Yesterday was a good day. Yesterday, I got to see a hymn I had written in print for the first time in the Winter 2014 issue of Lutheran Forum. (The hymn text is included as the end of this post if you have limited time and need/want to skip my ramblings on my hymnwriting journey to this point)
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
RichieWriMo hymnwriting committment post
I know what you're probably thinking: What's RichieWriMo?
RichieWriMo is my take on NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month
I have a number of friends--you know who you are--do this challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel draft entirely in November. Some of my friends have successfully completed this multiple times.
I, however, am not going to write a 50,000 word novel. I am going to use this as an opportunity to write hymn texts. Over half of my hymn texts finished to date have been finished in my previous two November RichieWriMo campaigns, so this will keep the tradition going into its third year. Like last year, I'm setting my goal at 5 finished hymn texts. I wrote 5 the first year and failed to reach my goal of matching it last year, but 5 is a good number. I should be able to do 5......yes.
This blog entry may be a mistake because it creates some accountability and invites your ridicule if I slack off. So, please take advantage of this potential opportunity to ridicule my laziness and help motivate me to write some hymns!
RichieWriMo is my take on NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month
I have a number of friends--you know who you are--do this challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel draft entirely in November. Some of my friends have successfully completed this multiple times.
I, however, am not going to write a 50,000 word novel. I am going to use this as an opportunity to write hymn texts. Over half of my hymn texts finished to date have been finished in my previous two November RichieWriMo campaigns, so this will keep the tradition going into its third year. Like last year, I'm setting my goal at 5 finished hymn texts. I wrote 5 the first year and failed to reach my goal of matching it last year, but 5 is a good number. I should be able to do 5......yes.
This blog entry may be a mistake because it creates some accountability and invites your ridicule if I slack off. So, please take advantage of this potential opportunity to ridicule my laziness and help motivate me to write some hymns!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Let them eat Cheesecake [Factory]
This post isn't really about tennis necessarily, but this has been a good week to be a tennis fan. The WTA Finals--an invitation tournament featuring the top 8 players from the year--is this week, and many of the matches have been fantastic!
Anyway, this post is about Agnieszka Radwańska, who lost today in the semifinals. She usually wears a visor while she plays, and her visor says The Cheesecake Factory on the side. That's right, a Polish professional tennis player is sponsored by an American chain restaurant that had never sponsored an athlete and is known for, along with cheesecake, massive portions and calorie counts.
It is an unlikely pairing. Another illustration of its unlikeliness: I saw Polish tennis fans react to the announcement by expressing surprise that The Cheesecake Factory was a real chain and not something invented for The Big Bang Theory.
How did this pairing happen? Radwańska likes cheesecake, is a frequent eater at The Cheesecake Factory during tournaments in the United States, had already recommended it to other tennis players, and had freely promoted The Cheesecake Factory on social media for a long period of time. Even though some criticize her for eating there, she made her own decision that she liked the restaurant. And the sponsorship deal dictates very little she has to do in addition to what she was already doing: she has to put the name on her visor and do a small number of promotional events during the year.
So many athletes and celebrities make decisions on sponsorships based only on money, even if they really don't care about the product they are endorsing. But I appreciate sponsorship deals like this where there is a real endorsement. Radwańska doesn't make the most money from endorsements, but she can say she was respected enough by the Cheesecake Factory that they decided to give her their first endorsement deal and pay her to do what she was already doing....which is eat cheesecake. That's a good deal.
Anyway, this post is about Agnieszka Radwańska, who lost today in the semifinals. She usually wears a visor while she plays, and her visor says The Cheesecake Factory on the side. That's right, a Polish professional tennis player is sponsored by an American chain restaurant that had never sponsored an athlete and is known for, along with cheesecake, massive portions and calorie counts.
It is an unlikely pairing. Another illustration of its unlikeliness: I saw Polish tennis fans react to the announcement by expressing surprise that The Cheesecake Factory was a real chain and not something invented for The Big Bang Theory.
How did this pairing happen? Radwańska likes cheesecake, is a frequent eater at The Cheesecake Factory during tournaments in the United States, had already recommended it to other tennis players, and had freely promoted The Cheesecake Factory on social media for a long period of time. Even though some criticize her for eating there, she made her own decision that she liked the restaurant. And the sponsorship deal dictates very little she has to do in addition to what she was already doing: she has to put the name on her visor and do a small number of promotional events during the year.
So many athletes and celebrities make decisions on sponsorships based only on money, even if they really don't care about the product they are endorsing. But I appreciate sponsorship deals like this where there is a real endorsement. Radwańska doesn't make the most money from endorsements, but she can say she was respected enough by the Cheesecake Factory that they decided to give her their first endorsement deal and pay her to do what she was already doing....which is eat cheesecake. That's a good deal.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
214 Days
Way back on Ash Wednesday, I wrote 42 words of a new hymn text idea I had. These 42 words formed one complete stanza and half of another stanza. Then a combination of lack of insight and busyness kept me from writing more.
Until yesterday.
Until yesterday.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Walking to choir practice
the sidewalk proceeds
from my door, pointing
my feet directly toward my aim.
But seventy paces are turned aside
by the black river
with speeding rapids driving past
in a swift stream of unfordable Fords
whose chattering wheels rage
a rushing gush of hurried hum.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Craft share
Once a month
we would fill the shoebox
with scissors.
Where these scissors went
the rest of the time
is an enduring mystery.
Somehow, they'd escape
leaving a pair of sentries
volunteering to be left alone,
and we'd hunt them again.
we would fill the shoebox
with scissors.
Where these scissors went
the rest of the time
is an enduring mystery.
Somehow, they'd escape
leaving a pair of sentries
volunteering to be left alone,
and we'd hunt them again.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Ten $5 gift cards
I was very hungry and tired. It was last Saturday night, and I had just arrived home from the one-day Confessing Christ in a Contrary Culture Conference at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Avon, Indiana. The provided lunch was wonderful...if you could eat dairy. They had lasagna and a huge dessert table, but my only lunch option was to throw together a tiny salad, a few apple slices, and three pieces of bread. At least I could eat something.
Consequently, I wasn't surprised to be very hungry when my carpool arrived home late because we were stuck on the highway for an hour due to a motorcycle accident. I wasn't feeling the best and worried about potentially getting sick (which turned out to be an extremely legitimate worry as I've been sick from Sunday through now). There weren't really leftovers, and I didn't feel like waiting for something to cook, so I drove over to McDonald's to save time and get a quick meal.
This is where it became hilarious.
Consequently, I wasn't surprised to be very hungry when my carpool arrived home late because we were stuck on the highway for an hour due to a motorcycle accident. I wasn't feeling the best and worried about potentially getting sick (which turned out to be an extremely legitimate worry as I've been sick from Sunday through now). There weren't really leftovers, and I didn't feel like waiting for something to cook, so I drove over to McDonald's to save time and get a quick meal.
This is where it became hilarious.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Throwing Slowly
I broke my arm throwing once.
It was twisted
apart into dueling shards.
Spiral fractures funnel eyes to pointed gaze
searching for trauma, abuse, violence;
wanting to disbelieve
the strength of one's arm
can overthrow the thrower.
It was twisted
apart into dueling shards.
Spiral fractures funnel eyes to pointed gaze
searching for trauma, abuse, violence;
wanting to disbelieve
the strength of one's arm
can overthrow the thrower.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Where duty's demand and desire meet
Where duty’s demand and desire meet,
harmonizing freedom and coercion,
lies the intersection where my conceit
dies as your needs cause my wants’ conversion.
One road seeks naught but fulfillment espied
in objects of lust yielding happiness.
This lengthening road, eroded by pride,
leaves wanderers lost in their selfishness.
The other rends what should conjoined remain
as exaction extracts the bitterness
of failing actors, who failings they blame
on others alone, themselves lone distressed.
Where duty’s demand and desire meet,
Love lives with forgiveness and joy complete.
[January 12, 2014]
harmonizing freedom and coercion,
lies the intersection where my conceit
dies as your needs cause my wants’ conversion.
One road seeks naught but fulfillment espied
in objects of lust yielding happiness.
This lengthening road, eroded by pride,
leaves wanderers lost in their selfishness.
The other rends what should conjoined remain
as exaction extracts the bitterness
of failing actors, who failings they blame
on others alone, themselves lone distressed.
Where duty’s demand and desire meet,
Love lives with forgiveness and joy complete.
[January 12, 2014]
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Holding on
Progress.
Growth.
How much has been cast aside in pursuit of the bigger and better? And what truths have fallen victim to these stampeding giants?
What if our perspective on progress and growth became distorted somewhere along the way?
Growth.
How much has been cast aside in pursuit of the bigger and better? And what truths have fallen victim to these stampeding giants?
What if our perspective on progress and growth became distorted somewhere along the way?
Friday, August 1, 2014
Surprised by Contentment
I spend a lot of time alone practicing, and much of that time is spent being dissatisfied. Serious musicians have honed their ability to spot weaknesses and flaws in order to fix them. Dissatisfaction comes easily and naturally. What is hard to find is contentment.
I received the gift of a fleeting moment of contentment during my practice today. It wasn't the result of playing perfectly, I still have work to do tomorrow, but it was there nonetheless. It actually surprised me when it came.
I received the gift of a fleeting moment of contentment during my practice today. It wasn't the result of playing perfectly, I still have work to do tomorrow, but it was there nonetheless. It actually surprised me when it came.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Laughing at yourself
I've been on a George MacDonald fairy tale reading kick this year. Recently, this meant reading his fairy tale The Light Princess. [Note: This is your chance to stop and read the fairy tale before I discuss an unexpected element of the story.]
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Tangram No. 7
Completing one project creates a new beginning.
One beginning project creates a new completing.
Project completing creates beginning a new one.
Creates one new project: completing a beginning.
A new one completing beginning creates project.
New creates one project completing a beginning.
Beginning creates a project completing one new.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tangram No. 6
Connecting beginning to accomplishment is hard work.
Beginning accomplishment is connecting to hard work.
To work hard connecting, beginning is accomplishment.
Accomplishment is connecting hard to beginning work.
Is hard work connecting beginning to accomplishment?
Hard connecting to work is beginning accomplishment.
Work is connecting to hard accomplishment beginning.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Tangram No. 5
Success through trying until failure teaches clarity.
Through clarity, failure teaches trying until success.
Trying through failure until clarity teaches success.
Until trying teaches clarity, success through failure.
Failure through trying teaches clarity until success.
Teaches clarity through failure: trying until success.
Clarity through trying teaches failure until success.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Tangram No. 4
Genius solutions are made by limited resources.
Solutions are limited resources made by genius.
Are solutions made by genius resources limited?
Made resources are limited by genius solutions.
By genius resources are solutions made limited.
Limited solutions are genius made by resources.
Resources by limited solutions are made genius.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Tangram No. 3
Thinking up puzzles to exercise the mind.
Up to thinking exercise, the mind puzzles.
Puzzles exercise up the mind to thinking.
To the exercise: thinking up mind puzzles.
Exercise the puzzles to up mind thinking.
The thinking mind puzzles to exercise up.
Mind puzzles to up the thinking exercise.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Tangram No. 2
Mine to discover where you have not.
To not discover, mine where you have.
Discover where you have to not mine.
Where have you not mine to discover?
You have to discover where mine not.
Have mine to not discover where you.
Not mine: Where you have to discover.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Tangram No. 1
Using creativity is exhausting all the options.
Creativity is using all the exhausting options.
Is using the options exhausting all creativity?
Exhausting creativity is using all the options.
All using is creativity exhausting the options.
The all exhausting creativity is using options.
Options exhausting all the using is creativity.
[July 18, 2014]
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Honesty
I'm going to waste some of your time
With enough words
As from both faces of a hypocrite.
From painted mouth there flies forth painted word
Whose meaning flutters at the speaker's will;
For it is not the truth meant to be heard,
But skylark's saccharine song to scrutiny still.
Loquacious lips spill swill when spitting out
A draft they call fine wine whilst whining pour
Forth libel labeled truth, and loosely spout
Off hearsay heard about those they abhor.
From veneered sneer shoots rhetoric born of spite,
Unquivered from a loudly quivering tongue
That snaps off barbs to strung-up crowds incite,
Who, thus directed, will themselves be stung.
We silence fear, but truth has no such fright;
'Tis better not to speak than lie and blight.
Where “Yes” means not “Yes,”
Or, likewise, “No” means not “No,”
Language lies murdered.
Language is an ever growing tree--
Growing to feed mouths and fill books' leaves.
Branches hold us up as we find store
Of descriptions of all we explore.
Language has a growing canopy,
But, unseen, its roots must stronger be,
To uphold the weight of flow'ring words,
And invented passing language birds.
Where we sever branch from rooted trunk,
There we lose stability and plunk
Into treacherous shadowlands of sound,
Where confounding meaning may abound.
Here deception sounds the same as truth,
For there is no way by which to sleuth
And determine if both ears agree
What the word they hear purports to be.
Severed language leads to only loss
Of all truth and meaning, into gloss,
Which, though sounding wise, leads to chaos,
And results in only spectral dross.
When word play deceives
It is not the words that lie--
They mean what they say.
How to distort a text:
You gently correct or ask
Clarification.
The writer slips and paper cuts
To cause ill-chosen words to bleed.
The reader sees clear sign of stain,
That hint that there is more to read.
Instead of salving writer's wound
And seek to heal the pain-filled source,
They cause the writer mortal guilt,
And, frenzied, feed on the remorse.
Communication:
It requires practice and thought,
Often forgotten.
I speak to you a window to my mind,
But all you see is opaque glass
And, thus, no meaning find.
You ask for me to make the window clear.
I scrub the glass to clarity
That lets you message hear.
Listen patiently.
Speak plainly.
Tell the truth
Or be quiet.
[July 20, 2013]
With enough words
As from both faces of a hypocrite.
From painted mouth there flies forth painted word
Whose meaning flutters at the speaker's will;
For it is not the truth meant to be heard,
But skylark's saccharine song to scrutiny still.
Loquacious lips spill swill when spitting out
A draft they call fine wine whilst whining pour
Forth libel labeled truth, and loosely spout
Off hearsay heard about those they abhor.
From veneered sneer shoots rhetoric born of spite,
Unquivered from a loudly quivering tongue
That snaps off barbs to strung-up crowds incite,
Who, thus directed, will themselves be stung.
We silence fear, but truth has no such fright;
'Tis better not to speak than lie and blight.
Where “Yes” means not “Yes,”
Or, likewise, “No” means not “No,”
Language lies murdered.
Language is an ever growing tree--
Growing to feed mouths and fill books' leaves.
Branches hold us up as we find store
Of descriptions of all we explore.
Language has a growing canopy,
But, unseen, its roots must stronger be,
To uphold the weight of flow'ring words,
And invented passing language birds.
Where we sever branch from rooted trunk,
There we lose stability and plunk
Into treacherous shadowlands of sound,
Where confounding meaning may abound.
Here deception sounds the same as truth,
For there is no way by which to sleuth
And determine if both ears agree
What the word they hear purports to be.
Severed language leads to only loss
Of all truth and meaning, into gloss,
Which, though sounding wise, leads to chaos,
And results in only spectral dross.
When word play deceives
It is not the words that lie--
They mean what they say.
How to distort a text:
- Create a pretext
- Ignore the context
- Insert a subtext
- Keep clear meaning suppressed
- Accept no protest
- Ensure distortion stays impressed
You gently correct or ask
Clarification.
The writer slips and paper cuts
To cause ill-chosen words to bleed.
The reader sees clear sign of stain,
That hint that there is more to read.
Instead of salving writer's wound
And seek to heal the pain-filled source,
They cause the writer mortal guilt,
And, frenzied, feed on the remorse.
Communication:
It requires practice and thought,
Often forgotten.
I speak to you a window to my mind,
But all you see is opaque glass
And, thus, no meaning find.
You ask for me to make the window clear.
I scrub the glass to clarity
That lets you message hear.
Listen patiently.
Speak plainly.
Tell the truth
Or be quiet.
[July 20, 2013]
Monday, July 14, 2014
Borrowing, Stealing, and "Same-Saying"
"Amateurs borrow. Professionals steal."
Amateurs only borrow because they never have ownership of the material they borrow. They do not have mastery of the material. The material borrowed remains associated with the original source. Professionals steal because they can claim a certain ownership of the material. They have mastery over the material.
When thinking about this, it brought to mind the confessing or "same-saying" aspect of the Christian faith. The Church uses creeds and prayers as confessions of faith that may have been written many, many centuries ago, but we "same-say" them. We are making them our own. We are claiming ownership of them as our own personal creeds and prayers. They did not originate with us and they will endure after we are gone, yet they are ours. We do not borrow them only to let go of them and give them back later, but we receive them as a gift that multiplies through giving since in giving them we also keep them.
To bring this back to my original discussion of musical composition, I do not wish to steal or borrow the work of someone else (unless I'm "borrowing" in the sense of arranging). Yet, even though I say this, I have and will intentionally "same-say" using compositional vocabulary borrowed from other composers as an homage. I use their language as my own to preserve their voice from the past, add my voice to it in the present, and share this voice into the future for others to continue to "same-say" along with.
*I would prefer a variant something like "Amateurs borrow. Professionals own." or "Amateurs copy. Professionals pay homage." or "Amateurs borrow. Professionals 'same-say.'" but they aren't as striking.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Home away from home
Last week, my adventuring took me away from Fort Waynederland to Iowa for a family reunion. The entire week was great, but Sunday gave me an opportunity to both be a congregation member without having to play organ and visit a new church.
I attended Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with extended family. I'd never been to the church before and didn't know anyone except my relatives, but I had a unity with everyone anyway. They had the same liturgy and they said the same prayers and creed in the same cadence as here. The voice and heartbeat of the services was the same. In the past, I've had the same experience at my grandparent's church: Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Fairmont, Minnesota. Of course, there were small differences depending on the church, but the substance was the same. Even though I was physically away from Indiana, I was home.
I was with people who pray along with the psalmist at the start of a few of our liturgies:
I attended Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with extended family. I'd never been to the church before and didn't know anyone except my relatives, but I had a unity with everyone anyway. They had the same liturgy and they said the same prayers and creed in the same cadence as here. The voice and heartbeat of the services was the same. In the past, I've had the same experience at my grandparent's church: Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Fairmont, Minnesota. Of course, there were small differences depending on the church, but the substance was the same. Even though I was physically away from Indiana, I was home.
I was with people who pray along with the psalmist at the start of a few of our liturgies:
I was with people who pray along with the psalmist in a Responsory used in a few of our liturgies:"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise." (Ps. 51: 15)
I was in the house of God where He gathers us to come and hear His Word and receive His Sacraments, and opens our lips to declare his praise. I was gathered with others who share a common identity as the baptized children of God. I was home."Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells." (Ps. 26:8)
Constraints, the World Cup, and lack of thought
The World Cup is being contested and I am an American that likes soccer. I'm perfectly fine with people having different tastes in favorite sports. I mean, my favorite sports of tennis and soccer aren't exactly in line with the tastes of most of my fellow Americans. However, I do get annoyed when people deride sports such as soccer without thinking through their arguments.
I've been seeing this criticism leveled against soccer during this World Cup: "It isn't natural to not use your hands."
This kind of argument shows a lack of understanding of constraints and how constraints are necessary to have a unique sport with consistent rules. If different sports didn't have their own unique constraints to create rules of play, we would basically have a form of Calvinball where everyone does whatever they think is "natural" and it is different every time.
It doesn't matter if a sport has a constraint that works against a perceived "natural" instinct because the challenge created by the constraint is uniform and foundational to the uniqueness to the sport. The challenge is part of the appeal of the sport because it requires a unique skill set. Soccer has no hands allowed for field players and offside, basketball has dribbling and goaltending rules. baseball has tag ups, Football has forward passing constraints, etc... We could make a long list of constraints that create the distinctive rules of each of the sports out there. Without the constraints, we have no sport.
A criticism like "It isn't natural to not use your hands," doesn't mean much unless you are going to define what exactly is natural and disqualify all sports that don't meet this criteria. If you do this, you might find that no sport is completely "natural." All sports use "natural" motions, but different sports place different "unnatural" constraints upon how those natural motions can be used including completely excluding certain natural motions. For example, biting is a "natural" motion to the human body, but it is excluded as a way to weaken opponents in sports.
I find the lack of thought behind arguments like "It isn't natural..." troubling because they are really criticizing the concept of constraints and rules. They are saying we can't constrain behavior or define proper conduct. They are denying the governance of laws, rules, and regulations. They are rejecting the foundational nature of institutions. Even if they don't realize it, they are promoting a society described by the phrase "everyone did as he saw fit."** If this sounds good to you, I hope you are never unwillingly on the receiving end of someone doing as they see fit. You might find you have rejected the only recourse you have to protect yourself or anyone else from the whims of the individually-defined "natural."
**Judges 21:25b
I've been seeing this criticism leveled against soccer during this World Cup: "It isn't natural to not use your hands."
This kind of argument shows a lack of understanding of constraints and how constraints are necessary to have a unique sport with consistent rules. If different sports didn't have their own unique constraints to create rules of play, we would basically have a form of Calvinball where everyone does whatever they think is "natural" and it is different every time.
It doesn't matter if a sport has a constraint that works against a perceived "natural" instinct because the challenge created by the constraint is uniform and foundational to the uniqueness to the sport. The challenge is part of the appeal of the sport because it requires a unique skill set. Soccer has no hands allowed for field players and offside, basketball has dribbling and goaltending rules. baseball has tag ups, Football has forward passing constraints, etc... We could make a long list of constraints that create the distinctive rules of each of the sports out there. Without the constraints, we have no sport.
A criticism like "It isn't natural to not use your hands," doesn't mean much unless you are going to define what exactly is natural and disqualify all sports that don't meet this criteria. If you do this, you might find that no sport is completely "natural." All sports use "natural" motions, but different sports place different "unnatural" constraints upon how those natural motions can be used including completely excluding certain natural motions. For example, biting is a "natural" motion to the human body, but it is excluded as a way to weaken opponents in sports.
I find the lack of thought behind arguments like "It isn't natural..." troubling because they are really criticizing the concept of constraints and rules. They are saying we can't constrain behavior or define proper conduct. They are denying the governance of laws, rules, and regulations. They are rejecting the foundational nature of institutions. Even if they don't realize it, they are promoting a society described by the phrase "everyone did as he saw fit."** If this sounds good to you, I hope you are never unwillingly on the receiving end of someone doing as they see fit. You might find you have rejected the only recourse you have to protect yourself or anyone else from the whims of the individually-defined "natural."
**Judges 21:25b
Friday, June 27, 2014
Singing our glorious confidence.
This last week was a great week. I attended the Level II organist workshop put on by Concordia Theological Seminary. I made new friends from around the country, was encouraged as I continue my efforts to become a better organist, enjoyed five days full of wonderful classes on service playing and theology, and attended at least two chapel services a day every day.
We sang so many hymns and Psalms together in class and chapel, but one stanza we sang in particular stands out as a highlight moment of the week. This is the sixth and final stanza of the hymn "Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide" by Philipp Melanchthon [Lutheran Service Book 585]:
We sang so many hymns and Psalms together in class and chapel, but one stanza we sang in particular stands out as a highlight moment of the week. This is the sixth and final stanza of the hymn "Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide" by Philipp Melanchthon [Lutheran Service Book 585]:
I may write in more detail about topics from this week in the future, but this stanza sums up nicely the focus of the workshop: The Word of God. We certainly discussed music since it was an organist workshop, but the focus was on the ministerial function of music as servant to the Word of God. All of the music we looked at and sang is in service of teaching the content of the Word of God, writing it on our hearts and minds, and putting it ever on our lips. For the Word of God gives and preserves faith our whole lives through, defends our hearts, and truly is our glorious confidence unto life everlasting. And it is the song of the Church that she sings with one voice unified in proclamation.Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;
Preserve our faith our whole life through--
Your Word alone our heart's defense,
The Church's glorious confidence.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Learning what to ignore
I learned today that one of my pastors has started a blog. His post for today, On Ignorance and Imagination, is great and got me thinking. You should follow the link and read it. However, instead of discussing ignorance or imagination, I want to discuss the power of ignoring.
Since I'm a working pianist/organist, I have to learn new music every week. Sometimes it is just a hymn or two, and sometimes it is a sizable stack of music. I also help my piano students in the process of learning their music every single week. Today, I was teaching a student working on a Bach fugue that sometimes the best route to learning something thoroughly is to purposefully ignore parts of it at first.
How often do people put off starting something because they are intimidated by the size of the project? How often do people get in their own way with worry over messing up one of a myriad concerns they are mulling over?
I'm constantly reminding myself and my students that it is better to find ways to practice that allow you to fully process and properly execute what you are trying to do. Sometimes you have to practice one hand at a time. Sometimes you have to figure out and focus on only the framework while ignoring the other notes. Sometimes you have to not even push keys down, but simply walk your arms through the choreography of how they'll move to get your hands and fingers in the correct places at the correct times. Sometimes you simply play the piece through in your mind to become comfortable with how it flows and fits together. Sometimes you have to practice only the rhythm. The trick is to identify how to break the project up into many steps small enough that you can be successful at each step until you run out of steps.
I'm reminded of a phrase from one of my favorite literature quotes from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky:
I have seen it again and again that what is first thought of as next to impossible can be achieved if you know how to ignore properly--if you know how to ignore in a way that keeps you working and stepping forward. If you ignore the finish line, but keep moving forward, you will eventually be surprised to see when looking back to review your progress that you have crossed the finish line you thought was out of reach.
If you can ignore that you can't do the impossible.....you may just end up doing it.
[Last chance to go back up and follow the link to my pastor's blog post if you haven't already]
Since I'm a working pianist/organist, I have to learn new music every week. Sometimes it is just a hymn or two, and sometimes it is a sizable stack of music. I also help my piano students in the process of learning their music every single week. Today, I was teaching a student working on a Bach fugue that sometimes the best route to learning something thoroughly is to purposefully ignore parts of it at first.
How often do people put off starting something because they are intimidated by the size of the project? How often do people get in their own way with worry over messing up one of a myriad concerns they are mulling over?
I'm constantly reminding myself and my students that it is better to find ways to practice that allow you to fully process and properly execute what you are trying to do. Sometimes you have to practice one hand at a time. Sometimes you have to figure out and focus on only the framework while ignoring the other notes. Sometimes you have to not even push keys down, but simply walk your arms through the choreography of how they'll move to get your hands and fingers in the correct places at the correct times. Sometimes you simply play the piece through in your mind to become comfortable with how it flows and fits together. Sometimes you have to practice only the rhythm. The trick is to identify how to break the project up into many steps small enough that you can be successful at each step until you run out of steps.
I'm reminded of a phrase from one of my favorite literature quotes from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky:
It is better to admit that you do not understand something and break it down to learn step-by-step, than to exhaust great effort yet never understanding well. It is better to know what to ignore for a time than to never see it as its own component to be pondered individually.To achieve perfection, one must first begin by not understanding many things! And if we understand too quickly, we may not understand well.
I have seen it again and again that what is first thought of as next to impossible can be achieved if you know how to ignore properly--if you know how to ignore in a way that keeps you working and stepping forward. If you ignore the finish line, but keep moving forward, you will eventually be surprised to see when looking back to review your progress that you have crossed the finish line you thought was out of reach.
If you can ignore that you can't do the impossible.....you may just end up doing it.
[Last chance to go back up and follow the link to my pastor's blog post if you haven't already]
Monday, June 9, 2014
Give us ears to hear the joy
Let's play a game. I'm going to make a list, and you can try and guess what everything in the list has in common. Ready? Go!
Southern Harmony
Twila Paris (born 1958)
Sarum Plainsong (9th century)
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
Stephen P. Starke (born 1955)
Kevin J. Hildebrand (born 1973)
Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Anna Sophia von Hessen-Darmstadt (1638-83)
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-74)
Jaroslav J. Vajda (1919-2008)
Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-c. 413)
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Zhao Zichen (1888-1979)
Henry Purcell (1659-95)
The countries of Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, China, Germany, France, USA, Poland, Brazil, Wales, England, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Russia and others.
I could go on for a long, long time, but that will serve as enough. Do you know what they all have in common? All of the above contributed either text or music for the hymnal Lutheran Service Book.
From time to time, I'll come across criticisms of traditional, liturgical church music and worship as joyless, stifling, or not appreciating creativity. This is a lie. Look at the above list again. Look at the range represented by that list. We have classical musicians alongside musicians who've been played on American Contemporary Christian radio. We have contributions from people 41 years old who are very active in continuing to write new music to people who lived over 1600 years ago. We have household names alongside obscure names. We have well over a dozen countries from five continents represented.
The music of these hymns also has as much breadth and variety. We have dances, marches, lullabies, folk songs, spirituals, classical themes, chants, and anthems. We have the usage of simple rhythms and complicated hemiola. We have simple pentatonic melodies and complicated classical melodies. We have simple three-chord harmonic progressions and complicated secondary progressions and transient modulations. All of these elements then carefully chosen and matched with the texts.
Do you want to annoy me? Tell me again that my hymnal containing the greatest source of musical joy in this musician's life is joyless, outdated, stifling, and doesn't appreciate creativity, and that I should discard it for the music representing the creativity of the culture of now. Tell me I should neglect in joining my voice to the fellowship of centuries of Christian prayers and songs and focus only on joining the voice of today.
What message does it send to cast aside and denigrate the contributions of centuries of the Church's creative efforts because it doesn't suit you? What if the mindset behind casting aside our hymnals has had the unintended consequence of teaching the upcoming generations that any part of Church that doesn't suit them can be cast aside. Even if that means casting aside God's Word and Church altogether.
Southern Harmony
Twila Paris (born 1958)
Sarum Plainsong (9th century)
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
Stephen P. Starke (born 1955)
Kevin J. Hildebrand (born 1973)
Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Anna Sophia von Hessen-Darmstadt (1638-83)
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-74)
Jaroslav J. Vajda (1919-2008)
Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-c. 413)
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Zhao Zichen (1888-1979)
Henry Purcell (1659-95)
The countries of Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, China, Germany, France, USA, Poland, Brazil, Wales, England, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Russia and others.
I could go on for a long, long time, but that will serve as enough. Do you know what they all have in common? All of the above contributed either text or music for the hymnal Lutheran Service Book.
From time to time, I'll come across criticisms of traditional, liturgical church music and worship as joyless, stifling, or not appreciating creativity. This is a lie. Look at the above list again. Look at the range represented by that list. We have classical musicians alongside musicians who've been played on American Contemporary Christian radio. We have contributions from people 41 years old who are very active in continuing to write new music to people who lived over 1600 years ago. We have household names alongside obscure names. We have well over a dozen countries from five continents represented.
The music of these hymns also has as much breadth and variety. We have dances, marches, lullabies, folk songs, spirituals, classical themes, chants, and anthems. We have the usage of simple rhythms and complicated hemiola. We have simple pentatonic melodies and complicated classical melodies. We have simple three-chord harmonic progressions and complicated secondary progressions and transient modulations. All of these elements then carefully chosen and matched with the texts.
Do you want to annoy me? Tell me again that my hymnal containing the greatest source of musical joy in this musician's life is joyless, outdated, stifling, and doesn't appreciate creativity, and that I should discard it for the music representing the creativity of the culture of now. Tell me I should neglect in joining my voice to the fellowship of centuries of Christian prayers and songs and focus only on joining the voice of today.
What message does it send to cast aside and denigrate the contributions of centuries of the Church's creative efforts because it doesn't suit you? What if the mindset behind casting aside our hymnals has had the unintended consequence of teaching the upcoming generations that any part of Church that doesn't suit them can be cast aside. Even if that means casting aside God's Word and Church altogether.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Sing along with me
I received a great compliment today. I helped with music for the first time at the Saturday night service at Holy Cross last weekend. I played keyboard for all the songs, and sang lead on 2 1/2 of them. I've led many the service over the years, but I surprised a lot of people since I'd never done so on Saturday at Holy Cross before. I've received many compliments from people saying I have a great voice, but the compliment I received today was different and more appreciated. The compliment I received today, after she said she enjoyed my music on Saturday, was "it was easy for me to follow along and sing with you."
I can only remember completely losing my singing voice once in my life. It was March 17, 2013. I remember the exact day because it was the day after moving, and I was supposed to sing tenor in the Schola Cantorum for their Lenten Vespers service. Instead, I was sick, and while I could speak with great effort, I couldn't sing a note no matter how hard I tried. I still attended the service, but instead of singing with the choir, I sat in the congregation unable to even sing along with any of the liturgy or hymns. Lenten and Holy Week hymns are my favorite hymns, Kramer Chapel is a fantastic place to sing in, and I knew and loved all of the choral and congregational music, but I couldn't sing. I sat there with my hymnal open, and read the text as everyone sang for me--not sang around me--sang for me.
There weren't 1,000 people there, but like the hymns "Oh, That I had a Thousand Voices" or "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" wish, the rest of congregation were my "Thousand Voices/Tongues" that day singing for me the words I desperately wished to proclaim and silently joined in confessing. Nonetheless, as a musician, not being able to sing was a bit like being temporarily crippled. I really wanted to sing along. That service was still a blessing I am thankful for, but I am also thankful for the blessing that I have only been completely unable to sing that one time.
If I were the best singer in the world, but sang in a way that was hard to sing along with, it might discourage you to sing and would be like stealing your voice. I am never shy in singing in church, but this is not to steal your voice and replace it with my own, rather to give my voice as support to those who, for whatever reason, have trouble singing or can't sing. I am aware that I have been gifted with more musical talent than some, but I would much rather sing with you than sing in a way that makes you stifle your own voice. That is why I found being told I was easy to sing along with such a high compliment.
As stanza 7 of Lutheran Service Book 528, "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" says:
I can only remember completely losing my singing voice once in my life. It was March 17, 2013. I remember the exact day because it was the day after moving, and I was supposed to sing tenor in the Schola Cantorum for their Lenten Vespers service. Instead, I was sick, and while I could speak with great effort, I couldn't sing a note no matter how hard I tried. I still attended the service, but instead of singing with the choir, I sat in the congregation unable to even sing along with any of the liturgy or hymns. Lenten and Holy Week hymns are my favorite hymns, Kramer Chapel is a fantastic place to sing in, and I knew and loved all of the choral and congregational music, but I couldn't sing. I sat there with my hymnal open, and read the text as everyone sang for me--not sang around me--sang for me.
There weren't 1,000 people there, but like the hymns "Oh, That I had a Thousand Voices" or "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" wish, the rest of congregation were my "Thousand Voices/Tongues" that day singing for me the words I desperately wished to proclaim and silently joined in confessing. Nonetheless, as a musician, not being able to sing was a bit like being temporarily crippled. I really wanted to sing along. That service was still a blessing I am thankful for, but I am also thankful for the blessing that I have only been completely unable to sing that one time.
If I were the best singer in the world, but sang in a way that was hard to sing along with, it might discourage you to sing and would be like stealing your voice. I am never shy in singing in church, but this is not to steal your voice and replace it with my own, rather to give my voice as support to those who, for whatever reason, have trouble singing or can't sing. I am aware that I have been gifted with more musical talent than some, but I would much rather sing with you than sing in a way that makes you stifle your own voice. That is why I found being told I was easy to sing along with such a high compliment.
As stanza 7 of Lutheran Service Book 528, "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" says:
May we always join our individual voices into the corporate voice of the Church to sing the prayers and songs of the Church of all times and of all places.To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever giv'n
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heav'n.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Make your mom proud and do a good job.
I tend to listen to talk radio in the car. I know, I know...I'm a musician so you'd expect me to listen to music. Well, I need to get away from music now and then, so I listen to talk radio in the car. Something I was listening to today served as a memory trigger for a random exchange I had a few years ago. It wasn't at all a bad conversation, but I wish the circumstance prompting it never existed. Let me explain.
It occurred during the year I was volunteering as music teacher at Imagine Schools on Broadway, so I was extremely busy and ended up grabbing quick meals out on my busiest days. There were a few days a week where I would eat a late supper at the McDonald's on Stellhorn. This was also the period I was going without internet at home, so I also sometimes went at the end of the day simply to use internet since all other convenient options for public Wi-Fi were already closed. The employees got used to seeing me on a regular basis, and I got a good idea about their work habits.
During this period, most of the employees at this McDonald's were not exactly hardworking. There were times I would be there after 10pm, be the only one in the store, and have to wait a significant amount of time for the person who was supposed to be working cashier to come take my order, and then wait much longer than it should have taken for my food to be ready. It was quite ridiculous, but I practiced my patience, didn't complain, and always simply thanked them when I received my order. However, I quietly noticed at least two employees who actually did their job.
One day, I was using a coupon at Arby's to get a quick meal when a teenage girl who was one of the hardworking McDonald's employees walks in with her family.
"Cheating on McDonald's?" she joked as she recognized me.
I don't remember all of the specifics of the short conversation, but we explained to her mom that I was a regular customer during her shifts at McDonald's. I knew she was annoyed at her coworkers from watching them work, so I took this opportunity to tell the girl that I noticed and appreciated how she went about her work, that she stood out from her coworkers as a result, and thanked her for her efforts.
I remember the proud mom moment that occurred after I did this. I'm pretty sure the mom wasn't expecting someone who was essentially a stranger to compliment her daughter on her work at McDonald's while out getting a meal at Arby's. It was an interesting spontaneous experience to be a part of.
If all of the employees had been doing their jobs like I wish they would have, I'm not sure the above exchange would have happened. I don't know if I would still have made a point to thank her then and there and make sure she knew her work was appreciated. That could be a whole different discussion on thankfulness. Regardless, I do know that I still remember this random interaction a few years later. I remember the girl who did a good job even when alone in doing so, and the mom proud of her daughter as a result.
It occurred during the year I was volunteering as music teacher at Imagine Schools on Broadway, so I was extremely busy and ended up grabbing quick meals out on my busiest days. There were a few days a week where I would eat a late supper at the McDonald's on Stellhorn. This was also the period I was going without internet at home, so I also sometimes went at the end of the day simply to use internet since all other convenient options for public Wi-Fi were already closed. The employees got used to seeing me on a regular basis, and I got a good idea about their work habits.
During this period, most of the employees at this McDonald's were not exactly hardworking. There were times I would be there after 10pm, be the only one in the store, and have to wait a significant amount of time for the person who was supposed to be working cashier to come take my order, and then wait much longer than it should have taken for my food to be ready. It was quite ridiculous, but I practiced my patience, didn't complain, and always simply thanked them when I received my order. However, I quietly noticed at least two employees who actually did their job.
One day, I was using a coupon at Arby's to get a quick meal when a teenage girl who was one of the hardworking McDonald's employees walks in with her family.
"Cheating on McDonald's?" she joked as she recognized me.
I don't remember all of the specifics of the short conversation, but we explained to her mom that I was a regular customer during her shifts at McDonald's. I knew she was annoyed at her coworkers from watching them work, so I took this opportunity to tell the girl that I noticed and appreciated how she went about her work, that she stood out from her coworkers as a result, and thanked her for her efforts.
I remember the proud mom moment that occurred after I did this. I'm pretty sure the mom wasn't expecting someone who was essentially a stranger to compliment her daughter on her work at McDonald's while out getting a meal at Arby's. It was an interesting spontaneous experience to be a part of.
If all of the employees had been doing their jobs like I wish they would have, I'm not sure the above exchange would have happened. I don't know if I would still have made a point to thank her then and there and make sure she knew her work was appreciated. That could be a whole different discussion on thankfulness. Regardless, I do know that I still remember this random interaction a few years later. I remember the girl who did a good job even when alone in doing so, and the mom proud of her daughter as a result.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
"The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness..."
There seems to be a misconception in parts of society that gentleness is a bad thing, or gentleness equates to weakness. I hope I'm wrong about this conflation, because we need to remember that hidden behind gentleness is strength--strength that is laid aside or unused.
We often forget when enjoying a gentle breeze the power of the wind unleashed in a tornado. We often forget when enjoying the gentle lap of waves at the beach the power of tsunamis and flooding. We implicitly understand that these instances of gentleness are beneficial. We understand that untempered strength can be horrifying and destructive. We need to recognize the strength behind gentleness, and retain our appreciation for gentleness.
You've probably already noticed that I enjoy children's books. Not children's books in the modern, board book/picture sense, but children's book in the tradition of Narnia, The Hobbit, Fairy Tales, etc... The sense of gentleness as strength laid aside is not hard to find in these books. Some quick examples:
Without gentleness in these instances, we would have a little girl thrown off a horse too powerful for her to handle riding, and the fierce claws of a lion. We would have fear, injury, and death.
But where I'm most grateful for gentleness is in how God shows his strength to bring justice to the nations. We read in Isaiah 42:1-4:
We often forget when enjoying a gentle breeze the power of the wind unleashed in a tornado. We often forget when enjoying the gentle lap of waves at the beach the power of tsunamis and flooding. We implicitly understand that these instances of gentleness are beneficial. We understand that untempered strength can be horrifying and destructive. We need to recognize the strength behind gentleness, and retain our appreciation for gentleness.
You've probably already noticed that I enjoy children's books. Not children's books in the modern, board book/picture sense, but children's book in the tradition of Narnia, The Hobbit, Fairy Tales, etc... The sense of gentleness as strength laid aside is not hard to find in these books. Some quick examples:
--From The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonaldAfter he held her to his heart for a minute, he spoke to his white horse, and the great beautiful creature, which had been prancing so proudly a little while before, walked as gently as a lady--for he knew he had a little lady on his back--through the gate and up to the door of the house.
--From The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThe Lion shook his mane and clapped his paws together ("Terrible paws," thought Lucy, "if he didn't know how to velvet them!")
Without gentleness in these instances, we would have a little girl thrown off a horse too powerful for her to handle riding, and the fierce claws of a lion. We would have fear, injury, and death.
But where I'm most grateful for gentleness is in how God shows his strength to bring justice to the nations. We read in Isaiah 42:1-4:
This is the gentle, suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, who establishes justice not by trampling his enemies under foot or extinguishing them as strength could have easily allowed, but by bearing their sin and facing the full wrath of God in their stead. In this gentleness is the strength that overcomes sin, death, and the power of the devil. He was mocked for this gentleness so I probably shouldn't be surprised some do not appreciate gentleness now. I pray that those who don't appreciate gentleness now will ultimately gain this appreciation and be spared from facing untempered strength they cannot withstand.Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Plucked Bloom
The wind breathes fair,
and the lone flower, shy,
turns her face to share
beauty’s art with passersby.
But passerby, brash,
his lone need makes presume
to fair shyness thrash
and savagely pluck the bloom.
The wind gusts rue
as whisper lone leaves
dripping raindrops’ blue dew
to lost blossoming grieve.
Then passerby, Time,
drying bitterness’ tears,
beams upon summer’s prime,
rays of hope melting fears.
The wind breathes new
and fresh blossoms rustling sing
forth new growth from pruning's hew;
beauty healing the pain of spring.
[May 6, 2014]
and the lone flower, shy,
turns her face to share
beauty’s art with passersby.
But passerby, brash,
his lone need makes presume
to fair shyness thrash
and savagely pluck the bloom.
The wind gusts rue
as whisper lone leaves
dripping raindrops’ blue dew
to lost blossoming grieve.
Then passerby, Time,
drying bitterness’ tears,
beams upon summer’s prime,
rays of hope melting fears.
The wind breathes new
and fresh blossoms rustling sing
forth new growth from pruning's hew;
beauty healing the pain of spring.
[May 6, 2014]
Friday, April 25, 2014
Irene, Lucy, and an Homage
C. S. Lewis did not hide that he drew inspiration from George MacDonald. I'm a huge Narnia fan, so as I was reading The Princess and the Goblin, it didn't surprise me much when reading about Irene that I was made to think of Lucy and Narnia. I always find it interesting how well done homages are not mere formulaic copies--they can be expansions and can even reverse details or outcomes--but have a unity between the source and homage. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, two of my favorite scenes pay homage to a fleeting scene in The Princess and the Goblin. Have a look!
I may not have noticed the connection between these passages if the above Narnia quotes weren't some of my favorite passages in the series. In all three instances, there is a message or moment that is valued but not quite comprehended. It has come and gone, yet, while remembered however vaguely, is a formative moment. Irene's moment is ever valued as encouragement, and when Lewis pays homage the appreciation has deepened to a longing. Longing for those fleeting moments of eternity in the now. Longing for peace, calm, wholeness, completeness. Longing for heaven. In MacDonald, the rest of heaven encourages and enables completion of labor required on earth. In Lewis, the weariness of earth creates a longing for the rest of heaven. Lewis understood this moment of not-quite-comprehended eternity in MacDonald, and the echoes are heard in Narnia.
If Lucy and Irene were to meet, they would surely be friends and would understand each other, even when what is understood is, paradoxically, inexpressible and beyond comprehension.
From Chapter 22 of The Princess and the Goblin by MacDonald:
And from somewhere came the voice of the lady, singing a strange sweet song, of which she could distinguish every word; but of the sense she had only a feeling--no understanding. Nor could she remember a single line after it was gone. It vanished, like the poetry in a dream, as fast as it came. In after years, however, she would sometimes fancy that snatches of melody suddenly rising in her brain must be little phrases and fragments of the air of that song; and the very fancy would make her happier, and abler to do her duty.
From Chapter 10 of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Lewis:
On the next page she came to a spell "for the refreshment of the spirit." The pictures were fewer here but very beautiful. And what Lucy found herself reading was more like a story than a spell. It went on for three pages and before she had read to the bottom of the page she had forgotten that she was reading at all. She was living in the story as if it were real, and all the pictures were real too. When she had got to the third page and come to the end, she said, "That is the loveliest story I've ever read or ever shall read in my whole life. Oh, I wish I could have gone on reading it for ten years. At least I'll read it over again."
But here part of the magic of the Book came into play. You couldn't turn back. The right-hand pages, the ones ahead, could be turned; the left-hand pages could not.
"Oh, what a shame!" said Lucy. "I did so want to read it again. Well, at least I must remember it. Let's see . . . it was about . . . about . . . oh dear, it's all fading away again. And even this last page is going blank. This is a very queer book. How can I have forgotten? It was about a cup and a sword and a tree and a green hill, I know that much. But I can't remember and what shall I do?"
And she never could remember; and ever since that day what Lucy means by a good story is a story which reminds her of the forgotten story in the Magician's Book.
And from Chapter 16 of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Lewis:
And suddenly there came a breeze from the east, tossing the top of the wave into foamy shapes and ruffling the smooth water all round them. It lasted only a second or so but what it brought them in that second none of those three children will ever forget. It brought both a smell and a sound, a musical sound. Edmund and Eustace would never talk about it afterward. Lucy would only say, "It would break your heart." "Why," said I, "was it so sad?" "Sad!! No," said Lucy.
I may not have noticed the connection between these passages if the above Narnia quotes weren't some of my favorite passages in the series. In all three instances, there is a message or moment that is valued but not quite comprehended. It has come and gone, yet, while remembered however vaguely, is a formative moment. Irene's moment is ever valued as encouragement, and when Lewis pays homage the appreciation has deepened to a longing. Longing for those fleeting moments of eternity in the now. Longing for peace, calm, wholeness, completeness. Longing for heaven. In MacDonald, the rest of heaven encourages and enables completion of labor required on earth. In Lewis, the weariness of earth creates a longing for the rest of heaven. Lewis understood this moment of not-quite-comprehended eternity in MacDonald, and the echoes are heard in Narnia.
If Lucy and Irene were to meet, they would surely be friends and would understand each other, even when what is understood is, paradoxically, inexpressible and beyond comprehension.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Princesses in Pretty Pink Books
I finally got around to reading The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. The edition I read, Looking Glass Library, has a beautiful pink cover. It's pretty obvious whose eye they are trying to attract with the cover design. I'm such a rebel, I not only read the book, but read it openly in public! Maybe people stared, but I was too busy reading to notice. This will most likely be the first of multiple posts prompted by the story, but I'm going to start with a discussion of princesses. (Sorry, goblins).
Every time a new princess movie comes out, the internet is inundated with more discussion about how the stereotypical princess is ruining girls' self-reliance and view of the world, and either blasts or praises the movie for reinforcing or shattering the princess mold. Sometimes I wonder how this "stereotypical princess" mold even came about based on a number of stories I've read, but I'll give my thoughts on this later. Now, let's look at how The Princess and the Goblin deals with what princesses should be like as a specific case study.
Here are some quotes from the story on the topic of princess characteristics:
Let's summarize the character traits a true princess shows according to these quotes:
How can we go from heroic princesses to a stereotype of helpless, destructive princesses? I think the answer lies in the concept of duty. In The Princess and the Goblin, Irene understands that being royal comes with demands. This sense of duty instills deep senses of responsibility and morality, which require her to be able to act independently, resolutely, and strongly when doing good is the hard or unpopular choice. If we lose this sense of duty, this sense of responsibility, this sense of morality, we are left with superficiality. Princesses are left with nothing they are obligated to do, so society makes them pretty objects to envy and desire. And without duty, society has replaced selflessness and responsibility with selfishness and self-absorption. When the right to be a privileged princess is demanded while avoiding being demanded of, it's no wonder morality disappears along with duty.
I mentioned before that it is obvious the book cover designer was not trying to appeal to males in its design choice. I find this to be too bad. Sure the title has "the princess" in it, but what we have is a fairy tale with two heroes: the princess Irene, and the miner Curdie. There is absolutely no reason the heroism of both of these characters can't be appreciated by both boys and girls. But I'm a man who likes princess books, so what do I know?
Every time a new princess movie comes out, the internet is inundated with more discussion about how the stereotypical princess is ruining girls' self-reliance and view of the world, and either blasts or praises the movie for reinforcing or shattering the princess mold. Sometimes I wonder how this "stereotypical princess" mold even came about based on a number of stories I've read, but I'll give my thoughts on this later. Now, let's look at how The Princess and the Goblin deals with what princesses should be like as a specific case study.
Here are some quotes from the story on the topic of princess characteristics:
She did not cry long, however, for she was as brave as could be expected of a princess her age [8 years old]. After a good cry she got up and brushed the dust from her frock. Oh, what old dust it was! Then she wiped her eyes with her hands, for princesses don't always have their handkerchiefs in their pockets, any more than some other little girls I know of. Next, like a true princess, she resolved on going wisely to work to find her way back.
~~~~~~~
Not to be believed does not at all agree with princesses; for a real princess cannot tell a lie.
~~~~~~~
"Nurse, a princess must not break her word," said [princess] Irene.
~~~~~~~
She never forgot Curdie, but him she remembered for his own sake, and indeed would have remembered him if only because a princess never forgets her debts until they are paid.
~~~~~~~
Some little girls would have been afraid to find themselves thus alone in the middle of the night, but Irene was a princess.
~~~~~~~
Lootie had very foolish notions concerning the dignity of a princess, not understanding that the truest princess is just the one who loves all her brothers and sisters best, and who is most able to do them good by being humble toward them.
~~~~~~~
Here I should like to remark, for the sake of princes and princesses in general, that it is a low and contemptible thing to refuse to confess a fault, or even an error. If a true princess has done wrong she is always uneasy until she has had an opportunity of throwing the wrongness away from her by saying, "I did it, and I wish I had not; and I am sorry for having done it."
- Bravery
- Resolve
- Resourcefulness
- Honesty
- Trustworthiness
- Responsibility
- Morality
- Independence
- Selflessness
- Humilty
- Compassion
- Honor
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Faith
- Confidence
- Lovingness
- Kindness
How can we go from heroic princesses to a stereotype of helpless, destructive princesses? I think the answer lies in the concept of duty. In The Princess and the Goblin, Irene understands that being royal comes with demands. This sense of duty instills deep senses of responsibility and morality, which require her to be able to act independently, resolutely, and strongly when doing good is the hard or unpopular choice. If we lose this sense of duty, this sense of responsibility, this sense of morality, we are left with superficiality. Princesses are left with nothing they are obligated to do, so society makes them pretty objects to envy and desire. And without duty, society has replaced selflessness and responsibility with selfishness and self-absorption. When the right to be a privileged princess is demanded while avoiding being demanded of, it's no wonder morality disappears along with duty.
I mentioned before that it is obvious the book cover designer was not trying to appeal to males in its design choice. I find this to be too bad. Sure the title has "the princess" in it, but what we have is a fairy tale with two heroes: the princess Irene, and the miner Curdie. There is absolutely no reason the heroism of both of these characters can't be appreciated by both boys and girls. But I'm a man who likes princess books, so what do I know?
Monday, April 14, 2014
Reading Again: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Chapters 1-3), An ordinary Rabbit with an extraordinary waistcoat and watch.
Oh, Alice. Alice the naive and, at least so far, cat-obsessed. Alice the hesitant to exert the simple effort to pick flowers, but Alice the quick to chase after Rabbits at the simple look of a watch.[Alice] was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet [. . .]
Right off, Alice forces one to confront the age old question: If a talking Rabbit with a waistcoat and pocket-watch ran by, how long would it take before I noticed something out of the ordinary was happening? Another way of asking this question might be the following: How perceptive am I?
Thinking about this question makes me confront how I often exert minimal effort in perceiving my environment. Often, I focus my perception only to what I consider useful at that given time and largely ignore everything else. I filter out background noise or I ignore details of buildings/signs with no direct bearing on my safe driving. I suppose this is a necessary and useful skill since I can only process so much stimuli at one time, but I sometimes wonder if it makes me miss out on Wonderland in the moment.
If I really payed attention, how many more wonder-filled moments would I find everyday? Responsibility and real life require me to filter, but Alice helps remind me to remember to perceive both the ordinary and the extraordinary. Sometimes, like Alice, it will take thinking back and reflection to fully grasp some of what happens, but my Adventures in Fort Waynederland are happening whether I perceive them or not. I should probably pay attention before it's "too late."
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Reading Again: Watership Down (Chapters 31, 34-End); Stories, Historicity, and Generation Gaps
I'm cheating a bit since the main prompt for this was in a chapter I read yesterday, but it ties in with today's reading as well.
At the end of Chapter 31, "The Story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlè", the young rabbits in El-ahrairah's warren saved from the siege did not appreciate their elders, or the effort they had exerted fighting for and achieving the safety they were living in. In fact, they despised their elders and their stories and said they had "nothing to do with us." El-ahrairah was grieved at this because he had suffered much to benefit the warren. He said this situation made him learn "that with creatures one loves, suffering is not the only thing for which one may pity them. A rabbit who does not know when a gift has made him safe is poorer than a slug, even though he may think otherwise himself."
The generation gap in El-ahrairah's warren was very stark. The younger generation was unwilling to learn from the older generations, and would have to learn the hard way that their positive self-perception would come crashing down when actually tried. It is easy to take credit for good things and peaceful times won through the work of others, it is much harder to acknowledge and take ownership of personal shortcomings. Better to learn to acknowledge and overcome one's shortcomings during the good times, leaning on the knowledge and experience of older generations, than ignore and deny the shortcomings until disaster proves them plainly.
The younger rabbits of the Watership warren are different in that they appreciated the tales of the older generations and were eager to hear them. But there is a danger here also. The history and lessons learned were preserved and mythologized, but this mythologization could allow younger generations to discount the myths as only stories with no real substance. Looking at religious history, one can see far too many examples of how quickly this can happen. Once historicity is thrown out the window, stories become whatever one wants and can be applied or ignored at will. We can see something like this within contemporary Christianity when the historicity of the Bible is questioned or outright denied. Once historicity goes, one loses truth and is left with a dissolving myth. Once historicity goes, lessons are lost and mistakes are repeated.
As a voracious reader, I think there is a reason why the best stories, while being unique and original, remind us of other stories. There is truth behind the best stories even if the details are fictional. Myth and fiction can be useful teaching tools in presenting themes as long as truth is held fast and not discarded with the fictions. It is a tragedy indeed when a generation, a society, a culture loses its ability to discern the difference between fiction and myth and the truths that lie behind them. Once that discernment is lost, there is only drowning in a sea of relativistic narrative that can be used or dispensed with as convenient. We'd be trapped in our own fictions unless the truth comes to save, and thankfully He does. Thankfully He does.
At the end of Chapter 31, "The Story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlè", the young rabbits in El-ahrairah's warren saved from the siege did not appreciate their elders, or the effort they had exerted fighting for and achieving the safety they were living in. In fact, they despised their elders and their stories and said they had "nothing to do with us." El-ahrairah was grieved at this because he had suffered much to benefit the warren. He said this situation made him learn "that with creatures one loves, suffering is not the only thing for which one may pity them. A rabbit who does not know when a gift has made him safe is poorer than a slug, even though he may think otherwise himself."
The generation gap in El-ahrairah's warren was very stark. The younger generation was unwilling to learn from the older generations, and would have to learn the hard way that their positive self-perception would come crashing down when actually tried. It is easy to take credit for good things and peaceful times won through the work of others, it is much harder to acknowledge and take ownership of personal shortcomings. Better to learn to acknowledge and overcome one's shortcomings during the good times, leaning on the knowledge and experience of older generations, than ignore and deny the shortcomings until disaster proves them plainly.
The younger rabbits of the Watership warren are different in that they appreciated the tales of the older generations and were eager to hear them. But there is a danger here also. The history and lessons learned were preserved and mythologized, but this mythologization could allow younger generations to discount the myths as only stories with no real substance. Looking at religious history, one can see far too many examples of how quickly this can happen. Once historicity is thrown out the window, stories become whatever one wants and can be applied or ignored at will. We can see something like this within contemporary Christianity when the historicity of the Bible is questioned or outright denied. Once historicity goes, one loses truth and is left with a dissolving myth. Once historicity goes, lessons are lost and mistakes are repeated.
As a voracious reader, I think there is a reason why the best stories, while being unique and original, remind us of other stories. There is truth behind the best stories even if the details are fictional. Myth and fiction can be useful teaching tools in presenting themes as long as truth is held fast and not discarded with the fictions. It is a tragedy indeed when a generation, a society, a culture loses its ability to discern the difference between fiction and myth and the truths that lie behind them. Once that discernment is lost, there is only drowning in a sea of relativistic narrative that can be used or dispensed with as convenient. We'd be trapped in our own fictions unless the truth comes to save, and thankfully He does. Thankfully He does.
Reading Again: Watership Down (Chapters 12-33); Kehaar, "mudders", and elaborate plans.
In the the introduction to my edition of Watership Down (Prennial Classics, 2001), the author Richard Adams relates his difficulty getting the book published:
Hazel recognizes a problem and has the brilliant idea of befriending other animals to help do reconnaissance, but leaves his plan hazy until Kehaar has been befriended. Kehaar the violent, Kehaar the brave, Kehaar the thick-accented, Kehaar the awesome. Hazel then gets right to the point and lays it out like this: "We're doing well here, [. . . but] unless we can find the answer, then this warren's as good as finished, in spite of all we've done. [. . .] We have no does--not one--and no does means no kittens and in a few years no warren." Leave it to rabbits to talk frankly about reproduction. And when Kehaar is informed of the problem, he sees the truth of the problem, understands completely and volunteers to help the rabbits find "mudders."
These characters are animals and are addressing the topic with no concept of romance or love, but they present a simple fact: there is male and female, and this distinction is not arbitrary and unimportant, but functional, vital, and complementary. In other places, the bucks discuss how the differences are not only sexual, but also in personality and skillsets. Bucks are not interchangeable with does. Even though they might be able to do the same tasks when necessary, they are still inherently different. Acknowledging this difference does not imply one is more valuable. Quite the opposite actually, the difference cements the value of each precisely because they are not interchangeable. In the book, does are worth risking everything in executing elaborate plans. Conversely, when everyone is interchangeable, it isn't that far a journey to everyone is dispensable. There isn't much empowerment or comfort in that.
Again the book is dealing with animals, so many relationship dynamics are flattened, simplified, or reduced to blunt points like reproduction and breeding stock. Still, I worry that a book like this might be avoided by publishers today because, it seems, the fact of truly distinct but complementary sexes and gender roles has become culturally controversial. Defending the truth of male and female is outright mocked in what seem to be ever expanding circles. One could write this aspect of the book off as an outdated anthropomorphism, or animal behavior that has nothing in common with today's enlightened understanding of human society, love, sexuality, gender roles, etc.. However, I see nothing helpful in doing so. That seems to be like the rabbits in Strawberry's old warren ignoring the snares in exchange for having their challenges artificially disappear. They get what they thought they wanted to find it ultimately weakens them and starves the richness of their existence.
Our society and culture moves and morphs so quickly, so we do need discussion on these topics. But if the discussion starts downplaying or ignoring the fact of male and female, we shouldn't be surprised if we end up with "no warren" by ending up with amorphous, relativistic category definitions resulting in generic, dispensable individuals. Instead, why don't we look at the diversity of complementary design that is male and female, value the differences of their inherent design and resulting unique functions, and start the discussion from there?
I went from publisher to publisher and literary agent to agent. The book was rejected by four well-known publishers and by three literary agents. They all said, in effect, the same thing: "Older children wouldn't like it because it's about rabbits, which they consider babyish; and younger children wouldn't like it because it's written in an adult style, which they would find too difficult." I thought, "Who's talking about children? This book is for readers of all ages."Adams was right about the audience for the novel. I loved this book as a young reader, and I'm loving the book at least as much as an adult reader. However, I fear it might be even harder to find a publisher now than it was 40 years ago due to recent cultural developments. Maybe it isn't surprising that a book about rabbits would cause controversy, but let me elaborate.
Hazel recognizes a problem and has the brilliant idea of befriending other animals to help do reconnaissance, but leaves his plan hazy until Kehaar has been befriended. Kehaar the violent, Kehaar the brave, Kehaar the thick-accented, Kehaar the awesome. Hazel then gets right to the point and lays it out like this: "We're doing well here, [. . . but] unless we can find the answer, then this warren's as good as finished, in spite of all we've done. [. . .] We have no does--not one--and no does means no kittens and in a few years no warren." Leave it to rabbits to talk frankly about reproduction. And when Kehaar is informed of the problem, he sees the truth of the problem, understands completely and volunteers to help the rabbits find "mudders."
These characters are animals and are addressing the topic with no concept of romance or love, but they present a simple fact: there is male and female, and this distinction is not arbitrary and unimportant, but functional, vital, and complementary. In other places, the bucks discuss how the differences are not only sexual, but also in personality and skillsets. Bucks are not interchangeable with does. Even though they might be able to do the same tasks when necessary, they are still inherently different. Acknowledging this difference does not imply one is more valuable. Quite the opposite actually, the difference cements the value of each precisely because they are not interchangeable. In the book, does are worth risking everything in executing elaborate plans. Conversely, when everyone is interchangeable, it isn't that far a journey to everyone is dispensable. There isn't much empowerment or comfort in that.
Again the book is dealing with animals, so many relationship dynamics are flattened, simplified, or reduced to blunt points like reproduction and breeding stock. Still, I worry that a book like this might be avoided by publishers today because, it seems, the fact of truly distinct but complementary sexes and gender roles has become culturally controversial. Defending the truth of male and female is outright mocked in what seem to be ever expanding circles. One could write this aspect of the book off as an outdated anthropomorphism, or animal behavior that has nothing in common with today's enlightened understanding of human society, love, sexuality, gender roles, etc.. However, I see nothing helpful in doing so. That seems to be like the rabbits in Strawberry's old warren ignoring the snares in exchange for having their challenges artificially disappear. They get what they thought they wanted to find it ultimately weakens them and starves the richness of their existence.
Our society and culture moves and morphs so quickly, so we do need discussion on these topics. But if the discussion starts downplaying or ignoring the fact of male and female, we shouldn't be surprised if we end up with "no warren" by ending up with amorphous, relativistic category definitions resulting in generic, dispensable individuals. Instead, why don't we look at the diversity of complementary design that is male and female, value the differences of their inherent design and resulting unique functions, and start the discussion from there?
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Reading Again: Watership Down, Chapters 1-11--Leaders and Bigwigs
What do you get when you cross grand epic with rabbits? Why, Watership Down, of course! It's been altogether too long since I've revisited this book, and the writing has drawn me in all over again.
In the beginning of the book, there is a nice potential tension set up between Hazel and Bigwig. Hazel is obviously the center of the narrative, but Bigwig is a more obvious Chief Rabbit because he is stronger and more imposing. What I'm finding especially interesting about this dynamic this read-through is how Hazel misjudges Bigwig.
We meet Bigwig when Hazel and Fiver go to see The Threarah. Bigwig is on sentry duty, and he could have turned them away. However, Bigwig thinks Hazel a "sensible fellow" and obviously respects him. In spite of this, Hazel still has internal reservations about Bigwig leaving the warren with them, thinking the following: "[. . .] although Bigwig would certainly be a useful rabbit in a tight corner, he would also be a difficult one to get on with. He certainly would not want to do what he was told--or even asked--by an outskirter."
These thoughts are shown false almost immediately as the group is leaving. Bigwig starts to give his advice, but is shot down by Hazel before he presents his thought. Hazel leads the group to leave, and that is that. Bigwig lets Hazel take the lead, and off they go.
When Bigwig talks to Hazel next, it is out of concern for the weaker members of the group that he informs Hazel they need to stop and rest. The fact Bigwig talks to Hazel rather than address the group directly already shows Bigwig acknowledges Hazel's leadership. Hazel gets to declare the decision to rest. When Blackberry asks Bigwig to swim the river and investigate, he does what he is asked because he sees the sense in it. When Pipkin and Fiver are floating in the river because they were too weak to swim, Bigwig pushes them across. When Pipkin is attacked by a crow, Bigwig comes to his rescue and shows concern. When the other rabbits start to turn on Hazel and question his leadership, Bigwig does go too far, but uses the influence he knows he has to show he doesn't approve of the grumblings against Hazel.
The key moments that officially establish Hazel as Chief Rabbit are still to come, but all of the signs are already there that Bigwig will be a loyal follower who can yield authority, and can use his strength and loyalty to unite the group under the best leader for the group. Bigwig ultimately shows his leadership in following. In yielding, he is strong. Bigwig resists the seduction of power and developing a big head, and shows his resolve in the process.
When Bigwig had voiced his surprise that Fiver didn't convice The Threarah that the whole warren should have left, Hazel criticized The Threarah saying it was because he "doesn't like anything he hasn't thought of for himself." This statement is an antithesis of the leadership displayed by Hazel, and, at times, Bigwig.
Some might argue that Bigwig should be the leader. He could take control by force if he wanted too. He must be weak since he is a follower who yields the authority that should be his. This is a horrible confusion of power and forcefulness with leadership and character. If you want your leaders to be tyrants, then fine. But I'll take anyday the weakness of leadership that is content to follow when beneficial, values what others contribute, and uses strength to serve others. I'll be weak like Bigwig.
In the beginning of the book, there is a nice potential tension set up between Hazel and Bigwig. Hazel is obviously the center of the narrative, but Bigwig is a more obvious Chief Rabbit because he is stronger and more imposing. What I'm finding especially interesting about this dynamic this read-through is how Hazel misjudges Bigwig.
We meet Bigwig when Hazel and Fiver go to see The Threarah. Bigwig is on sentry duty, and he could have turned them away. However, Bigwig thinks Hazel a "sensible fellow" and obviously respects him. In spite of this, Hazel still has internal reservations about Bigwig leaving the warren with them, thinking the following: "[. . .] although Bigwig would certainly be a useful rabbit in a tight corner, he would also be a difficult one to get on with. He certainly would not want to do what he was told--or even asked--by an outskirter."
These thoughts are shown false almost immediately as the group is leaving. Bigwig starts to give his advice, but is shot down by Hazel before he presents his thought. Hazel leads the group to leave, and that is that. Bigwig lets Hazel take the lead, and off they go.
When Bigwig talks to Hazel next, it is out of concern for the weaker members of the group that he informs Hazel they need to stop and rest. The fact Bigwig talks to Hazel rather than address the group directly already shows Bigwig acknowledges Hazel's leadership. Hazel gets to declare the decision to rest. When Blackberry asks Bigwig to swim the river and investigate, he does what he is asked because he sees the sense in it. When Pipkin and Fiver are floating in the river because they were too weak to swim, Bigwig pushes them across. When Pipkin is attacked by a crow, Bigwig comes to his rescue and shows concern. When the other rabbits start to turn on Hazel and question his leadership, Bigwig does go too far, but uses the influence he knows he has to show he doesn't approve of the grumblings against Hazel.
The key moments that officially establish Hazel as Chief Rabbit are still to come, but all of the signs are already there that Bigwig will be a loyal follower who can yield authority, and can use his strength and loyalty to unite the group under the best leader for the group. Bigwig ultimately shows his leadership in following. In yielding, he is strong. Bigwig resists the seduction of power and developing a big head, and shows his resolve in the process.
When Bigwig had voiced his surprise that Fiver didn't convice The Threarah that the whole warren should have left, Hazel criticized The Threarah saying it was because he "doesn't like anything he hasn't thought of for himself." This statement is an antithesis of the leadership displayed by Hazel, and, at times, Bigwig.
Some might argue that Bigwig should be the leader. He could take control by force if he wanted too. He must be weak since he is a follower who yields the authority that should be his. This is a horrible confusion of power and forcefulness with leadership and character. If you want your leaders to be tyrants, then fine. But I'll take anyday the weakness of leadership that is content to follow when beneficial, values what others contribute, and uses strength to serve others. I'll be weak like Bigwig.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Wearing the wrong coat
There was a two year or so period where I didn't have any TV or internet access at home. I didn't even have a reliable radio or a newspaper subscription. All of this was by choice. I didn't overly miss them to be honest. It was kind of nice being off-grid when at home, and I got used to things like being surprised by the weather each day. My habits have changed a bit since I got local TV and home internet service, but one habit that has been slower to change is checking the weather forecast.
Without TV, internet, radio, or the newspaper to check the forecast, I had to manage the old fashioned way: go outside, see what I'm dealing with, and make decisions accordingly. This approach sometimes results in wrong decisions. There was one day in a past March when I wore warmer clothes to bike to the library, eight miles each way, and by the time I left the library it was 80+ degrees. Today, I left for choir rehearsal in a jacket thinking it felt warm enough outside, and walked out after rehearsal to find snow. Both were beautiful surprises. The first surprise was a beautiful March day. The second surprise was a beautiful snowy scene; the Concordia Theological Seminary campus is gorgeous in snowy and rainy weather, so I walked slower than normal out to my car.
I spend a lot of time planning to avoid surprises, but I don't often mind being surprised by the weather. It helps remind me I can't avoid all surprises, and keeps me from thinking I have more control than I really do. Both of which are lessons that are worth sometimes wearing the wrong coat.
Without TV, internet, radio, or the newspaper to check the forecast, I had to manage the old fashioned way: go outside, see what I'm dealing with, and make decisions accordingly. This approach sometimes results in wrong decisions. There was one day in a past March when I wore warmer clothes to bike to the library, eight miles each way, and by the time I left the library it was 80+ degrees. Today, I left for choir rehearsal in a jacket thinking it felt warm enough outside, and walked out after rehearsal to find snow. Both were beautiful surprises. The first surprise was a beautiful March day. The second surprise was a beautiful snowy scene; the Concordia Theological Seminary campus is gorgeous in snowy and rainy weather, so I walked slower than normal out to my car.
I spend a lot of time planning to avoid surprises, but I don't often mind being surprised by the weather. It helps remind me I can't avoid all surprises, and keeps me from thinking I have more control than I really do. Both of which are lessons that are worth sometimes wearing the wrong coat.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
See How He Loves Us
Suggested Hymn Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU
Moved to compassion, Jesus started weeping
Outside the tomb which Laz’rus’ corpse was keeping.
The Jews who saw this were then moved to speaking:
“See how He loved him!”
“Father, forgive them.” We hear Jesus crying
As He is hanging on the cross and dying;
Bearing our sin and to us life supplying.
See how He loves us!
Viewing Christ’s death we see love’s definition;
Acting to save us of his own volition
Though we deserved it not, won sin’s remission.
See how He loves us!
[Nov 2013]
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Catchy Hooks
Catchy hooks:
Not to catch food, but to feast
your eyes and ears
on headlines and soundbites
that want surprised eyes and jaws agape;
not to sate, but create
a hunger for the consumption of now
and undigested reaction.
Catchy hooks:
Not to inform, but to form
desirous daydreams
with posters and trailers
that prompt impressions while impressing
neither plot, nor point,
but images vaguely suited for imaginings
conveniently customizable.
Catchy hooks:
Not for development, but envelopment
in sonic oceans to drown,
in bass and beat,
expectations of subtlety;
denouncing nuance
for rhythmic jaunts contrived to prompt
predictable reaction.
Catchy hooks:
Not to enrich but make rich
and consume your attention;
promoting retention
by advertising the adversity
of travailing irrelevance
if you ignore or trivialize.
Do you buy it?
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