Total Art.

Kimberley, at your request. Okay, it ain't a story, but as they say, "A picture says a thousand..." Jude not only composed the picture, he also photographed it himself. I'm proud of that boy. This posting is at Nick's request as well, actually. He commissioned Jude's recent artwork. Enjoy!

Rememberment

Didn’t like Erasmus - a fellow Dutchman - before today. I thought he was just some ruthless proto-Protestant. Today I read something about him that inspired me to greater holiness. In the book All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time, Robert Ellsberg gives some delicious quotes. As is the theme of the entire book, the short biography highlights the virtues of pacificism, social justice and charity to the poor and outcast.

Ellsberg specifically mentions Erasmus’ writings on war and peace, which were prophetic of the times to come: the war of Catholics versus Reformers and Lutherans, the in-fighting of the inevitable Protestant subdivisions.

Erasmus comments on Christ’s commmand “Let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one”: “As if Christ, who taught nothing but patience and meekness, meant the sword used by bandits and murderers rather than the sword of the spirit.”

Ellsberg writes that “above all, Erasmus could not abide the effort to reconcile violence with the spirit of Christ.” He then quotes Erasmus: “How can you say Our Father if you plunge steel into the guts of your brother? Christ compared himself to a hen: Christians behave like hawks. Christ was a shepherd of sheep: Christians tear each other like wolves.”

Protestants of today tend to look back to Erasmus as a kind of pre-reformer, but he never left the Church, meaning the Roman Catholic Church. He despised the schism that he saw happening as a result of Luther’s attempts at reformation. In this sense, he was truly Orthodox. Those called Protestant might be the same if they had not insisted on dismembering themselves and declaring war on the very body from which they came.

* * *

It is not my intention with this short reflection to further divide. I have many friends who are Orthodox, like myself, and many who are Protestant, which I was formerly. I only wish to root out the Truth for what it is and bring harmony amongst the schism to the point of even erasing it. Perhaps this is unattainable. But one thing I know: love covers a multitude of wrongs. If only we could attain to the true love of Christ. I forget this in much of my life. It comes easiest here at home with those that are my very blood and breath: Elise, Jude, Esmé. But even here I struggle. I must remember to live at peace with all of my brethren, whomever I interact with, whether Christian or not. If I am the only “little Christ” they ever know, so be it. But let me not be accused of bearing nothing of Christ’s indelible impression.

A Rush of Blood to the Ears.

Sadly, music has become my consuming passion. It is spiritual, religious even, a kind of holy and innocent drug. A little distorted electric guitar is always good to give relief. For Jude it is license to get a little crazy. But then, the other day he sat peacefully on my lap while we cranked Rage Against The Machine. Maybe he is learning my art/religion.

One of my favorite car jams is Neil Young’s After The Goldrush. This album was unknown to me when I first acquired the tape. It was one of many tapes inherited from Stephen and Stephanie, a parting gift before we left Vancouver. A tape deck was the only audio medium available in our two-tone blue Vanagon (‘83, round headlights, air-cooled edition). So Stephen let us take his old tapes. After The Goldrush was in there, but we didn’t know its significance. Fortunately we bought a car (to replace the ill-fated Vanagon, bless its heart) that also had a tape deck and no CD player. So, driving around, tapes were the only option.

Neil Young’s critically-best album, made in 1970 during his CSNY days, became an instant favorite to me. I still love it about a year later. I have since - and recently - discovered his other opuses. But there is a special quality to After The Goldrush that makes it so conducive to jamming in the car. I think it will be part of heaven’s soundtrack.

Electronic Memories.

Was drawn away from surgically cutting a plastic grocery. When finished, it will be two or three rectangular pieces used for covering up sourdough sponge and bread. It can wait. I needed to write.

Lately I’ve been typing entries directly on the blog, which I can only do when at a library and, when the opportunity presents itself, during downtime at a school where I’m subbing. But this entry is typed up at home. Started as an Apple Works document. Really, it started in my head, was transferred to my fingers, which feverishly yet thoughtfully pecked it out on the keyboard, which in turn displayed these very words.

Funny how I am reluctant to write up entries at home, when they can be easily transferred to an internet-ready computer. But maybe it is because when I get that chance, even if it is just an hour or two later, I’ll read the entry realizing how stupid, how trite it sounds. With the internet at my fingertips, I can spontaneously write my thoughts and then rashly publish it on the blog for the world to see. Still, either way it is possible to go back later and edit – or remove entirely – a dissatisfactory blog.

When it is erased forever, does this mean the thoughts no longer exist? No, for they continue to exist in the minds of those that have already read, and in my mind as well. Sure, there is no documentable evidence, but it is a memory: therefore it is real.

Out of the hole.

At a computer in a fifth-grade classroom. The li'l ones are away for lunch and recess. Nothing but good news for how it's been going (new career?). This is my first time subbing a class that stays all day (otherwise I've only subbed middle school and high school one-subject rotation).

Normally I'm not afforded the opportunity to write during the day (when subbing), so this is a true privilege.

Last thought: please see comments in "Cutting myself" and "Notes (3)" for responses to your comments.

More sooner or later.