tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89135875257852984442024-03-05T18:46:53.650-06:00mashenaact justly, love mercy, walk humblyNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-38662577804210173482014-11-30T16:45:00.001-06:002014-11-30T16:45:12.892-06:00New BlogI've started a new blog ...I don't really know if I'll keep adding more day-to-day stuff here occassionally or not.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to keep up with what I'm writing, redirect your browser to: <a href="http://jnicolemorgan.com/">jnicolemorgan.com</a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-79523869303434493922014-08-05T22:12:00.000-05:002014-08-06T15:34:16.073-05:00Hiroshima, Paper Cranes, and PeaceEvery August I am reminded by some tweet or news headline that we are approaching the anniversary of the days that the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It always sets off a cascade of thoughts and memories in my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From second to fifth grade I, along with the rest of my elementary school classmates, took Japanese language class with a petite Japanese woman who taught us to count, name animals, and order food. We bowed and said, "<i>Ohayō sensei</i>" when she entered the room. We learned that Japanese students cleaned their classrooms and went to school on Saturdays. To this day, if ever anyone wants to settle a dispute with a game of "paper, rock, scissors" - I still instinctively say, "<i>jan, ken, pon</i>." And in fifth grade, while we </span>studied<span style="font-family: inherit;"> World War II in Social Studies, we read <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sadako-Thousand-Cranes-Puffin-Classics/dp/0142401137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407291940&sr=8-1&keywords=1000+paper+cranes">Sadako and the Thousand</a></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sadako-Thousand-Cranes-Puffin-Classics/dp/0142401137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407291940&sr=8-1&keywords=1000+paper+cranes"> Paper Cranes</a> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">in Japanese class. Sadako, a young girl with leukemia from the atom bomb starts making 1000 paper cranes while she's in the hospital. She dies before she gets to 1000, and her classmates complete the task for her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so while I learned about the Allied Powers and the Holocaust and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and other Pacific locations - I also learned about Sadako and the far-reaching horrors of wars. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9voRP1RNR0CzrH6XuZmhjPBWt8w0auJbvLWdHOwyEqEONhLYbT2fILUGHC-NqgvT_bD0O2NA52hGztub43dtny7de6jvX4j6_DLN2bqQciGJVC3D2Wr6ZMX-MxDpHSdnlGiG5IXTLQmA/s1600/paper+crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9voRP1RNR0CzrH6XuZmhjPBWt8w0auJbvLWdHOwyEqEONhLYbT2fILUGHC-NqgvT_bD0O2NA52hGztub43dtny7de6jvX4j6_DLN2bqQciGJVC3D2Wr6ZMX-MxDpHSdnlGiG5IXTLQmA/s1600/paper+crane.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
And that year, when our teachers sat us down to tell us that one of our classmates who had been out for a few days was in the hospital with a brain tumor, we grabbed little squares of white paper and started folding cranes. We hung them by strings in the school lobby, placed them on the shelves near the front doors. A massive flock of white birds to greet everyone who entered. Something in my child-hood heart believed that if we could get to 1000, then Orlando would come back to school, would fill the empty seat in our classroom. <br />
<br />
And there was some deep connection in my heart to these white cranes and my classmate in that hospital. His family lived in a house one-bus-stop before my trailer-park stop on the ride home every day. His house was near the road, slightly run down, sagging porch, shrubbery growing close to the steps. One night, sometime before we knew that Orlando was sick,<a href="http://mashenahope.blogspot.com/2012/11/beauty-visible-short-story.html"> I had a dream about that house,</a> though I'd never been inside. We were just classmates, not friends. But in the dream I pushed opened the door to find a gleaming and spacious mansion. Light bouncing off the white and gold surfaces that covered everything. A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, a double curved staircase leading up from the center of the room. It was magnificent. It remains one of two dreams in my entire life where I awoke both remembering the dream, and knowing that it meant something. Appearances are deceiving. Beauty is often hidden within. Judgments get us nowhere.<br />
<br />
Orlando died. The cranes did not save him either. There was an empty spot on the stage when our 5th grade class had our ceremony to end our elementary school years. In the many years that followed I saw his house get swallowed by the trees and kudzu and vines that surrounded it. The family moved away, the house sat abandoned. And eventually the house was demolished and the vegetation grew back, taking over the land once again. But if I slow down enough to look when I drive by, I can still see the pattern in the grass on the side of the road that indicates a driveway used to be there. A driveway that lead to a house where lived a boy who died far too young.<br />
<br />
So when I hear "Hiroshima" - I hear all of that. Grief and hope. The far-reaching effects of war, the hopes of children, the way that dream still pops into my mind anytime I find myself judging something before I take the time to explore it. <br />
<br />
When people argue about the "justness" of the use of violent warfare that kills civilians, weigh the benefits of annihilation over extended war, I find myself thinking we've all missed the point. These are not the options we should be aiming for. I recognize the complexity and the need to address immediate conflicts, but I think we'd fare far better taking the steps now to reduce the chance that we end up on that road, weighing those options. I get called naive for the belief, but I think building relationships and making connections goes a long ways towards peace, one slow tiny step at a time.<br />
<br />
We should be aiming for a world where we encourage each other to push open creaky doors on falling-apart lives and discover the beauty within. Knock gently on the doors of the worn-down and the worn out, the ones who have thorny-bushes crowding at their gate. Assume there is grandness inside and wait to see it. And I well know that all the world's problems can't be solved with <i>jan ken pon</i>, but maybe if we have the hope of thousand paper cranes and the knowledge that goodness and beauty exists in unexpected places because we are all created in the image of God, we would be less likely to resort so quickly to war, to find reasons to justify our violence.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-29917850516764530842014-06-26T07:25:00.000-05:002014-06-26T07:25:20.360-05:00The only one that feels brave<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a couple short weeks left here in Pennsylvania. And then it is one more cross country move, likely my last. My nomadic heart has found healing and life in these past five years of living outside of my Southern home, but there are things for me in Georgia. Babies I want to watch grow up. Family I'd like to spend time with. A tug back to those oak trees and sweet tea that I don't fully understand. It's not an "all my dreams come true" move - I'll be far from dense-cities with the clickety-clack of trains, far from wide shores and waves, far from many people I love. Far from a brother and sister and nephew and niece still. (We are a family of cross-country-movers) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I moved to Chicago I heard, "You're so brave!" countless times. When I uprooted once more and headed east to Philadelphia, the comments on my fearlessness came once again. I never once felt brave or fearless for those moves - they were invigorating and exciting. A natural, easy choice for my heart and mind that want to know and see and learn and discover. There is always some grief and sadness at the people and things that get left - - harder each time. But, only those who know me best call me brave for this move for they know it is the only one that has scared me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDc6OOV1MgP-wIp-DR3cNGqeLIzKJQNIpIaNbBiFL9QON84808Gh-dwGkvYJoSXt9-woONGR9dWFuJ_pAqG75q9UYK2Lm0H7I-95SYDczaBCpV8a6B1kj8Oh-j8YTpeutzXNpuSHKI_4/s1600/beginnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDc6OOV1MgP-wIp-DR3cNGqeLIzKJQNIpIaNbBiFL9QON84808Gh-dwGkvYJoSXt9-woONGR9dWFuJ_pAqG75q9UYK2Lm0H7I-95SYDczaBCpV8a6B1kj8Oh-j8YTpeutzXNpuSHKI_4/s1600/beginnings.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you move somewhere brand new you get to be you in a new way. I feel confident in saying that the people who know me from Atlanta and from Chicago and from Philadelphia would all describe me in different ways, there are similarities and all of the personas are me - I am not being someone I am not in any of these places. But, I have been different in each place, and I have naturally grown and changed as the moves also came with years. The differences make sense, I have had different roles in each place, different friends, different priorities and amounts of free time and money so I have pursued different things. All of this shines light on different parts of me. The blank-slate you get when you arrive somewhere brand new, all alone, is invigorating. There's nothing quite like having that much freedom to shape a time of your life into whatever will come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But heading back? Just as I have changed in the five years I've been away, so too have those I left. Still, there is no blank slate there and I am not quite sure what that will look like as I move forward. I am not quite sure how the much-more-outspoken, different opinions and beliefs and priorities, interested-in-different-things me will fit into the place I called home for a couple decades and some change. I guess that's why they say you can't go home again. I am unsure of what crafting myself anew will look like when there are people there I've known for forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I find I am not quite sure how to go about these new beginning when it's going back to somewhere old. I am predicting lessons about redemption and the value of roots and memories and traditions, but I don't know. I realize I didn't know what life would look like before any other move either - I may have had a few more details than I do know about what waits at the other end, but I did not know the future any more than I do now. And each time God allowed me home and friendships and family to grow in those new places. I'm sure the same will prove true once again.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am comfortable with the "three year itch" to reinvent myself - that cycle that seems to beg to try something new. As Meister Eckhart said, "</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." I think I'll have to learn that new and beginning doesn't have to mean a clean slate and uprooting, time for me to learn a little about roots and staying - the bravery of going back. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-24461542586001077272014-06-15T09:12:00.001-05:002014-06-15T09:12:28.394-05:00An Ode to my English degree<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
I used to hate poetry. There were a few poems I liked, but I
hated it in general – so many meanings and allusions and things beyond and
between the text. I liked words simple and straightforward – words that got
straight to the point and told me what was what. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s how I was raised to believe words. Everything just as
it says it happened in the Bible. Literally and concretely – an accurate
science and history book. I never
thought to question it, I just accepted it. I rarely, almost never, read fantasy or science-fiction. Things that were outside the realm of reality held no interest to me. I shunned the Greek and Roman mythologies for their silliness, never noting the trace of irony. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then, oh you all know this story, I went to college. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I landed in an English degree, but I didn’t really know what
I wanted to do. I look back now and say, ”Providential hand of God” because I
have never had a fascination with the classic works of literature, grammar
often befuddled me, and my strongest subject was math. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In undergrad, my literary theory teacher told me about
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrida">Derrida</a>, deconstruction, semiotics. Many other theorists and theories too – but
Derrida stuck with me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of a sudden I’m pouring over many lines of an Elizabeth
Bishop<a href="http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/waiting-room"> poem</a> over and over and over again trying to figure out what it means,
not what it says. And I love it. The poem, at a glance, is a young girl in a
dentist waiting room reading a National Geographic, waiting as her aunt has a
procedure done. But in these new eyes of mine, suddenly everything means
everything. Not that it can mean <i>anything</i>
you see – there are still right and wrong answers, but things mean more than
the black and white on the page in front of you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly words aren't always
literal, and when they’re not, they usually mean so much more. For the third time in my life I am assigned to
read Joseph Conrad’s <i>Heart of Darkness</i>
– a book I had hated for its darkness – but armed with some tools of critical
theory – I find it a rich mine of information about colonialism and our life
today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next semester the professor who taught me Derrida taught
creative writing. I turned in my efforts at poetry and his brow furrowed and he
scribbled notes in the margins and pushed me forward. He told us about literary devices and the
difference between <i>latin</i> and <i>anglo-saxon. </i> In three hour chunks I learned about the
beauty of language and how the wrangling of semantics changes things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly there is beauty in poetry and some speaker says
that God is a poet and I get what that means – because I have learned in
Creative Writing that poetry has surprise endings that suddenly weave all the
lines together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <i>The History of the
English Language</i> I began to <i>understand</i>
language and grammar and syntax and diction in a way that goes beyond the “rules”
of words. There is a reason we say both <i>cow</i>
and <i>cattle, pig</i> and <i>swine. </i>There is a reason “Ebonics” is
fraught with social implications. There is a history of peoples and wars,
faiths and governments, the conquerors and the conquered that brought me here
to a place where my “English” language is German and Roman, French and
Cherokee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when <i>words</i> are
so fraught with connotations beyond the denotations - when words bring with them lineages of racism
and colonialism and oppression and war – how much more do our societies do the
same? How much more to the very fabrics that make up our laws and our
communities and our deeply held beliefs give evidence to the long history of people?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And those ideas swirled about my head as I learned about
racism and sexism and sizeism and ableism. They offered a foundation for how I processed
the way that people in Chicago were different than the people in Atlanta and
the people in Philadelphia different still. And in my first semester of
seminary – when we started talking about literary-historical criticism and
highlighting the parts of that ancient document that gave us pause or made us
want to rail at the heavens - my faith
was safe. I had a number of years of understanding that words are more than
words – that there is life and history and culture behind them. I knew that
words could stand a close look, could be put up next to history and genre and
age after age and we will still find them worthy to be read and held and
pondered. I knew that <i>truth</i> is something
beyond literalism – because I sat in a classroom and a read a poem over and
over and over again until I realized it wasn't about a little girl in the
dentist’s waiting room - - it is about us in the world. Because of this I know that Genesis is not so
much about how God made the world - it is about God in the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-41518415731945718842014-06-10T18:26:00.001-05:002014-06-10T18:35:21.456-05:00War and Peace in the Southern Baptist Convention<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My twitter feed is abuzz with notes and quotes from #SBC14, the Southern Baptist Convention's annual conference. It reminded me that I had yet to share this with you. It's long - but if you enjoy history and church politics, it may interest you. There's an infographic down a bit if you just want to look at the picture. I haven't heard if there's been a resolution on "war" or "peace" at this year's convention - but if ya'll hear of one, let me know! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For one of my papers
this semester I researched the Southern Baptist Convention’s history in regards
to “War and Peace.” I grew up in an SBC
church, but today I call myself non-denomination and most closely align with
the teachings of traditional peace churches. I also call myself a
pacifist/non-violent resister. As I’ve learned about the long peace tradition
of other churches (like Mennonites) I have somewhat mourned the lack of that
type of teaching in my own spiritual formation. For as much as I can remember –
my church always supported war as a reasonable and needed solution to evil in our
world. True Just War theory promotes and pursues peace, but that was not the
message I got from the “patriotic” celebrations in my church. While all of that was subjective and based on
my own experience, I thoroughly enjoyed researching the history of “War and
Peace” in the SBC and learned some interesting things! I thought I would
summarize that here for you. While there
are numerous other documents and factors one can research to look at this
issue, for what is below I looked at the three version
of the Baptist Faith and Message the SBC has had in their history and the
various “resolutions” that were passed/approved at the annual national conventions
of the SBC from the late 1800s until 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">History and Context<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Southern Baptist Convention began in 1864 after it broke
away from the larger Baptist denomination. The Southern Baptist Convention was
created explicitly as a result of the slave-owners’ desire to retain slaves
based on an understanding of biblical literalism.</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The
denomination </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">traveled</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> with the South through the Civil War and Reconstruction
and as a result is strongly flavored with the “Southern” way of life. The SBC
and the South saw strength and a purpose in rising above hardships and
maintaining traditional and cultural ways of life. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In regards to war and peace, we will see that
the SBC holds a dedicated commitment to peace for many years before ultimately
siding with a Southern sense of patriotism and embracing passages such as
Romans 13 in an attempt to take the entire Bible as literally as possible. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Due to some intentional maneuvering within the politics of
the SBC, in the 1980s the denomination took a conservative turn that focused on
reading the Bible as literally as possible and with a strong emphasis on
cultural morality (pro-family, pro-life, etc) that was said to be in-line with
a literal reading of the Bible.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This move was also strongly correlated with the rise of the Religious Right in
U.S. politics and the SBC became increasingly connected to the political views
of the Republican Party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Baptist exceptionalism”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> is
an understanding of the idea that in the Southeastern United States (the Bible
Belt) that the SBC has achieved Establishment status as the largest
faith-organization. Growing up in an SBC church in an Atlanta suburb, I had no
idea other types of Christianity were thriving. I knew that other denominations
existed; I just assumed they were all weak and dying. As far as I could tell,
the SBC was the true expression of faith and the strongest. It seemed everyone
I knew also believed this, even if only subconsciously. At the very least, no one ever challenged
this idea. To be a southerner was to be a Southern Baptist. Our politics and
our lifestyle were tied up in these things. To critique the normative
expressions of patriotism and military pride was to critique a defining feature
of our faith because these were defining features of our culture. My home church
regularly had patriotic services near Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">The words to the patriotic songs we sung were projected onto the screen and the behind the words was an image of three crosses on a hill and the American flag in the background.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The church I attended in college cancelled
services one Sunday in order to have a patriotic picnic in the yard, complete
with a military plane fly-over and paratroopers jumping down to join us.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But even on the “normal” weeks, weeks that were not
specifically dedicated to honoring the country or soldiers, an American flag often
had a place on the side of the altar. The Christian Flag was on the other side
and in the middle was the pulpit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SBC on War, Peace, and Military<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I read every SBC resolution on war,
peace, or military that I could find using their online database.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> From my count, there are 53 resolutions
between 1863-2013 addressing “war,” “peace,” or “military.” While reading through the resolutions gives
one a picture of a change in emphasis, I was also interested in the way word
choice changed in these resolutions. “Peace” is the most frequently occurring
word, showing up 197 times. “War” makes an appearance 130 times and “military”
93 times. However, when you look at the resolutions in two groups, dividing
them at the 1979 schism, there is an obvious turn in the word choice, even when
adjusting for the difference in the number of years each group covers. From
1863-1979 the word <i>peace</i> appears 159
times (an average of 1.37 times per year) and <i>military</i> occurs 29 times (.25/year). From 1980 forward, <i>peace </i>shows up 38 times (.86/year) and the word <i>military </i>is used 64 times (1.94/year).
The rate of the average per year use of the word “war” is roughly equal between
the two groups (.88 and .85 per year respectively). Even for the entire 130 year time span of
these resolutions (1863-2013), the word peace is used on average only 1.31
times per year, less than the 1980-2013 average use of “military.”<i> </i>This is all linguistic observation, but
one I find useful in gaining a wide perspective. As we look at the actual
change in what the SBC resolutions are praising and endorsing in regards to
war, peace, and military, we will see a turn away from classic just war
principles. Here is a visual representation of the numbers I have just
discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAVSqX52c33vbaOhJDgi4GyqoD7tis5iB-v9s_SsjWhrjWDWk9hLYknIiU6HaGqpUX4nPXaxbvI6BaN5Hxxy_7DAZ0ObcGDXrseZHEMqCuRZfcp1Y8fXuZZHrelS27VBXi-gy2_rBHJY/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAVSqX52c33vbaOhJDgi4GyqoD7tis5iB-v9s_SsjWhrjWDWk9hLYknIiU6HaGqpUX4nPXaxbvI6BaN5Hxxy_7DAZ0ObcGDXrseZHEMqCuRZfcp1Y8fXuZZHrelS27VBXi-gy2_rBHJY/s1600/Slide4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Baptist
Faith and Message Changes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <i>Baptist
Faith and Message</i> (BFM) is the statement of beliefs for the Southern
Baptist Convention. There are versions drafted in 1925, 1963, and 2000. The
changes in the short “War and Peace” article of this document give a brief look
at the changing views on this topic within the convention. All three versions of the BFM include the
following statement:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of
righteousness. In accordance with the
spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to
war.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of
the </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">world is the acceptance of His
teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">practical application of His law of love.</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;" title="">[4]</a></span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That is the entirely of the 1963
statement on this topic. In 1925 there had been an additional sentence that
said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
urge Christian people throughout the world to pray for the reign of the Prince
of Peace, and to oppose everything
likely to provoke war.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title="">[5]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2000, the SBC added back the first clause of that sentence back to the
statement, but left off “and to oppose everything likely to provoke war.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> This is perhaps the most explicit formal
stance on the changing views of war and peace within the SBC even though the terms
of “Just War” are not used. The choice to leave off the clause that encourages
an opposition to “everything likely to provoke war” after the 1963 BFM shows a
shift in theological views on war and peace. Each article of the BFM is
annotated with the references to scripture passages that back up these
doctrinal statements. There were changes to the scripture used to support the
“Peace and War” article in 1963 but no further changes in 2000. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Notable
among the changes between 1925 and 1963 is the exclusion of Romans 14:17 (<span style="background: white;">For the kingdom of God is [a matter] of
righteousness and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit) and the simultaneous inclusion of Romans 13:1-7 (<span class="text">Let every person</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">be subject to the governing authorities. . .). <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">War and Peace, 1835-1979<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Given
the history of the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention, it is no
surprise that their first recorded resolution concerning war and peace is about
the Civil War.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This resolution is in strong support of the confederacy and there is a mournful
tone to the resolution which is titled “On Peace.” Those that gathered at the convention in 1863
said, “The war which has been forced upon us is, on our part, just and
necessary.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
The resolution also repents of unspecified sin and laments that the war causes
poverty, interruption to education, and death. Ultimately they believe the war
to be just and that includes that they “confidently anticipate ultimate
success” for the Confederacy.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Outside of the official convention meeting, the everyday “rank and file”
members of the SBC were also in support of the Confederacy. “Churches
constantly observed days of fasting and prayer on behalf of their armies and
readily donated bells to be cast into cannon.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> The
South officially lost the war two years later, and there are no more
resolutions on war or peace in the SBC until 1907. This resolution is a mere 42
words, saying simply, but beautifully: “RESOLVED, That we look with devout
gratitude to Almighty God upon the advance throughout the wide world of the
cause of peace, for ‘Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war; and we
desire and will pray for the day to hasten when all nations will settle their
difficulties by arbitration rather than the resort to arms; and the song of the
angels at the advent of Christ be fully realized—‘Peace on earth, good will to
men.’’"<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> It had taken 42 years for the SBC to make a
new statement on war and peace after what was to them a devastating loss of a
war they fought believing they were just. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
1911 an SBC “Resolution on Peace” declared that “a civilization uninfluenced by
the teachings of the New Testament i</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">s
without the groundwork of permanent peace. War is a scourge, is wrong in
principle and morally corrupting.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
They further resolve “that as Southern Baptists we will talk up peace and talk
down war; that we will pray God [sic] for universal peace.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Six years later, when the United States entered WWI, the SBC convention that
year issued a statement expressing “loyal and sacrifical [sic] support in the
war,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn15" name="_ednref15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
yet the focus and bulk of the resolution centers on mourning the presence of
war and re-affirming that “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the righteousness of the Sermon on the
Mount, and [their] confidence and infallible wisdom of him who has taught us to
love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, and to do good to them that
despitefully use and persecute us.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn16" name="_ednref16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In 1935, the SBC declares
their “unalterable opposition to war and [their] devotion to the maintenance of
peace among the nations of the world.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn17" name="_ednref17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In 1936 they affirm once again their “utter opposition to and hatred of war as
the most inexcusable and insane policy that could be pursued by the nations of
the earth in their dealings with one another, destructive not only of human
life and treasure but of all that is high and worthy in human ideals and
objectives.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn18" name="_ednref18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This same resolution also explicitly supports a just war as a final resort, but
emphasizes the “last resort” stipulation by also expressing disgust with the
“enormous military and naval establishment [. . .] being built up and
maintained by our government at the expense of approximately one billion
dollars a year.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn19" name="_ednref19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In June of 1940 WWII had begun but the United States had not yet entered the
war. The SBC “Resolution on Peace” at that year’s convention said: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That while we
acknowledge the right of national self-defense, our utter abhorrence of war and its attendant evils compels us to voice the conviction that
even a defensive war should be
waged only as a last resort after every effort has been made to reach a settlement of international problems
in fairness to all the nations involved that all International differences could and of a right ought to be
composed by peaceful diplomatic
exchanges, and, when these fail, by arbitration.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn20" name="_ednref20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The 1940 resolution also makes the first resolution concerning
the rights and freedoms of people to conscientiously object to fighting in a
war and calls for the convention to make a way for members of the SBC
denomination to register as conscientious objectors within the denomination.
While a 1946 resolution will show that the SBC failed to make plans to support
those who would wish to conscientiously object to the war, their support for
one’s ability and freedom to do so remained.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn21" name="_ednref21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
By a 1969 resolution, it seems that the convention has set up the proper
channels by which a member of an SBC church could register as a conscientious
objector within the church.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn22" name="_ednref22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In June 1941, mere months before the attack on Pearl Harbor the
resolution of the annual convention laments the war in Europe but makes an
argument for the justness of the war.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn23" name="_ednref23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
It is the longest of the resolutions on war, peace, and military. They first affirm the right of people to
consciously object and then explain why this war is necessary. Their defense is
long, citing primarily that the evil being committed in Europe against the
various rights of many innocent people cannot be allowed to continue. They acknowledge that there are a variety of
opinions on how best to proceed given the reality of the war in Europe, but the
only concrete thing they call for is that the United States should stop
supplying arms to Japan. At the very end of the resolution they clarify
that the resolution “may be
misinterpreted by some as a committal to the principle of militarism,
Therefore, be it resolved that the aforesaid resolution, in no way commits the
Southern Baptist Convention to an approval of war, as a recognized principle in
settling international differences.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn24" name="_ednref24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
It seems clear that they are wrestling with the theological implications of
going to war. The horror happening to the people in Europe weighed heavy on
their minds, but they maintain a strong focus on peace, an allowance for the
theological freedom to abstain from war, and careful words to avoid being seen
as supporting war. This is dedicated Just War theology and the agonizing
wrestling that comes with trying to weigh the forces of good and evil. Their commitment to the Just War principles
continues after the war has begun and many SBC members find themselves
fighting. The 1943 convention issues a resolution reminding the U.S. government
that the war “may not accomplish the purposes for which it is fought unless a
just and righteous peace follows the termination of the war”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn25" name="_ednref25" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and that those principles must be decided upon before the war’s end or they
will not work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the United States moves from WWII to the other wars that
America will engage with between the 1950-1970s, the SBC position stays
predominantly anti-war in their resolutions. Throughout these decades the SBC
prioritizes peace by saying that they need “desperately to have new aspirations
for world peace,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn26" name="_ednref26" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> that they “are eager to meet [their]
responsibility to promote peace through Christian love and the application of
Christian principles to human affairs,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn27" name="_ednref27" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
resolving “not to allow fear to suspend [their] reliance upon the processes of
Christian diplomacy as practiced by those who acknowledge the Prince of Peace,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn28" name="_ednref28" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
that the use of torture is a sin against God,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn29" name="_ednref29" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and that “all Christians, including Southern Baptists, should consistently
oppose inhumanity, injustice, and war.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn30" name="_ednref30" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In 1972 they urge the United States government “to utilize the massive
resources now allocated to the military to the healing of those bleeding lands
abroad and to the binding up of our nation's wounds at home”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn31" name="_ednref31" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> and “to move in imaginative and reconciling
ways to seek mutual agreements with other nations to slow the nuclear arms
race.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn32" name="_ednref32" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[32]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">However, hints of the transition from a Just War view to a more
militarist/nationalist view begin to show up during these decades as well. In 1969 the convention acknowledges that “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There appears within conscientious men a need
to reconcile the Christian's pursuit of peace with the patriot's prosecution of
defensive war” and the convention “encourages a search of Scriptures for
principles which set forth one's responsibilities both to God and to country.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn33" name="_ednref33" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> And while in 1941 those at the convention
were careful to clarify that they were not supporting militarism, the
messengers at the 1969 convention, made certain to clarify that the
acknowledgement of the right of people to consciously object “does not imply
approval or support of any citizen who refuses to accept the full obligation of
responsible citizenship.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn34" name="_ednref34" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> In 1970 the SBC convention also expresses
their fear that communist violence “may ultimately render America impotent
before its adversaries” and we find the first occurrence of
“Commander-in-Chief” in the resolutions by the SBC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">War and Military, 1980-2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throughout the 1980s
the resolutions continue to use peace language while also frequently qualifying
the peace-talk with statements like, “We realistically acknowledge the timely
reassessment of our nation's security needs and we appreciate the attention
given to spend for defense”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn35" name="_ednref35" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> or that they “appreciate
the renewed commitment to a strong national defense.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn36" name="_ednref36" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> The beginnings of
patriotism (as defined for indebtedness to those who will “kill [or] sacrifice
his/her life for the country, ostensibly defending its people, freedom, and
or/traditions”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn37" name="_ednref37" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>)
show up in the SBC response to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After defending
the military action in Kuwait as a Just War, they make a note to “especially
honor those who died in the conflict for their ultimate sacrifice in the cause
of freedom and that we offer our heartfelt sympathy and gratitude to their
families.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn38" name="_ednref38" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> While the resolutions during WWII that
focused on the armed services were in praise of the chaplains who served on the
field, in 1994 the SBC honors the “many Americans [who] voluntarily gave or
risked their lives in the invasion of Normandy by the Allied Forces.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn39" name="_ednref39" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Resolutions specifically in praise and support
of those individuals who serve in the military were also issued in 2004, 2005,
and 2006. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the SBC
convention that occurs after September 11, 2001, the SBC offers clear support
for the “War on Terror,” calling it a reasonable act of self-defense, pointing
out that “Scriptures command civil authorities to restrain evil and to punish
evildoers through the power of the sword,” and offering full support for the
“President of the United States in his denunciation of terrorist groups as
“evildoers” who must be resisted</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn42" name="_ednref42" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[42]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Aside from a few resolutions mentioned
earlier on support of the military, the SBC convention has been relatively
silent on the issue of war and peace. In 2009 a resolution on President Obama
mentions the SBC’s appreciation for “his decisions to retain many foreign
policies that continue to keep our nation safe from further terrorist attacks”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn43" name="_ednref43" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[43]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Aside from the word “peace” popping up once
or twice in a handful of recent resolutions, the last time that any resolution
was devoted to the importance and prioritizing of peace was in 1983. The last
resolution I could find from the SBC on an issue related to war, peace, or
military was in 2010. The resolution is
a 1,147 word statement titled “On Homosexuality And The United States Military.” The SBC took a stand against repealing the
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” for a variety of moral, spiritual, and logistical
reasons. Among them, “that normalizing the open presence of homosexuals in the
military is incompatible with generating, strengthening, and maintaining good
discipline, unit cohesion, and combat readiness.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn44" name="_ednref44" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[44]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In other words, regardless of one’s opinions on God’s view of homosexuality (as
faithful Christians disagree on a variety of points), in roughly 100 years, the
Southern Baptist convention went from declaring that “War is a scourge, is
wrong in principle and morally corrupting” to spending a considerable amount of
time arguing that there should not be homosexuals openly in the military
because it damages the military’s ability to kill people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">This
research was cathartic for me. One of the things I've "grieved"
over the past couple of years is the lack of a "peace tradition" in
my own early years. It's been reassuring to see it in those middle years of the
SBC even though I no longer call that denomination “home.” While it is easy to say that the Religious
Right is enjoying too much power currently to voluntarily surrender it in the
name of once again pursuing peace, it is my hope and prayer that as a people,
the SBC will once again lead its members to “oppose everything likely to
provoke war.” In the meantime, part of my faith heritage is the </span>Southern<span style="font-size: small;"> Baptist
Convention with all its flaws and strengths and I will continue to pray that
Christians of all perspectives will join in that 1907 prayer and “will pray for
the day to hasten when all nations will settle their difficulties by
arbitration rather than the resort to arms; and the song of the angels at the advent
of Christ be fully realized—‘Peace on earth, good will to [all].’"</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_edn46" name="_ednref46" style="font-size: 12pt;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[45]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div>
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">End Notes:</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title="">[1]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Nancy Tatom
Ammerman,. <i>Baptist Battles: Social Change and Religious Conflict in the Southern
Baptist Convention</i>. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1990.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bruce B.
Lawrence, <i>Defenders of God: The
Fundamentalists Revolt against the Modern Age </i>(San Francisco: Harper and
Row, 1989), 197 as cited in Oran P. Smith, <i>The
Rise of Baptist Republicanism</i> (New York: New York University Press, 1997).
39.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Southern Baptist
Convention, “Resolutions Search,” </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/search/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/search/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (accessed April
28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Sunday School
Board, <i>Baptist Faith and Message</i>.
(Nashville: Southern Baptist Convention, 1963).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Sunday School
Board, <i>Baptist Faith and Message</i>.
(Nashville: Southern Baptist Convention, 1925).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Executive
Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, <i>Baptist Faith and Message,</i> <i>2000</i>,
</span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (accessed April
28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn7">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn8">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (Augusta, GA, 1863),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/801/resolution-on-peace (accessed May 1, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn9">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid., Article
1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn10">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid., Article
2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn11">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesse C.
Fletcher, “Effect on the Civil War on Southern Baptist Churches,” <i>Baptist History and Heritage</i>
(July/October 1997): 36.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn12">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (Richmond, VA, 1907),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/802/resolution-on-peace (accessed May 1, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn13">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (Jacksonville, FL, 1911),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/803/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn14">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref14" name="_edn14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn15">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref15" name="_edn15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (New Orleans, LA, 1917),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/804/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn16">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref16" name="_edn16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn17">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref17" name="_edn17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (Memphis, TN, 1935),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/810/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn18">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref18" name="_edn18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Peace </i> (St. Louis, MO, 1936),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/811/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn19">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn20">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution Concerning War and Peace </i> (Baltimore, MD, 1940)
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/814/resolution-on-war-and-peace (accessed May 1,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn21">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref21" name="_edn21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SBC, <i>Resolution Concerning Conscientious
Objectors </i>(Miami, FL: 1946) <span style="background: #F7F7F7;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/321/resolution-concerning-conscientious-objectors<span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></span>(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn22">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref22" name="_edn22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SBC, <i>Resolution Concerning Conscientious
Objectors </i>(New Orleans, LA: 1969) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/363/resolution-on-conscientious-objectors"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/363/resolution-on-conscientious-objectors</span></a><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn23">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref23" name="_edn23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace </i> (Birmingham, AL, 1941),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/815/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn24">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref24" name="_edn24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn25">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref25" name="_edn25" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace </i> (San Antonio, TX, 1943),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/816/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn26">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref26" name="_edn26" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Recommendation Concerning World Order and
Peace </i>(Chicago, IL, 1950), <span style="background: #F7F7F7;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/818/recommendation-concerning-world-order-and-peace<span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></span>(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn27">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref27" name="_edn27" title=""></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on World Peace </i>(Houston, TX,
1958), <span style="background: #F7F7F7;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/819/resolution-on-world-peace<span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></span>(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn28">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Summit Peace Conference </i>(Miami Beach, FL, 1960), <span style="background: #F7F7F7;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/820/resolution-on-summit-peace-conference<span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></span>(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn29">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref29" name="_edn29" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on </i>Torture (Kansas City, MO,
1977), http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1113/resolution-on-torture (accessed
April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn30">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref30" name="_edn30" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace and Justice for All Men</i>
(New Orleans, LA, 1969)
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/824/resolution-on-peace-and-justice-for-all-men
(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn31">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref31" name="_edn31" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Achieving World Peace </i> (Philadelphia, PA, 1972)
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/827/resolution-on-achieving-world-peace
(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn32">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref32" name="_edn32" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[32]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Multilateral Arms Control </i>(Atlanta,
GA, 1978) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/275/resolution-on-multilateral-arms-control"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/275/resolution-on-multilateral-arms-control</span></a><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn33">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref33" name="_edn33" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace </i> (Miami Beach, FL, 1967),
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/822/resolution-on-peace (accessed April 28,
2014). See also 1970 <i>Resolution on World
Peace</i> where they “call upon Southern Baptists to search the Scriptures to
determine the role of the Christian in time of war.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn34">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref34" name="_edn34" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, Resolution
on Conscientious Objectors (New Orleans, LA, 1969) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/363/resolution-on-conscientious-objectors"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/363/resolution-on-conscientious-objectors</span></a><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed April 28, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn35">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref35" name="_edn35" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace and National Security</i>
(St. Louis, MO, 1980) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/831/resolution-on-peace-and-national-security"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/831/resolution-on-peace-and-national-security</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed
April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn36">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref36" name="_edn36" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Peace and National Security</i>
(Los Angeles, CA, 1981) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/832/resolution-on-peace-and-national-security"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/832/resolution-on-peace-and-national-security</span></a><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed April 28, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn37">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref37" name="_edn37" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ryan LaMothe,
“The Problem of Patriotism: A Psychoanalytic and Theological Analysis” <i>Pastoral Psychology</i> 58 (2009): 153.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn38">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref38" name="_edn38" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Operation Desert Storm</i>
(Atlanta, GA, 1991) http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/433 (accessed May 1, 2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn39">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref39" name="_edn39" title=""></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution On Commending World War Ii
Veterans On The Occasion Of The 50th Anniversary Of D-Day</i> (Orlando, FL,
1994)
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1074/resolution-on-commending-world-war-ii-veterans-on-the-occasion-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-dday</span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn41">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn42">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref42" name="_edn42" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[42]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on the War on Terror</i> (St.
Louis, MO, 2002) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1115/on-the-war-on-terrorism"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1115/on-the-war-on-terrorism</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (accessed April 28, 2014). The sentiments are repeated in
their 2003 <i>Resolution </i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On The Liberation Of Iraq.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn43">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref43" name="_edn43" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[43]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SBC, <i>Resolution on President Barack Hussein Obama
</i>(Louisville, KY, 2009) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1193/on-president-barack-hussein-obama"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1193/on-president-barack-hussein-obama</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (accessed 28,
2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn44">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref44" name="_edn44" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[44]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SBC, <i>Resolution on Homosexuality and the United
States Military </i>(Orlando, FL, 2010) </span><a href="http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1208/on-homosexuality-and-the-united-states-military"><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1208/on-homosexuality-and-the-united-states-military</span></a><span style="background: #F7F7F7; color: #0e89ce; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(accessed 28,
2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="edn46">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Nicole/Desktop/SBC%20and%20war%20article.docx#_ednref46" name="_edn46" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[45]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> See note 26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div id="edn46">
</div>
</div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-64091979075809306242014-05-30T09:09:00.001-05:002014-05-30T09:20:00.461-05:00What I've Been Into [the last five months]This first half of 2014 has zoomed by. Since it's been five months, I'll just hit the highlights!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I spent January in Georgia with my family, mostly loving on my <b>brand-new little niece</b>. Everyone else was cool too.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCh39M7lb5oFo7YngHna9rRzfd4v_T6nMGDHpItzJLZmxXfbyjbDnA1d8CXiGcf4yW9xKk7jq0Bn3grMeY3TLPUj0lGzY-BnxTZiaFIOI3NREo2SPZaXGv1m9We8W34sNxMmbhcPNOS2w/s1600/20131224_124136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCh39M7lb5oFo7YngHna9rRzfd4v_T6nMGDHpItzJLZmxXfbyjbDnA1d8CXiGcf4yW9xKk7jq0Bn3grMeY3TLPUj0lGzY-BnxTZiaFIOI3NREo2SPZaXGv1m9We8W34sNxMmbhcPNOS2w/s1600/20131224_124136.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brand-new baby's first Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>I had <a href="http://prismmagazine.org/wonderfully-made/">an article on body theology</a> published in the <a href="http://issuu.com/prismmagazine/docs/prism-winter-2014/39?e=2263645/6029402">Winter 2014 issue of Prism Magazine.</a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I was taking two classes, an internship, and <b>writing my final Master's thesis</b> this semester. That thesis was a labor of love if I've ever done one. At the end it was 70ish pages of writing and then all the "front and end matter." I emailed it to my adviser bright and early on Easter morning and then enjoyed celebrating new life and victory in a variety of ways. My thesis was on body-theology too, and I'm really hoping to develop it more into a publishable form. Perhaps share some here? </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMoVTBuAhgre-kZ2TbG1doz_mVRcxItG2TjVJt5i-Lxt90m8JTc92MuRFzcFp1q0acw3PK9Ajm4ewCeduc2NrQ2Nj2he7_scT8eSUfiBHi6PHHoAmLGZTgZH6NLkrJj6-9hIwA9X8opc/s1600/IMG_20140419_195459+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMoVTBuAhgre-kZ2TbG1doz_mVRcxItG2TjVJt5i-Lxt90m8JTc92MuRFzcFp1q0acw3PK9Ajm4ewCeduc2NrQ2Nj2he7_scT8eSUfiBHi6PHHoAmLGZTgZH6NLkrJj6-9hIwA9X8opc/s1600/IMG_20140419_195459+(1).jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">77 pages of my heart, going through the final edit late at night. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>My word for the year is "<b><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/nicolemorgan325/community-2014-one-word/">Community</a></b>" and it's like God said, "Oh? Community? I can do that!" Last fall a small group of us were already hanging out on a regular basis, but when we were all back here by late January there was snow after snow after snow for a month solid and we all ended up hanging out together, eating soup, having french-toast feasts, playing dominoes by flashlight, and talking and chatting. We did Lent together and part of that included "sharing our stories" and somewhere in that time we became family. When someone wants to make a big dinner the answer to the question of "what time?" is just "normal time." We even took a vacation to the beach together last week and it was fabulous. Most of us are scattering at the end of summer for other places - but there are plans for "family reunions" every other year at least, and I think that's actually going to work. I'm excited to see how God shows up in <i>community </i>in the second half of this year as I move to a new place.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhq-vldtOruSXUYd5zDNe226rnWsAsjaS3pJ9QvgLClF6_ZfqDyV7_zs-ad04gigesVeQ9yp-sL1zLVR2jE0jh7oWx3Zcnt-r-HuQLqctTzbRIcj6-inlamokMMhxm5fBpn1taU6zqoE/s1600/20140524_144232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhq-vldtOruSXUYd5zDNe226rnWsAsjaS3pJ9QvgLClF6_ZfqDyV7_zs-ad04gigesVeQ9yp-sL1zLVR2jE0jh7oWx3Zcnt-r-HuQLqctTzbRIcj6-inlamokMMhxm5fBpn1taU6zqoE/s1600/20140524_144232.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the family at the beach. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>I graduated seminary</b>! My parents came up to celebrate with me and we took a short vacation up to the Connecticut shore and spent a day walking around Boston. It was a really lovely time. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh_pr7NcMNNqIoVA5ChObwoFtUXHiMDoUpta74lhJIcAY8nA_Ddtzk6t3bePzLGRuYW-Fx7DYcZYq45_EtFhWYWmfmZQyfOw8remMUgQsYlet8my1ma1_Z0gUflmPojXacH7E-6YG1xU/s1600/10256281_10100593437718318_8441985944731624446_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh_pr7NcMNNqIoVA5ChObwoFtUXHiMDoUpta74lhJIcAY8nA_Ddtzk6t3bePzLGRuYW-Fx7DYcZYq45_EtFhWYWmfmZQyfOw8remMUgQsYlet8my1ma1_Z0gUflmPojXacH7E-6YG1xU/s1600/10256281_10100593437718318_8441985944731624446_o.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtv6QS75NTgQ4BXdNmzcZeL3-68Xw5aIZSAijoE3DKY8oDYh-ixRoex5u_dJItA9RyZgNoN413ivF6yRMryP-_mf9LgVnxDiIbq7rn2NtUXI36k3-UZBpRY1r5EHX_fEB_EUj9a3A5sI/s1600/DSC09769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtv6QS75NTgQ4BXdNmzcZeL3-68Xw5aIZSAijoE3DKY8oDYh-ixRoex5u_dJItA9RyZgNoN413ivF6yRMryP-_mf9LgVnxDiIbq7rn2NtUXI36k3-UZBpRY1r5EHX_fEB_EUj9a3A5sI/s1600/DSC09769.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my parents on the Connecticut Shore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Some of my<b> favorite reading</b> from this first half of the year include <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640541-latina-o-social-ethics">Latina/o Social Ethics</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/356439.Kingdom_Ethics">Kingdom Ethics</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16204583-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict">The Israeli-Palestine Conflict</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/968944.Baptist_Battles">Baptist Battles</a>. Most of what I read this semester were journal articles or chapters of books, and I won't take on the tedious task of linking to those right now. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>In film, television, and music</b>: <i> Call the Midwife</i> broke my heart in a hundred beautiful ways this season. My most-often listened to playlist was Songza's "<i>Classical Easter Celebration</i>" - - it was magnificent as a study/reading/writing background. On the big screen (though checked out from redbox,so not so big), I believe <i>Philomena </i>was my favorite. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li>In the kitchen - my favorite simple meal discovery is lemon-dill chickpeas. You make some rice/rice pilaf, and then saute chickpeas and onions in olive oil, add dill, lemon juice, and some spinach. Pour the chick-peas over the rice and enjoy. It's got a light flavor and it's filling. I've made it about five times since discovering the recipe in a short essay I read on food, poverty,and fasting. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fashion - season changes make me want to have fun with fashion. The onset of summer has renewed my love of earrings. Check out my<a href="http://instagram.com/nmashena"> instagram feed </a>for my frequent updating of which earrings I've decided to don. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that's a little of what I've been up to. Looking forward to the many changes life will bring me in the next few months. I'm<a href="http://www.leighkramer.com/blog/what-im-into/"> linking up </a>with<a href="http://www.leighkramer.com/blog/"> Leigh Kramer </a>who does this on a much regular basis. I will now go check out what <a href="http://www.leighkramer.com/blog/2014/05/what-im-into-may-2014-edition.html">other people</a> have been up to! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-81786919685886699612014-05-27T08:28:00.004-05:002014-05-27T08:39:35.382-05:00Personality Type Psychology and Grace for Everyone<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ever since my 9th grade Humanities teacher plunked down a "color personality test" in front of me I've been obsessed with personality types. </span>There is something in me that loves self-reflection. I love to figure out why I do things the way I do them, what motivates me, what scares me, what challenges me. Personality assessments give me a measuring tool for that and a wealth of information</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">On that color personality test, I was gold. Soon after, I discovered the Myers-Briggs Personality test. My result was ISTJ to the nth degree. Solid. Dependable. Traditions. Rules. Order. In the world of "Enneagram" I am a 5w4 - the highlight of that for me being the intense desire for knowledge and information. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
There was something in me that wanted to make sure that I worked on my weaknesses though. <span style="background-color: white;">A common "flaw" for an ISTJ is they are aloof or indifferent. The idea is that ISTJs operate by rules and don't find much need for areas of grey. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I set out to soften my rough edges (and unintentionally sharpened other edges in the process). In the many years since 9th grade, I've taken the Myers-Brigg's Inventory a couple times each year. I watched percentages change and was happy because that fit with my new found abilities to see shades of grey, or my love of travel and change. But, ISTJ was always still the result. A couple years ago I started feeling like I wasn't an ISTJ, but I was still testing as one. Then a few months ago I took the test one more time, and this time it was INTJ. Only 2% into the "N" range instead of the "S" - but for the first time in my life it was a different answer. The stats say that INTJs, especially female INTJs are one of the rarest personality types - but our intense love of knowledge (and perhaps navel-gazing?) means that there is way more info out there on this than the ISTJ. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C87Y3txfk60QYEkB-wEOdVquqwHKp0KaO9yeBSfTW1PRAwKOWbyCg34BFP-pWB1_1EVFNSCiYpm4UKau7GFbkazg49rWmyzXaXiE9psHeDSoDg5hmwHh86TYVRCzwFGnxJPb5eNSL48/s1600/INTJ_Infographic_TypeFinder.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C87Y3txfk60QYEkB-wEOdVquqwHKp0KaO9yeBSfTW1PRAwKOWbyCg34BFP-pWB1_1EVFNSCiYpm4UKau7GFbkazg49rWmyzXaXiE9psHeDSoDg5hmwHh86TYVRCzwFGnxJPb5eNSL48/s1600/INTJ_Infographic_TypeFinder.png" height="400" width="122" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Zoom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I had a small identity crisis and then started reading about INTJ. You can go research all the various nuances of what it means to be "N" instead of "S" if you'd like, I won't bore you with them here, but reading about INTJ was like having someone on the inside of my head who finally understood me. It was quite nice that this "shift" happened for me this year since I am living in a community of people also obsessed with personality types. If you show up to our house for dinner, chances are you'll be asked what your "type" is and if you don't know, we're pulling up a quiz on the phone and making you take it. We're totally lovable. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Some traits typical of INTJ that really resonate with me are:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:seeing complex patterns easily, or, in a more abstract way - seeing the big picture</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:seeing/predicting various outcomes for decisions. I am rarely surprised because I've already imagined that the result could happen. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:related to the above: I prioritize and value common-sense and efficiency. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:intense desire to collect knowledge</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:awareness of both my strengths and my weaknesses, typically completely honest about both</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:quick to lose respect for authority when they do not operate correctly/efficiently/logically</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">:highly value intelligence, loves jargon, loves words</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">INTJs are also apparently famous for being arrogant jerks. In the fiction world - Dr. Gregory House and Sherlock Holmes (especially from the recent BBC series) are considered to be INTJs. Knowing this gives me the info to once again "soften the rough edges." Hopefully I mostly succeed in finding a way to be asse<span style="font-family: inherit;">rtive in my knowledge and skills without being a jerk. The impact of Jesus Christ in my life goes a long way in tempering my personality with some redemptive grace. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In the infographic, I identify with most of what is there. Interestingly, INTJ is the type <span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; line-height: 20px;">"least likely to believe in a higher power" and I just graduated seminary. This may explain why I am so comfortable with doubt and questions. And could also explain why I highly doubt I will fit the "type with the highest income" descriptor as well ;). </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/82120393179832424/"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple things happened as I read more and more about INTJ:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">1: I let out a breath and saw myself a little differently. For whatever reason until I saw it written out as a personality type - I called my efficiency-loving brain "impatience." I called my hunger-for-knowledge and my high-demand for correct information "arrogance." I called my disregard for "authorities" who failed to do their jobs adequately "disrespect." And then all of a sudden, these were my strengths. It is good to use my God-wired brain to play to my strengths of details and big-picture, it is good to know things (and know what I don't know), it is good to demand that those who lead do so in truth and authenticity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Suddenly when I could assign some of these traits as characteristic of the way that my neurons fire, it helped me to see other people in a new light. I no longer become as frustrated when people don't do things "my way" because I understand that I have this crazy rapid-fire efficiency motivated brain that processes about 300 pieces of information in four seconds,* and that's cool, but it doesn't mean that the other person's brain is wrong. There's does something else amazing that mine doesn't. (Like managing to make their hand and eye coordinate, or hearing the intricacies in music.) When I know that the "honest about my strengths, honest about my weaknesses" features is part of my personality type - then people who aren't like that aren't weak, needy, pretentious people. They are just people who perceive their strengths and weaknesses in whatever way they do and do their best to navigate a world that often demands we all be perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what's your type? Do you make use of personality type tools to understand yourself and your relationships with other people? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*example of my rapid-fire brain when approaching a task</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I approach a sink of dirty dishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">In the first glance I determine the number and type of each dish and the order in which they should be washed so that they can go into the dish-drying rack in a way that maximizes space and still allows air-flow to get the dishes dry. Dishes that are touching each other do not dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I begin to stack and organize the dishes so that they are in the right order to be washed, as I'm doing this I am aware of both how long the task will take me and how long the water takes to heat up and I'll turn the faucet on at the right time so that it's hot about the time I'm done getting the dishes to their starting point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Some things in my head for the order: we have four types of bowls, they each fit in the rack in a certain place. Some are the first thing to get washed, some are the last. If there is any type of colander, then it can go underneath other things because water will drip through the holes and two things can dry in kind of the same place. If there are pans or other dishes that appear to have stubborn stains, those things need to be soaking from the beginning so that by the time I get to them they are ready to be washed easily. Depending on the amount of dishes to wash - I either clear a side of the sink to use for soaking or move the pan to the countertop with water in it. I glance at the stove and on top of the microwave, as pans and cookie sheets often get left there rather than put into the sink and I want to make sure I don't miss those.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">All of this "planning" takes just a couple of seconds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I am not "OCD" about this. If something doesn't go according to plan (i didn't see a bowl, it goes in the wrong place) I just stick it somewhere else on the rack and move on. But, my brain definitely processes that way about pretty much everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><script async="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
<a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/82120393179720256/"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><script async="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></span> Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-62796098803006329462014-04-08T07:23:00.000-05:002014-04-08T07:23:01.291-05:00A Season to LamentBlogging at my friend's place today about my Lenten practice of lament and how it hasn't been anything like I'd imagined it would be. Head over to <a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-season-to-lament.html">Hippie Housewife</a> to check it out! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">For the past few weeks, I have been focusing on “lament” as part of my observance of lent. It was a decision with a long build up - “lament” kept coming up in my life for the past few years through things I was learning in seminary, people I heard speak, and other random moments in my life. Laments in the Bible are protests, doubt, despair, and anger. Often they summon God to action, demand a response to the evil being faced. I started this journey of “journaling lament” thinking I would be lamenting the magnitude of sorrows and pains in the world that others face. Goodness knows the world has enough of them I thought I would spend these weeks lamenting lack of clean water, lack of education, the violence that faces women, children, and men on a daily basis. I thought I would delve into understanding corrupt prison systems and the way entire ethnic groups are oppressed because of their DNA. And I did that for a short time, but slowly, somewhat seamlessly, the laments became about me. About the fears and traumas rooted in my heart that impact the way I interact with the world."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-season-to-lament.html">Read the rest. . . .</a></span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-79568711160868171252014-04-04T21:58:00.001-05:002014-06-26T07:27:32.021-05:00Lay Down<br />
Early this week I sorted through a file box, trying to organize various pieces of paperwork that I don't yet trust to digital. In the file box is one slim folder that holds a few memories - "Personal Mementos" is scrawled on the curling tab of the manila folder. Inside this folder is a print out of an email sent to me in 2000 by a woman who I had worked with on a summer missions project. That this scrap of paper has survived three cross-country moves is a testament to why it is in a battered "memento" folder. <br />
<br />
The email begins with an epigraph.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">"But the God that sometimes </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">can</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">'t be found w</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">ill wrap Himself around you</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">. So lay down, sister, lay down." - B. Norman</span></blockquote>
The internet tells me that these words are from the song "Rita" by Bebo Norman - It's a sad song, about the death of a friend. I don't think I ever knew that before this week. I just knew that this week, as they did 14 years ago, those words filled my soul in some way that made me take a deep, cleansing, breath.<br />
<br />
Those words have resonated through my head countless times in the past 14 years. If not the words themselves, then the simple truth of them has been there even when I couldn't remember them exactly or where I heard them first.<br />
<br />
This is the beauty of poetry to me - that words become life - take on shape and have meaning. It is not just a sentence - it is imbued with something more. The poet (or songwriter) has chosen words carefully, caring about more than syntax. .<br />
<br />
In the many years since those words first appeared on a computer screen and prompted me to hit print - one constant thing about God in my life is that even when he can't be found (or, frankly, when I didn't want to find him) - that somehow he was wrapped around me. There was a thread tangled and wrapped somewhere around my wrist, or an ankle, or a tiny corner of my soul, sometimes tugging with force, sometimes barely perceptible, but always there. I can remember describing the feeling as "God won't let go" in the midst of feeling like God could not be found. It is a paradox - but what in this faith is not?<br />
<br />
For my Lenten practice - I have been journaling lament and this little phrase fits well into this experience. Lament is about sorrow and pain and loss - - things that if you spend enough time focusing on, your only recourse is to lay down, lay down. And the truth of these words written into my soul 14 years ago prove true again - that I find God wrapped around me. I'm pretty new to observing anything liturgical like Lent. I've never done an Ash Wednesday service - never had the cross smudged onto my forehead - but this year I am seeing anew that God who wraps himself around me, giving beauty for ashes I didn't even know I still carried around. Strengthening areas that are too-often governed by fear. Putting firm foundation under the my feet and lighting a path. It is not what I expected from my Lenten journey of lament. I think I expected more sadness. But I am finding that when I mourn and dare to question God about the pain and brokenness in this world, in my life, that I find the God who wraps himself around me.<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-8977491534980170152014-03-26T18:26:00.001-05:002014-03-26T18:26:24.108-05:00There. I Fixed It. {Found Poetry}I'm working on my final paper this semester. It's on the damage done by diet devotionals and why they are dangerous to individual Christians and the church as the Body of Christ.<br />
<br />
This means that for research I am reading a few diet devotionals.<br />
<br />
One that I picked up at a thrift store is Gwen Shamblin's <i>Rise Above</i>, the follow-up to her best-selling <i>Weigh Down Diet</i>. <br />
<br />
<i>Rise Above</i> is a horrid book and spiritually abusive. It was emotionally draining to read. So, I decided to redeem it a little bit and complete a "found poetry" activity I've been wanting to do for a while. I opened to a random page, made sure I had any notes I needed from it for my paper, and then got to work trying to use her own words to offer an opposite message. A message that critiques the fat-shaming that is found all throughout the book and celebrates the way that God made us diverse bodies - and part of the beauty of our bodies is that multiple times a day, if we are so blessed, we get to eat, and we get to do it with friends and family. Throwing on food and weight and body judgments ruins that community and ruins that chance we have to find communion with the incarnated triune God.<br />
<br />
The final art project isn't perfects, it's the first one I've ever done. But I'm happy with it. And when I'm flipping through the book over the next few weeks as I finish up this paper, it will be a nice reminder of what God really thinks about my body.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WtwwxNDiyjl1kMcQ49jCBxmSsGLiS7XR_l1-HGSmlakTewv2he-_dQsPaMwlQLo47-7wViVRZo5uMyeAD3XMPg0jgPptfUfaid12HxaV6IHbMTnBqp40qsjsXutvgw2_lLMxFRRED4c/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WtwwxNDiyjl1kMcQ49jCBxmSsGLiS7XR_l1-HGSmlakTewv2he-_dQsPaMwlQLo47-7wViVRZo5uMyeAD3XMPg0jgPptfUfaid12HxaV6IHbMTnBqp40qsjsXutvgw2_lLMxFRRED4c/s1600/before.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ChSjJJQyUHQ0B8Us3MCLzfobfmlr7qjtXUd-4ln_rKufp3OjSD7-sb6JMfwRgk4zKnMwBaqPDwWRTTTinLeJvIvIGs5zdBY83AWIO_mTKP5gDw5pRhHnRggG0SIFRd3j8UbeDLcc14s/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ChSjJJQyUHQ0B8Us3MCLzfobfmlr7qjtXUd-4ln_rKufp3OjSD7-sb6JMfwRgk4zKnMwBaqPDwWRTTTinLeJvIvIGs5zdBY83AWIO_mTKP5gDw5pRhHnRggG0SIFRd3j8UbeDLcc14s/s1600/final.jpg" height="640" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Struggle</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You think Obesity consumes light.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
your heart</div>
<div>
your desire</div>
<div>
cycles to God</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
appetite gives back to you - Christ.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
digest</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-18684462336248431562014-03-11T21:09:00.001-05:002014-03-11T21:10:37.183-05:00A Lament for Wanderlust<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am focusing on <i>lament</i> during this season of lent. A time to mourn evil and despair, sadness and loss. Lament is not a normal place for me - I've always been an optimist on my good days and a realist on my other days. But it's a concept that's been on my heart the past year or so. One thing about lament that I am learning is that there is always hope - it's always looking toward hope. One of the things I have to <i>lament</i> is the places I leave. There is so much to love about my life that has taken me to different parts of the country and the people that I've been able to know. My life has been blessed in so many ways by these experiences, but the moving to the new always mean a leaving. That gets harder every time. After you do it a few times - you know that no decision you make about where your life goes next will be without some amount of heartbreak. You either leave where you are, or you stay and that means there is someplace to where you are not returning. There will always be somewhere that you want to be that you aren't. Here is that lament, tinted with hope. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear
soul and synapses and gut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">who
clench in familiar anxiety:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You
sowed your heart into these <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">many
hills and plains – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">leaving
seeds rooted <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in
the tapestry of towns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and
lives you have loved <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">for
twenty years, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">or
one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Question
not whether <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the
fruit of your life blooms <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">or
withers in harvests<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">that
follow your departure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lives
are perennial flowers, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">an
invading species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Feel
how strong is the tug <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of
the long long roots that ever tie <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">you
to the land and the harvesters’ hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They
don’t warn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the
adventurous of these things – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of
the battle that will <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">come
between<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">roots
and wings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take
courage, dear heart: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">your
roots are wide <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and
strong, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">soaking
up the sun and rain <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of many different skies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-17052245985117629652014-02-22T18:50:00.000-06:002014-02-22T18:50:39.364-06:00Favorite Recipes from a Year* of Cooking VegetarianSometime in February of 2013 I stopped eating meat at home and then lent came and I said, "Well,let's do this for realzies. No meat for lent." and when lent was over I stuck with a "buy no meat from the grocery store" rule and that's pretty much been my life with a few exceptions. If someone cooked meat for me, I ate it. I ordered it at restaurants. I'm working on doing more vegetarian restaurant choices and I think I've settled that my ultimate goal is to only buy animal products that are from animals who are locally raised/slaughtered. Right now, that's the answer that best balances animal stewardship, love for my global neighbors, and care for my own body and budget. It's not a perfect answer, but it's the answer that I'm aiming for right now.<br />
<br />
It really hasn't been that hard. The hardest part is just discovering new favorites. I had to throw out almost of all my "old stand-bys" that were the quick and easy things to make that I always had the ingredients for.<br />
<br />
That said, I have found a few new favorites that I've made a few times:<br />
<br />
<b>Roasted beets+arugula+goat cheese</b>. I typically either put it into a grilled cheese sandwich or I make a salad (add some kind of vinaigrette - typically red wine)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinchofyum.com/southwestern-quinoa-and-black-bean-casserole"><b>Black Bean & Quinoa Casserole</b></a>: If you touch your eye after chopping the jalapenos, turn the stove top off before you run screaming in agony to the bathroom to flush your eye out. You're going to be a minute.<br />
<br />
<b>Vegetables+beans+tomatoes+veg stock+leafy greens+rice Soup: </b> With the number of snow days we've had this winter I can't count the number of of "pantry soups" I've made for friends and neighbors as we once again hunkered down and spent a snow day grad school style: reading, reading, reading. While the "what's in the cupboards and fridge" versions always turned out well -this recipe in particular was amazing: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-squash-stew-recipe.html">Slow-Cooker Squash Stew </a>(Follow the recipe to a T. Delish!)<br />
<br />
<b>Things with Lentils: </b><a href="http://www.oneingredientchef.com/sweet-potato-shepherds-pie/">Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie. </a><a href="http://sarahwithrowking.com/">My favorite vegan</a> who has been veganing for a long time stopped by and shared this meal with me. She approved, so I feel like that means it was yum.<br />
<br />
<b>Vegetables/greens+cheese+eggs quiche or frittata: </b>Roast your own beets and save the greens - they are HEAVENLY in this <a href="http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/crustless-beet-quiche/">beet greens quiche.</a> A sweet potato and some peppers/onions cooked in a skillet and then with some scrambled eggs poured over top, topped with some greens and maybe a little cheese makes a great brunch when your grad school self casually rolls out of bed at 10 because you imagine that you have the freedom to do such things. (You don't, if you're wondering.)<br />
<br />
<b>Fancy Fruits: </b>And by fancy fruits I mean mango. Love it sliced up with some red onion and tomato with a vinaigrette. For an entree featuring mango - <a href="http://low-cholesterol.food.com/recipe/spicy-black-beans-and-rice-with-mangoes-crock-pot-224691?ic1=obinsite">this simple beans and rice variation is yum</a>!<br />
<br />
<br />
Have a favorite veg dish that you like to make? Do share! I'm still building up my recipe stash. I prefer to stay away from overly-processed veg options.<br />
<br />
*I made a turkey on Thanksgiving and there was that one time I was inexplicably CRAVING hotdogs with sandwich relish the way my grandfather made them so I bought some Oscar-Meyer all beef bun length franks at the grocery store, and then I sat in the grocery store parking lot for four hours waiting on AAA who fixed the problem in 15 minutes. So, I think the universe got me back for that.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-82856263636532221022014-01-27T20:03:00.001-06:002014-01-27T20:04:05.121-06:00Banquet<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I used to pray Your Kingdom come;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
praying in the four horsemen and earth<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
burned and consumed so that we could<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
rise, meet in the air and sit at the banquet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
table of the great feast – <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
But I've learned that Jesus flipped
his wrists <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
and snapped the tablecloth out from under<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
the feast, tied it around his neck super-hero <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
style and descended to earth,
bringing the<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
banquet with him - <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Your Kingdom come,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
your will be done,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
on earth as it is in heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Daily bread broken and shared, baked from <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
wheat harvested from neglected soil and sat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
on sparse tables so that it can fill the empty space<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
inside aching bodies desperate for the kingdom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
of God to come <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>*Credit to Pastor Mark Tindall of Blue Route Vineyard church in Media, PA for the imagery of Jesus bringing the tablecloth to earth - from a sermon preached on 01/26/13. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-46533124219015764792014-01-25T20:49:00.000-06:002014-01-25T20:52:19.506-06:00Looking for a place to stand: When I say feminism. <br />
I grew up being <i>definitely not</i> a feminist. I was a female, a lady, not a feminist. I went so far as to say I was against feminism.<br />
<br />
If you asked me to define this feminism that I was against I would have told you something about feminists being people who rejected the honor of being a wife and mother who served her family. Who missed out on that blessing and joy. I would've told you that feminist was too stubborn to admit that it's nice to have doors opened for you or a person who didn't admit that she did have the same muscles as guys. Feminism was all about the rejection of the "maternal" in my mind and a selfish assertion that a woman could do it all by herself.<br />
<br />
Maybe not, but I assume that if my post-high school and college life had gone as planned, I'd probably still have many of those same opinions. The plan was marriage, kids, PTA member, and church and community-volunteer extraordinaire.<br />
<br />
I went to college because that's what people did in my town when they graduated high school. I studied teaching. I wasn't ever planning to teach. It was the back up degree, but I assumed I'd be a stay-at-home-mom. In college, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to let my boyfriend at the time be the "spiritual leader" and praying that I could love him well. I graduated college, got a job while I "waited on the ring" and kind of thought life was going to be great.<br />
<br />
Then it all fell apart. It had been crumbling before of course, but I was ignoring it, busily plastering over holes, hoping it would all hold together and turn into the pretty dream life that was all I ever wanted.<br />
<br />
So, feeling pretty disillusioned about both men and God, my dream life was suddenly no where in the scope of possibility. I needed another life. I started figuring out what I wanted and what I cared about. I took the GRE. I contemplated grad schools. I moved across the country, and then moved cross-country again a few years later. I clumsily fought my way to independence. I got a therapist. I did a lot of things on my own. I built community. I started grad school. I felt really confused, a lot. I started getting some clarity.<br />
<br />
Somewhere in all of that one day I thought, "I think I'm a feminist now?" And it stayed on my mind and one day I said, "Yes. Yes, I'm a feminist."<br />
<br />
And what I mean now when I say feminist is that I am for women having a place in this world outside of being a wife and a mother (but that women who are wives and mothers should totally feel free to love and revel in that! It's still high on my "what I want to be" list)<br />
<br />
I am for little girls knowing that they were allowed to dream other dreams so that a woman isn't just starting to get clarity on what in the world she wants to do with her life when she is 30.<br />
<br />
I am for women knowing that "submit to each other" in relationships doesn't mean "be quiet and try not to cause problems because he is the leader."<br />
<br />
I am for women not feeling hopeless and alone when they show up at church without a husband or child.<br />
<br />
I am for women being able to speak truth boldly inside the walls of a church even if she's not married or even if she is talking to men.<br />
<br />
I am for acknowledging the difference in the way women and girls are treated globally and the myriad of problems that causes.<br />
<br />
I am for critiquing the beauty standards that women are placed under and rejecting the controlling, patriarchal natures of our the anxiety that plagues women as we fret and obsess over things only seen by the eye.<br />
<br />
I am for lamenting the violence that is done to women as a result of the lies our cultures and religions and governments spout about our place and our personalities and our passions.<br />
<br />
I am for critiquing the ways that the world minimizes the <i>imago dei</i> inside of my body and mind and spirit simply because I am labeled "female."<br />
<br />
I am for paying attention to Shiprah and Puah, Rizpah, Jehosheba, and the many other names of women in the Bible and for naming it a travesty that those names are not as familiar on our lips as the male names that join them in Scripture.<br />
<br />
I guess mostly I am for me (in a self-confident, not egotistical, way) - - for saying that this life of mine is blessed and good and useful. That I can be an "older" single woman who isn't babysitting or working the church nursery or being a missionary and who is still following God's plan for her life. That I can be a single woman in seminary studying theology and that is good and right and beautiful.<br />
<br />
And, so, I guess, all these many years later in my life I can say I am <i>definitely not against</i> feminism, not at all. I am a woman, a human, a feminist.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-9241384537784577572014-01-16T12:49:00.000-06:002014-01-16T12:49:17.868-06:00Passion<br />
It was an early December Sunday. I was coming off a marathon week of classes, papers, work, and a conference and had one more 10 page paper to knock out that night, so I stayed home from church. I had my books about theology and our bodies piled on my desk, post-it notes tabs sticking out at all angles. I knew the forecast said snow, so I pulled open the blinds and let light stream in as my fingers clickety-clacked over the keys and I tried to keep my passion for the subject in the boundaries of the assigned paper. Only stopping for brief pauses to sip coffee. Then a few pages in, I glanced out the window and saw the snow falling, a light dusting already on the ground.<br />
<br />
I kept typing with renewed enthusiasm to finish so that I could enjoy my favorite part of winter. Philadelphia never had a good snowfall last year and I missed it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7v6WIAgG5V-GxSqUFuO7JoykF-z5zkRioNMEznqAS5BM3el0zNsqVClYM4ORY68RotcMLlAqI8Rtd2iHNg2obXMmOfPS9-JJIB-ZuYa5W3ske4Kx1ZfqqbTaFgPymKOFHw9uWV6RPbs/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7v6WIAgG5V-GxSqUFuO7JoykF-z5zkRioNMEznqAS5BM3el0zNsqVClYM4ORY68RotcMLlAqI8Rtd2iHNg2obXMmOfPS9-JJIB-ZuYa5W3ske4Kx1ZfqqbTaFgPymKOFHw9uWV6RPbs/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
A couple hours later one of my roommates made it back to the apartment with a couple of our Sunday night dinner guests in tow and we decided the thick blanket of white called for a snowball fight. We bundled up and headed out - pelting each other and the windows of neighbor friends who decided not to come outside. We fell backwards and made snow angels before heading back inside and drying off. Then, I was back to the paper.<br />
<br />
I typed away until it was time for Sunday dinner. It was our Christmas party week. We served up plates full of food from everyone's offerings, then opened gifts while laughing and taking turns wearing a Santa hat.<br />
<br />
And then once again I was back to my computer, to run one more edit and submit the paper, proud of the work I had done. Confident that the work I was doing on this topic was important and part of the reason I am on this earth.<br />
<br />
///<br />
<br />
A few years ago someone asked me, "What's your passion?" and I had no idea how to answer them. It wasn't that I didn't have things that interested me, I just didn't know what my passion was - I din't know what it was that motivated me or lead me to do the things I did. So I started looking at my life and trying to figure out that answer.<br />
<br />
<br />
I looked back on my adult life to that point and the things I had pursued, things that were common denominators no matter where my life was. It was things like, "I like cooking for people." "I enjoy thinking deeply." "I like to have people over to my home." "All else being equal, aesthetics are important." "I want people to feel comfortable, welcomed, and thought-of."<br />
<br />
And I started pursuing those things a little more. And that Sunday in December is kind of my answer to "What are you passionate about?" I'm passionate about friends and taking the time to enjoy the beauty of life. I am passionate about thinking about things that matter and engaging with them on deep levels - *specifically about talking about our bodies and our faith and how those things intersect for better or for worse. I'm passionate about communities and sharing meals and developing friendships and having people who show up at your house for snowball fights and warm soup.<br />
<br />
<br />
///<br />
<br />
<br />
*You can read an article I recently wrote on this topic. "Wonderfully Made" in PRISM Magazine - this is a digital issue of the magazine - so flip on through till you see the article. The article starts on page 38. Read the rest of the magazine too - I genuinely enjoy this magazine - great articles on a holistic faith-based perspective on various issues in the world today. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><div class="issuuembed" data-configid="0/6216223" style="height: 342px; width: 525px;">
</div>
<script async="true" src="//e.issuu.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></span><br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-5080932038128767552013-12-11T20:27:00.000-06:002013-12-11T20:27:16.736-06:00learning to loveTen years into learning to love<br />
<div>
my body someone asked,</div>
<div>
What don't you like?<br />
<br />
What don't you like<br />
about your body?</div>
<div>
<br />
My mind traced the curves I know<br />
from lotion slathered on, slowly,<br />
and looking into mirrors until<br />
I saw beauty. Nothing there in the<br />
curves and sags not to love.<br />
<br />
I once fell backwards<br />
into a bank of snow with a laugh.<br />
cheeks flushed from two hours<br />
of clearing fluffy white from sidewalks.<br />
Heart and arms strong for the task.<br />
<br />
When I run, I feel like I"m gliding -<br />
my feet above the track my body soars,<br />
less swiftly than it feels for sure,<br />
but I soar on these legs that resemble trunks<br />
with their muscles toned from years of carrying this<br />
well curved body of mine across the face of the earth<br />
<br />
My eyes have earned me long gazes<br />
from admirers who could not seem to pull<br />
their eyes away from mine. They are my vain pride,<br />
but I allow them that for they are the part of me<br />
I've never hated.<br />
<br />
Genetics, a propensity to have my nose<br />
buried in a book or a computer screen.<br />
My eyes need help. Fifteen years of contacts.<br />
They beg for a break. The budget agrees.<br />
I switch to glasses.The cheap kind.<br />
<br />
I perch them atop my nose and cringe<br />
a little at their prominence with their dark<br />
black frames and the way they seem to cast<br />
shadows over and into my eyes.<br />
<br />
And here I must learn to love my eyes<br />
as they are - deep blue (but sometimes green),<br />
flawed and imperfect like the rest of me.<br />
I have spent a decade learning to listen to my body<br />
and to give her what she needs.<br />
<br />
So, here too, I listen to the cherished<br />
voice of my body, I listen to the voice that says<br />
she's more, that her flaws do not deem her<br />
unworthy, that there is something to still<br />
to love in these eyes that see this world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08f7Fm045f3SnACcps5xNC1I29aXSrxuPgQMEMDJUEjI_ctdNJLOyVoOsst5pKfrKpEjJyD-olN4tCaMf5xFXQHJcTpJRq1h2p4AhdkUJXa6YmB4X3NX67ZxQ61vF-UGGIuiY4UNWDL4/s1600/new+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08f7Fm045f3SnACcps5xNC1I29aXSrxuPgQMEMDJUEjI_ctdNJLOyVoOsst5pKfrKpEjJyD-olN4tCaMf5xFXQHJcTpJRq1h2p4AhdkUJXa6YmB4X3NX67ZxQ61vF-UGGIuiY4UNWDL4/s640/new+glasses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-47066606466734618202013-11-24T18:51:00.001-06:002013-11-24T18:51:35.370-06:00Paper Christmas treeI don't have a Christmas tree currently (and no real reason to get one), but I wanted a little holdiay decor. I was also cleaning out things under my bed and ran across my scrapbook paper stash and thought of this idea. I didn't need to buy anything new to make this, so that's my kind of budget friendly decor!*<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I used a 2" circle punch to punch out hundreds of circles out of green (or mostly green) paper.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWxmcX6owXeqTiHnOQxp-vwVlQXXRRV5raId4DVtDoS7Bm4KCeajbwWz0FE5TrUmkKUa56tX4gO0vwICQjryvu3VehiINjroQuHFV3TLVxjzQ9cnMKNK8gH6I0m5uwL1VQNXwOPB2-QU/s1600/circles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWxmcX6owXeqTiHnOQxp-vwVlQXXRRV5raId4DVtDoS7Bm4KCeajbwWz0FE5TrUmkKUa56tX4gO0vwICQjryvu3VehiINjroQuHFV3TLVxjzQ9cnMKNK8gH6I0m5uwL1VQNXwOPB2-QU/s320/circles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I drew a Christmas tree (just a tall triangle) on some brown shipping paper and it was time to glue! I recommend a fun Christmas movie to watch while you work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzKn9jK5djMhk12gE5inreGbJJsa1wkyGUCj5z-tNBsigzdGxA9NpMWdWC_GBQJqGp0UO5s0-86BJy6P35xFSGCYmkFg2nl9PGNlEMTG5Zq6-qYdW0NAdgiqK-W_jRward_R4lk15N_g/s1600/with+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzKn9jK5djMhk12gE5inreGbJJsa1wkyGUCj5z-tNBsigzdGxA9NpMWdWC_GBQJqGp0UO5s0-86BJy6P35xFSGCYmkFg2nl9PGNlEMTG5Zq6-qYdW0NAdgiqK-W_jRward_R4lk15N_g/s320/with+movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
I did the outline first and then went back and filled in. You want to start from the bottom and work your way up - just put a dab of glue on the top of the circle so that the bottom and sides can curl up later. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A glue gun makes this pretty fast. I'm sure I would've been highly annoyed if I was fiddling with a glue stick or some other kind of messier/longer drying/harder to get out glue.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S0dmupuNqHGEWRzQrjNKosSranxzq30Cryyv6s0I-atMVkWJkeLTWyShtPYw2LMqBB2lT9oZ_bWG0LUt6xaaILur4oTQ90jazkHOCwQtCb4I4dBFofRdMLA-8JYxaTUaDrzbOhob6MI/s1600/outline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S0dmupuNqHGEWRzQrjNKosSranxzq30Cryyv6s0I-atMVkWJkeLTWyShtPYw2LMqBB2lT9oZ_bWG0LUt6xaaILur4oTQ90jazkHOCwQtCb4I4dBFofRdMLA-8JYxaTUaDrzbOhob6MI/s320/outline.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
glue. glue. glue. I didn't make a pattern with the different papers, just random.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the top I used a 2" scalloped circle punch and some gold glitter paper for the star.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I trimmed the excess brown paper off from the sides of the tree and, voila! Tree! I took a look at it and filled in any bare spots with extra circles. I very slightly curled up the bottoms of the circles to give it a more dimensional look. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgY0MdZ6XIioVo48lNx68BumvFv68r31lQneyDiQ3AqbwRPM0cESbTqmTPHdCOXdT3H1dm_dLXpVu8u-4WbhIGTQFz4MNBBTlJ9AQg7qW1ZX2MV3PSliafqUMw8rkxWKkiWodAfunT0g/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgY0MdZ6XIioVo48lNx68BumvFv68r31lQneyDiQ3AqbwRPM0cESbTqmTPHdCOXdT3H1dm_dLXpVu8u-4WbhIGTQFz4MNBBTlJ9AQg7qW1ZX2MV3PSliafqUMw8rkxWKkiWodAfunT0g/s320/tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
I hung it on the wall with a few command poster strips. (It's heavy!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
And then the "trunk" is one of the scrap sides of the brown shipping paper I trimmed off earlier rolled up into a very narrow tree trunk. </div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbZpWwiYqs_8JH-1P4OIEbMkaZf__HY0UcwW1tv_thSSwcv56_Sx0XSz8Tp9DOazOwvjBZFc5LmbvJaOGU4YK7E14IU-7lRyP1S5oQWf-E0COVImLRNtX6xA9ZmuqetJBtRuhwXYbngI/s1600/elf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbZpWwiYqs_8JH-1P4OIEbMkaZf__HY0UcwW1tv_thSSwcv56_Sx0XSz8Tp9DOazOwvjBZFc5LmbvJaOGU4YK7E14IU-7lRyP1S5oQWf-E0COVImLRNtX6xA9ZmuqetJBtRuhwXYbngI/s320/elf.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Added a little elf climbing the tree - and, It's Christmas in this house!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmRcMnF-ZL7v8KBIEEFAgH0HX-1MCNysyyZGFZpeJa75696kH3yLvVPnX9g_Nm7bAkvmJwDjDAjHeE6JZOB_jotQnWkjqf_srh3e2NXvY9xLOC1V0Kakdc63FjCHMq5FXfmqm8WOqbh0/s1600/shine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmRcMnF-ZL7v8KBIEEFAgH0HX-1MCNysyyZGFZpeJa75696kH3yLvVPnX9g_Nm7bAkvmJwDjDAjHeE6JZOB_jotQnWkjqf_srh3e2NXvY9xLOC1V0Kakdc63FjCHMq5FXfmqm8WOqbh0/s320/shine.jpg" title="Scrapbook Paper Christmas Tree" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the paper has shiny/metallic parts on it or glitter - and it really does catch the light to give that illusion of a light when you walk by it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bonus? I can roll it up and keep it and use it another season. :) </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
* If you don't have a circle punch - you'll probably want to buy or borrow that in order to make this (though you could cut a few hundred circles by hand . . ). Alternatively, I bet triangles (or squares/diamonds) would also look cool and be easier to cut without having to buy a punch. If you don't have the brown paper - use any kind of sturdy wrapping paper you have - or piece together pieces of other paper. You may see a little of whatever the paper is on the finished product depending on how much overlap you have - so just keep that in mind. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-24937183333649929512013-11-03T08:33:00.000-06:002013-11-03T08:33:13.653-06:00Knowing People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The theme of my brain the past few months seems to be all about "relationships."<br />
<br />
As I become more and more convinced that "living in peace" is of utmost importance I ask, "How do you do that? How do you make it matter? How does peace work on a national, global scale?" As I read the stories of other people who have sought to live in peace and make peace the way of life in their neighborhoods and countries and world, the recurring theme is relationships. You listen to others. You sit down at dinner with people. You do this especially with people who have different perspectives, backgrounds, etc from you.<br />
<br />
It's fascinating and infuriating.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DN3WA3cTptu1j9-CGoNYLUB7axTNwDw5WvynXM2oTBY7bfUWJv8NU8jeFIDB8lKvEN2oMsb_KmhTSCvB1E3eCUy3Hn1VzMODazEzMfrKiKqkut5LhuDW5Og1ARlInpzqQP2MPFcRtFU/s1600/So+you+say+you+love+the+poor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DN3WA3cTptu1j9-CGoNYLUB7axTNwDw5WvynXM2oTBY7bfUWJv8NU8jeFIDB8lKvEN2oMsb_KmhTSCvB1E3eCUy3Hn1VzMODazEzMfrKiKqkut5LhuDW5Og1ARlInpzqQP2MPFcRtFU/s400/So+you+say+you+love+the+poor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This is so small, so simple, so slow.<br />
<br />
But it seems to work, it seems to matter.<br />
<br />
Somehow you get to know your neighbors and it makes you care about neighbors across political and geographical borders. Somehow when you understand what it is to be poor or sick or alone or foreign or scared through the eyes of someone with whom you have shared a meal, then you empathize with the poor and sick and alone and foreign and scared that you don't know or see. And you know it's not a simple solution. You know that there's not one answer, a magic wand, that is going to solve the deep and divisive problems in our world.<br />
<br />
In her memoir <i>Mighty Be Our Powers</i>, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Leymah Gbowee reminds us that "Organizations like the UN do a lot of good, but there are certain basic realities they never seem to grasp. One is that every war is different . . . because the reasons and the ways countries fight have everything to do with their histories and the way their societies are organized. If conflicts aren't identical, resolution can never be one-size-fits-all." (170) Lessons she learned while advocating peace to end the Liberian war (which worked) can be used and applied to conflicts in other countries and at other times, but she understands that without actually knowing the people, without having relationships, one cannot effectively work for peace.<br />
<br />
So I am trying to "live into" this this fall, to make decisions based on relationships. To build relationships so that I build community, and hope that community builds peace.<br />
<br />
A couple of days ago, I was at the grocery store, getting my coffee creamer and almond milk when I saw a man in a motorized wheelchair a few feet down from me. He had parked in front of the glass-doored case and was making an effort to begin the process of getting milk. Far enough way to open the door, close enough to still be able to reach. I'm sure it's a science he has practiced frequently. I stood there for a brief moment, not wanting to take away his "agency" - not wanting to offer aid if it was going to just be a reminder to him of how many "simple" things he could not easily do for himself. I didn't want to offer to help if I was just going to be one more person making uninformed assumptions about his abilities and independence based on the fact that he moved around while sitting in a chair.<br />
<br />
But in the brief seconds that I contemplated whether to offer help or not my brain said, "Relationships. Think. Use who you know." So I thought of my mother, who has limited physical mobility at times and who has made use of her share of motorized carts. I glanced at the man's face, his body language, and I knew what to do.<br />
<br />
I didn't know this man, had no relationships with him, but I know my mother and her body language when she needs help or when she doesn't. And so when I asked, "Can I grab something for you?" I was not surprised when he gave a relieved sigh, sat back in his chair a bit, and said, "Yes. That one there on the top. Thank you." <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-62381432465145268822013-10-30T21:32:00.000-05:002013-10-31T09:07:06.752-05:00Quotations, Photos, and MusingsIt's been a while since I've done a "what I've been into" post and I'm horrible at keeping up with these things month by month and can never be consistent with the categories. So, this is a "here's a few things from my life" post. Much of it will be October. But September will sneak in.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Some recipes:</b></h4>
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-squash-stew-recipe/index.html">Slow Cooker Squash Stew</a> (This one got an, "Oh, ok, that's good." out of my roommates who wishes I made more fried chicken and less veggies. So I call it a win :) It was also great reheated later.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ohsheglows.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6005705">Vegan Brownie Pumpkin Pie: </a> (SO GOOD. Took it to a pot luck. Attempted a whipped maple-coconut cream, it was more maple-coconut sauce, but a great addition. Pretty easy recipe, though lots of dirty dishes.)<br />
<br />
Actually, "Oh She Glows" has become my favorite place for yummy vegan recipes. There's a <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/02/22/sweet-potato-oatmeal-breakfast-casserole/">sweet potato-oatmeal breakfast casserole</a> sitting half-made in the fridge right now. I'll get it finished up and taken to class in the morning.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Some quotations:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dorothy Day insisted on "not serving soup one day and war the next. We were to live without killing, no matter what the provocation or consequence, no matter how many other Christians or Christian bishops were fighting wars or blessing them." Jim Forest, "Remembering Dorothy Day" in <i>Peace is the Way: Writings on Nonviolence from the Fellowship of Reconciliation</i>, Ed. Walter Wink</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"The seminaries did not teach me. I had to discover it by myself. They did not teach me that it is more interesting to know a Hindu than to know Hinduism; it is more rewarding to know a Buddhist than Buddhism, a Marxist than Marxism, a revolutionary than revolution, a missionary than missiology, wife than the "marriage and the family" course, Jesus Christ than christology." Kosuke Koyama <i>Water Buffalo Theology, </i>150.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
"The ways in which Western culture encourages the anxious conscience to patrol the flesh, which tears, tears up, trembles, tables, and tires, might lead in one instance to those social technologies of food disorders and surgical enhancements, readily fit to the female form. In another instance, it creates an economic and cultural structure of exclusion. . categorically multiplying abject and economically "waste/d" bodies." - Sharon V. Betcher, "Becoming Flesh of My Flesh," <i>Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion</i><br />
<br />
"True pacifism is not unrealistic submission to evil power.. It is rather a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love, in the faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflicter of it, since the latter only multiplied the existence of violence and the bitterness in the universe, while the former may . . . bring about a transformation and change of heart." - MLK Jr.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Some photos:</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzabBwpZ1hIkGcn4X1QoXSjgyw-Heuv4fPLP_M9oGbx0fpvOxzFuuFk_WRjGvHf3bv1R5t3HJx-ey69SpC0oYMOKWXucBgGzwLGwbB_Jx5Ss11g_sAwKEktXiOvwoKL4ZkkLr4WpXAtl4/s1600/cafe+du+monde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzabBwpZ1hIkGcn4X1QoXSjgyw-Heuv4fPLP_M9oGbx0fpvOxzFuuFk_WRjGvHf3bv1R5t3HJx-ey69SpC0oYMOKWXucBgGzwLGwbB_Jx5Ss11g_sAwKEktXiOvwoKL4ZkkLr4WpXAtl4/s320/cafe+du+monde.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went to New Orleans in September. Enjoying a beignet and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. Loved this city. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiw9mYz27ugwAUNyHLljSTekDJ9shoIjI2XVOqK2w0TB1sbXT0PYQBel4cnw0cDmotaXv3YOOuot288b_epb0xuqZRlr6OpcBpap0p50ZcYCv0bzMrpBVqSYuyjz9zWwWaMwQEQur9qs/s1600/haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiw9mYz27ugwAUNyHLljSTekDJ9shoIjI2XVOqK2w0TB1sbXT0PYQBel4cnw0cDmotaXv3YOOuot288b_epb0xuqZRlr6OpcBpap0p50ZcYCv0bzMrpBVqSYuyjz9zWwWaMwQEQur9qs/s320/haircut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a haircut. Fuzzy photo, but I LOVE the cut. Although, people have told me it makes me look younger, <br />
which makes me realize I've crossed that age threshold where "you look younger" is now a compliment. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBY_4kZ47WApDiEiZE4P0-mSyTie3hd3EpDXhC5NGcxHEkt7EIX-kNmQ736zuKjGhkNmO_oBebSrwXnGP8rlM2SL9OY6GnVUyuga4HPCNRVZugzodL-s22LJlMPyDp1DhcjbmHTRTI8w/s1600/pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBY_4kZ47WApDiEiZE4P0-mSyTie3hd3EpDXhC5NGcxHEkt7EIX-kNmQ736zuKjGhkNmO_oBebSrwXnGP8rlM2SL9OY6GnVUyuga4HPCNRVZugzodL-s22LJlMPyDp1DhcjbmHTRTI8w/s320/pin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went thrifting with my roommates. One of them found me this pin that says "How dare you presume I'd rather be thin?"<br />
Best thrift find ever? yup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnXLu17IP6VFGa68jTE3cFO-jCwtPfQ4QLve6rKVYbyLuAG6kGr3Y2Y3oB3ya4ZYuqSM_DD5IHcWYqXvgF5vJXe4-lyW3QT6LW7QzinubFN_JI9_jNbYo9t64TVjJAlx7cdCHM5T0QeY/s1600/squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnXLu17IP6VFGa68jTE3cFO-jCwtPfQ4QLve6rKVYbyLuAG6kGr3Y2Y3oB3ya4ZYuqSM_DD5IHcWYqXvgF5vJXe4-lyW3QT6LW7QzinubFN_JI9_jNbYo9t64TVjJAlx7cdCHM5T0QeY/s320/squash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went apple picking and hay-riding with friends. I am a butternut-squash lover, so this was kind of awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Some cryptic musings:</h4>
<div>
A number of years ago someone asked me, "What's your passion?" and I had no idea how to answer. Sure, I was interested in things. But, passionate? I was more of an "no highs. no lows" kind of girl. I liked to be calm, plod on, don't make waves. But it bothered me that I didn't know what my passion was and so I kind of said, "Figure that out, Nicole. You should know that." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think I've figured it out. There are a few issues where I will dig my heels in and stand up a little taller and talk a little louder and not apologize for my opinions. Not because of stubbornness, but because I have invested time and energy and mental power and relationships and my life into these things and I think they matter, a lot. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's anything but calm, but it's fabulous. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
####</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will be graduating from grad school soon. It is the most uncertain my future has ever been. I've got some of those gut feelings about where to head, but I don't have any guarantees. In undergrad I knew I was heading to teaching. When I left teaching I knew I was headed to Chicago. When I left Chicago I knew I was headed to grad school. I don't know where I'm going now. But I know my passions, and I can see how those can play out in a hundred ways, so I figure the path that's out there for me has to fall at least close to one of those hundred things, so I'm not too worried. But I still get that little pit of anxiety in my stomach when I think about it, still wonder if all my continent crossing and uprooting and new experiences is going to leave me with wonderful memories but without a real path. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-22404678435062107212013-10-19T08:23:00.000-05:002013-10-19T08:23:19.033-05:00making the bed: a morning post over coffeeI think I saw it in a movie once. Maybe <i>Corrina, Corrina</i> ? The lady making the bed grabbed two corners of the bed sheet, raised her arms, flipped her wrists and the sheet went flying high into the air and then on the way down spread flat and slowly floated onto the bed. It was magic and grace and art.<br />
<br />
I don't make my bed every morning, sometimes I just pull the rumpled covers up and call it a day, sometimes I don't even bother to do that. But when I take the time to really make the bed, I love to do it this way, all the covers come off and then I grab two corners of a sheet, raise my arms. flip my wrists, and I find for a few brief seconds I'm mesmerized by the grace and beauty of the sheet falling through the air.<br />
<br />
I can remember going into my parents' room as a child and making their bed. I seem to recall that I often decided they needed different blankets and pillows on the bed - choosing from the linen collection based on how the colors and patterns looked together, rearranging pillows just so. I'm not entirely sure how my mom felt about the redecorating eye of a child, but she always said thank you. The girls at my job in Chicago made their own beds for the most part, but occasionally if I had the time on "linen wash day" I would take the clean sheets upstairs and make their beds. I knew that at the end of their long days of school and sports and clubs and homework and chores that a made bed was a small gift, and it's one I loved to offer.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
It's a little moment in my morning, one that tugs on the parts of my heart that loves to make things homey, <a href="http://mashenahope.blogspot.com/2012/01/bags-and-habits.html">that understands on some deep level just how important making a bed is</a>, I wonder about future beds I will make. Foster children? Guests at an Inn? Nieces and nephews over for a fun weekend with their favorite aunt? Helping out a neighbor with limited mobility?<br />
<br />
In those seconds as the sheets fly high I see hopes and dreams caught up in that brief billow of air.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-64003571067379395202013-10-14T21:05:00.000-05:002013-10-15T06:25:30.388-05:00Snapshots of When We Were on Fire (A synchroblog post)I.<br />
<br />
I am in the aisle seat of the third row back from the stage. The auditorium is filled with hundreds of teens and youth leaders at summer camp. A dramatic depictions of the Angels' point-of-view of the crucifixion just finished and the speaker is asking us what that means to us. He begins the invitation. The lights dim, a quiet hymn begins to play, and he asks, "Are you sure? Do you know for sure that you belong to Jesus?" <br />
<br />
My palms are sweaty and I close my eyes to block out that nagging unsureness. I'd been in church all my life and thought I was a Christian. But three years of awake-at-night was making me wonder. <br />
<br />
And tears fell from my eyes while sitting in that aisle seat. So I stood up and was soon on a bench outside with a friend, a few feet from the overlook on this mountain-top college that boasted a view of three states on clear days. She read scripture and prayed, said, "You know what to do." And I said that prayer again. The one I'd lead other people through on mission trips. And this time it felt like peace.<br />
<br />
Though my views on the concept of moment-of-salvation, (<i>soteriology </i>is the word I've learned in seminary) have changed drastically, I try to save this moment from my often judgmental and cynical hindsight because it was pure and honest and, ultimately, life-changing.<br />
<br />
<br />
II.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am in London. I have come with a small group from my youth group to join other kids from United States youth groups to be "on mission" here. I have walked the streets of Northern London for a week, offered prayers with the owner of a boxing gym, offered my "British" sandwich to a grateful homeless man, sang <i>then sings my soul, my savior God to thee, how Great thou art</i> with friends at the top of our lungs in the twilight darkness next to a sidewalk fruit stand where we marveled at the bounty of bright red cherries being sold by the man wearing a turban.<br />
<br />
On Sunday I find myself sitting in a pew at St. Paul's Cathedral, refraining from communion because they use real wine. I am cringing at the "smells and bells" and the way I see it all as fake and stuffy. On Wednesday nights at home we sang with drums and lights and smoke and that felt real as I waved one hand in the air, the other hand patting rhythmically over my heart. But in that pew, while I scowl and judge I hear a whisper in my heart, <i>I am here too</i>. My scowl softens and I wonder what I am missing.<br />
<br />
<br />
III.<br />
<br />
A speaker at one of the youth trips said, "You should have something marked on every page of your Bible." So I am laying on my bed with my Bible open and a pen and highlighter near me. Genesis and Exodus were a breeze. Leviticus was no trouble at all. But now I'm in Numbers and I am faced with an entire page of names and numbers. Eventually I find something, I don't remember what and that Bible has long been retired, but by the end of the year every page in my bible has a circle or a star, an underline or a highlight. And then I start again the next year. And somehow all these words, even the names and numbers, are burrowing into my soul and that is going to make all the difference in the hard years that are coming.<br />
<br />
<br />
IV.<br />
<br />
There are five of us in a side room. We are going slowly through a stack of "visitors cards" and praying for the names one by one. Praying for God to be peace and salvation, healing and hope. We are on our knees and holding hands, and then as our knees begin to ache and our palms grow sweaty we are flat on our face and palms to the ground. Prayers for these names become praise to God. When the last person has spoken and the quiet has reigned for a few minutes, we get up, walk into the main room, grab a slice of pizza and join in as worship music plays from the stage and 300 teenagers fill our youth room for our monthly "outreach" event. Later that night, we'll stand to the side as some of those names we prayed over come over to us and want to know a little more about Jesus.<br />
<br />
<br />
V.<br />
<br />
I am sitting on the floor of a small waiting room at a nursing home. A couple dozen of us had just spent the afternoon visiting some of the residents, and as we end our time and wait for everyone to finish we gather here in this room. Someone starts singing, <i>O Lord please light the fire, that once burned bright and pure, replace the flame of my first love, that burned with holy fear. </i>And then one song cascades into the next and we are offering an impromptu concert. Our hearts overflowing in song, if not fire.<br />
<br />
<br />
VI.<br />
<br />
It is years later. I have journals stacked at the end of my bed detailing my love-relationship with Jesus the Messiah, detailing the peace and joy a midst my questions and fears. Somewhere in those journals the questions become stronger. The writing less frequent. Until one day I am driving down the road, tears streaming down my face, and telling God he lied. <i>I trusted you, and this is what I got?</i> I will spend the next many months-rolling-into-years making myself show up at church and I will sit in the pew, white knuckles gripping my Bible as I listen intently for some path back to the peace, but deathly afraid that all I'm going to get is hurt again. The songs and underlined verses pop into my head at the oddest times, I kneel down to pull a box from under my bed and I remember the aching knees that went with earnest prayers, a friend invites me to a Mass and the candles brings back the voice, <i>I am here</i>.<br />
<br />
And this time it adds <i>and I will not let you go. </i><br />
<br />
VII.<br />
<br />
<i>You have been sifted as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail so that when you turn back you may strengthen your sisters and brothers.</i><br />
<br />
. . .from on fire, to sifted like wheat, and turned back again with a different flame.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is part of a synchroblog event for Addie Zierman's new book When We Were On Fire. I'm hoping to read it soon - her blog has blessed me and given me so many "me too!" moments about my evangelical upbringing - it's blessings and struggles. More info on how to link up your blog entry and find other submissions by clicking <a href="http://addiezierman.com/?p=2586">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HAURpethsl8RW-pDeCx8RrW87tV-izxeNdd0q8EmDvtc1TfnmLoEWoDfjsclp2oFoPSyO8xureWv7AcBAaDdGY9nVJjDwNpGP1jGpxxm_7h0AbzNojt4xcgKsvdiXjAydjksQ7I9VEw/s1600/wwof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HAURpethsl8RW-pDeCx8RrW87tV-izxeNdd0q8EmDvtc1TfnmLoEWoDfjsclp2oFoPSyO8xureWv7AcBAaDdGY9nVJjDwNpGP1jGpxxm_7h0AbzNojt4xcgKsvdiXjAydjksQ7I9VEw/s400/wwof.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-60553281775909564942013-10-11T11:08:00.002-05:002013-10-11T11:08:23.707-05:00a few thoughts on eating mostly plantsI have been eating a "mostly vegetarian and sometimes vegan" diet for 10 months now.<br />
<br />
A sampling of reasons why I made this change:<br />
<br />
1. I genuinely like eating "healthy" foods; I like vegetables.<br />
2. I'm a wanna-be hipster, this seems like a hipster move.<br />
3. Something in my gut (pun intended) told me this was a good change.<br />
4. At the very least, the current meat industry (factory farming) treats animals in cruel and horrible ways and has various negative impacts on the environment and the economy.<br />
5. I get to worry less about cross-contamination while cooking. This makes my anxiety-prone brain happy.<br />
6. On a "full time student" budget - simple vegetarianism is generally much cheaper in my area.<br />
7. The aesthetics of a full produce basket in my kitchen make me happy.<br />
8. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes and discovering new foods/cooking methods. Nothing like having to toss 99% of your standard go-to meals to get started on "new."<br />
9. From a faith perspective, there is something to the fact that the creation story does not include the killing of animals until after the fall.<br />
<br />
There is one thing that was not my motivation though, and that has surprised me with it's quiet, steady, presence in my life these past ten months.<br />
<br />
Fasting.<br />
<br />
For lent I did strict vegetarian only diet. But even then, I wasn't focused on the fasting. I was focused on the "adding." As in, I could afford a few extra of the "expensive" fruit and veggies and grains since I wasn't buying meat. I was getting new and exciting recipes. Learning new things. Feeling new connections to the world around me. All good things.<br />
<br />
But, as the honeymoon phase ended I'd have really intense desires for various meat-based foods. It was never even a hunger-craving, but rather a desire for the other impacts that food had on me. Food and taste and smell is powerful. There is a reason things like "comfort foods" exist. They are satisfying and warm and familiar. They fill some emotional need and serve beautiful purposes for our mental health. For me those things are a chicken-broccoli casserole, roast beef and meatloaf the way mom made it, and hot dogs with sandwich relish (the way I ate them with my Grandaddy). After living away from my home-state (in fact, away from that entire region of the country) for four years, there are restaurants and foods associated with "home" that ease feelings of homesickness because they offer some connection.<br />
<br />
One thing I've found myself asking as I encountered these desires for these various animal-based foods is, "What kind of vegetarian dish can I make that will mimic that?" And, of course, barring some molecular gastronomy techniques and some highly processed meat-alternatives that still don't quite get it perfectly right, the answer is: "There isn't one. I can't recreate that taste another way." I can come close, get an approximation, something that might quench the hunger craving, but not the soul-desire.<br />
<br />
I am completely in favor of supporting the basic biological fact that sometimes food that nourishes our body also nourishes our soul and our emotions. I am not one to outright dismiss "emotional eating" because food is more than contents for your stomach. But as I identified these desires for feelings and realized that in this way that I've chosen to live that those desires could not be met in the familiar ways, I understood "fasting" as a spiritual discipline in ways I never really had before.<br />
<br />
So my moments of desire turned into. "hmm. Roast beef sounds really good. I remember Mom making that at home. I remember learning to make it. Dad often requested it on his birthday. It was the first meal I made for the kids at work in Chicago. Those are good memories with family and friends" and I thought about the memories, maybe called my mom, thanked God for those times, and thought about why I wouldn't buy the roast just to recreate the taste and smell (see list above). It's not the same as the powerful memory of smell and taste - I don't get the same result. But I also have good memories around board games, jokes, special days, and fruit salad. There are other ways to satisfy those desires for connection to my past. And the fasting from ways that involve animals allows me to ask what I'm really wanting when I "crave" Chicken Divan and I find myself better off for knowing the answer. And, my mom probably appreciates the phone calls I make (though she doesn't normally know she's the answer to my chicken craving when I call).<br />
<br />
I have literally been trying to decide what to do about Thanksgiving since January. There is a local farm where I can reserve a "life well lived" turkey if I decide to do that, but I guess the question is, do I need to do that to enjoy the day? Everyone knows thanksgiving side dishes almost outshines the bird - so a side dish feast seems a brilliant way to celebrate as well.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day I try to offer myself grace in this process. Last night I listened to my friend Sarah give a presentation on loving Jesus and loving animals and how that all fits together. I'm sure she'd be ecstatic if the whole world instantly became vegan, but she offered us much grace in the process - "choose one meal to be vegan," "be a vegetarian who occasionally eats bacon." It's better to make informed and knowledgeable choices about our food, she said, than uninformed ones. <br />
<br />
For me, I've discovered this year that the "informed" and "knowledgeable" is about how animals are treated and if I'm ok with that, but it is also being informed and knowledgeable about myself - recognizing emotions and desires and connections to people and the world around me.<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-44296603070422523932013-08-08T10:03:00.001-05:002013-08-08T10:03:03.598-05:00Taking Up Space<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I had written a "What I've Been Into" post for the month of July it would be about how I've been reorganizing my apartment. My two roommates from last year moved out and three new women are moving in soon. July was my in-between time. I pushed furniture around, cleared out cabinet spaces, scrubbed and vacuumed. While I occasionally started to get a bit lonely, I enjoyed the month of introverted bliss.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the main projects was to make sure that all of the three new ladies would have enough space. Last year it was just two of us for a while, and then when a third person moved in she didn't need much space. So, my things were quite spread out around the apartment. I've been re-organizing and condensing kitchen and bathroom shelves, emptying out what was an extra closet last year so that the fourth person could have it, and trying to maximize the space in my own closet and under my bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been working hard to make sure that the space is as equitable as possible, but the bedrooms are different sizes and mine (that I'll share with one other person) is the big one. I realized I was battling some type of guilt over that, despite the fact that I was not the architect. Last year, when we were divvying up kitchen cabinets I took the smallest one, trying to be fair or generous or something, and soon found the tiny sliver of a cabinet unsuitable for my stock of various lentils and beans, vinegars and oils. In reorganizing the kitchen this past month - I arranged some of the dishes into that tiny cabinet, leaving one large cabinet free for each person's food storage. (One is slightly smaller, but I freed up a drawer for whoever gets that cabinet.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The other night as I agonized over square inches, shelf space, and equitable </span>proximity<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to power outlets, it hit me, "I'm afraid I'm taking up too much space."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">***********</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I buy airline seats I am very methodical. I check the make and model of the plane on seat guru and analyze the inches of width in the seat design of various planes. I choose my seat near the window, not for the view, but for the ability to lean my body into the unoffended wall and away from the presumed discomfort of my flight neighbor-to-be. On the morning of, I dress nicely to prevent the "lazy slob" description. I arrive early, so that I can board in the correct zone and slide into my seat before my row mates arrive and I have to squish my body through.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few months ago, I flew stand-by. I jumped from gate to gate waiting on a flight, any flight to get me to my destination. A couple of minutes before takeoff my name got called. I made my way down the aisle of the almost-full plane and glanced at the letters above the seats and realized I had a middle seat. I took a deep breath as I saw my seat - one empty slot between two seats filled by slender men. "Excuse me, that's my seat!" I said with a smile. He got up and let me through. I avoided eye contact for fear of seeing annoyance or even disgust. I buckled my belt (relieved that it fit) and squeezed my arms together, pulling in my wide chest in the process. I made myself as narrow as possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Somewhere in the flight I relaxed out of necessity. One can only hold a squeezed-in position for so long. But as I relaxed and realized the world didn't end and my neighbors didn't huff in disgust I mentally relaxed as well. This is my body. It takes up this space. It deserves the space it inhabits. My neighbors' long legs were folded up awkwardly in the space between his seat and the one in front of us. His legs were not wrong, they are not committing some social travesty by needing more room to be comfortable. Neither was my width. Here, the airline had shrunk and crammed: every inch a dollar sign. Money was deemed more important than people. It was a choice I submitted to when I boarded a plane, but their focus on profit did not mean my body was wrong. My fellow passengers had made the same choice - to fly in a coach seat with unknown neighbors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AHxHnhmiVtOi8wePbRHvZdAr-tXnDJbQ-2xd3ikPZ08BRJGIot9lxqYl0ww-DX7GFF71yidBDKghhOzHfl3xqTalIbMVPq-KJmbc0yswNUVfPBY8vmC7Iz1Co_REWJKFXQMf5UTztI/s1600/beautiful+wonderful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AHxHnhmiVtOi8wePbRHvZdAr-tXnDJbQ-2xd3ikPZ08BRJGIot9lxqYl0ww-DX7GFF71yidBDKghhOzHfl3xqTalIbMVPq-KJmbc0yswNUVfPBY8vmC7Iz1Co_REWJKFXQMf5UTztI/s640/beautiful+wonderful.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outline is Me. :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
I'm no psychotherapist - but I'd call the fears of "taking up too much space," whether it's my body on a plane or my life in an apartment, related. Realizing that connection helped me breath a little easier about the apartment sharing. I'm doing my best to set things up to be equitable. I'm more than open to the input of my future roommates and to share the things I have. The best I can do is be me and thankfully that is all that is required.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-10045925179936020362013-08-03T13:21:00.000-05:002013-08-03T13:34:38.707-05:00Napkins and Beauty<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In May of 2009 I sat down to dinner at a large table with about a dozen other people. Women and girls filled the table and greeted me warmly and asked me questions about my life. My presence at that dinner table was part of an interview for me to work and live in the home as a houseparent in a non-profit residential program. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I loved everything about it. The girls, the home, the town, the job. It was all so me. Well, I guess I should say I loved </span><i style="background-color: white;">almost</i><span style="background-color: white;"> everything. At the dinner table my plate of chicken sat atop a bleach-stained and wrinkled placemat and my silverware lay across a faded floral napkin with frayed edges and a thread bare hole in the middle. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I'm willing to admit here that I've got aesthetic snobbery issues. I'm willing to admit that despite my love of [almost] everything during that job interview, those napkins bothered me. Why were obviously worn pieces of cloth still being used? These young women deserved the dignity of pretty, or at least neat, napkins! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hospitality is in my blood, I toyed with the idea of becoming an interior decorator. I value things being pretty and welcoming and pleasant. While my emphasis on where those things should fall in the scheme of important things has changed over the years, my heart is still firmly rooted in making spaces welcome and hospitable</span><span style="background-color: white;"> - and in my head that has often meant "nice." While it may sound silly, I was literally kind of sad for the people who lived in that house that their napkins had holes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Fast forward a few months and I'm packing up my apartment. Getting rid of most of my belongings, putting things I love into storage, and selecting the bare minimum to move with me 800 miles to my new job as a houseparent. As I sorted through my kitchen I pulled out my napkins, and placed them in the "Take to Chicago" pile with a smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Now, my napkins were not fancy. They were simple linen squares in a neutral color. But thy were clean, the color was consistent, the hem was in tact, and there were no holes. I had laundered them carefully during the two years I had used them and folded them as soon as they exited the dryer. They were clean and neat and wrinkle free. I would take them with me and replace those worn and faded things I had seen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The napkins got put into the linen drawer at my new home and job. I threw out the torn and frayed ones. Over the next three years as countless meals were served at that large dining table they were put into rotation with the other napkins. They got tossed in the laundry hamper after our family dinner each night. Laundered, folded, and put away back in a drawer for the process to repeat the next day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">At the end of the summer of 2012 as I prepared to leave my job as a houseparent and move on to grad school in Philadelphia I was organizing the dining linen cabinet and ran across a couple of those napkins that had I had brought with me years before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">They were splattered with bleach spots. A couple of thready holes found their way into the fabric and the hems were tattered and frayed. Evidence of hundreds of meals and cycles through the washing machine. Evidence of laughter at dinner and stories of the day. Evidence of tables full of food and a chorus of "pass the .. . " for ten minutes while we all filled our plates. Evidence of chore time and the labor to wash it, fold it, put away, and re use it all over again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">For the three years I had lived in that house, I had not had sole control over those napkins. I did not launder them myself, careful of temp and cycle and detergents. I was not there every time they were put away to ensure they were folded and not crammed. The napkins got swept up into the life of a busy house and were part of that community. With so many people and so much life to be lived, the napkins quickly got pushed off my radar of things about which to be concerned. While I will argue in favor of caring for our material goods, even meticulous laundering would not have preserved napkins that went through hundreds of washes. They were used as they should be and showed the signs of age. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">With all my "aesthetic snobbery," I wouldn't trade those three years of laughter around the table, dinner clean-up, and loud music during chore time for the prettiest napkins of all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">That summer as I organized the linen cabinet, I took one of those napkins I brought with me to Chicago that was now faded and torn and placed it in my "take to Philadelphia" pile. It'll never be used as a napkin again I'm sure, but it's there in a memory box so that when I run across it one day in the future I'll remember those family dinners, the way that chore time became a dance party, and that some things are more important that aesthetics.</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-69763742899670590042013-07-22T21:37:00.000-05:002013-07-22T21:38:21.040-05:00Racism<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">About six years ago I heard the CDC statistic that African American children are three times as likely as white children to die from accidental drowning. I asked myself why, started doing some research, and learned a history that started in making sure slaves couldn't escape via the rivers, traveled through segregated public swimming pools where separate was not equal, and continued its journey t</span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">hrough the correlation of minority populations with low income and therefore limited access to swimming facilities. Add to the lack of swimming access a resulting natural fear of the water passed down through generations. It was the first time I saw structural, systematic, institutionalized racism and it literally killed children. </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">I had been the typical southern conservative white girl. I figured affirmative action had done its job, I thought people cried racism because they wanted something without working for it. I believed in equality for everyone, I just thought we were already there, or at least we would be if people would stop dragging the past into the present.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">But once I learned that statistic all I could see we're drowned children. Mothers and fathers crumpled next to a small casket. I cannot accept a world in which I ignore that centuries of oppression continues to kill children.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">And so when mothers and fathers who are crying next to caskets of dark skinned boys tell me that this reminds them of something from those days when nooses hung publicly because everyone assumed that of course the black boy was wrong, I'm going to listen. I will listen when friends and neighbors and people all over an entire country join in to say, "We are him, because we know what it feels like to have eyes follow us around the store, to have women cross the street to avoid encountering us, to have police officers stop and frisk us just in case. We know what it feels like to be suspicious to people whose history and culture has told them that our dark skin holds dark motives."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">I can appreciate a legal system that at least states that people are only found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but listening to those who tell me of the centuries of reasons why so many people doubt that their children are good and worthy of life breaks my heart. This is not the world I want to leave to future generations.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">I believe that we have to acknowledge that racism still exists in order to move past it. While I always want to be aware of my "privilege" and the fact that I need to listen more than I speak on this issue, I also want to be someone whose not afraid to speak and to remind others to listen. I hope this little bit of my heart shared here encourages someone to listen intentionally to those who are hurt and troubled by things you think are overblown, exaggerated, or pointless.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">-originally posted as a facebook status tonight. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.com0