One of the things about being away: I didn't keep up with the pandemonium, the maelstrom, the--oh, what's the word I'm looking for? Let's just go with "hype", shall we? swirling around Lent Madness, for which I am one of the celebrity bloggers. Or, as Scott Gunn and Tim Schenck explain in this video, a "celebrity" blogger. And don't think I won't remember the scare quotes when awards season comes around again. I will cut you. Though I have to say I'm mighty grateful that you pronounced my last name correctly in your last Monday Madness video! Impressive! (If you're wondering how to say it yourself, it is mentioned at about 9:30 on the video. Although as a true celebrity, I am first referred to simply as Laura, no last name required.)
Monday Madness -- February 13, 2012 from Forward Movement on Vimeo.
I am also looking forward to drinking a great deal of tea from a fabulous Lent Madness mug.
So don't forget: Lent Madness begins this Thursday! Check out the bracket and place your picks for the Final Four. Who do you think will win the it-would-be-coveted-if-coveting-were-not-a-sin Golden Halo? There's a strong group of 19th century American frontier types in the bracket; I'll be interested to see how they do. Frankly, knowing Kenyon College folks, I think Philander Chase has a good chance to go far.
You can keep up with the madness by signing up to receive notifications of new posts by email. You can also like Lent Madness on Facebook. Check it out!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
What I did on vacation
'Dja miss me? Cuz I've been gone, you know. I wasn't just slacking off here at Infusion Central. I was in Hawaii...doing stuff. Such as
I also might have tried windsurfing. There is, alas, no photographic evidence of this. I assure you, I was a natural. My innate skill was off the charts. But you will never know.
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| I actually got the horse to trot...once. After which he said, "yeah, I'll drive." |
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| Helicoptering over the volcano. Which was active. A. Ma. Zing. |
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| Reading. Book reports coming soon. |
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| Lots of time on the water, snorkeling, whale watching, and general cruising. |
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| OK, so I didn't actually go to any Weed Science Society meetings. |
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| Then we took a teeny tiny plane to Maui with Captain "hey guys!" John... |
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| Where we saw LOTS of rainbow activity... |
and amazing whale activity! This isn't even close to representational. The place was lousy with Humpback whales. On the Maui whale watch, they dropped a hydrophone in the water and it sounded like the most raucous cocktail party you've ever attended, minus canapes.
I also might have tried windsurfing. There is, alas, no photographic evidence of this. I assure you, I was a natural. My innate skill was off the charts. But you will never know.
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| It was, as I said, amazing. |
I'm home now. Sigh.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The masculine world of the Church
The General Synod of the Church of England is debating this week about whether or not women should be allowed to become bishops. Sigh. And much of the debate is about how to keep the people who don't want women bishops happy. Deep sigh. Don't they know by now that they're not going to be happy as long as there are any women bishops?
Meanwhile, here is the U.S. of A., someone named John Piper (I didn't know who that was) said something at some conference recently about how "God's intention for Christianity is for it to have a 'masculine feel.'" This would be more convincing if the goalposts for "masculinity" didn't seem to move whenever women stand on the field.
A couple of examples leap to mind.
Let's start with the color pink (also a newsmaker these days, is it not?). According to an article in the Smithsonian,
Take, also, the flute, which until the last century was a man's instrument. The late Frances Blaisdell, who played with the New York Philharmonic, told the Flutist Quarterly, “I had lots of opportunities because I was sort of a freak, and people couldn’t imagine a girl flutist."
Yeah, so let's have Christianity with a more masculine feel: lots of flute music and pink banners everywhere.
Seems to me that the problem is not that Christianity is becoming feminine, but that men still think standing side by side with a woman makes them less than a man. Maybe someday they'll get a grip. Or are they afeard someone's going to steal their purse.
Meanwhile, here is the U.S. of A., someone named John Piper (I didn't know who that was) said something at some conference recently about how "God's intention for Christianity is for it to have a 'masculine feel.'" This would be more convincing if the goalposts for "masculinity" didn't seem to move whenever women stand on the field.
A couple of examples leap to mind.
Let's start with the color pink (also a newsmaker these days, is it not?). According to an article in the Smithsonian,
a June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw's Infants' Department said, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
Take, also, the flute, which until the last century was a man's instrument. The late Frances Blaisdell, who played with the New York Philharmonic, told the Flutist Quarterly, “I had lots of opportunities because I was sort of a freak, and people couldn’t imagine a girl flutist."
Yeah, so let's have Christianity with a more masculine feel: lots of flute music and pink banners everywhere.
Seems to me that the problem is not that Christianity is becoming feminine, but that men still think standing side by side with a woman makes them less than a man. Maybe someday they'll get a grip. Or are they afeard someone's going to steal their purse.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Monday Morning Preacher: Oh no! Audio!
Putting my mouth where my money is, the sermon I preached yesterday is online as a podcast. Ack. So that's what I actually sound like? No fun.
What's odd about this one, listening to it, is that it's written out as a manuscript but lots of it is a riff on the manuscript. I think those parts that stray from the manuscript are better. Dunno. I also don't like how many times I start a new sentence with "and." I sound very run-on-y a lot of the time. Decent point; ok delivery. Could use a bit more polish.
What do you think?
What's odd about this one, listening to it, is that it's written out as a manuscript but lots of it is a riff on the manuscript. I think those parts that stray from the manuscript are better. Dunno. I also don't like how many times I start a new sentence with "and." I sound very run-on-y a lot of the time. Decent point; ok delivery. Could use a bit more polish.
What do you think?
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Various and Sundry, February 3
Whew! It's been a busy week! I'm taking a quick break to say, hey, look at all this stuff that other people wrote on their blogs even though I never wrote anything on mine.
Alex Thurston, who blogs about Africa, writes about his recent experience as a researcher in Northern Nigeria during a period bracketed by two terrorist attacks. He gives some perspective on the situation as well as a personal look on what this means for Nigerians. "On the day before I left, a Nigerian friend urged me to make an effort to point out the good aspects of Nigeria whenever possible... No matter how bad the news is coming out of that country, or how many articles we see titled “Nigeria on the Brink” or some such thing, it’s worth keeping in mind the tremendous vibrancy of Nigeria, which is one the most exciting places I’ve ever been." Good to remember.
Also putting things in perspective, PeaceBang reminds us to Slow Down When Things Speed Up. It reminded me very much of both the Isaiah and gospel reading for this Sunday--which is helpful, since I need to prepare a sermon. And this post is certainly going to help in preparation.
I loved (of course) this article about the Art of the Obituary. Very British. Very delightful. And says what I feel about reading the obits: "In the obituary world, all human life is there – every barmy, uplifting scrap of it."
In non-obituary news, were you following the story about the homeless teen who hoped to win the Intel Science Talent Search in part so that she could get her family out of a shelter? It was incredibly moving. She was a semi-finalist, but did not get into the finals. But she still got a home for her family--and a $50,000 scholarship, courtesy of AT&T and Ellen DeGeneres.
Speaking of Ellen, this clip of actress Kristin Bell having a sloth meltdown is too endearing for words:
Finally, Stephy Drury brought this wonderful quotation from Annie LaMott to my attention.
Have a great weekend.
Alex Thurston, who blogs about Africa, writes about his recent experience as a researcher in Northern Nigeria during a period bracketed by two terrorist attacks. He gives some perspective on the situation as well as a personal look on what this means for Nigerians. "On the day before I left, a Nigerian friend urged me to make an effort to point out the good aspects of Nigeria whenever possible... No matter how bad the news is coming out of that country, or how many articles we see titled “Nigeria on the Brink” or some such thing, it’s worth keeping in mind the tremendous vibrancy of Nigeria, which is one the most exciting places I’ve ever been." Good to remember.
Also putting things in perspective, PeaceBang reminds us to Slow Down When Things Speed Up. It reminded me very much of both the Isaiah and gospel reading for this Sunday--which is helpful, since I need to prepare a sermon. And this post is certainly going to help in preparation.
I loved (of course) this article about the Art of the Obituary. Very British. Very delightful. And says what I feel about reading the obits: "In the obituary world, all human life is there – every barmy, uplifting scrap of it."
In non-obituary news, were you following the story about the homeless teen who hoped to win the Intel Science Talent Search in part so that she could get her family out of a shelter? It was incredibly moving. She was a semi-finalist, but did not get into the finals. But she still got a home for her family--and a $50,000 scholarship, courtesy of AT&T and Ellen DeGeneres.Speaking of Ellen, this clip of actress Kristin Bell having a sloth meltdown is too endearing for words:
Finally, Stephy Drury brought this wonderful quotation from Annie LaMott to my attention.
"Age has given me what I was looking for my entire life - it has given me ME. It has provided time and experience and failures and triumphs and time-tested friends who have helped me step into the shape that was waiting for me. I fit into me now. I have an organic life, finally, not necessarily the one people imagined for me, or tried to get me to have. I have the life I longed for. I have become the woman I hardly dared imagine I could be. There are parts I don't love - until a few years ago, I had no idea that you could have cellulite on your stomach - but not only do I get along with me most of the time now, I am militantly and maternally on my own side... how kind to myself I have become, what a wonderful, tender wife I am to myself, what a loving companion."On good days, I feel that way myself.
Have a great weekend.
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