Well. The Iraqi team has won the Asian Cup. I say, good for them. Kurds, Shiite and Sunni on ther team. People in Iraq proud of them, a sense of uniting the country. I loath sports - well, oh, in the Greek fashion, competing for no reward except the laurel wreath, great! Today, I say cynically, it's just for money. The Tour de France, par example. Take drugs, sure, if you can win. Sordid at the best.
If we (the human race) are lucky, this win will remind people of what the human community should be about. What is the purpose of hate? Of division? Of oppression? Hey, if a football game can shame us into remembering that human beings are one family, I may have to revise my feelings about sports! Well, "real" sport.
Brian+
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Brian’s Reflection: Saturday, July 28, 2007
Yes, I went once to the land of Sicily too,
I went to Euboia's vineyard-covered plain,
And to Sparta, that splendid city on Eurotas' reedy banks;
And everywhere I went they welcomed me with kindness.
But no pleasure came to my heart from any of them:
So true is it, after all, that nothing is dearer than one's homeland.
Theognis of Megara, Greek poet, born on this day, c 540 BCE
If I may obtusely paraphrase the young lawyer’s question to Jesus, “And what is my homeland?.
I was born in Canada. I don’t consider it my “homeland”. I’m an American citizen too. I don’t consider it my “homeland”. I’ve lived in many parts of the world. I don’t consider them my homeland. And, contrary to what St. Paul said about the Christian’s homeland being in Heaven, I don’t consider Heaven my homeland either, unless “Heaven” is understood as a simple metaphor for comfortableness with one’s truest humanity.
“Homeland” is a state of mind. One chooses it. I long ago chose mine. I feel I am “home” in the fellowship of the just, the caring, the vulnerable, the nonjudgmental, the kind, the generous, the forgiving, the grateful, the joyful. Oh, often I am far from Home, in my heart, or emotionally [physicality has nothing to do with it], or intellectually, or in the realm of the feelings.
But that is no matter. The critical matter, as Theognis says, is to hold “Home” dear, and to return no matter how far one wanders.
It feels to me that much of the human race has wandered far from Home. It makes me deeply sad. Why, only this week I received three emails with flag-waving slogans indicating that people who criticize America are unpatriotic and un-American and should leave. I guess America can’t be “home” if you disagree?
I know where my Home is. And I keep wondering what it is I might be doing to keep the home-fires burning brightly and warmly. It’s a daily challenge!
Brian+
Yes, I went once to the land of Sicily too,
I went to Euboia's vineyard-covered plain,
And to Sparta, that splendid city on Eurotas' reedy banks;
And everywhere I went they welcomed me with kindness.
But no pleasure came to my heart from any of them:
So true is it, after all, that nothing is dearer than one's homeland.
Theognis of Megara, Greek poet, born on this day, c 540 BCE
If I may obtusely paraphrase the young lawyer’s question to Jesus, “And what is my homeland?.
I was born in Canada. I don’t consider it my “homeland”. I’m an American citizen too. I don’t consider it my “homeland”. I’ve lived in many parts of the world. I don’t consider them my homeland. And, contrary to what St. Paul said about the Christian’s homeland being in Heaven, I don’t consider Heaven my homeland either, unless “Heaven” is understood as a simple metaphor for comfortableness with one’s truest humanity.
“Homeland” is a state of mind. One chooses it. I long ago chose mine. I feel I am “home” in the fellowship of the just, the caring, the vulnerable, the nonjudgmental, the kind, the generous, the forgiving, the grateful, the joyful. Oh, often I am far from Home, in my heart, or emotionally [physicality has nothing to do with it], or intellectually, or in the realm of the feelings.
But that is no matter. The critical matter, as Theognis says, is to hold “Home” dear, and to return no matter how far one wanders.
It feels to me that much of the human race has wandered far from Home. It makes me deeply sad. Why, only this week I received three emails with flag-waving slogans indicating that people who criticize America are unpatriotic and un-American and should leave. I guess America can’t be “home” if you disagree?
I know where my Home is. And I keep wondering what it is I might be doing to keep the home-fires burning brightly and warmly. It’s a daily challenge!
Brian+
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, July 25, 2007
People living deeply have no fear of death.
The only abnormality is the incapacity to love.
- Anais Nin, remarkable woman, who
made the first entry in her famous diaries
on this day, 1914
Nin’s diaries began at age 11 and ended just before her death over 60 years later. She was a writer of female erotica, confessed to sexual relations with her father, and had lovers such as Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell, Edmund Wilson, and James Agee. She was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1974. Most important, she had a fine and brilliant mind. Read her stuff. It is stimulating. Dismissing people who live outside the acceptable boxes of our chained minds is self-destructive.
Ponder her two quotes. They are, to me, core in terms of being human. Deep living dissolves fear; who has time to worry about death when living is so entrancing! Is this not the metaphorical meaning of such concepts as Resurrection? Reincarnation? Eternity?
And if we can’t love, we are inhuman. This is why we must abandon ourself to Love. If we don’t, we shrivel. Go nowhere. Can only be pitied.
Suppress the impulse to turn away from the unconventional.
Brian+
People living deeply have no fear of death.
The only abnormality is the incapacity to love.
- Anais Nin, remarkable woman, who
made the first entry in her famous diaries
on this day, 1914
Nin’s diaries began at age 11 and ended just before her death over 60 years later. She was a writer of female erotica, confessed to sexual relations with her father, and had lovers such as Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell, Edmund Wilson, and James Agee. She was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1974. Most important, she had a fine and brilliant mind. Read her stuff. It is stimulating. Dismissing people who live outside the acceptable boxes of our chained minds is self-destructive.
Ponder her two quotes. They are, to me, core in terms of being human. Deep living dissolves fear; who has time to worry about death when living is so entrancing! Is this not the metaphorical meaning of such concepts as Resurrection? Reincarnation? Eternity?
And if we can’t love, we are inhuman. This is why we must abandon ourself to Love. If we don’t, we shrivel. Go nowhere. Can only be pitied.
Suppress the impulse to turn away from the unconventional.
Brian+
Monday, July 23, 2007
Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The establishment is made up of little men, very frightened.
- Bella Savitsky Abzug, fabulous gutsy woman,
Representative from NY, sporter of great hats,
born on this day, 1920
Bella was the Representative from the 19th district when I was in seminary in the early seventies. I loved her. She was smart, straight-talking, and very funny. I think the only political candidate meeting I ever actually went to in my life (shame on me! But, I just don’t believe anything politicians say) was one for her in the West Village. When I told her that my phone at the seminary was being tapped, and my mail opened, presumably because of my stance on the Vietnam War (later to be confirmed by a clandestine picture of me taken by US agents outside the American consulate in Toronto), she took my info - and actually got back to me about it a few days later! She is the one and only. No one else has even answered a letter. It was Bella who famously said that her place as a woman was in the House.
Alas, her comment is I believe still true. The “establishment” in all parts of the World is still made up of little men (pretending to be Big Guys). What galls me most is that many of them claim their right by virtue of the “fact” that God made woman inferior - or so they seem to interpret their religious texts (and that means most religions) - which only goes to prove that patriarchy has more staying power than the Divine.
What frightens me more, however, is that these men are indeed frightened. Frightened of what will happen to their prerogatives and privileges if they let women “in”. And I am frightened of what frightened men are capable of doing - no, have done and are doing to this world of ours. It was to my great delight the other night that an 80 year old male parishioner said he was going to vote for ….. Hillary! (Ok, ok, I admit I’m a little anxious about the power of power to corrupt!)
Everyone’s equal. There’s no “inferior” and “superior” in the category of Human. God does not hold men in higher regard than women, or vice versa. The sooner we live this truth, the sooner no one need be frightened. Fear is the greatest warper of human nature. One of Jesus’ central messages was, “Be not afraid”. He understood.
Brian+
The establishment is made up of little men, very frightened.
- Bella Savitsky Abzug, fabulous gutsy woman,
Representative from NY, sporter of great hats,
born on this day, 1920
Bella was the Representative from the 19th district when I was in seminary in the early seventies. I loved her. She was smart, straight-talking, and very funny. I think the only political candidate meeting I ever actually went to in my life (shame on me! But, I just don’t believe anything politicians say) was one for her in the West Village. When I told her that my phone at the seminary was being tapped, and my mail opened, presumably because of my stance on the Vietnam War (later to be confirmed by a clandestine picture of me taken by US agents outside the American consulate in Toronto), she took my info - and actually got back to me about it a few days later! She is the one and only. No one else has even answered a letter. It was Bella who famously said that her place as a woman was in the House.
Alas, her comment is I believe still true. The “establishment” in all parts of the World is still made up of little men (pretending to be Big Guys). What galls me most is that many of them claim their right by virtue of the “fact” that God made woman inferior - or so they seem to interpret their religious texts (and that means most religions) - which only goes to prove that patriarchy has more staying power than the Divine.
What frightens me more, however, is that these men are indeed frightened. Frightened of what will happen to their prerogatives and privileges if they let women “in”. And I am frightened of what frightened men are capable of doing - no, have done and are doing to this world of ours. It was to my great delight the other night that an 80 year old male parishioner said he was going to vote for ….. Hillary! (Ok, ok, I admit I’m a little anxious about the power of power to corrupt!)
Everyone’s equal. There’s no “inferior” and “superior” in the category of Human. God does not hold men in higher regard than women, or vice versa. The sooner we live this truth, the sooner no one need be frightened. Fear is the greatest warper of human nature. One of Jesus’ central messages was, “Be not afraid”. He understood.
Brian+
Brian’s Reflection: Monday, July 23, 2007
This is not a dress rehearsal; this is it.
- Quoted in “The Color of Light”
I was a chaplain to those with AIDS for many years. I have been permanently scarred by those years and the experience. Oh, not by those with AIDS - meeting them and walking the path with them was almost universally positive, strengthening, inspiring, and deepening in humanity. Oh no. The scarring came from Government, including Ronald Reagan, George Bush 41, Bill Clinton, and George Bush 43 and their cowardly failure to respond with compassion or fairness for fear of political repercussions, because most of the sufferers were Gay . It came from vicious mis-named “Christians” and other “religious” people who poured hate and vitriol over those with AIDS. It came from the parents I had to deal with, disguising their homophobia and fear behind thinly veiled self-righteousness. When I can put aside the scars (and I think I have only repressed them), it was the greatest time of love and courage and commitment and friendship I have lived through in over 40 years of ministry.
We laughed a lot, believe it or not. And we lived by various truths. One of them was the quotation. And it is bang on. It formed my theology. No compassion, no love, no sacrifice, no forgiveness, no generosity, no openness to reality here in this Life, none any other time or “place”, including Heaven. Remember that parable Jesus told about those who say, “But we ate and drank with you …!” But the response was, “I do not know who you are”.
This is not a dress rehearsal folks. Right here, right now, is the crucible, the test point, for authentic humanity. The test point for faithfulness, for authentic Christian or any other discipleship to a loving God.
This is it. Live it now. There is no magic spell that will transform present hypocrisy into a future blessing.
Brian+
This is not a dress rehearsal; this is it.
- Quoted in “The Color of Light”
I was a chaplain to those with AIDS for many years. I have been permanently scarred by those years and the experience. Oh, not by those with AIDS - meeting them and walking the path with them was almost universally positive, strengthening, inspiring, and deepening in humanity. Oh no. The scarring came from Government, including Ronald Reagan, George Bush 41, Bill Clinton, and George Bush 43 and their cowardly failure to respond with compassion or fairness for fear of political repercussions, because most of the sufferers were Gay . It came from vicious mis-named “Christians” and other “religious” people who poured hate and vitriol over those with AIDS. It came from the parents I had to deal with, disguising their homophobia and fear behind thinly veiled self-righteousness. When I can put aside the scars (and I think I have only repressed them), it was the greatest time of love and courage and commitment and friendship I have lived through in over 40 years of ministry.
We laughed a lot, believe it or not. And we lived by various truths. One of them was the quotation. And it is bang on. It formed my theology. No compassion, no love, no sacrifice, no forgiveness, no generosity, no openness to reality here in this Life, none any other time or “place”, including Heaven. Remember that parable Jesus told about those who say, “But we ate and drank with you …!” But the response was, “I do not know who you are”.
This is not a dress rehearsal folks. Right here, right now, is the crucible, the test point, for authentic humanity. The test point for faithfulness, for authentic Christian or any other discipleship to a loving God.
This is it. Live it now. There is no magic spell that will transform present hypocrisy into a future blessing.
Brian+
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Brian’s Reflection: Saturday, July 21, 2007
I'm not fancy. I'm what I appear to be.
- Janet Reno, one-time (and first woman)
Attorney General, born on this day, 1938
Well, I remember Ms. Reno. She certainly appeared “not fancy” to me. Simple, down-to-earth, a competent woman of few well chosen words – and a few well-chosen not-spoken words when being harassed by the so-called Religious Right (or, as I refer to them, the Neither Eithers).
Jesus once said about one of His followers, “Behold, an Israelite without guile.” The man was startled, wondering how Jesus knew him. “Before you came, I saw you, under the fig tree”, Jesus said - presumably not physically/literally. The implication seems to be that persons “without guile” are rare.
Guilelessness (which is what I think Ms. Reno intended by “not fancy”) is a great gift, or achievement. “Keeping up appearances”, as Hyacinth Bucket (Boo-kay) hilarious showed, is exceeding tiresome and a waste of energy.
Better just to be yourself. Makes Life a lot less stressful.
Brian+
I'm not fancy. I'm what I appear to be.
- Janet Reno, one-time (and first woman)
Attorney General, born on this day, 1938
Well, I remember Ms. Reno. She certainly appeared “not fancy” to me. Simple, down-to-earth, a competent woman of few well chosen words – and a few well-chosen not-spoken words when being harassed by the so-called Religious Right (or, as I refer to them, the Neither Eithers).
Jesus once said about one of His followers, “Behold, an Israelite without guile.” The man was startled, wondering how Jesus knew him. “Before you came, I saw you, under the fig tree”, Jesus said - presumably not physically/literally. The implication seems to be that persons “without guile” are rare.
Guilelessness (which is what I think Ms. Reno intended by “not fancy”) is a great gift, or achievement. “Keeping up appearances”, as Hyacinth Bucket (Boo-kay) hilarious showed, is exceeding tiresome and a waste of energy.
Better just to be yourself. Makes Life a lot less stressful.
Brian+
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Brian’s Reflection: Friday, July 20, 2007
I do often turn backward when I pass
By with this body that in pain I bear,
And then I receive comfort from your air
Which causes it to move, and say: "Alas!"
Then thinking of the sweet treasure I leave,
Of the long journey, of my life's short round,
I stop my walk, and pale, dismayed, I grieve
And bend my eyes in tears toward the ground.
Sometimes a doubt assails my deep distress:
How can these limbs go on living at all,
So far away from their soul's happiness?
But then Love answers me: "Don't you recall
That lovers have the privilege to be
Rid of each human trait and quality?"
- A sonnet of Petrarch, Italian poet
and scholar, born on this day, 1304
How I would have loved to be Francesco Petrarca! He abandoned law after his father died, and became a scholar and poet. After reading Cicero, he became a passionate lover of all the classics. He undertook the collection of ancient manuscripts, scouring cathedral and monastic libraries all over Europe - that appeals to me! His private library was the first of its kind. He is lauded as the founder of Renaissance Christian humanism, “harmonizing classical genius with divine revelation”. Would that we had a lot more of his type in the world today!
His sonnet might be a little challenging – I doubt that many young people read sonnets these days, let alone Petrarch. But, hell, everyone would surely benefit from pondering a 700 year old sonnet upon rising from bed!!
Most of us are no doubt assailed every now and then with thoughts about “the long journey”, and about our own life’s “short round”. Dismayed by it all perhaps. But, reminds Petrarch, Love lifts us beyond the purely material nature of “these limbs”, reminds us that we are not so far away from our “soul’s happiness”, reminds us that we are spirit beings destined for the enjoyment of the eternal Journey, unconstrained by “each human trait and quality”.
Now: that should get you out of bed with a Petrarchan enthusiasm for the day!!
Brian+
I do often turn backward when I pass
By with this body that in pain I bear,
And then I receive comfort from your air
Which causes it to move, and say: "Alas!"
Then thinking of the sweet treasure I leave,
Of the long journey, of my life's short round,
I stop my walk, and pale, dismayed, I grieve
And bend my eyes in tears toward the ground.
Sometimes a doubt assails my deep distress:
How can these limbs go on living at all,
So far away from their soul's happiness?
But then Love answers me: "Don't you recall
That lovers have the privilege to be
Rid of each human trait and quality?"
- A sonnet of Petrarch, Italian poet
and scholar, born on this day, 1304
How I would have loved to be Francesco Petrarca! He abandoned law after his father died, and became a scholar and poet. After reading Cicero, he became a passionate lover of all the classics. He undertook the collection of ancient manuscripts, scouring cathedral and monastic libraries all over Europe - that appeals to me! His private library was the first of its kind. He is lauded as the founder of Renaissance Christian humanism, “harmonizing classical genius with divine revelation”. Would that we had a lot more of his type in the world today!
His sonnet might be a little challenging – I doubt that many young people read sonnets these days, let alone Petrarch. But, hell, everyone would surely benefit from pondering a 700 year old sonnet upon rising from bed!!
Most of us are no doubt assailed every now and then with thoughts about “the long journey”, and about our own life’s “short round”. Dismayed by it all perhaps. But, reminds Petrarch, Love lifts us beyond the purely material nature of “these limbs”, reminds us that we are not so far away from our “soul’s happiness”, reminds us that we are spirit beings destined for the enjoyment of the eternal Journey, unconstrained by “each human trait and quality”.
Now: that should get you out of bed with a Petrarchan enthusiasm for the day!!
Brian+
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
