On the road again...

Come Saturday, I'll be heading back to the homeland (aka North Carolina) for three-ish weeks. I'm fortunate enough to have two weeks of "service to the greater church" built into my job description, largely because of the fact that most of PSF's students are gone for the summer. Workin' my way down I-40 I'm going to lead a small group at the Montreat youth conference next week, then a few miles down the road I'll spend a week volunteering at camp. After that I'll be using my remaining vacation days to go on a family reunion in Michigan.

I've realized that I have really mixed feelings about these upcoming adventures. Don't get me wrong, I'm eagerly awaiting rounding a curve on the interstate and catching my first glimpse of the North Carolina mountains, and getting to spend two weeks there. And I genuinely enjoy spending time with family (which I count as a major blessing). But I've also become quite attached to Nashville. And the other day I realized that, taking into account my upcoming traveling, I essentially have one month left in Nashville. One. That's not very long. At all.

And things will be different this time around, in the mountains. Montreat is familiar enough, but this will be my first time at a youth conference and I'm responsible for a small group. My only time spent at camp has been when I was on staff (not counting the half-week I went for way back in like 1995), and this time I'll be just a volunteer for the week. Seven days is a lot less than two months.

Adding to the strangeness of this year's camp experience, today I learned that camp's Site Supervisor (aka Maintenance Magician) passed away last night. Besides the fact that I'm pretty sure Dennis could fix anything that broke ever, he always just drove camp from project to project in his red truck waving and smiling and making friends. Surely something will feel a little off at camp this summer. For a long time probably, because Dennis, if you ask me, is a pretty irreplaceable person. Dennis, if you're reading blogs up there in heaven, we love you and we'll miss you so much. Thanks for being a wonderful person and for everything you did for camp. And to whoever happens to read this: please just keep Dennis' family in your thoughts and/or prayers, and throw a few prayers in the direction of the Camp Grier family and this year's summer staff as they start the summer off on this sad note.

All that said, as I mentioned in the beginning I think I'll still love my time in North Carolina and Michigan...I just didn't anticipate having such mixed emotions, I guess. Someone told me once, just a few weeks after I'd moved here, that I would fall in love with Nashville. And I'm fairly certain he was right.

We'll see how it goes, this processing that's going on right now. Not being ready to leave, but knowing how important to me the places I'm visiting are. Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself, too. I do have all of July and a week of August to soak up Nashville after these upcoming adventures...

Love,
Allison

Tongues of Fire and YAVs and Stuff!

Pentacost. Celebrated 50 days after Easter it recognizes the end of the Easter season on the Christian liturgical calendar. (For folks unfamiliar with but interested in the occasion, here's what Wikipedia has to say.) And, in case you don't need Wikipedia's help but want a refresher on the biblical part of it all, check out Acts 2:1-6:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

The thought occurred to me, rereading that just now, that that whole experience was probably a little bit terrifying for people there. I mean seriously...violent wind and then there's fire on people's heads? But, whether it was scary or not, people ended up (after some words from Peter recorded later in Acts) attributing the events as the work of the Holy Spirit, and thus begun the Church we have today. 

Anyway. The PC(USA) has an annual Pentacost offering that supports different mission programs of the denomination, including the YAV program. (It's one of a handful of "special offerings" throughout the year.)  I was inspired to write this particular post because a Nashville friend and YAVA put a link to this blog on Facebook. Given that you listen to me ramble about the YAV program plenty, I felt like I should share this other guy's thoughts too. So take a look, he's got a lot of good things to say.

Also there's this nifty video from PC(USA)'s website...fun fact: Robert in the video is from Davidson! Whooo Davidson! You can read about his experiences as a Hollywood YAV here.

So, I guess really the point of all this is just to encourage you, if you're a PC(USA) church-goer (or if you're not), to support the Pentacost offering this Sunday. You can also support the YAV program directly, or support a YAV individually...like...say...me going to New Orleans next year (info to the right if you want more on that). But seriously. Even if you just put a dollar in the offering plate, help the PC(USA) do good things in the world!

Also, in other news: brushing your teeth and then eating yogurt is a bad idea. Blech...
Love,
Allison

Being Together

This morning was Confirmation Sunday at 2PC. Depsite the fact that don't actually know any of the confirmands personally, it got me thinking. Thinking about how lovely church communities are, how important they are, and how powerful they are. 


I feel like I should say first, though, that I am aware of how truly lucky I am to have been a part of congregations that I am comfortable in and that love and accept me. I know that's not always the case, and that different people have different experiences and views on going to church. But here are my thoughts...


This morning there was a part of the confirmation part of the service during which the confirmands spread out down the aisles, and the congregation laid hands on them to pray for them and welcome them into the church as members. Now...laying on of hands can be awkward. At least I think so. But that could be because I rarely like being the center of attention. I can also say, though, that I think to be prayed for is an incredibly meaningful thing, and the added aspect of physical contact can make it even more special. There we were, a whole congregation connecting literally and figuratively to 2PC's newest members.

At one of the last PSF worship services of the year, there was a commissioning service for a student who will be a YAV in Guatemala next year (her blog is here...check it out come fall!), and for me (as I'm heading to New Orleans in August). As we knelt facing the front of the chapel, the other students that were there walked up and put their hands on us (or on someone whose hands were on us), and Jennifer said a prayer for our upcoming journeys.

Now, I met these people in early September. That's not all that long to have known them, but if we're going to be honest here I almost cried during that prayer. (Almost.) It was so wonderful and a little overwhelming the amount of support I felt just from our modest little Tuesday night church of college students.

Who knows if this morning's confirmands had the same powerful experience, but I sure hope they did.

I just think it has given me so much joy to be part of these loving communities, that I hope everybody else out there can find one (or a couple) too. And I mean maybe that doesn't even mean church church. Sure PSF and camp don't have their own church buildings but they sure as heck are just as meaningful to me. And I'm not saying it doesn't count unless a whole congregation lays their hands on you. I just think Jesus was serious when he talked about being together.

 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

(Matthew 18:20)

Love,

Allison

A Beautiful Thing

Music is a beautiful thing, friends, and music can do beautiful things. A link on the good ol' Facebook this morning led me to this video:

After a little research (aka clicking on a link) I've learned that it's produced by a group called Playing for Change. Check out the website for more info...they're doin' some pretty cool stuff over there. Music has always been a powerful thing for me, and I think it's just incredible to see it doing powerful stuff elsewhere too.

I couldn't help, reading and watching all of this, but think of the YAVs scattered across the world, in different continents or just on different sides of the country. We're all connected through this program, but doing different things...playing different instruments of sorts, still tryin' our best to play this collective song of love, one way or another. And I can't help but be thrilled that I get to be a part of that for another year.

Love,
Allison.

PS- As I was about to click "publish post" on this entry, I almost took down that last video. Not because it's anything less than awesome, but because I feel like I write a lot about how super it is to be friends with people and love everybody and such, but it's not all that easy. It is super, but it's not as simple as jammin' out to a Bob Marley song ya know? I'm leaving the video there though. I mean first because I just love it (the end is my favorite part), but also because despite the fact that there's a whole lot of hurt and conflict in the world, and despite the fact that maaaybe I didn't step all that far out of my comfort zone this year...gosh darn it I've gotta try! And anyway. What's the harm in a little positive thinking?

PPS- Look! I added fancy new tabs to the top of my blog! (And by "top" I mean right below the title...)

PPS- Update (June 6, 2011): Besides the music that is outwardly trying to do good things/support a cause, I'm just so thankful that music exists in general. I mean it's just so wonderful that somewhere along the line we humans figured out words and instruments and songs. I went to a concert last night with a fellow YAV (Sarah Jarosz...check her out) and the combination of her beautiful voice and crazy instrumental talent was just lovely. Also there's a special place in my heart for banjos and madolins and fiddles and cellos. You just really can't go wrong with that combo. I'm really going to miss Nashville music next year...but I'm pretty sure New Orleans will be able to keep me entertained too. :)

Walking In Memphis

Hello dearest friends!

Today for our YAV community time, our usual vocational discernment (discussing a book, talking with Janet, hearing from a guest speaker...) was replaced with a day trip to Memphis. Six YAVs and Susan, squished into a mini  van. (Those things seem way bigger when you're like seven...) While it was quite a lot of car time (about seven hours, total) I think we got some good stuff in while we were there.

We started off with a barbecue lunch at Rendezvous, which as it turns out is rather well known. And by that I mean mentioned in my book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. So, that was cool. And delicious. We even got free red beans and rice! (We're fairly certain everyone gets them there....but. We also decided to pretend it was because they liked us.)

Then we made a pit stop across the street at the Peabody Hotel, which is coincidentally also famous. For ducks. That hang out in the lobby and apparently march in and out each day to music. We weren't there for the marching part, but we saw them chillin' in their fountain.

A quick trolley ride (mini impromptu photo shoot included) and then...

Lastly, and mostly (as in...the reason we went to Memphis is the first place), we spent time at the National Civil Rights Museum, which is installed in the same building that was once the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was so interesting to be in a place that brought together different parts of the civil rights movement in one coherent museum, and a pretty powerful place, too. Apparently other people agree, as the museum is also in the "USA & Canada" version of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. But in all seriousness, it was almost overwhelming to stand just a wall of glass away from the exact balcony on which Dr. King was shot. Across the road from the Lorraine, you can look out the window from which that shot was fired and see evidence and information from the investigation. It was a great experience, and if you find yourself if Memphis, you should most definitely go.

And that was my Friday, folks.

Love,
Allison

Catching Up

Hey friends!

I've slowly but surely been chipping away at my literary adventure, but haven't written about it in a while. Books that I've finished but haven't uncommented on:

Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution
It's been a while since I finished this one, but here are a few thoughts: I realized very soon into this book that I will never be Shane Claiborne. I mean, I'm all about loving people no matter where they come from, but I just don't think I'll be going to live in India or pulling off a big demonstration on Wall Street. Granted, India is on my bucket list. On the other hand, I do love Shane Claiborne's writing style. Mainly because there are a lot of "dude"s and otherwise familiar-to-my-vocabulary words, and it kind of seems like you're just having a conversation with a friend. Not to mention that he's got some stellar stories to tell. So, all in all I liked the book. I'm not nearly confrontational enough to share my thoughts the way he does, but it was definitely a good read.

Carol Howard Merritt's Tribal Church
I first heard of this book because the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee's group on College and Young Adult Ministry (aka CoYAM) hosted a conference called YCHRCH (meant to be a combo of "Generation Y" and "why church?"). Carol Howard Merritt was the keynoter for the day long conference, so I added her first book (Tribal Church) to my list. I mean...I bought a copy and she signed it, so I probably should read it, yeah? She writes about young adults in the church--or the lack thereof--as well as young adults entering into ministry. As a young adult planning on entering some sort of ministry, I felt like a lot of it applied to me. A lot of it was intimidating to me, too. As somebody who likes having connections and bonds and ties to a place, it's rather scary to read that the average young adult moves every 2.7 years. It was fascinating, though, to read some explanations of why membership of young people in mainline Protestant churches might be as low as it is, and there was certainly a lot to think about. Too much thinking though and I might just talk my self out of seminary! Sheesh. A good book though, for sure.

Soon I'm going to update this post with a few specific things I liked about each one, but I don't have the books with me at this moment.

So that's all for now...on to the next one!
Love,
Allison

Presbyterian Happenings

Hey friends,

If you're of the PC(USA) persuasion you've probably seen by now somewhere on the internet or elsewhere that a little over a week ago we passed Amendment 10-A. In case you haven't, and because other people are better at explaining it than I, this link has some good FAQs. Also here are comments from CNN and the New York Times. Basically though, the change adjusted ordination standards to allow for the inclusion of LGBT folks into ordained ministry.

This post, I think, is going to be more about my processing of the reactions that followed the 87th vote than it is on my actual opinions about the issue. But, in the interest of making this at least somewhat personally invested, I feel like I should tell you that I'm glad it passed. Really glad, actually.

Of course there have been reactions all over the spectrum to these happenings. Folks over at More Light Presbyterians are super stoked about it, while others call it "yet another tragedy." I think it's hard to remember, when you're so emotionally invested in an issue, to consider the people on the other side. I went with a couple of my fellow Nashville YAVs to a presbytery meeting and after the presbytery had voted on (and passed) 10-A, a man stood up and mentioned that he had been on "the losing side" before, and knows that it's not fun. (Or something to that effect.) And that makes sense. I mean if it hadn't passed and I had been surrounded by people celebrating that, I probably wouldn't feel awesome.

So, I don't know. After listening and reading and digesting all of these reactions, I really think I've found the most meaning in the ones that don't even support a particular side of the discussion and instead call for appreciating our differences. For example, after the amendment passed, 24 former moderators of the denomination signed this letter encouraging unity. You know, whether you're excited about 10-A or not, maybe we can all still be friends? I was recently at a gathering during which one person commented: "I may not have voted for Obama, but I didn't move to Canada either." And I think that makes a lot of sense. Another blog on 10-A reads: "We are united in Christ through our baptism, not our opinions. We are adopted into this family, this crazy, cranky, contentious, sometimes and unexpectedly beautiful family."  That same blog, though, says that maybe it's ok for some people to leave. Sure, the numbers aren't exactly stellar right now, but I can see the merit in not trying to force people to stay. I know there are plenty of family analogies in the world, but maybe that's because they make sense! Families disagree, families fight...maybe that one relative cuts everybody else off. But you know what? That family can still be a family. Hopefully, they can still sit down at the dinner table (or maybe a committee meeting?) and love each other. I also do not think it does any good at all to be in a Church with just people like ourselves. The key is for both sides to realize they have room to grow. Which can be really really hard for a lot of people (myself included). The nay-sayers must push themselves to be more open-minded, while the people voting yes must challenge themselves to remember that there are some people pretty upset with and scared for the church right now, and they need some love too.

Really I'm not sure exactly how to condense the thoughts floating around in my head, and I'm pretty sure I just keep typing myself in circles. But I also wish I was courageous enough to have this conversation with more people face-to-face. I don't have the slightest clue why I can type things here that I'm too scared to say to a good friend. But I can. That's not to say I haven't had my fair share of "Oh yay 10-A passed!" conversations with people who I know agree with me. But I feel like sometimes I'm just too scared to stick up for it when I know a really intense conversation could come out of it. It's the Peacemaker in me I suppose (enneagram anybody?), but it's super frustrating sometimes. My mind says what I believe, but in an effort to avoid confrontation I end up mumbling my way through some as-neutral-as-possible statement. Then I just end up frustrated and embarrassed that I couldn't stick up for it, if for nothing else than the people I know who care about it even more deeply than I. So anyway. Maybe people will read this and find this part cowardly and maybe a little bit ridiculous. But it is what it is, and for some reason I can say that here.

All of this is to say that I'm excited and hopeful for the PC(USA). While I don't think this discussion is anywhere near over, I'm thinking this is a pretty big step for us. A good big step. Granted, I don't know exactly where that step is going, or how long it'll take to process...but the fact that the question got asked in the first place, and that there are enough people voting yes in presbyteries out there to have a majority? That means there are a lot of people out there who are for making our denomination even just a little more welcoming. And that's a lovely feeling.

So that's that. If anybody wants to force me into a confrontational (or friendly) conversation feel free to, but I just probably won't be the one starting it...

Love,
Allison

Someone else's thoughts.

Hey friends,

I cut this poem out of the bulletin cover at a First Friday service and taped it to my wall. I was reading it the other night laying in bed, and remembering how much I liked it the first time I saw it. I don't know who wrote it, or where it came from. But here are someone else's thoughts on the cross:

I SIMPLY ARGUE

THAT THE CROSS

BE RAISED AGAIN

AT THE CENTER

OF THE MARKET-

PLACE AS WELL AS

ON THE STEEPLE

OF THE CHURCH.

I AM RECOVERING THE CLAIM THAT JESUS WAS 

NOT CRUCIFIED IN A CATHEDRAL BETWEEN TWO

CANDLES, BUT ON A CROSS BETWEEN TWO THIEVES,

ON THE TOWN GARBAGE HEAP--ON A CROSSROADS

SO COSMOPOLITAN THAT THEY HAD TO WRITE HIS 

TITLE IN HEBREW AND LATIN AND GREEK, AT

THE KIND OF PLACE

WHERE CYNICS TALK

SMUT, AND THIEVES

CURSE, AND SOLDIERS

GAMBLE, BECAUSE

THAT IS WHERE HE

DIED AND THAT IS

WHAT HE DIED ABOUT.

AND THAT IS WHERE

WE SHOULD BE AND

WHAT WE SHOULD

BE ABOUT.

Love,

Allison

Godly Weeds

Walking from my car to the office yesterday, I noticed this right at a busy intersection:

They're thistles. 

I've mentioned, before, an organization called Thistle Farms. Check the link for more info if you missed the last post. You can also follow them on Twitter. Thistle Farms produces all natural bath and body products, and is associated with an organization called Magdalene (follow the same link for info on that). Magdalene is a program for women recovering from lives of prostitution and addiction. Where the thistles come in: the thistle serves as their symbol because it grows in rough conditions. As a weed it is often unwanted as it pops up out of concrete, or in a tiny patch of grass between two busy roads. Hard to get rid of, it can survive with very little nourishment and in the end grow into beautiful flowers. If you're interested in hearing more, NPR just did a series about Magdalene and Thistle Farms. Listen here.

So, after noticing these particular thistles (and getting a little excited just because I knew exactly what they were), it struck me how beautiful they really are. And how the world could really use some beauty right about now. With so much violence and destruction, whether by human hand or nature's, we could really use some nice, sturdy beauty. I've still been thinking about all of the different reactions to Osama bin Laden's death (scroll down a post), and the awful storms and destruction in Alabama and the surrounding areas. And wouldn't you know, just days after the storms and the very day after the President's announcement about bin Laden,  here's God saying "Oh hey friend, what's up? I'm here."

Love,

Allison

On Recent Events

Unless you're living under a rock, you know by now that a US military operation managed to kill Osama bin Laden last night. Watching the announcement on the news and the American reactions that ensued, a lot of things have been tumbling around in my mind. I'm going to try and tread lightly here, because I get that it's a huge deal. And I want to make it clear that I'm not saying I think bin Laden should still be alive running around able to kill more people right now.

But what are the theological implications of the way we've been reacting to this news? I'm glad I live in America...really. It's a comfortable, privileged place in which to grow up. But I'm pretty sure God doesn't hang out up there in heaven wearing a USA t-shirt, holding a Bud Light in one hand and using the other to toss lightning bolts down at anyone who messes with us. Call me crazy, but I'm fairly certain that's not the way it works.

One friend pointed out that whether we like it or not, bin Laden was a child of God too. And I mean, really, he was. Was he a good person? Obviously not. Did he do really awful, horrible things? Yeah. But I don't think God would rejoice in the death of any of God's children, no matter how evil his or her deeds.

Another friend pointed out that the way many Americans are reacting to news of bin Laden's death is eerily similar to the way some people in the Middle East reacted to the 9/11 attacks. I mean think about it. Huge gatherings in streets full of people holding flags and cheering against a political figure...

I want to reiterate that I'm not trying to say Osama bin Laden was a good person, or that I'm not relieved that he can no longer cause harm and violence in the world. But I just cannot bring myself to enthusiastically join in celebration for the "success" of killing. I also think there's a lot of "mission accomplished" talk going around...and while this particular event is perhaps a step in fighting terrorism, I'm also pretty sure an entire terrorist organization is not going to crumble because their leader was killed. 

So...I don't know. I'm still trying to figure this all out, both how I feel about it personally and how I should correctly approach it in the context of my faith. Maybe it's even too touchy of a topic to be rambling about on the internet. But those are my thoughts for now, however fragmented they may be. I just think all these recent events deserve some serious consideration, deeper than the surface reactions. Biblical food for thought:

Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble

Proverbs 24:17

Love,

Allison