so i've been wondering a lot recently about the proper attitude on War. What might happen in we (America) laid down our weapons of mass destruction? What might happen if we took our guns and turned them--through a process of heating and bending--into statues of peace? Thich Nhat Hanh is right when he says, "Even if we transport all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the roots of the bombs are still here, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we will make new bombs. To work for peace is to uproot war from ourselves and from the hearts of men and women." Also, "Nonviolence does not mean non-action. Nonviolence means we act with love and compassion." G-d, we have to lay ourselves down. David writes, "For your sake we are killed every day; Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt. Rise up! Come and help us! Save us because of your unfailing love." Well my question to the world is this: Who is being slaughtered like sheep in the name of peace? Is it the Christians? Is it America? Is it anybody? (please tell me who the world sees as peacemakers). What might happen if we marched right into the belly of the beast and offered our neighbors some freshly baked cookies and a chance at peace, renewal, forgiveness? Maybe then we would become the bloodlust scapegoats (and maybe we would see a new world). And we know that whether we are high in the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord, the ultimate scapegoat and neighbor and friend.
We don't have to live like this.
We don't have to turn on the t.v. and watch African tribes enact genocide on one another. We don't have to watch the United States add to the destruction and death that is already so prevalent in this world. We don't have to support the lazy energy companies who would prefer dirty old technologies to new, shiny, clean ones. We don't have to buy cars and clothes and coffee that have bloody pasts. We don't have to be or feel guilty (since guilt is far from the real issue).
We can be the change we wish to see in the world. We can have peace and know peace and be peace and love in this world. We can wait patiently and confidently to see a new kingdom manifest itself in our own hearts and in the hearts of our neighbors across the entire earth. We can dance and dance and dance our way to our clean and bloody graves.
"May flowers and peace and happiness manifest with every step you take."
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The boundaries of politeness
So I have just moved houses. Here’s the story:
Or perhaps it’s better to begin (and end) like this: They say it takes money to move. I have just successfully moved for approximately one US dollar (less than one euro). Life lesson number one: If someone every gives you this option, do NOT take it. Pay the 7 euros for the taxi ride. Here’s what the one dollar option entails:
1) walking 15 minutes to the metro (subway) station with over 70 pounds of everything you own either on your back or in the rolling suicase behind you.
2) carrying all that stuff down a few flights of stairs
3) looking like an idiot (hey, you get used to it as an American in Europe!) with all your stuff on the metro. I literally heard a group of girls say “mira esta con la maleta” (look at this guy with the suitcase!). The best part though is trying to blend in with all the stuff, like “oh, yeah, this is how I usually roll. No problem here. Just doing the usual…” (yeah like ANYone bought that!)
4) getting off the metro, climbing back up escalators and stairs, finding daylight, asking a group of old men for directions, and finally, reaching home.
Here’s what the taxi option entails:
1) get in taxi and give the driver directions
2) get out of taxi and say “thank you.”
But here’s the real kicker (why I’m sometimes just unfortunately unintelligent…): My host family offered to move me to my new place. In many ways, my host family had already accommodated me, so…of course I was like “oh…don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine. You’ve done enough already.” Hindsight is 20-20!
If someone gives you the option to move for one dollar, do not take it.
Check.
Or perhaps it’s better to begin (and end) like this: They say it takes money to move. I have just successfully moved for approximately one US dollar (less than one euro). Life lesson number one: If someone every gives you this option, do NOT take it. Pay the 7 euros for the taxi ride. Here’s what the one dollar option entails:
1) walking 15 minutes to the metro (subway) station with over 70 pounds of everything you own either on your back or in the rolling suicase behind you.
2) carrying all that stuff down a few flights of stairs
3) looking like an idiot (hey, you get used to it as an American in Europe!) with all your stuff on the metro. I literally heard a group of girls say “mira esta con la maleta” (look at this guy with the suitcase!). The best part though is trying to blend in with all the stuff, like “oh, yeah, this is how I usually roll. No problem here. Just doing the usual…” (yeah like ANYone bought that!)
4) getting off the metro, climbing back up escalators and stairs, finding daylight, asking a group of old men for directions, and finally, reaching home.
Here’s what the taxi option entails:
1) get in taxi and give the driver directions
2) get out of taxi and say “thank you.”
But here’s the real kicker (why I’m sometimes just unfortunately unintelligent…): My host family offered to move me to my new place. In many ways, my host family had already accommodated me, so…of course I was like “oh…don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine. You’ve done enough already.” Hindsight is 20-20!
If someone gives you the option to move for one dollar, do not take it.
Check.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Day 1,2,3,4, etc...
Ah…where to begin? The nuns of mother teresa’s order, the club, the luxurious Canary Islands, the paella, the language…
I’ve never done a blog before, so this is a totally fresh experience. I think if you were to look at my profile, you'd find that I'm an accountant in Afghanistan (help?) It’s challenging, you know, to know what to write that people will care about whatsoever. I guess in the U.S. people expect Europe to be this constantly exciting place, full of smart cars, local corner restaurants with scenic views, and night life that never ends. Well, I’ve found all of these and they’ve been great. However, I still don’t feel like I’ve found “it” yet, and I’m excited to do so. I went to a soup kitchen yesterday afternoon with a couple of guys (It’s run by the monks of mother teresa’s order!). It was your typical deal—about 100 people come in, say a prayer, eat, and leave. I was struck by the abundance of this place, however. To start with, people were given a bowl of soup, 2 plums, 2 small cartons of yogurt, bread, a hard-boiled egg, Sprite, and water. Maybe I shouldn’t have put “Sprite” right next to “hard boiled egg”…that sounds kinda gross. Anyway, after that, the thirty or so volunteers walked around with pots of extra soup, serving people until everyone was full. Scenes like this make me appreciate (and want to stay connected to) the Christian Church. These people come in every day around 5:00 and receive the same treatment. Every day at 5 o’clock in Madrid, if you are hungry, you can be fed.
I’ve never done a blog before, so this is a totally fresh experience. I think if you were to look at my profile, you'd find that I'm an accountant in Afghanistan (help?) It’s challenging, you know, to know what to write that people will care about whatsoever. I guess in the U.S. people expect Europe to be this constantly exciting place, full of smart cars, local corner restaurants with scenic views, and night life that never ends. Well, I’ve found all of these and they’ve been great. However, I still don’t feel like I’ve found “it” yet, and I’m excited to do so. I went to a soup kitchen yesterday afternoon with a couple of guys (It’s run by the monks of mother teresa’s order!). It was your typical deal—about 100 people come in, say a prayer, eat, and leave. I was struck by the abundance of this place, however. To start with, people were given a bowl of soup, 2 plums, 2 small cartons of yogurt, bread, a hard-boiled egg, Sprite, and water. Maybe I shouldn’t have put “Sprite” right next to “hard boiled egg”…that sounds kinda gross. Anyway, after that, the thirty or so volunteers walked around with pots of extra soup, serving people until everyone was full. Scenes like this make me appreciate (and want to stay connected to) the Christian Church. These people come in every day around 5:00 and receive the same treatment. Every day at 5 o’clock in Madrid, if you are hungry, you can be fed.
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