Hello Again

You know the feeling of hugging a dear friend you have not seen for years. The embrace that seems to thrust into your whole being and vibrate with joy. That feeling is rising within me as I write. The rebirth of my blog is midwifed by deep sense of the holy that pounds in my heart and aches to be known in the world. The simple fact is I can not stay silent any longer. I have spent too much time ignoring what has been right in front me all along. THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL AND I AM CALLED TO NURTURE AND PRAISE THAT BEAUTY.

Communitysteading is a commitment to that work. The commitment of brining together voices, ideas and inspiration.

My ground of being stem from:

My Faith Tradition

My Activist and Justice seeking Colleagues

These amazing photographs and recipes

My learning community

And my amazing partner and beautiful children.

With all this intention toward making a just and beautiful world, I am ready to face a new day. Where I will breathe deep and say Hello. I welcome you to follow my adventures this year as I finish my Master of Divinity degree, develop my Spiritual Direction practice, move deeper into my ministerial identity through an internship, navigate parenthood of 5 children (3 of whom are tween and teens), foster my relationship with my partner, become voice and hands for justice, and celebrate God through it all.

Hello Again Dear Friend, it has been a while.

On the Eve of Pilgrimage

I write this the day before leading a Youth Pilgrimage to Transylvania. I say lead, but I think that word needs to be broken down, for I am a pilgrim just as the people (both adult and teen) with whom I travel. As I sit more with the elements of leadership, I realize that is one of the biggest places of pilgrimage in my life. I step into a terrain which I know little, then I grow in self understanding which allows me to examine my roles differently. From this point I will never be the same, there is no going back to operating as I did before. Very much like a pilgrimage, each pilgrim will encounter themselves and the world in such a way that transformation is inevitable.

Leadership is the forefront of my thoughts because I just finished a 9 month internship that focused on my theology of ministry while working as a chaplain in the juvenile detention center. I was shocked at the ease and strength with which I assumed my role. The frustration I experienced was when I would need to accommodate other people’s anxiety about my work. I realize now what I labeled as others anxiety was real fear of an unknown. I did not hold that same fear. As I journey in this pilgrimage I feel I am aware of when I am fearful and when I am picking up on another’s fear. One of the greatest gifts I can offer this pilgrimage is strength and solidarity. I have committed to this group that I will walk with them in ways known and unknown.

Through my coursework and preparation for this pilgrimage I have become increasingly clear in my theology, in particular, my Christology. Along with my new found strength coming from the jail, I find I am more invited to speak my own theology and to engage in dialogue. I am energized by the variety of God images that exist and see each person as holding a piece of the divine. It is by being and sharing in community that we see the Holy more fully. I am very comfortable operating and translating from the Christian Tradition. I say this with the keen awareness that the tradition I hold so dear has been misused throughout history for power and greed. In the Christian faith I look to the ways Jesus prayed, lived, played, taught, and journeyed with the people of his time. I believe my call, or rather humanity’s call, is to listen deeply and respond lovingly to the world around us. This is a constant discernment, I look to the teachings of Jesus to help me in this process.

I am inspired to hear and explore other traditions, to see the unique ways different people of time and space have chosen to relate to the Holy. I believe the only way we can truly listen deeply and respond lovingly is to be in dialogue and communion with as many diverse people as possible. Dialogue and diversity are what I am most yearning for on this pilgrimage. I am about to meet people who hold different values, who live differently from myself, and who worship differently than I. And yet, through the diversity the one spirit will move us to listen deeply and respond lovingly.

May we be blessed on this journey.

What is Church?

During dinner, my six year old daughter asks, “So Mommy, What is Church about?” I was so excited, my four years of seminary education and eight years of work as a Director of Religious Education, were rushing to my lips, when I was stopped. Every single person at my dinner table (my partner and my other four children) piped up with their answers. I thought they each deserved some reflection.
It is a beautiful place. My partner grew up Catholic and for him church is a place filled with beautiful artwork and music. A place that smells earthy yet has hints of divine presence. Much like the smell of a beeswax candle. I believe church is a beautiful place because we bring our highest aspirations. Our art and song are our best offering of gratitude to the spirit of life that moves through all.
It is a place to worship God. My middle daughter has a strong faith in God, she is a wonderful spiritual being. She loves to come to church because she feels closer to that spirit of life she has named God. It is a felt sense for her. The feeling of church is the feeling of God. I, too, have a strong God image that opens my heart to the ways the spirit moves among us. In worship I see us lifting that spirit up so that all may share.
It is a place to think about the Ultimate Being. My oldest teen son looks at church from an academic perspective. Church is a place to think about important questions of life. His response was also related to my daughters “God”. My son realizes that people have different images of the holy and Church is a safe place to reflect on those images and learn new ones.
It is a place to meet people and do Social Justice. My oldest daughter (11) is all about socializing and social justice. For her the two are linked, you need to be with other like-minded people striving for the same transformational love. Church has been a place for her to express her deepest desires for a peaceful world and a place where she is gaining the tools to create such a world.
It is a place to play and have pancakes. So my three year old has a different view of church. For him church is a place to have fun. He is right. There is so much love in the world the more we access that love through fun, the more we are able to spread that love.
So that was it, no pontificating for me, no sharing my wise response. However, in the end, my education and experience has given me the understanding that the spirit is always moving and my job is to provide the space for people to see it. This is what happens in our church. We provide the safe space for people of all ages to know the spirit in their own way, to share their joy, express their sorrow, and work to make a better world.

Abundant Affirmation

I am growing into my call as a public theologian. Being a public theologian means that I am gifted with the ability to see the Sacred in all facets of life and I reflect on the meaning of the Sacred's presence in our culture, customs, organizations, and traditions. Being a public theologian means I call on my fellow sisters and brothers to act on the core of our shared values; to find ways to spread life-affirming to love to all of creation.

Being a public theologian also means I have the responsibility to acknowledge my faith stance, and be clear about the community from which I draw strength and those who ground my thoughts. My faith rests on two assumptions: 1) The Sacred is the affirming love available to all life and 2) Earth is the embodiment of The Sacred's life-affirming love. These statements are the core of my worship, prayer, activism, mothering, partnering, and learning. Every move I make is based on these beliefs. But today I am nudged to live into my beliefs a little more.

I am involved with the People's Summit, Seattle+10 event with the Community Alliance for Global Justice. This work allows me to deeply consider how the food I acquire affects Humanity and Earth which is the embodiment of The Sacred's life affirming love. The way we as as society gain food, use food and relate to food is a response to The Sacred's offer of life affirming love. I ask you to consider how are your really responding to the Sacred Source of all life? You may begin meal with a prayer or the saying of grace, but did you enter the meal space with reverence? Is the food on your plate sustainable to earth and humanity? Is there too much on your plate when others are in need?

As I learn more about permaculture, and social theory, I understand that earth has the ability to sustain life when life works in relationship with earth. In many ways our "life" as humans is disconnected with earth. In years past, I looked to earth to give me experiences of the divine so that I may be filled. I have learned the presence of Spirit works in the other direction. It is in the caring for earth, which is the response I offer to the Sacred of all life.

I have also learned that humanity has an amazing capacity to learn and adapt if we allow the space for that to happen. Just as our plates are full of food, so too are our brains full of information. I hope to create the sacred spaces for people of all social locations to come together to learn, reflect and support one another in life changes. That is what Seattle +10 is all about, there will be workshops to learn, spaces to talk and reflect, art activities to explore and meals to share and experience the Sacred which lives through and or all.

Now I can not leave our time together without recognizing the life-affirmation happening in my own faith community East Shore Unitarian Church. Through the summer, we began a "Farmers Market" where gardeners would bring extras from their gardens and the church members could buy it. Here is the most awesome part, the money collected from the "Market" goes to Heifer International, which spreads our transformational justice even further. How cool is that? How wonderful it is to be breathing, loving, and praying amongst people who are finding creative solutions with earth to respond to the life-affirming love of the sacred.

Project Transformation- Post One

A friend mentioned that I am always writing and speaking of Transformation. What is being transformed she asked. I said everything. We could really say that the universe is expanding and changing at such rate it means we are transforming continually. The question I ask is "WHO are we becoming?"

I think that is the question I asked myself recently and that is why I am so focused on transformation. I thought about "Who I am becoming?" and I realized I liked the answer.

Who I am becoming- Who I realize myself to be is a person intimately connected to people and earth. What I do, What I say and What I dream are engaged with my faith in the divine which dwells among us on earth.

This mantra of mine has led to significant changes in what I eat, what I wear, how I raise my children, how I engage with my partner, how I work, study, volunteer.

And it means I have to take a long look at the places in my life that are unhealthy. This is where the biggest transformation occurs. It is quite easy to do the things I have always found life affirming. It is another thing to realize there are areas of my life that are unhealthy. I carry beliefs that are soul defeating, or I engage in habits that are harmful to my body. A while back I wrote about Compost, and I began to note what I can change to promote life, what are the "raw" or tender parts of my being that I can use to transform.

So I decided to take on a project, which is aptly named Project Transformation. I want to examine more critically my food intake, and my health/weight. Over the past 3 years I have gained a significant amount of weight and that has affected my mood, health and ability to be the person I want to be. I want my food choices to affirm my connection to earth and at the same time help me become a more physically healthy person. As I look over the landscape of this year (the schedule and responsibilities I have) I am afraid that I will easily fall back into old habits (my usual stress response). I will need to rely on my community for support.

Today begins step one: Careful examination of current habits, and plan for positive change.

Engaged with my garden, my Rodale Basic Natural Foods Cookbook, my local Whole Foods, my beautiful children, my fabulous partner, and my beloved community, Let the transformation begin.

Community Discernment

How do we work together to discern what is best for our community? President Obama is trying to develop a culture of discernment and change does not happen over night. Those of us who want that change have the responsibility to learn eagerly and respond thoughtfully. I believe we also have a responsibility to teach others the art of discernment, especially our children. I would like to schools focus on teaching children to be citizens of earth, not concerned will funneling them into college and career.

As our country tries to address Health care, I am overwhelmed by the shouting (in written and spoken word) It saddens me to see my sisters and brothers not sitting still long enough to listen what others are saying. It makes me think of how I am not listening. I do need to stop the media input and reflect on what I am hearing and what thoughts/feelings/ action arise from information.

How are we doing this as a community? I do not believe big town halls with lots of media coverage is the way to go. I believe it is through the smaller connections in our neighborhoods, in our schools. I would would much rather see the PTSA sponsor a night of education and discussion about Health Care reform and stop organizing ridiculous magazine drives (Talk about media frenzy). Where are the safe places in our communities? Where can we go to safely engage with diverse backgrounds an opinions? I must admit I do not engage many people in this discussion because I do not want to sift through people's anger. However, it someone takes the time to discern and explain their understanding, if someone took the time to think through the issue and not just spout misinformed media, then I will listen, learn and discuss.

How do we make that happen? How do we prepare people for a lifetime of civic engagement with discernment and integrity? What is the role of our schools, churches, libraries, government to make community discernment a reality?

Pages, Words and Connection

Sunday afternoon, I plunged into Cornelia Funke's Inkheart. Your first task after reading and reflecting on this post, is to read that book.

I am the fourth person in my household to read the book, my husband and two older children read the book early summer and my 9 year old daughter and I are reading it together. The characters in the book love books, Funke makes you want to curl up with her book and reminds you of every treasured moment ever spent with the written word. As she lured me into her book, I became more aware of the connection between the words, the pages and people.

I am reading a library copy, which means the pages I turned are not the ones turned by my family, yet we are all connected. The words which spark my brain and dance in my mouth are the same words that sparked and danced for my family. We are connected through the knowing and saying of the story. Story belongs to everyone.

As I caress these pages, I can not help but think of all the people who held the book, curled on their sofas, lying on their beds, or sitting up right at a table. All those people young and old who fell into this story. I wonder how they reacted to the story, did the words tickle their tongues? Did they realize their conntection?