Fun With Danny

The tail end of Hurricane Danny left a multitude of opportunity for one of our favorite activities: PUDDLE JUMPING!

On a morning walk after the rain was over, we found more than our share left behind by poor drainage and ground saturation. What fun. Rain boots: optional.

These are they days, aren't they? The days I hope they remember always. I know I will.

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful. 
                                         E.E. Cummings.

The HUH?! Heard Round The World

I thought is was worth mentioning that it was a year ago TODAY that many of us FIRST heard the name Sarah Palin. It was the morning after the Dem Convention had concluded when the news broke that this mavericky maverick was chosen as John McCain's running mate.

HUH? WHO? Wwwwhat?

It will go down in history as one of the strangest political moves. Not to mention being one of the most entertaining, polarizing, and toxic additions to our current national psyche.

As I thought about it early this morning, it occurred to me that perhaps not even John McCain wanted to get in the way of an historic moment. That he knew we were so deep in the can, it would take a younger, more energetic guy to do the job. Maybe, in the end John knew just what he was doing by handing the election to Obama on a silver lip-stick platter.

My naive self can't give up the idea...but then again I'm the dummy who also thinks the country should just calm down and let the man they did elect do his job for God's sake.

What do I know?

One Year Ago Today - From Hope to Fear

On this day, last year at this time I was in Denver at the Mile High Stadium to hear Obama's acceptance speech. It was the closing night of the Democratic National Convention.

By all standards that was a memorable, even life-changing week for me...and this has been one crazy year. I have come to understand firsthand how hope and possibility can move people to make things happen.

I have also come to understand how fear can squeeze the intelligence right out of our otherwise right minds. It is toxic, as powerful a contagion as there is. And it is often in disbelief that I witness the extent to which people will be moved to do and say things out of their fear. For the life of me, however, I cannot fathom what is so frightening.

But when anxiety takes over, and the reptile brain kicks in -- there isn't much room for rational thinking, now is there? It is all about saving yourself and making sure there is enough just in case.

If I have learned anything this past year it is that I dare not try to make too much sense out of the irrational.

At times like these, perhaps all we need do is laugh. And so -- for your giggling pleasure I encourage you to think about Rush Limbaugh's penis. Yes, you read right. Mr. Limbaugh went there today and after I dried my eyes from the kooky giggles...I just had to post it for you.

Ladies and Gentlemen THIS is the politics of fear -- what will they worry about next.

My favorite quote of the year may be when Bill Maher said, "Electing an intelligent man to be our President, does not necessarily make us more intelligent."

What a long, strange year its been.

Ministermom-ing and the Creative Process

Given the creative nature of children, it is no coincidence that so many of us are led to seek a more creative life in their presence.
- Amanda Blake Soule, The Creative Family

Reading this kind of hit many nails on many heads for me! As this blog celebrates its FIRST BIRTHDAY, I am constantly thinking and re-thinking its original purpose and current function.

From Obama to babies to current events to religious life it all boils down to this: writing is a means of relief and release AND it is good for my spirit, my children, our family, and perhaps even the community at large.

Thank you for nearly 1000 hits - and for lots of love and encouragement along the way!

If it provides any kind of inspiration, happiness, balance, information or better yet, sparks you to greater things -- then I'm on the right track.

Here's to the future: whatever it may bring!

Its In The Air: Maine

Just caught wind of this new commercial put out by the state of Maine.

Beautiful scenes of that beautiful state are shown as the voice over proclaims:
In Maine, no one tells anyone else how to live. We all share Maine values: fairness, respect for each other, strong and healthy families. Everyone should be able to marry the person they love. ...

Check it out, it is worth seeing...and possibly signifies something in the air!

Wonders Never Cease...

I've been so quiet lately, you'd hardly think I was here. But today's news caused my mouth to open with the words: "Well, I'll be..."

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted yesterday to allow openly gay clergy to be openly gay! All God's creatures have a place in the choir, indeed!

The ELCA now keeps company with the Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ. A nice nod toward progressive Christianity.

And Garrison Keillor calls them God's frozen people.

Maybe Gary is going to have to rethink that one...

Full Disclosure

Just thought it was worth mentioning that the story about the hair salon is COMPLETELY TRUE. Hubby actually thought I made part of it up 'for dramatic effect.'

I wish. No, really...I WISH!

Also...the author of the book I was reading, Phillip S. Washburn, was my colleague for 16 years. Now retired, the book of sermons is a retrospective of his ministry. I highly recommend it.

Again, the title is The Mystery at the Heart of Things, available at Amazon.

"Pentecost, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, is that day on which a people of faith receive a gift from heaven that makes it clear --- God has to do with who we are and everything we do. It is a gift, in other words, that redirects our lives, more gladly in the present, that makes it clear that this is it and it (as it says in the beginning, in Genesis) is good. Amen." p.109

Notes From the Salon

One never knows where wisdom will be divined. In the (very small) hair salon today I overheard another customer tell the hairdresser:

"Did you hear that Obama wants us to report our neighbors to the government if we see they are doing something wrong. Boy that just put a red flag up for me...a Red Flag as in COMMUNISM. And...did you hear that he wants to mandate that we all get vaccinated against swine flu. The government can't mandate vaccinations! Communism!"

Ministermom kept her lips shut...locked even. I was so proud of myself, though inside I had a thousand quips, responses and admonitions going through my brain. I continued the book I was reading where not moments later I read the following...

But of, of course, fear courses through our veins. It affects and afflicts much of life, ESPECIALLY OUR POLITICAL LIFE. So the question becomes: "How shall we live out from under the rule of fear? What about faith makes this possible?"
Phillip S. Washburn, Mystery at the Heart of Things; p.119

The answer, of course is...EVERYTHING.

Making A Mess

I have never fully understood why the very things that occupy children most happily, quietly and creatively are a) never toys you have purchased for said purpose and b) always make the hugest indescribable mess.

And so it was on this fine summer day that this little dude 'helped mommy by washing the dishes', while also using a half bottle of dish soap and an entire bottle of hand soap. Call me crazy, but I just could not bring myself to stop him. He was having way too much fun.

It is very difficult to allow such a free for all when I know it is just making more work for me later on...and yet, I have always taken the process-oriented approach.

Creativity! He is learning about cause and effect. He feels happy that he is 'helping' me. I got my kitchen floor washed free of charge.

I may never know what is gained from such messy adventures -- but I can say that allowing children to just be and create, within reason, makes a certain kind of sense. When I am able to resist the temptation to cringe at what it is costing me and just stand back and let it be, I often discover that it what they have gained is far more valuable than what I may have lost.

Taking this theory to its public arena: I'm having a hard time standing back and watching this health care debate get UGLY. One or two minutes of those town hall meetings has me cringing far more than when I see water and suds spilling over onto the floor! I have read so many theories about what in God's name is going on. Everything from the GOP payback for the Dems killing Social Security reform to this fight being the GOP's anxiety driven death rattle as they watch themselves fall from power in America.

I've lost a night sleep or two at how Obama is being vilified and oddly compared to The Joker from Batman (huh?)

It certainly appears to me a major mess.

But I've decided to trust that it is just an ugly form of democracy in action. I have decided to believe that what America will gain will be far more than what we seem to be losing in the process. I hope the clean up won't take too long or be too tiresome.

I have to KNOW HOPE. At this point it seems like the only choice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWITZERLAND

If it’s true that you can judge a country’s image of itself by its National Day, then Switzerland definitely offers a relaxing sight. No military parades and no grandiose speeches.

On August the first, the whole country gathers in public places around bonfires and listens to speeches about the independence of the country from the Austrian rulers, which started with the Grütli Pact of 1291.

With the beautiful land still fresh in our minds...we wish A happy 718th birthday to Switzerland!

Also On The Agenda

In addition to the myriad things I do as minister MOM, political wonk has become another 'hat' foisted upon me by my well, you know.

Often while in the playground, at playgroup or just hangin' in the hood and people ask me...
"So, how do YOU think YOUR GUY is doing? (In case you just signed on, they're talking about the President of these, OUR United States.

In sum, I think he is doing a fantastic job. And yet, I also find myself confused by some of the important details. Health care is a big one.

So...this opinion piece by Paul Krugman brought to my attention by an old friend was quite helpful. I realize Krugman is the liberal's liberal...but so what?!

He explains the health care issue in a way that I find very helpful. In a way that makes sense. It is a start anyway!

Next time I'm in the playground I'll be ready.

The Mother Core

The enlightened leader of my book group selected Ann Morrow Lindburgh's classic A Gift From the Sea for a light August read.

Within the first few pages, I found the answer to why I have been so quiet on this blog -- why the posts have been so sparse:

"To be a woman is to have interests and duties, raying out in all directions from the central MOTHER-CORE, like spokes from the hub of a wheel. The pattern of our lives is essentially circular. We must be open to all points of the compass; husband, children, friends, home, community; stretched out, exposed, sensitive like a spider's web to each breeze that blows, to each call that comes.

How difficult for us, then, to achieve a balance in the midst of these contradictory tensions, and yet how necessary for the proper functioning of our lives.

How much we need, and how arduous of attainment is that steadiness preached in all rules for holy living. How desirable and how distant is the ideal of the contemplative, artist or saint - inner inviolable core, the single eye."

Hmmm...maybe this 1955 piece of wisdom will offer me just what I need to begin again.