La Vida es la Lucha

This Spanish phrase means "the struggle is life." I heard that for the first time about one year ago, and at first I took issue with it. If life is struggle, then when is there rest? If life is fight, then where is there peace?

But the more I think about it, the more I like this phrase. There is peace and rest in struggle. Struggle indicates motion, whether it takes the form of passive resistance, full on force, or refusal to give up. The Zapatista movement says that the struggle is the destination, a philosophy that indicates that once we have resolved to resist and to attempt to make our lives better, we have reached a good place to live. Regardless of whether we accomplish that for which we are struggling, we have resolved to move. And that is our peace, that we persevere for something greater.

Discontent

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice."
(Psalm 51:8)


Discontent can take us several ways. It can bring us down so completely that we are unable to do anything. Or it can inspire us to make our lives better. Sometimes it takes being so completely unhappy with our circumstances to push us to bettering them.

Astros Fever

That's right, we're in the World Series. Even I, the non-sports fan, am beside myself with enthusiasm about this. I got a free ticket to Game 4 last Sunday and screamed so much I didn't have a voice for 3 days. Even BBC thinks this is cool (pic is from them). Really, they hit a ball with a stick for 4 hours. But I'm a sucker for anything that brings people together, so I'm not wearing socks this week and I'll watch the games and probably cry. What have I become? God only knows at this point. Go 'Stros!

Founder's Day

This Sunday I went to the fiftieth anniversary of the church where my parents met and married. Three generations--me, my parents, my grandparents--got to celebrate this together. My mom pointed out the stained-glass she always loved, my dad reminisced with a high school buddy about their "crazy" times, my grandparents introduced me to old Sunday school companions. Fifty years is a long time to be a church, particularly the same congregation meeting in the same place. A woman just bequeathed 1 million dollars to the church and they used it to build some much needed expansions. She had never been to the church, but the pastor visited her in the hospital everyday, and it touched her so much she wanted to give back.

What struck me most about this community was its diversity. About 15 years ago the church leaders decided that in the course of the following years they needed to hire a female, African American, and Hispanic minister in order to follow the teachings of Christ about inclusion. They've completed the first two tasks, and its evident. I sat next to an elderly African American woman who knew all the hymns by heart and stood for everyone, even though she had to use a cane to get up. Kids ran around together, it being perfectly normal to be around people of such different ages and races.

Sometimes it pays to be intentional. Sometimes we have to conciously seek diversity. This church would probably still have only white congregants if not for their decisions. I truly believe that Christ is inclusive and that God desires us to live in harmony with one another. Tolerance is one thing, but loving and living with people who are completely different than me is a totally different story. But the results... incomparable.

Filling Shoes

Some people try to fill the shoes of others; I’m just trying to fill my own. The great people never talk about burn out, or their failure or their doubts. Someone needs to say that it’s ok to become something you didn’t intend to be, or remind us that we have less control over everything than we think. I have walked many miles for the sake of moving forward, but I have also tripped and fallen and laid still for fear that I might disappoint. Few people would disown me if I decided to be less than great, but I would always wonder if I’m selling short of what I can be. I do everything on a large scale, unable to comprehend what life might be like if it was lived only for a few people and not for the world. I have such grandiose ideals and sometimes the world is just too hard to save. Teach me to do more than rely on my personal political. I am just one person, interconnected with all people and hoping for greatness even in the small things. Even there You will guide me and hold me fast.

Vita Sanctus

Since a lot of you have asked to see this I thought I'd post digital prints of the art exhibit. Now I hope you can also make it to Vine Street, but for those of you who don't live nearby here's our piece:





This is the statement that goes with it:

“From the womb to very old age, the sacredness of a woman's life is a vital part of 21st century feminism. These photographs tell the stories of remarkable women of varying races in different stages of their lives. Each woman—adopted children, mothers, and the unborn—hold stories and mysteries in their faces, skin, and scars.

The intentional markings on the women's bodies are derived from an ancient symbol representing the Creator reaching down toward humankind, and inresponse, humankind reaching up towards the Creator. The sideways markings represent the equality of humankind, and our need to love and be loved by reaching out to one another. Finally, the circle represents the completeness of life in all of its stages.”

Try

Time for the day to bring new things, for the end to be the second beginning and for my name to mean something more than it does. Inner workings transform the heart and mind and I am forgiven and changed. Frustrate the feet of the wicked for I cannot move too fast. I'll undo the undoing if it brings me to You, brings me to the land that I can taste but cannot feel. Surrounded by the light I press on, fighting the current and welcoming it, drawn to the past and my tomorrows.

Everybody Art Show

My roommate and I collaborated on an art piece and entered it into a juried exhibition. We've just received word today that our piece was accepted! The exhibit is for the Everybody Art: Show Us Your Feminism. Ours is a photographic exploration of the life cycle of a woman from the womb to very old age, incorporating symbols derived from ancient Christian symbols of God reaching down toward humankind and us reaching up to our Creator. The exhibit will be up for about three weeks in October.