Hello Gentle Readers,
The 95 Theses project has NOT been sent to Abandoned Projectland. My lappytop's screen has ceased to function. My son has benevolently lent me his laptop, though I am now forced to watch excessive amounts of TeenNick while typing. I will be spending the next week catching up on these posts and NaNoWriMo. (!)
Stay tuned...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
2. As ever-evolving children, we will have dramatically different views as to what this means.
It's amazing that people relate at all given the diversity of experiences. Even children in the same family!
I was at my church's All Saints Day service, where I heard the names of eleven congregation members and two family members that died in the last year. It hurt, especially since my family members passed in such a short time that I really didn't get a chance to get used to the idea of them being gone. I was thinking about my friends celebrating Samhain this weekend, and how they were also recognizing their dead. The wall between Christianity and Paganism has always saddened me - we have so much to learn from one another!
I was baptized Catholic at three weeks old, confirmed at twelve. Since then, I've been an Agnostic, Pagan, Unitarian, and most recently, Lutheran. All of these different paths of faith have led me to invaluable realizations about myself, others, earth, life, and the nature of God.
As a Catholic, I learned about prayer, benevolence and persistence.
As an Agnostic, I learned to think and question.
As a Pagan, I learned respect for the Earth and its rhythms, as well as my fellow creatures.
As a Unitarian, I learned about other cultures and uniting themes within humanity.
As a Lutheran, I am learning about all of the above, plus singing. Lots of singing! ;-)
And that's just one person!
It is such a shame that divisions are encouraged and that people fear learning from their brothers and sisters. We all bring something to the table.
The Spirit of God moves in so many different ways.
I was at my church's All Saints Day service, where I heard the names of eleven congregation members and two family members that died in the last year. It hurt, especially since my family members passed in such a short time that I really didn't get a chance to get used to the idea of them being gone. I was thinking about my friends celebrating Samhain this weekend, and how they were also recognizing their dead. The wall between Christianity and Paganism has always saddened me - we have so much to learn from one another!
I was baptized Catholic at three weeks old, confirmed at twelve. Since then, I've been an Agnostic, Pagan, Unitarian, and most recently, Lutheran. All of these different paths of faith have led me to invaluable realizations about myself, others, earth, life, and the nature of God.
As a Catholic, I learned about prayer, benevolence and persistence.
As an Agnostic, I learned to think and question.
As a Pagan, I learned respect for the Earth and its rhythms, as well as my fellow creatures.
As a Unitarian, I learned about other cultures and uniting themes within humanity.
As a Lutheran, I am learning about all of the above, plus singing. Lots of singing! ;-)
And that's just one person!
It is such a shame that divisions are encouraged and that people fear learning from their brothers and sisters. We all bring something to the table.
The Spirit of God moves in so many different ways.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
1. We are all children of God - it is the greatest burden and entitlement we will ever know.
Close your eyes and think about a higher power (termed "God" for simplicity). Your theology, your personal revelations, your life experiences.
As these are flickering beneath your eyelids, then turn to think about the popular conceptions of God: the angry man looking to smite evil-doers with a lightening bolt, the caricature of Monty Python peeking out disapprovingly from the garishly back-lit clouds, the Gandalf-esque white wizard pushing back forces so that those in peril are not harmed.
Then, after these images have passed, think about how many view God. The source behind torture of fellow humans in name of "religions", the inspiration of the ignorant book-burners, the one who enables little children to die amongst widespread destruction. Think of the popular images of the apocalypse. Think of them happening now - in far-off lands and as close as a house in your neighborhood.
All of these lines of experiences are simultaneous.
Help!
As these are flickering beneath your eyelids, then turn to think about the popular conceptions of God: the angry man looking to smite evil-doers with a lightening bolt, the caricature of Monty Python peeking out disapprovingly from the garishly back-lit clouds, the Gandalf-esque white wizard pushing back forces so that those in peril are not harmed.
Then, after these images have passed, think about how many view God. The source behind torture of fellow humans in name of "religions", the inspiration of the ignorant book-burners, the one who enables little children to die amongst widespread destruction. Think of the popular images of the apocalypse. Think of them happening now - in far-off lands and as close as a house in your neighborhood.
All of these lines of experiences are simultaneous.
Help!
Reformation Day
I am on the verge of a breakdown as you read this. The stress of a job I hate, a lifestyle I don't want, pursuing goals daily I don't inwardly espouse. I am either a hypocrite or a "real adult" - your choice.
Much like a church five centuries ago, I am broken, bloated, corrupted, and in desperate need of reform.
I am playing by the wrong set of rules.
Over the next 95 days, I will be examining 95 separate ideas with the ultimate goal of personal reformation for the good of all.
Much like a church five centuries ago, I am broken, bloated, corrupted, and in desperate need of reform.
I am playing by the wrong set of rules.
Over the next 95 days, I will be examining 95 separate ideas with the ultimate goal of personal reformation for the good of all.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sink or Swim
I haven't been doing too well this summer on taking a break for the Sabbath, which is definitely rendering me way ineffective during the week. So, following my own advice, I made certain to take Joey to the pool Sunday afternoon. We love it there!
He has been bugging me to take the Swim Test for months. He is a good swimmer, but I wasn't too certain that he could pass: swimming a lap, floating on his back, treading water in the deep end for a minute. My skinny little guppy? Who'd just started putting his head in the water this season? I really wasn't expecting much. But, knowing that he had people there to support him, I encouraged him to try.
I stood there by the pool where he successfully gained a yellow band - allowing him independent swimming privileges in safer parts of the pool. Then they allowed him to take the test for the oh-so-coveted green band, which allow him to go diving and sliding into deep water. The kids with their brand new yellow bands gleefully skipped over to take the second part of the test.
The other parents swarmed in, a bit too over-enthusiastic in rooting on their children. A bit distracting I found. I stood in watch, ready to jump in if I began to see my little one struggle.
But he didn't.
As the other children began to sink down or reach for the wall, my little guppy persevered with great strength and consistency. I was in awe! As the countdown for the last ten seconds began, I looked for him to tire as all but one other had. But he didn't!
By giving him room to achieve his goal, the win was all that much sweeter. Some children are raised with high expectations, and some with lower ones. Many of both groups have struggled to keep their heads above water as adults. So which set of expectations should I use for my child? I'm starting to see the answer is somewhere in between: love them, encourage them to pursue their goals, keep expectations reasonable and give them the space to grow.
He has been bugging me to take the Swim Test for months. He is a good swimmer, but I wasn't too certain that he could pass: swimming a lap, floating on his back, treading water in the deep end for a minute. My skinny little guppy? Who'd just started putting his head in the water this season? I really wasn't expecting much. But, knowing that he had people there to support him, I encouraged him to try.
I stood there by the pool where he successfully gained a yellow band - allowing him independent swimming privileges in safer parts of the pool. Then they allowed him to take the test for the oh-so-coveted green band, which allow him to go diving and sliding into deep water. The kids with their brand new yellow bands gleefully skipped over to take the second part of the test.
The other parents swarmed in, a bit too over-enthusiastic in rooting on their children. A bit distracting I found. I stood in watch, ready to jump in if I began to see my little one struggle.
But he didn't.
As the other children began to sink down or reach for the wall, my little guppy persevered with great strength and consistency. I was in awe! As the countdown for the last ten seconds began, I looked for him to tire as all but one other had. But he didn't!
By giving him room to achieve his goal, the win was all that much sweeter. Some children are raised with high expectations, and some with lower ones. Many of both groups have struggled to keep their heads above water as adults. So which set of expectations should I use for my child? I'm starting to see the answer is somewhere in between: love them, encourage them to pursue their goals, keep expectations reasonable and give them the space to grow.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Celebrate the Sabbath, Celebrate Life
The journey into relaxtion was quite surprisingly arduous - 8am found me nearly sleeping at the wheel on the drive to Church, planning something fun entailed a number of phone calls and conflicting schedules, and involved carrying a flailing boy to the car. Becoming more irritable by the minute, I was *this close* to giving up and going home to "Mt. Washmore". Some break!
I stayed the course. Arriving at the park and taking the cantankerous boy out of his carseat, my father and I started along the trails. In about two minutes, the child that "didn't want to go to this stupid park" went zooming down the trail: "I LOVE this place!". For the next hour and a half, we ascended and descended the various trails: walking along a creek bed, catching glimpses of chipmunks, and seeking a doe with her two children. This was a truly restorative place, despite the physical exhaustion. When it was time to leave, my son was crestfallen that he'd have to leave. We can't wait to return!
May God bless and give you peace and strength this week!
I stayed the course. Arriving at the park and taking the cantankerous boy out of his carseat, my father and I started along the trails. In about two minutes, the child that "didn't want to go to this stupid park" went zooming down the trail: "I LOVE this place!". For the next hour and a half, we ascended and descended the various trails: walking along a creek bed, catching glimpses of chipmunks, and seeking a doe with her two children. This was a truly restorative place, despite the physical exhaustion. When it was time to leave, my son was crestfallen that he'd have to leave. We can't wait to return!
May God bless and give you peace and strength this week!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ideas Worth Keeping
One of the best ideas I discovered for keeping track of those fleeting thoughts and dreams was one of Barbara Sher's - The Scanner's Daybook.
This daybook is not a mere journal or somewhere just to quickly blot stuff down, but it is somewhere to take those napkin thoughts and more fully develop them. I've had mine for over two years, and it's amazing to see the evolution of those ideas throughout time. Some things have been fully accomplished, others in a transitional state, and yet others are adventures still to be embarked upon.
Along with current entries, I will be interspersing some musings from my daybook. I find the daybook a great place to be alone with my thoughts, but then I discover some thoughts that aren't meant to be left alone.
This daybook is not a mere journal or somewhere just to quickly blot stuff down, but it is somewhere to take those napkin thoughts and more fully develop them. I've had mine for over two years, and it's amazing to see the evolution of those ideas throughout time. Some things have been fully accomplished, others in a transitional state, and yet others are adventures still to be embarked upon.
Along with current entries, I will be interspersing some musings from my daybook. I find the daybook a great place to be alone with my thoughts, but then I discover some thoughts that aren't meant to be left alone.
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