Well, the program went fairly well, I thought. An hour is far too short to even surface-scrape, but then again, lectures and listening sessions on the blues, its forms and influence is my idea of a wonderful time. Of course, I also am with you in thinking that a Folklore Major is absolutely super! The presenter was Randall Snyder, a professor and composer-in-residence at University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He knew his stuff musically. culturally and historically, and was thus impressive. At the same time, he was just touching the basics, and most of what he presented wasn't really new to me. What WAS new were ideas on regional differences in early blues musicians and some of the psychological factors, so to speak. More when I actually write my critique for the class.
He talked a little about the Zoo Bar in Lincoln at the end, as a "sidenote," really...it's actually sort of on the "blues route" for some bigger name performers. I've heard some talk of it and keep meaning to get over there, but don't keep up well on what's going on. According to the prof, Magic Slim lives in Lincoln now (his friendship with the owner when the two were in Chicago is part of what got the Zoo Bar going) and does gigs over there now and then. Looks like his next one is this coming Thursday, my birthday, incidentally...not sure I can make it, but still pretty cool. To be honest, the electric Chicago blues aren't really high on my favorites list, but it would still make for a cool evening sometime.
In related news...Roy Book Binder is trying to hook up a gig there. I emailed him, told him I knew you, and said it'd be really great to have him play in Nebraska, and he said he was working on a gig at the Zoo Bar in July, but nothing's for sure yet.
As far as the Orthodoxy/feminism thing goes...I think she's still very much in the position of reading and learning and looking into things. I think the main thing is that while the priesthood and server positions are male-only, the Church historically is not oppressive, either, and not without important places for women (as opposed to Protestantism's roots). Women's thoughts and writings are not discounted "because they are women," and many women are saints, and some were considered "equal to the apostles." That's just a bit of a general thought, though... One thing she's definitely talked with me about (and I agreed with this long before we met) is the fact that feminism and the feminist movement is not really all that parallel to the view often given in the mainstream and "conservative" media...i.e., few feminists are "feminazi" types...and that true feminism is about being woman, equal access, true choice, etc...and that many who pose as feminists often really serve other agendas more than anything else. A true feminist is just as apt to counsel a friend through an unwanted pregnancy, help her find help, etc., rather than just tell her to get an abortion. A true feminist is focused on social issues worldwide that affect women, not just talking about how much men suck and attacking social structures that, frankly, are much less important, simply for the sake of doing so and getting attention. She's also going into education, particularly special ed., and those fields definitely have their fill of gender and sexuality-related issues...so she's learning quite a bit, as am I by proxy.
As far as the black literature books go...I think what you said is really interesting, about when those get read, etc. In some ways I'm GLAD I'm an "older" grad student, so to speak...I've at least found more of a foundation now than I had at 23 or 24, even, much less earlier. I feel terribly behind on reading in many many disciplines, but feel I'm reading it more intelligently and objectively than I would have a few years ago, much less as a teen. The important thing is, I guess, that I'm reading it at all.
Well, Carter's pretty hip to the ideas I proposed. Now to find a good name, define our vision/mission, and get working on it.
On the subject of libraries, Black History Month, etc....here in a little while this afternoon, Stacey and I (well, at least I) am heading up to one library branch for a program on the blues. It's at the branch that's in North Omaha, what's essentially "the black section of town," for all intents and purposes, and has been for a long long time. Anyway, here's a link: http://www.omahapubliclibrary.org/events/programs/branches/wbprog.html
They Call it Stormy Monday: Evolution of the Blues | Sat, Feb 26 | 2 - 3 pm Musician and composer Randall Snyder relates the evolving history of the blues and its importance as African-American expression, as well as its seminal and continuing impact on contemporary popular music. This program is for grade nine to adult.
I think the Omaha public library does a decent job of presenting decent programming despite continuous budget cuts. Some branches aren't even open every day...
Anyway, I'm also going to do a critique of the event for my African American Novel class. We have to do one as part of our course work, and this is right down my alley. May see the professor over there, actually.
Stacey and I were wandering around downtown last night, since the weather was super...inevitably ended up in one of the used bookstores. I needed to go see if they had a copy of Ellison's Invisible Man, since our class just chose that book to cover in a few weeks. I'm slated to co-facilitate one of the weeks, actually. Ended up with a few more books, but they're so cheaply priced I couldn't really help it! Also picked up Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain, Richard Wright's Black Boy, and Home by LeRoi Jones. I figure those are all good additions to my library and hopefully I'll read them someday. We snagged two other books, as well. One is a book of Christian women's writings in the early Church, at least through around 1500 or so. Stacey's very interested in the field of women's studies and feminism, and Orthodoxy, and especially in the melding of the two! I, on the other hand, found a book called Kesey's Garage Sale. I got it for under $10, figuring it was a bargain...sure enough, I go on half.com and amazon to find it starts over $20 for a used copy either place. Sort of a beat/hippie collectable, I guess.
Thanks for the post....good insight, and it's great to feel listened to!
With this whole situation, there's always a deeper story going on. I mean, some of this is years in the making. Carter and Michial have met in person and are good friends personally with people in common, so there is that. On top of that, Michial's a very close friend of "jenevive" on the board and, by extension, her husband Ryan ("derivative"). Of course, Michial isn't entirely dependent on them for emotional formation (for example, the two of them have become adamantly anti-Christianity, anti-religion, etc., but still claim to be "searching" in a very general, comically post-modern sort of way...but value only their own opinions and perspectives and "wisdom," with no interest in any sort of authority over them...and they vary between saying there probably isn't God, not in any sense a Christian would conceive of, anyway...or, on the other hand, saying there is a God but no way of getting to Him or knowing Him is possible or good enough for them . Michial, on the other hand, "believes," and very much aligns himself with the post-modern Christian movement, at least in theory and philosophy. His main issue is submission to the authority of the church, I think, but (unlike modernists, most Protestants of the fundagelical variety, etc.) at the same time sees enlightenment and truth through community. He's just recently become open and declaritive about this, and it's been since he moved up here and across the hall from Jenni and Ryan, so yeah...it's not that he's completely formable by their or others' opinions.) Anyway, back to where I was going...Jenni and Carter are basically mortal enemies, as are Ryan and Carter, so to speak...mostly stemming from "romantic" experiences years ago. Michial, as a result, has heard many negative things about Carter through the years -- mostly true, no doubt, but also definitely skewed. Plus, Carter is Carter, you described his attitudes pretty well, and that conflicts with the way Michial is, understandably, so there's that. As far as Seth goes...who knows. It's hard to say what the real reason is here. I think some of it is, too, emotionally sensitive people will occasionally set each other off. Fact of life.
Anyway, in regards to "what to do" and future situations... When Carter told me he was through with the forums, he said that was just as far as posting and partaking and such. He'll continue to do technical stuff for that, wants us to focus more on the zine, etc...he may not be so hyped on extra amenities for the forums, but he's certainly not quitting that. To be honest, I don't have the technical knowledge he has, and wouldn't do all that well with that end of things anytime something outside normal day's use happened.
Anyway, I emailed Carter earlier today. My thought is that the Vagrant Cafe as a "collective" (including the forums) is a good thing, something worthwhile, and all...but that the zine needs to be something more distinct and have a separate identity. Change the name, make the zine something "produced by the Vagrant Cafe" but not just one inter-locking piece of the whole. The truth is, he and I are very different people from when we started it up, and I especially as the editor, and therefore the one who SHOULD be driving the identity, have different values, interests and agendas than in 2000. The forum and zine stopped representing and fulfilling each other a long long time ago, and it's better to stop pretending there can be that interlocking identity anymore so they can go in the directions they're going to go. Many of those on the board are some kind of evangelical Protestant, whether more "traditional" or even fundamentalist, or more into "extreme edgy" or megachurch or just generic, MOR type religion. The majority are Republicans and not necessarily free-thinking ones. There's no real consensus on music or film or literature interest anymore (whereas it used to be based around "alt.Christian.rock" and that sort of thing, years ago)...not necessarily a bad thing itself, but misleading for someone who sees a certain aesthetic or overall intellectual approach to whatever subject on the zine, then hops on the board. In addition, some of those I've asked about writing like the idea of the zine, but get turned off when encountering the board. I can't say that I blame them! At the same time, those on the board who DO want to discuss things along those lines are felt to feel like snobs or whatever some of the time...I mean, I'll be encouraging people to have intelligent discussions and not just "dude, this band RAWX" for a few months, then when it happens, Carter drops in and makes comments disparaging those discussing things more cerebrally. It's a mixed message, conflicting cultural viewpoints...and perhaps a separate identity for the zine (and even boards associated specifically with THAT) would really help matters...I strongly believe they would. I'd also be able to steer the zine in a direction without trying to keep it in line with the Vagrant Cafe, and that's a big deal for me. Very few folks on the Cafe as is want to read articles about contemplative spirituality, folk or primitive blues, academic approaches to hip-hop, and so on, and cutting ties with the idea of them as primary audience is healthy.
All right, anyway, those are thoughts...obviously I'll let you know as things develop.
Thanks for the blogodoxy link. I'll definitely be checking into that soon! That and the cd you mentioned, actually.
Nothing really in my head to say about the other part, I guess...
On the Bandoppler magazine thing...Chris Estey was one of the editors, I believe...and/or responsible for a good deal of their content. I greatly admire his writing and some of the things he's written. A few other folks who have wandered in and out of the forum also did some stuff with Bandoppler, but not really anyone else who posts there regularly anymore.
That whole subject of the Vagrant Cafe...several issues weighing on my mind right now. As you may have observed, a bit of a blow-up occurred due to some comments Carter made on that Hunter Thompson thread. I, for the most part, stayed out of it on-board while talking with him and a couple others on the phone, in person, PM, or whatever. Well, mostly just Carter and Michial. For Michial, it's the straw that broke the camel's back. In his words, he's too fluid and impressionable...he doesn't like the cynicism that tends to flavor much of what's talked about on the more "intelligent" forums...and feels that as a person, he's dealt with a good bit of the ugly cynicism he's disliked about himself (and felt that spiritually he should get rid of) in the past and that spending much time there pulls him back into that. He said that while some people (he mentioned me) can exist with that and other crazy things going on around and not be more than a little effected, his personality is too fluid and impressionable to be there much. "Premarital" Seth, according to Michial, decided he'd leave, too...citing the fact that since Michial introduced him to the "board" in the first place. Nevermind the fact that that was more than 5 years ago, before there even was a "Vagrant Cafe." I think he's probably just reacting emotionally to the whole incident...Michial told him to stick around. Anyway, on the other end of things...Carter's just being strange about the whole thing. He keeps claiming it's no big deal, that people are freaking out and reading too much into what he said, and so on. Without going into the whole thing he and I keep discussing, suffice it to say that he's not making much sense, really...over-exaggerating what other people say, yet claiming his words are overanalyzed themselves. Anyway, he decided that this is just proof of something he's known for a long time, and that he's "not welcome" or, better put, "not at home" on "his own forums" anymore...so he deleted his account and username and says he's gone, as well. At least these guys aren't making huge posts about "I'm leaving, cry for me, byebye," but still...sad, in my opinion. The Carter part of it all especially troubles me. He and I have been friends for quite a while, obviously, and while the Vagrant Cafe as a zine never really took off on a consistent basis, we still have really built something with the forums; he's done all right with the hosting end of things, as well. I'm not going to argue with him about his "fitting in" on the forums or not. The place has changed, he's changed, I've changed. Especially on the Pop Culture forum...Carter doesn't really have much interest in music these days (at least outside his own recording efforts, if he's still doing that now and then), from what I can tell, and what he does post about liking, he doesn't approach from a particularly critical, discerning point of view -- the exact opposite of those posting there. Same goes with what he watches, reads, etc. He's openly criticized people there for pursuing intelligent discussion and dissection of things, saying everyone should just enjoy things for what they are, etc...again, the antithesis of a "discussion forum." I'm not really sure what he thinks the point of the zine is, in that case...he's disavowed Christianity altogether and just doesn't want to talk about anything regarding religion or spirituality other than to bash. At the same time, he's encouraged me to write and solicit spirituality-related articles...I don't see it as a complete contradiction, because I know him well enough to know that he WANTS to believe and be convinced, but at the same time...makes for a rough situation. He gets this martyr complex about people not appreciating him or accepting him anymore, or whatever, but when he doesn't post much, and when he does it's not really part of a discussion, what does he expect (especially given his proclivity for disappearing months at a time)? I love the guy, but he loves to wield his power over people and make comments like "you'd never say that to my face, asshole" and such...not to me, but to anyone who "crosses" him. He refuses to negotiate or even attempt diplomacy, and over the years I've been forced into a public relations position. So, anyway, I can take certain personalities and weaknesses, but complaining when people do the same to him as he's done to them, or complaining about obvious consequences of identifiable things, tends to wear on me. Anyway, the rant has a point, and that is that the whole situation really magnifies some of my difficulties with the "Vagrant Cafe" as things are right now. While the board and community basically is a life of its own, I'm wondering more and more if the zine part of it is worth even trying to keep going, or if maybe I should start something completely different, with different people involved...the issue there being that someone has to do web design and such, and that the Vagrant Cafe setup as it exists is really quite good. Carter has no illusions of editorship, so that's not an issue. However, trying to have a zine with the same name as the existing, for the most part separate forum, is really starting to present difficulties. I have some ideas, the foremost one launching a zine by a different name that is just "produced" by "the Vagrant Cafe" collective. That way I don't lose Carter's website expertise, but it separates it just enough to be independent of all that. Does that make any sense to you?
Anyway, thanks for being the therapist this time around. At this point in my life, whatever I do, I want it to be quality and such, not a half-assed, occasional effort.
Hey, I thought I'd reply to the journal comment here...
1. Paris: You may be interested, if nothing else as a "retrospective," to see the story that got me interested in Paris. It's called "Heads of Hip-Hop" and appeared in the (now defunct) Bandoppler magazine that a few friends of mine and others put together for 6 issues. They don't have that one online, but I'll make a copy for you and send it with a long-overdue package. 2. I'll stick mp3 files of the Banjo Tapes in there, as well...I'm planning to burn a bunch of files to CDs and send them. I had a pretty good working list until my computer crashed a couple months ago and just didn't get back to it totally. If there's any other stuff I can dig up on mp3 for you, let me know...I just sort of happened on these via Soulseek. When I d/l from ppl or they d/l from me, I often browse their files just to see what I can see, and find some good stuff. I also found "Gaslight" tapes for both Dylan and Son House.
1. Thanks for the link...interesting article. Hopefully this won't become some huge, watered-down fad...I'm a bit fearful of that, though a lot of that's steeped in cynicism and prejudice, I'm sure.
2. I ran across this quote in this week's newsletter email from Sojourners: "The purpose of Lent is not only expiation, to satisfy the divine justice, but above all a preparation to rejoice in God's love. And this preparation consists in receiving the gift of God's mercy - a gift which we receive in so far as we open our hearts to it, casting out what cannot remain in the same room with mercy. Now one of the things we must cast out first of all is fear. Fear narrows the little entrance of our heart. It shrinks up our capacity to love. It freezes up our power to give ourselves. If we were terrified of God as an inexorable judge, we would not confidently await God's mercy, or approach God trustfully in prayer. Our peace, our joy in Lent are a guarantee of grace." - Thomas Merton, in "Seasons of Celebration"
I'm glad you're digging that site. I haven't put the time into it that you have, but kept scrolling down and thinking about how much great material is there.
re: Monks of New Skete I was just looking at half.com and you can get it super cheap there. I mean, people are selling it for a buck plus shipping...not bad. Of course we prefer to support the source, but sometimes it's okay to be pragmatic. I doubt they'd mind. : )
As far as being on the "same spiritual page" or whatever...I don't really know...it's hard to pinpoint how it is with us and that. Some of it, I think, is that when we first met and were getting to know each other, she herself was pretty disenchanted with that whole scene within which she was raised. She'd been seeking for *something* for quite a while and asking herself a lot of the questions and liked the answers Orthodoxy provides. I'm doubtful that she'd have sought out Orthodoxy herself, really, because she's just not wired in the same way we are, as far as seeking those sorts of things out, if that makes sense...but at the same time, she's really grown to love Orthodoxy and went through catechumen class and really got a lot out of it and genuinely converted, I have no doubt. At the same time, we ARE in different places, and a lot of that because we're different people. It's not like you and B., necessarily, I'm sure, but at the same time...we're different people with different personalities and all that, and while I care greatly about her and her spiritual condition, I don't think a whole lot about being in different places, though I'm sure we are. I was really hung up on it for a while, but I learned something a while back, I guess...in that part of being a spouse and trusting your love is trusting that person in spiritual matters. It's not that you don't ever bring it up or talk about spiritual things, certainly we do, but it's like most other aspects of marriage...you trust that the other person really is doing the best s/he can and trust that what you personally can't control will still turn out all right...just the same as you would regarding other friendships, finances, driving the car, caring for the children, and so on. I mean, I think you really trust her to do the right thing with P and C, step-parenting or not...but at the same time, you know that what she might do isn't exactly the same as what you do at any given time or situation. I'm not talking about a relativistic, "all paths lead to God" type nonsense, but I'm talking about trusting the other person and God to manage their relationship without you having to keep them in line. That sounds kind of harsh, maybe, but the truth is that she needs different things, more aptly different sides to the same things, and the family needs things spiritually from her than from you sometimes...the family including you. The truth is, I could go to vespers and matins and all that, do the daily offices every day, and various other things, and I don't know that Stacey would of her own volition do all that herself, but she also has spiritual elements to her that I struggle to emulate. I think of my own parents, fundamentalist Baptists of course...two of the godliest people I know. But they're different people spiritually, and the family is better because of what they both bring. My dad can sit and talk about theology on a deep level for hours, he's very disciplined in his Bible reading and prayer and studies, he's very strong on other things, whereas my mom would often fit in some Bible reading at the end of the day, but often fall asleep doing so...she's not of a theological mind, and while she agrees with the doctrine and all that, she's not someone I could have an actual *conversation/discussion* with about it...yet she's more patient than my dad (not that my dad's a hot-head or anything, definitely not a bad temper), more willing to hear other sides of things and "negotiate," and that sort of thing. Not that it's even a question of strengths vs. weaknesses, but rather different sides of good coins.
Anyway, you're dead on, that Cultivating that Attitude is the important thing, and "how to" is the major struggle. The Monks' book really is a sort of "how to," but they stress over and over that there isn't some super formula or prescribed path or delineated set of steps to attain the Spirit of Happiness...but rather about putting oneself in the position, wherever s/he is, to follow the path when it's revealed.
I'm going to just lift a couple passages from the chapter that's really knocked me on my back, so to speak...my comments in italics:
"A dynamic priest-friend of ours shocked his parish at the beginning of Lent with a sermon that ignored the traditional things people tend to "give up" or "do" for the forty days. Instead, he focused on scouring the blase attitude of their hearts. "Who needs your religiosity, your frasts, icons, prostrations, services, Bible studies, periods of meditation, and good works," he said pointedly, "when they are not rooted in your heart, permeating your thoughts and actions with goodness? And you claim you are good? When is the last time that you really looked at your life honestly?" (which of course you and I would definitely agree we're trying to do, is focus on the heart through these things)
Ironically, "religious" people are often the most resistant to change, precisely because they think they have already changed...Change, repentance, already occurred at some point or event in the past that led to a spiritual commitment. Whether it was at an altar call in a football stadium, or through a private prayer of dedication in a quiet chapel, we might frame that moment so decisively that it becomes a once-and-for-all turnabout, an event never to be repeated; we are saved, we are enlightened. Yet despite the undeniable emotional weight of such experiences, to stop here would be shallow, to miss the point, since all change is only incremental. The pattern, the habit of change is what counts. To be satisfied with a one-time conversion is to reduce the turnabout to an event rather than a way of life, and to fall short of what could be achieved. That it ignores the nitty-gritty of our very uneven and imperfect lives should make us uneasy. Repentance is an on-going process. (later on) To change radically means waking up to reality as it really is, not as we presume it is. This demands a fundamental shift in our thinking: put simply, it means becoming other-centered, instead of self-centered. But here, too, we see the crucial need of a teacher. Other-centeredness gives gives shape to the amorphous body of love. If this sounds strange, perhaps it is because we have not understood how thoroughly we as individuals are caught in the illusion of being the center of the universe. We have enshrined ourselves in the kingdom of self and we do not even realize it! We filter everything we experience through the lens of our own mentality -- our likes and dislikes, our goals and desires, our beliefs and opinions -- and we think that this is how things actually are or should be...to change radically, we must let go of the death grip we have on ourselves so we can go on to discover what true life is. We must learn to see anew. This does not happen by knowledge alone; it also demands sustained spiritual practice that focuses the mind, that disciplines our energies and emotions, that functions like a plow digging up the hard, fallow ground of our old ways of thinking and acting. Tested by centuries of experience, the wisdom of monastic tradition provides rich and practival guidance in implementing this change. It uses specific methods: placing oneself under a teacher, developing a daily habit of study, prayer, and meditation, worship in common, and work and service to others, to mention only the more obvious. We shall be exploring these disciplines later, and how they can be translated into the everyday life of any true searcher. But here we can say that this "other-centered" practice means striving to let go of the old self that is so focused on its own petty concerns. Within such a dynamic, metanoia reorients our being from "me" (self) to "God" (other beyond self). This takes on the strength of a habitual way of living the more we give ourselves to it in earnest. Through courageous and faithful practice, we engage life on progressively deeper levels. It is true that we often fall short of such ideals. The frenetic pace of everyday life and the stress of competing interests and obligations prevent us from observing the true state of our lives, from self-discipline, and from renewing our methods and ways of acting. But it is always within our power to change. Sometimes the new "me" will manfest itself in something as seemingly banal as listening with complete attention to another, when we'd rather be watching our favorite television show. Each moment, in harmony with our changing spiritual outlook, we must remember to redirect ourselves toward our primary intention, for our old ways are still ingrained. Is it for self, or is it other-directed? Any act, even the most virtuous, can be approached incorrectly, egotistically. Our task is to work continuously to clean up our hearts, our intentions, our fundamental stance toward life.
Joel's note -- this isn't stuff that we don't know, you understand, but it's all sort of pieced together that makes it connect! And it's important to not say people are being selfish, but rather self-centered, and in this case, two very different things. One of the biggest issues I have is that I tend to seek, but insist on doing so through my own lens...the very thing I condemn other people for doing. It's not a matter of trying different religious or whatever, but more the idea of losing my own thoughts, prejudices, predispositions, and so on....and letting those things be a framework and context, but not a filter. In doing this, we realize that others' filters, then, should be of lesser importance to us, as well. The author(s) go straight from there into an "interlude" that discusses, "What Is A Monk," and they start right off by quoting Dostoevsky saying that a true monk is nothing other than what everyone ought to be..."he was referring to an attitude of heart, a way of seeing life, not an appeal for celibacy," they say. The chapter after that, the one on which I had to force myself to get past, is called "Asceticism and Life"....yeah. It's quite a laborious book, not because it's difficult intellectually but because it's a book made out of feast-sized sentences.
I found another relevant link you may be interested in:
www.orthodoxfamily.com (still in the process of getting itself together, but some good-looking articles and resources)
The thing to keep in mind with all this is that, much like RC, the Orthodox are diverse and multi-cultural -- not in a theological sense, but in the sense that you'll see people who (to look at just one area of life) advocate raising strong children who will thrive in a public school and as an active part of our culture, but also folks who are heavily into homeschooling, no TV, and so on...one of the things I like about much of Orthodoxy and RC is that there IS a capacity for a variety of voices without a whole lot of "no, really, YOU are WRONG and therefore immoral..." and that sort of bickering we all know about. That site has a lot of good kids' stuff, and some interesting stuff toward the bottom of the list (like a bit of a primer for families on "how to visit a monastery" and such.
Between this and your journal, I not only am not sure where to start, but know I can't reply to it all, so sorry in advance, hehehe...
Anyway, as far as "everyday contemplation" and such...there's a book I keep reading off and on. I've not even really finished it, though I need to, it's one of those books I keep coming back to, getting challenged and fed, and putting away for a while. It's one of the books that originally got me interested in contemplation and mysticism (along with Merton and things you passed along to me).
The book is In the Spirit of Happiness by the Monks of New Skete.
Amazon link Their website Another website for the larger community of New Skete
The websites themselves don't really get much into the books themselves (I wish they did) but provide a decent amount of introductory info on the community, who they are, what they do, etc. The brothers are nationally known dog breeding and dog training experts -- their dog books are very highly regarded, as are the dogs they breed, I've heard -- so the website is as much about that as anything else. The nuns sell cheesecakes that look incredible.
If you look at the books that this one cites you'll see a fairly simple but impressive RIYL type list (3 of the first 4 books, anyway): The Ladder of Divine Ascent (which I REALLY need to read), Merton, the Rule of St. Benedict. Looks like they just published a devotional type book, as well, which I should get soon...not just for me, but for our bookstore!
A big part of why I've not read the entire book is that, frankly, there's so much in there to contemplate...not that I actually contemplate on something for months, literally, but I take time to contemplate and think on something for a while and then of course forget to get back into the book! The main thrust of the book, though, is to talk about the monastic/mystic lifestyle and really looking at the roots and spirit of that, at the same time exploring how to do so while not being in the monastic, reclusive setting. They say so many important things in the book, in my opinion, that it really isn't just the sort of book one should read straight through...I think that's a good approach for the first time, to get a basic overall grasp of the truths and teachings, but for me it's more a guidebook, a contemplative companion, and whizzing straight through it once and saying, "Gee, that was swell! I'm going to be like that!" is to really miss out on quite a lot and not really let things sink in the way they're intended to. Again, that's just how it is for me, I can't speak for anyone else, but the main reason I keep putting the book back on the shelf is because I don't want to simply read it and call that good, but rather savor and really learn from it, let it sink in. Like I said, so much of it is about living within a context of other people and within the American culture, and these things I want instilled in me take time and meditation.
Anyway, I highly recommend the book and I think you'd really get a lot out of it. I think it combines two things that are what I need, probably what you need....first, a contemplative, intelligent tone and knowledge -- these are monastics who have read "the classics," are living the approach and life that you and I really desire, and come at everything from that place; second, though, they're practical and challenging: let's face it, you and I are NOT practical people, and resist anything that could have the tag "applicable to daily life" or "devotional" or something like that on it. We live very busy, familial lives, but we're drawn to read/pursue things that are time-consuming, require solitude and/or uninterrupted meditation, and so on...and I think that's part of the issue here. Just like so much of Protestantism (and let's face it, this mentality pervades and represents most of Protestantism, especially evangelicalism), we immediately refute anything that's "bite-sized" because in our experience, that generally equates "shallow" and "convenient," two things we do NOT want. However, if you think about it...the Daily Office itself is comprised of bites, and I think we need to view our spiritual feeding as such. Matins or just reading the psalter may not be a Divine Liturgy or full mass, but it is something to help nourish us in our lives. Vespers or reading the psalter at night may not be a day spent fasting, praying and reading, but what's important is that we do it all in the same spirit, the same spirit that will help us be husbands and fathers and employees and students. One of the big aspects of the book for me is that the (anonymous, possibly collective) author talks about how people come to the monastery for retreats and talk about how they wish they could have the spirituality the monastics have, but that it just can't happen with the lives they themselves are called to (or find themselves in)...but the brothers say that hey, being a monk is great and all, but they're not tuned in to some secret formula or enlightened in a way people who don't lead that life can't be -- that it's a spirit, and that spirit can be difficult to attain and maintain, but it's possible whether you're in a monastery or a rat race.
One other thing about New Skete and then I'll move on:
They actually have a community there, a monastic community for married couples called Companions. I'm not sure we could ever talk S or B into that, but, you know....hahaha. Anyway, I'm just going to paste some great stuff from their page right here:
The members of the Companions of New Skete, together with the monks and nuns, live a spiritual life, consecrated to a deeper relationship with God, through the three monastic vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. Chastity is an interior state of the spirit, not a physical state of the body. It transcends physiological integrity. Chastity is a harmonization of this interior state with the exterior, physical conditions of one’s life: married, single, or celibate, living in monastic life or in the world.
Marriage is not an obstacle to living monastic life, priestly life, or religious life in any of its manifestations. Love of God is primary, and is never in competition with any other relationship. Each individual must love God. Our human condition impels us to transcend ourselves, to seek the creator. This is the lifelong quest of every human soul, not only the celibate monk or nun.
I f one is married, one’s spouse is not in competition with this love, but strengthens it through mutual love for each other in the sacrament of marriage. This is the discernment of spirit – of one’s own and one’s spouse, who was chosen to go on this journey through life as a soul mate to participate in the joys and sorrows of a shared life and to assist each other in continual growth through love.
It's in upstate NY, but even so, I would love to go on a couple's retreat up there someday.
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On the whole weight/food thing:
That's my major vice, as well. I mean, I do dig my alcohol, but the food's a much more socially acceptable, sanctioned and encouraged vice! A great example is where in Texas a congressman is introducing a bill to grade kids on their fatness, and a lot of parents understand or think it's a good idea. After reading that story, however, I looked up the Austin public school system's breakfast and lunch menu...full of things like hot dogs, sausage, chicken tenders, etc. I posted that all on the vagrant "News" thing on the front page, actually. But that's a long ways away...putting the focus back on us, I think we've both been subject to not only the mid- to late-20s metabolism dive, but eating MEALS as opposed to, well, a monk's diet. You did "monk's diet" moreso than I ever did, but even I just didn't eat as regularly as Stacey and I do now. Once this nasty cold/flu epidemic is past, I'm going to go to rarely eating lunch. I generally use the time to study, read, pray, that sort of thing, and if I eat something of substance for breakfast, I don't really NEED to eat again until "dinnertime," whenever that is (though two evening classes make that an interesting thing, as well). I'll probably try to be doing that pretty much all the time by the time Lent comes around. Lent, by the way, for us comes a lot later than for the West. I think our Pascha/Easter isn't until 1 May!
And yes, exercise is another big thing. Omaha actually has a fairly good park system, and I find good places to walk by where we live. I can walk by train tracks, go to a park, walk around downtown, etc. There's a Catholic church just a few blocks away, St. Frances Cabrini. Our Catholic cathedral here, btw, is St. Cecilia's, which is supposedly gorgeous inside. Anyway, sometimes I walk down by the church and pray. It's funny because it's right next to the Protestant Grace University.
Anyway...I've got to get going to my class. Talk to you later...
