I'd been chewing on some thoughts on art and aesthetics, especially as discussed in this wonderful conversation between James Baldwin and Chinua Achebe, as well as on the relevance of it all to the Church unfolding in our era. Then Mireya read to us the title poem from Amanda Gorman's new book (an "occasional," she calls it), and the following came out of me. Make of it what you will:
[Results of Proprioceptive Writing exercise, 9/13/2021] Part I: A Meandering Mississippi of Mind I thought I would be ready to write today; the energy of it written behind my eyes. But here I am not writing about anything but not writing. I sit with it. I sit with it some more. And still I sit, … Continue reading Mapping Mental History: 2021
[Proprioceptive writing after recitation of Nothing Wants to Suffer, by Danusha Laméris. 04/15/2015] Ensconced in our canopies, our eyes looking out at each other but also at our selves our self. If God were a fly would we each be an eye? an eye ensconced in the canopy of the fly-- The God? Yet we … Continue reading So Far Beyond Reach (?)
I have always felt most drawn to the psychological defense known to some professionals—professionals who bother reading the back of the manual—as “autistic fantasy.” To an outsider, it appears like a second choice, like a movement away from something that, were it not there, not noxious, the choice would not be made, the inner world would not be preferred. I believe for many of us, those on various points of the so-called neuro-divergent spectrum, this could not be further from the truth...
Amen amen, You the host of all, You the manner in which we speak, You the one who carries us on articulated breath. Amen amen.So be it today as yesterday, and all days moving forward, though we who are weary may not see it. Amen. Amen to you who hides behind waves of sadness and … Continue reading Turbulence: Proprioceptive Writing, 1/28/21
[The following is a piece written for a proprioceptive exercise inspired by Rachel Ann Russel's poem, Broken Beauty.] Twisted grace upon the waters Shedding light and blinding eye I wake to pain while seeking warmth How do you know whether to welcome consciousness to the new day Or not? I hang here Resistant to … Continue reading Twisted Grace
A moment ago, I finished the following for another purpose, but I thought some folks might like to read it. It's a very short list of more or less unique things clergy have faced this year. Teachers could probably relate to many of these items, but, even then, not in the same way. And teachers … Continue reading Just a Couple of Things Your Pastor Has Dealt with in 2020
This morning began with cold water spilled onto my bare shoulder. The whole point of the straw was to avoid such messes and I’m not exactly sure what happened. What I am sure about is that this very long day was not meant to begin at 6am, the time my alarm was set for, but … Continue reading Rabbit Rabbit
Proprioceptive Writing Group, 9/17/202 Poem Read – “What’s Myself Doing to Myself”, by Ruth Harm Calkin Part I: No Pain The girl-dog slumbers with gentle, fluttering snores. The Bear-dog lies at my feet, ears erect, not sure if he should sleep. He puts his head down. Ears are still erect. I am not calm or … Continue reading Here, 2020
I want to tell you of my position, of my stance and who I am. But who I am and where I stand is best affirmed by negation, by my stepping aside and my identity reducing in strong humility.
Bread in the Desert 