Gate A-4

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Art as Resistance2 Comments

A4By Naomi Shihab Nye in Honeybee

Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning
my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement:
“If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please
come to the gate immediately.”

Well—one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there.

An older woman in full traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, just
like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing. “Help,”
said the flight agent. “Talk to her. What is her problem? We
told her the flight was going to be late and she did this.” Continue reading “Gate A-4” →

Benevolent Powers

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bonhoefferBy Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned Christmastime 1944

Faithfully and quietly surrounded by benevolent powers,
wonderfully guarded and consoled,
–thus will I live this day with you
and go forth with you into another year.

Still will the past torment our hearts
Still, heavy burdens of bad times depress us,
Ah, Lord, give our startled souls
the grace for which we were created. Continue reading “Benevolent Powers” →

Wild Lectionary: Let All Creation Praise

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Christmas 1B
Psalm 148

By Laurel Dykstra

The first Sunday after Christmas with the annual reading of Psalm 148, marks Wild Lectionary’s first anniversary: 51 blog posts, from diverse watersheds, reflecting on land, creation and indigenous justice themes from the readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. Continue reading “Wild Lectionary: Let All Creation Praise” →

Learning from Laughter and the Trees: Loved by the Generations

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Biography as Theology, Uncategorized2 Comments

IMG_1945By Lydia Wylie-Kellermann

I was terrified for Isaac’s first day of school. Terrified he wouldn’t go. That we would see his tremendous stubbornness arise. Somehow, we made it. The thrill of the newness got him there. I woke up on Day 2 even more worried. The newness had passed. The daily reality would start setting in and the idea of staying home all day to play with me and Cedar would be hard to leave. Erinn had gotten an attachment to her bike so that they could ride the 3 miles to school each day. We hoped that the excitement of biking would help and that the exercise would help him with the long days of sitting and focus. But by Day 2, the excitement of the bike wasn’t enough. We started hearing “I won’t go.” I kept a smile on my face and a calm, upbeat attitude as my heart raced. I had been on the opposite side of his stubbornness and there had been times I had lost. It is a powerful force that only joy seems to be able to crack. We went downstairs with him kicking and screaming, stepped outside, and there…..was Grandpa. On his bike, helmet on, ready for a race. Continue reading “Learning from Laughter and the Trees: Loved by the Generations” →

The Manger

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Manger in Taiwan-taken by Marcia
Manger in Taiwan. Taken by Marcia Lee

 By Marcia Lee

As we walk during las posadas, we remember the journey of Mary and Joseph and their arrival to the manager in Bethlehem.  The image of the manger was first brought to the Christmas celebration by St. Francis of Assisi.  He said, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by.” (From the accounts of St. Bonaventure).

St. Francis set up an empty manger in a cave.  It is said that as St. Francis preached, a vision of the baby Jesus came into the manger.  Prior to St. Francis, people did not include a manger scene in their Christmas celebration, but now we see them in churches and on the side of the road.  Continue reading “The Manger” →

Advent Song

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Biography as Theology, Theological Animation, Uncategorized1 Comment

imagesBy Kim Redigan

this advent i need a woman’s space.
a dark space.
a silent space.
somehow i’ve got to find my way
back to the womb of my own life.

this advent i need shawls and songs.
the sacramentals of ceramic mugs
and solitary candles
standing like sentries
throwing shadows on the darkened walls
of my winter heart. Continue reading “Advent Song” →

Merry Christmas

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LangstonBy Langston Hughes (1930)

Merry Christmas, China
From the gun-boats in the river,
Ten-inch shells for Christmas gifts,
And peace on earth forever.
Merry Christmas, India,
To Gandhi in his cell,
From righteous Christian England,
Ring out, bright Christmas bell!
Ring Merry Christmas, Africa,
From Cairo to the Cape!
Ring Hallehuiah! Praise the Lord!
(For murder and rape.)
Ring Merry Christmas, Haiti!
(And drown the voodoo drums –
We’ll rob you to the Christian hymns
Until the next Christ comes.) Continue reading “Merry Christmas” →

Wild Lectionary: Mary, Hildegard and the anawim

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Theological Animation, Uncategorized1 Comment

IMG_2855Advent 4B

Luke 1:26-38, 46b-55

You have deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. Luke 1:52

By The Reverend Marilyn Zehr

I met her this afternoon when I went for a walk. She was throwing the ash from her woodstove onto the snowy road just outside her front door.

“Helps the cars get traction,” she said. “You’re the new minister aren’t you? Want to come in and see my Christmas decorations?” Continue reading “Wild Lectionary: Mary, Hildegard and the anawim” →