Follow the Star - or whatever light you see

Whatever holiday you're celebrating/have celebrated: may you have light, life, and love and be surrounded by the holiness of this time.

Happy Solstice and Merry Christmas from the Earthbound Spirit

Happy Christmas & other Holidays

Tree, 2006, by dh

Our minimal level of decorating has been done! A new, recently live tree, in the corner bedecked with assorted ornaments. Most of the ornaments are simple, many are handmade by me - or the dh - or kids. Yes - that is a koala on the top of the tree, clinging to the spiked tree topper. M*'s contribution. She says she's on the side of the koalas...

DH & M* are whipping up a pan of brownies - there go the waistlines. Christmas is on its way!

Hey - get the cats out of the tree water!!!

Happy Dance Time!

This is not a deep thought post - this is a celebration!

It's the end of the term! Last final was this morning. I still have to write a paper for one class - but the exams are done.

I can breathe. Maybe do some Christmas shopping. Sleep late a couple of days...

And get ready for more in a few weeks.

But, for now... It's happy dance time!

Penguin Theology? - SPOILER warning

*Thinking Theologically about “Happy Feet” (spoiler warning: don't read if you haven't seen the movie)

This occurred to me as I tried to sleep last night, and I set it down now as a way of getting it out of my head so I can concentrate on other work. Traditional Christian theology, as presented to me involves the banishment of chaos by an all-powerful deity who brings order to the world. In the most recent reading for a ministry class, the inherent order present in chaos was discussed, with the theological view that chaos is to be embraced. The reasoning is that every system that survives long term must be adaptable and open to change. A rigidly ordered system that cannot adapt or change will die.

This is visible in the movie, “Happy Feet.” The “different” penguin, Mumble, is shunned by the group. He can’t sing, but he can dance. He’s seen as different - and different is wrong. Mumble, I think, is a force of chaos introduced into an overly rigid system. The leaders of the colony at first reject Mumble, claiming that only strict adherence to a code of behavior and trust in an all-powerful deity/force will save them from certain starvation.

Eventually he is blamed for the dwindling supply of fish which threatens the group’s survival. Mumble decides to find the source of the problem and try to change the situation. He goes on a long journey (a Hero’s journey?), nearly sacrificing himself in the process. He then survives being captured and placed in a zoo, (a dark night of the soul experience?) where he becomes zombie-like and depressed.

Eventually, he snaps out of his coma-like state and begins dancing in response to tapping on the window of his enclosure. This is noticed and an exploration team is sent to investigate the state of the penguin colonies and groups are mobilized to regulate fishing. Mumble gets to dance, and is reunited with his family, friends, and the penguin he loves. I think there's more going on here, but that's all I have time for now.

Peace

Snow Day!

Photo from local TV station website.

First winter storm of the season. The midwest is socked in and it's still coming down. My kids have long lamented that our school district VERY RARELY closes. There are no classes today... and the kid still in school is reveling in the freedom of sleeping late.

Earlier, the snow was falling sideways. It's still pretty windy out there, and as long as I can stay inside and avoid driving, I will. An acquaintance of the dh who lives in Eastern Europe lamented, via email, that we're getting snow while his skis are rusting in the closet. I'd gladly send this blizzard to him!

I heard a sermon last year about winter being when the speaker really felt like a pagan. Reveling in the brisk wind and the beauty of the snow seemed to bring out the deep connection to nature for that minister. Poetically, the speaker drew the congregation into her meditations and musings -- it was really quite lovely. Today, I'm trying to recapture the beauty of that feeling, but I keep looking at the snowfall as so many hours of work to clear the driveway, and errands undone.

I'm sure it will be pretty later. Life will get back to normal tomorrow, when the storm has passed and the streets are cleared. Maybe then I'll lament not reveling in the weather. Maybe then I'll be able to be poetic about it.