Radioactive Actualization

With all the press here in Asia about the damaged Fukushima reactors it's hard to know whether to worry about the threat of contamination or not. Reports range from no effect whatsoever to needing to wear masks and cover skin. The invisible threat is a very aggravating kind of "enemy." I did read here http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/03/inside-the-danger-zone.html
about the hibakushas, or people who are perceived to be "irradiated" and then treated as outcasts in Japan. Seems odd to try to label and mistreat others when the enemy they're facing is so invisible and in light of the fact that the nation has faced this situation before.

Read a post by a friend about the Christian's need to be set apart as an example to others today. While I do generally agree on that, I think what we often miss in Christian-ese is that without the person first accepting themselves (what we used to call actualization) all their efforts to BE examples to anyone will tank. So, here's to having the grace to be confident and yet gentle on ourselves with our inevitable quirky parts.

O Shenandoah!

Seems a bit ironic that the classic folk song "Shenandoah" was my college's theme song and that I found it distasteful back when I was attending school football games. How could the band go from a rousing Fleetwood Mac tune to Shenandoah?

Years later, after I developed a love for canoeing, I had the opportunity to do a solo trip on the actual river Shenandoah, in Virginia. It became a deep and personal memory for me, riding in silence discovering animals and riffles on my own, and lugging a 70-plus pound canoe on my own.

Recently, I inherited a few CDs from a friend. ONe of them had a rendition of Shenandoah on it. And now, every time I listen to it, I tear up a little. I can relate to the longing expressed in those great lyrics, and I don't see it as a nerdy, old-fashioned song anymore.

See this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMsfkEMZREU

U.S. probes Toyota repairs to recalled cars - MarketWatch

U.S. probes Toyota repairs to recalled cars - MarketWatch

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bathroom prayers

During a few minutes of unplanned alone time (wife went to retrieve laundry) I decided to pull out a book by Madeleine L'Engle called And It Was Good. Within a chapter entitled "Protecting God" is a neat section about how we shouldn't separate the spiritual from the non-spiritual, ending in a nice conclusion: "If we cannot pray in the bathroom, it is not likely that we will be able to pray anywhere." And on that note: let's find a good potty read!

StudioClassroom.com Advanced Article Vancouver Olympics

StudioClassroom.com Advanced Article Vancouver Olympics

surfin on the sofa

last night in Taipei, while watching Fantastic Four movie on cable, I got to the part where Silver Surfer creates a huge crater in the earth. Then, the sofa started rocking. Little did I know that I would experience an earthquake just as the otherworldly creature was wreaking havoc on the screen. The shaking was intense and lasted about 40 seconds. Felt stronger than the 9-21 earthquake to me.

clownin

got to do some Christmas clown stuff, and in the dressin' room afterwards have some fun!

keep passing it on

The other day, a dear friend of me shared his Steve Bell cd with me. This friend and I have had a running conversation about Christian spirituality and contemplation and theology, etc. So it seemed a normal act. While listening to Steve's songs, especially the song with the liturgical flavor called "Yahweh, You are Near," I had to pause and enjoy some delicious, reverent memories of hearing that song sung in some of the Cathedrals I'd worshipped in as a boy, during the Catholic renewal movement. It was a good time of refreshing, one spurred on by a long-lasting friendship and a running conversation. Here's to more running conversations! Bry