Fascinating Thought in Song

My friends Carey and Doug joined me in going to Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton for Christmas Eve service. It was beautiful. It started with a half-hour concert (broadcast on a local radio station) by the church's choir. Then, there was a 1.5 hour liturgical, candlelight communion service. I was surprised how much I liked it, since my only other liturgical experience (at a Canton Episcopal church) was less than inspiring. I have many observations about the difference between liturgical and "evangelical" churches, but that will have to wait for a possible later post.

The Eastern Orthodox tradition refers to a term in reference to the Trinitarian Godhead - perichoresis. Literally, it means, "dancing around," and refers to the intimacy and coordination involved in joyful dancing.

One of the songs that was sung at the Christmas Eve service was composed by one of my favorite contemporary choral composers, John Rutter. The song was called "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day." The words are beautiful, and build upon the thought of the perichoresis:

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day:
I would my true love did chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance:

Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love;
This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshy substance;
Thus was I knit to man's nature,
To call my true love to my dance:

Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love;
This have I done for my true love.

In a manger laid and wrapped I was,
So very poor, this was my chance,
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass,
To call my true love to my dance:

Sing oh my love, oh my love, my love, my love;
This have I done for my true love.

What more can I say? Amen.

Time of Reflection: Part 3

Cacophony Number Two: Event Horizon Fugue
(written December 2007 by Tony H.)

SOPRANO

He looks into the pleading eyes
Of a man. But barely.
The North Star is only a faint
Flicker - among many.
Though, without a ship, it matters
Little. Did it ever?
What do you plead for? Answer me!
Faith? Hope? Love? A forever?
His anxious silence - maddening.
His cause - captivating.

His voiceless mouth and screaming eyes
Peer back from the mirror.

ALTO

Silent tears fall, the world he knows-
Explicitly therapeutic?
Emotion, manifest sorrows?
Excretions, the eye's sole tonic?
Expected, a behavior learned?
Expression of a soul just turned?
Preposterous!

TENOR

The sands of Time could not erase
the clawing hands, much less the face.
A monument to guard the Nile,
a figure of hubristic wile.
Though sand did hide, the past - forgot;
it waited there to be resought.

In holy zeal for the Great Disc -
or shrewd scheming in politics -
A city birthed upon the Nile,
soon razed to earth with jealous bile.
Amarna's fate for years unknown -
now naught but dust where once it shone.

A mountain tomb for all to see,
a monument of vanity -
Though once the home to king, and gold,
expected peace as they grew old,
The great facade is empty now;
a hope destroyed, a pointless vow.

Though young compared to all the rest,
it may have been the nation's best.
Its hallowed walls upon the sea
encompassed all Humanity.
But all it took was one small flame,
and Man's grand trove was gone in shame.

My query should apparent be,
of all of these, which one are we?

BASS

a trust a knowing deep inside
a faith somewhere within me hides

a future landscape far and wide
a hope somewhere within me hides

a warm embrace where peace resides
a love somewhere within me hides

experience the flow of blood

an unseen force to walk beside
somewhere spirit within me hides

two friends by choice pneumas entwined
somewhere friendship within me hides

one soul by choice bodies entwined
somewhere marriage within me hides

experience the flow of blood

Time of Reflection: Part 2

Cacophony Number One: Heart Song
(written somewhere between 1993-1995 by Tony H.)

SOPRANO

no one understands
how could they?

yet how is it that we
are able to hide
the Sun?

are we that blind?
or have we just learned
to shame the
Great Wall?

one was brave
taking up his chisel
a chip from
the Wall

but with his one blow
a breech was born
a glimpse of the mountain that
reigns beyond

will we just place
another brick in
the Wall?

ALTO

isn't it frustrating?
do they see can they hear

the roaring waterfall

springing from the mountain

rushing to offer itself

only to be damned by
the Wall?

TENOR

the Passion burns within
and yet only flickers are seen
a silly laugh a common meal
words shared...barely
hug and holy kiss...rarely
we await the hour
when the Lord in His day
fans the flickers into flames
an unhidden passion that will incinerate
the Walls
as we share in the love
the Perfect
Love of God.

BASS

i can't always say it
i don't always try
i thank my brother
for saying it so well
the Passion i have
i through Christ have for you

You my brother

You my sister

all my beloved

and though we may be apart
in body or spirit
know that we are
One
in Him.

CHORUS

the most harlotted word
the most sacred word
i share all its holiness
with you

I Love You.

Time of Reflection: Part 1 - READ FIRST

Although I am an emotional guy, I, like many MBTI Thinkers, have problems comprehending and understanding these emotions, much less expressing them. Occasionally, I have used the process of writing to sort through these emotions, and in the end, to express them. Recently, I have been going through a lot of inner reflection (hence the relative quiet on the blog).

In the process of churning through some of the emotions, I went back and read some old writings, and came across a couple that I will share. One is a short reflection that I will share in a later post. The other was a poem written years ago that inspired the form of my most recent emotional exploration.

I share these humbly, knowing that I am no poet (nor a good editor).

Was the cross just a case of cosmic child abuse?

(Recent Insight from Rob Bell's "The gods aren't angry" Tour)

Until recently, I never asked that question. It was an absurd question, the kind that is unthinkable. Until, that is, the assumptions that created the foundation of my worldview began to shift, and space was made for such questions. A friend of mine mentioned in passing his struggle with the cross being "cosmic child abuse." And suddenly, I had eyes to actually "see" the dilema for the first time.

I mean, really, it certainly can seem that way. Here is a god, who, seemingly for arbitrary reasons, requires a blood sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. Why? We aren't told. It seems brutal and heartless, and meaningless. If someone sheds blood, they are supposed to shed additional blood for forgiveness? Sounds more like the primitive “eye for an eye.” The Hebrew writer, in Hebrews 9:22 even states, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (TNIV).

Since his creation is full of sin, and in need of forgiveness, he ordains a system of animal sacrifice. When that fails to “keep up” with the sin, he decides to send his son to endure beatings, mocking, and “dehumanizing” treatment (not to mention, de-dietization), and ultimately to have his son’s blood shed to appease some arbitrary need for blood. When looked at from this (traditional) perspective, it certainly seems like “cosmic child abuse” to appease a blood thirsty god.

But Rob Bell gave me a way of understanding the cross, that puts to ease my consternation about the abusiveness of the cross… well, really, he gave me more to work with, so that when added to what Jared shared a couple weekends ago (see prior post), I can be in awe of the cross once again.

First, I must address the Hebrew writer’s statement. It was taken out of context (as most verses used in doctrinal assumptions are). The whole context is comparing the old covenant system to the new system that Jesus ushered in. To give a little more context:

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made
it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes
effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first
covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed
every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,
together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the
scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which
God has commanded you to keep." 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the
blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the
law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the
shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9:16-22 TNIV)

So, there are two ways in which the context influences my understanding. First, the writer is talking about blood as a way of proving the death of something; Christ’s spilled blood proved the death of the old “will” or covenant. Second, the Hebrew writer was contexualizing Christ’s death in terms of what the Hebrews were already very familiar – the temple sacrificial system. One could argue that the statement “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” really is only an extension of what “the law requires” referred to in the first part of that sentence, and that law has been done away. The Hebrew writer was not necessarily (though he or she could have been) saying that the shedding of blood for forgiveness of sins is some universal, cosmic, unaltering truth.

Having addressed that, then, brings me to a new way of understanding the cross that Rob Bell shared. Jesus came to do away with the old systems (powers, dominions) that caused oppression and suffering and violence. The old system of appeasing our own sense of guilt through blood sacrifices was based on violence (to animals, in the case of the Hebrews, but even to human children, in the case of the worshippers of Molech). Christ, in the cleansing of the temple, hints at the fact that the old order needed to change; that Christ (“something greater than the temple”) was the new order. He declared that he was the way to forgiveness (ie, freedom from guilt), not the old system based on the “vortex of the altar” as Rob referred to it. But if Jesus was to be victorious in overturning the system based on violence, there is no way that he could use violence to usher the new system of peace and reconciliation. Of course, those with a vested interest in the old system (the leaders who were made wealthy by the violence-based system) would use violence to defend their system. And they did. And he didn’t.

So when I look at the cross now, I don’t see some blood thirsty god requiring the blood of his son. I see a Son who was willing to take on our suffering to create a space for love (see previous post). I see a Son who was revoking the system based on violence and replacing it with a system of peace and love and reconciliation, and in the process, became a (albeit, willing) victim of the violence-based system.

The New Testament writers appropriated the language of the old sacrificial system for the situation of the cross. It was a system that the people of that day and age could understand, where sacrificial blood systems were ubiquitous.

No, the cross was not cosmic child abuse. The cross was the evidence of the failure of a sacrificial system of blood offerings – one that was designed to appease our own sense of guilt. The cross was the creation of space for love. The cross was the victory of love and peace over guilt and violence.

Praise God for the Cross.

The Power of Sacrificial Suffering

Jared shared something incredibly insightful and powerful a week ago, that has really stuck with me. I would go so far as to say that it was a conceptual hanger on which I will be able to hang much spirituality, humanity, and theology.

Paraphrased, we were talking about what the incarnation teaches us, or means to us. He said that it taught him about suffering. He pointed out that there is always going to be suffering. By sacrificing, that person takes on someone else's suffering. The suffering is still there; it still hurts; it doesn't lessen in the sacrifice. But by taking on someone else's suffering, by sacrificing, a creative force is unleashed; a space for love is created, where before there was none. Suffering has the power to generate anger, bitterness, regret, and sorrow on it's own; sacrificial suffering has the power to create love.

That gives a great framework for me to understand what Christ did.

Thanks Jared.

My head hurts... (A poly-rant)

I think it is from too much thinking. Or, perhaps, from too much deconstructing. There has not been one area of my life that I have not been analyzing, struggling with, or learning from. The constant challenges at work, the uncertainty of work and healthcare in general, relationships, church, spirituality.... all of these things have kept my mind spinning. So, I thought I would share a few random rants and thoughts... to give a taste of my thoughts lately.

... Stark County (and Ohio in gereral most likely) is very parochial, and if it is going to be successful, the hospital of Western Stark county must understand this and play into that. Even if it is owned by some corporate "outsider" monolith, that doesn't mean that it can bring outside "expert" help and get positive results. "All politics are local" is a famous truism... so it is with healthcare. I need to be on a guidance board... ;-)

...When you have a paradigm shift, it is truly like Alice in Wonderland (or the Matrix, if you prefer): Once you have taken the red pill, there's no going back. So, as I look at what Jesus says, I'm struck more and more by the fact that I've had it wrong all along. When Paul says, "There's no other name in which you are saved," I now wonder if he meant that in the literal, immediate since which the context seems to demand. When Rome invaded Judea, historically, no Christians were killed, because they all believed in Jesus and his message, and fled, allowing utter destruction to come upon the Jews (unfaithful Israel) alone. What does such a statement in such a context mean for me, today? (Lest any flip out, I do think that there are important ways such messages speak to us today, but I no longer look at it in the direct way that I used to.)

...I love curriculum development, educational planning, and assessment models. If I had the resources and unlimited reign... (since most of you who know me are cringing at the thought, I will not dwell on that blessed (or cursed) state of affairs!)

...Why do people hate change??? I'll never get it. No matter how fast or slow it is presented, there are always gripers. If something doesn't work, then change it. If that doesn't work, change it again. Oy. What's the big deal?

...Why do relationships have to be so difficult? Why did I have to be born in a generation that has watched our parents' marriages fall apart, and in fact watched many of our generation endure divorce? Can I, and others, be blamed for our "gun shy" attitudes about marriage? Why do I have such a hard time opening myself up... to joy, but also hurt? (There's the answer, eh?)

...How can I sustain my singleness much longer, when I am increasingly feeling "traditionless?" Though I have the best friends and circle of spiritual family that a person could want, I nevertheless am not integrated into any one family unit's tradtions. One family has a tradition of getting a tree, decorating it, and watching a certain movie together the day after Thanksgiving. My best friend did something similar with just he and his wife. That is a very exciting, and warming, tradition, one that don't have any share in. I actually nearly broke down on Sunday while singing, because I suddenly realized that the holidays make people feel lonely not because you don't have someone, but because you don't have any one to share traditions with. I have been struggling with whether or not to put up a tree this year. I struggle each year... the last two years I have put up a "blessing tree" where I decorate it with "blessing ornaments" from years past. But I have no one to put it up with, no one to share the past blessings with, no one to enjoy the warm feelings that the glow of a tree at night produces. While thinking about all that, I thought of my grandma, whom I love dearly. Every year, she decorates here little apartment with lots of Christmas decorations, and puts a little ceramic Christmas tree up. No one shares in that, at least no one person or group of people in a regular way. She's be a widow for decades... the loneliness of it all, and the fact for the first time I could relate, nearly brought me to tears.


...I currently have asthmatic bronchitis... I have never really wheezed before, and it is a vulnerable feeling, the physician being a patient. Plus migraines... oy vay. (which, as I recently discovered thanks to Carey and her "Joy of Yiddish" book, literally means, "Oh the pain!".)

That's enough. I have ranted long enough. Indeed, my head hurts.

So you think going to war in Iraq was stupid...

If you think that the reasons for going to Iraq (and staying there) were stupid, try reading a little bit of the history of World War I. Most likely, you'll come out of that endeavor confused, frustrated, and acknowledging the wisdom of Solomon when he stated that there was nothing new under the sun.

I mean, come on, can we even now understand the foolish reasoning of a war that engulfed nearly all of Europe and much of North Africa and the Middle East? I remember growing up, and learning that World War I was triggered by the assasination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo (yep, that Sarajevo, famous for the Winter Olympics, the bombings of the Bosnian War, and Christmas Night Over Sarajev0). But that was the the extent of my knowledge.

But here is the gist of the start of the war: Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo, Austria attacks Serbia, Germany invades Belgium, and then invades France. France mounts a defense and Russia begins preparing to attack Germany. Does that make any sense to anyone? And that is just the beginning of the War.

A little more background and detail does not bring much elucidation: A Serbian nationalist assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Ferdinand, while he was in Austrian-controlled Bosnia. Austria retaliated against Serbia. Russia, who was allied with Serbia, prepares to intervene. Germany, who is supportive of any action by Austria, decides that it is in their best interest to try to neutralize its biggest threats, France and Russia. Foolishly, it decides to attack France through neutral Belgium, breaking longstanding neutrality treaties, thus irking the wary British who feared the industrial power of Germany and Germany's rising threat to the British naval supperiority.

See what I mean? Very confusing. The pretenses for war were "legitamate" (in their eyes) but the reality is that each country had its own selfish reason for joining in.

Why do I bring all this up? I used to think that people seeking higher office should be intelligent people who were altruistic. But I now think it should be more than that. Perhaps all public officials in higher office should be well educated in either history or ecology. Why history? Even principled leaders are doomed to bring pain and suffering to many if they are not aware of how history shapes the current landscape, much less the lessons of history themselves. (As a sidenote, I find it interesting that the Matrix Trilogy explores the interplay between history, free will, and fate/destiny.)

Why ecology? I think that ecologists are at least aware of the interconnectedness of things. They may not be be experts in economics, but I imagine that they would at least know to look or anticipate how an action may inpact other areas. Same thing with foreign policy. Anyone can learn the "facts on the ground." But it takes the insight to look for and seek the bigger picture of things. And that requires a mindset that has trained you to see the connections of things. I guess history teaches that as well.

Perhaps instead of debates, we should have history questions for the candidates. Would that give the voters anymore insight?

How a Christian song turned me into a humanist...

Well, sort of.

I was randomly singing my favorite song yesterday, which is "Micah 6:8" by Charlie Hall. For reasons I don't fully understand, the lyrics that I have always loved and admired suddenly struck me as not just a powerful call to living right, but as a musical embodiment of a powerful truth, the implication of which came rushing into my brain all at once. Here is the first verse and chorus:

You could feed the whole world with the crumbs of old bread
Spread the good news through dreams and stones
With a breath of the wind You could raise up the dead
But You ask us to go

chorus
Help us love mercy, help us do justly,
Help us walk humbly with You God

I had previously resonated most with the call to action and simplicity of the message. But it suddenly struck me - the song is right. God could have done those things, but instead chose to give us the responsibility. God has shifted the focus of activity from himself (best seen in the 'Creation' account) to humanity. We are not only the focus of activity, but the source of the activity.

That's not to say that I believe God isn't actively involved; I believe that he is. But the ring of 'truth' in the song is impossible to ignore. We, as humans, are called to help our fellow Man become what God has modeled for us in Christ.

While some may bristle at this theological humanism, a few others (often spurred by Jared) and I have been exploring theological humanism for a while now. It doesn't make me abandon God (in a personal, relational way), or even distance God (in a deistic sort of way). In fact, it makes me feel more alive and connected to God to realize the honor and power he has given humanity... and "with great power comes great responsibility."

True, there are huge implications about this thought that has been so succinctly embodied in this Charlie Hall song and that pierces my soul; but I don't shy away from them. I don't feel that I'm abandoning God, only perceptions of God that are not really justified, by the Bible or otherwise. For me, pondering this doesn't make God less real, but actually makes him more real.

I wonder if I will ever start living what I am being convicted of. I wonder if I will ever fully comprehend the implications of the 'truths' embodied in thoughts like this. I wonder what is realistic for me to achieve in my life.

I simply pray to God, daily now, "Help us love mercy, help us do justly, help us walk humbly with you God."

The Rural Kingdom?

My time in the beautiful high country of Arizona has brought to surface a perennial problem I am having since I’ve been exposed to the idea of actually bringing the kingdom to the world around me. The problem is struggle with is how to bring the kingdom to those around me in meaningful ways. All the discussions and models of radical kingdom living that I have been exposed to have been situated in urban areas. The idea of practicing resurrection is easy to envision in an urban area where consumeristic self interest have left decaying urban cores, and where historic oppression in the form of discrimination have created lingering divides that need healing. The needs are obvious.

But what does it mean to be the kingdom in rural areas? What does it look like? My friends Jared and Tina are trying to answer that question while living on a farm outside of Canton. My friends Robert and Kirsten are trying to answer that question while living in the suburbs of Akron. And so the question that I have is, “How do people embody the kingdom in rural areas?”

On his joint blog, Canonfodder.org, Robert has been struggling with the homogeneity of his suburban community. But the answers are far from clear. The answer for him and his family may be to move into a more diverse community, where racial reconciliation (one of several aspects of reconciliation) is easy to engage. But clearly, that is not a “kingdom solution,” to the extent that the massive relocation of people to achieve some hypothetical level of diversity is not only impractical, but likely also harmful. It may be a great answer for how some (comfortable middle-class) people can answer the question for themselves; but what about people who don’t have the means or desire to move? What about those who have been oppressed, and finally have the means to escape that oppression by moving into a different (more affluent, though likely as homogenous) location? Are these people working against the kingdom? I certainly can’t say that with any moral authority.

But I digress. Are not the rural areas of the country, the small and fairly homogenous enclaves that predominate in many parts of the country, equally in need of the kingdom? Are not the areas where “post-modern enlightenment” are just whispers from “liberal city-folk” in need of the kingdom?

I have no plans on moving to a rural area anytime soon (well, technically, I live in a rural area, but I'm only 20 minutes to a mall and 15 minutes to downtown Canton, so I don't think of it as rural... or is it because my heart is really in Canton anyway?). But life is full of uncertainties. Who knows where opportunities will take me in the future? But in any case, can I really claim to have a message of the kingdom that only envisions urban manifestations? I think this is one area of the emergent discussion that needs more attention. I hope that through prayer, creative meditation, experience, and discussion that I will be contributing to the discussion more fully.

I guess I still love Arizona...

Or at least parts of it. I am so impressed with the Show Low/Pinetop-Lakeside area. Estimates put the population of Show Low at about 10,000, and Pinetop-Lakeside at about 5,000. So these twin contiguous cites have a combined population of about 15,000. No doubt there is some additional people in surrounding unincorporated areas. But this is definitely not a major city. True, it is the largest “metro” area in east central Arizona. For my personal comparison, this area is a little smaller than Kirksville, Missouri, where I went to medical school. But this area is even further from the nearest major city (Phoenix is four hours away). Despite its small size, this community has nearly all the amenities that I would desire. It has several Mexican and Chinese restaurants, as well as a Thai restaurant and a Japanese hibachi grill/sushi bar. In terms of fast food, there is everything, from the national stuff (KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonalds, etc) to Western favorites (Jack in the Box and Samuri Sam’s). There is both a Lowes and a Home Depot. There is adequate shopping, and also 13 movie screens, plus an additional 4 discout theater screens. There is plenty of hiking, fishing, and land available. It is half an hour from a ski resort. The climate is amazing, too. At 6,300 feet above sea level, it stays relatively cool in the summer (mid to upper 80s), while getting very cold in the winter, with frequent snows. It is high desert, so it is very dry and sunny, but is “green” year round because of the Ponderosa pines.

True, I love cities. And I love Ohio and the green grass that just grows. Sometimes I hate “knowing” the other side of things, because I like both sides so much, sometimes I feel paralyzed. Thankfully, there is more to where you live than the climate or amenities. For me, right now, a faith community and friends who share my values and visions of the Kingdom are most important, and that is what makes Canton, Ohio, “home.”

My trip to the White Mountains of Arizona

We didn’t go on many vacations when I was growing up. Money was always tight, and so what trips we did take were usually local. One of those places that we would periodically go is the White Mountains area of east central Arizona, particularly Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside. It is about 4 hours from Phoenix. We often would stay at this place called Lake of the Woods, a cabin resort. We would go up to Lake of the Woods, rent a cabin, and fish in the private lake, or drive to some of the surrounding lakes and fish. The area is entirely in Ponderosa Pines and Junipers. And, of course, it is considerably cooler than Phoenix, which is the ultimate treat.

Every few years or so, my immediate family would get together with my extended family and rent a larger cabin to spend a week. Last year, my family went to the White Mountains and decided to ask me to come this year. I decided to come, and so here I am. I’m in a 4 bedroom, 3 ½ bath cabin at Lake of the Woods. It is sunny and very dry, with highs in the 70s. I’m here with my parents; sister, brother-in-law, and nephew; and my aunt and uncle and two cousins. There are 8 adults, a 12 year old, and a 3 year old… spending an entire week under one roof. Amazingly, we are all still getting along.

My biggest issue is that I don’t have Sprint cell phone coverage here, nor do I have internet access. It is now day four of being in absolute communication blackout. I’ve only gone through minor withdrawals. ☺

It has been fun, and totally stress free. We haven’t been doing much, and there isn’t much of a schedule of events. So far, we have played games such as Scattergories, I have learned (and now love) poker (five card draw and Texas Hold’em), we have fished (though I haven’t… I just sit on the dock with everyone else), we’ve watched TV. My cousin and uncle and I went to the movies, my dad and sister and brother-in-law have gone to the Apache reservation down the road to the casino, and we went horseback riding yesterday. It has been great.

That reminds me. Horseback riding yesterday caused me to be somewhat conflicted. How? Because is flooded my mind with a powerful (as well as laughable and obsolete) self-image that I have had for year growing up. For some reason, ever since I was a little kid coming up to the Arizona “high-country,” I have had this comforting self-image or me riding a horse through a field, with mountains all around. It is fall, and a very crisp morning. I’m wearing jeans, a denim jacket, and a cowboy hat. I can see both my breath, as well as my horse’s. And I’m just trotting through the morning mist, enjoying the peace and solitude. For those who know me, it is obvious why this is an obsolete (and laughable) tableau. I’m too sociable to be a lone cowboy; I’m also too much of a city-boy. Nevertheless, the tableau is deeply embedded in my psyche, and causes me consternation as this image is contrasted with the reality of my life.

I have rambled enough. One final thought for now. The human body is totally amazing! After 4 days, I’m getting close to adapting to the high-altitude, dry air. At 6300 feet above sea level, I’m a mile higher than I’m used to. I was totally tired and had headaches for the first 3 days. My lips are still dry, and I’m having nose bleeds… but I can tell I’m adapting. Humans are one of the only creatures that can so quickly adapt into almost any environment.

Lord, forgive (and correct) our manipulative fear-mongering

I went to a funeral service today for a friend's dad who passed away from colon cancer. I never knew Bruce. I only came to show my love and sympathy for my friend and his wife. But what I heard there has led to the above prayer.

A older pastor was officiating (I think it was the pastor from where my friend grew up going to church). He never knew Bruce, and repeated that several times; he also stated that he didn't know Bruce's relationship to the Lord. "But," he said, "I have the opportunity to share the gospel with you. In his death, Bruce is giving you an opportunity to know the Lord." He talked about how everyone dies, and that everyone faces judgement. He talked about how we don't know when we are going to die, but that we all will, so we better be ready. "There are some here who would never darken the doorstep of a church, or spend time with me talking about eternity, yet, here we are. In his death, Bruce brings us together to hear the gospel."

There was no mention of Bruce, of celebration of life, of supporting the family; there was no discussion of comfort or hope. There was only talk of death, judgement, and the pastor's "God-given" ability to take advantage of this time to preach the Word.

Thankfully, Bruce's aunt got up (uninvited) and spoke of the great life that he lived. Then, his uncle got up and gently but directly chastised the pastor for only talking about death, and spoke to his life.

Lord, forgive, prevent and correct your church's manipulative fear-mongering.

Questions

What if Jesus meant what he said?

What if I actually let apocalyptic language be just that – apocalyptic language - and not literal descriptions?

What if some of the original discpliples actually saw the Son of Man coming in his kingdom, as promised? (Matt 16:28)

What if some in Jesus’ generation actually saw his return as promised? (Matt 24:34)

What if Jesus actually knew what he was saying when he said, “Look! I am coming soon!”? (Rev 22:12,20)

What if the world, as the Jews knew it, did come to an end in the first century?

What if I have full and total access to the kingdom now?

What if Christ has brought victory over death?

What would that victory look like?

What if all my preconceptions of what the Kingdom would be like have kept me from seeing its presence in our world today, just as the early apostles had misconceptions about the Kingdom?

What would the Kingdom look like?

What if Paul was justified in “anxiously awaiting” the Lord, expecting him during his lifetime?

What if the New Testament was in fact not a new law, but the beginning of a story, which we are a part of today?

What if I have totally missed the point of much of the Bible?

What am I supposed to do now?

Formational Message

Formational Message Summary from Sunday, August 19, 2007

This is a summary of what I shared at our Sunday gathering. We have been sharing regarding the broad topic of “the Good News.” I prefaced this talk by saying that it was prompted by a deeper (and still developing) thought process, but that today I would present two somewhat unrelated “seeds” that I hope will germinate more later.

I recently came across a verse that, though I have read dozens of times if not more, I had never really seen. It is a statement that John makes in the middle of a totally different topic, and is found in 1 John 3:

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is
right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful
is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The
reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 Those who are
born of God will not continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they
cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know
who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Those who do
not do what is right are not God's children; nor are those who do not love their
brothers and sisters. (TNIV)

Verse 8 states that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” What a great way of describing the work of the Christ! (I am told by Jared that the thought of atonement situated in this understanding is called the Christus Victor –Christ the Victor- understanding.) So, what are the “works of the devil?” Since John refers back to “the beginning,” it makes sense to look there too. In the Genesis account, the serpent (the Adversary, ie, the devil) is seen as the instigator or cause of at least three main consequences of Sin: 1) Death; 2) Hard labor; and 3) Broken relationships (between Man and God, and man and woman).

At different times in history, and in different locations with varying societal wealth, different parts of Christ’s victory over the works of the devil have been appealing. In our current, fragmented, yet fairly wealthy 21st Century America, many are looking to the restoration of relationships. Indeed, the restoration of relationships between ourselves and others, within ourselves, and between ourselves and God is truly Good News.

But what does that look like? Why doesn’t that seem to fit with the common picture that contemporary Christianity presents? What does it mean that Christ came to undo the works of the devil? To understand that, and be able to share it as “good news” and not just religious psycho-babble, we have to become better story tellers, story tellers that can take the stories everyone “thinks” they know from Christianity, and retell it in a different, captivating way.

In fact, this is exactly what Jesus did on the road to Emmaus. You can read the account of the interaction between Jesus, Cleopas, and another disciple (possibly his wife, Mary? See John 19:25) in Luke 24:13-35. The story that Cleopas, and really all the early disciples, had been told for generations was centered on several key prophecies, like the one of the Servant in Isaiah 42, that promised justice (read that as freedom from oppressors with punishment) for the world and that Israel would be a “light to the Gentiles.” The story of the Messiah was one of a military leader who would bring final and complete freedom from oppressors (In the days of Jesus, that was the Roman Empire) and make Israel great again, like in the days of Solomon, when the whole world came to bring tribute and seek wisdom from Israel. In the stories of right and wrong, and who was approved of God, anyone who hung on a tree was cursed; in other words, God’s favor was not with that person. The Messiah was to bring sight to the blind, proclaim freedom to the oppressed, etc. Luke’s account says that Cleopas had hoped Jesus was the Messiah, but that his cruel and final death on a cross (tree) showed God’s hand was not with him. And now there were rumors of a missing body. According to the way the stories had been told to Cleopas, there was no hope; Jesus was not the Christ. But Jesus appears to the disciples, and starts speaking to them. They were “prevented” from recognizing him. I tend to think that the stories of the Christ, as well as life and death, had prevented them from recognizing Jesus. But as they walk, Jesus starts telling the story a different way. He used the same Scripture, but told it differently, so that when Jesus was breaking bread (a symbol of the New Covenant), suddenly everything fit together, and they recognized him, and apparently began to see how it could be that he was in fact the promised Christ.

Many think that the Scriptures are “self-evident.” That there is some “obvious, objective” way to understand them. That is total non-sense. We can never divorce the Scriptures from the stories that birthed them, nor from the stories that shaped them. Sharing the Good News, like the idea that Jesus came to undo the works of the devil, can most effectively be shared when a person sees how the story has built up to that point, and that they are a part of that story.

To share the Good News of the Victory of Jesus, we need to learn other people’s stories, and tell the story of God in a way that makes them a part of it.

Spontaneous Incredible Pacific Northwest Trip!

So, the week before the 4th of July, I found out that I had one more vacation day that I had to use before the end of the month (or I would lose it). I decided to go back to the Pacific Northwest, where I have longed to go for four years. I was last there with my friends Penny, Dana, and Scott four years ago. Way too long for me to be away from the spiritually-moving beauty, culture, and air of the Pacific Northwest.

Anyway, here is a brief overview of my trip in words and pictures.

Seattle was great! It was warm and sunny the whole time, which is a surprise, and a blessing. I stayed with my cousin, who lives in Seattle. I flew there on the 4th of July. I had reserved a compact car, and what they gave me was a PT Cruiser... but a convertable! I have never driven a convertable, so I had fun with the top down on the car.















I went to the famous Pike Place Market for a bit, and then met up with my cousin Tiffany. We went to see the movie "Sicko", a documentary by Michael Moore about the sad state of American healthcare. Then we went to a gathering of her friends, and then went to dinner. Afterwards, we saw fireworks from a distance, over the Elliott Bay on Puget Sound in Seattle.

On Thursday, I pretty much just slept in, drove around by along Lake Washington, visited the Univ of Washington Campus (this is a picture of the side of the Library), went to the Burke Museum of Natual History on the U. of W. campus. U "Dub" is a great campus!















I also went to the classical Japanese Garden in Seattle.















Then I went downtown by myself, watched the movie "Transformers" and chilled in the cool downtown area.


Friday my cousin and I went to Portland, Oregon, and hung out in that downtown, shopped, and went to a huge Blues Music Festival on the Riverfront. That was great! We also went to a Classical Chinese Garden.















Then we went to the International Rose Test Garden, with over 7,000 rose plants, in over 500 varieties. It was amazing, on a hill overlooking downtown. We came back Saturday, hung out with some friends, and then I took the red-eye from Seattle to Cincinatti, and then to Akron.




























I left Seattle at 12:45 am on Sunday morning, got to Akron at 10:30 am, was picked up, and went straight to church. I came home and crashed (sleep wise) the rest of the night. It was a long trip home, but the trip was amazing. Portland definitely grew on me. Hum... who knows what the future holds.

The Seattle Bizarro World Anti-Church

I assume that most people will remember the Seinfeld episode where Seinfeld and his friends meet their “oddly normal” counterparts, which they refer to as “Bizarro World.” Well, I have met the Bizarro World counterpart to our home church.

While here in Seattle, visiting my cousin, who is a humanist and atheist, we met up with some of her friends from the Seattle Atheists organization for a party for the 4th of July. We got there late, and I walked into the room, and was greeted by a few friendly faces. I looked around, and there was a middle-aged guy teaching a young teenager how to play a song on the guitar. We went outside, and there were several others out back, sitting around in a circle, talking about “normal” stuff. They had had a grill potluck, complete with beef burgers and veggie burgers… but all the beef burgers were gone. I sat down and listened as one of them said suddenly, “I finally found an issue that I can join the conservatives on.” “Why would you want that?” replied someone. “I miss being conservative. I want to be conservative, but I just can’t be now.” So, before he could explain his issue that he could be “conservative” about, the group made him explain why he wanted to be conservative. Then he went on to share his thoughts, which resulted in good-natured ribbing, honest discussion, and total civility. A little later, a guy pulled up a chair and started talking to my cousin and me. He talked about how one of the members of the group wanted to produce an Atheist Show for public access TV… and how he didn’t have time to work on it… and thought only astrologers and weirdo Christians had public access TV.

Apparently, this is pretty typical for this group. They meet regularly, have meals together (either potlucks or at restaurants), sit in a circle and talk about things, celebrate birthdays and weddings and holidays, share songs on the guitar, and generally seem to function like extended family. The parallels were more than a little unnerving.

So, this Bizarro World anti-church reinforced a couple of things to me. First, Atheists are normal people with normal lives who are seeking very similar things in life. They don’t have Bible burnings (though I think some of them wouldn’t mind it), they don’t have a monolithic political agenda, and they value marriage (at least, some do; they recently had a wedding in their group, and some are married) and relationships. Second, Atheists are seeking the same thing our group is seeking – relational intimacy (ie, family). In this respect, I begin to really value to “model” of relationality that a Triune God involved in the perichoresis provides to those of us seeking intimate relationships.

Postmodern Prophet?

Many will be familiar with Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), a Lebanese philosopher, writer, and painter, who wrote "The Prophet." There is a compilation of some of his thoughts, proverbs, and parables called "Sand and Foam." I share several quotes that I find really heralded many postmodern concepts and struggles. Perhaps there were more "postmodern prophets" in modernity that we realize.

*"How can I lose faith in the justice of life, when the dreams of those who sleep upon feathers are not more beautiful than the dreams of those who sleep upon the earth?"

*"I am ignorant of absolute truth. But I am humble before my ignorance and therein lies my honor and my reward."

*"Should you really open your eyes and see, you would behold your image in all images. And should you open your ears and listen, you would hear your own voice in all voices."

*"Many a doctrine is like a window pane. We see truth through it but it divides us from truth."

*"Inspiration will always sing; inspiration will never explain."

*"There is no struggle of soul and body save in the minds of those whose souls are asleep and whose bodies are out of tune."

*"Only great sorrow or great joy can reveal your truth. If you would be revealed you must either dance naked in the sun, or carry your cross."

*"Please do not whitewash your inherent faults with your acquired virtues. I would have the faults; they are like mine own."

*"Long ago there lived a Man who was crucified for being too loving and too lovable. And strange to relate I met him thrice yesterday. The first time He was asking a policeman not to take a prostitute to prison; the second time He was drinking wine with an outcast; and third time He was having a fist-fight with a promoter inside a church."

*"Pity is but half justice."

*"Should we all confess our sins to one another we would all laugh at one another for our lack of originality. Should we all reveal our virtues we would also laugh for the same cause."

*"If it were not for our conception of weights and measures we would stand in awe of the firefly as we do before the sun."

*"There is neither religion nor science beyond beauty."

*"A fact is a truth unsexed."

*"There lies a green field between the scholar and the poet; should the scholar cross it he becomes a wise man; should the poet cross it, he becomes a prophet."

*"They say to me, 'You must needs choose between the pleasures of this world and the peace of the next world.' And I say to them, 'I have chosen both the delights of this world and the peace of the next. For I know in my heart that the Supreme Poet wrote but one poem, and it scans perfectly, and it also rhymes perfectly.'"

Another Perspective on Intentional Living

Our house church has decided to "adopt a house" through Habitat for Humanity, and we will be trying to work on the same house every Saturday through the Spring and early summer. Our first Saturday was yesterday, and it was great. Last year, I was able to help a couple of times, and I helped drywall and make an overhang. Yesterday, we put the actual roof on... the trusses were already there, but we put the sheets of wood that make up the roof on the trusses, and started to place the tar paper. Since some friends and I had played racquetball for two hours on Thursday, and played Ultimate Frisbee for two hours on Friday, and we worked on the house for seven hours yesterday, needless to say I can barely move today! But it was fun, and we all look forward to working with our hands to help "Alex" and her husband and their family get a new home.

I was sharing my experience of "giving of myself" to my friend Derek last evening. Derek, his wife Mary, and their son, Dylan, have made the intentional choice to live in a "ghetto" part of town in Canton to make a difference in the community. (For some perspective, they live across the street from a prostitute, and their house has been broken into; they come from middle class backgrounds, and they both work.) After telling of my experience, and how I felt like I was actually "practicing" my faith, he gently challenged me to think in other ways. He shared what he did that Saturday. He was working outside his house, and three of the neighbor kids who are being raised by a single mom came over to play with Dylan. It turned out that they were over there for nearly four hours. While Derek did take time to play with them, he also asked them to help him rake leaves and do other yard work - and they did it! He pointed out that they were just looking for attention, and having a "father figure" was a great blessing, so they really enjoy coming over to visit with Derek's family.

Derek went on to share another story about when he and Dylan went down the street to the local school and flew a kite. Two girls rode up on bicycles, and asked who Dylan was. Then they looked at Derek and asked, "Does he have a mommy?" Wow. In this neighborhood, the men who are around often sit on the porches drinking beer; the idea that they would be involved in the care and love of a child, and that two parents would be involved, was almost foreign to these two girls.

Derek's point was obvious. You can give of yourself in many ways. Derek is blessed by being really good with kids. But that is not the main point. Derek and Mary are living intentionally. They intentionally moved to an area where they would be surrounded by people different than themselves. They intentionally open up space in their lives for others to come share in a different way of life. They are intentionally challenging themselves and bridging divides; not just economic, but racial differences, differences in family make-up, etc.

Intentional living is, I think, more important that "intentional community." While intentional community may be involved, or may be the catalyst, it must end in being salt into whatever community you are in. And that just doesn't happen. You have to be intentional about it.

Perhaps someday I will have to ability, strength, resolve, courage, and dedication to move near Derek and Mary and live more intentionally.

God have mercy and patience with me. Amen!

12 Marks of a New Monasticism

The following is a handout that I created for a meeting about intentional community. Essentially, it is a book review, with some quotes. I chose some quotes that challenged me. It is rather lengthy; I apologize.

Considerations for Intentional Communities: 12 Marks of New Monasticism
(From School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism)

The following points were developed as intentional communities came together and shared their joint experiences, motivations, successes, and failures. They realized that the vast majority of these communities shared some commonalities.

Jonathan Wilson, a contributor to the above book, reminds readers of one of the key mindsets needed for an intentional community:

“To think eschatologically, Christians must recognize that the end of things cannot simply be inferred from their existence or their nature. That is, thinking eschatologically makes us realize that God’s actions are required for the goal or purpose of things to be realized. Living eschatologically, then, means that we must not line our living up with “the way things are” in this age. The way of discipleship to Jesus Christ is not the best strategy for “making life work” or “getting along in this world” as those phrases would be commonly understood. Rather, the way of Jesus is living by that which is seen by the eyes of faith and sustained by the presence of hope; living eschatologically is making present that which is yet to come.”

The Rutba House, a New Monastic community in Durham, NC, decided to compile essays from different people in different communities, each expounding on a different trait. You can read more about these traits and New Monasticism in the above book, or at www.newmonasticism.org. As The Rutba House states in the introduction:

“Moved by God’s Spirit in this time called Aermica to assemble at St. John’s Baptist Church in Durham, NC, we wish to acknowledge a movement of radical rebirth, grounded in God’s love and drawing on the rich tradition of Christian practices that have long formed disciples in the simple Way of Christ. This contemporary school for conversion, which we have called a “new monasticism,” is producing a grassroots ecumenism and a prophetic witness within the North American church which is diverse in form, but characterized by the following marks:”

1. Relocation to the abandoned places of Empire.

“An abandoned place is one that has no attraction for the “world of what’s happening now,” and therefore is left alone by the political, economic, and social powers that be. Deserts and wastelands are abandoned places. So are inner cities, some of the loneliest places on earth. The attration of the desert is its naturalness, openness, and unconventional beauty. It is like a blank canvas to an artist. The blank canvas or wall mirrors an interior state as well… the blankness is an invitation to renewed spiritual and environmental creativity and transformation. It is also a refuse from the filled and arranged and familiar canvas that society provides.”

2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us.

“People do not get crucified for charity. People are crucified for disrupting the status quo, for calling forth a new world. People are not crucified for helping poor people. People are crucified for joining them.”

3. Hospitality to the stranger.

4. Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation.

“Racialized divisions in America have become, in Wendell Berry’s phrase, a ‘hidden wound,’ marked not by open hostility but by normalization with racialized, divided, accepted patterns of life concerning who “our people” are… essentially black and white churches… and different communal ways of being did not drop like meteors from the sky. The ground on which hwe live is not innocent; it only seems so because of forgetfulness… lament thus becomes a practice and task of remembering and grieving well, through which Christiansdo not forget and continue naming the truth about the past. To the extent that communities of Christians are able to do this, lament is not only a cry of grief – ‘Oh, God, we see and feel the pain of our divides, our brokenness!’ – but a declaration of hope – ‘This is not the way God intends things to be! Christ brings new life!’… One challenge is to remain deeply unsatisfied with a monologue with ‘people like us.’ This dissatisfaction will seek authentic dialogical enounter toward a far more transformative conversation and diversity of holy friendships. For example, to call for dialogue around a new monasticism only rings bells for people with a certain kind of tradition, or network, or education. It assumes there’s something attractive about renewing something called ‘monasticism,’ but does nothing for (and may repel) others for whom it might evoke a vague image of a thin, robed, white guy chanting inside distant, dark walls with other thin, robed, white guys, far removed from the streets, the world’s pain…”

5. Humble submission to Christ’s body, the church.

“The only alternative to the twin evils of individualism and spiritual pride is a ‘humble submission to Christ’s body, the church.’ Despite their faults – and they are many – every Christian congregation and every Christian denomination nevertheless has within it Christ’s living presence. It is not easy for radically committed persons to see themselves as part of these very imperfect structures and to participate in them as accountable members. But unless we do our efforts will come to nothing, for Christ has chosen to be present to us in the church, and unless we accept his presence there we will find him nowhere.”

6. Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the community along the lines of the old novitiate.

“The Simple Way in Philadelphia has found it useful to describe the way into community commitment by means of an “Onion.” These are the lays of the onion moving from the outer to the innermost core: Visitors, Guests, Nomads and Novices, Partners… The Onion’s layers do not necessarily represent increasing maturity. Rather, each layer has ‘different commitments, expectations, and accountability.’ It takes time to experience each layer before the seeker can know if this is God’s calling.”

7. Nurturing common life among members of intentional community.

8. Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children.

9. Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life.

10. Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies.

11. Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18.

12. Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life.

Two Poems To Ponder

My time at the Truth Voice Conference in Springfield, Ohio, and at the Emergent Theological/Philosophical Conversation in Philadelphia has left my head spinning, my heart racing, and my faith stretched. There is far too much to share in brief posts on a blog. However, there are two poems that have come to mind that explore some of my thoughts.

The first is Harlem, by Langston Hughes:

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

The second poem plays with the concept of Truth. It is by Emily Dickenson:

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant-
Success in circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind-

Some Definitions

I have realized lately that when talking about my recent thoughts and understandings, there is not a common understanding of the meaning (definition or use) of certain words or phrases. Since all communication is subjective and symbolic, common association and meaning in the word (symbol) is inherent to effective communication. I've realized that several of my friends engaged in this discussion of "opting out of the American Dream" use terms differently, and thus conflict and misunderstanding develop.

Thus, I thought I would define some words in terms of how I use them. This exercise is mostly for my own sake, so that I can establish common grounds with people I'm having discussion with.

1. The American Dream.

Wikipedia defines it like this:

The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a successful and satisfying life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed in terms of American capitalism, its associated purported meritocracy, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights. The term is not easily defined, and has subjective meaning to many who claim it. The term is used by many modern Americans to signify success in life as a result of hard work (as in, "living [or pursuing] the American Dream").

To put it in my own words, the American Dream is a socioeconomic construct that informs us that freedom (defined as Americans define it... freedom of speech, press, religion, etc) and capitalism combine to allow hard working individuals to attain a better life (as defined by your socioeconomic status) for yourself and your children. Implicit in that construct is a value system that esteems individuality, material wealth, status, and security obtained by individual hard work.

Wikipedia mentions some criticism this way:

However, there are also those who think that the American dream is not even a good ideal to try to live up to:

• Consumerism and economic materialism: Its emphasis on material possessions as a way of finding happiness is seen by critics as being somewhat superficial or meaningless.
• Social justice: The American Dream has been criticized as promoting an ethic of selfishness and promoting social inequality.

I think that that sums up the critique I have of the American Dream.

2. Community.

I will try to use it as it is commonly understood in most circles; a community is a collection of people bound together in some fashion, whether it be geographic (like a neighborhood), a belief system, or a profession. For example, I'm part of the broader "medical community." Or, a "community church" is a church claiming to be more connected to a locality than to a denomination.

3. Intentional Community.

When I use this term, I'm referring to a group of people who have chosen to be in relationship to one another, with certain benefits and responsibilities. For example, a biologic family is not intentional community (at least not initially) because you can't choose your family. Or, just living in a neighborhood is not intentional community, because you can't choose your neighbors, nor are do you make commitments to one another.

4. Communal Community.

I recognize the inherent redundancy, but in using this term I'm building on the common usages of the terms "commune" and "communal"; in other words, a communal community is a group of people who actual share a living space or common spaces. Roommates are a form of communal community.

5. Intimate Community.

To me, this term represents a group of people who are very emotionally and socially intimate. This could refer to a family, or to any of the above other types of community.

6. Holistic Community.

I had trouble finding a phrase to describe an emotionally intimate, purposefully committed group of people who share a common living space. Holistic is the best term I could come up with, as it refers to a community that is intimate, intentional, and communal.

Perhaps defining these things will help me in my own deliberation/meditations. For example, I'm really wanting an intimate community that is also intentional. I am definitely willing to have that in a communal setting. But that is not the only way. Several of us could move into the same neighborhood with the intention of being committed to each other and being Christ in the community. We could spend a lot of time together, but still have separate houses. It may not be holistic community, but it would be intimate and intentional.

May God grant me the wisdom to understand his will for me, and grant me intimacy with him and others, and give me the strength to do it intentionally. Amen.

Opting out of the "American Dream"

If I were to say, "I'm considering opting out of the American Dream," I would likely be confronted with several questions. The most common would likely be, "Why?" One friend asked, "What is the American Dream?" My first question would be "Is it even possible to opt out of the American Dream?"

This jumble of questions and thoughts was spurred by the previously mentioned speaker, Shane Claiborne. To make sense of the idea of opting out of the American Dream, I think that all of the above questions have to be wrestled with.

The most basic starting point is defining the American Dream. And that, of course, is hard to do. Most would broadly define it as wanting a better life for yourself and your children. To that extent, I actually think that that is not an American Dream, but the Dream of Jesus. It is the particular way in which Americans seek that dream that is so disheartening.

Some define it with a tableau: A nice house with two cars in a two-car garage, a white picket fence with a nice yard, kind neighbors, good schools, sidewalks, and street lights. A two parent home with 2 or 3 (the statistical 2.5) children. This tableau, while nice and attractive, betrays a lot of prejudice and selfishness. How? Well, for example, the ever-prominent fence in the tableau indicates that division and separation (segregation?) are valued. The proverb that "good fences make for good neighbors" only makes sense when you have a strong sense of private (selfish?) property and value isolation. (As a contrast, in Norway, where I spent a summer, there are only fences to keep livestock/animals in check, and there are no trespassing laws; while people "own" the property, the society acknowledges that the use of that property -for hiking or camping, let's say- should be shared by all.) It says, what is mine is mine and not yours, and don't think of using it. And the fact that the tableau has a family that is barely recognizable in America anymore, inherently excludes singles, the divorced and widowed, and the growing complexity of relationships that share life together.

Another way of explaining the American Dream is functional. Looking back through history, and tracing the development of the suburbs (wherein the above American Dream tableau resides), one can see that the pursuit of the American Dream is a process of getting more (private) land, building bigger (extravagant?) houses, and leaving areas of poverty and hurt to start fresh. Essentially, as my best friend put it, the American Dream functionally says, "To hell with you and all your poverty, hurts, pollution, and decay, I'm outta here." It is the exact opposite pursuit from that of a life practicing resurrection.

I'm sure people who are striving for or are proud of having "achieved" the American Dream would ever overtly state those things. As someone who is currently engaged in that pursuit, I can attest to that. But it seems clear to me to be implicit in the American Dream.

So, as to "Why opt out of the American Dream?" There are many more reasons, such as sense of community, and economics, but if I were to sum it up for me right now, I would say that I'm trying to opt out of the American Dream to practice resurrection and live in community with those around me in the Way of Jesus. What does/will that look like? I don't know, but I'm excited about it, and thankfully, I have several brothers and sisters in Jesus who are also trying to opt out of the American Dream.

The one remaining question left unanswered for me: Is it even possible? I am hopeful that I can, at least to some extent. There are groups of people trying to. The Christian Community Development Association is a resource for those who are interested in being intentional with community. I think their three keys are a good start for me to consider: Relocation, Redistribution, and Reconciliation.

May God have mercy on us all as we strive to incarnate His body. Amen.

Practicing Resurrection

On Sunday, April 1, 2007, I got to hear Shane Claiborne share some powerful thoughts about living the life of an ordinary radical at Wide Eyed Life. He is part of a faith community called The Simple Way in Philadelphia. I could go on and on about how he and his book (Irresistible Revolution: Living the Life of an Ordinary Radical) have influenced me. More accurately, he and his book have given validation and expression to where my faith journey has been going already.

One of several things that Shane mentioned that has really stuck with me is that he and his friends try to “practice resurrection.” What a word picture. One of the central tenets of Christianity is the concept of renewal, with a hope of resurrection. It is hard to understand and see, since we don’t see physically resurrected people walking about town (at least I don’t recognize any!). But, our faith can grow through the process of seeing other things resurrected. It gives us hope and helps us understand it a bit better. For example, when someone repairs and remodels an old house, people can see the resemblance to the original, and yet it is different, beautiful, new, and vibrant. Sometimes walls are town down and put elsewhere, but in general, the floor plan is the same; yet it is almost unrecognizable. Doesn’t that describe the common understanding of the “final” resurrection?

So what does it mean to “practice resurrection?” Well, for one thing, it means to be involved in a renewal project, whether it be a house, a neighborhood, an economy, or someone’s career or spiritual life. Shouldn’t Christ-followers be involved in the same activities that Jesus was involved in? From the beginning, Jesus was involved in creation. But Jesus incarnated to re-create (renew, resurrect) things around him. But practicing resurrection also develops and exercises our faith in the concept of resurrection. If we believe that an old, run-down house can be resurrected, and we work to make it happen, we begin to see how our own resurrection is both currently, and ultimately, taking place.

May God grant me the strength to live a life where I practice resurrection.

Stations of the Cross

I have never been to a Catholic Mass. I have been to a Catholic funeral, and I remember that it seemed ritualistic, "showy," and artificial. It certainly never inspired me to explore the Catholic faith or traditions more thoroughly. But today I got a glimpse of a Catholic tradition that actually made sense and was moving.

I got to speak to the 8th grade class that my friend teaches at St. Mary's Church and School in Massillon. I spoke about cancer, and then just answered their questions about health. Afterwards, the class went over the the main church building for a service going through the stations of the cross. Apparently, they do this every Friday during Lent.

For those who have never been to a Catholic service, or who are unfamiliar with this tradition, I will briefly explain it as it is manifested at St. Mary's on Friday's during Lent. Everyone gathered in the auditorium, and the priest greeted the kids, and explained a few common Latin and Greek phrases. Today he emphasized "kyrie eleison," which is Greek for "Lord, have mercy." He asked that after each station of the cross, when he said "The Lord Jesus crucified" that the congregation sing with him "kyrie eleison." He taught us the brief chant, and then had some of the kids walk with him around the sanctuary, one of which was carrying a wooden cross. All around the sanctuary were fourteen mosaics depicting fourteen stages of Christ's crucifixion. It starts with his condemnation to death, and ends with his body taken down from the cross. At each "station" the priest (with a microphone) explained the depiction and what can be learned from it. Then, various children would read a prayer at the front of the sanctuary relating to the station. The priest would make his proclamation, and the whole group responded by singing the chant "kyrie eleison." It ended with with the priest sharing some thoughts about the whole process... today he talked about how the stations of the cross were not easy, like walking to school or something like that; rather, it was hard, and the scenes are violent, and hard to see. Some, he said, when they see a crucifix hide their children's eyes, because it is too barbaric, to violent; but, he pointed out, we have to face that to understand what Jesus went through for us.

Overall, I was very moved. Yes, there were things that were entirely and uniquely Catholic; one station has some lady named Veronica (apparently a Catholic saint) offering her head covering to Jesus to wipe the sweat off his brow. And there are three distinct "stumbling" episodes that Jesus endures. But though I know that this is "mere" tradition, the story surrounding each element, even the uniquely Catholic ones, had a powerful message to relay. I can't remember exactly what the priest said at any of the stations. But I can give me interpretation of one station. One of the stations is of Jesus being nailed to the cross. The priest talked about how Jesus willingly put his hand out to be punctured with a large nail when he was commanded to. Though he knew it would hurt, he still offered each limb as requested by the soldiers without fighting. Then the child at the front offered a prayer that we would be more like Jesus, willing to be obedient, even when it hurt, even when we didn't want to. A powerful lesson in one little mosaic-caught moment of the Passion scene.

On a practical level, this tradition makes great sense for an illiterate society, in which these traditions originally developed. But there is something powerful about taking 8 or so Fridays each year and simply walking with Jesus through the last hours of his life. Protestants have much to learn from our Catholic brethren, especially when it comes to spiritual formation.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios was great. The weather was warm, but not hot. I went with three fellow doctors (all family physicians... but that makes sense since it was a family practice conference).

This first picture is of Jen and Suzanne at the City Walk at Universal Studios. If you can't see it, that is the Hard Rock Cafe Orlando in the background. It is built like the Colosseum, but there is a pink convertable crashed through on the front. Totally crazy!



This is me on one of the main streets in Universal. It looks like a cityscape in the background, but it is all fascade. We saw the 3-D Shrek movie/ride, which was really awesome. I enjoyed it a lot.









The awesome view of the spinning Universal Sign on our way out.

It was definitely a great evening!

Wireless Internet + Spring = Awesome Evening

Today has been a great day. Work went smooth. Good patient flow, good relationships, a great mix of routine and challenge. But what really stole the show was the weather.

Spring has burst upon the scene in Northeast Ohio. Oh, she may be fickle, and leave us again for a week or two, but she is certainly not coy this year. She has donned her green apparel, begun the symphony for her grand entrance, and has flirted with us with her warm breath on our necks.

I got to come home tonight (the first restful night since returning from my trip to Orlando) and decided to go for a run. I ran past a pond that was nearly deafening from the frogs and crickets. Then I came home and got into the hot tub, and relaxed and drank water. When the jets turned off, I just floated, staring at the grass that seeminly turned green in a two day period. I listened, and heard countless birds chirping and rustling, as the wind gently blew through the pine trees in front of my house. I could hear children playing half a mile away, and in the distance, a steady banging of work, a sure sign of spring. Now, as I write, I have watched dusk envelope the day, as I browsed the internet and got caught up on some things. Though dark, the birds still chirp; the crickets continue their endless symphony.

God is so good, and can be so rapid in the changes He brings about. This evening was a much needed sermon. I need to be patient, and trust that God will bring change. He always does.

Orlando in Review: Last Things First

On Sunday, March 18, 2007, Jen and I were done with our conference at 10 am, so we decided to head to the beach. We decided to head towards Clearwater (the Gulf Coast, near Tampa/St. Petersburg). While online previously, we decided upon Fort DeSoto County Park, which was rated as the #1 Beach in America a couple of years ago. I now know why.

It was sunny, and only about 68-70 degrees. The Park is located on an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. I have not been to too many beaches, but this was impressive. Miles and miles of beach... and the white sand was like powder, at least in the area we were at. There were tons of shells, many of which I had never seen before, and the colors were much more varied than at other beaches I have been to.

We got there and ate Subway for lunch on the beach (the seagulls and other birds were quite enthralled with us). Then we walked to beach to a pier, and spent some time there. We decided to sun bathe... without sunscreen (oops!). By 4:30 pm, I was quite burned, and headed to the shade. Later, Jen joined me and we went to dinner (at IHOP, no less), and then made it just in time to see this.





And so it came about, that I saw my first sunset on the gulf. It was amazing. The orb seemed to melt into the water, seemingly just miles out in the ocean. It was incredible. We had read from Ephesians 5 earlier, and following this incredible display of beauty, sang parts of "I Will Call Upon The Lord." When I see something like this, what else can I do but call out to the Lord, proclaiming that he lives!