Simpleigh

Found an old blog entry from a couple months ago. Not quite complete but I thought I'd share. I've discovered recently that it's possible to go your whole life without knowing how to love someone unconditionally.  It's frightening really, all the subtle ways we withhold our love from the people around us. Our insecurities determine the risks we take with our love.  My affection comes with so many conditions. Subconsciously, a thousand little requirements dictate whom I love and how much I love them.  I ask myself constantly: What can they offer? What do they expect from me? Will they leave me?  It's easy to love someone when they have something to offer you. But what happens when they have nothing to give?  What happens when they are lying ill in a hospital, unable to care for even themselves? I've always loved my Dad, but not because its been easy. At times loving him has been really really hard, and I'm sure he would say the same thing about...

In our Spiritual Formations class we have been practicing different disciplines. Two weeks ago we practiced Lectio Divina. This form of prayer has you read the biblical text —or some other spiritual writing— a few times over, paying attention to what lines or words or feelings speak to you. For some reason, I felt drawn to a book of poems I own by Rilke. His collection, The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God, is one of my favorites. It's full of joyful reflections and heartbreaking laments. It is painfully honest and cuts to the heart of our longing for God. I flipped through the book until I came to "Ich Bete wieder, du Erlauchter." I must have read it out loud ten or twelve times, each time with more conviction than the last. I thought I would share it with you; in the hopes it will bring you solace.  "I am praying again, Awesome One. You hear me again, as words from the depths of me rush toward you in the wind. I’ve been scattered in pieces, torn by conflict, moc...

"James Hampton's entire artistic output is this single work which he called  The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly.  Hampton worked for more than fourteen years on his masterwork in a rented garage, transforming its drab interior into a heavenly vision, as he prepared for the return of Christ to earth... Hampton's full creation consists of 180 components...  Massive wings, suggesting angels, sprout from most components; framed tablets line the walls, and crowns and other complex foil decorations fill every available space of the assemblage. The entire complex was originally placed on a three-foot tall platform set stage like against the rear wall of his garage. The Throne  and all of its associated components are made from discarded materials and found objects consisting of old furniture, wooden planks and supports, cardboard cutouts, scraps of insulation board, discarded light bulbs, jelly glasses, hollow cardboard cyli...

It's official, I'm a seminarian. The reality set in yesterday as I sat through my very first chapel service and class. The strangest part is how natural and yet unnatural it is to be here. In one sense I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be, which is a comforting feeling. However, in another sense, this space and process is so unfamiliar.  I like to call this one, "Jesus Plays Hide and Seek" Taken at the Library of Congress. In Church History yesterday we recorded how many denominations were represented in our class. The white of the white board got smaller and smaller, as the names of every stream you can think of were put up. The spread bridged everything between Unitarian Universalist and African Methodist Episcopal church; and yet there we no practicing Catholics. I never realized before how much Catholicism has informed my religious identity. But something about being here, in the process to be ordained, feels radical. Or maybe it's the si...

A recent article in Relevant Magazine inspired me to write my own rules for moving to a new place. Here's what I came up with... 1. Realize it's OK to miss how things used to be. When you move you leave behind a whole life. This is includes your friends, church, work, home and environment. Moving demands leaving these behind, or at least, at a distance. Thing's aren't going to be how they always were and it's OK to grieve that. Remember how it was in "the good old days," realizing there are plenty of good times to come. Be thankful for what has been and open to what will be. 2. Be outgoing. Explore, taste, do, engage, be made uncomfortable. It's the only way to introduce yourself to a new city. Making new friends requires getting out of your comfort zone. See what the city has to offer. Sometimes the natives don't even know what is unique and beautiful about their own hometown. Show them. 3. Start fresh.  Whatever happened before is...

my neighborhood Originally, when I thought about getting to school two week early, I thought it was a mistake. Turns out it was a great idea. Since I arrived in DC a week ago I have gotten to explore the city, learn the layout of my neighborhood, and organize my life before everyone else gets here. It also gave me the opportunity to meet a bunch of Wesley students and hear about the classes I'm taking this fall. DC is wonderful. I think when the temperature drops below 95 I'll be in heaven... There is SO much to do here! This week is restaurant week, which means there are all kinds of special deals at fancy restaurants. Exotic food trucks line the street selling everything from Korean tacos to Red Velvet cupcakes (both real trucks I've seen). Yesterday my friend (and fellow seminarian) Laura and I ate at place called "We the Pizza" on capital hill. It is definitely in my top five all time favorite pizza places.  This past week I have a done a pretty go...

Wow... Lately I feel like that shot in a movie, where the camera spins around a stationary —and progressively more exhausted— person with changing scenery behind them, used to show the passing of time. The past few weeks have been a blur. It all began with resigning from work and visiting my dad. Immediately after that,  Marie and June came into town and we spent what felt like a month running all over Florida. After June left, I had half a day to pack for seminary!  The next day my mom and I packed up the car, and now here I am in Washington, DC. My time here has been good so far. Yesterday I met a few people and unpacked my room. Today my mom and I went to the Holocaust Museum; where after four hours we still didn't see all the exhibits. Tonight we met up with some current and graduated Wesley students; many of whom live, or have lived, in the intentional community here. Did I mention I'm living in an intentional community? Well yes, part of the campus housing here is an...