People talk as if different religions were simply various ways of defining this thing called spirituality--like the difference between measuring a table in inches or centimeters. This makes sense if you are talking about an occasional sense of the numinous, or a moral code, or personal habits and spiritual practices, or even some rituals for coming together.
But none of these are the essence of Christianity, even though you can find all these aspects at work within the church. Instead Christianity is based on God's ongoing self-revelation, often in surprising ways, in the person of Jesus Christ.
The disciples were behind locked doors on the eve of the Resurrection when God showed up. One hundred and twenty were together in a room on Pentecost when God showed up. Paul was riding to Damascus breathing out threats and slaughter when God showed up.
What has kept Christianity alive these 2000 years is not only the visible church, the rituals, the moral codes--even though these things are an important container for collecting memory, congruency and regular encouragement. Instead what has kept Christianity alive is that God shows up. The stories of meeting the risen Christ begin at the empty tomb and have never stopped. The story begins before the dawn of creation and continues to unfold. At its center is a person, born into history, crucified, died and risen--all for the love of you.
There's someone sitting at the table.
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If you've read these newsletters over time, you'll know that I am poetry challenged. I picked out Woman Un-Bent from the flow behind the desk. These poems by Irene Zimmerman speak of biblical encounters with Jesus. After three poems in a row brought tears to my eyes, I took the book home to peruse more slowly. Wonderful. I am reminded of the John Journey, a road several of us have been traveling since 2006. We read a chunk of scripture and then write stories, draw, reflect. I suspect I'm going to give this copy of Woman Un-Bent to Charlotte, as it is exactly right for the retreat work she does. Most of the other copies available on-line are ridiculously expensive. I did however see two reasonably priced ones on abe...
Maybe I like SOME poems. Sitting by my Laughing Fire by Ruth Bell Graham flowed in and I spent a half an hour greatly enjoying her poems. Someone came in a few years ago looking for a recommended book of Ruth Bell Graham's poems. I suspect this is the book she was looking for. If that was you, hurry on by. I didn't bring it home because that seemed greedy, given that I was still hanging on to Woman Un-Bent. However, if someone doesn't buy it in the near future, it will probably end up sitting by my laughing coffee cup. Lots of poetic insight on the life of faith--not schmaltzy. $6
"Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth." -Samuel Johnson
I have been flirting with the academics. It started with The Modern Library Writer's Workshop; A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch. I read this while plotting our Tips, Tricks and Tools of the Trade editing workshop. Because Koch was a teacher at Columbia University Writer's Program, his writing techniques and insights are delivered in an easily teachable fashion. Meanwhile, I also read Wallace Stegner's novel, Crossing to Safety, which is about the friendship between two university professor/writer couples. Eventually I finished Koch's Writer's Workshop and picked up Letters to a Fiction Writer by Frederick Busch. This is a collection of 33 letters from authors who share their wisdom with young writers. I recognized less than a third of them. Most were teachers in various universities and winners of awards for their novels and story collections. Through all this, I plugged along in Tolstoy's Resurrection, which I'd started for the Russian Literature Literary Party. I wouldn't call Tolstoy an academic, but he's the sort of author the academics would assign.
S e r i o u s Fiction. A picture formed of an ingrown group of writers and teachers who graduated from MFA programs, recommended each other for prizes and fellowships, and who, yes, love writing and writers, but clearly favor a certain stripe. I am reminded of the kids kicking around the theater in my college days, who turned up their sophomoric noses at The Sound of Music. I remember my son's comment when studying film at the university. He'd grown tired of the constant emphasis on experimental and politically motivated films. "Couldn't they just teach us how to make good movies?"
This world feels quite different from Julia Cameron, Anne Lamott, Natalie Goldberg. I will undoubtedly visit it again. It is the world of my father, the philosophy professor; the world that keeps many writers fed and housed so that they can pursue the muse. There is much to be gleaned from the academics. However, I've decided my fiction leans decidedly toward fluff: whipped creme with a scattering of almonds for protein and crunch.
"The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead." -Robert Brault
COMING TOGETHER:
The Tips, Tricks and Tools of the Trade Writer's Workshop is now available online: Four sessions including a hand-out, introductory remarks of 10 - 20 minutes per session, plus insights and snide remarks from participants. Email me if you are interested in hearing it.
The last John Journey will be Tuesday, December 8 at 2:30.
This month's Literary Party is How-to Books. Friday, December 18 at 1:30.
Christmas Party & Journal Jogging on Tuesday, December 29 at 4:00. On this fifth day of Christmas we will drink egg-nog, nibble on whatever treats you want to unload and maybe even sing a few verses of Christmas carols. Anyone who kept a journal in 2009 and/or is hoping to do so in 2010, can bring it. We'll have some show & tell in between the general merriment and glean tips for the upcoming year.
"I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world." — Norman Vincent Peale
Blessings,
Alliee +