Himalayan Cedar

Since this poem by Hass is so descriptive I decided to paint my favorite passage. The passage I shared in class. "Through blurred glass Gusts of a Pacific storm rocking a huge, shank-needled Himalayan cedar. Under it a Japanese plum throws off a vertical cascade of leaves the color of skinned copper, if copper could be skinned."

Lectio Divina

"Over the course of my year-long experience of prayer, research, and reflection with Hopkins' poetry, my undergraduate naiveté and novitiate delight evolved into a profound sense of the transformative potential within poetry."
    When reading this passage, one should try to apply a perspective that could help him. To be open to a "transformation" like this passage suggests, one has to go into this reading with an open mind. It would not be a bad idea to research the author of this essay, Francis X. McAloon, to really get to know him. In this essay "Reading for Transformation through the Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins," McAloon suggests he has trouble comprehending what the meaning of Hopkins's works mean. To apply a particular theoretical perspective to this essay, I think one should experience what McAloon talks about first hand. McAloon talks about how he devoted a full year to the practice of immersing himself with Hopkins's poetry. To truly understand what McAloon means when he writes about reading for transformation, one should apply the practices this author applied. Now, I'm not saying to go on a full-fledged/year-long study of Francis, but I would suggest that one practice lectio divina. I believe to learn something; I have to experience or do what I'm supposed to learn. McAloon used lectio divina to understand Hopkins, so you should use lectio divina to understand what Francis means when he writes about reading for transformation. Take a few lines or a passage from this essay and meditate on it. It might seem awkward but to really tap into his mind and what he is trying to inform us about through this essay, use what he used (lectio divina) to come to a realization or "transformative eureka."
     To make myself clear, I want the readers of this essay to pick apart what McAloon writes about by selecting a passage like the one I quoted above and use the process of lectio to understand the gist of this essay. I don't know if it will work but it is possible it can shed light on the essay's information.

PASS!

I AM USING MY FIRST OF TWO BLOG PASSES!

Reality

"The silence, the darkness coming, and the darkness in the faces frighten the child obscurely. He hopes that the hand which strokes his forehead will never stop-will never die. He hopes that there will never come a time when the old folks won't be sitting around the living room, talking about where they've come from, and what they've seen, and what's happened to them and their kinfolk. But something deep and watchful in the child knows that this is bound to end, is already ending."
     Lately I have been feeling the same way about life as the children do in "Sonny's Blues." When one thinks about how these children think about life, it is bleak. Growing up and realizing that life has dark places and times ahead of you is a scary thing to face. I would go as far as saying that this way of thinking never leaves anybody, no matter how old he or she is. The fact that one grows in maturity and is used to being in darkness makes them more aware of the hurt and disappointment it brings. Now these kids, who grew up in Harlem, have probably seen and experienced more darkness than I have when I was their age, but its all relative. My darkness is just as daunting as theirs, no matter how dark their situations may be.
    I am at the point in my life where the decisions I have to make will shortly bring me satisfaction or failure. When I think about what the future holds, I can't help but worry about my current situations. Am I really supposed to pursue the major I am studying? I have experienced death for the first time in my life last month. The dog who had been apart of my life for 14 years, and was like the sister I never had, passed away. This indeed was a dark-reflective time. I am turning 20 years old in 3 weeks. I told my friend this, and he jokingly said, "yea man, you're old. At least 1/4 of your life is over, and maybe even 1/3."
    Maybe the dark times ahead for these children do not encompass what mine are, but I have peace about my life. If I could tell these kids one thing it would be "there is hope." I do not know about their relationships with God or their outlooks on life, but hope would be the message I would portray to them. But then again, maybe they have a better understanding of the reality of this life, but I might have a better understanding of the reality of the life that matters-the one with God.

Deep Conversations

"In this story, as in many other conversations in the gospels, we can see Jesus listening and responding, asking questions and answering questions- and then letting the people he's talking with decide in their own mind what they believed. All of this underscores how integral conversation and dialogue were to Jesus, to his character and to the way he lived on earth."
 This passage from professor Corrigan's One of the Main Things Jesus Did Was Have Deep Conversations notes, brings out a quality I have seen in my closest friend Ron. As Christ-followers "we can consider Jesus as a preeminent example for practicing dialogue and conversation in teaching, learning, and living." Ron, my closest friend does just what Corrigan said we can do, as we strive to be like Jesus in everything we do.
     It was a warm night in September in Orlando, Florida. I had driven up after my classes that Thursday to be with Ron and see his family. His family had been granted, by the make a wish foundation, a wish to go to Disney World. The first thing Ron did that exemplified Jesus was his act of taking time away from his family to be with me. He gave me a golf lesson at a near by driving range to get me ready for the first golf tournament of the year. After this he treated me to dinner at a fantastic pizza place called Giordano's. After we ate our meat lovers supreme pizza, Ron and I went on an errand to pick up swim floaties for his 3 daughters.
   This is part of the night where Ron engages what Professor Corrigan talks about, in his notes concerning the story of Jesus and the two men on the road to Emmaus. The check out attendant at the store was a Muslim women. We could tell by the way she greeted the people in line in front of us and by her facial expressions when she saw us, that she had put up a shield towards Americans. Maybe many Americans had despised her because she was Muslim after the 9/11 attack. She was dressed in the traditional Muslim attire and had the cold impermeable stare on her face when Ron placed the swim floaties on the counter. Ron, who is always aware of the Holy Spirit, models Jesus and the conversation he had with the two men in Luke 24. The Holy Spirit softened her heart and the opportunity came for Ron to model Jesus when she asked him about the swim floaties. From then, Ron answers her questions about what he does, what his parents do and somewhere in between he asks her about her homeland and if she missed her family. He even makes a remark about American culture compared to other cultures around the world. "Other cultures are have deep roots, but in America there is not a lot of appreciation for traditions or heritage because it is a diverse country made up of many nations." Now of course Ron knows that the Muslim religion and way of life has deep traditions and heritage. What he was doing when he told her this, in response to one of her questions, was acknowledge and honor her religion. He made her feel welcomed to America, and loved. She soon figured out that Ron was a missionary because of the questions that she asked about his occupation. But Ron never came out and said, "I am a missionary." He answered her questions with respect towards her country and religion. from the beginning of the conversation to the end, the countenance of her faced changed from solemn and defensive to appreciative and respectful.
     Even though Ron did not get the chance to witness to her, he planted a seed in her heart to maybe one day accept the same faith that Ron displayed he had. Later on that night Ron told me that many unbelievers look at Christianity as a hypocritical religion. One that does not do anything for other people of other religions. Ron showed respect and love to her religion and people by being passive and humble in his approach of living as a Christ-follower. Who knows, maybe because Ron did not force his religion on her, her heart will be more susceptible to God.

Yet Another Day

    
     He woke up to the sound of cabs honking. Brushing back his long oily hair and staring up to another bright cold morning he thought to himself "what another beautiful day." Everything was as it was the night before except that the dim light of the fire had burnt out. The hot ashes filled his nostrils with yet another day of "opportunity" or so he thought. The streets were as busy as usual and Time Square was filled with the routines of yet another day of big city life. Business men in suits with briefcases got out of cabs and walked towards their work places, an all too familiar sight for the oily-haired man. He opened his briefcase and reached for one of his KFC finger wipes to clean his sun tanned face. This morning he went without breakfast but his spirits were full of life. Standing up and stretching his arms over his head, he straightened up his wrinkled and old suit jacket, as well as his faded slacks. The faded black dress shoes seemed to go with his entire shabby outfit. His full graying beard complimented his grey dress shirt, which he wore beneath his jacket and his dark brown eyes were like the color of acorns.
     As he commenced the day, his gate began to loosen with each step from the aches of sleeping on the cold hard ground which he was accustomed to. He made his way to the usual posts were he would spend the rest of the work day until the sun went down. Then he would go back to his resting place between two small buildings. He walked down to the street corner of 43rd and Broadway to stand outside and begin his work. Many people would overlook him and not even recognize who he once was. His job-to help people out in any way he could. He would recognize tourists and point them in the right direction, help elderly people cross the busy streets, give away what little food he carried in his briefcase to the homeless, and most significantly he always kept an eye open for the CEO or business man to share his knowledge with. One particular morning the rare opportunity came for this wise-old man to share his life changing knowledge.
     It was December 24th at 6:15 a.m. when Alex's alarm clock went off. "Oh man another day at work!" Why can’t I have some time to spend with my family and relax? But then who would go to work and support the family?" Just then Alex's two 8 year old twin children Tucker and Kasey came screaming in his room to hit him with their pillows. Alex's wife, who was still asleep, paid them no attention and kept asleep through the attack. "Stop Tucker and Kasey, don't you all realize that I have been working all through the night and want just 30 more minutes of sleep?" "Come on daddy!" they yelled, "won’t you just play with us? It is Saturday and Christmas is tomorrow, you should play with us because you don't have work!" "Actually guys I do have to go into work, I know I promised I would spend today with you all, but daddy needs to work." Just then Alex's wife turned over from her side of bed and looked at Alex. Tucker and Kasey ran out of the bedroom to chase down Sammy, the family dog. "Honey, I thought you said your boss gave you today off? Won’t you please not go in to work and spend today with the kids and me? Remember that we have been planning this day for months now and I want the kids to remember it forever." Alex and his wife, Scarlet, had been planning on surprising their kids by taking them camping and spending Christmas Eve and Christmas day up at Alex's parents' backwoods property in northern New Hampshire. Alex, with bags under his eyes from all the long hours he had put in at the office looked at Scarlet with his intense blue eyes and outright ignored Scarlet's plea. "You know that if I don't crack this new deal with the Jumeirah Hotel Corporation then my boss won’t make me his partner." "But Alex you have missed their 7th birthday party back in September, your parent's 40th wedding anniversary party back in October, and the Thanksgiving family reunion back in November." "I know Scarlet, but I want this job. If I get the promotion, all of this busting my butt and missing important events will pay off. I will be able to buy our new house we have been dreaming of out in Lake Pleasant, New Hampshire, and enroll the kids into the best boarding school in New England." Kasey and Tucker are supposed to be in 3rd grade but are so intellectually developed that they are taking a 6th grade home school curriculum with their mother. "I don't want them to miss out on an education that missed out on; I don't care what I have to do. I know my boss has promised me this promotion, but since then it has been 2 years and all my projects have been successful, but this one Scarlet is the deal breaker!" "I hope you realize that life only happens once Alex, and the time you miss with your family can never be replaced." "Don't give me that Scarlet, I am working my ass off to make better times for this family!"
     Alex got out of bed and went through yet another daily routine off brushing his teeth, showering, and dressing. His tailored black suit complimented his masculine features, while his clean shaven taught him all the valuable lessons that Alex used to land his job with Business Bay Towers, a hotel architecture business based in New York, NY.
     Alex arrived at the subway station that would take him to the corporate offices near Time Square. It was an awfully busy day in New York. Shoppers were rushing everywhere to get their last minute Christmas shopping done. Alex hopped off the sub and headed up toward 43rd and Broadway where his office was located. While walking in the sea of people, someone bumped him and his briefcase fell to the ground sending blueprints every which way. To his surprise as he frantically bent over to retrieve his papers, an oily-haired man with a faded suit jacket and slacks bent down to help him. Alex was shocked when he looked into the dark brown eyes and knew immediately who he was. He had seen this face in architectural scholarly sources while attending college at North Carolina State and studying engineering. Jonathan Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson, whose facial features had been barely preserved throughout the years, was staring into Alex's eyes. "I see you have some blueprints for a new hotel there," he said as he helped Alex gather up the remaining papers. "Yes sir, I am working on a huge project for Jumeirah Hotels in Dubai." "Ah!" "Dubai, what a lovely place. I take it you are up for a promotion; going into work on Christmas Eve is serious stuff! I have been in your position before." Alex was in a surreal moment at this time and in his head he started going over all of the famous buildings Wright had planned. "Yes sir, my boss told me that if I crack this project and land the building contract with Jumeirah then I get a promotion to be his partner." Wright seemed to know exactly what situation Alex was presented with and began to tell Alex about his rise to the top of financial prosperity. He then really got Alex's attention when he talked about the dangers of putting work before family. "It destroyed my relationship with my wife and kids. If I could do it over I would never have consumed my life with work. Life only happens once though, and the time you get with your family can never be replaced. I grew up with the expectation to be famous. My dad's dad, the famous Frank Lloyd Wright, was the most well known architect of his time. My father, who never lived up to my grandfather's expectations, was an owner of a small restaurant. I never had the things my friends had, and I was only known for being the son of the son of one of the greatest architects in the 20th century. I grew up telling myself that I would never end up like my father. I wanted to be famous like my grandfather. I jumped at the first opportunity and accepted a loan to go to the college of William and Mary. There I met my wife and shortly after my graduation had two kids. I wanted more than a modest job and family life; I wanted the fortune of my desired career. As soon as I could, I left my family and moved overseas for 10 years to Saudi Arabia to work on skyscrapers, and hotels. I gave my word I would return to them but tragically I never saw them again. They were murdered in cold blood during my last year of overseas work. I was crushed, and decided that fame and fortune were not as important as being with people and sharing life with them. So I gave everything away and decided to live on the streets. Constant awareness of the hurting and hopeless people, like you, is who I live for. This Alex is what truly gives me joy." Alex was speechless and thought of his family and situation compared to this once famous architect's life.
     Jonathan left Alex with a statement that has stayed with him for the rest of his life. On that cold and wet day, standing on the street corner of 43rd and Broadway with the smell of Christmas in the air, Alex promised himself to put family over work. Alex went home that day with a new love for his two children and wife. Every time he looks up and sees the skyscrapers of New York, he thinks of Jonathan and his life and all that came with his wrong ambitions.  

Onions have Layers (Extra Blog Post)

When reading "this blessed house" one can apply the 3 layered perspective to the characters Sanjeev and Twinkle. The first layer (outer self) is like the earth's crust or tip of an ice burg. It only shows tangible characteristics like how one might move, appear, sound and so on. It also entails the things one might say, do, and think and how another responds to them; including the things others say to or about them. Most people usually only see themselves from this outer layer perspective and sometimes the next layer perspective, the inner layer. This inner layer includes deep memories and a sense of self, and represents the earth's mantel or the rest of the ice burg underwater. But the most important part of the onion of oneself is the 3rd layer- the Self in God Layer. This is the deepest part of who a person is. Now of course this is the deepest part of who some one is because it is the only layer that will last forever, and in this layer is who God created us to be. This layer represents the earth's core or the water and air in the ice burg.
     Twinkle is a funny and easy-going Indian women who grew up in California. She does not know very many people in Manhattan except her husband Sanjeev and an ex-boyfriend. She is curious by nature and likes to do things at a leisurely pace. The main thing she is curious about is the Christian relics that were left behind from the previous owners. She has deep memories with her husband, Sanjeev. Their parents arranged them to meet at a restaurant and she can remember what they ate, what they agreed upon, and how charming Sanjeev was when he filled her teacup up. Sanjeev is an Indian man who studied engineering at MIT and now works for a firm with a dozen people under him who will do whatever he asks of them. He is an overachiever and is being considered for a vice presidential position. Both are Hindus and Sanjeev does not have as much tolerance as Twinkle when it comes to Christianity. Although he does show some respect to Twinkle by making compromises to keep the Christian paraphernalia that she wants to keep. He has deep memories about the first time he told Twinkle he loved her at the movie theater. The third layer does not apply to these characters because they do not believe in God. It is impossible for the reader to know who these characters are in God because no one fully knows who they are in God. The ignorance of not knowing ourselves in God is a product of Adam and Eve's fall from God. However, we can imply at least one significant characteristic about any living person; God created them. With this in mind, our understanding of other people and how we as Christ followers should act towards them should drastically change the lens in which we view them.

You can't see me!

     As I sat in MiCasa Cafe Wednesday night I felt some what like I was not there at all. My assignment, to watch other people. I usually do this with out knowing, but when Corrigan gave me 5 things to notice about the people I was supposed to watch my eyes were opened to some pretty insightful stuff. The sensation was weird, I could almost imagine myself as an undercover FBI agent who was scoping out my target. The ironic thing was that I felt invisible and almost all-knowing. I could see people but they could not see me. This spell of thinking was broken when a friend of mine noticed me in the corner taking notes. She came up to me and asked what I was doing and I simply told her, "people watching." At first she laughed and then she saw I was serious because of my elaborate notes. I then asked her what she was doing and she told me, "I was actually watching you!" This shocked me and I felt vulnerable because I wondered if she had the same 5 steps in her head as she watched me. This is nonsense to think that she was watching me in the same way. Who would naturally do that? Maybe some weird stalker, or a lovesick admirer, but not a normal guy who would sit down at a cafe for a cup of coffee.      Here are the five ways to present/develop characters
a) physical description (what they wear, way they move and sound)
b) the things they say
c) the things they do
d) the way they are responded to; including the things others say about them
e) their thoughts, if they are shown
     He was dressed in nice black dress-shirt with some dark jeans. His movements reminded me of a puppy who was surrounded by little kids. Nothing seemed to hold his attention very long. He texted on his cell phone for a couple of seconds then would resume his conversation with a couple of people sitting at a table. He would then look up after briefly making eye contact and glance at the TV screen to watch Sports Center. After that got old he wondered off to another table to talk with some more people. The people he makes small talk with do not say much back, and when he realizes they will not give him attention, it is off to another table and then finally some food. I could not tell what he was thinking, but after a bit of observation I guess he was looking for some one who would give him attention. Maybe he thought that the people he engaged with were boring. Nonetheless this exciting observation practice with the 5 things in mind put myself in my subjects shoes.