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

Provocative Hope

Today I tagged along with Jennifer as "the intern" to a meeting. This particular gathering was a group of clergy who work in West Nashville. They were coming together to discuss beginning a group of people of faith to organize as a community and fight against various problems they see in Nashville. Homelessness, food deserts, speaking out against bills up for vote on Tennessee's capitol hill, you name it.

The most magnificent thing about this, however, is that these clergy included Christian ministers, Jewish rabbis, and a Muslim imam. Women and men, different races too.

Here we are in a world where some people think it's okay to burn a Qur'an (I mean really?), where sometimes women still get paid less than men, and where racism is still alive and well. But here is this group, truly trying to grow with one another.

I'm sure there are plenty of people that disagree with this union, and plenty of people that would not be not willing to engage in what I think are essential interfaith experiences. To each his (or her) own, but I really believe that there is so much to be learned from people of faith whose traditions are different from our own. And to be learned from people not of faith, for that matter. I am by no means saying we should drop everything and change our whole belief systems. I'm still Christian. But I cannot bring myself to automatically condemn someone just because he or she doesn't like Jesus as much as I do. We're all people, and we're all on the journey, longing for something to guide us as we stumble through this crazy world. These opinions of mine are in all likelihood largely because I have good friends that subscribe to a multitude of religions (and who have varying degrees of aversion to religions in general). But those are

It is so so inspiring to me to see God at work in Nashville and in this group I witnessed this morning. Sure, people in the room disagree on some major issues. But the fact that they are willing to take the first step in putting those aside (for now) to be able to address issues they can agree on is a lovely thing, and I find it encouraging that it seems I'm not the only one that thinks so. One woman at this morning's meeting described the fact that this kind of meeting was taking place as "provocative and hopeful." I don't think I could've said it better. It's pushing the boundaries, doing something unusual. But however small it begins, hope is there too, for a dialogue of faiths that everyone can benefit from.

Love,
Allison

Jesus was a cool dude...

Well, I feel rather hypocritical that I blogged about not forgetting the hard stuff that happens during Holy Week and only said a few things about Good Friday. But, I'd feel weird writing about Good Friday now, since it's already Easter. I'll just have to promise a Good Friday blog next year.

This Easter has been interesting. Good, but strange because for the first time in my life, I am not with my family today. I mean, I am, in a way, since I think at this point I consider some people here a family of sorts. But you know what I mean. But like I said, it has indeed been good. Today started with a "sunrise" service down at Room In the Inn's Campus for Human Development. (I use the quotation marks only because by the time the service started at 7am the sun was already up.) 2PC co-sponsored it, so there were a lot of familiar faces. The wonderful thing though is that there were unfamiliar ones too. A good number of Room In the Inn participants were there along with folks from 2PC and other Nashville churches. It was such a wonderful mix of people, dressed in everything from dresses and ties to whatever clothes a person had happened to find at a donation center. I noticed the communion table too, which as it seemed sort paralleled the crowd that was there. The pretty standard ceramic chalice and table cloth, next to the plastic pitcher of grape juice from the kitchen, and the bread still in the foil plate it came on. It all went together quite beautifully if you ask me.

After helping serve breakfast to some participants after the service, Mary Kate and I headed back to 2PC for breakfast! Though we didn't actually contribute anything ourselves, it was technically a potluck so there was quite the array of delicious things. Drank some coffee, filled our bellies and after a quick trip to Vandy to pick up a student I was back for the 11am service. I forgot how crazy church is on Easter. New vocab word I learned today: Chreasters. Pronounced like...kreester. C&E's. Christmas/Easter people. It's kind of wonderful. Regular Sundays are lovely enough, but to have people spilling out of the sanctuary? Kiiiind of exciting. And everybody's all happy and excited and the choir busts out the happiest parts of their repertoires. I'm not one to talk outwardly about Jesus all the time, mainly because I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to shove Christianity down anybody's throat. But friends, at least for me, this is what it's all about. Like...no wonder everybody's so happy on Easter. No wonder I couldn't help but smile during most of the service(s) this morning. To know that no matter how much we mess up, how much we struggle, things will be ok and we will be loved? That is awesome. And I don't mean awesome like "oh dude that tie dye is awesome." (Though that statement is totally legit.) I mean that I am in awe of how wonderful that that is.

We spent dinner at Mary Kate's 2PC adoptive family's house, and it was just really lovely to get some home cooked food and hang out in a real living room with a family. Granted it obviously wasn't my house, but it was nice, to say the least, to be in some sort of pleasant homey setting on Easter. All in all a joyful day indeed.

All sortsa Easter Love,
Allison

My adoptive 2PC mom kindly dedicated a lily in the sanctuary to me.
Now the Toolshed has a real live plant for decoration!

P.S. - The title of this post is inspired by a camp song called "Jesus Was a Cool Dude." Sing it to the tune of "We Will Rock You." And ideally stomp and clap just like the real song...

Jesus was a cool dude

Forty days with no food

He wrote the golden rule

And that's okay

He's got blood on His face

Thanks for the grace 

Spreadin' His love all over the place 

Singin' we will, we will praise Him (whoop!) [the whoops are important!]

Praise Him (whoop!)  

We will, we will praise Him (whoop!)

Praise Him (whoop!) 

...yeah. You're welcome for that. Happy Easter, friends.

The Meaning of Maundy

Maybe you all know the definition of the word maundy already. But since for some reason I feel totally comfortable sharing things here on the internet, I'm telling you that I sat at 2PC tonight halfway through the Maundy Thursday service realizing that I had no idea what the word actually means. I mean I know that Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper (which led to the communion we celebrate today, every first Sunday, and the occasional other church holiday), and is also the origin of foot washing. Well, speaking of foot washing...

maund·y

[mawn-dee] 

–noun

1.

the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor, especiallycommemorating Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet onMaundy Thursday.

I've heard of foot washing before, and foot washing was part of the last staff devo of the summer at camp both years I worked there. But I don't know that I actually realized the real connection between foot washing and Maundy Thursday. I mean for goodness' sake, it's the definition! If you're unfamiliar with foot washing, there's a handy dandy link to the Wikipedia article on it in my last post. I think I never really made the connection because, at least as far as I can recall, I don't think I've ever been to a Maundy Thursday service that involved foot washing, until this year. The idea though is that Jesus ends up turning the tables on his friends, his disciples, and he washes their feet. Usually a job for servants, this caused quite the stir (which it turns out was not an unusual reaction to Jesus' actions). The point though, is that we are all called to be humble servants. I think the number of ways humble servanthood can manifest itself are infinite,  and I think it applies to even the most important and influential of us. And that's a indispensable idea, within the Christian context or not. 


Another thing I noticed tonight at the service is that the term "night of love" kept coming up. It surprised me at first, because I think I associate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday with each other. I mean obviously they're related, but the truth is that, at least until Jesus gets to Gethsemane, Maundy Thursday was a good time. Serious. But good. Full of Jesus' love for his disciples (which I suppose in turn means all of us). After Jesus washes the disciples' feet, he says: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) Now, I'm not trying to undermine the seriousness of Maundy Thursday and the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion that happen after the Last Supper. (Scroll down a couple posts for thoughts on why the sad stuff is important.) But I think I've also realized that our knowledge of what is coming in the next few days can sometimes overshadow the wonderful spirit of community and love that was present at the Last Supper. I mean, Jesus knew what was up. He knew what was coming. But if he wash feet and say all this of love, surely we can too. 


Love,
Allison

This is weird.

It's weird that last night was PSF's last worship service for the year.

It's weird that that means last night was my last worship service with PSF.

It's weird that the students I work with are leaving in a matter of weeks.

It's weird that I feel so supported and loved by those people, though I see most of them only on Tuesday nights.

It's weird that Nashville feels like home.

It's weird that my days of actually living in Davidson are over.

It's weird that I think that makes me kind of almost a grown up.

It's weird that the people I love are so spread out.

It's weird that I know for sure where I'll be next year. 

It's weird that my plan for after that is finally coming together.

It's weird that I think I'll end up attending more Holy Week services this week than I have the past four   years combined.

It's weird that I've been alive for 22 Easters and this is the first time I feel like I've really, truly paid attention to the days that lead up to them. 

It's weird that I want feathers in my hair. (Seriously.) 

Weird is a weird word. 

But I think weird is good.

PSF still has one more week of hanging out, but our end-of-year festivities will be at Jennifer's house next week so last night was our last evening at St. A's. Seriously, when did that happen? It's weird (yeah...that word again) that in my head I've been saying there are a few more months left in this year. There are, technically, but things will change after Vandy's graduation. Most of the people I've gotten to know will be going their separate ways, back home or off to a summer job or a different new adventure. A couple months after that I'll be off on my own new adventure (more on that later). But it's strange for these end-of-year things to be happening a good while before the end of my year. It's lovely though to think about the connections I've made at PSF, and the community that I at least feel like I'm a part of. Like for example. During worship last night there was a part where myself and a senior who will be a YAV next year went up front and Jennifer prayed for us, while everyone else came forward and laid a hand on us. My eyes were closed and my back was to most of the folks there...so, I don't know whose hands were whose, but I felt like they meant it, you know? Whatever "it" is in a laying on of hands. It's such a supportive and loving community here, and even though we met just seven-or-so months ago, it's real.

There was a lot of emotion in the air last night in general. Not only was it the seniors' last worship service with PSF, but in observance of Maundy Thursday we had our own little foot washing during worship. All this thinking and talking about servanthood and humility, added on to the end of end of the year. There may not have been tears or outward displays, but the emotion was almost palpable in the air. And powerful too, at least for me.

All this talk of new adventures, and I haven't blogged about my plans yet, at least in any detail. Official news (that has already been shared with the Facebook world): I'm going to New Orleans next year! Though I don't know what my specific job will be yet, I've officially accepted a placement in the Big Easy for, as fellow YAV Emily calls it, some "YAV double dipping." The plan is to spend the year further discerning what I feel is a call to go to seminary. Figuring out where to go and what in the world to do with that theological education. So we'll see where that step takes me, but at least I've got a place to live next year!

Love,
Allison.