God be in

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.

Sarum Primer, 1558

Today I started the process of sorting, packing, finishing assignments, and handing over responsibilities as I prepare to leave one job and begin another later this summer. I was struck by the promise of this ancient hymn... not just in the present "end" and "departing" but the future "ultimate departure."

The process of change and movement into new roles and jobs is not easy, but it is clear that the opportunities ahead of me are with God's blessing and direction. I have mixed emotions, but the plus side of accepting a different kind of challenge is so huge. I really can't turn it down.

In the wake of preaching last week, several conversations have been peppered with questions:
Are you SURE you should stop working for our church? (I can't do both!)
Won't you miss preaching? (Ummmm.... 2 times a year is hard to "miss"... just about anywhere will give me more opportunity!)
Why are you REALLY leaving? (OK, Captain Obvious aside - what a nosy question! - it is clearly a great opportunity and I would be crazy to not take it on!)
What will you do after you graduate? ("no clue" about covers it!)

This church was my first "Call" and, as one friend puts it, you never forget your first church. I am in this for the long haul and I know that there is a place where for me -- where, God only knows.

And that really is OK.

Deb

Sex Sells

I suppose "it's just plastic" and "it's meant to be funny." But I have a hard time when, during prime time TV, nudity is portrayed as funny -- all to sell clothing. Was a guy pantsed? No way. And if it was really "just plastic" then why the censorship bars?

I guess I'll wait for the day that breastfeeding is broadcast with the same lack of shame and openness. (Like that will happen. The infant formula industry is far too powerful.)

OK, rant off.

Deb

Take the long way home...

Courtesy of atomsmasher.org/highway

It was bizarre... I do know how to get home from northern Maryland. But in my tiredness last night, I turned on the GPS and went on "autopilot" after a Chrysalis Gathering and party. And took the LONG way home (as in 90 minutes instead of the usual hour!) By the time I realized I had turned the wrong way, it would have added even more time to my drive. SO I just went with the twists and turns of northern Maryland, ending up north of Frederick and driving down I-270.

There's not many radio stations to choose from, so I ended up singing along with an oldies station playing Supertramp...

So you think youre a romeo
Playing a part in a picture-show
Take the long way home
Take the long way home...

When lonely days turn to lonely nights
You take a trip to the city lights
And take the long way home
Take the long way home

It would have been funny except that I was tired, had forgotten my iPod and my cell phone, and wanted to go to sleep!! And the next songs were other forgettable songs of the 70s and 80s.

Sometimes life is like that. You make a choice (or don't) and end up with more to muddle through than you planned.

I'm sure there's a million applications I could make with this... but right now, it's time to do my taxes. (Yeah. About that... The irony isn't lost on me, either!)

Deb

UNBELIEVABLE

I thought perhaps it was a hoax. I mean, it had to be. NOTHING could be that bad, that sappy, that... horrible. Could it? But no. It's true. Microsoft has developed software to make music composition craptastic everywhere...

I mean, after how many years of studying music... how many hours of practicing... all I needed was THIS???

(I warn you... it's 4 minutes and 17 seconds of putrid.)

hat tip to Laura (and congrats on your engagement!)

Deb

"doing" theology

My modular class on Feminist Theology starts Monday morning. The number of pages I have left to read before my class starts is... well, laughable. I decided to take the pressure off and just read what I need for the first two days. Tomorrow is always exhausting. Church for 5 hours. Rush home. Pack. Give last minute instructions. Drive for 4.5 hours. Collapse in a strange bed and don't sleep well. And start the week - looking forward to seeing old friends - maybe - and making new ones - hopefully.

But since several of the authors I have been reading talk about "doing" theology I struggled to be sympathetic to what they mean. Because, you see, to me "doing" theology is what I do all day, every day. Listening. Praying. Laughing. Walking through life. Wondering. Knowing I don't know. Experiencing Jesus and trying to "be Jesus with skin on"... That to me is "doing" theology.

I completely understand that one's theological framework determines the way one lives. I even "get it" when people wax poetic about picking apart and putting back together the Scriptures with intense analysis. I don't live for it, but I understand. And this process of learning and pontificating $100 words when yakkin with nickel ones will do... That, I will NEVER get.

Here's what gets me.

For years, I listened to people "do" theology. They would rail against this deadly sin or that... and then go do another one. My favorite was the preacher who went radically, foam-at-the-mouth crazy over people who read porn... and was himself a large blimp-sized personage. (Uh. gluttony, anyone? Eh. Don't look at my butt. PLEASE.)

I believe in "doing" theology. I also believe in living it. REALLY living it. Wrestling out what it means to show love. To demonstrate kindness. To possibly parse a little Greek doing it... but to be careful what one preaches in light of how one lives.

And now, stepping off my soapbox before I trip and fall... yet again...

Deb

A Reader's Survey

The front page of the Washington Post this morning highlighted a web survey which claimed to know what kids are reading. The survey conducted by Renaissance Learning Web site sampled the reading habits of 3 million children and the 78.5 million books they read. According to the survey, the five most popular authors are: Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton and Harper Lee.

According my very unscientific sample, (a progeny group of two), the books by Hinton and Lee were "required reading" books in their English classes. And they hated them. Reedy Girl loved "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" as did The Harpist. Both had it read to them by the fourth grade teachers. Reedy Girl was thumbs down on "The Outsiders" saying it was a "stupid book" and "nobody in her class liked it." The Harpist shuddered at mention of Harper Lee's book and said that her teacher "killed it" with all of the analysis.

Which brings me to my objections.

1. The study was done by a group which sells reading programs to schools.

Accelerated Reader, AR, ATOS, Make Teaching Exciting and Learning Fun, Renaissance, Renaissance Learning, the Renaissance Learning logo, and STAR Reading are trademarks of Renaissance Learning, Inc., and its subsidiaries, registered, common law, or pending registration in the United States and other countries.

2. The participants were students in those schools which used the copyrighted software.

3. The participants only recorded the books they had read, not whether or not they (a) liked them or (b) were required to read them.

What would be more interesting would be to find out from public libraries across the country what readers actually like. Our local branch is always soliciting comments and "reviews" to get a broader understanding of what people liked. They recognize that just because a book is checked out that people did not necessarily read it (or enjoy it.)

To be blunt, the article in the Post this morning is not "news" - it is a sales pitch for this company. It makes me shudder.

Deb