So. I'm 25, right? Quarter of a century old. Born in 1985 and the world is radically different. I had cassette tapes that would buzz in my walkman whenever my mom would use her car phone- which came in a bag that was the size of my backpack. Now jr. high students have cell phones and some people don't even have landlines anymore. Technology is moving at a high pace...
...I digress...
Speaking from where I am right now in my life, I am nomadic. I am searching for a place to call home, a person to share that home with, and a meaningful engagement and improvement of the world around me. This might sound like navel gazing, but I think that it's an important realization.
Now. I work for the church. And largely, the established church is one in which from kindergarten (sometimes earlier) till senior year of high school, you are supported and formed in doctrine and practices and community.
But, what happened to me... and what has happened to a lot of folk my age, once reaching college is this sentiment:
"See you back in church when you're a real adult and have a family"
Now. Quite frankly, that pisses me off. Especially if the church also says the mantra, "youth are the future of the church".... pardon my language, but that's bull. The youth, the young adults...
ugh. we are ALL part of the body of the church. Stop ignoring us!
God (theology warning) chose the nomadic people to be his chosen people... The Hebrews were CONSTANTLY moving and not very happy with it...
"By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered you, O Zion,
As for our harps, we hung them up on the trees in the midst of that land.
For those who led us away captive asked us for a song, and our oppressors called for mirth:
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion"
HOW SHALL WE SING THE LORD'S SONG UPON AN ALIEN SOIL?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
Remember the day of Jerusalem, O Lord,
against the people of Edom,
who said, "Down with it! Down with it! even to the ground!"
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy the one who pays you back for what you have done to us!
Happy shall he be who takes your little ones, and dashes them against the rock"
psalm 137
Ya know, half of that isn't in the Episcopal Lectionary. Want to know why? Because the idea that God's people could be so angry that they would harm children is not pleasant. Well, newsflash: Christianity wasn't meant to be pleasant. Duh!
And so, Jerusalem (follow me a lil here)- childhood attention and incorporation into the church and formation... is taken down to the ground... to give us "space" to figure things out.
What the hell? Really?
So here we are, nomadic in our "young adult" stage of life, trying to figure out who we are, what we want, what God wants... and the church is ignoring us.. is tearing down our community....
God is with us, and if you're not... you should reconsider your commitment to your baptismal covenant.
Sorry.
This is very close to me.
As lay ministers, we are all the first order of ministers in the church- and as such, we should all read the ordination service.
BECAUSE, it is our call to respect the dignity and worth of all human beings.
Even if they're in a frat, even if they're a hipster, even if they work in a cubicle and just graduated from college.
Especially in those cases, for we are God's chosen ones and the so called, "future of the church"
so... put your money and time and gifts where you're mouths are or shut up.
This might be harsh, but I keep hearing the same thing all over.. In MS, in CA, in friends of all places... we're looking for something and we're coming up short because it feels like nobody cares until we have kids and careers and spouses... ugh.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Today's Daily Office
So part of the Episcopal Service Corps is that we say morning prayer together during the week. Which is nice and comforting to me. Growing up in my family, my Dad would wake up early to have coffee and say his prayers and read the Bible. I always saw him and knew that he was in a sacred space. I guess this practice gives me a taste of home. Especially considering the Book of Common Prayer he commonly would use was the one my Godparents gave me at my baptism (at three months old). That same BCP is what I use now, and the pages are yellow with the oil from my Dad's fingertips touching the pages... the cover is duct taped a little bit. The book is rough around the edges, nothing new about it... but it has a great legacy that I respect and love about it.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't really know the bible all too well. I mean, I get the story... but specific passages, nope. However, I remember there being a passage in Romans, but not knowing where, that talks about how the angels lift up sighs as prayers to God. Now, I don't remember when I particularly noticed this passage, but it hit me. Hard.
Anyway, today in the Daily Office, that reading (Romans 8:22-27) came up. Funny.
I've always liked the whole, "don't know how to pray" thing... cause to be honest, most times when I'm not praying from the Book of Common Prayer, silly things come out of my mouth. FOR example:
Happening 71:
"Cause we all know California's a crazy place... uh, yeah."- Blount Montgomery
Interesting thing is that quote came before I knew that I had an offer from the Episcopal Service Corps in San Francisco and definitely before I moved out here.
Funny.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't really know the bible all too well. I mean, I get the story... but specific passages, nope. However, I remember there being a passage in Romans, but not knowing where, that talks about how the angels lift up sighs as prayers to God. Now, I don't remember when I particularly noticed this passage, but it hit me. Hard.
Anyway, today in the Daily Office, that reading (Romans 8:22-27) came up. Funny.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in* hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes* for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes*27 with sighs too deep for words. And God,* who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit* intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.I've always liked the whole, "don't know how to pray" thing... cause to be honest, most times when I'm not praying from the Book of Common Prayer, silly things come out of my mouth. FOR example:
Happening 71:
"Cause we all know California's a crazy place... uh, yeah."- Blount Montgomery
Interesting thing is that quote came before I knew that I had an offer from the Episcopal Service Corps in San Francisco and definitely before I moved out here.
Funny.
Gratefulness
Things that I'm thankful for this morning:
(in no particular order)
cameras
Bruce Springsteen
coffee
fresh air
labyrinths
energy
giddiness
the concept of my Monday off (and maybe Tuesday if I can swing it)
Mississippi
Camp Bratton Green
honesty
compassion
Love
friends
music
did I mention coffee?
my office
(in no particular order)
cameras
Bruce Springsteen
coffee
fresh air
labyrinths
energy
giddiness
the concept of my Monday off (and maybe Tuesday if I can swing it)
Mississippi
Camp Bratton Green
honesty
compassion
Love
friends
music
did I mention coffee?
my office
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mumford and Sons- After the Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqUsAHTUPTU
And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.
Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.
And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.
I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqUsAHTUPTU
And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.
Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.
And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.
I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Home
Ok.
Let's go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room.
Take the Southern raised girl out of the South and you get...?
Don't know yet.
However...
There's something I'm already butting up against and here it is: there are several kinds of transplants to this part of the world from the Southern United States. And while I won't go through and explain them, the one I don't understand is the Transplant who has based everything they see wrong with Society in the South...
Here's why I don't understand.
Yes. The South has a troubling history. Slavery (which, by the way, the north also had a big part in), Racism (which, by the way, is a problem ALL over the United States-and I speak about Racism not only in terms of black and white), poor education (California isn't that far ahead in National rankings), poor health... etc etc.
Here's the kicker. Most people in the South KNOW ALL OF THIS. Now, whether they choose to admit it out loud or just think it to themselves sometime, that's another issue. AND furthermore, the South, knowing the history (and continued legacy of these issues), is in an eternal state of becoming. Now, whether the South is becoming a better place or not is another question, but trying counts a lot in this case.
Other areas of this country use the South as a whipping post. Something and somewhere they can project and promote the stereotypes of bigotry, and therefore, not notice their own issues. No place is perfect. Take the damn log out of your own eye before you remove the speck in someone else's...
And you know what? It's ok to not like the South. I understand that Southern people have done many hurtful things and that's not ok. BUT, (speaking from my Christian formation) I feel compelled to love the South, not entirely like Jesus has called us to love our enemies. You don't have to like. I don't have to like everything the South represents and everything the South has done and does etc. But, I love it. I love it in the way that sometimes I want to whomp it outside its head. And sometimes I want to hug it.
Also, the South, whether or not I love it and definitely whether or not I like it, is my home. And that has influenced who I am and who I will be. Just to clarify, though, I like it and love my home.
Ugh.
Let's go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room.
Take the Southern raised girl out of the South and you get...?
Don't know yet.
However...
There's something I'm already butting up against and here it is: there are several kinds of transplants to this part of the world from the Southern United States. And while I won't go through and explain them, the one I don't understand is the Transplant who has based everything they see wrong with Society in the South...
Here's why I don't understand.
Yes. The South has a troubling history. Slavery (which, by the way, the north also had a big part in), Racism (which, by the way, is a problem ALL over the United States-and I speak about Racism not only in terms of black and white), poor education (California isn't that far ahead in National rankings), poor health... etc etc.
Here's the kicker. Most people in the South KNOW ALL OF THIS. Now, whether they choose to admit it out loud or just think it to themselves sometime, that's another issue. AND furthermore, the South, knowing the history (and continued legacy of these issues), is in an eternal state of becoming. Now, whether the South is becoming a better place or not is another question, but trying counts a lot in this case.
Other areas of this country use the South as a whipping post. Something and somewhere they can project and promote the stereotypes of bigotry, and therefore, not notice their own issues. No place is perfect. Take the damn log out of your own eye before you remove the speck in someone else's...
And you know what? It's ok to not like the South. I understand that Southern people have done many hurtful things and that's not ok. BUT, (speaking from my Christian formation) I feel compelled to love the South, not entirely like Jesus has called us to love our enemies. You don't have to like. I don't have to like everything the South represents and everything the South has done and does etc. But, I love it. I love it in the way that sometimes I want to whomp it outside its head. And sometimes I want to hug it.
Also, the South, whether or not I love it and definitely whether or not I like it, is my home. And that has influenced who I am and who I will be. Just to clarify, though, I like it and love my home.
Ugh.
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