.

If you're new- Hi! Leave a comment & share your thoughts.

.
"The Friendly Atheist" has some words for Christians who support LGBTQ equality- DO something, or you're part of the problem. Popular blogger & author, Hemant Mehta, issued his challenge in response to the internet buzz surrounding Christians who attended a Gay Pride Parade with the message: I'm Sorry!

Last month The Marin Foundation went to Chicago Pride to apologize for the harm done to LGBTQs by Christians. Their signs and shirts made an impact. One beautiful story describing the reconciliation unfolding between a marcher & an "apologist" made the rounds on facebook & the blogs, often soliciting the comment,"brought tears to my eyes."

While many saw this as an encouraging step, some people weren't buying it.

Mehta, in particular, was skeptical. His impression is that Christians are not supportive of The Gays; words are cheap, let's see action. Reactions in his comment section were all over the board. Some challenged his take on this, others agreed with him, & many added their unique perspective.

Last week, when Hawaii's Governor vetoed Civil Unions at the last minute, he used it as a springboard for this challenge:

"I want to see any Christian who finds this despicable to say so. Blog about it. Tell your Facebook friends. Tell your church members. Call out anyone who disagrees. If you don’t, you’re part of the problem."

He has a point.

Christians who are for The Gays but hide their support under a bushel, aren't really helping. They're maintaining the status quo. Which is harming people.

The crazy thing is, there is a lot of support out there for LGBTQs among Christians. We just (mostly) don't hear about it. Many speak up, but not enough.

If you are Christian and you are LGBTQ-affirming, I believe God has a plan for you. There are people who would like to be more supportive, but don't know how to square that desire with what they've been taught. There are hurting individuals who feel hated & abandoned by the "Church Family" that raised them. They need to hear from you. They WANT to hear from you.

Are they hearing from you?

(If not, your silence is speaking volumes.)

Take this opportunity. Accept The Friendly Atheist's Challenge!

Make your voice heard. Start a conversation. Involve your friends. Talk with your fellow church-goers & clergy. Reach out to your "virtual village" online. Repost support. Leave a comment here, there, everywhere.

Don't let your silence speak for you.

Tina Ciampa is a life-long UMCer who believes The Church will be one step closer to living out "on Earth as it is in Heaven" when it fully realizes the dignity and worth of all people. She relishes the irony that we will get there even faster thanks to the prodding of an atheist.
She blogs at www.hillsideslide.blogspot.com & would love to hear from you on facebook.

So, what are you doing? Is it hard to speak up on this issue in particular? What other issues come to mind? Do they share commonalities? If so, what? What can you do today? (feel free to post a link or share this!)

Evolving in Monkey Town: The (real) Book Review

2010-07-12T10:07:00.004-04:00

.

.

This is Rachel Held Evans' spiritual memoir. At the ripe old age of ...27.

But, as Indiana Jones put it, "Its not the years, Honey, it's the mileage."

And Rachel has covered some ground.

"Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All The Answers Learned to Ask The Questions" is the sweeping account of Rachel's self-professed evolution from Apologetic All-Star to She Who Sees Value In The Questions.

Doubt has given legs to her journey.

Summingly it up succinctly: "...doubt is the mechanism by which faith evolves." (p 219)

Psst.... We kind of need it.

******************

Generally, amongst most of us church-goers, there's been a tacit understanding that when it comes to troubling questions, to doubt, we just don't talk about it. Not publicly, anyway.

However, when we fail to take seriously our questions & doubts, our journey is stunted. Instead of growing, we become ingrown. (which can express itself in some ugly ways)

The following quote is a veritable passport for exploring the uncharted territory that lies between a taught faith and one that's been road-tested; one that really belongs to you (or is it the other way around?) ~

If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that serious doubt-
the kind that leads to despair- begins not when we start asking
God questions but when, out of fear, we stop. (p 226)

Fortunately, Rachel does forge ahead. She confronts her questions with courage & integrity, and strikes out on a spiritual adventure towards a more authentic faith.

Along the way, encounters with various people & places cause Rachel to question what she's been taught. It's not matching up with what she's experiencing. So like Jacob, who grabbed hold of that heavenly shade..... she wrestles. She doesn't let go. Something's gotta give, and when it does, it's that which she cleverly identifies as the "false fundamentals" of her faith.

Here's a gem:

...I sometimes wonder if I might have spent fewer nights in angry, resentful prayer if only I'd known that my little systems-
my theology, my presuppositions, my beliefs, even my fundamentals- were but broken lights of a holy, transcendent God. I wish I'd have known to question them, not him. (p 220)

And with that, she provides an important piece of framework for integrating faith & earnest questioning. With that, hers seems to become more of a living faith. A wild faith.

She traverses a lot of territory, covering curiosity, community, outsiders' perspectives on Christianity (the times when she found herself on the "outside" were especially poignant), the mindset of defending vs embodying faith, the multitude of worldviews, and more...

A lot more.

She asks if getting THE answer in a world of worldviews is possible, or even the point? Maybe there is more to it than that. It's a theme she touches on throughout the book, and she hits on some really. good. stuff.

As evidenced by my copious notes in the pic, this book is bulging with fodder for conversation! (perfect for book clubs & small groups)

Though her story is not unique, it is well told. Refreshingly honest & well put together, Evolving takes us along for the journey.

Knowing the answers is safe. Being willing to experiment outside of the lines is risky, but it seems to be part of the deal if you want to embody your faith in the real world. She does this. And, it's encouraging for others who are tentatively confronting their own boundary lines.

Evolving is a map of her journey. No doubt everyone's will look different, but it's helpful to know that others have passed this way. Its reassuring to happen across a blaze on the trail less travelled.

At the end of the day, this is why I felt less crazy. It's disconcerting to sit in a pew, surrounded by 100s of seemingly content people, and wonder, Is it just me who has a few questions here?

Seeing those questions in print, hearing her story brought a measure of courage and excellent company for the road!

Wonder what it might do for you?

PS: if you are looking for company, i recommend her blog. you'll find community in the comment section

PPS: as a reminder & full disclosure, i got a free copy for review as part of Rachel Held Evans' "Blog Tour."

Evolving in Monkey Town: The (interim) Book Report

2010-07-07T17:27:00.014-04:00

So, my Book Review is late. Overdue. Yikes.

Over the 4th of July Weekend, I thought I'd get it done. I figured- Free time. No problem. Done and dusted.

And then I got a taste of what most of you people deal with- the noise & attention of children.

Holy cow. If it isn't Wii Mario craziness, it's "Tina.......... Are you done with your Book Report YET?!"

I kindly explain to Cousin #2 that it's actually only been 7 minutes since I told her I needed an hour, and for 4 of those minutes she's been hanging on my chair and playing with my phone and leaning WAY in when she talks to me and its really all a bit much for someone who prefers communicating over vast distances via the telephone that she just dropped. Again.

Meanwhile, Cousin #1 is taking matters into her own hands. She's gathered up a pencil and paper. She starts shooting questions. And, before I know it, she announces that my "Book Report" is finished. Now let's go do other stuff.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our Book Report~

Interview by Haleigh (12 yrs). Interjections by Lindsey-The-Close-Talker (9 yrs). Transcribed by me. At the suggestion of Alise.

Haleigh: What's the book about?

Me: -girl who's faith is changing.
-she thinks she knows the answers to everything.
-suddenly, she's not so sure.
-she starts asking ?s to people and herself
-it makes her change

Haleigh: Describe the Main Character.

Me: smart, tried to be like good [Christian].... (she ran off the page here)

Lindsey: Did you ever try smoking?

Me: yes. twice. it was gross. don't ever take up smok-

Lindsey & Haleigh: YOU SMOKED?! IT'S POISONOUS!

Me: yeah, i know! i only tried it. it's smelly and hot and disgusting. don't bother.

Lindsey: Have you ever gotten drunk?

Me: Book Report!

Haleigh: Did you like the book?

Me: yes

Haleigh: Do you recommend the book?

Me: yes

Haleigh: Did it change you?

Me: reinforced my perspective

Lindsey: Will you help me find Abbey(the cat)? I think she's hiding in the bathroom. OH, and we need a flashlight. She's behind the tub, I think.

Haleigh: Okay, book report's done. Thawuzeasy.

(book REVIEW to follow. stay tuned.)

Evolving in Monkey Town, Part I: The Blog

2010-06-24T17:54:00.029-04:00

A favorite blogger of mine, Rachel Held Evans, is having her 1st book released. Zondervan Publishing sent me a pre-release copy of her book for review as part of the Blog Tour.

I'm doing a 2-part review. This part will touch more on her blog. The 2nd part will be the straight-up book review.

This book made me feel less crazy.

....we'll get to that in a sec.

But first, some exposition ;)

A few years ago, I googled "homosexuality" and "Christian" and ran across this post~ "An Evangelical's Response to Homosexuality."

So that's how I found my way to Rachel Held Evans' blog, "Evolving in Monkey Town."

Here is why I stayed~

This was what I'd been waiting for- an evangelical who is asking outloud, "What if I'm wrong?"

Those 4 words = doorway to dialogue; connection.

Now to be fair, I have had extraordinary conversation after extraordinary conversation with people about "'The Gay' & Christianity," one on one. And, it is always a combo moving experience/relationship strengthener . (I keep expecting the worst out of people and they keep proving me wrong.)

Thanks to those interactions, I knew that people were open (often eager) to talk about this or any other "controversial issue." I just hadn't seen many everyday Christians posting about it on their own volition...yet.

"Out there," in the media and "mean interwebs," we hear a lot from the extremes.

Too much.

Meanwhile, beneath the fray, something else has been going on between the extremes ...in the middle. And when we talk with other Middle People, it gets interesting. We learn. We connect. Maybe not always, but often. And it is So. Worth it. ...because it's real.

And it's why Rachel scores so highly on connectability/relatability.

She is writing from the middle. She hasn't landed. She's mid-step. (read her book & you'll know what I mean by, This is her, as she leaps her way across the swamp.) She doesn't have the safety & security of typing, "...and here is where I landed."

She is in transition. Evolving.

And she's taking us along for the ride.

Looking at it from another angle, she does not fit squarely into any camp. She's venturing across lines..... in no mans' land. Which, it turns out, happens to be populated after all.

Chances are, this is where you come in.

Because if there's one thing I've heard time and again about Rachel's writing, it's "I could have written this! ...if I were more talented."

We carry on

2010-06-18T23:05:00.007-04:00

Babs RARELY txts.

A chaplain at a busy hospital and mother of 2 grown kids, she only txts when she wants to ...which is just this side of never. She's aloof like that. (By the time a woman hits 50, she learns to guard her time & attention.)

I don't really know what possessed her to send me a txt recommending that I watch the video for "Welcome To the Black Parade," by My Chemical Romance. (again, this chaplain & mom is in her 50s, so... how is she listening to something that just reeks of goth/emo?)

Drawing out the suspense, I was stuck all week with a computer that refused to play video. So, the txt remained on my phone, as a reminder to check out that song... eventually.

In the meantime, another week passed. Another chuck out of another year.

And once again, I've found myself face to face with June 18th... the night everything changed.

It's been 13yrs since the accident. 13 yrs since things ended for Shelley. June 18th, 1997 is the moment that cuts my life into a "before" and "after."

I never know how to observe this day. Mostly, I just want something... a moment... that feels like I've honored her life, the toughness of going on after that, and something that provides a little boost of hope or sense of mission to propel me into the future.

And, today, I was at a loss.

Until I remembered that txt.

Which lead me to this.

On June 18th.

When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.

He said, "Son when you grow up,
would you be the savior of the broken,
the beaten and the damned?"
He said "Will you defeat them,
your demons, and all the non-believers,
the plans that they have made?"
"Because one day I'll leave you,
A phantom to lead you in the summer,
To join The Black Parade."

When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said, "Son when you grow up,
would you be the savior of the broken,
the beaten and the damned?"

Sometimes I get the feeling she's watching over me.
And other times I feel like I should go.
And through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets.
And when you're gone we want you all to know.

We'll carry on,
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And in my heart I can't contain it
The anthem won't explain it.

A world that sends you reeling from decimated dreams
Your misery and hate will kill us all.
So paint it black and take it back
Let's shout it loud and clear
Defiant to the end we hear the call

To carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches

On and on we carry through the fears
Ooh oh ohhhh
Disappointed faces of your peers
Ooh oh ohhhh
Take a look at me cause I could not care at all

Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part
I won't explain or say I'm sorry
I'm unashamed, I'm gonna show my scar
Give a cheer for all the broken
Listen here, because it's who we are
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
Just a boy, who had to sing this song
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
I! don't! care!

We'll carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches on

Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part (We'll carry on)

Do or die, you'll never make me (We'll carry on)
Because the world will never take my heart (We'll carry on)
Go and try, you'll never break me (We'll carry)
We want it all, we wanna play this part (We'll carry on)

So-Called "Christians" Part I

2010-06-02T17:01:00.010-04:00

A funny thing happened when Jennifer Knapp came out.

I was expecting the comments questioning her faith in light of her "I'm happily ensconced in a longterm relationship with a beautiful woman" announcement. Many drug out the air quotes to drive home their point. She wasn't REALLY a Christian. She was a so-called "Christian." And, by the way, so were all the other so-called Christians who didn't believe that she was going straight to Hell and taking most of Christendom & Country with her.

What kept throwing me were the comments that led-off with the "so-called Christian" quip followed by something like about these so-called fake Christians who spend their time judging gays rather than reflecting God's love.

I was getting a case of mental-whiplash.

"Wait, now.... which are the so-called Christians?" Pro-gay? Anti? Sin? Not a sin? Which sin? judging or homosexuality or being a meanie.... oye! My brain! My soul.

Something tells me, this can't be us Christians at our best.

Someone whispers, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Sounds like a plan.

Well, technically, it's a command. (John 13:34-35)

I spent a while pondering the strife and commenting frenzy. I'll post my conclusions (more like, where I took it from there) in Part II.

Meanwhile, please.... leave a comment! Did this stir anything up for you? How should brothers & sisters in Christ handle their differences of opinion on emotionally charged issues? Does it matter? What is at stake? How do you conduct yourself when you get worked up over an issue you feel strongly about?

Lastly, and mostly for my amusement, some random comments from articles on JK~

Face it Jennifer. If you believe you are a Christian, you profess to maintain certain moral standards. With your God-given gift and high profile comes a higher standard of moral and ethical responsibility ("...to whom much is given..."). These responsibilities do not include subverting the minds of your young loving and loyal fans with morally unacceptable creedences. I appreciate your honesty... I hope you appreciate ours.

Knapp can't honestly expect real christians to believe that she is ... both a christian and a lez ... the two are incompatible. As noted by another smartalecky commenter, "With God, all things are possible."

Jennifer Knapp has a tattoo also. That explains everything. God clearly says "don't put tattoos on your body" Knapp is no Christian. which i thought was a joke, but wasn't.

These comments are the WORST display of "Christianity" that I've ever seen...Christ said let the first one without sin cast the first stone. A lot of you are casting stones that should really be on the receiving end. (Some of you are even casting boulders... how are you that strong? Must be the holy spirit!)

I would like Jennifer Knapp's address so I can send her so-called christian cds back to her. OHHHhhhh! and the inanimate objects take a hit!

Let's stop talking about burning in hell and love each other. Godslion, you spelled absurd wrong.

The obligatory Hitler tie-in: I am sure that Hitler "felt" mass murder was the right thing to do.

Finally, a personal favorite: While it certainly does sound like Jennifer is a sweet and loving human being, it does not seem that God is her all in all.

Too much!

2010-05-26T13:58:00.006-04:00

Jennifer Knapp coming out made me so happy that I stopped posting.

My writer's block comes when:

A. I get feedback

WHAT?! Someone's READing this?! ....the "world wide web" concept hasn't sunken into that part of my brain that only believes what it sees. I can't see them, so they can't see me.

Paradoxically, I still crave comments. So, please, add yours.

B. Something gets me so excited that I feel like I can't possibly express it in writing. So, I stop.

That was the case with Jennifer Knapp's announcement last month. And, I still can't write about that. Maybe another time. (don't you love suspense?)

But, I'm gonna get it back into gear. Mostly thanks to the prodding of my bff from high school, Alise.

So, raise your coffee mug and let's hear it for getting the ball rolling....

And, for friends!

Meanwhile, do you have anything that triggers writer's block? How do you fix it?

(as millions of english comp/writing teachers cry out from the ether with a resounding, "Discipline!" Ugh, I know.....)

Heartbreak

2010-05-11T20:30:00.001-04:00

Idler: Type 1 & Type 2

2010-04-26T10:00:00.006-04:00

Treasure!

I just stumbled into quotes of Vincent Van Gogh.

This one, especially, will be sticking with me.

"There is a great difference between one idler and another idler. There is someone who is an idler out of laziness and lack of character, owing to the baseness of his nature. If you like, you may take me for one of those. Then there is the other kind of idler, the idler despite himself, who is inwardly consumed by a great longing for action who does nothing because his hands are tied, because he is, so to speak, imprisoned somewhere, because he lacks what he needs to be productive, because disastrous circumstances have brought him forcibly to this end. Such a one does not always know what he can do, but he nevertheless instinctively feels, I am good for something! My existence is not without reason! I know that I could be a quite a different person! How can I be of use, how can I be of service? There is something inside me, but what can it be? He is quite another idler. If you like you may take me for one of those."

Not so beneficial. Not so equal.

2010-04-23T14:32:00.001-04:00

What I learned yesterday.

IF gay & lesbian partners are covered under their partners' insurace:
1. the insurance company may charge more b/c they are not recognized as "married" under federal law
2. those benefits are then taxed as income, unlike married couples.

My friend had her excitement at benefits turn to huge sticker shock when she ended up owing and extra $2000 in taxes. Surprise! :(

In the United States of Ameria.

One of the 1000+ benefits that gay couples are denied because that cannot legally married.

Will Phillips - take a little risk. get into a little trouble

2010-03-16T18:07:00.003-04:00

.

Well, kinda bummed that they removed the "Husbands and Husbands" vid from Youtube.

So, here is another young man who has clearly done some thinking and reflecting. And, then he chose to ACT.

I hope his words spring to my mind when I need a little nudge out of my comfort zone.

Thanks Will!

Husbands & Husbands

2010-03-11T12:48:00.005-05:00

So glad to see that make the news.

This is so sweet.

I can't think of a thing to add.

Enjoy~

-thanks to Alise for posting it to my facebook page!

Who are you?

2010-02-23T19:50:00.011-05:00

Season 3 Premiere, "Anne."

Let me set the scene for you- Buffy has been captured and thrown into a dungeon. .... remember that part in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom where all of the villiage kids were kidnapped & turned into dead-eyed slaves to work the mines, looking for those glowing Stones of Power? It's basically that.

Buffy gets lined up with the rest of the new prisoners on the block. The guard goes to work- dehumanizing them, rooting out all hints of "who they are" and grinding them down, until.... they are no one.

Guard: You work, and you live. That is all. You do not complain or laugh or do anything besides work. Whatever you thought, whatever you were does not matter. You are no one now. You mean nothing.

(to boy) Who are you?

Boy#1: Aaron. (gets bashed to the ground)

Guard: (to Lily) Who are you?

Lily: No one.

Guard: Who are you?

Boy#2: No one.

Guard: (to Buffy) Who are you?

Buffy: (beat... suddenly eyes turn from dull to confident/mischevious)

(perky) I'm Buffy. The Vampire Slayer. And you are...?

(She knocks him out)

Buffy: Anyone who's not having fun here, follow me.

Sometimes we need a Buffy- we shake our groggy head and rub our eyes and wonder how we ended up down in the dungeon. A few words from the reigning bully reminds us of how we got here. We faced a choice: be yourself and prepare for a smackdown, or accept "nothingness" and slink to the shadows.

Sometimes, we are Buffy, and we need to enter that dungeon, stop the bully and remind the captives that they are free. They are okay. They just need to remember who they are.

Dinosaur

2010-01-25T15:16:00.004-05:00

Thought I'd kick the week off with a short story.

This came in the mail today.

It's too good not to share.

Dinosaur

a short story by Bruce Holland Rogers

When he was very young, he waved his arms, snapped his massive jaws, and tromped around the house so that the dishes trembled in the china cabinet. "Oh, for goodness' sake," his mother said. "You are not a dinosaur! You are a human being!" Since he was not a dinosaur, he thought for a time that he might be a pirate. "Seriously," his father said to him after school one day, "what do you want to be?" A fireman, maybe. Or a policeman. Or a soldier. Some kind of hero.

But in high school they gave him tests and told him he was good with numbers. Perhaps he'd like to be a math teacher? That was respectable. Or a tax accountant? He could make a lot of money doing that. It seemed a good idea to make money, what with falling in love and thinking about raising a family. So he became a tax accountant, even though he sometimes regretted it, because it made him feel, well, small. And he felt even smaller when he was no longer a tax accountant, but a retired tax accountant. Still worse; a retired tax accountant who forgot things. He forgot to take the garbage to the curb, to take his pill, to turn his hearing aid on. Every day it seemed he forgot more things, important things, like where his children lived and which of them were married or divorced.

Then one day, when he was out for a walk by the lake, he forgot what his mother had told him. He forgot that he was not a dinosaur. He stood blinking his dinosaur eyes in the bright sunlight, feeling its familiar warmth on his dinosaur skin, watching dragonflies flitting among the horsetails at the water's edge.

Hope- on it's way in from Left Field

2010-01-22T00:30:00.007-05:00

Boy, help comes from the most surprising and unexpected places at just the right times.

Just reminds me that you can work and work and feel like you're not getting anywhere, and then, just over the next hill, there's Rob Reiner with the Calvary!

"Of all the people arriving at the gay marriage trial, none was more unexpected than Hollywood's Rob Reiner. In fact, Reiner is financing much of the legal expense on the gay side and he recruited conservative lawyer, Ted Olson, to the team. ...fundraising was done quietly without the knowledge or help of traditional gay rights groups"

and one hill after that, Cindy McCain!

Tony Hall- How Faith Works

2010-01-17T18:19:00.002-05:00

I have thought of former Congressman Tony Hall time and again since reading his book a few years ago.

He is against hunger.

He talks about how he grew into a person of faith, and how the relationship he had with God and Jesus wove through his experiences in Congress and his own life.

His stories of dealing one-on-one with both Democrats and Republicans were encouraging examples of cooperation based on what we have in common.

This vid is worth the watch, but if you don't have 20mins, here's the point:

Do the thing that's in front of you.

Click here for the video.

Anne Frank, Miep Gies, and you

2010-01-12T00:19:00.014-05:00

.

“Not a day goes by that I do not grieve for them," said Miep Gies, who protected Anne Frank, and saved her diary.

She carried those memories and, I'm sure, grieved for the Franks every day. And now she's gone. It's up to the rest of us to remember them and tell their stories; and Miep Gies.'

I was just thinking of those closer-than-you-realize connections and my college gospel choir director, La Joyce.

We would always sing for the Martin Luther King, Jr Convocation on campus. We'd hear those famous words reiterated, and distinguished speakers (Dr. Samuel D. Proctor, the 1st time) would remind us of the importance of what he did, as giant pictures of the key people and events from the Civil Rights Mov't would flash across the screen on stage. Martin, Rosa Parks, fire hoses...

It was years later, dropping in on a rehearsal, with all of us bunched around the piano, that someone asked,

"Miss LaJoyce, tell us about Mrs. Parks again."

Then, LaJoyce- who I've known for YEARS- suddenly recounted how, when she was a child, they would go up to Detroit and visit relatives who lived on the same block as Mrs. Parks. And, when the kids were given money for the candy store, she'd try to hurry past Mrs. Park's house. But it never worked. She'd always, almost make it, and then hear,

"La Joyyyyyyyyyce?"

And LaJoyce would miss out on her candy run b/c Mrs. Parks would ask her to come inside. Then, they would have tea and Mrs. Parks would ask her to recite Bible passages. (and, I bet, sing)

I was blown away.

A year later, at the MLK Convocation, I heard those words and I saw those pictures flash above the stage, and LaJoyce standing with the choir on the stage, and I realized: They -MLK, Mrs. Parks, Dr Proctor, all of 'em- were just regular people, who we just missed, via being born a little late and in another place. But our friends and family and neighbors DID know them, or go to listen to them, or had tea with them, and we are all. so. closely connected., and that what we do matters immensely.

And, even if we aren't living those lives, we can tell their stories. ....over and over. (it's better than reality television)

Meanwhile, keep your eyes open and those stories close... you never know....

No one can predict those moments that, in hindsight, appear to be an encounter with destiny - Mrs Parks wasn't expecting to be "Rosa Parks: Icon of the Civil Rights." And what Miep Gies saw was a family in trouble, and a pile of papers that belonged to a little girl...

~~

It's with a heavy heart that I read LaJoyce's announcement on facebook today:

On January 9, 2010; my mother ,Minne P. Daniel, passed from this world into glory. She is at peace now and left a legacy of phenomenal proportion. She is the most amazing woman I have every known. She gave so much love and was loved by so many in return. Thank you for her life and her witness. Please pray for my family.

If you're so inclined, keep them in your prayers. Thanks

Interview with Marriage in America re: gay-marriage

2010-01-11T19:00:00.004-05:00

Prof. Nancy Cott is currently testifying in Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, the "Prop 8 Trial."

She's an expert on the history of marriage in the US.

Here's the blurb from NPR's Fresh Air page, from 2004.

"Cott is a professor of history at Harvard University. She testified before Vermont's judiciary committee. Vermont became the first state in the country to make civil unions legal for gay and lesbian couples. Cott is the author of Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation (Harvard University)."

Bear Cam

2010-01-11T12:03:00.006-05:00

Lily, the Black Bear, is hibernating and expecting cubs anytime.

She's denned up under a log in Ely, Minnesota.

You can see her here:

http://www.wildearth.tv/static/bearden

As I type this, she's sleeping.

I expect that will be the case for a while.

close encounter

2010-01-07T12:37:00.005-05:00

Okay, I WISH I had taken this.

After a Classic day in the woods, I wanted to find a picture that would help me remember it.

2 days ago:

The hills and woods were draped in a heavy snow. Everything was muffled. As I sat on my backpack on the ground with a book, snow flakes piled up on my clothing and caught in my eyelashes. 26 degrees. My rifle -who never complains about the weather- settled in for the long haul; the most perfect Stoic I know.

Hours passed. As I read, the pages got soggy and snow accumulated in a line between the pages.

Glancing up now and then, things were quiet, with occasional limbs dumping their load of snow.

Then I saw a blocky figure of a deer in the thick stuff across the valley. Then another. Then another. I watched as the deer made their way through piles of snow, pawing down to the brown leaves underneath.

Deer can be incredibly slow-moving. Oh, they can rip through the brush and bound across fields. But, when it's cold and darkness is falling and you must hold still, don't be surprised if they take their time.

Add to the scenario: I'm not keen on shooting any of them. Yes, I like to eat them. Yes, they get hit on the road and damage crops. Yes, we paid for licenses and gear. My head knows that. But I'm not Spock. Or my gun. I have a hair-trigger heart.

I bought myself some peace of mind with my choice of hunting spots. I set up near the posted land. So, a deer would have to meander down the hill, across the draw and over to my side of the valley before I could, by law, shoot. At that point, they'd be really close to me and probably smell me or sense that something was amiss and then show some of that speed.

Tonight, however, they did cross. I slid around and propped my gun up on my knee and watched through the scope. Through that little circle, I waited for deer to step out from behind chunks of tree trunks. And they did, time and time again.

I am getting good at coming up with excuses not to shoot- brush in the way, wrong angle, wait for a bigger one, wait for them to go up the hill so I won't have to drag them up later (gross, I know, but reality)..... the list is ever growing.

Meanwhile, they kept heading on a steady course... right. to. me.

Finally, a new and exciting excuse: how close will they come?

Hunting from a treestand is one thing- even if they are right under you, you are still 25 ft or so above them.

From the ground, you're looking up at them. And, in theory, nothing's stopping them from walking right up to you (and possibly trampling you... if they knew what you were planning).

So there I was, frozen and snow covered (best camo-job yet) and here they came.

Cresting a small dip, a puffed up yearling (like the pic above) strode right up to me. At 6 yds, she juked her head (their version of a double-take) and zeroed in on me. Then she relaxed- maybe she thought she was looking at a poor hunter who'd frozen to that spot.

The moment became too much. With a quick dart to the right, she doubled back, leading her mom and sister back across the snow-thickened woods in awesome silence.

"If we knew each others' secrets, what comfort we would find."

2009-10-31T16:30:00.006-04:00

I have a friend who is going through a tough time right now. The courage she's embodying to face this head-on is inspiring.

By revealing her "weakness," she's given her friends the opportunity to share her burden. And, for that, I am grateful.

She shared an especially touching txt that one of us sent. And, she got the words a little mixed up.

I prefer her version. It describes the very best in our friends.

"If we knew each others' secrets, what comfort we could bring."

Hall Pass

2009-10-30T09:52:00.007-04:00

Certain concepts from High School have stayed with me.

For example, when my flight's delayed and I'm stuck at the airport, or I'm sitting on a tattered old couch in the office/waiting room of my mechanic while my Tracker "goes for a ride" on the lift (he LOVES it up there)... I am in study hall. Books open. No talking. Txting becomes the equivalent of passing notes.

Really, I'm in heaven. No complaining. I may have stuff to do and places to be, but right now, I'm here; an in-between moment. Just like study hall. I can make lists, plan, call people, but I prefer to take this hemmed in piece of the day to explore, daydream, read, and wonder. I enjoy the breather.

And this morning, I remembered my Hall Pass.

When I hear that voice inquire, "Ms. Ciampa, shouldn't you be doing something?" I flash my pass.

Signed by Mr. Wordsworth. (... who i met in high school.)

Expostulation and Reply

"Why, William, on that old grey stone,
Thus for the length of half a day,
Why, William, sit you thus alone,
And dream your time away?

"Where are your books? --that light bequeathed
To Beings else forlorn and blind!
Up! up! and drink the spirit breathed
From dead men to their kind.

"You look round on your Mother Earth,
As if she for no purpose bore you;
As if you were her first-born birth,
And none had lived before you!"

One morning thus, by Esthwaite lake,
When life was sweet, I knew not why,
To me my good friend Matthew spake,
And thus I made reply:

"They eye-- it cannot choose but see;
We cannot bid the ear be still;
Our bodies feel, where'er they be,
Against or with our will.

"Nor less I deem that there are Powers
Which of themselves our minds impress;
That we can feed this mind of ours
In a wise passiveness.

"Think you, 'mid all this mighty sum
Of things for ever speaking,
That nothing of itself will come,
But we must still be seeking?

"--Then ask not wherefore, here, alone,
Conversing as I may,
I sit upon this old grey stone,
And dream my time away."

i'm back

2009-10-30T09:51:00.001-04:00

starting now

Quote of the Day

2009-07-22T10:32:00.003-04:00

"Along with love, compassion is the face of altruism. It is a feeling from deep in the heart that you cannot bear others' sufferings without acting to relieve it." -Dalai Lama

sometimes it's the little things

2009-06-17T11:57:00.003-04:00

i was txting with a friend the other day.

just one of those random:

i'm going for a walk... but.... maybe coffee first.

she txted back:

my sister-in-law puts a little cinnamon in hers when she brews it.

a thoughtful little suggestion like that makes me happy & adds to my day.

txting with pals.. like cinnamon in coffee... adds spice to life.

what applies?

2009-06-01T10:15:00.005-04:00

.

Here's a fun little vid to kick off the week.

I ran across it at thomascwaters.com.

Brings up the question: what applies?

And: who decides?

Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act

2009-05-22T00:18:00.012-04:00

The good news just keeps rolling in...

(check out HRC.org for the whole article)

The House and Senate introduced the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. The The DPBO Act would afford same-sex partners of Fed Employees the same benefits that "opposite marriage" spouses get.

As it stands, and has been for lo these many years, same-sex partners are denied access to retirement programs, life and health insurance benefits, and family and medical leave.

“This legislation would allow the federal government to keep pace with other top employers,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “It is not only a matter of equal pay for equal work, but also the best way to ensure that the government has access to the top talent on the same basis as the nation’s leading corporations.”

(rebuttal, GOP Chairman Steele?)
.

If you would like to learn about the 1138 Rights Denied to GLBT Americans....

click, learn, talk!

How much do UNequal rights cost?

2009-05-21T09:33:00.006-04:00

Following up on my last post.

(big nod to Autumn Sandeen's article on pamshouseblend.com)

When we last left GOP Chair Steele, he was declaring that Marriage Equality would cost too much... not in dignity, pursuit of happiness, sanctity of relationships, civil rights, integrity of the nation, etc etc, but in cold hard cash.

Cut to this scene in Dr. King's I Have A Dream speech:

"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice."

Back to the future...

As long as Steele is bringing up concern for costs- for the cost of health care and equal benefits to GLBT families- let's consider that DONT ASK DONT TELL is costing the taxpayers a fortune.

In just one instance, $25 million in training is being blown to kick out a decorated war hero b/c he is gay.

You can see Lieutenant Colonel Victor J. Fehrenbach's story here.

Also booted out:

Arab linguist Dan Choi

2nd Lt Sandy Tsao

over 200 other service members since Obama took office, after campaigning to put an end to Don't Ask Don't Tell

equal rights cost too much, suggests GOP chairman

2009-05-16T13:08:00.012-04:00

From the AP: RNC chief: Gay marriage will burden small business

.

So we'll send service members out to pay the ultimate price to defend our rights and freedoms...
but when it comes to "denting our pocketbooks," we draw the line?

We'll throw bazillions bailout $ at the big banks, but when it comes to paying a relatively tiny amount of money to ensure that ALL Americans are treated equally, the RNC wants to scare small businesses & financially struggling citizens with this garbage.

Apparently, GOP Chairman Michael Steele believes that its too great a cost to extend these rights to a minority group here in the good ol' US of A.

If only he could put himself in the place of a minor...i... ty.....? wait....

Peep Break

2009-05-15T17:38:00.004-04:00

Quail Peeps

Did you know: their eyes are blue when they hatch,

(just like baby kittens)

~~~

this post is in memory of the bird got into Alise's basement,

which she sicked Mr. T, her cat, on

Rep. Pingree's Marriage Equality Statement

2009-05-15T14:02:00.003-04:00

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) hits the nail on the head.

"Tell me your image of God, and i will tell you your politics."

2009-05-14T22:50:00.005-04:00

.

I attended a seminar in Pgh with Mom the other day. The theme was "Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability."

One of the speakers, David Korten, shared an interesting story.

Here is the gist of it, which I found at Tikkun Magazine.

Some years ago I was privileged to share a conference platform with Jesus scholar Marcus Borg. I will never forget his defining statement: "Tell me your image of God, and I will tell you your politics." Borg explains that the many scriptural images of God are of two basic types. One is the patriarch with the flowing beard: the God we visualize in human form, the God of Michelangelo's famous painting in the Sistine Chapel, who lives in a distant place we call Heaven. The other image of God is as a spirit manifest in all being.

The patriarch image sets up a hierarchy of righteousness and domination running from those closest to God to those most distant. It leads to a competitive individualistic politics of separation, domination, favor seeking, and wealth accumulation. It is the foundation of the Calvinist belief that the rich and powerful are by definition God's most favored, and that financial success and Earthly power are marks of special righteousness. Within this belief system, the world is whatever God the patriarch wishes it to be, and it is beyond our means to change it for better or worse.

By contrast, the spirit image-by which we recognize the face of God in every human being, animal, insect, and grain of sand-leads to a politics of community, shared purpose, and mutual service. Everything in creation is both manifestation and agent of a great spiritual intelligence seeking to know itself through the creative exploration of its possibilities. Within this belief system, to do harm to another being is to harm oneself. We see ourselves as agents of that creative journey and find our ultimate fulfillment in devoting ourselves to it.

There is a striking difference between the image of God evoked by the language of public discourse and the image of our inner understanding. The God of our public discourse and of most formal religious liturgy is the male patriarch to whom we pledge our faith and obedience in hope of winning favor now and in the afterlife. Because the very word "God" so strongly evokes this image, I generally prefer to discuss matters of faith in the language of spirit or creation. This may well be, in any case, the way most people see things.

Bob Scott, director of the Trinity Institute, recently sent me the results of a national survey he commissioned in his earlier capacity as editor-in-chief of Spirituality and Health magazine. The findings suggest that most people's private beliefs align much more closely with the spirit image of God than the patriarch image.

Eighty-four percent of Americans view God as being "everywhere and in everything," rather than "someone somewhere." Given a list of characteristics and asked to pick the one that describes God best, 71 percent chose "loving." Only 5 percent chose "remote," and only 2 percent chose "judging" or "controlling." I find quite stunning the contrast between what these results reveal of our private images of God and the image evoked by the language of our public discourse and liturgy.

In our lecture, he went on to say that we must work to make our institutions (churches, banks, etc) reflect our private images of God.

Personally, I find that I slide back and forth between both of those images.

Anyway, if you have any thoughts on this, feel free to comment.

"Clergy Call for Justice and Equality" - Rev. Dr. Love

2009-05-14T15:30:00.004-04:00

Rev. Dr. Cindi Love's contribution at HRC's Clergy Call '09

more vids from a variety of clergy members, including Tony Campolo, are available here (ps: they are short)

Faith in America's Open Letter to Miss Ca

2009-04-24T19:32:00.005-04:00

So I just got off the phone with a good friend who sometimes checks in when something gay happens.

She wanted to talk about the Perez Hilton/Miss California Gay Marriage Question.

I like these talks. We get to move deeper; explore farther.

Getting peppered with soundbites doesn't cut it anymore.... they used to feel like an elephant stampede, but now, it's more like a swarm of gnats.

And when we take the time and risk of talking about what is Important to us, it can feel like the difference between getting a post card from Wyoming, or spending a week hiking through the mts, valleys, river beds, and vast plains....

So. Much. Richer.

In an attempt to add to the vista, I'm posting Faith In America's Open Letter to Miss California.

And, my personal 2 cents: Faith is not the exclusive Trump Card of one side.

An open letter to Carrie Prejean

April 22nd, 2009

Dear Ms. Prejean,

On a recent interview with FOXNews.com’s Courtney Friel, you stated that you did not mean to offend anyone when you stated your opposition to gay Americans having the right to marry.
We believe you are sincere in that answer.

But we are writing this letter in hopes that you will come to better understand why it does offend gay Americans, their families and their friends. It’s the kind of hurt that burrows deep within a person’s soul always there to remind them that there are those around them who deem them inferior, undeserving and unworthy to be treated like everyone else.

Just imagine if the question had been about Mildred Loving’s marriage to her husband Richard?
Mildred and Richard lived in Virginia, a state that banned interracial marriage at the time. So they went to the District of Columbia and married in 1958. Upon their return to their home in rural Virginia, they were arrested.

Leon Bazille, the trial judge in the case, ruled in 1959 that the Lovings had violated what was considered at the time a religious tenant of civil marriage in America – that people of the opposite race should not marry because “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages.”

Later in 1966, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld the Lovings’ conviction, with then Chief Justice Harry Lee Carrico writing these words: “Marriage, as creating the most important relation in life, as having more to do with the morals and civilization of a people than any other institution, has always been subject to the control of the Legislature.”

Sound familiar?

It’s interesting that this month is the same month that the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the Loving case. The question before them was basically the same question that we as a society face today in regard to marriage between two people of the same sex and in essence the same question before you Sunday night.

Is it right to use deep-seated prejudice – even when such prejudice is widely accepted in society – to deny someone the same right that other Americans enjoy?

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1967 ruling that Mildred should not be denied the right to marry the person she loved – despite the fact that interracial marriage was not widely accepted in America at that time.

The most important question as it relates to your response to the question Sunday night is why was interracial marriage not accepted by a majority of Americans in 1967?

It was because for years the church had taught what Judge Bazille referred to in his statement – that God did not want people of opposite races sullying the sanctity of marriage.

I had the rare honor to meet with Mildred Loving in May 2007, just weeks before the 40th anniversary of that landmark Supreme Court decision. As we sat there in the same wood-frame house in which she and Richard resided, I asked Mildred what she thought about those people who had used their Bible to justify prejudice against her.

She said it obviously offended her but that the pain didn’t penetrate deeply because she knew in her heart that God doesn’t want us to use religious teaching to look down upon others as inferior, unworthy or undeserving.

In the FOXNews.com interview, you also stated that you considered your response Sunday night a test of your character and your faith.

Mildred Loving in 2008 issued a statement which answers the question about gay Americans having the right to marry:

“Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind of person’ for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.”

They are the words of an extraordinary and beautiful woman who possessed rare courage, strong character and unyielding faith.

Brent Childers
Executive Director
Faith In America
828.612.4682

Training Rules on CNN

2009-04-07T11:39:00.006-04:00

Turn on CNN today(April 7) for the 3-4pm hour.

They will be promoting the documentary "Training Rules", which explores the stories of former Penn State Wmns Basketball players who were vicitimized by former coach, Rene Portland's, policy of anti-gay discrimination.

I attended the premiere on Saturday. Three of the players who courageously came forward were from my hometown of Indiana, Pa, which made it especially poingnant. I have friends who played with them in high school; know parents who cheered them on.

GO TEAM!!

The film was riviting, heartwrenching and inspiring.

Hope you can see it when it comes to DVD.

In the meantime, check it out on CNN today and have a look at the website.

Remembering...

2009-03-26T15:25:00.010-04:00

We are a community.

We take care of each other.

We shine.

We try hard.

We are good at what we do.

We are the calvary.

We've got your back.

Our skills are at your service.

We're pulling for you.

We care about you.

We're in this together.

(we just don't always make the news)

Wednesday Zen

2009-03-25T09:28:00.004-04:00

Inspired by Alise, here is a sweet couple of minutes to just...

sit
and
watch

reminds me of being a kid

Lighting The Way

2009-03-15T08:46:00.010-04:00

Ran across this story today... whoa, I am running late for church... so, quickly...

It just goes to remind me that there are so many ordinary people who do the right thing; the brave thing. Most of the time, they don't get the credit or hoopla by making headlines or history books.

More importantly, we miss out on their example.

I will be adding Claudette Colvin to the crowd of people I carry around in my heart. I will think of her when I need a courage to do the right thing.

She is a light along the path.

slumpin' it

2009-03-13T10:31:00.002-04:00

I am in a slump-

It's probably a lingering after-effect of my trip to Florida... come home, get into a rut.

So, today I just want to get something out on the blog.

Let's see....

Maybe start with something to be thankful about.

Okay.

A list.

Thankful for:

1. a friend who is now a Vet and can field questions like: "so IF my cat ingested glass, what happens next?"
2. being given a super-cool necklace out of the blue
3. a friend who will call me as she goes through a hard time, b/c she knows I get it
4. other friends who teach me how to be a better friend to her
5. txting
6. baby kittens
7. older kittens
8. farms
9. dirtbikes
10. helmets (ha)
11. work trips with the church
12. facebook
13. internet
14. ipod
15. candles
16. sarah vowell
17. blogs
18. small groups
19. wyoming
20. books
21. comments on my blog

Lost Generation

2009-03-09T19:33:00.002-04:00

I've been slacking on the blog lately. Hope to get back to it soon.

In the meantime, I found this vid while surfing.

This turns cool, watch it through...

True Nature of Security?

2009-03-04T11:31:00.010-05:00

Thinking about Loving Your Enemy.

Acutually, I don't think much about enemies. I think about unpleasant folks in daily life.

Lately, a phrase from a Speaking Of Faith episode keeps coming to mind:

"One of the words which, to me, is a mark of deep religion is paradox... And often, the true nature of things is paradoxical. And the Christian paradox is that the true nature of power is in weakness and suffering. That is the true nature of power. And it is transformative. ...the underlying question is what's the true nature of security? And the answer is very simple. You are secure if you have no enemies. That's where security lies. So how do you change enemies into friends is the true question which underlies true security." ~George F. R. Ellis. professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, recipient of the Templeton Prize, and the author

So, how do we turn enemies into friends? ...I'm guessing the answer is, We love them.

I would like to hear some real-life stories about this.

I'll be thinking about it. And, in the meantime, if you have a comment or story, please share.

The Good Life

2009-01-28T09:55:00.007-05:00

"Once our basic physical needs are covered, more stuff does little to boost our happiness. Friendships, family, self-acceptance, and meaning in our lives are the core determinants of our happiness."

~Frances Moore Lappe; Yes Magazine, "Voices Carry"

Last week, I attended a workshop. The title was something like: The Theology of Abundance: Creating a Future with Sustainability.

One of the key concepts was "The Good Life." As the world changes with new technologies and diminishing resources, how do we create the The Good Life? What could it look like? ...What comprises The Good Life anyway?

We discussed how to create new and meaningful changes in society from the ground up.

To be honest, when I hear "grassroots," I think of grungy myopic fringe-type activists who are (I'm sure) doing fine work, but I'm happy to leave it to "them."

However, as we talked and shared stories, it became clear that there are plenty of choices out there. We are not locked in to a boring life. We can apply our wits, knowledge & skills to whatever vision we have for our life, our home, our community, and beyond. And, creation & expression are satisfying.

In one of our sessions, the themes that came up... our thoughts and interests... seemed to hone in on Community and Intimacy. A few complaints about txt messaging and facebook ("People don't communicate deeply anymore"), led us to appreciate them as tools. It's revitalizing to remember that we get to choose how to use them. And, if we remember that it's Intimacy that we're after, then we can choose to develop that.

In the midst of new challenges, we can be creative and seek out the new opportunities that lie in our midst.

Pretty cool.

PS: I would love to hear your thoughts on The Good Life

The Rev. Joseph Lowery

2009-01-26T12:20:00.009-05:00

After hearing a lot about the controversial choice of Rick Warren to deliver the Inaugural Prayer, I was reminded of a blog post that said something like:

Once Rev. Lowery has spoken, you will no longer be thinking of Rick Warren.

After hearing Lowery's benediction, I felt the sting of knowing that I had focused too much time and energy to the wrong person. I wish even half of the media coverage had been devoted to the life and work of Rev. Lowery.

Here are his Inaugural Benediction, and his eulogy for Coretta Scott King.

MLK Day

2009-01-19T08:10:00.002-05:00

Sea Kittens

2009-01-13T08:40:00.018-05:00

"I don't see fish as sea kittens; I see them as food," says 12-year-old Chastity Haskins.

PETA rebrands fish as "sea kittens."

I'm having flashbacks to my high school friend Jill. When she wasn't imploring me to have our cats fixed, she was pleading the case of the sea kittens.

...which reminds me of the time she had to euthanize her own sea kitten.

While working towards her Masters in Physical Therapy, she got herself a Chinese Fighting Sea Kitten.

At some point, it came down with a disease and it's fins fell apart.

Eager to meet every challenge that came her way, she put her new skills right to work. She created a physical therapy program for him, in which she would drag the tip of a toothpick across the top of the water. Being a fighter, not a lover, he would muster up enough energy to chase it around. (also reminds me of an encounter with a weasel at a Wildlife clinic I interned at.... another time)

Against all odds, she was able to coax him through his time of grave illness. It was impressive.

But then, I got a phone call.

"Never leave your fish alone with something that is called a 'White Convict!'"

She had bought her sea kitten a friend. And it ate him.

Well, not totally.

But, after its extensive stint in rehab, this Chinese Fighter was no longer a Contender.

A difficult decision had to be made.

She said her goodbyes. And, being Catholic, I'm sure she administered her own special version of Last Rites. Then, she carefully scooped him up and ran down the hall to the bathroom where she had a towering stack of Anatomy books waiting. (flushing was cruel)

*****

If you were watching this on TV, the camera would now cut to the hallway. You would see baffled co-eds wondering what was with the girl who just blew past them.

And then, you would hear something resembling a war cry, followed immediately by a thundering, slightly squishy, SLAMMMM!!

"Terrorism is rare"

2009-01-09T08:23:00.007-05:00

"...terrorism is rare. If a bunch of men with guns and grenades is all they really need, then why isn't this sort of terrorism more common? Why not in the U.S., where it's easy to get hold of weapons? It's because terrorism is very, very rare."

That is a message that bears repeating. It's not something that makes the news, is it?

Here's the article.

Cloverfield 2.0 Goes Straight To Video...

2009-01-08T23:19:00.002-05:00

Square Fish

2009-01-08T23:06:00.004-05:00

Taking my lead from Alise, who posted a classic Swedish Chef clip today.

Because that was fun, and I have a clip of my own stuck in my head, and we both love DW, I wanted to put this up.

Enjoy! Until the next posting, happy monkey!

Headline of the Day

2009-01-08T23:05:00.005-05:00

Craze over touch-screen gadgets not shared by the blind

Happy Monkey!

2009-01-08T00:07:00.013-05:00

This was awesome...

I had a great time catching up with my best friend from high school, Alise. She has always been quick to laugh (and what a laugh it is) and is good at ferreting out obscure, yet hilarious, stuff. Plus, she's got a husband with a matching sense of humor.

First, she informs me of their New Years tradition. As soon as The Ball drops, they flip the channel to "The Horrible Singers." Apparently, when they moved to W.Va, like 10yrs ago, they happened across the local access channel and this choir of "really old people" were, well, singing horribly. Oh, they found this to be right up their Amusement Alley. And, every New Years since, they have faithfully watched the Horrible Singers! ...she worries that eventually they will be invited to a NYE party and will have to scheme some way to watch them.

Ok. Now, Part II.

We were talking about this insane Science vs. Religion phenomenon. Like, when did Christians start not believing in science? I didn't get the memo, or maybe it got buried in under a pile of molecular chemistry lab reports... while I was studying Environmental SCIENCE in college.

Anyway, she told me about a comment on a science blog that her (Christian) husband reads. The guy GOES OFF and it is AWESOME!! He ends by saying:

"I wish I could get a job teaching at a University, but I am not qualified. I am not a terrorist (BillAyers) and do not worship the environment(global warming nuts), do not seek monkeys as my creator (evolutionists) and do not brainwash other people (Marxists). I suppose I am disqualified from teaching. Maybe someday, America will wake up and fire every hippy liberal brainwashed professor and hire real teachers who teach the truth rather than a mock version of reality.... Until then, happy monkey! (or what ever non Christmas evolution people say)"

Needless to say, "Happy Monkey" has been flying around their house non-stop ever since.

Peace Out Cold

2009-01-07T13:34:00.003-05:00

Wear Sunscreen

2009-01-07T09:54:00.003-05:00

A classic reminder of the good stuff...

Happy Happy

2009-01-06T17:54:00.003-05:00

“If you want others to be happy,
practice compassion;

if you want to be happy,
practice compassion.”

~Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

Gone but not forgotten

2009-01-06T14:43:00.014-05:00

One of my favorite sights of the year has been a rare but dependable occasion in rifle season. When the time and conditions are just right, the morning sunlight strikes the trees where I'm nestled.

Usually, I am gazing across the hilltop beyond the farmhouse where pink-orange clouds start lighting up the cool blue morning... soon, they are glowing. At last, the sun crests and sends blazing orange light across the brushy brown hills and pastures. And, when I finally glance behind me, it looks like someone's flipped a switch. Hot pink and orange floodlights are pouring across the hillside.

I visit these scenes in my head in quiet moments throughout the year. I'm glad I snapped a few pictures this year.

Turns out, it was the last season for these gentle giants.... in December, they were marked for logging- numbers in blue spray paint ranged up into the 50's.

My buddy just called to tell me that they logged that patch.

The bright spot? The 2 trees that we hunted from were left standing.

PS: click on the pics for a larger, more real to life, feel

Majora Carter's "This Is Home"

2009-01-06T14:19:00.012-05:00

(click)

Here's someone who brings some inspiration to the table: Majora Carter.

She has taken her talents, knowledge and initiative and applied them to her own hometown... the South Bronx.

When I first heard her story, I was reminded of a poster back at college- "Bloom Where You're Planted."

Here's her 5 min essay on "This I Believe."

a word from Jamie Lee

2008-12-26T08:20:00.008-05:00

She's enjoyable on screen.

I'm finding that alongside her sex symbolness, she has a consistently heart-warming common sense take on life.

First, how great was it when she posed for a magazine shoot w/o make-up and touch ups?

Then, she got a big "YES!" from me when I read that she only has a few sets of clothes; that she wanted to share the goodness that she found in living a more simple life.

You don't have to look perfect and you don't need to be rich.

I guess she would know.

And now, this.

we brake for Classical Music

2008-12-24T09:45:00.000-05:00

thanks Ben!

Moon Car

2008-12-24T09:27:00.008-05:00

My family has a proud history of driving Honda Civics into the rust.

Saturday, as Dad drove home with the Family Christmas Tree, the Maroon Civic clicked over it's 300,000th mile. At that historic moment, it became a "Moon Car"- logged enough miles to get to the moon.

...in other news, so much for the American Auto Industry... afraid we haven't been much help!

Route 22

2008-12-21T23:35:00.002-05:00

Showing?

2008-12-19T21:10:00.012-05:00

Sometimes, you get a peek into a whole nother world...

I've been wandering around the internet this evening... bloghopping... total stream of consciousness meandering... when I found myself on a message board staring at this startling declaration:

***PLEASE READ BEFORE ASKING, IT WILL SAVE US BOTH TIME AND FRUSTRATION***

I specialize in Syrian hamsters, like black bears, goldens, teddies, and more. I'm an experienced breeder and raised hamsters for the past 10 years. I can help with how to buy your first, how to house and care for your hamster, nutrition, showing, and other general questions. I can help with most behavioral problems too. I am the longest running hamster expert on this page, since 2001.

***I will NOT answer questions regarding: Gerbils, Dwarf hamsters(Robo is a dwarf!!), Illness, or Cause Of Death. If your hamster has a broken leg TAKE IT TO A VET don't bother asking a question because there is nothing I can do for you. If you can't take the time to read this then I don't take the time to read your question!***

If your question is about TAMING please do a Google search instead as there are many excellent sites up about the process. ________________________________________________________________________________ Experience I have worked with hamsters all my life.

... "showing?"

Note: I've found the above statement to be even funnier when read aloud, like so:

"asterisk asterisk asterisk asterisk All Capital Letters 'Please read...'" ...blah blah blah "All UNDERLINED 'longest running expert' blah blah, Capital, Asterisk in BOLD...."

Why?

2008-12-18T14:57:00.009-05:00

Sometimes, I get REALLY FRUSTRATED at church. And, i wonder why I go.

I think, "Gee, I have A LOT of questions about a lot of what's going on here."

But, if I ask them, will I get labeled and dismissed, or will my questions just get shrugged off?

Sometimes I think I'm just a trouble maker.

Last Sunday, I asked a pal "why do you go to church?"

It felt like raining on the parade... like, gee, duh, we all go to church... what's the problem?

I hate that vibe. I don't wanna be a downer and Take. Things. SO. Seriously. Butttt, I just have to bring it up. ..to process.

I told her that, "well, i guess I just question EVERYthing."

Then, I ran across this snippet on Speaking of Faith.

I'm at #2, and hoping to work my way into #3.

So, read that if you like.

And, if you go to church, maybe you could tell me WHY.

And, if you DON'T go to church, tell me about that.... and maybe your thoughts on church...

Ms. Tippett: You often mention a Dutch philosopher.

Mr. Marty: Oh, yes.

Ms. Tippett: How do you say his name?

Mr. Marty: Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy, who was a Swiss-German Jew and Christian. He's one of those geniuses that you can quote 20 pages of and then the 21st page is so nutty you're not sure you can use it. But I'll give a quick illustration of what I get from him. For example, he says — and this is extremely important in my life. He says you can write the history of learning in the western world in three Latin phrases.

The first is, in Latin, Credo ut intelligum — "I believe in order that I may understand." It's the birth of the universities in Europe, Bologna, Paris, Oxford. You believe to apprehend the universe; truth is divinely revealed and can be appropriated. And that's the charter that believers should never be afraid of learning.

Secondly, modern learning, without which we couldn't do, is Descartes. René Descartes. Cogito ergo sum — "I think, therefore I am." Modern university is born on skepticism and doubt and inquiry and criticism, and you want that. I don't want a med school in which they're just taking things on faith. I want them to be extremely critical. But he said, 'That, too, gets sterile.' And so he says, in the 20th century, that we also have to learn that truth has a social character. I'm learning from this conversation with you. We learn from conversing with someone else, we learn from the meaning of "I" and "thou."

And his third motto was Respondeo etsi mutabor — "I respond although I will be changed." I'm not changed when I argue with somebody because I know an answer and I got to defeat them. I'm always changed in a conversation because they're going to surprise me. It's kind of a game, it's kind of play. And I think that that's the kind of learning we need more in the churches, in theology, in politics, and in personal life.

poem of the day

2008-12-12T22:01:00.002-05:00

The Buck in Snow
Edna St. Vincent Millay

White sky, over the hemlocks bowed with snow,
Saw you not at the beginning of evening the antlered buck and his doe
Standing in the apple orchard? I saw them. I saw them suddenly go,
Tails up, with long leaps lovely and slow,
Over the stone wall into the wood of hemlocks bowed with snow.

Now lies he here, his wild blood scalding the snow.

How strange a thing is death, bringing to his knees, bringing to his antlers
The buck in the snow.
How strange a thing, a mile away by now, it may be,
Under the heavy hemlocks, that as the moments pass,
Shift their loads a little, letting fall a feather of snow –
Life, looking out attentive from the eyes of the doe.

stewart and huckabee on gay marriage

2008-12-10T20:01:00.001-05:00

TED talk- Passion

2008-11-26T09:24:00.003-05:00

Culprit!

2008-11-20T12:23:00.008-05:00

--------------- His favorite story is David and Goliath...

For Margie

2008-11-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

...who dropped everything and came over to help take care of me.

Cracking up

2008-11-17T09:45:00.009-05:00

So I broke a rib or two... or something... last Friday.

Here are the most common questions I've been asked, and their answers:

1. How? Playing with the cat. I crunched into a chair with my ribcage.
2. Did you go to the hospital? No. With a thousand dollar deductible, I would want my money's worth. I did check with some friends in the medical profession, and they verified that... well, there's nothing that can be done for that.

In the meantime, I've been spending more time online.

I ran across these Ellen clips from Halloween. I'm not sure if it's Laugh Therapy, or Laugh Destruction.... I can't help but laugh, but YEOW!!! It really hurt. Still.... I AM supposed to be taking deep breaths.

Tylenol and Ellen- my choice for healthier living.

Enjoy.

And, drop a line if you're reading this cuz hearing from you is some of the best medicine!

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T12:22:00.004-05:00

Here is a clip from This I Believe

a 6min audio selection of the

words of our servicemen and women.

monday moment of zen

2008-11-10T13:23:00.002-05:00

certain tv themes from the 80s
just put me in a happy place

Barack & Curtis: Manhood, Power & Respect

2008-11-10T09:32:00.002-05:00

Thinking about the power of Role Models
And, wondering about how and why specific role models are selected and shown...
In what way to these images define our reality?

First Snow Oct 29

2008-10-30T22:00:00.005-04:00

Alise, Stace... Ben? Jeff? Eljabo?

2008-10-24T22:56:00.002-04:00

Click on this

:D

have a nice weekend

T Out!

"smile"

2008-10-22T10:15:00.005-04:00

I'm feeling border-line lousy
It might be the weather

I don't feel like talking to people

Knowing that, Montana Stace txtd this pic
with caption: Smile

And, I did.

Ah, friends...

Colin Powell's Take on McCain's Negative Campaigning

2008-10-21T14:47:00.002-04:00

i really admire the way he speaks

today's quote

2008-10-21T10:12:00.004-04:00

"Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness."
~ Jean Vanier

Obamakins are sweeping the nation!

2008-10-17T07:57:00.004-04:00

Yes We Carve!

Now THIS makes me happy.

What a swell way to support your candidate.

Makes me wonder how McCain supporters might show their support...

perhaps by carving wilted old cabbages?

Blaise-ing a Trail...

2008-10-16T13:52:00.009-04:00

"Kind words produce their own image in men's souls; and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his sour, morose, unkind feelings. We have not yet begun to use kind words in such abundance as they ought to be used."
~Blaise Pascal

Yesterday at the Bog

2008-10-16T10:27:00.000-04:00

Alise's Email.... the woman can Write!

2008-10-16T10:23:00.002-04:00

Alise's email last night:

I ended up writing a letter to the editor for our local paper today. Guy wrote: "Where do you stand? The platform of life or the platform to take life away? Now, it seems that our government has decided to take God's authority away from Him by passing into law the right of a woman to take an unborn baby's life -- 50 million times since 1973." quotes scripture Matt 12:30 & Rev 3:13. then "This is pretty clear. The pro-choice people are lukewarm people. They are people who used the term 'pro-choice' instead of 'pro-abortion' because pro-abortion makes them sound like murderers. If a Christian votes for a pro-choice (abortion) candidate they are an accessory." more scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12, Matt 7:22-23. "When you vote in November are you voting your party over your Christianity? If you vote for a pro-choice candidate you're voting anti-Christ." more scripture: "Jerm. 1:5, Psm 139:13, Acts 17:38 (sic -- it's actually 28 and it's wildly out of context). "So, on the day you go to vote, if you are a Christian, consider the consequences. Some day you will have to stand before the Lord to give an account as to why you were destroying His offspring."

My response:
This is a response to Pete Staud's letter entitled "Government taking God's authority away."

I agree with Mr. Staud that Christians will be asked to give an account when they stand before the Lord. The Lord has said that what we do for "the least of these" we have done for Him.

Unfortunately, the same party that claims to be pro-life has also supported pre-emptive war, which has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. The same party that claims to be pro-life has supported the torture of other people, denying them basic human rights. The same party that claims to be pro-life has voted against measures that would provide health care to many of those same children who would be saved from abortion. The same party that claims to be pro-life has instituted policies that make it more difficult for a poor woman to secure prenatal care or a decent wage to support that child after he or she is born. The same party that claims to be pro-life has been inciting statements like "kill him" from supporters.

Mr. Staud says that if I vote for a pro-choice candidate, I am voting against Christ. Apparently he is forgetting the passage in Matthew 25 where Jesus said, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

Caring for the poor, the imprisoned, the sick -- these are also the commands of Christ. And sadly, the party that claims to be pro-life has failed miserably in these commands. By all means, when you vote, consider the consequences. And know that God's authority cannot be undone by man.

Little People

2008-10-13T09:32:00.009-04:00

"20 Inches Under the Sea"

Neat-o street art

one this day in history...

2008-10-07T10:50:00.010-04:00

Oct 7, 1939

Scarecrow beat out Tombstone

in the final auditions for "Third Friend"

taking his place alongside Tinman and Lion

in the film classic

The Wizard of Oz

Pathetique

2008-10-03T09:22:00.003-04:00

not sure how to flip this vertically,

but you get the idea.

Poor Elmo.

Is he not an expert at playing the heartstrings?

He's up for an Oscar for this performance.

oct 1st

2008-10-01T16:59:00.007-04:00

.

.
.

its drizzly out

the cool weather breathes

its here for the long haul

thoughts turn to candles and books

and long evenings of darkness

and hunting season

pumpkin pie

relatives

coffee

this moment,

as we lay down our tools

and head upstairs lunch,

is beautiful

*get your camera

lift this

take it with you*

a cat with no PhD

2008-09-30T06:10:00.010-04:00

i ran across this this morning

it's a funny feeling to get insight from a "bad guy"

and it's encouraging to be reminded, again and again,

that you don't need special qualifications to be of service

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."

2008-09-28T07:05:00.004-04:00

"When you recognize that pain and response to pain is a universal thing, it helps explain so many things about others, just as it explains so much about yourself. It teaches you forbearance. It teaches you a moderation in your responses to other people's behavior. It teaches you a sort of understanding. It essentially tells you what everybody needs. You know what everybody needs? You want to put it in a single word? Everybody needs to be understood. And out of that comes every form of love. If someone truly feels that you understand them, an awful lot of neurotic behavior just disappears. Disappears on your part, disappears on their part. So if you're talking about what motivates this world to continue existing as a community, you've got to talk about love."

Dr. Sherwin Newland
Speaking of Faith, "The Biology of the Spirit"

indiana sunset

2008-09-26T16:30:00.007-04:00

Wow.
unusual in Ind, Pa

after small group
at Grace

playing in my head

2008-09-25T09:52:00.004-04:00

We learned this song in Gospel Choir.

It's stuck with me. It plays in my head a lot.

And, thanks to the fact that we live In the Future,
I can find stuff like this on YouTube. Sweet!

The Sound of One Flower Clapping

2008-09-24T11:54:00.002-04:00

Montana Stacey Gives Marcie The Boot!

2008-09-17T16:51:00.006-04:00

My pal, Montana Stacey, and I have a codeword for her social persona:

Marcie

... as in, Peppermint Patty's BFF.... who kind of....... letsherselfgetbossedaround..... at... times.

Therefore and in general, the world is not privy to her innermost thoughts. But, when one slips past the gate and escapes into neighborhood, its a keeper!

Imagine my delight, my surprise, when I got THIS in my inbox:

It is 2008 and we have an African American running for President of the United States of America. Wow, how our country has changed...In 1963 Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech demanding/praying/pleading for equal rights for all Americans. That speech inspired and motivated many and gave people hope. Here we are 45 years later and most would say his dream has come true. Today we need change once again..this time most of the country is affected and we need to stand up and make this change happen for the future of our country and all Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.stated "I want to remind America of the fierce urgency of now."
These words ring true for all of us today as we set out to save our planet from global climate change,boost our once booming economy, house our homeless, and provide affordable health care for all Americans.
As a woman I will say I was very proud and supportive of Hillary Clinton and never thought I would see a woman running a sound campaign for President in my lifetime. What an inspiration for young women in this country and now I believe i will see a woman as president in this lifetime.
I am forever the optimist and am convinced that Americans are ready for a change and frankly we cannot afford to lose this time. I have been awake during an 8 year long nightmare wondering when it will ever end watching George W. making one bad decision after another. My hope is that Americans take ownership of our country and help the politicians to make these necessary changes. We need to create jobs for Americans, and we need to support legislation that helps to clean up and preserve our environment.
One of my favorite quotes said by Gandhi was "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." We can make a difference with minimal effort to reduce our carbon footprint and save our planet. Recycle, ride a bike, buy a hybrid car if you have the means, plant a tree, invest in alternative energy and most importantly remember two of my other favorite sayings:

1. Consume less and Share more
2. We all live downstream

As a manager of a retail clothing store I can say that my most common complaint is that we do not sell enough products that are made in the USA. Wouldn't it be lovely if our Levi's were made in Ohio instead of Vietnam? Are you willing to pay $10.00 more per pair? I can tell you in Missoula I am seeing the Eco Bulbs flying off of our shelves and we have a very conservative client base. Missoula is a bicycle town and I am seeing more and more Hybrid cars on the streets so I am seeing changes take place every day and that gives me hope for our future.
As Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. stated on that hot August day in 1963 "it would be fatal for the Nation to overlook the urgency of the moment." VOTE for change and do your part to help our country now.

~~~~~~~~

We said, Montana Stace.

And, she made it a group email, so the word, HER WORD, is out.

And that is what it's all about anyway.

Hi-Lites

2008-09-06T22:51:00.013-04:00

Things that happened today:

Hiked on the trail @ Sarver

Listened to an exceptional episode of
speakingoffaith.org
~James Prosek
shared his thoughts on
life and fishing~

Picked up a hitch-hiker
on the way home

Did not get murdered

Rosie O'Donnell published
my comment
on her blog

taught Babs to cast
with a fly rod,
for about 9 minutes,
until she got bored,
as expected

so we moved on
to skipping stones,
discussing autopsies,
envying the kayakers,
and sitting in silence

later, we made a big salad
and John shot at chipmunks
while we talked about:
Heaven
bears
an Easter Bunny sighting
a witch
and
dreams we had as kids

and this evening
I made chili
with Babs' B-Day Honey
as the Special Ingredient

"like a scar that won't quite heal"

2008-09-02T09:52:00.005-04:00

Heard this on NPR the other day.

-click Listen Now

Trying to tell what it's like,

3 years now,
living in Katrina's wake.

lyrics to "Long Black Line"

Uncle Frank's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor

2008-08-22T12:47:00.008-04:00

The floor

that was a deck

is now a

HOLE

It's like getting to explore

an old attic;

jackhammering and prying through the structure

that my Grandpa and Uncles

and who knows else built

(really, who knows?!).

And, the bricks and the wood

that made this house

were salvage.

Where've they been?

Who was the last one to touch,

to lay to rest? I wonder

as daylight strikes

for the first time

since my childhood.

a moment ....

2008-07-05T12:07:00.002-04:00

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Baby Wave Shout Out

2008-05-17T23:35:00.004-04:00

Yes, it's late. I'm on my second glass of wine, on a Sat night, looking up olde Designing Wmn clips on Youtube.

In honor of my many friends who make up The Great Baby Wave of 2008, I post this clip:

Getting Dressed Can Be FUN!

2008-05-09T14:29:00.003-04:00

Trumpet!

2008-05-06T08:37:00.003-04:00

I love this guy!

He reminds me of Sesame Street- doesn't this look like one of their segments?

Here's his blurb from YouTube:

I made the trumpet from the cucumber and the paprika.
The mouthpiece is a carrot.
Being not able to take the interval is neatly worry.

Moyers- Wright On!

2008-05-06T08:12:00.004-04:00

What's a citizen gotta do to get the whole story around here?

I'm tired of soundbites and snippets... or as Bill calls it- "fast food with emotional content."

Here's what he had to say about things~

Here's my fav comment on the YouTube site: "Do your homework people! If you think you deserve a democracy, then know your government!"

Don't forget Liz!

2008-04-22T20:02:00.003-04:00

One more

Liz

who loves
kitties