Csquared Thoughts

united we stand

When I was in high school I was part of the public speaking group. One year things were in kind of chaos, as we had lost our teacher and weren't sure who we'd have the next year. When it came time to sign yearbooks at the end of the school year, I quoted a current popular song for one of my fellow speech group members:

United we stand, Divided we fall, And if our backs are ever up against the wall, We'll stand together

When I looked at what she wrote in my yearbook, I saw, "You are a nice boy. You have a good summer."

sigh. Sometimes our noblest intentions are not reciprocated.

A Lenten Meditation

We didn't use this prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship in our Ash Wednesday service last night, as it was intended to close a service that did not include Communion. Still, I thought it a fitting meditation for the start of Lent.

Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

an odd combination

Ash Wednesday and the first day of spring training exhibition baseball games

the blues (and creativity)

I was sad to hear that the San Francisco Blues Festival is being canceled this year, and its future is uncertain. Such a feeling is rather odd, as I only went once, and I don't like the blues at all. I can't even say I went. It was happening in Golden Gate Park when I was out from Oklahoma (where I then lived) visiting my friend Alison, and we chose to visit the park. I remember that we saw a number of performers, but the only one whose name I remember is Big Mama Thornton. I remember Alison bought me a festival poster, which was long ago a casualty of many moves.

The year was 1979. I know that because I still have a poster from another event at the park. It was an exhibit put on by Chevron (I cringe to admit) at the Academy of Sciences called Creativity: The Human Resource. I don't remember the individual exhibits, but I remember it was very well done and fascinating. I've loved the poster (by Milton Glaser) enough to keep it all these years, and it's survived all those moves that the blues festival poster didn't. Many years ago, as it was getting the worse for wear after being attached to and taken off of so many walls, I had it framed, something that at the time I was not in the habit of doing, and which was in fact at that point a bit of a strain on my budget. But to me it was well worth it.

Today the poster occupies a place of honor above the stereo system in my loft office.

I don't think we always give enough credit to creativity. It's an amazing (and central) part of humanity. And I can hold out the hope that human creativity can help get us through even these trying times.

worshipping again

I was reflecting yesterday on how happy I am to be back in church, participating in the worship, hearing the Word, partaking in (and assisting with) the Meal. Looking back, I'm sad to have missed out on Advent and Christmas (as part of the Assembly, anyway), but I'm back, and look ahead to Lent and Holy Week and Easter. It's a good feeling.

Everywhere

God is indeed everywhere—in the darkness as well as in light, in the ordinary life lived with extraordinary consciousness, in the sacred center of a creation that is secular to its marrow. It is in the separation of life into categories of the holy and the unholy, the spiritual and the material, the earthly and the heavenly that the human soul gets divided as well. —Joan Chittister, "Living in the Breath of the Spirit," collected in In My Own Words courtsey of, (who else?) inward/outward

out-of-season produce

I go to my produce market in January and see fresh strawberries. They're obviously not from around here.

I remember my Claremont days in the 1970's, and how special it was when the strawberries showed up in the spring. It was a big treat.

Now, I'm guilty of buying winter peaches and nectarines from Chile for my morning VitaMix smoothie. I admit to it. But, still, there's something to be said for eating fresh fruits and vegetables in season.

scratching my head

I got my renewal acknowledgment from the Bay Area's 500-pound gorilla TV and radio public broadcaster, KQED. The notice said that instead of a membership card, I should use the mailing label on my program guide to access member discounts. A few days letter I got an email saying that KQED would no longer be mailing a program guide, but I could access it on-line. I don't avail myself of KQED member discounts, but I wonder how those who do feel right now.

guilty as charged

it doesn't get any better

Last night: rain, Terry, a glass of port, a fire in the fireplace, Casablanca on DVD, and Tasha close by.

It doesn't get any better than that.