Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Eric's Top Ten Band Names from Phrases in Conversation: Countdown
The countdown is back and we have a strong competitor coming in at number nine. It's...
Recalcitrant Chicken
With their debut Album, Robot Geek Show.
A rock group with a nerdyflavour, RC plays witty, irreverent songs that reference geek culture. They use very little fancy techniques like distortion but have a unique, slightly squeaky sound. They often incorporate obscure lines from videogames into their lyrics and cover art.
Recalcitrant Chicken
With their debut Album, Robot Geek Show.
A rock group with a nerdyflavour, RC plays witty, irreverent songs that reference geek culture. They use very little fancy techniques like distortion but have a unique, slightly squeaky sound. They often incorporate obscure lines from videogames into their lyrics and cover art.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Happy Destiny
My relatively new collapsible guide cane is half my height, white, with a red tip that I use to sweep the ground ahead of me for junk people have left on the pavement and to swat at the shins of those who text while walking. Downtown Toronto is a glowy, crowded place at night. Seas of indistinct shapes and shadows weave in between floodlight storefronts and empty, dark alleys.
After a long day of classes, reading, and writing reports I much prefer staying most nights. My body always feels heavy after dinner. But fortunately, I have good friends who pester me to come and visit them.
This particular Thursday night, some friends had planned an evening at a Pub. I don't like Pubs either because they're darker and noisier than the streets. But I figured my friends would take care of me. And I was in a mood to place myself in the hands of God, letting the Spirit determine what would happen to me, rather than selfishly ensuring my security by staying in.
So I took to the open air and enjoyed the mild wintry breeze against my face. And while there were crowds, they were happy, ambling folks who were attending to their own affairs.
I met with my friends at Newman Center, a Catholic youth/student place near the University of Toronto Library. S was there to greet me, a fascinating and intelligent young woman currently studying theology. I met lots of folks at Newman but I shall not describe them all here as our paths were to unexpectedly diverge soon after I arrived.
Seeing as I don't see to well at night, I drafted S to be my guide. I would take her shoulder and she would lead me to our destination. Neither of us had been to the Pub in question before but we planned to follow our group. The group was concerned about being late, and rushed out. S went to retrieve her coat and we went out together, only to find everyone out of sight. We moseyed in the direction we thought the Pub was, based on the address, laughing and wondering what to do.
We were not far along when S met someone she knew. J was a smiling and chatty young Korean exchange student, just three months into her experience of learning English in Canada. She was with her friend A, also a Korean learning English and the two of them were late coming to the center, hoping to join the general outing.
We started walking together and S and myself told J and A that they were very welcome to come with us. J and A agreed enthusiastically and proffered that perhaps our chance meeting was "a destiny".
I smiled and warned them that our meeting might turn out to be an Unhappy destiny, because we were lost and didn't know quite where we were going. But it also might be a Happy destiny because we might have a nice time anyway. J enjoyed this turn of phrase. I think S did, too :>
I noticed that we were walking close to my community, where I and the other Jesuit Scholastics live. So I invited S, J, and A to come in and warm themselves up while I checked the address of the pub on google maps. We walked a good ways and then turned the familiar corner to my house. It's a fairly large residential house (13 people live there) and J and A exclaimed when they saw the size of it. AS I opened the door they commented that our house's address is seven, "a very lucky number". I agreed that it was a good omen.
As soon as I got them in the parlor, I was peppered with questions about who lived in the house and why. I offered to take J and A on the tour, S came with, smiling, though she'd seen it all before. J kept oohing and aaahing and exclaiming at the size and novelty of it all. Our basement has a sizable library with stained-glass windows in it, which my guests particularly appreciated.
I also showed them our chapel and was asked to explain the difference between "Priest" and "Father" which took some doing. I made everyone tea (frantically shuffling through cupboards because this was the very first time I'd ever made tea in the house, me not being a tea drinker). Then I got some sugary little biscuits on a plate and carted everything in. As I was, my brothers and fathers in the house were welcoming S, J, and A and introducing themselves. One of my brother scholastics mentioned that they were watching a movie downstairs and that all were welcome to join.
As we sipped our red-hued tea, I put the options plainly to my new friends: stay here and hang out, check out the movie... or venture forth into the dark, looking for our missing pub. J decided that the strings of fate had pulled her to the Jez Rez and that she wanted to see what else the experience might hold. So we headed below to the TV and discovered that it was Groundhog Day; both our present time of year and the name of the film. J and A were most curious what a groundhog was.
I much enjoyed seeing the movie for the first time. I'm sure its based on some existentialist novel or something... but I couldn't say which. But I can say without giving much away that the movie fit our theme of being spontaneous and proceeding into the unexpected with an open heart. I highly recommend you watch it if you haven't.
After the movie, we sat around and chatted. It was interesting to our guests that each young man present was studying to be a priest. J asked me if my parents had to call me 'Father'.
"Only as a joke," I replied.
J was very earnest in asking each of us why we wished to become priests. A common enough question and my stock answer is, "I look damn good in black". Which I do. But J asked because, she said, it seemed to her that Canada was a very family-oriented culture and that it would be hard for a young man not to get married.
I replied as simply as I could, that since I was very young, I would pray a lot, as my mother taught me. And when I prayed, I felt that God was very close to me, like a good friend who knew me very well. And as I grew up, I wanted to explore that more deeply, so I tried living with the priests and doing as they did for a few years. In that time I felt very alive and joyful, so I made the commitment to become a priest.
I am never happy being unable to convey the subtleties... but perhaps its liberating to be in a situation where I know it can never be fully conveyed and that I must trust the spirit (and J's intuitions).
After a good talk, we all sallied forth again, it being not to late, and S and I escorted J and A to the subway, making sure they knew they could get home. They were fine; indeed they were beaming. J made sure to tell me that she thought our meeting tonight was a Happy Destiny and that it was wonderful we happened to be lost and they happened to be late and all the rest.
I couldn't agree more.
S had been peaceful and bemused during the whole thing and we had a good chat ourselves. I insisted that the only gentlemanly thing to do would be to walk her home. When we met up with the Newmanites, they informed us that the Pub had been fine but uneventful. I, on the other hand, felt that my evening had possessed and indescribable quality of freedom and lightness that I can only attribute to a prayer being answered. I prayed that I could be open to the spirit... and so it happened. What a gift.
I walked home slowly on my own, guide cane making slow, sweeping arcs left and right with each step I took. The night air felt good in my lungs and the house was quiet and serene upon my return.
I do not know if I shall ever meet J or A again. But I'll always remember their kindness, the playful unfolding of our time together, and our Happy Destiny.
After a long day of classes, reading, and writing reports I much prefer staying most nights. My body always feels heavy after dinner. But fortunately, I have good friends who pester me to come and visit them.
This particular Thursday night, some friends had planned an evening at a Pub. I don't like Pubs either because they're darker and noisier than the streets. But I figured my friends would take care of me. And I was in a mood to place myself in the hands of God, letting the Spirit determine what would happen to me, rather than selfishly ensuring my security by staying in.
So I took to the open air and enjoyed the mild wintry breeze against my face. And while there were crowds, they were happy, ambling folks who were attending to their own affairs.
I met with my friends at Newman Center, a Catholic youth/student place near the University of Toronto Library. S was there to greet me, a fascinating and intelligent young woman currently studying theology. I met lots of folks at Newman but I shall not describe them all here as our paths were to unexpectedly diverge soon after I arrived.
Seeing as I don't see to well at night, I drafted S to be my guide. I would take her shoulder and she would lead me to our destination. Neither of us had been to the Pub in question before but we planned to follow our group. The group was concerned about being late, and rushed out. S went to retrieve her coat and we went out together, only to find everyone out of sight. We moseyed in the direction we thought the Pub was, based on the address, laughing and wondering what to do.
We were not far along when S met someone she knew. J was a smiling and chatty young Korean exchange student, just three months into her experience of learning English in Canada. She was with her friend A, also a Korean learning English and the two of them were late coming to the center, hoping to join the general outing.
We started walking together and S and myself told J and A that they were very welcome to come with us. J and A agreed enthusiastically and proffered that perhaps our chance meeting was "a destiny".
I smiled and warned them that our meeting might turn out to be an Unhappy destiny, because we were lost and didn't know quite where we were going. But it also might be a Happy destiny because we might have a nice time anyway. J enjoyed this turn of phrase. I think S did, too :>
I noticed that we were walking close to my community, where I and the other Jesuit Scholastics live. So I invited S, J, and A to come in and warm themselves up while I checked the address of the pub on google maps. We walked a good ways and then turned the familiar corner to my house. It's a fairly large residential house (13 people live there) and J and A exclaimed when they saw the size of it. AS I opened the door they commented that our house's address is seven, "a very lucky number". I agreed that it was a good omen.
As soon as I got them in the parlor, I was peppered with questions about who lived in the house and why. I offered to take J and A on the tour, S came with, smiling, though she'd seen it all before. J kept oohing and aaahing and exclaiming at the size and novelty of it all. Our basement has a sizable library with stained-glass windows in it, which my guests particularly appreciated.
I also showed them our chapel and was asked to explain the difference between "Priest" and "Father" which took some doing. I made everyone tea (frantically shuffling through cupboards because this was the very first time I'd ever made tea in the house, me not being a tea drinker). Then I got some sugary little biscuits on a plate and carted everything in. As I was, my brothers and fathers in the house were welcoming S, J, and A and introducing themselves. One of my brother scholastics mentioned that they were watching a movie downstairs and that all were welcome to join.
As we sipped our red-hued tea, I put the options plainly to my new friends: stay here and hang out, check out the movie... or venture forth into the dark, looking for our missing pub. J decided that the strings of fate had pulled her to the Jez Rez and that she wanted to see what else the experience might hold. So we headed below to the TV and discovered that it was Groundhog Day; both our present time of year and the name of the film. J and A were most curious what a groundhog was.
I much enjoyed seeing the movie for the first time. I'm sure its based on some existentialist novel or something... but I couldn't say which. But I can say without giving much away that the movie fit our theme of being spontaneous and proceeding into the unexpected with an open heart. I highly recommend you watch it if you haven't.
After the movie, we sat around and chatted. It was interesting to our guests that each young man present was studying to be a priest. J asked me if my parents had to call me 'Father'.
"Only as a joke," I replied.
J was very earnest in asking each of us why we wished to become priests. A common enough question and my stock answer is, "I look damn good in black". Which I do. But J asked because, she said, it seemed to her that Canada was a very family-oriented culture and that it would be hard for a young man not to get married.
I replied as simply as I could, that since I was very young, I would pray a lot, as my mother taught me. And when I prayed, I felt that God was very close to me, like a good friend who knew me very well. And as I grew up, I wanted to explore that more deeply, so I tried living with the priests and doing as they did for a few years. In that time I felt very alive and joyful, so I made the commitment to become a priest.
I am never happy being unable to convey the subtleties... but perhaps its liberating to be in a situation where I know it can never be fully conveyed and that I must trust the spirit (and J's intuitions).
After a good talk, we all sallied forth again, it being not to late, and S and I escorted J and A to the subway, making sure they knew they could get home. They were fine; indeed they were beaming. J made sure to tell me that she thought our meeting tonight was a Happy Destiny and that it was wonderful we happened to be lost and they happened to be late and all the rest.
I couldn't agree more.
S had been peaceful and bemused during the whole thing and we had a good chat ourselves. I insisted that the only gentlemanly thing to do would be to walk her home. When we met up with the Newmanites, they informed us that the Pub had been fine but uneventful. I, on the other hand, felt that my evening had possessed and indescribable quality of freedom and lightness that I can only attribute to a prayer being answered. I prayed that I could be open to the spirit... and so it happened. What a gift.
I walked home slowly on my own, guide cane making slow, sweeping arcs left and right with each step I took. The night air felt good in my lungs and the house was quiet and serene upon my return.
I do not know if I shall ever meet J or A again. But I'll always remember their kindness, the playful unfolding of our time together, and our Happy Destiny.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A collage of common words from this blog
A dear friend used the website "Wordle.com" to construct this collage for my blog; and I thank her for it. I think it's pretty darn cool. Check it out...
Monday, February 6, 2012
Eric's Top Ten Band Names from Phrases in Conversation: Countdown
Ladies and gentlemen, coming in at number ten, it's
Sizable Raft
With their new hit single, Pup Tent.
A woodsy-sounding band with a lot of nature and water sound effects. They have rich, flowing and poetical lyrics that pursue the theme of isolation on the bounding mane. Lead singer, Bob Douglas is known for his trademark "lost at sea" beard.
Sizable Raft
With their new hit single, Pup Tent.
A woodsy-sounding band with a lot of nature and water sound effects. They have rich, flowing and poetical lyrics that pursue the theme of isolation on the bounding mane. Lead singer, Bob Douglas is known for his trademark "lost at sea" beard.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Warning Label?
I have often heard preachers harp on the fact that the bible is our instruction manual and that there should be a warning on the front: "Ignore at your own risk!"
Indeed the bible contains the true revelation of Christ for our lives. But it is not written as an instruction manual. It is the prayer journal of sinners, it is the folklore of a desert people, it is the wisdom of grandparents and the songs of children. The bible contains a narrative, it contains a vast array of teachings, and it contains the account of how Christ clarified, embodied, and gave to humanity the essence of those teachings in his own, loving person.
I think given that this is the case, a better warning label for the bible would be the very same one Wittgenstein put at the beginning his book: "I have not written this to spare anyone the trouble of thinking about these things for themselves."
Just reading the manual won't do. We all have to take up the responsibility of struggling with the meaning of life's mystery. The Bible is as much a set of powerfully difficult questions as it is a set of answers. We all need help from each other to figure it out. Let's offer that help before we accuse others of missing the obvious.
Indeed the bible contains the true revelation of Christ for our lives. But it is not written as an instruction manual. It is the prayer journal of sinners, it is the folklore of a desert people, it is the wisdom of grandparents and the songs of children. The bible contains a narrative, it contains a vast array of teachings, and it contains the account of how Christ clarified, embodied, and gave to humanity the essence of those teachings in his own, loving person.
I think given that this is the case, a better warning label for the bible would be the very same one Wittgenstein put at the beginning his book: "I have not written this to spare anyone the trouble of thinking about these things for themselves."
Just reading the manual won't do. We all have to take up the responsibility of struggling with the meaning of life's mystery. The Bible is as much a set of powerfully difficult questions as it is a set of answers. We all need help from each other to figure it out. Let's offer that help before we accuse others of missing the obvious.
The rubber hits the road
I often talk about myself and how I'm doing: with my family, with friends, and with random strangers. I've defaulted to answering that I'm happy. I'm honest when there are small irritations and setbacks and stress but it's generally true that I *am* happy.
Lately I've noticed that sometimes I am not happy. Sometimes I am challenged to change.
There is no harsh, religious rule to prevent me from doing as I like. I have a great deal of say over how things go. But I am in an environment of great prayer and great demands. Little by little, what I have always seen as mine, my perspective, my time, my habits and dispositions... all of these have collided with my new way of life: the spiritual perspective, spiritual time, spiritual habits and dispositions.
Like water washing away sand to expose stone, I am coming to discover features of my life I had never considered before. In developing a richer and deeper relationship with God, I am discovering exactly where my self refuses to yield.
It is easy to do things one likes in service of God. But new skills, new habits, new ways of seeing the world are appearing as necessary changes and as invitations to truly become the type of person I have declared I wish to be.
A practical example, where the rubber hits the road, is using the internet. It has been a sweet distraction to lose myself in the realms of imagination one can find there, only to emerge hours later, back into a world of connections which seem duller and less instant. Yet it is the cultivation of these real connections that calls me. And my self will remain underdeveloped until I learn the habit of resting in the reality of God first rather than fleeing first to escape reality's biting demands. It's easy to think of prayer as just one more demand.
But when I actually sit down and pray... I discover that the God I love demands nothing and simply welcomes me into an embrace that is all-accepting. I am liberated to be that which I most desire to be. And I am renewed with the desire to engage with the real in the world.
These small examples indicate the shape of my feelings about how I'm doing. I'm rubber hitting the road. I'm changing and stretching and making mistakes as well as discovering crafts. It's too simplistic to call it happy. It's like working on a relationship or learning to live in a new country. It's being alive. It's not without its sorrow and confusion. But I'm grateful for the richness of meaning that unfolds from it.
Lately I've noticed that sometimes I am not happy. Sometimes I am challenged to change.
There is no harsh, religious rule to prevent me from doing as I like. I have a great deal of say over how things go. But I am in an environment of great prayer and great demands. Little by little, what I have always seen as mine, my perspective, my time, my habits and dispositions... all of these have collided with my new way of life: the spiritual perspective, spiritual time, spiritual habits and dispositions.
Like water washing away sand to expose stone, I am coming to discover features of my life I had never considered before. In developing a richer and deeper relationship with God, I am discovering exactly where my self refuses to yield.
It is easy to do things one likes in service of God. But new skills, new habits, new ways of seeing the world are appearing as necessary changes and as invitations to truly become the type of person I have declared I wish to be.
A practical example, where the rubber hits the road, is using the internet. It has been a sweet distraction to lose myself in the realms of imagination one can find there, only to emerge hours later, back into a world of connections which seem duller and less instant. Yet it is the cultivation of these real connections that calls me. And my self will remain underdeveloped until I learn the habit of resting in the reality of God first rather than fleeing first to escape reality's biting demands. It's easy to think of prayer as just one more demand.
But when I actually sit down and pray... I discover that the God I love demands nothing and simply welcomes me into an embrace that is all-accepting. I am liberated to be that which I most desire to be. And I am renewed with the desire to engage with the real in the world.
These small examples indicate the shape of my feelings about how I'm doing. I'm rubber hitting the road. I'm changing and stretching and making mistakes as well as discovering crafts. It's too simplistic to call it happy. It's like working on a relationship or learning to live in a new country. It's being alive. It's not without its sorrow and confusion. But I'm grateful for the richness of meaning that unfolds from it.
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