Risk and Wonder

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Who let loose the humans of war? Not the dogs, not the powerless…

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Forgive the intrusion, but don’t I know you from somewhere?
Forgive my forgetfulness, but didn’t you help me that time I was in trouble? Did I thank you?
Forgive my hearing problem, but did you say you love me?
Forgive me if this sounds insensitive, but how well do I know you?
Forgive my audacity, but do I know you well enough to speak on your behalf?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You know, Thomas, I love that Mrs. Robinson – more than she will ever know.”

[Simon & Garfunkel got it from somewhere, but He never said it like that.]

D. Blog: Risk and Wonder

To go boldly where none have gone before. That is the invitation we all receive in life. I don’t know that I have gone boldly, for I usually understood some of the risks. But I have gone; I have accepted the invitation to do something different, to leave the comfort zone, to take the unfamiliar route, to chart my own course.

I like to think it’s a matter of trusting Got, of trusting the life force, following the spirit of the divine. Perhaps, though, it’s simply a matter of curiosity, as in “I wonder what will happen if I do this? I wonder what I will see if I go there?”

Yes, that’s a big part of it. I wonder, so I risk.

What's in Your Vision?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Given half a chance, peace would solve most of the problems in Iraq. Give peace a whole chance.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I had a vision in which you revealed yourself so perfectly that even the world’s rulers bowed before you and begged for your mercy. You sent them to work in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, emergency clinics, hospice care facilities, inner city tutoring programs, counseling prison inmates, small businesses on reservations, and cleaning toxic waste sites. Then you asked them why they thought paying for warring was so much more important than providing adequate resources for the needs in these projects.

I did not hear their response…
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I told you guys before: No child left behind. C’mere kids.”

[Something like that, perhaps, but no, He didn't say that.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

A breeze reminds me
You come to comfort.
Never fear, for you are here.

Patriotism?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Love is peace’s ultimate weapon.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Words fail me, again.
How can one possibly express what is beyond words?
As you are. As this world is. As life is. As my life is.
Beyond words. Beyond belief if I had not experienced it for myself.
I guess I’m not alone in that awareness.
Word must become flesh. Unfleshed word has no reality; it remains in the realm of dreams, a brooding, unintelligible and unformed chaos.
You could not leave it at that.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Take this job and shove it.”

[He might have been tempted to say it in the Garden of Gethsemane. He didn’t.]

D. Blog: Patriotism

It is a sick sort of patriotism that expects citizens to blindly support the nation going to war. I liken it to jumping off a cliff because some one tells me I should. In that situation, the patriot, it seems to me, will warn against taking such a leap into the abyss, step away from the cliff edge, walk away to live another day.

Samaritans

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

War is never a worthy cause. Nor a noble effort, nor good, nor necessary. It’s shameful; we should not excuse this abomination.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Forgive me for my lack of creativity, but the morning’s distractions limit my focus. Still, I don’t need much focus to say “I love you. I love life. And thank you so much!”
Thinking about it, I guess some of your creative energy no longer needs your constant attention. The natural world has its rhythms and cycles to run their course. Your creativity takes a rest of sorts, too.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I probably shouldn’t admit it, but I’m a Blue Devils fan.”
[No, but I think He would like the uniforms…]

D. Blog: A Parable

"A Samaritan stopped..."

A renowned and prophetic preacher driving from Chicago to Indianapolis in mid-winter got stranded along the road in a terrible ice storm.

When a patrolman stopped to offer help, the preacher declined because he thought he could work his way out of his bind.

When a trucker offered to help, the preacher declined because he would take no help from a "God-damning" man.

A single mother on welfare also stopped, but the preacher could readily tell that she had far greater worries than he did.

**************
How would you end this story/parable?

1. As it is.
2. "Remember that preachers are sinners, too."
3. "They all came to the famous preacher's funeral."
4. "His frozen body was taken from his car three days later."
5. Other?

I See Beauty

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The Sanskrit word for “war” means “desire for more cows.”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

For us as humans, time flies. The seasons seem casual in their coming and going, yet when we think back, even the decades passed with dizzying speed.

If we are fortunate enough, however, we can say for ourselves that, with your accompaniment, our life is a marvelous adventure, short as it may be, difficult as it may be, unaware as we may be of its passing.

Thank you for the joyous privilege of coming to your theme park.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“The most underrated play in the game is the sacrifice bunt.”

[No baseball then, but He might say it now, right?]

D. Blog: Blue Ridge Parkway

I will rave some more about the Parkway, having taken some recent drives south to check the views and fall color. One particular drive I made with no particular destination or schedule in mind, which is, I think, the best way to enjoy this wonderful route.

Going south from where we live, it seems as if I encounter a stunning view around every curve. The drive winds through numerous tunnels (10 within 20 miles), and parking/viewing spots sit at most of the desirable viewing spots.

I had my camera with me, of course, but on a sunny fall day, I could easily stop and snap a great photo every 100 yards or so – and I would be hard-pressed to eliminate any from the collection in the memory card. I did take pictures: Mt. Pisgah, Cold Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, Graveyard Fields, the Devil’s Courthouse, and countless unnamed spots. (I got these two pictures from Mt. Pisgah and the Devil’s Courthouse.)

There is a great quiet at many spots: atop Mt. Pisgah, at the Wolf Mountain overlook, or on top of the rock called the Devil’s Courthouse, where on a clear day one can see mountain peaks in 4 states. Again I thought, the Parkway is one thing government did right – to create a means of accessing a vast stretch of peaceful beauty in this part of the country.

On my return down (mostly) the Parkway, It struck me that I saw no litter along the road, and I’ve never seen any crews picking up trash. It made me wonder… Maybe litterers avoid the Parkway… Or maybe people have too much respect for it.

Life is Hunky-Dory

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“There is no flag large enough to cover the crime of killing innocent people.” – Howard Zinn

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When you speak, we listen.
Some of us, anyway.
Speak so we will hear.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You can’t judge a scroll by its… Oh, never mind, you can’t read, and judging isn’t my thing anyway.”

D. Blog: Hunky-dory???

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests that the term may have been introduced in America about 1865 by a popular variety performer named Japanese Tommy. Other references suggest that it may have been sailors’ slang for a street in Yokohama that catered for what one might describe as the special needs of sailors. In Yokohama today a broad thoroughfare called Honcho-dori runs from the centre of the city to the port area, so one that would have been familiar to sailors (dori is the Japanese word for a road, in particular a broad or important one).

What seems certain is that hunky-dory was a play on an existing sense of the word hunky for something that was fine, splendid or satisfactory. In turn, this probably derives from the adjective hunk, which means that one is all right or in a safe or good position. This derives from the Dutch honk, meaning “goal” or “home” in a Frisian variant of the game of tag. This word (and presumably the game, too) was said to have been taken by the Dutch to New Amsterdam, later New York, but was first recorded only around the 1840s. It has links to another reduplicated term, hunkum-bunkum. Though the first part sounds a bit like the hunker of hunker down (which is also of Dutch origin), the words seem not to be related.
It may be that hunky-dory was the result of a bilingual pun, perhaps invented because American sailors knew the word dori and prefixed it with hunky as an imagined Japanese street of earthly delights.

[Michael Quinlon at worldwidewords.org]

Helmet: Necessity or Accessory?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

No “enemy” can threaten my soul. Justifying war can.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life is full to overflowing, so I cannot comprehend boredom. I recognize there are boring people, speeches, TV, or sports and other events. But what surrounds them – the atmosphere of life – can never be boring.

If it could, I suppose you would be bored to tears, bored to death, or boring yourself. But you aren’t, and I’m not, for life is ever full of wonder.

Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Poor beggars. Blessed are ye, for in years to come, your ragged, holey, dirty clothing shall be fashionable.”

[He might be surprised, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: Helmets

I saw some adults taking a ride on a straight, flat bike trail quite separate from any roadway. They all wore helmets. I wonder: before mandatory helmets, how many adults actually suffered head trauma from bike accidents on such trails? I know, one would be too many. But I also wonder: since mandatory helmets, how much have helmet manufacturers and bike supply stores profited from sales of adult helmets? Is the risk-cost-benefit ratio out of kilter here? I also wonder: if we have mandatory helmet regulations, why not require purchase of a plain and simple and functional helmet with each bike purchase, just as seat belts are part of the purchase of a vehicle? Oh, but that would take away the idea of buying a helmet as an accessory instead of a necessity, right?

I don’t know, it just seems weird to me…

Trust vs. Belief

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Tomorrow would be a great day for peace; today would be even better!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I marvel at human creativity. Descartes is famous for “I think, therefore I am.” I propose a variation: “I create, therefore I am human.”

Of course, human creativity pales in comparison to yours. From divinity, however, we expect this characteristic to come naturally. To see it in such variety in mortal creatures gives me pause. Is this our futile effort to achieve immortality? Is it our Babel-like attempt to reach the divine realm? Or do the Quakers have it right when they say a spark of the divine (you) lives in us and seeks expression through us?

I like that.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Beam me up, Scotty.”

[I always wondered about the ascension, but He didn’t say that – probably.]

D. Blog: Trust God

Belief in God seems less important than trust in God. I realize this distinction goes back at least to Jesus and has been made my many others, so I’m not being original, just re-affirming.

Belief is of the head/mind/intellect, and might never connect to action. Of course Abram believed in God, but believing did not cause him to leave his homeland. Trust in God did. He is remembered not because he believed in God, but because he trusted God enough to risk everything in response to God. He did not look for security by believing in God, but entered on an adventure with God.

Trust is an attitude, a sense that life and risk need not be feared. Trust moves toward the future with hope and expectation, whether or not it is accompanied by belief in God. Trust assumes the prospects are bright because life rests in a positive force, whether or not we name that force “God.” It is trust that meets and overcomes life’s challenges. Too often, belief gets in the way of solutions or tries to ignore challenges because of dogmatic affirmations. In that regard, I think a trusting “atheist” has more to offer than many “believers.”

A Dry Season

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“In peace, my heart is full; in war, my heart is broken.” --God

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Time flies when we’re having fun.
I suppose that’s why I feel so much younger than my age.
I suppose, too, that’s why the years seem to have passed so quickly.
Life has indeed held a lot of fun for me, despite it’s serious and sobering elements.
I owe you a lot for that, I know, although I’d like to claim some of the credit for making some good decisions along the way.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I didn’t know my cell phone was off.”

[He could have used that line when He stayed behind at the temple as a 12-year-old, but I guarantee He didn’t.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

In a dry season,
we learn to appreciate
ev’ry drop of rain...

A Death on the Highway

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The odds of securing a retirement income by winning the lottery are far greater than the odds of securing peace by winning a war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When did I begin to love you?
When I moved in my mother’s womb?
When I felt the love and care of my family?
When I saw grown-ups giving praise to you?
When I heard Jesus call me to Him?
When I heard His words about your care for the poor, the outcast, for justice and peace?
When He taught us about your forgiveness and our need to forgive ourselves and one another?
When you connected me to Alice and we created our family?
When you gave me an interesting and sensible (I think) life?
When did I begin to love you?
Perhaps in the moment I knew I had the privilege to live on Earth as your child.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I still don’t get it. You understand these things, Judas. Tell me: should I buy term life or whole life coverage?”

[Either? He had great coverage, but didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: An Accident

It happened on I-85, the stretch going from Spartanburg to Charlotte.

Cars and trucks backed up for miles. Numerous sirens of emergency vehicles that make their way to the scene. Drivers turn off their engines, get out of their vehicles, make cell phone calls to explain why they will not arrive on time, strike up conversations. A rumor from the front says at least one person was killed. At that news, the annoyance at having to wait seems to dissipate.

By now hundreds - perhaps thousands - of motorists wait while the accident scene is examined. Someone up ahead died. A life over. Probably other lives altered for years because of this one death…

Passing in the other direction. Drivers speed along, wondering what’s happening, because trees in the median had blocked their view of the scene. I suppose that, like me when I’ve been on the other side of a backed-up highway, they are grateful to be headed in the opposite direction. Occasionally, one of these fortunate drivers will honk his horn, either in sympathy for our plight or to say “ha-ha, you’re stuck in traffic and I’m not.”

A man died.

A trucker behind me takes out his lawn chair and makes himself comfortable on a pleasant summer morning, his headphones piping his favorite music into his ears. An elderly couple get out of their minivan to walk their elderly retriever so it can relieve itself. I also notice when a man sneaks off into the woods at the side of the highway. We all need relief.

A man died. Life goes on. Eventually we move on toward our destination, even after a man died.

Living in God's Dominion

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Military spending impoverishes all but the few; spiritually, it impoverishes them most of all.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Nobody knows the wonders I’ve seen.
Nobody knows the love I’ve felt.
Nobody knows the joy I’ve had.
Nobody knows the laughs I’ve enjoyed.
Nobody knows the miles I’ve traveled.
Nobody knows the games I’ve played.
Nobody knows the books I’ve read.
Nobody knows the words I’ve written.
Nobody knows the peace I’ve known.
Nobody knows the miracle of my life.
You do. That’s enough.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When you get to 71 times 7 that your brother wrongs you? Oh, then you can kill him.”

[Yeah, His patience was not infinite, right? Nope. He never said it.]

D. Blog: A Parable

"God’s dominion is among you..."

Because he loved her very much, a man wanted to do something extra special for his wife in honor of their 50th anniversary. He bought flowers and chocolate. He made reservations for two at a fine restaurant. He even arranged for a singing telegram to honor their Golden Anniversary while they were eating.

She said to him, "You're silly. You know our 50th anniversary is not for another 20 years!"

"Sure," he answered, "but why wait? Isn't our love worth the big celebration?"



[Although some biblical parables obviously have allegorical possibilities and intentions, most do not. This story is as good as any to illustrate the danger of confusing allegory and parable as types of story-telling. You might try to assign referents to particular elements in this story: do the numbers 50 and 20 have special significance in understanding the parable? To what might the flowers and chocolate refer? Is the big celebration referring to communion?

And so on. What obviously happens when we confuse parable with allegory is that we get distracted from hearing and entering the parable as it is in the text.]

New Commandments Needed

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The suggestion/offer on my bathroom wall: “For a real good time, call Eirene: PAZ 777-7777.”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Your ways are not our ways.
This means both blessing and curse.
Your wisdom goes far beyond our understanding.
This corresponds to our finitude and our mortality.
Your love and mercy outstrip our capacity.
What wondrous love is this? That put our souls into bodies? That put us on beautiful Earth? That gave us a spark of divinity, of wisdom, and of love?
Alleluia!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!!!
I know, Moses said it first – but he’s one of my heroes and I like the sound of it.”

[Yeah, right…]

D. Blog: Ten New Commandments

No one lacks food.
No one lacks shelter.
No one lacks medical care.
No one lacks clean water and air.
No one lacks respect.
No one lacks education.
No one lacks freedom of religion or expression.
No one lacks protection from violence.
No one lacks justice and fairness before the law.
No one lacks the fruits of their labor.

How do those sound as a social covenant, if not a new set of 10 commandments? They supplement rather than replace the Decalogue. They point to a morality for communities and societies, not just for individuals.

How to Use "Dingbat"

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The heart has no room for vengeance, but plenty of room for forgiveness.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Night exits stage left.
Day enters stage right.
Now the real action begins.

Amen

[A haiku, by the way.]

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Be afraid, be very afraid.”

[No, I think He usually said “Fear not.”]

D. Blog: Weird Word – “Dingbat”

This word has a common meaning in everyday usage, as in the commercial now showing on TV. The head of a law firm suggests calling it by acronym rather than the partner names, and the acronym turns out to be D.I.N.G.B.A.T.S.

When I do an Internet search on the word, however, I hardly find anything related to that common usage. Instead, it’s all about special graphic character fonts for printing. Fortunately, trusty Merriam-Webster have their priorities in order:

ding·bat (dĭng'băt') n.

(1) Slang. An empty-headed or silly person.
(2) An object, such as a brick or stone, used as a missile.
(3) Slang. An unspecified gadget or other small article, especially one whose name is unknown or forgotten.
(4) Printing. A typographical ornament or symbol.

[Probably DING1 + BAT2 (as in bats in the belfry).]

[I think the common usage should prevail - such people are far more noticeable...]

Too Critical??

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Angels announced “Peace on Earth” at Jesus’ birth. Too many of His followers haven’t heard the news.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Another day – beautiful!
Birds chirping in the trees – beautiful!
Remembering time with friends in recent days – beautiful!
A brief conversation with a neighbor – beautiful!
Projects that bring out my creativity – beautiful!
I am in your element – and it is absolutely beautiful!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When I became a Christian, my life changed completely.”

[No. Maybe: “Christian? What’s a Christian?”]

D. Blog: “With Liberty and Justice for All”?

I think those who become upset by criticism of the pledge or of the US, or by abuse of the US flag need a reality check.

We need to recognize and acknowledge that the constant violation of this final affirmation in the pledge tramples all over the flag and makes a mockery of the ideal of justice for all. The majority of our politicians and corporations mouth the ideal, then belie their words with their actions and inactions.

The systematic violation of this principle is far more destructive than any symbolic attack on a flag could ever be.

Of Life and War

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

It’s really quite simple. All war is sin. Why fight it?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The infinite variety – how staggering!
The breadth of human experience – beyond mind-boggling!
The surpassing joy – beyond words!
You really know how to create a work of art.
You should call it “Life!”
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“At your service, Jesus of Nazareth.”

[No, He never said it - probably.]

D. Blog: “Dirty War”

I saw this term recently in an article about someone being charged with planning to participate in such a war. It interested me in part because I wonder how a dirty war differs from other wars. We have the saying “all’s fair in love and war” after all, so of course wars get dirty, right?

In addition, using such a term suggests that other kinds of wars might represent the opposite: “clean war.” Obviously an oxymoron, right?

Then “dirty war”? I think the appropriate response to this wording is “Duh!”

Surprise!

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The price of peace is letting go of our fears.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

My life goes on, a joy-filled stream. I ride the current over and around rocks. I rest on quiet shores in majestic mountains. You bless me with pleasant and loving companions. The song says “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,” but my life sings a different set of lyrics.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this project, Peter. Don’t screw it up after I’m gone.”

[Some might say Peter hasn’t done real well, but He never said this.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday
But
That does not surprise me.

Taste of War

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Can there be a “limited peace” or a “conditional peace” or a “provisional peace”?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life is so rich with possibilities, so full of goodness and beauty and joy.
Lead me from stale TV, old news and oppressive people and attitudes.
Let me know the deep love you open to our hearts in Jesus.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m telling you, people, waterfront property is the way to go.”

[He was big on baptism and walking on water, but He didn’t say this – probably.]

D. Blog: War’s After-taste

My brother used to say the reason coffee keeps people awake is because it leaves an awful taste in their mouths. It’s the same with war: we remember wars so vividly because they leave an awful taste in our psyches.

Free Spirit

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Was Esau hurt when Jacob rejected his offer of friendly relations?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

1. We enter this sacred place of worship…
2. But wait! You made every place sacred.
1. Oh…
2. We enter this sacred time of worship…
1. But wait! You made every moment sacred.
2. Oh…
All: May we use our time together in this place as a reminder that all of our lives have your blessing, your stamp of goodness, your seal of sacred approval.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I got saved when my cousin, the famous evangelist John the Baptist, baptized me in the river.”

[Hmm… Nope, He didn’t say that.]

D. Blog: Bunny Parable

The spirit of a person can be likened to a rabbit kept in a cage. No matter how well cared for, this rabbit will seek escape. If it needs to gnaw through wood or wire, it will do so. Once a hole is made, it will go out. Though terrified at the thought of jumping to the ground, the bunny will eventually take the leap. Then, ah, the sheer ecstasy of freedom! Danger? So what! Life is good. Yeah!!

My Church Puddle

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

There’s no time like the present: Peace Now!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life is good, full of small pleasures: getting up in time to see the “sunrise,” work to do, co-workers to interact with, stimulating ideas, a book to read, humorous thoughts, warm day, nice views, enough food, earning some money, working on some writing projects, watching occasional TV, a walk through the neighborhood, visiting with the neighbors. Simple pleasure. Good life. Thanks.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I want to be one of those people who are known immediately by just one name - like Moses.”

[It might have come true, but He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Reaction to Church

When I pour out my reactions to church, I see a mixed puddle.

On one extreme, the larger scheme of things, I agree with Matthew Fox, who says we should divorce ourselves from the church at large because it is so corrupt and/or irrelevant to the issues facing humanity.

In my case, I feel divorced from most church. I have clearly divorced from the church in which I grew up and was ordained, that church with the exclusive name and ostrich-like behavior in the face of change. Clearly, too, I will not associate with certain brands and types of church where people are caught in misleading concepts, destructive theologies, unhealthy biblical understandings, idolatry of nation, and judgmental/condemning/demonizing ideologies.

On the other extreme, the local embodiment of church, I have joined a congregation that seems comfortable to me, very close to what I believe church should be. Like many other local congregations, it offers real personal care and growth. It recognizes my sense of spiritual reality, welcomes and includes diversity. It ministers in the community and witnesses to the wider world. It feels like a spiritual home after having lived in exile from church.

Because I am content associating with this local manifestation of church, my divorce from the whole church is not absolute. I have involvement in what Marcus Borg calls the emerging church that has left old forms behind and strives to address the real issues that face the human community, following the way of Jesus.

I can live in my part of the puddle.

Scuppernong??

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If peace depends on the actions of “sovereign” nations, it won’t happen. (Who says they’re sovereign?)

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I see your handiwork wherever I turn in these mountains. Infinitely varying in size and configuration, parts in hiding behind veils of cloud, who knew mountains could be shy? Or you?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You have 2,631,782 hairs on your head. No margin of error.”

[I wondered, but no, He never said that – probably.]

D. Blog: NC State Fruit - scuppernong

"Scuppernong"

A scuppernong is a large type of muscadine, a type of grape native to the present-day southeastern United States. It usually has a greenish or bronze color, and is similar in appearance and texture to a white grape, but rounder and about 50% larger.

Its name comes from its original place of production, Scuppernong, North Carolina, where it was first grown during the 17th century, a name itself tracing back to the Algonquian word ascopo for the sweet bay tree.
Several small green seeds are found in each grape. The skin is very thick and tart. The pulp is viscous and sweet. The seeds, which are bitter, can be swallowed with the pulp or extracted and spit out. The most desired part of the scuppernong is the extra sweet juice that lies underneath its skin.
There is a proper and time-honored method for eating a scuppernong, the object of which is to combine its various components into a single burst of flavor. Hold the grape gently yet firmly within your thumb, index and middle fingers, with the stem scar oriented towards you. Pucker your lips around the stem scar and squeeze the grape gently while sucking the pulp and juice into your mouth, straining out the seeds through a narrow slit between your top and bottom teeth. Use a finger to flatten the grape skin against your front teeth to extract the subcutaneous flavor concentrate, while guiding the seeds away from the opening to the bottom of the grape skin. The seeds should be left inside the empty skin, to be neatly discarded. The whole process takes about a second and quickly becomes second nature.

Scuppernongs figure prominently in the story "The Goophered Grapevine" (1887) by Charles W. Chesnutt, and are also mentioned in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. The scuppernong also figures prominently in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!" as the plant under which Coronel Thomas Sutpen and Washington Jones sit down to drink.

[from Wikipedia]

No Ugly Buildings Allowed

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace is the umbrella that shields me from the tension around me.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

My life flows on in calming scenes,
apart from life’s lamentations.
Through days of joy and nights of peace,
my trust in you knows no limitations.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m entering the synagogue talent show as a ventriloquist, since so many people claim to have heard my voice.”

[Synagogue or psych ward, He never said it.]

D. Blog: Ugly Buildings

Living in a mountainous area, I hate to see structures that distract from the landscape. In a place of such grandeur and beauty, what do architects and builders think they’re doing to design and construct ugliness?

A brick big-box store with a huge sign trying to dominate an otherwise lovely art-deco downtown – what’s up with that? A monstrosity of a house on a hillside, built for its owners’ view but destroying the view for others because the trees were removed to make room for the house. A low commercial property doesn’t block the view of the mountains, but its construction on the cheap makes me ask again: didn’t these people know it would deface the natural environment?

There oughta be a law – or a commandment. “Thou shalt not erect buildings that are stains on Earth’s/God’s tapestry.”

Fulfillment - Now!

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When I get to heaven, I imagine the generals will be in forgiveness therapy.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You give us permission to ask – please fill our bowl with your spirit.
You forgive our mistakes – please preserve us from evil and evil-doing.
You overcome our narrow minds – please lead us into wisdom, compassion and grace.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Tell me again, Matthew, how can I reduce my tax liability this year?”

[Wasn’t He below the taxable level? Anyway, He wouldn’t need to ask Matthew – probably.]

D. Blog: Fulfillment

We cannot focus on the moment if we dwell on past hurts or achievements, or even on pleasant memories. To do so deprives the present of its richness and its call to find its potential for us.

Nor can we focus on the moment if we worry about or anticipate the future, no matter how dire or promising it may seem. To do so robs us of the chance to bring what we need/want into the present by our action in the moment.

Only in this moment can time find its fulfillment.

A Ray of Sun

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Of the writing of peace songs there shall be no end.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Amen


C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Who were my father’s parents? … Good question. I don’t think you ever met them.”

[Real good question, but He never said it – probably.]


D. Blog: A Sun’s Ray

A ray of sunlight strikes upon the fireplace grill, illuminating the pattern of branches and leaves. It is as if the sun says “Look at this! Isn’t it wonderful?!”

Yes, it is. Thanks for showing it to me.

Multiple Choices

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

My house is not so much a castle or fortress that must be defended as it is the grace-filled sanctuary from which I spread peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Your light radiates throughout the cosmos.
Even in me.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You want references, Nicodemus? I only have one – from my Father.”


[I love this one! But He never said it – probably.]


D. Blog: Multiple Choice

Each moment contains a multiple choice question: what will I do next?

Or, perhaps the question is: how will I respond to this latest offer from the Divinity?

Or, maybe: how will I make best use of the moment?

As multiple choice questions go, all of these invite careful response, and reveal a great deal when we answer…

Caught in Webs

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The latest US plan for Iraq still assumes that bigger stick is better stick, and the US keeps the carrots.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

We feel alone in ourselves, cut off from others in an ultimate sense.
You do not leave us alone.
We feel abandoned by friends, by fate, in a universe where any neighbors might as well not exist.
You do not abandon us.
We feel afraid – of evil, of disaster, of war, of social collapse, of death.
You do not leave us alone.
You say, “Fear not, for I am with you always.”
It is enough.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I could have done it in half the time, but the Old One wanted to include the novelty gags like the zebra, ostrich, giraffe, quarks, black holes, octopi, and artichokes.”

[He was never one to boast, so no, He didn’t say this – probably.]


D. Blog: Caught in Webs

Some people speak of being caught in a web of sin and evil. That metaphor seems fair. It is not primarily our personal responsibility that the world is full of evil and the misery that results from it. Sin’s societal web entraps us.

But that’s not the whole picture. There are other webs that hold us, into which God delivers us. We encounter a web of joy in life, often unexpected, seldom planned. We meet the surprises C.S. Lewis experienced and wrote about. We are not responsible for these webs, either; they do not come about through our foresight or planning.

We also experience a web of love. Family, friends, neighbors, strangers on the street or in the store, or around the globe. We cannot make those loving responses happy, but they do – because the divine Spirit is at work to bless us.

Go to War? Sure!

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Time flies when you’re having peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Alone in the woods with you is fine and has its inspired moments.
Together in the sanctuary with others has its own uplifting power.
The two moments of worship combine to give a richness not possible in one only.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Let me get this straight: Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Earth was? Yeah, right. That makes sense.”

[Does it, really? No, He didn’t say that – probably.]

D. Blog: I’ll Go to War

Sure, I’ll go to war – against violence.
Sure, I’ll go to war – using weapons of peace.
Sure, I’ll go to war – wearing a robe and sandals.
Sure, I’ll go to war – with empty hands and open arms.
Sure, I’ll go to war – singing songs of love and hope and peace.
Sure, I’ll go to war – all the days of my life.

Flabbergasted Human

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Rainbows don’t grow on missiles. You only find them in the heavens.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Every day, it seems, you spill new joy onto my path. Here a good exchange with my children, there a pleasant evening with friends. Here an opportunity with my wife, there a successful project completed. Here a meal at a restaurant I haven’t tried before, there a TV show that’s actually informative or entertaining (not mindless gossip or distraction).
Thank you for my life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Adam never had an original idea. Eve was clearly the wiser of the pair. She could even communicate with snakes.”

[It’s a shame, but He never said that – probably.]

D. Blog: Wonderful Words

Flabbergasted

To be surprised or astonished.

The British comedian Frankie Howerd used to say in mock astonishment: “I’m flabbergasted — never has my flabber been so gasted!”. That’s about as good an explanation for the origin of this word as you’re likely to get. It turns up first in print in 1772, in an article on new words in the Annual Register. The writer couples two fashionable terms: “Now we are flabbergasted and bored from morning to night”. (Bored — being wearied by something tedious — had appeared only a few years earlier.) Presumably some unsung genius had put together flabber and aghast to make one word.

The source of the first part is obscure. It might be linked to flabby, suggesting that somebody is so astonished that they shake like a jelly. It can’t be connected with flapper, in the sense of a person who fusses or panics, as some have suggested, as that sense only emerged at the end of the nineteenth century. But flabbergasted could have been an existing dialect word, as one early nineteenth-century writer claimed to have found it in Suffolk dialect and another — in the form flabrigast — in Perthshire. Further than this, nobody can go with any certainty.

[from Michael Quinlon on worldwidewords.org]

Good or Necessary?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

What does the pursuit of happiness have to do with war?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Thank you for my physical nature, my incarnation in this world. I love what I can see and hear, how I can move, how my body functions, that I can experience sex for pleasure beyond mere reproduction.

That you, a spirit force, knew my body would be so pleasing to me is something of a marvel to me.

Thank you, too, for my spiritual nature, which leads me to seek meaning and joy in addition to those that come to me via my physical senses. I find my two natures complement each other, depend on each other, feed each other so that my life is full, rich and deeply satisfying.

That you brought this about is also a matter of amazement, wonder, and a glory reflective of your grace and wisdom and enduring love.

Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Of course I take the Garden of Eden story literally. And snakes literally speak Aramaic to me. And women literally bear responsibility for human sin. And somebody was actually there to record the literal events in the creation of the universe. You better believe it, too.”

[I wonder if He did sarcasm, but I’m certain He didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: Good vs. Necessary

Thanks to Ken Burns, WWII now has a more accurate label: the necessary war. Pacifists might want to discuss how accurate that label is, but at least the “good war” moniker will have to wait for its fulfillment in time… Sort of like waiting for the second coming of Jesus?

Confession

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace deserves every chance it can get. So, give peace a chance.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You bless me.
You bless me.
You bless me.
You bless me.
I can’t say it enough.
Let my epitaph read: Life is blessing.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Mary, if I were a carpenter, would you marry me anyway?”

[I like it, but He never said it – probably.]


D. Blog: Confession

According to the familiar saying, confession is good for the soul. Okay, that sounds good. But then, a lot of other things are good for the soul, too.

I think of forgiveness, love, joy, giving thanks, sharing with those in need, simplicity, achievement, creative expression, and time for reflection. I believe each of them is at least as good for the soul as confession is. I think a more comprehensive soul-diet provides better nourishment.

Why single out confession? Could it be that focus on confession gives the most control to clergy types?

I confess, I harbor some suspicion…

Behold: Beauty

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I dreamed of peace in the night.
She took me by the hand and we walked together in a beautiful garden of delights, picking apples left and right.
And God said, "It is good."

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I see beauty.
My God, it takes my breath away!
I must have died and gone to heaven.
I see beauty.
My God, it's everywhere I turn.
You have placed me in front of a perpetual kaleidoscope that dazzles my imagination.
I see beauty.
My God, I have no words to describe it.
If I take or paint a picture, even their thousands of words don't encompass the glory.
I see beauty.
Do other people see it, too?
I can hardly believe how blessed we are to live on Earth.
I see beauty.
Just look.
You'll see.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"Why, Mary, of course I think you're beautiful!"

[Not in so many words - at least not in English - He never said it, I'm positive.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

The Goldfinch

A goldfinch would hide in the hemlock
beyond our deck,
without success.

Going Up?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I'll just die if peace doesn't come soon...

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I/we.
I/we want.
I/we want it.
I/we want it all.
I/we want it right.
I/we want it right now.
I/we want more of it right now.

WAIT..

"Consider the lilies and the birds."


Thank you for providing what I/we need.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"Going up?"

[Cute and perhaps fitting, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: Imperial Fashion

The emperor never has actual clothes. His handlers weave elaborate garments from threads of words, colored in hype, justification, spin, and self-righteous dogma. The entire fabric wears the label: Made in Deceit.