I wanted to post something about how thankful I am for my children being the beneficiaries of so much generosity. One perk of being a minister (there are many) is that folks within the congregation sometimes give you clothing for your children and even to you. Maybe there's a mixed message of "Hey we think you dress poorly-here put on this pair of slacks instead." But I doubt it.
Maybe it is a more common practice (clothes sharing) than I know. Maybe it happens to anyone who has friends with kids just a bit older than yours. It is sure something for which I am thankful.
The clothes are often second hand, but they always have a good deal of wear in them and at least for now my daughters love it and don't complain. Maybe when they're teens this will change-but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I can count the number of times we've gone to buy clothes other than shoes for our girls on one hand. As I implied a few sentences ago we've been blessed to know some families that have girls just a bit older than ours and they've shared with us. I can't help but think that this practice would not have been as useful had we had two sons. A boy walking around in a pair of jellies and a summer dress would've raised more than a few eyebrows.
Another good thing about clothes sharing is that sometimes you find money hidden in the pockets of the clothes-like this one time we found $10,000 in unmarked bills in a pair of jeans stuffed into the pocket in a neat stack of hundreds. Of course we did the right thing...tithed on it and promptly paid off our car. That never happened-but it COULD right?
Often I take it for granted-and I want to say thank you publicly (if you can call a blog read by on average one person a week public).
There are other perks of being a preacher:
1) Get out of hell free card.
2) People sometimes think you have influence over the weather. Often when we have a sunny day on the day of a church picnic-the people say "Thank you for praying that we would have good weather and thank God for providing it." More often when we have rain or inclement weather they say "Can't you do something about this?" I wish I had power over the weather-I'd make it warmer than -5 outside and it would rain gumdrops and s'mores every third Tuesday.
3)People often feed you-even if you don't want to be fed this can be abused. But people are thoughtful of you in this way and its cool sometimes. Sometimes people send home LOTS of food for you and your family-one just has to be careful not to balloon up too much so you don't float away in the baptismal font.
Of course being a Presbyterian our fonts are about the size of a large salad bowl so if you could float in that you likely have problems bigger than a weight issue-like you've been struck by a nefarious shrink ray or something. Of course that's more rare these days than it used to be-but it certainly happened in a Disney movie from the nineties.
4) People like to tell you how good your sermon was-even if it wasn't they often tell you it was. It's a good self esteem boost to receive compliments even when they're not due. It's too bad my wife hasn't picked up on this trait. (insert rim shot here) My favorite is when you see the person sleep throughout the entire worship service and they brag on you profusely at the door. I can't blame them. Some of the most restful sleep I've ever gotten has been in the library and during church (on days when I was younger and not preaching).
I'm sure there are many more to list-but that's all for now. In short I'm thankful to God and to God's people for demonstrating their love for us in these ways. It's a gift.
Much Grace to you and yours,
Dwight
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Nothing funny
Some concepts I use during my standup-the somewhat darker humor that creeps in on "bad days."
It's hard being a minister because people don't expect a minister to be a pessimist. I catch myself saying things like "Ministry would be so much easier if it weren't for all of the people I have to talk to." and "You know I really understand why God flooded the earth-it's too bad God promised not to do it again." It just doesn't work to talk that way.
It's weird being Christian and having to give out the forgiveness we've been given because we'd much rather see vengeance. In fact that's why I'm advocating that we bring back smiting. I've come up with an invention that's a smite button you can carry around with you. You can set it to any one of the plagues of Egypt in the book of Exodus.
When someone cuts you off in traffic-just break out your smite button and set it to "BOILS" and drive up beside the person and watch the fun begin!
Or if you happen to be from one of the denominations that doesn't approve of drinking and you find yourself at the liquor store and see someone from church and you'd rather avoid that confrontation-pull out your smite button and set it to "GNATS"-press the button and PRESTO! You've got a good distraction to make your getaway unseen into the parking lot.
Finally when you have a smart alec preacher who makes light of faith and sometimes looks at the negative in life-set your smite button to the "ANGEL OF DEATH" and see if he doesn't change his tune.
Is that too dark? It seems a bit dark. Well God loves us through the darkness and brings us the light of laughter-as Scripture reminds us that to God "even the dark is as bright as the noon day." I hope that knowing that makes you grin even if you're not into my thematic humor known as sacred macabre.
Laugh often and pray even more often so we can laugh more.
Grace to you and yours,
Dwight
It's hard being a minister because people don't expect a minister to be a pessimist. I catch myself saying things like "Ministry would be so much easier if it weren't for all of the people I have to talk to." and "You know I really understand why God flooded the earth-it's too bad God promised not to do it again." It just doesn't work to talk that way.
It's weird being Christian and having to give out the forgiveness we've been given because we'd much rather see vengeance. In fact that's why I'm advocating that we bring back smiting. I've come up with an invention that's a smite button you can carry around with you. You can set it to any one of the plagues of Egypt in the book of Exodus.
When someone cuts you off in traffic-just break out your smite button and set it to "BOILS" and drive up beside the person and watch the fun begin!
Or if you happen to be from one of the denominations that doesn't approve of drinking and you find yourself at the liquor store and see someone from church and you'd rather avoid that confrontation-pull out your smite button and set it to "GNATS"-press the button and PRESTO! You've got a good distraction to make your getaway unseen into the parking lot.
Finally when you have a smart alec preacher who makes light of faith and sometimes looks at the negative in life-set your smite button to the "ANGEL OF DEATH" and see if he doesn't change his tune.
Is that too dark? It seems a bit dark. Well God loves us through the darkness and brings us the light of laughter-as Scripture reminds us that to God "even the dark is as bright as the noon day." I hope that knowing that makes you grin even if you're not into my thematic humor known as sacred macabre.
Laugh often and pray even more often so we can laugh more.
Grace to you and yours,
Dwight
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Race Matters
There's a book by Cornell West by that same title. It's about racism and how it is still prevalent in our culture. It plays on the statement that people often say (particularly white people) "I don't see what the big deal is about the color of someone's skin-I consider myself color blind". Or something similar.
The book and I along with it though indicate that being color blind is not the solution to the complex problem of racism. Noting differences and learning about them as well as from them is a significant part of coming to terms with one's own racism. It is also a beginning for understanding some of the systems within our culture and our own thinking that promote racism.
For whites many of us believe that racism has ended-Obama's in the White House (you know there's something racist about it being called the white house right?) But just because the Civil Rights movement began in the sixties and got us integrated that it is enough and Obama won the presidency it doesn't mean we are in a "post racist" society. If you believe that then I invite you to reconsider.
Obama's election is definitely a stride towards progress. But just as we've come a long way, we've got a long way yet to go. It is amazing to have elected a mixed race person as President of the United States. However it is not by any means the end of racism.
It's the beginning of further struggle and growth. Whites in general (me included) often don't recognize the privilege we enjoy just by being white. Because we've owned nearly everything (by force and by oppression according to history) for so long-we begin to feel as though blacks or other minorities gaining "special" treatment through quotas, affirmative action, or any other form of program designed to help us along is an unfair practice.
Our worldview is skewed by the lack of awareness and honesty about how privileged we are and have been throughout the history of America. So much so that we may even get upset at the suggestion that more progress has to be made. One might here someone who is white say "Well they've got a black history month, they've got the White House, what else do they want?" Note the "they". What "they" want is what all of humanity wants-to be viewed as part of the "us" as well as valued for the differences we enjoy. Equal access, honest dialogue, and commitment to ongoing repentance of the sin of racism is a good start for all of us.
In fact the definition of racism incorporates the distribution of wealth. If whites own more corporations, more businesses, more companies hence more wealth overall then that puts us as a race in a position of power. Those who own have the power to oppress consciously or unconsciously. This context then offers me privilege not enjoyed by those not in power. That privilege and the structures that promote it are the definition of racism-one race having the ownership and power of wealth over other races.
So by virtue of being white-I am racist because of the power my race holds over other races. If you feel offended by that statement then it is an indication of the type of racism that I'm talking about that needs to change. We are often unable even to acknowledge the privilege we enjoy-even entertain the idea of that being white offers unequal access to goods, services, and power not enjoyed by others. So if we are unable even to THINK about the issue then there may be some place for us to grow and learn. God knows I need to keep learning and facing that within me that would remain silent and inactive in this struggle.
So I pray God gives us Grace to own up to our own racism and that we are able to take the insight we're given and use it to shape the future.
Grace to you and peace in this new year 2009.
Dwight
The book and I along with it though indicate that being color blind is not the solution to the complex problem of racism. Noting differences and learning about them as well as from them is a significant part of coming to terms with one's own racism. It is also a beginning for understanding some of the systems within our culture and our own thinking that promote racism.
For whites many of us believe that racism has ended-Obama's in the White House (you know there's something racist about it being called the white house right?) But just because the Civil Rights movement began in the sixties and got us integrated that it is enough and Obama won the presidency it doesn't mean we are in a "post racist" society. If you believe that then I invite you to reconsider.
Obama's election is definitely a stride towards progress. But just as we've come a long way, we've got a long way yet to go. It is amazing to have elected a mixed race person as President of the United States. However it is not by any means the end of racism.
It's the beginning of further struggle and growth. Whites in general (me included) often don't recognize the privilege we enjoy just by being white. Because we've owned nearly everything (by force and by oppression according to history) for so long-we begin to feel as though blacks or other minorities gaining "special" treatment through quotas, affirmative action, or any other form of program designed to help us along is an unfair practice.
Our worldview is skewed by the lack of awareness and honesty about how privileged we are and have been throughout the history of America. So much so that we may even get upset at the suggestion that more progress has to be made. One might here someone who is white say "Well they've got a black history month, they've got the White House, what else do they want?" Note the "they". What "they" want is what all of humanity wants-to be viewed as part of the "us" as well as valued for the differences we enjoy. Equal access, honest dialogue, and commitment to ongoing repentance of the sin of racism is a good start for all of us.
In fact the definition of racism incorporates the distribution of wealth. If whites own more corporations, more businesses, more companies hence more wealth overall then that puts us as a race in a position of power. Those who own have the power to oppress consciously or unconsciously. This context then offers me privilege not enjoyed by those not in power. That privilege and the structures that promote it are the definition of racism-one race having the ownership and power of wealth over other races.
So by virtue of being white-I am racist because of the power my race holds over other races. If you feel offended by that statement then it is an indication of the type of racism that I'm talking about that needs to change. We are often unable even to acknowledge the privilege we enjoy-even entertain the idea of that being white offers unequal access to goods, services, and power not enjoyed by others. So if we are unable even to THINK about the issue then there may be some place for us to grow and learn. God knows I need to keep learning and facing that within me that would remain silent and inactive in this struggle.
So I pray God gives us Grace to own up to our own racism and that we are able to take the insight we're given and use it to shape the future.
Grace to you and peace in this new year 2009.
Dwight
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Love for self
I wonder what Jesus' command to love one's neighbor as one loves themselvese looks like exactly.
I get the whole Love the Lord your God with all of your heart mind and strength. I along with other Christians are asked to put Jesus above all else and base our life and relationships on his love for us-then extending the same type of love to others.
But what does loving oneself involve?
I think it's some of the following.
1) Eat healthy foods-and take time to cook and eat them sitting down with others when possible.
2) Get 7-9 hours a sleep often
3) Exercise often.
4) Hug your children and tell them you love them
5) Hug your spouse or significant other and tell them you love them
6) Believe it when God says we're forgiven. Jesus says that when we confess our sins that God is just and forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Don't beat yourself up or degrade who you are in the name of being humble.
7) Be truly humble-seeking first how we may offer a loving word, action, or thought rather than how we might judge or point out the speck in someone else's eye when we have a plank in our own. When we don't spend energy judging other people then we have more energy for loving-this builds us up.
8) Remind yourself every day that you are created in the image of God-and that God dwells within you-Christ is in you the hope of glory.
9) Wear clothes that make you feel good-shallow one-but effective nonetheless. Even if its something you got from the thrift store-if it is comfy and makes you feel good-enjoy it.
10) Seek the enjoyment in every task-even if you hate whatever it is you are doing-like a necessity at work or home-think of what you are doing as giving glory to God-and seek how it can be thought of as fun. This won't always work-but if you re frame the thoughts-then the feelings follow.
11) Think positive thoughts-if you find yourself thinking a negative thought-ask God to help you replace it with a positive thought. It works-re frame the thought-the feelings follow-positive thoughts=positive attitudes=positive action=positive results.
12) Don't waste your time arguing. Stop and ask yourself "What is going on with this person?" Seek first to understand and then to be understood (As in one of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)
Typically if you understand where someone is coming from, their motivation if possible-then you can determine if a response is appropriate. Sometimes people are coming from a place of hate-and sometimes they are coming from a place of love. If hate, then shake the dust off of your sandals and move on from that village is how Jesus worded it. To spend time in the presence of one who will not accept you as the child of God you are takes away from your place as a child of God. The problem then lies with them.
13) Laugh, laugh some more, laugh again, laugh laugh and laugh. There was some statistic that said children on average laugh four or more times in an hour-and they're happier in general for it. Granted they don't have a job, a mortgage, a relationship with a mate, taxes, or responsibilities to weigh them down-but Jesus instructed us to have faith like a child, and to receive the Kingdom of God like a child. This means with happiness, and laughter at the ready-lightness of heart and mind, and freedom to not worry about what other people think about us. Another factor to consider is that children laugh when someone says "You're a dookie head." and comments similar to that. It may take a LITTLE more to amuse us when we're older.
and FINALLY my last morsel of wisdom for us to savor:
14) Go outside and play instead of spending time writing blogs all the time.
Gotta go there's a swing outside with my name on it. I have to find out who's going around writing my name on playground equipment.
Dwight
I get the whole Love the Lord your God with all of your heart mind and strength. I along with other Christians are asked to put Jesus above all else and base our life and relationships on his love for us-then extending the same type of love to others.
But what does loving oneself involve?
I think it's some of the following.
1) Eat healthy foods-and take time to cook and eat them sitting down with others when possible.
2) Get 7-9 hours a sleep often
3) Exercise often.
4) Hug your children and tell them you love them
5) Hug your spouse or significant other and tell them you love them
6) Believe it when God says we're forgiven. Jesus says that when we confess our sins that God is just and forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Don't beat yourself up or degrade who you are in the name of being humble.
7) Be truly humble-seeking first how we may offer a loving word, action, or thought rather than how we might judge or point out the speck in someone else's eye when we have a plank in our own. When we don't spend energy judging other people then we have more energy for loving-this builds us up.
8) Remind yourself every day that you are created in the image of God-and that God dwells within you-Christ is in you the hope of glory.
9) Wear clothes that make you feel good-shallow one-but effective nonetheless. Even if its something you got from the thrift store-if it is comfy and makes you feel good-enjoy it.
10) Seek the enjoyment in every task-even if you hate whatever it is you are doing-like a necessity at work or home-think of what you are doing as giving glory to God-and seek how it can be thought of as fun. This won't always work-but if you re frame the thoughts-then the feelings follow.
11) Think positive thoughts-if you find yourself thinking a negative thought-ask God to help you replace it with a positive thought. It works-re frame the thought-the feelings follow-positive thoughts=positive attitudes=positive action=positive results.
12) Don't waste your time arguing. Stop and ask yourself "What is going on with this person?" Seek first to understand and then to be understood (As in one of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)
Typically if you understand where someone is coming from, their motivation if possible-then you can determine if a response is appropriate. Sometimes people are coming from a place of hate-and sometimes they are coming from a place of love. If hate, then shake the dust off of your sandals and move on from that village is how Jesus worded it. To spend time in the presence of one who will not accept you as the child of God you are takes away from your place as a child of God. The problem then lies with them.
13) Laugh, laugh some more, laugh again, laugh laugh and laugh. There was some statistic that said children on average laugh four or more times in an hour-and they're happier in general for it. Granted they don't have a job, a mortgage, a relationship with a mate, taxes, or responsibilities to weigh them down-but Jesus instructed us to have faith like a child, and to receive the Kingdom of God like a child. This means with happiness, and laughter at the ready-lightness of heart and mind, and freedom to not worry about what other people think about us. Another factor to consider is that children laugh when someone says "You're a dookie head." and comments similar to that. It may take a LITTLE more to amuse us when we're older.
and FINALLY my last morsel of wisdom for us to savor:
14) Go outside and play instead of spending time writing blogs all the time.
Gotta go there's a swing outside with my name on it. I have to find out who's going around writing my name on playground equipment.
Dwight
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Comedy shows
This is Dwight typing this one.
I am a standup comic-until a few nights ago-an amateur standup comic in my spare time. It's a hobby that's linked to my childhood antics of being the youngest and the entertainment portion of the family program.
I remain a novice-but I have now been paid to perform. I've gotten $50.00 here and there after a show-$30.00 a time or two. The other night I made a couple of hundred dollars doing what I love-making people laugh. It felt great. Now I am a professional comic-but not yet a working comic-working comics book paying gigs consistently and there is a process which seems to be infallible in terms of becoming a working comic.
You perform at lots of open mic events, pro-am nights, shows for which you do not get paid-and you usually get 5-8 minutes at a time. It isn't an easy thing. But if you love it-you do it. Typically after some time-if the club deems you worthy then you are able to work as an Emcee-sometimes getting paid sometimes not. Then you become a feature performer-a true opening act-and you are then considered a working comic. You open for bigger names than you-and you travel places to do it-often getting very little money. Then after time-and developing a fan base-the hope is that you are the headliner-the main attraction. This happens for some-and doesn't for others.
So me setting up my own show was a way to get to headline-without actually doing anything to have "earned" it-other than writing 45 minutes of material-and having a group of loyal folks who like to hear a preacher say funny things that can't be said in the pulpit. That is my confession.
The show was at Wiley's Comedy Club in Dayton Ohio on a Thursday night. I gathered five comics together to perform clean (not an easy task in itself). I had a working comic who was willing to emcee and three others besides myself. We performed well.
My reason to rejoice is that the show I produced went very well. Not perhaps by big name standards-but along with the other comics (primarily Richard Hiltibran) we were able to bring in 80 folks to see the show-and earned money for all the comics, and for the club owner. Two very good things. What is better is that we had a great deal of fun in the process.
I was at my best-more confident and comfortable on stage than ever before-home town crowd aside-I was FUNNY.
At this point I have to determine if standup is something to pursue further-or as only a part of what I hope ends up being a successful venture into writing a book, or books, or humorous columns. Why? You may be asking as you read this not so funny blog. Well because I have something to say-just like everyone else-and I feel that my story, who I am, is worth sharing. Furthermore I hope that by sharing who I am that I can help others to be more fully who they are.
God created us each to be someone-an authentic true self that is able to love and be loved. I pray that through the comedy I perform on stage that the message of God's love is included in such a way that it surprises people-like "Oh yeah-this guy's a preacher".
My act is limited now-and I have to write material not related to being a pastor-still clean-but more about other elements of who I am.
I want to encourage you-to find what your story is-and to share it with others. That's relationship-and that is why God created us to love and be loved-in order that through human connection with one another that we will find the holy. When we have relationship with God-it is a transformative relationship that empowers us to engage in healthy relationships with others. I pray that you find ways of connecting both with God, and also with others, and of course with yourself. Only when we are living into the person God created us to be-can we be happy.
So even if its not a comedy show-find that note within you that resonates and demands to be sung-how was that for a mixed metaphor right in the middle of a sentence? Find your comedy show-find the joke you have to tell-the story, the song-whatever it is within you that is longing to get out-in whatever form you desire-and let the world know. It's liberating.
Remember how much you are loved-and how God is calling you from where you are to where you can be.
Grace and peace to you and yours,
Dwight
I am a standup comic-until a few nights ago-an amateur standup comic in my spare time. It's a hobby that's linked to my childhood antics of being the youngest and the entertainment portion of the family program.
I remain a novice-but I have now been paid to perform. I've gotten $50.00 here and there after a show-$30.00 a time or two. The other night I made a couple of hundred dollars doing what I love-making people laugh. It felt great. Now I am a professional comic-but not yet a working comic-working comics book paying gigs consistently and there is a process which seems to be infallible in terms of becoming a working comic.
You perform at lots of open mic events, pro-am nights, shows for which you do not get paid-and you usually get 5-8 minutes at a time. It isn't an easy thing. But if you love it-you do it. Typically after some time-if the club deems you worthy then you are able to work as an Emcee-sometimes getting paid sometimes not. Then you become a feature performer-a true opening act-and you are then considered a working comic. You open for bigger names than you-and you travel places to do it-often getting very little money. Then after time-and developing a fan base-the hope is that you are the headliner-the main attraction. This happens for some-and doesn't for others.
So me setting up my own show was a way to get to headline-without actually doing anything to have "earned" it-other than writing 45 minutes of material-and having a group of loyal folks who like to hear a preacher say funny things that can't be said in the pulpit. That is my confession.
The show was at Wiley's Comedy Club in Dayton Ohio on a Thursday night. I gathered five comics together to perform clean (not an easy task in itself). I had a working comic who was willing to emcee and three others besides myself. We performed well.
My reason to rejoice is that the show I produced went very well. Not perhaps by big name standards-but along with the other comics (primarily Richard Hiltibran) we were able to bring in 80 folks to see the show-and earned money for all the comics, and for the club owner. Two very good things. What is better is that we had a great deal of fun in the process.
I was at my best-more confident and comfortable on stage than ever before-home town crowd aside-I was FUNNY.
At this point I have to determine if standup is something to pursue further-or as only a part of what I hope ends up being a successful venture into writing a book, or books, or humorous columns. Why? You may be asking as you read this not so funny blog. Well because I have something to say-just like everyone else-and I feel that my story, who I am, is worth sharing. Furthermore I hope that by sharing who I am that I can help others to be more fully who they are.
God created us each to be someone-an authentic true self that is able to love and be loved. I pray that through the comedy I perform on stage that the message of God's love is included in such a way that it surprises people-like "Oh yeah-this guy's a preacher".
My act is limited now-and I have to write material not related to being a pastor-still clean-but more about other elements of who I am.
I want to encourage you-to find what your story is-and to share it with others. That's relationship-and that is why God created us to love and be loved-in order that through human connection with one another that we will find the holy. When we have relationship with God-it is a transformative relationship that empowers us to engage in healthy relationships with others. I pray that you find ways of connecting both with God, and also with others, and of course with yourself. Only when we are living into the person God created us to be-can we be happy.
So even if its not a comedy show-find that note within you that resonates and demands to be sung-how was that for a mixed metaphor right in the middle of a sentence? Find your comedy show-find the joke you have to tell-the story, the song-whatever it is within you that is longing to get out-in whatever form you desire-and let the world know. It's liberating.
Remember how much you are loved-and how God is calling you from where you are to where you can be.
Grace and peace to you and yours,
Dwight
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The "eL" Word
The local public transit train here in Chicago is called the "eL" as in "elevated" from the road-it runs above ground-and off of the ground instead of underground like subways.
I got a five day pass for public transportation while I'm here so I can ride the train and buses as much as I'd like for five days. It is interesting to ride the train in Chicago.
I rode today from downtown Chicago on Merchant Mart Plaza to University and 55th Street. The ride was only one transfer and then a walk to a bus. I was going to visit McCormick Theological Seminary where I'm determining whether to attend for my Doctor of Ministry degree.
The financial divide between the North Side and South Side of Chicago is visible as you ride the train. The homes decline in appearance and the people on the trains have something in common even if it isn't skin color-its what appears to be a lack of hope-or vitality. I'm sure I was projecting this onto folks-but many either out of habit of protection in a larger city or maybe just not having slept the night before sat with blank stares and seemed sad.
I tell you the neighborhood we arrived in when I got off of the train at Garfield was straight off the set of an episode of Shaft in the seventies. There was a male prostitute wearing a bright new Chicago Cubs jacket who solicited the guy walking across the road just in front of me.
There was a woman who smelled heavily of rum or some strong liquor. She stumbled up to each one of us waiting on the bus at Garfield and asked us if we could give her money for a loaf of bread. I felt so sad for her. If I hadn't been so uncertain about catching the bus on time I would have gone into a store and bought her a sandwich-but I'm pretty sure she didn't really want the bread. And she didn't appear gaunt or underfed-she probably weighed about what I do-over 250. So at least I know she isn't starving.
Then I got on the bus and made it to the campus. The staff was very friendly and I understand that Barak Obama's home is only two blocks from the campus. If I didn't think and hope that he's going to be in the White House I guess that would've been a selling point. I'm not certain that I can enroll in a D.Min. program any time soon though with my parents so far gone.
I think maybe if all of us privileged folks were made to live in Harlem in Chicago or in New York or the Tenderloin in San Franscisco etc. that we would find a way to address poverty. Better yet-congress and these corporate CEOs should be forced to spend their terms in the projects they fund in D.C. so that they can understand that government assistance is not a ticket to wealth and fame.
I got a five day pass for public transportation while I'm here so I can ride the train and buses as much as I'd like for five days. It is interesting to ride the train in Chicago.
I rode today from downtown Chicago on Merchant Mart Plaza to University and 55th Street. The ride was only one transfer and then a walk to a bus. I was going to visit McCormick Theological Seminary where I'm determining whether to attend for my Doctor of Ministry degree.
The financial divide between the North Side and South Side of Chicago is visible as you ride the train. The homes decline in appearance and the people on the trains have something in common even if it isn't skin color-its what appears to be a lack of hope-or vitality. I'm sure I was projecting this onto folks-but many either out of habit of protection in a larger city or maybe just not having slept the night before sat with blank stares and seemed sad.
I tell you the neighborhood we arrived in when I got off of the train at Garfield was straight off the set of an episode of Shaft in the seventies. There was a male prostitute wearing a bright new Chicago Cubs jacket who solicited the guy walking across the road just in front of me.
There was a woman who smelled heavily of rum or some strong liquor. She stumbled up to each one of us waiting on the bus at Garfield and asked us if we could give her money for a loaf of bread. I felt so sad for her. If I hadn't been so uncertain about catching the bus on time I would have gone into a store and bought her a sandwich-but I'm pretty sure she didn't really want the bread. And she didn't appear gaunt or underfed-she probably weighed about what I do-over 250. So at least I know she isn't starving.
Then I got on the bus and made it to the campus. The staff was very friendly and I understand that Barak Obama's home is only two blocks from the campus. If I didn't think and hope that he's going to be in the White House I guess that would've been a selling point. I'm not certain that I can enroll in a D.Min. program any time soon though with my parents so far gone.
I think maybe if all of us privileged folks were made to live in Harlem in Chicago or in New York or the Tenderloin in San Franscisco etc. that we would find a way to address poverty. Better yet-congress and these corporate CEOs should be forced to spend their terms in the projects they fund in D.C. so that they can understand that government assistance is not a ticket to wealth and fame.
I am continually amazed at how many people are not just apathetic about the poor in our nation-but have palpable CONTEMPT for people living in poverty as though living on food stamps and getting a check from the government supports a lavish lifestyle. I read a bumper sticker that said something like "Work harder-people on welfare need your money". Such a complete lack of insight into the real issue of structural and cultural imbalance of wealth. Hating the poor for getting "welfare" is sort of like hating children for having to eat. Can you imagine anyone going up to a child when they're hungry and saying "Why don't you get a job and quit being lazy". Public assistance is not an indication of personality type-it may be linked in some cases-but in general the problem isn't the person receiving help from the government-its the system that creates such enormous poverty in the first place and doesn't provide a means of getting out of poverty into a financially soluble situation.
I don't mean to say that all folks who are poor are good and virtuous people and pat them on the head "Awww I feel so sorry for you poor folks. At least you've got your faith and your high standards". That's garbage.
Nor do I want to imply that those with wealth are all full of venom or virtue.
I just want to say that our system is so broken-our economic system and our social system-it's SO broken that I know only God can redeem us. It is easier for me to see when I am outside of my typical context because the differences are maginfied and multiplied. The wealthy are wealthier than ever-and the poor are poorer than ever-when you see the difference in a tangible way on a railway car over the course of three stops-it is difficult to ignore.
I pray that God gives me insight into how I might be part of the catalyst for change in Springfield where I am and in ways that go beyond my community as well. I have to start with me though-"elevate" my thinking if you will. Elevate my expectation of hope not only in my life and context-but in the lives of others by the Grace of God. It is my prayer that as Christians we can be agents of change and healing in a stagnant and wounded reality that is human existence.
God lift us up from the miry pit and place our feet on solid ground each day-every day fill us with your LOVE.
Thank you Jesus.
Amen.
Dwight
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Dirty Laundry Confessions
I think I want to hire an organization agent-or maybe a clutter consultant. Our home is full of clutter. Every single room.
If you were to come into our home you might exclaim "OH MY GOD! YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED!" Nope-that's just how we keep things most of the time.
Our kitchen looks disgusting, smells bad, our bedrooms are all strewn with clothing on the floor, on the beds, under the beds, a mixture of clean and dirty. We will even have clothing that is clean and dirty on the floor until we don't know what's clean and what's dirty and so we just throw it down the laundry chute to the basement to be washed again-and begin the process all over again.
It comes down to having too much and a lack of time management. We are obscenely wealthy in terms of possessions-this I mean in comparison with most of the world not compared to say the Hilton family, or even the richest people in Springfield OH.
I bet we could clothe, provide toys and books, and perhaps even feed an entire preschool and kindergarten class without straining the resources of what is currently in our home at this very moment. In fact if you looked through some of the piles in our house I bet you might even find some of the children whose faces they used to put on milk cartons. Do they even have milk cartons any more? Where do you put a picture of a missing milk carton?
This of course is all partly because my wife and I work full time. Sarah works theoretically 37 hours a week. Rarely does she work less than 40 now. Which is good for the bank account-lousy for our house. Not that she cleans. Sarah and I both are identical in our behavior when it comes to house cleaning-but from vastly different backgrounds.
Sarah's mother is a pack rat and Sarah has followed suit. I mentioned throwing out a futon that is downstairs in our basement and she said "Oh I don't know we just need a new mattress for it"-this is a piece of furniture we stored for her brother for four years now. She has never sat on it or used it to my knowledge more than once. Her brother has never asked for again-and we don't use it for anything but a dumping ground for guess what? More stuff.
I on the other hand come from a mother who would wipe crumbs off of the floor immediately after they'd fallen from whatever you happened to be eating at the time. We were encouraged to eat food over the sink or use a plate-even for a single cookie. This of course hearkens back to the old days I used to eat a single cookie.
My mom was so bad that if you put a glass down while you were still in the midst of finishing the drink often when you went to pick it back up the glass would already be in the dishwasher or the sink to be washed. It was sort of like the Flash in the comic strips only instead of running fast to prevent criminal activity it was a super fast obsessive compulsive cleaner. What would would her superhero name be? How about instead of the Swiffer-the SWIFTER!
So rather than conform to this extreme I chose to go the opposite route. I clean in spurts of extreme exertion a few times a month rather than in small steps.
So the ongoing result is that our house resembles a tornado stricken land fill or garbage barge. I'm being too mild about it to use such language. Compare the way of trying to describe it to the way in which we attempt to describe God. We can't contain God no matter how many words we use to describe God-so the best approach is to use as many words as possible to describe God-then we can approach at least a BIT more closely to grasping the great vastness that is the Creator of the Universe who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The same is true when attempting to describe our mess at home. Words also cannot contain the extent to which our home is a depository for clutter. It obviously doesn't bother me or I'd take steps to change it-and I have-it's just that breaking up with those bad habits is hard to do.
I've had to change to make the mornings a bit easier. Without SOME sense of order the morning is longer. You find yourself unable to find two matching socks for two different little girls, or the other shoe to the pair, or the lunchbox, or keys, or book bag, or homework or library book. Then after spending all that time to get ready I end up driving faster than most Nascar professionals to reach the school on time. Then I rush back home and repeat the process for my getting ready for the day.
It feels sort of like a roller coaster that lasts for forty minutes only its not fun and there are no photos you can buy afterward. I do feel nauseous afterward though. So I declare that I will change and that I can choose to change.
If I don't choose to do so then maybe I should stand in line for an hour before I get ready for the day, have Sarah charge me ten dollars for breakfast so I could get the whole amusement park feel. Who knows?
All I know is that if we don't organize something soon-the inner obsessive compulsive whose voice I've quieted for nine years of marriage is going to burst out of my chest and begin cleaning. By then it will be too late-I will begin to clean and not stop until our home is empty of nearly all worldly possessions and clutter. Then I may actually begin sweeping our yard with a vacuum. It won't be pretty.
I hope you found it within yourself to be able to laugh at my pain....sniff...sniff...;-)
Gotta go now I think I see a foot poking out from behind a pile of towels in the corner. I can only pray its not too late for this one.
Dwight
If you were to come into our home you might exclaim "OH MY GOD! YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED!" Nope-that's just how we keep things most of the time.
Our kitchen looks disgusting, smells bad, our bedrooms are all strewn with clothing on the floor, on the beds, under the beds, a mixture of clean and dirty. We will even have clothing that is clean and dirty on the floor until we don't know what's clean and what's dirty and so we just throw it down the laundry chute to the basement to be washed again-and begin the process all over again.
It comes down to having too much and a lack of time management. We are obscenely wealthy in terms of possessions-this I mean in comparison with most of the world not compared to say the Hilton family, or even the richest people in Springfield OH.
I bet we could clothe, provide toys and books, and perhaps even feed an entire preschool and kindergarten class without straining the resources of what is currently in our home at this very moment. In fact if you looked through some of the piles in our house I bet you might even find some of the children whose faces they used to put on milk cartons. Do they even have milk cartons any more? Where do you put a picture of a missing milk carton?
This of course is all partly because my wife and I work full time. Sarah works theoretically 37 hours a week. Rarely does she work less than 40 now. Which is good for the bank account-lousy for our house. Not that she cleans. Sarah and I both are identical in our behavior when it comes to house cleaning-but from vastly different backgrounds.
Sarah's mother is a pack rat and Sarah has followed suit. I mentioned throwing out a futon that is downstairs in our basement and she said "Oh I don't know we just need a new mattress for it"-this is a piece of furniture we stored for her brother for four years now. She has never sat on it or used it to my knowledge more than once. Her brother has never asked for again-and we don't use it for anything but a dumping ground for guess what? More stuff.
I on the other hand come from a mother who would wipe crumbs off of the floor immediately after they'd fallen from whatever you happened to be eating at the time. We were encouraged to eat food over the sink or use a plate-even for a single cookie. This of course hearkens back to the old days I used to eat a single cookie.
My mom was so bad that if you put a glass down while you were still in the midst of finishing the drink often when you went to pick it back up the glass would already be in the dishwasher or the sink to be washed. It was sort of like the Flash in the comic strips only instead of running fast to prevent criminal activity it was a super fast obsessive compulsive cleaner. What would would her superhero name be? How about instead of the Swiffer-the SWIFTER!
So rather than conform to this extreme I chose to go the opposite route. I clean in spurts of extreme exertion a few times a month rather than in small steps.
So the ongoing result is that our house resembles a tornado stricken land fill or garbage barge. I'm being too mild about it to use such language. Compare the way of trying to describe it to the way in which we attempt to describe God. We can't contain God no matter how many words we use to describe God-so the best approach is to use as many words as possible to describe God-then we can approach at least a BIT more closely to grasping the great vastness that is the Creator of the Universe who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The same is true when attempting to describe our mess at home. Words also cannot contain the extent to which our home is a depository for clutter. It obviously doesn't bother me or I'd take steps to change it-and I have-it's just that breaking up with those bad habits is hard to do.
I've had to change to make the mornings a bit easier. Without SOME sense of order the morning is longer. You find yourself unable to find two matching socks for two different little girls, or the other shoe to the pair, or the lunchbox, or keys, or book bag, or homework or library book. Then after spending all that time to get ready I end up driving faster than most Nascar professionals to reach the school on time. Then I rush back home and repeat the process for my getting ready for the day.
It feels sort of like a roller coaster that lasts for forty minutes only its not fun and there are no photos you can buy afterward. I do feel nauseous afterward though. So I declare that I will change and that I can choose to change.
If I don't choose to do so then maybe I should stand in line for an hour before I get ready for the day, have Sarah charge me ten dollars for breakfast so I could get the whole amusement park feel. Who knows?
All I know is that if we don't organize something soon-the inner obsessive compulsive whose voice I've quieted for nine years of marriage is going to burst out of my chest and begin cleaning. By then it will be too late-I will begin to clean and not stop until our home is empty of nearly all worldly possessions and clutter. Then I may actually begin sweeping our yard with a vacuum. It won't be pretty.
I hope you found it within yourself to be able to laugh at my pain....sniff...sniff...;-)
Gotta go now I think I see a foot poking out from behind a pile of towels in the corner. I can only pray its not too late for this one.
Dwight
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