December is such an interesting month, bringing along with it a time of preparation, colder weather, and most recently lots of rain - cold rain, even a moon halo last night. The other day I rean across a poem by U.Va. professor and poet Charles Wright, which comes from the book Zone Journals and intimately engages the month of December. The poem itself is a long poem entitled "A Journal of English Days."
(December)
- Noon like cicada wings,
translucence remembered, half-sheets
Of light over light on the black stones
Of the crescent walk and bodices of the rhododendron,
Red eye of the whirring sun -
December comes out of the ground
Shedding its skin on the bare trees,
And hovers above the northern sky
Wings like new glass,
wings like a thousand miles of new glass -
How sweet to think that Nature is solvency,
that something empirically true
Lies just under the dead leaves
That will make us anchorites in the dark
Chambers of some celestial perptuity -
nice to think that,
Given the bleak alternative,
Though it hasn't proved so before,
and won't now
No matter what things we scrape aside -
God is an abstract noun.
The poem continues after this line, but it is at this point that I would like to stop, as I think it embodies much of what the transition into December is like and much of what we feel during this time.
While the thought of God being abstract, something intangible may be discomforting to humans, actually should give us encouragement; that a loving presence exists everywhere; that because of its abstract nature, it is limitless. Linguistically, what Charles does is quite impressive. In the course of one sentence, the concept of love, while limitless, is also anchored, as a noun is something which we can both define, but not physically touch. Sure a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea, but can we physically touch a noun. We can touch the person; we can touch the place and the thing. But what we cannot do is physically touch the idea of a noun. In the same way, we feel a loving presence touching us, but this is often times something which we cannot physically touch. In reading this poem and in thinking about the concept of God, the concept of love, it then is wonderful to know that "...something empirically true / Lies just under the dead leaves...".
From the time we were children we have been told to "Love our neighbors as ourselves." Admittedly there are times when I cannot bring myself to love someone and there are times when I think love is completely absent from whatever situation or surroundings in which I find myself. During these times, however, it appears that God - that love, that this abstraction, this idea - is present whenever it enters our minds. That is to say that whenever we the idea comes into our heads, then love is present, "No matter what things we scrape aside.", and really, that one of our vocations in life is to love and allow ourselves to be loved.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Snow White
As I was sitting in my Modernist Lit lecture today, it occured to me how closely the academic world and the religious world really are. We were studying Donald Barthelme's Snow White this week, which (among other things) is about a post-modern world and the ruin left after World War II. How do we define ourselves and how do we live in a world dominated by hyper-consumerism?
Just last week we had the pleasure of hearing from Professor Jim Galloway. He spoke to Canterbury on the topic of our nitrogen footpritns. You all have probably all heard much about carbon footprints, but not so much about nitrogen footprints. Basically everything we eat or drink or anything that we consume costs the environment nitrogren - and not just in what we eat. For example, the food used to raise the cattle that are then killed, cleaned, processed, shipped, eventually finding its way into the local grocery store. It all costs nitrogen, but nitrogen that ends up back in the atmosphere where it reacts with other chemicals eventually furthering the Greenhouse Effect.
In hearing Professor Galloway speak and in reading this interesting Post-Modern novel by Barthelme, it struck me that our generation is trying to take a step away from hyper-consumerism, while looking forward to a future where we can reclaim some sense of self- and communal identity that is not saturated by media outlets; however, in order to achieve this goal, I think we must be able to really know what we want and what it means to be an individual in an increasingly globalized world. For all the remarkable outpourings of individuality, it is amazing how much our culture is still somewhat uniform.
The question is then, how can we take a step back from our hectic lives and revist the idea of a community, so that we can once again figure out how to live and enjoy life :)?
Just last week we had the pleasure of hearing from Professor Jim Galloway. He spoke to Canterbury on the topic of our nitrogen footpritns. You all have probably all heard much about carbon footprints, but not so much about nitrogen footprints. Basically everything we eat or drink or anything that we consume costs the environment nitrogren - and not just in what we eat. For example, the food used to raise the cattle that are then killed, cleaned, processed, shipped, eventually finding its way into the local grocery store. It all costs nitrogen, but nitrogen that ends up back in the atmosphere where it reacts with other chemicals eventually furthering the Greenhouse Effect.
In hearing Professor Galloway speak and in reading this interesting Post-Modern novel by Barthelme, it struck me that our generation is trying to take a step away from hyper-consumerism, while looking forward to a future where we can reclaim some sense of self- and communal identity that is not saturated by media outlets; however, in order to achieve this goal, I think we must be able to really know what we want and what it means to be an individual in an increasingly globalized world. For all the remarkable outpourings of individuality, it is amazing how much our culture is still somewhat uniform.
The question is then, how can we take a step back from our hectic lives and revist the idea of a community, so that we can once again figure out how to live and enjoy life :)?
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Halloween at Canterbury
The Wednesday before Halloween, Canterbury decided to take a break from our usual, deep spiritual discussions in lieu of something more fun and seasonally appropriate. We carved pumpkins! If memory serves me correctly, we had something like 10 pumpkins of various shapes, sizes, and even colors! How wonderful!
It was wonderful to see the range of artistic designs that made their way onto the faces of these pumpkins. We had everything from UVA themed jack o'lanterns to ones which looked decidedly French, with that special exotic feel about them.
In the process of carving the pumpkins, Neal and a few others took the seeds, washed and cleaned them, then placed them in the oven to roast with a little bit of salt. The end result - delicious! Nothing is better than freshly roasted pumpkin seeds. Overall, it was a wonderful way to welcome in the latter days of Autumn before the cold of winter officially arrives :)!
Pictures should be on there way shortly. I'm waiting on one of the house residents to send me some fials via e-mail.
It was wonderful to see the range of artistic designs that made their way onto the faces of these pumpkins. We had everything from UVA themed jack o'lanterns to ones which looked decidedly French, with that special exotic feel about them.
In the process of carving the pumpkins, Neal and a few others took the seeds, washed and cleaned them, then placed them in the oven to roast with a little bit of salt. The end result - delicious! Nothing is better than freshly roasted pumpkin seeds. Overall, it was a wonderful way to welcome in the latter days of Autumn before the cold of winter officially arrives :)!
Pictures should be on there way shortly. I'm waiting on one of the house residents to send me some fials via e-mail.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
In the midst of midterms
As we find ourselves in the midst of midterm examinations, I can't help but notice that the leaves are finally turning- signaling the arrival of fall. It struck me just the other day how often we take the seaons for granted. Now, I am very much a person who prefers cold weather with a few warm days interspersed, as well as mild summers not getting above 70 degrees; but, as I was walking around Grounds the other day, it occured to me just how much we actually do need the different seasons and how much God wants us to notice them and appreciate them for what they are.
For most of us, Autumn is the time when the summer's bountiful crop is harvested and stored for the coming winter. It is the culmination of months of work in preparation of months where we work very little. It is also a time when thanks is given for our needs being met. As career oriented people and students, I think we forget the right we have to take time for ourselves - time to appreciate what is around us, time to seek the presence of God in the world around us.
Even in the smallest twig, the tiniest ant, the largest stone, and in the morning dew collecting on the grass as we stumble out of bed towards the coffee pot, is the spirit of God. In the changing colors of fall, God reminds us of the beauty and diversity of the world. He shows us how the rest of creation exists in a cyclical harmony with one another, that there is truth in the beauty of it all and that he through all of this, he is calling us (like a slightly off key note) back into that harmony: to recognise in ourselves the need for rest, knowing that there is a time for work, but that in the sometimes chaotic nature of daily life, we always are always surrounded by beauty and God's presence.
For most of us, Autumn is the time when the summer's bountiful crop is harvested and stored for the coming winter. It is the culmination of months of work in preparation of months where we work very little. It is also a time when thanks is given for our needs being met. As career oriented people and students, I think we forget the right we have to take time for ourselves - time to appreciate what is around us, time to seek the presence of God in the world around us.
Even in the smallest twig, the tiniest ant, the largest stone, and in the morning dew collecting on the grass as we stumble out of bed towards the coffee pot, is the spirit of God. In the changing colors of fall, God reminds us of the beauty and diversity of the world. He shows us how the rest of creation exists in a cyclical harmony with one another, that there is truth in the beauty of it all and that he through all of this, he is calling us (like a slightly off key note) back into that harmony: to recognise in ourselves the need for rest, knowing that there is a time for work, but that in the sometimes chaotic nature of daily life, we always are always surrounded by beauty and God's presence.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Economy of Grace
Canterbury invites professors from the University's faculty to speak on various topics of interest to the group. This week, we found ourselves in great company, as we were visited by Paul Jones of the Religious Studies Department. Professor Jones has always been a Canterbury favorite and we love the discourses resulting from his visits.
Our topic this time was "The Economy of Grace," which comes from the title of a book written by Kathryn Tanner titled Economy of Grace.
The discussions which followed were ones focused on the some of the ethical problems modern Christians face in a world where capitalism rules. Mr. Jones was able to get things flowing by introducing the theological ideas which stand behind the concept of Grace, in that the grace which mankind experiences stems from God and is eternal - never ceasing. We talked about how God's grace affects one's life in the sense that God is always seeking to strengthen his relationships with his creation and how he also seeks to begin new relationships with those who are not already in a relationship with him. One can go further and state that as Christians experiencing God's grace, one must also then disperse it to other human beings. In this way we broaches the notion of human relationships to one another. How can we as Christians relate to each other in a way in which we give of ourselves to the fullest, while simultaneously questioning when practicality must overrule ideality.
It became clear that a notion of Grace should be important to us all, in that it may be used in all areas of life towards the attainment of a world where one is conscious of one's actions in relation to another human being. Things to think about were how might one transfer the divine grace into economics, social questions, theological questions, political questions. An example that we were presented with, was what might happen were one to cancel all third world debts with any reciprocation expected; how does Grace influence political and legal debate on issues such as capital punishment or determining environmental policy? What are the ethical questions and reasonings which are attributed to altering the way in which these issues are approached.
A final point of interest would be the notion of distancing one's self from transactional thinking and simply deciding on something because it would be the ethically right thing to do, or would such a stance do more harm than good and vice versa.
A good place where one could begin to think about one's own responsibility to shown grace to others would be to think of (as Mr. Jones suggested) the rejection experienced by Jesus as he was under going cruxifiction.
Hope you all are enjoying the posts thus far and that they provoke thought!
Our topic this time was "The Economy of Grace," which comes from the title of a book written by Kathryn Tanner titled Economy of Grace.
The discussions which followed were ones focused on the some of the ethical problems modern Christians face in a world where capitalism rules. Mr. Jones was able to get things flowing by introducing the theological ideas which stand behind the concept of Grace, in that the grace which mankind experiences stems from God and is eternal - never ceasing. We talked about how God's grace affects one's life in the sense that God is always seeking to strengthen his relationships with his creation and how he also seeks to begin new relationships with those who are not already in a relationship with him. One can go further and state that as Christians experiencing God's grace, one must also then disperse it to other human beings. In this way we broaches the notion of human relationships to one another. How can we as Christians relate to each other in a way in which we give of ourselves to the fullest, while simultaneously questioning when practicality must overrule ideality.
It became clear that a notion of Grace should be important to us all, in that it may be used in all areas of life towards the attainment of a world where one is conscious of one's actions in relation to another human being. Things to think about were how might one transfer the divine grace into economics, social questions, theological questions, political questions. An example that we were presented with, was what might happen were one to cancel all third world debts with any reciprocation expected; how does Grace influence political and legal debate on issues such as capital punishment or determining environmental policy? What are the ethical questions and reasonings which are attributed to altering the way in which these issues are approached.
A final point of interest would be the notion of distancing one's self from transactional thinking and simply deciding on something because it would be the ethically right thing to do, or would such a stance do more harm than good and vice versa.
A good place where one could begin to think about one's own responsibility to shown grace to others would be to think of (as Mr. Jones suggested) the rejection experienced by Jesus as he was under going cruxifiction.
Hope you all are enjoying the posts thus far and that they provoke thought!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Inaugural Posting of the Canterbury Blog
Greetings and welcome to the Canter Blog for the Canterbury Connection at the University of Virginia. Wow! That was a mouthfull to say (or should I say type). If you're on Facebook and would like to check out our Facebook group, please visit the link attached to this posting.
So far, Canterbury has had a successful semester. We've seen lots of new faces at our weekly discussions and are glad for it! We hope you all keep joining us every Wednesday.
Our first few weeks were primarily focused on getting to know new students, worship with all of us, and bible study led by one of our students in the Young Priest's Intiative-Matthew Lukens. The next few weeks saw a talk on using Yoga as a form of prayer as well as a fun afternoon which we spent playing "The Name Game."
Dan Brown gave us the idea to play this particular game, promising it would be a great time. The game has very few rules and purely competitive. Participants are divided into 2 teams, there is a judge (in this case our Chaplain-Neal), a bowl, and a mother's worst nightmare - torn up sheets of paper with bits of writing on them. These pieces of paper found their way into this bowl and then the chaos ensued. Each team approximately 1 minute to give as many clues towards the mystery person's identity without actually saying their name. Exactly like rapid association. I saw blue you say the first thing that comes to mind - bubble gum.
Our last meeting was held on the Lawn for Canterbury's annual "Games on the Lawn." We enjoyed delicious Take - it - Away sandwiches, cupcakes courtesy of Hannah, and played non-competitive kick-ball on the lawn, in addition to Red Rover.
Keep checking back for more Canter News!
Yours,
Sean
P.S.- We at Canterbury are overly fond of puns involving the word Canter and anything that might pertain to Canterbury. There will definitely be more to come!
So far, Canterbury has had a successful semester. We've seen lots of new faces at our weekly discussions and are glad for it! We hope you all keep joining us every Wednesday.
Our first few weeks were primarily focused on getting to know new students, worship with all of us, and bible study led by one of our students in the Young Priest's Intiative-Matthew Lukens. The next few weeks saw a talk on using Yoga as a form of prayer as well as a fun afternoon which we spent playing "The Name Game."
Dan Brown gave us the idea to play this particular game, promising it would be a great time. The game has very few rules and purely competitive. Participants are divided into 2 teams, there is a judge (in this case our Chaplain-Neal), a bowl, and a mother's worst nightmare - torn up sheets of paper with bits of writing on them. These pieces of paper found their way into this bowl and then the chaos ensued. Each team approximately 1 minute to give as many clues towards the mystery person's identity without actually saying their name. Exactly like rapid association. I saw blue you say the first thing that comes to mind - bubble gum.
Our last meeting was held on the Lawn for Canterbury's annual "Games on the Lawn." We enjoyed delicious Take - it - Away sandwiches, cupcakes courtesy of Hannah, and played non-competitive kick-ball on the lawn, in addition to Red Rover.
Keep checking back for more Canter News!
Yours,
Sean
P.S.- We at Canterbury are overly fond of puns involving the word Canter and anything that might pertain to Canterbury. There will definitely be more to come!
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