May 19 is, in the calendar of saints, the day we celebrate St. Dunstan. I confess that I only know this because I was flipping through Sam Portaro's Brightest and Best: A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts this morning. Portaro's book has some creative and thoughtful insights into the saints. So, in honor of St. Dunstan, I offer you this snippet:
"People are sometimes rattled (or annoyed) that I do not often wear my clerical collar. It is not that they need the symbol, but that they resent a religious person who goes stalking their world in plain clothes. Collaring the priest is rather like belling the cat so the birds will hear it coming: clerical collars warn the unsuspecting of a dangerous intrusion of religion into those spheres of life they prefer to keep separate from the church.
"Dunstan believed that such separations are false, even contrary, to God's reality. There is no place in this world where God is not, and no place where we should not be."
If you haven't seen this, check out the youtube video below. In Wednesday's debate with Clinton in Pennsylvania, she repeatedly threw out accusations, to which he responded with calm explanations. Apparently the next day, speaking in Raleigh, Obama pulled from the pop-culture file to explain why he refuses to sling back at her: because, in the words of Jay-Z, you've gotta get that dirt off your shoulder. As in, let the negativity roll off, and move on with the mission.
Playing Jay-Z in the middle of a campaign speech is certainly one more appeal to the nation's younger voters, and a bold move that may or may not win him points with older Americans and those suspicious of hip-hop ("What's that noise he's playing? What's going on?"). That's not what I'm interested in, though.
What strikes me about this episode is his remarkable ability to stay calm in the middle of all the attacks. Where Clinton seems to be playing offense, Obama isn't playing back. Whether one thinks he's adequately addressing the more important issues at hand is a political question, but it's hard to deny that he's displayed some remarkable magnanimity toward her, despite her negative comments toward him. And thus from a family-systems perspective, he's coming out way on top as a leader, projecting an image of peaceful security in his vision, non-reactivity to the anxiety in the Democratic party, and maintaining a sense of humor about the whole process.
PS: common-sense disclaimer: this article does not in any way reflect the stance of The Episcopal Church, The Diocese of Virginia, or Holy Comforter Vienna. That is because the Episcopal Church does not issue recommendations on how to vote, believing that each individual has the responsibility to weigh Scripture, Tradition, and Reason in issues of moral discernment. And is voting an issue of moral discernment? I certainly think so.
"The thing I refuse to do is to write anyone off. I still try to answer every angry email that I get, every hateful letter that I get. ... There is always hope of our recognizing each other's humanity, and in that, our brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. ... But I won't let myself be treated in a way that says that I am something less than human."
Happy (early) Earth Day! The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has a new site for sharing sermons and other congregation-oriented resources for environmental sustainability. "Earthsermons.org is dedicated to making Earth Day resources and sermons available for congregations all across Virginia who strive to be in right relationship with God and with God’s creation." Thanks to Patrick for passing this along. They've also got a happy little link to Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, where congregations and individuals can partner to work toward alternative energy sources.
Watched this video, 'Rhythm,' from the Nooma series this evening with the high school youth. You can watch a clip of it here.
The question isn't whether or not God exists. The question is, are you in tune with the song--are you playing in tune with the music/story/song of God, which is already around and through you?
Just found this teaching resource, Shaping Your Family's Future, through a mailer offer. It's a six-week course, designed to be taught in a parish, for parents (or about-to-be parents), on family systems.
Participants do some serious genogram work (basically, a family tree with all kinds of other relational, health, religious, etc data added in), as well as some reflection on relationships with spouse/co-parent. The religious content is basic Judeo-Christian values kind of stuff, but nothing intrusive or judgmental.
If you were to do this kind of work with a professional counselor, you'd likely pay $200 a session. It looks like an awesome (and incredibly cost-effective) resource, not just for parents, but for anyone trying to get a better grip on who they are and who they want to be.
The challenge here is that participants really have to do significant work on their own to get anything out of it. [Duh. How else do you really get anything done?]
Kudos to these people for creating a great resource!
