Pizza & Faces

Enough said?!

It's been a couple weeks since I returned from Kansas

(I still can't believe I made an intentional visit to the mid-west... and enjoyed it - go figure),

but I have waited to post these photos because I want to do them justice.

Truly, the slice is as big as her face.

I LOVE THIS PIZZA PLACE.

Thank you, Kendra & John, for sharing your creation with us!

Yum

Musical Friday Five

MUSICAL FRIDAY FIVE

Over at RGBP, Songbird writes,It was ... Martin Luther who said:"I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people gay; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor."

On this Friday before Reformation Sunday, let's talk about music. Share with us five pieces of music that draw you closer to the Divine, that elevate your mood or take you to your happy place. They might be sung or instrumental, ancient or modern, sacred or popular...whatever touches you.

My deepest connection with music is through singing along to the radio/cds... even if the song has no words, I vocalize - lalala, hum, etc - to feel the music in my physical being. Here are 5 (in no particular order) that particularly speak to my spirit:

1) Catch me singing "Hammer and a Nail" (Indigo Girls) in the shower many mornings. "Gotta get out of bed, get a hammer and a nail - learn how to use my hands not just my head - I think myself into jail - Now I know a refuge never grows from a chin in a hand in a thoughtful pose - gotta tend the earth if you want a rose!" It's a great way to remind myself to get moving; God has called me into the world. (YouTube video here - but, thank heaven, it's not me singing)

2) I can't sing the Dixie Chicks' "Top of the World" without passion and a lump forming in my throat - it's such a soul-longing search for redemption that it encourages me to try to live life without those deep regrets. (another YouTube video)

3) If I had to choose a favorite hymn (too hard a task, by far!), I might name "O For a Thousand Tongues" in sentimental honor of my United Methodist roots - but really, most hymn-lyrics to the tune of AZMON make my heart sing.

4) Melissa Ferrick's "'Til You're Dead" just makes me happy because it's a song Jamie sang to me early on in our (now 10-year!) relationship.

5) And just because I'm totally boring and predictable, if I need a pick-me-up, or if I'm having a joyful day and want to celebrate it, or for almost any other reason, I put in any Indigo Girls cd and sing along. Lyrics, music, spirituality and social justice emphasis make their music speak to every part of who I am.

On a similar note, if you haven't read Don & Emily Saliers' book A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice I highly recommend it! It's from the perspective of a professor of liturgy/music (Don) and his daughter, a "pop" musician (Emily).

Wind Turbines in Kansas

WIND TURBINES IN KANSAS

The tops of their spinning rudders

disappear into sky;

fade to mystery as they wind

unknown in lowered clouds.

What songs do they sing to the sun

beyond my sight?

Are they whispering love sonnets

to water particles clinging to their blades?

Is there a suffering sigh

pulled through each draft?

Or are they mute, indifferent to

their existence; solitary amidst a

clan of multiples - twins, triplets, quintuplets -

cousins and in-laws living in the same 90-acre house?

Alone.

Study Week part II

It's only Friday, and I've actually succeeded in reading some of what I set out to soak in this week (totally unexpected from one who reads so very slowly...at least re: non-fiction). I even remained open to the Spirit to lead me a little off track with one of my selections. Here is what I've accomplished so far:

Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope, and Compassion and Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry are both excellent reads in multiple arenas. First, of course, leadership skills; followed very closely by renewal and sustenance; and guiding others in leadership ability. I find them particularly relevant to church leadership, but their insights, probing questions and exercises can be applied to any number of fields (Resonant Leadership is actually directed toward businesses, but the principles stand for any entity desiring to be grounded in a holistic approach to their goals).

Conversation as Ministry: Stories and Strategies for Confident Caregiving was not on my initial list of intended reading. However, its focus on developing skills that enable members of the faith community to hold "pastoral conversations" will benefit our lay caring visitors. The numerous stories and succinct summaries will be great resources for me in continued training of members for this ministry.

I am about halfway through Prayer and Our Bodies. While seemingly quite distinct from the other texts I've chosen, the readings in this book have coincided unexpectedly with each of the others. Corresponding quotes from G.K. Chesterton and Mechtild of Magdeburg are the least of the similarities. The greatest synchronicity is the reminder in each that we must be mindful, aware and check in with our bodies (as well as our spirits, emotions and minds) in order to be whole, spiritual, human beings.

I'll try to update if I finish The Art of Faith or Walking on Water, both of which I've also begun...

Study Leave/Reading Week

One of the true gifts of being a pastor is being able to take time to renew yourself & revitalize your ministry. Of course, your church also has to recognize the power of such sabbath time for the work you share. Happily, mine does; starting Monday, I get to renew & revitalize.

Since I have not yet finished Margaret Marcuson's Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry, I will begin this reading week by immersing myself in its wisdom*. Marcuson (quotes Gerald May who) refers to 16th century mystic John of the Cross' statement:

"God does not fit in an occupied heart".

Throughout this week I hope to hold an open heart, listening to where Spirit leads and daring to follow that voice. I hope to empty my heart of old and no-longer necessary "truths", so I may hold space for what the Divine has been waiting to put in their place. I hope to hang the "vacancy" sign, bright and flashing.

I also hope to check in with a couple other valuable resources - all in the arenas of leadership in congregations, renewal or self-care, and the spiritual practice of art/writing. Some of the possibilities are:

• Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee
• Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle
• The Art of Faith by Cathy Coffey
• Prayer and Our Bodies by Flora Slosson Wuellner
• The Equipping Church by Sue Mallory
• Hear and Be Wise: Becoming a Preacher and Teacher of Wisdom by Alyce M. McKenzie

We shall see what comes...

*If you've been following for a while, you'll remember I've been trying to hold myself accountable to reading 3 different books on leading well. I've finished the first one, don't overly appreciate much of the theology in the second one, and the third one is this one by Marcuson.