Anyone who tells you that they enjoy waiting* is a liar.
Category: Life in Christ
Sacred vs. Desecrated
Wendell Berry said, “There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.” I’m working through this, and my thoughts wash back and forth… as they should. Spending time with someone’s statement, masticating it, that’s how you come to be wise. I would be a fool to discount his statement off-hand, and…
Animate Universe
I was re-reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Kimmerer and came upon this quote: “In Potawatomi 101, rocks are animate, as are mountains and water and fire and places. Beings are imbued with spirit…” In the book, Dr. Kimmerer discusses the tug of war between her scientific self and her Native spiritual self, and the knowing related to each.
My Christian self should not have this dichotomy. Am I not told that the very rocks would cry out, and that the world aches for the day of the Lord’s return? Are not rocks cut with human tools unfit for use on God’s altars? Nowhere am I told that the animate universe is inanimate.
Living a Wonder Full Life
Walking through the eucalyptus woods near me, not only do I see the eucalyptus trees (which were planted for fast-growing firewood, back when steam engines ruled the West) that could provide me with foraged eucalyptus oil (which is, of course, excellent for clearing out the lungs, and has many other benefits as well), I see banks of nasturtiums (seeds can be used as capers, leaves and flowers spicy and edible, a good trap plant for aphids) in the springtime, and even the sowthistle I now know can be part of a nutritious dinner. I drive by plant after plant, and the more you know – the more you know. You see food, fiber, poison, healing, … et cetera. One’s eyes open. You live a more wonder full life.
Butterflies Don’t Plan
I met a butterfly today, fresh from the chrysalis. She was still fat – about the width of my pinky – and fluttering around my lemon tree while I was gathering lemons. Made me think about the series I’ve been writing here about butterflies and chrysalises. There’s been so many moments over the last few years where I thought, “finally, finally I’ve broken free. I’m drying my wings and any second now, I’ll fly”.
I’ve had a lot of plans. I’ve had ways to get to this goal and ways to get to that goal. I was a very good caterpillar, and I munched through my days (and through my plans) very effectively. I’m a very good planner.
But butterflies don’t plan.
Common Ground in Religion
Common ground in religion allows us to discuss serious topics with serious people without getting distracted by team jerseys. There is much wisdom to be had, and in the search, in the arguments, in the hashing out and thought that come with them, wisdom grows.
Patience is the Hardest Discipline
Patience is *not* waiting-for-a-predetermined time. I thought that for years, and counted myself extremely patient, as I can wait in stillness and peace… when I know when my time will be up. But this is not patience. Patience is waiting for completion.
Year In Review: Rosh Hashanah 2023
As someone whose faith tradition lacks much in the way of a liturgical year, I am drawn to the Jewish holidays. They are, after all, the ones set forth in the Bible. Extreme Protestantism leaves one a bit bereft… we don’t do Lent or Advent or Saint’s Days. Easter and Christmas, that’s it. (I have…
Leaving Laodicea
Coming October 1, 2023 Laodicea is a worldview that values the rat-race over connection. It’s a physical location that makes it hard to participate in community even if we want to. Laodicea has its hooks in all of us. We know that what we’re doing isn’t working. We read the statistics about loneliness being more…
Mearcstapas
I just finished reading a book by Makoto Fujimura, “Culture Care“. It’s one of those books chock full of things you were just about to say and hadn’t said yet. It’s also full of ideas and concepts that help shape how I think of myself and my role in the world. Fujimura is excellent at…