Humus = Real

Reflective response within Diaconal 2011 Report to Bishop Smith: A reflection of one event, issue, etc. that was a learning experience during the past year and the impact of the event, issue, etc. with you as a "transforming agent in the world."

It was not an event or issue, but a word and a version of its definition that would spark my “learning experience” journey. The word is “humility”; and Henri Nouwen, defined it in this way:

“Humility is the real Christian virtue. It means staying close to the ground (humus), to people, to everyday life, to what is happening with all its down-to-earthiness. It is the virtue that opens our eyes for the presence of God on the earth and allows us to live grateful lives.”

This definition comes from Nouwen’s book Gracias ! (a Latin American Journal) which I finished while being in Haiti in late October of last year. Knowing that the general definition of humility or being humble is that of being modest or meek, humus or the ground seems more direct and eye-level, and not stand-off’ish or in the shadow-of, in relation to one another. This down-to-earthiness description made me wonder, how close to the ground do I get in this role of being human. Living in a culture that bridges both clerical and secular, that is full of boxed-in identities, and moves at e-turbo speed to stay in touch with one another, at ever nano-second, the true self gets lost. And, wholesome connections to humanity also get lost.

While kneeling over a child who has died of cholera to pray, did I “feel” the ground? While helping to distribute fresh produce (surplus), did I “inhale” the freshness of the early morning earth through the faces of those in line – young, old, tired, multi-cultured, freshly made-up, etc.? While listening to words which define ministry(ies) from Deacons and Deacons-in-Formation, do I “hear” these voices in their individual pitch and tone?

Feeling, inhaling, and hearing are senses that rise from the ground – humus. Being a “Transforming Agent in the World”, means that this definition of humility must be my life line – that is being grounded with senses “on alert.” That I must be able to be at eye-level, at ear-level, and at a hue-man being level, that does not judge (i.e. boxing in identities); that I continue to breathe in a pray with a full exhale of “Thank You” to God who allows me to serve as a transforming agent.

Color within the Lines

Color with a Global Message!
Color as an ornament - nowhere to hang.
Color as a splash on the walls.
Color in the darkness of skin.
Color to lift up an oppressed culture.
Color within the lines for HOPE.
Color from the Haitian Heart!



"Color" thoughts and images from a wall in a street in Port-au-Prince, through a van window, in late October 2011.

BE-ing Time

Being Silent,
not 24/7,
not Hermit style,
twice a day is enough,
guided by scripture,
guided by unwritten Lectio Divina.

Being physical,
increased workout challenges,
increased sweat,
opened pores.

Being lazy,
watching 9 to 5 TV,
the news,
the reality shows,
the cooking shows,
the design shows,
it’s the REAL world.

Being reader,
ploughing through non-read magazines,
wandering in the city Library,
re-reading DFA textbooks,
reading Chittister – “The Rule” paraphrased,
reading Nouwen – Prayer, Mission, Advocacy with THANKS.

Being creative,
photo shots of the world,
forging DFA forward.

Being home,
not just passing through to eat and sleep,
feeling solid floors against bare feet,
hearing the walls talk and feel their pulse,
as comfort oozes from their pores of cement/wood.


Thoughts of BE-ing from a six-week mini-sabbatical - 8/15/2011

NOTE: DFA = Deacon Formation Academy

Watch - kNot!

Time is in your face,
at the end of your wrist,
keyboarding clicks as the watch ticks.
Knotted in the mind is
time that creeps along,
time that flies by,
time that is not enough.
Enough to do, what?
The WHAT are the actions of e-culture!
Ongoing clock movements without breathing.
Unwrap the clock knotted around the wrist.
Let the ticks of creation clock the time,
the time of
the moon,
the sun,
the stars,
the ocean’s ebbs.
Natural movements,
ticking without sound,
only within breathing pulses, and
kNot in your face.

Thoughts about not wearing a wrist watch while on sabbatical leave! – 8/1/2011

Station 8 Gate

Station 8 holds the lock and key;
A key to balance roundness;
Roundness of rubber and metal;
Metal bent to hold a by-cycle;
A bicycle locked to the gate;
The gate at Station 8.

* Station 8 is part of the "Stations of the Cross" in Trinity Cathedral's labyrinth garden. The station represents Jesus meeting the women on his "way" to the cross. This depiction is Jerusalem's city gate. The bicycle was locked to the "gate" by someone attending the T.E.D. talks on 3/2/2011!

Limbs Asunder

"Limbs Asunder" *

Four fur limbs make a dash

A dash met with a bumper

Bumper hurls fur limbs asunder into the air

Air stopped by asphalt

Asphalt cushions humanoid limbs

Limbs that made a dash

A dash that forms into bent knees

Knees on the asphalt to pray

Pray, as four hands carry the fur limbs away

* Images from watching a dog hit and killed at a major city traffic intersection. And, a human response of respect and prayer.

Weeping While Laughing -- or -- Laughing While Weeping

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. [from Luke]:

• When the soul weeps, while trying to "breathe", where is the laughter?

• When the mind weeps, while trying to reason with the daily "whys", where is the laughter?

• When the heart weeps, while trying to keep the pulse of it's four chambers in rhythm to allow blood to flow - a life source, where is the laughter?

• Do not ask where laughter is? It is always present! It is mixed within the wetness of the tears, which is the baptism of truth, as we weep!