The Noise of Politics poem by Walter Brueggemann
warning to Christians and people in ministry – The Long Haul
Critique of American Culture (as portrayed by the media)
Back at the docs, I gave enough blood to resuscitate a small child for numerous tests and they told me check back with results. In the meantime I had to struggle with extreme fatigue, fever, migraines, confusion, and general frustration. After a week, the results came back Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever, which was actually good news because it is treatable. RMSF is the last step before declaring West-Nile Virus, which was good because at least with this they some meds that address it better than West-Nile. The only time I’ve been outside while recovering was the mow and weed the lawn and don’t remember being bitten by a tick. Oh, well.
The hardest things about recovery weren’t the physical pain, headaches, or the loss of strength (thought they all sucked). The first hard part of recovery is that it takes an admission of mortality whether you want to admit it or not. Whether you take an ‘I’m invincible’ approach or just ‘stuck in the routine of life.’ Either way we all get caught up round and round thinking our bodies will hold up and what could happen then bam!
I’m a constantly on the move person and here’s my body and Mother Nature telling me to slow down in more ways than one. What now? Rebuild my strength and get back on track or should I say get lost again in the hustle? Being forced to look from the inside out sucked, but it is also exactly what I needed to see the holes and cracks in the bubble around my soul that desperately needing popping. When the fuzziness slowly subsided I began to meditate on the dissatisfaction that has been covered up by busyness. It is so easy to cover up – to smooth over, to tell yourself that you just need to get more lost in the routine, nothing is wrong here, ignore the man behind the curtain, get more distracted, get bogged down in the details – and miss out on something so much more.
Yes, recovery sucks!! For me, the worst part is not the choices that flood my vision. The worst part to me is the decision of what to do next. The choice! You could do nothing, but inaction is a choice as well. So choose! For right or wrong, I prayed, contemplated, then decided. “God, if this is the direction you’re leading me then let’s go. If it isn’t then drop me a sign, open a door and I’ll go there as well.”
The final part is the first step. For some of my friends this is the hardest point. For me, I’ve always been someone who ways a billion options. I’ll look at it upside down, sideways, inside, outside, and while running around it, but once the decision is made action comes quickly. Pick you catchphrase and run with it. Let it be. Do it! Grab the bull by the horns. Be proactive. Discover thyself. I say this not to be trite, or too cheesy peppy, but to say to all my friends in recovery (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, additional, whatever) don’t let the process stop you from becoming more. Let it be a time where you recapture what it means to be you – not the masked covered, saturated, promotional self but the amazingly gifted and graced person that God recognizes in us each and every day Jesus chases after us to show us the image that is there in our midst.
Peace and biscuits,
Revslick
Recovery sucks part 1 ! It has been awhile since I’ve posted. I haven’t posted in quite some time but believe me this was not intended. Mentally, it has been a grueling process of slowly getting back into the swing of things.
Here’s how it all started. Around December, I learned about a wonderful exercise program called crossfit. Even though I couldn’t perform the workouts as recommended, I was immediately hooked. Before crossfit my exercise program was a beginner strength training program, which was my first exploration into lifting weights. Crossfit has it all metabolic conditioning, strength training, and more. I’ve seen remarkable changes in my physique. I’ve gone from a 36 inch waist to a 32, dropped 30 pounds, increased endurance, and feel great. Now, once you drink the cool-aid you begin to go whole hog with the program. After three months, I started the Zone diet. After six months, I started experimenting with IM Fasting and an added strength training. This was in addition to Wednesday and Friday Wallyball games. I should have known better or at least checked my workout journal more closely. Honestly, I was wanting results far quicker than my body could provide thus two months ago I came down with a mild case of Rhabdo.
It began with a crossfit workout of deadlifts, rowing, and kettle bell swings while extremely dehydrated (hindsight and blood work) then at lunch played wallyball and followed that up with some deep squats and shoulder presses. One hour after the workout my muscles started locking up and shutting down and then the rest is history. Snails travel at light speed compared to how slow I was moving. Recovery consisted of medical help, lots of fluids, and sleep. I’ve never slept more in my life. I hate sleeping!! After taking a month off, I started to get sick all over again. At first I chalked it up to the rhabdo but this time with migraines. That would have been ok for me but it started to affect my whole persona. I was confused, which frustrated me and then got me irritated which would make me more frustrated and confused. Soo back to the doctor for more tests.
I’ll post the rest of the story tomorrow.
peace and biscuits,
rev. slick
Happy Fourth! I pray everyone had a good fourth of July. For me, the fourth conjures up memories of gunpowder in the afternoon, picnics, hamburgers and hot dogs, and the best ideals of those that fought and died to help found this great country. What are the images that conjure up for you on the fourth of July?
This fourth I’ve read three great articles I want to share. One is from Time magazine (New Patriotism) on how Conservatives and Liberals need each other. Their best quote is the line, “Conservatives think patriotism is a tribute to the past. Liberals believe it’s a key to the future.” I can relate to this. I look back to see the great things this country has accomplished and I’m filled with pride, but I’m hesitant also because we’ve done some horrendous things to be ashamed about as well. Ultimately, for this country to reestablish itself into the global community we need to come together (all cultures, races, ideologies, etc.) and begin the conversation on what makes us distinct and great. Then we need to do the hard work that will be needed to remind and rebuild ourselves into what it means to be a part of the USA.
Another article is from the blog Orienteering about representing the flag in worship. I can’t agree more! I’ve seen too many pastors manipulate congregations into frenzied nationalism using religion in the mix and it makes my stomach churn. Many of the churches I served had the Christian flag and American flag displayed in the sanctuary. As pastor, I would slowly (education not trickery) move the flags outside of the sanctuary to either the fellowship hall or the Narthex doors just before entering the sanctuary. I did this not to disrespect the flag but to be honest in reflecting the symbols Christians are called to recognize in worship. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been successful. I served one church in which someone who would always arrive early to move the flags back. This person even snuck into the church cut the pole on the Christian flag so that the American flag would take dominance.
—-Some people just don’t get it.
The last article is from Peter DeGroote describing some of the hard work that is still left to be done in this wonderful country.
I pray everyone continues the celebration of Independence.
peace and biscuits,
revslick
Quakers believe that the Spirit of God is present within every person. Each person has, therefore, a fragment of God’s wisdom which should be listened to and respected. The fullness of the Spirit’s guidance is discerned when everyone’s wisdom blends together. — Frank Rogers Jr.
I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I ran across some articles of the mega-church Willow Creek welcoming LGBT community to church. My top picks are two articles from the Chicago Tribune : Gay Christians meet the Rev. Bill and Willow Creek Welcomes Gay Advocates and a blog post from Celebrating Diversity called Willow Creek Soulforce and Me.
One of my pet-peeves is how some Christians can treat other people. The last time I read the parable of the good Samaritan and countless other teachings of Jesus, we are supposed to treat everyone with love regardless! We’ve politicized things in society to such an extent that many good (for the most part) and faithful Christians can’t ask the question how to treat a person as Christ would; they automatically treat them the way they’ve been programmed. I live in the the Bible-belt and have heard countless preachers that are homophobic and spout hate. It is not enough for them to say, “hate the sin love the sinner” they actually give license to abuse. I’d love to say this doesn’t go on in the denomination to which I belong, but our General Conference recently met and we actually had people voting against a resolution to oppose homophobia. Let me get this right. It is good to fear homosexuals? Get real. The Christian response, outside of our relationship with God, is that there is nothing and I do mean NOTHING we should fear!
There is a strange truth of homosexuality in the Bible-belt, which I’ve experienced. In every congreagtion that I’ve served, there has been at least one homosexual who is a member of that church. About 75% of the congregations know who they are no matter how much they try to hide it. The interesting thing is that they are accepting of them;however, all other homosexuals (those they don’t know) are NOT accepted at all. This has always baffled the hell out of me. The hidden truth is that they say we accept the ones we know but not the ones we don’t. Go figure. Xenophbia grows and xenophilia withers.
The bottom line of hope for me is that churches are now starting to view their role to invite all people regardless and that is good news and a change of pace.
peace and biscuits,
Rev. Slick
It is no good trying to “be myself” without [Christ]. The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires. —C.S. Lewis
after you had gone,
after all
the words were said that bound
our lives together for the space
of understanding,
I found
my room a larger place.
the wall
windowed to a view
upon another’s need, and all
the silence filled with sound
of others’ living, the new
(read-me, read-me) books seemed old
as yesterday, and my door somehow
would not tightly close.
so cataclysmic just your word?
how should it be
my friend, if every day
i listened with the heart
to what until you came
i merely overheard?
Mary Catherine Vukmanic
“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream
that is destined to fail without Divine intervention. Stop pointing
out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and
start creating. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand
your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every
excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Don’t let what’s wrong
with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful
bridges. Blaze new trails. Keep making mistakes. Worry less about what
people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who
you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit
holding back. Quit running away. And remember: If God is for us, who
can be against us.”
