Imagine All The People

"For they [those who question the scale of our ambitions] have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

This is my favorite part from Obama's inaugural speech. And not just because it celebrates the achievements of our country, but because of the calling it could become for the Church. What if the Church reawakened its Christian political imagination (not my words) and joined in its common purpose?

We have been reading the book, Jesus for President, with others from our church and it has been instrumental in provoking some good conversation, and I might even say, our imaginations. Do we have it all figured out? No way. But it's been a good place to start in rethinking how we live our lives, how the choices (small and large) we make reflect what we believe about the Christian life. Here is an excerpt of the book's description by Zondervan:

Jesus for President is a radical manifesto to awaken the Christian political imagination, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in Jesus and the incarnation of the peculiar politic of the church as a people “set apart” from this world.

Probably the best part about the book is that it provides practical examples and real stories of how this is being lived out today, and reminders of how this has been lived out in the past (ie: Dr. King, Bonhoeffer, Romero). I find it important to acknowledge that while this book has most definitely been written in a certain context (ie: 2008 America), it emphasizes that this "new" movement is really part of a bigger, pre-existing and ongoing story, and is therefore not new at all. Rather, it is a reminder of what has occurred when imagination has been joined to common purpose, and a recall of Christians to that alternate way of life.

[For other reading on this topic, I strongly recommend The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd.]

Remembering

In preparation for our small group meeting tonight, I had a chance to reread some of the speeches and writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I wondered why I don't do that more often, but I'm glad I did today. These words are no less relevant 50+ years later, even on the heels of an historical inauguration.

True peace is not merely the absence of some negative force - tension, confusion, or war; it is the presence of some positive force - justice, good will and brotherhood.
Dr. King's address before the First Annual Institute on Non-Violence and Social Change, Montgomery, AL, December 1956

Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial.
From an article appearing in the magazine Christian Century, 1960

I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advised the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963

Alternate Routes | Advent

I first saw this on Barbara and Nathan's blog. If you haven't seen it already, you should take a look. Andrew and I have been thinking lately, how can we "do" Christmas differently? How do we best embrace Advent, I mean, really embrace it? Not just by singing some carols and lighting some candles, but rather, how should we change our practices to prepare ourselves for the coming Christ? I'm sure at first thought, we could all rattle off a few things: give more to charity, spend more time in prayer, savor those quiet nights of anticipation, read the Christmas story with more expectation. To be sure, those are all good things. But I think the story of Christmas, and indeed, the life of Christ, requires more. For me, this video excites the imagination and so I find it pretty apropos for Advent, but why stop there? The more I entrench myself in a different kind of Christmas, the more I find that the Christian life requires not just a change of shopping habits in December (although it does indeed require that), but a comprehensive change of lifestyle. Year round.

And so the question becomes, how do we "do" life differently?

This question in particular has been hounding me lately. A lifestyle change requires not just deeper pockets (that would be easy), but it requires broader perspectives, freer schedules, trusting hearts, a relentless commitment to each other and our neighbors, and hardest of all, resistance to the idols of prosperity, security, comfort and safety. I've given this much thought, but not too much action. And while at times I berate myself over this fact, I am also realizing that perhaps big change takes some big preparation. Of course, maybe that's just an excuse. But either way, Advent is the time of preparation and I will take advantage of it.

An Exhortation

I would assume that regardless of who you voted for, it is hard not to bask in the historical significance of Tuesday's election. It is good and right and necessary to acknowledge and celebrate what this means for us, as a country and as individuals. I feel that we have somewhat redeemed ourselves in eyes of the world, but more importantly, we can once again believe in our collective conscience. Our country needed this. Our history needed this. Our souls needed this.

I would also assume that it is not enough to just have a black president, but rather, we need a successful black president. And I believe Obama earned this, winning not because (or in spite of the fact) he is black, but because people believe in his vision, leadership and character. I am proud and relieved to know that we, as a nation, were able to rise to the occasion and make history.


I am certain, however, despite the proclamations of the media, that this does not mean that America has been born anew, cleansed from its legacy of racism. We have indeed dawned a new day, but we cannot forget the dark yesterdays and the ugly tomorrows to come. Because they will come. The two pronged attack of racism, the individual coupled with the systemic, is fierce, and even with an African-American in the White House, you can bet that racism will continue to plague our neighborhoods, our work places, our schools and even our homes. We must not rest, believing that the history and present reality of injustice has been rendered obsolete by an electoral map. There is still work to be done.

But for now, I am more than happy to raise a glass to Obama, to celebrate this moment and to look with promise to the future. I know that my hopes cannot be pinned to any president, this one or the next, but it sure helps to have one who stirs my soul.

Beyond the Voices

I told you that I'm embracing my swing voter status, but, until recently, it hasn't been all that easy. My conservative leanings relentlessly prod me toward McCain, but, to be honest, I'm not excited about him. At all. Not even with Palin, and partly because of her. My conservative side is saying don't get wrapped up in the drama of Obama. He's charismatic, compelling, resonating, but he still employs age-old liberal ideas (with a liberal voting record to prove it) that have not always been of benefit to our country. The conservative side of me says remember, remember. But my newly emerged, liberal nodding, independent side is saying forget, forget. Forget your old ways and embrace the new. Forget any sense of party allegiance, consider what is imperative for today, and for once in your political life, let your heart take over your head (it's hard for me to even write that). And the commanding, overarching, God-breathed whole of me is saying you are beholden to no party, candidate, president or nation. You play by a different set of rules altogether. Be shrewd. Be wise.

But now, the battle is behind me, and for the most part, the voices have been silenced, except for the last. I hear only the freedom (and responsibility) to seriously consider both candidates and vote for a leader fit to meet the challenges of today. The permission I have given myself to do this is liberating, and, unlike before, I'm ready to take on the next 35 days.

I'm back in the presidential race.

On the Fence Independence

Ok, here we go. It's taken me a year and a half to even broach this subject. Sure, I've touched on political topics here and there, but I've never really come out and said what I'm actually thinking. Why in the world would I want to do that?! After all, there is a chance, a very slight chance, that you just might disagree with me. (Gasp!) But I'm going to risk it. I think we all need to risk it. I think we need to lay our cards on the table, assert our opinions/wonderings/musings/questions/concerns/values and then humble ourselves to others. How else do we expect to grow into (or out of or around) ourselves and with each other?

If I had to give a brief summary of my political journey along the Liberal to Conservative spectrum, it would go something like this: unaware of the spectrum, unconcerned with the spectrum, what's the spectrum again?, ok, I think I get the spectrum, concerned with the spectrum, a little to the left, a little to the right, more in the middle. Hope that clears things up.

I'm realizing that my childhood was relatively politics-free, in the sense that we didn't really talk about it, nor did it have apparent influence on my daily life. My parents never used "God" and "County" in the same sentence and I did not grow up in a location with a rich, unwavering devotion to Red or Blue. After all, I grew up in New Hampshire: Live Free or Die. I lived in blissful ignorance of the journey ahead and I avoided a lot of political baggage that could have (and probably would've) strongarmed my future perspectives.

So, when college rolled around and I decided to get my degree in politics (of all things), you can imagine the process that was before me: How do I make sense of all this, get off the fence, and believe in something? College introduced me to the Other, in all senses of the word, as it related to my politics, but even more overarching, as it related to my faith. The Left seemed to stand for the Other. I was on board and off the fence. Post-college introduced me to hard-working people, removed from the luxury of collegiate idealism, who outlined for me values of the Right (and when I say Right, please do not assume the Religious Right), such as freedom, responsibility, and pragmatism, all values that would still compel and enable me to care for the Other. I was won over and still off the fence.*

And now, I'm thinking that on the fence is not a bad place to be. I do think we need to know where we stand on individual issues, events, values and ideals, but I think we should embrace the freedom and responsibility to think outside of our two political parties, to straddle the aisle at times and take the good from both. We need both Left and Right, and to accept one in totality while completely rejecting the other is to limit our own thoughts and our nation's possibilities. In this election season, we have heard of the incalculable importance of the "swing voters", the Independents. And to be an Independent is to commit to sorting it out for ourselves, free from blind devotions and scripted answers. That's a fence I don't mind being on.

*Disclaimer: I know this paragraph oversimplifies the values/platforms of the Left and Right. I know it's not that black and white and that these values can overlap.

More to come...

Front Row Seat

To be honest, I don't know that I've ever given too much thought to major party conventions. After all, aren't they just a lot of pomp and circumstance--grand galas disguised as conferences to officially confirm what everyone has already known and accepted for months? Well, I may be changing my tune after reading what I'm sure will be a witty and insightful look at the goings on of these highly regarded events.

A politics professor and ordained minister, the Reverend Doctor Dale Kuehne has never quite been able to fit into any predetermined box, which is precisely what makes him so refreshing. He has been a friend, pastor and mentor to me over the past 5 years or so as I have attempted to navigate the murky waters of faith and politics. Ever thought provoking, he is a serious thinker who doesn't take himself too seriously, and so, I am delighted to introduce him here via his blog as he recounts firsthand the play-by-play of the DNC and RNC.

I'm sure this is a front row seat you won't want to give up.

Random Resources

Here are a few interesting websites I've happened upon.

eNature.com | An online field guide to over 5,500 species of everything from seashells to birds to wildflowers.

Earth911 | Wondering where to dispose of an old cell phone or fluorescent bulbs? Input your disposable and zip code here to find out the recycling or re-use location near you.

The Daily Dish by Andrew Sullivan | For your political amusement and/or bemusement...

Supercook | Input ingredient, get recipe.

World Ark | The magazine produced by Heifer International. I've received this publication at home for a few months now, and I'm impressed by its in-depth approach to various and complex issues.

First Slice

Our friend, Ryan, told us about First Slice and so we checked it out a few weekends ago. More than just a great little cafe with a wide variety of delicious foods, First Slice is a self-funding "community supported kitchen" that uses its proceeds to provide restaurant quality meals to those in need.

First Slice was founded by chef Mary Ellen Diaz, who, after working several years in the high-powered restaurant industry, decided to reassess her goals and as a result, created an innovative way to combine her knowlegde of food with her desire to bring dignity to the disenfranchised. She values pure, wholesome, comforting foods, using local organic ingredients. First Slice is funded by community subscribers who receive three prepared, gourmet meals a week. For every one subscription, First Slice is able to provide meals for 20 homeless persons in Chicago every month. And the coolest part? The homeless receive the exact same high-quality, nourishing meals that the subscribers do.

So, for those of you in Chicago, I recommend you check it out. It's on Ravenswood at Montrose, in the Lillstreet Art Center. Other ways to get involved:

Subscribe to the shareholder program.
Volunteer in the kitchen to serve meals to men, women and children.
Donate to support First Slice.

Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together * Metro Chicago is part of a national non-profit program that arranges free home repair for disabled, elderly and low-income individuals on the last Saturday in April. This year, I believe there were approximately 90 homes that several thousand volunteers helped to repair. Each home has a corporate sponsor that provides the necessary funding. We participated with about 20 others from our church and went to Chicago's Englewood neighborhood to work on the home of Rev. Henry and Ollie. Rev. Henry is the pastor of a beautiful church several blocks from their home (see picture below). We enjoyed the time to paint, landscape, spruce up and brush off, but more than that, it provided a wonderful opportunity to meet Rev. Henry, Ollie and their family, to work alongside each other, to rebuild together. It my hope that Rebuilding Together will not just be about one Saturday in which we leave our comfy Northside lives to put some fresh paint on a wall, but that it will be about developing partnerships, forming relationships. And then the real work will begin.

Taking a Step in an Organic Direction

In the past year or two, I feel I have come a long way in terms of how I view food, and more specifically, the food I eat. But before I launch into what I have learned and how I have changed, I should provide some clarifications in the way of a disclaimer:

I am not a health food junkie.
I rarely take vitamins, despite Andrew's greatest attempts.
I am by no means a Whole Foods worshipper (more on this later).
I am not someone who will buy organic at any cost.
I am no expert on sustainability.

While these things still are and have always been true for me, it should be noted that before a year or two ago, the words "organic" and "sustainability" would have barely entered my vocabulary. Perhaps it is due to all the organic hype as of late, or perhaps it comes from being immersed in an urban setting (Chicago) or a socially conscious setting (our church), or maybe it's because I'm getting older and have a greater interest in how I care for my body and spend my money, but whatever the reason (and it's most likely a combination of all the above), I am ready to engage the topic.

So, where do I stand? A few thoughts: First, I do not dispute the fact that food grown organically is better for you and the environment. Pesticides and chemicals and hormones are bad. I get that. Second, I have come to understand and appreciate the difference between organic and local. The concepts are quite linked, but they are not interchangeable. True, oftentimes food is both organic and local, but sometimes it is not. Third, there are many benefits and implications for eating organic, locally grown food, and I acknowledge those benefits as a viable reason why I would want to invest my money and energy into making organic and local eating a priority.

My challenge with organic eating is best exemplified by the problem that the store Whole Foods presents. Whole Foods seems to have gained the corner market on all things organic. When you think organic, you think Whole Foods. And when you think Whole Foods, you think expensive, very very expensive. Assuming this line of thinking (which not all of you may espouse, I understand), the logical conclusion is that eating organically is a luxury. I would argue that even if you don't completely agree with this line of thinking, there is still some element of privilege that must be acknowledged when it comes to the choice to eat organically. It is a choice and that alone makes it a privilege. There are many many people who would love to make better food choices for their family but cannot possibly afford it. We must recognize that when we start making judgments about how people eat.

My understanding of the distinction between organic and local has helped me to start to reconcile this conflict. I am no guru when it comes to local, sustainable farms (see disclaimers above) and I don't have any stats in front of me to back up my claim, but I believe that local helps the organic to become more accessible. This isn't to say that Whole Foods doesn't carry locally grown food (although, I think it's fair to say that Whole Foods has taken a lot of the local out of organic). I'm only saying that it's just good business sense to cut out the middle man (or woman) and get your food from the farmer, right? And if nothing else, when I buy locally I know that I am supporting local farmers and sustainable farms. And from my experience, these farmers are socially conscious; they want to make good food accessible.

Starting this summer our church is partnering with Mike and Clare's Farm in Ottawa, Illinois, as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program (for more info on CSAs, click here). Once a week, shares of freshly grown and harvested vegetables (some of which are well known and some of which I have never heard) will be delivered to our church. In addition, we'll be receiving shares of meat, such as grass-fed beef, pasture raised chicken and free range eggs, from Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm. It is our church's vision that we will not only take a more responsible approach to our food as individuals, but that as a community, we will use our CSA partnership to reach out to those in need.

Andrew and I are excited to start making decisions about organic food in a way that makes sense for us. While we've always tried to buy fresh, avoid processed foods and shop around the perimeter of the grocery store (some great advice my mom passed on), I'm glad to be taking that next step. The next challenge? Recipes using hakerei and tatsoi. No clue.

Water

"...Amazing grace, oh how sweet the sound
There was glory in the air, there was dinner on the ground
And my sins which were many, were washed away and gone
Along with a buffalo nickel I forgot to leave at home
But that seemed like such a small, small price to pay
For the blessed peace of mind that came to me that day
And it was down with the old man, up with the new
Raised to walk in the way of light and truth
I didn't see no angels, just a few saints on the shore
But I felt like a newborn baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord
This road is long and dusty, sometimes the soul it must be cleansed
And I long to feel that water, rushing over me again."

-from "Baptism" by Kenny Chesney

Congratulations, Ian. We love you. (And you too, Alexander and Charlotte!)

The Power of a Great Idea

Let's face it. Any of us lucky enough to sit in front of a computer all day long has perchance happened upon an internet game site (or two) we have employed to pass the time, procrastinate, stimulate our deteriorating minds, ease our overworked minds or maybe distract us from the reality of our jobs. Tetris, Chess, Mahjong, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Pac Man, Spades, Poker, Wheel of Fortune... you name it, they're out there and they're free. Well, now there is a game available where you can expand your vocabulary AND help to end world hunger. No longer do you need to feel guilty about playing games at work. FreeRice.com is a vocabulary game in which 20 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program for each word you define correctly. It's as simple as that. The money the site receives from advertising is used to purchase the rice. Since October of 2007 (only 2 months ago!), over 9.4 billion grains of rice have been donated. So, click the banner below to play! You can even set your computer (under Options) to remember your vocabulary level and donation total. There are 50 levels of words; for each word you get correct, you get a harder word. Here's to words and rice!

Anticipation

This past Sunday marked the first Sunday in Advent. Every year, I look forward to the Christmas season, and every year, come January, I wonder where it went. That seemingly unending march toward Christmas ended long ago, only to be replaced by comments such as: “I can’t believe it’s December already!” and “I only have 2 weeks to do all my shopping?!” and “Where did this year go? Nevermind this month!” Indeed, time has been racing by while I've been making futile attempts at recreating that “Christmas feeling” I remember so well as a child. And I've realized that over the past several years, I've started to enjoy the anticipation of Advent more than the season itself. The anticipation harbors more hope, more promise: this year will be different, I’m sure of it. But every year I seem to be disappointed. Santa and gifts don’t do it anymore, and even the lights and music can become routine. I've outgrown the Christmas of my past. It’s time to recreate what Advent means to me, time to discover in what way I can most appreciate and reflect the spirit of Christmas. I don’t know what this will look like. New traditions? A new attitude? A new intentionality? Whatever it is, I must stop looking to the ghosts of my Christmas past to satisfy that desire to really experience the Advent season. After all, Advent itself implies a hope, a look to the future. And Advent deserves a renewed vigilance on my part, for at what other time can we sing,

Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

-Charles Wesley

The Artists Among Us

I have a few friends that are blazing some trails and leaving their mark. So I thought I'd share. Indeed, it is amazing what each of us brings to the table--our gifts, talents, skills, perspectives. I am becoming increasingly aware and appreciative of the fact that it takes all of us--a body comprised of many members--to change and celebrate the world. So, without further ado...

I know Brant Menswar from my home church in New Hampshire. He has been working for the past several (and perhaps more) years to follow his call to music. His band is called Fort Pastor and they have just released a new CD called "Beautiful Imperfection". Check out their website to read the band's bio and to read up on their own non-profit organization, The Social Justice Army.

Secondly, a friend of ours is a painter and here is her online gallery: Paintings by Jessica Shurr.

(If anyone is looking for some free advertising, let me know!)

I Pledge Allegiance

On Sunday, Andrew and I became members at our church. This is noteworthy only because it’s the first time we have committed to a church since we've lived in Chicago, and if you include our years at North Park, those years start to add up. Membership wasn't necessarily a difficult choice for us once we decided it was time. Granted, we have spent the last 6 months seriously considering this place in which we will serve, all the while trying to achieve a balanced understanding of when a church is about our “criteria” and when it’s about so much more. We knew we were ready to commit to a community, pledge to serve and really live life with a body of people. This, in essence, is what membership is all about. But it has been interesting to observe that “membership”, in all its traditional and historical clothing, no longer attracts the loyalties it once did. Perhaps I am wrong, but I know that at least in the Covenant denomination, it’s been hard to recruit members in these recent years, especially those my age. I believe it to be considered somewhat of an inconvenience in our postmodern world. Membership has always implied commitment, permanence, loyalty. And there are many things out there these days that try and warn us against these “unnecessary hindrances”. Why commit when you can be free to do as you please? Permanence? Heck, you can get tattoos removed these days. Loyalty? Well, what if we just don't agree anymore? This is the atmosphere in which the church is trying to foster some sense of "I'm here. I said I would be. You can count on me." I am in no way immune from such hesitations, hence my many years of abstaining from membership.

However, none of these postmodern mantras make membership obsolete. The fact is the church needs members (from a legal, financial, visional and missional perspective) and I believe congregants want and need the empowerment that comes from commitment. Our church explained that they viewed membership as "a commitment for a season", an explanation laced with grace and understanding that life happens, things change, and that God may call us elsewhere. And that that's ok. It is my hope that churches will continue to create atmospheres that encourage commitment by recognizing what we're all up against. We're in an age of ruthless competition for our time, energy and resources, and instead of feeling pressured to shrug off anything that might "limit" us, we need to be empowered and encouraged to pledge some allegiances. Life will happen. Things will change. Our commitments will evolve. And I believe that the church, of all places, should have the grace and understanding to inspire, support and strengthen us along the way.

DonorsChoose

A few weeks ago I received a gift certificate from Crate & Barrel for $25 to be used however I wished at DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose is an organization designed to help provide resources for students who often do not receive the funding they need from public schools for special projects, field trips, etc. Teachers are able to submit ideas for materials or experiences their students need to learn, and then individual donors can choose which projects they would like to help fund. As a donor, you can browse the proposals based on region, the type of subject (such as science or art), the type of resource (such as technology or books), the type of school or even by the level of poverty. After you help to fund a specific project, you can log back into the site to check the status of the proposal to which you've donated. In addition, if you help to complete a project, you will receive student photos and thank-you notes showing how you impacted the classroom.

Two things: first, I think this is a creative and innovative way to help teachers and students achieve quality education. I have many family members and friends who are teachers or involved in the school system. They are dedicated to their students and I know they are always struggling to attain the funding they need. Second, kudos to Crate & Barrel for their benevolence. The gift certificate allowed me to give to a worthy cause and for them to foot the bill. I have been impressed with C&B's customer service and this only reinforces my positive image of the company.

One great thing about my job at Covenant Trust Company is that I am always learning about new ways to give. There are so many avenues for charitable giving. And with the Internet, these avenues are constantly changing, expanding, and becoming more creative and innovative. DonorsChoose is a great example of that.