Holiday ABC's....

V = Voices Do you hear the voices of the season? The laughter, the stories, the songs? Christmas at the House of Snyder is, as is true with most family gatherings, a loud, raucous, laughter-infused affair. None of us would have it any other way. It seems that at this time of year it is easier to still hear the voices and laughter of the many who have passed on. Listen.

W = Winter Snow on trees and rooftops; bundling up in coats and scarves and gloves; air so cold you can see your breath --- all this makes you want to get inside and get warm by beverage, in front of a fireplace, or in the company of others.

X = The Greek letter, “Chi” written in English as X When I was young and impressionable, I was offended by people who would write X-Mas instead of Christmas. Then I learned that “X” is how one writes the Greek letter Chi that stands for Christ. We get so bothered by little things and forget what really matters --- how we live and the call to love will make it clear to everyone the why of the season.

Y = You So much of this season is what you choose to make it. So, how goes your holiday?

Z = Zither You thought I wouldn’t be able to find a “z” word, didn’t you??? Even though I have zero musical ability, I always thought (and really still do) that it would be fantastic to be able to sing and play a musical instrument and entertain. In trying to assist with that dream, one Christmas my parents bought me a “Zither,” is a small, lap-held, harp instrument. To play it, you would put the music sheet under the strings and follow the notes that were color-coded. Sounds simple --- did I mention my total lack of musical ability. Yet, one can still dream….

sj;

Holiday ABC's ....

Q = Quilt What’s better than on a cold winter’s night wrapping up in a big, warm, quilt?? That speaks of comfort, security, and home --- all the qualities of this holiday season.

R = Rudolph Of the many holiday specials, one of my favorites is RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. I adore his tiny, nasal-y voice. The underlying meaning that the one left out, labeled, and living on the “island of misfit toys” is the very same one who comes through in the storm and brings Christmas is a story that is as old as the Gospel…in fact, it’s at the heart of the Gospel.

S = Star My father was very talented in the art of carpentry. One Christmas season, he made a four-foot star out of wood and white lights and silver tinsel and hung it on the second level of the front of our house. It looked fantastic --- simple, subtle and stunning. Several years ago, my brother found the star and took it to his house which is an old farmhouse that sits back off the road behind a few large fields. He now puts up the star and one can see it from the highway; from that distance it looks as if it is hanging in the air.

T = Tradition Part of what makes this season are the traditions that are followed; like the Christmas Eve candlelight service and hanging the ornaments that go back generations. To keep things lively it is necessary to introduce new traditions. When her grandchildren were little, my mother introduced the “Pickle Prize” to our family. She bought a green, glass pickle ornament and would hide it on the Christmas tree. Whoever found the pickle received the “pickle prize present.” As was the case with all she did, my mother took anything done for her family with a committed effort. She hid that pickle ornament very well --- I’m talking deep within the boughs and branches of the evergreen. The pickle ornament always was found by one of the grandchildren. However, the coolest part was the “pickle prize” was always a new and fun board game that would gather the entire family to play and laugh and be together --- my Mom was a very wise woman.

U = Unwrap It’s important to wrap one’s gifts because it is such a “Wow moment” when you come downstairs Christmas morning and gaze upon all the beautifully wrapped presents stacked neatly beneath the tree. It is a total rush moment when one is given the “OK, you can unwrap your presents now” invitation and you literally rip into it!

sj;

Holiday ABC's....

M = Magic When I was about nine or ten I received a magic kit for my birthday. It was a grand toy and I enjoyed the many parts and items the kit contained; also being able to do some basic magic was a real kick and an attention grabber --- perfect for a little kid. Christmas is magical and here’s to those who make the magic that brightens the holiday: To everyone who eats the cookies and drinks the milk being sure to leave a few crumbs on the plate; to everyone who leaves a trail of glitter heading up the chimney or out the front door; to everyone who creatively hides the “Elf on the Shelf” in refrigerators, hanging from lights, and behind cereal boxes; to everyone who labels a gift “From Santa;” and to my father who somehow one Christmas left sleigh tracks and deer prints on the roof of our house….magic.

N = Nativity It is set-up on mantels and tabletops and in front yards (although I love the inclusiveness of the scene, a front yard nativity that has a blown-up Snoopy or Frosty nearby tends to take away from the moment ever so slightly). I always enjoy the live nativity scenes and am doubly impressed by those who have an actual baby in the manger. I never understood why the blond hair and blue-eyed girl was always chosen to play Mary, so, I always asked the dark haired and dark-eyed teen to play the part because I found it more realistic to the Jewish backdrop of the story.
One of the most moving and stay-with-you-nativities was the one a clergy friend of mine used to bring the story to life for her impoverished, inner-city congregation. The setting was an abandoned building; the couple were teenage runaways; the child was laid in an old crate and swaddled in oil-stained rags; the animals were a few rats, a stray dog and a dove; the shepherds were from the corner bar and were joined by the town prostitute and those who lived in the crack house that came faithfully to adore him.

O = Orange On Christmas morning prior to breakfast, we were allowed to open our stockings. There were always great little toys, card games, pencils, candy canes, chocolate and, no matter what, my Mom always included and stuffed into the toe of the stocking a nice, big orange. Christmas morning is no reason to avoid healthy fruit.

P = Prophets It is during this season of the Christian year that we pay the most attention to the Old Testament prophets and notably Isaiah; it is he who pens many of the lyrics that Handel set to music and it is Isaiah who provides the wonderful visions of peace: a lion and lamb lying down together, swords being beaten into plowshares and war not being learned anymore. Seems to me, the words of the prophets needs spoken year round until the fullness of their prophecy comes to pass.

Holiday ABC.....

I = Incarnation This is a biggie in terms of Christian theology; the belief that the Creator of the Universe chose to become human and dwell with us in our world. People often like to ask which aspect of Jesus do you choose to emphasize more, the humanity or the divinity? I’m one who lands solidly on the human aspect --- I like and I need a Jesus who sleeps, weeps, gets angry, and is with me as I do the same.

J = Jingle It’s a sound so closely connected to this season --- the sound of jingle bells. So directly tied is the jingle of bells to Christmas that it can have a kind of Pavlovian response as evidenced in my growing-up years. My parents would use the often-heard-yet-never-seen jingle of bells to summon us to good behavior or to bed early on Christmas Eve. To this day whenever I hear the jingle of bells I find myself tucking in my shirt, saying “please and thank you,” and yawning.

K = Kids Their excitement; their eyes wide with the wonder at the lights and decorations; making cookies together; the photo ops with Santa; and the energy of them ripping into their gifts with total joy and abandon. This really is their season.

L = Lists We make them because they work. As a child, either on our own or with the assistance of a parental scribe, we made lists of the toys and treasures for which we hoped to open on Christmas morning. During the busy-ness of the season, adults make lists to keep track of all that needs done and to savor the rush of being able to cross an item off as completed! Of all the lists, the one that worked the best was having knowledge that Santa kept one too, a tally sheet of who was naughty and who was nice ....gulp....thank goodness one could move relatively easily from column to column and hopefully found one’s self safely in permanent marker on the nice side of the ledger.

sj;

Holiday ABC's

E = Elves Perhaps I should preface this by saying that my maternal lineage is from Wales and, to be more specific, from near Stonehenge (a very magical place) and a little village named….wait for it….”Elf’s Hole.” That fact known, I’m a HUGE fan of the elves and truth be told, Christmas isn’t the only time when elves are busy in the affairs of the world….I’m just sayin’……

F = Family The holidays/holy days are a time for family. We remain a close clan and gather to tell the grand stories of family lore. The photo in this post came precariously close to being a family photo Christmas card. You can dress up the Snyders...yet, you can't let the photo out into the public domain.....

G = Gifts Several years ago, I was in a big, local shopping mall, my arms full of items to be purchased and gifted and waiting in a long line. There was an air of surliness beginning to stir. The woman in front of me, she, also weighted down with an assortment of treasures, turned to me and said, “Those damn wisemen.” And so it goes…….

H = Hark It’s the first word of one of the most well-known Christmas carols – “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” yet, what in the world and the heavens does it mean? Hark means to listen. Perfect. Listen to the message the angels bring of the Gift given. Listen to the sounds of the season. Listen to your own heart. This Christmas time may you have many silent nights in which to listen.

sj;

A lesson on light

It’s been some time since I’ve posted and the alphabet has stalled. It’s not that I don’t have words to go with the letters. It’s that I had to pause for awhile after the tragedy that befell Newtown, CT and our nation.

In this deep loss and continued sorrow, as photos and stories of the likes and dreams of the victims of this horror continue, I find it important to look for where there is light and dwell there.

We are reminded of the truth that to know and appreciate the light we have to know the darkness.

This season, is a time for lights.

On Sunday, the Gospel reading was from John the first chapter and the author’s prologue to his account of the Jesus story in which he writes, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall never overcome it.” Pastor Heather used this as the basis for her little lesson and asked the gaggle of girls and boys seated on the steps with her where it is that they see light. “The sun,” answered one. “My flashlight,” said another. “The candles, “ observed a little boy. And….on and on and on……to the point where they had so many more answers for where they see light that Pastor Heather wisely said that she would walk with them to Extended Session so they each could keep talking and sharing.

I can think of no better reminder of where to look for the light than with the children.

Watch, this light.

Gather around this light.

Follow, this light.

Protect this light…

this light is our most precious treasure…..

sj;

Holiday ABC's.....

A = Advent. The word is from the Latin, “adventus,” and means arrival. Think about any time when you have waited for your child to come home from college; for the visit from someone you have not seen in a while; for a baby. Of course, there is excitement and apprehension. One busies one’s self with all kinds of preparation. Often we do so much and are so focused on the big moment of arrival that we fail to enjoy the journey to the big day. Advent re-minds us to pay attention and enjoy all the details and all the preparation and pause to ask, “Why am I doing this?”

B = Baby. Of course, at the center of the Christmas story is a baby. One of the congregations where I served as pastor had a tradition that as part of the Christmas Eve worship service one of the children would be selected to serve as a kind of mini-Mary and bring the Baby Jesus to the manger and then let the celebration begin. For this congregation and the parents of small children, this was a big deal and significant honor. I never really knew, and never wanted to know, how the child was selected; I just knew the kid dressed in a blue bathrobe, with a white towel tied with a blue sash upon her head and asked to carry the ceramic baby Jesus and lay him in the manger was the centerpiece of Christmas Eve worship.
Little Angelina had the honors. She was all of three years old and, trust me; the grandness of the occasion was lost on her. Properly adorned, she kind of trudged, kind of lumbered up the aisle swinging so strongly the ceramic baby Jesus that he was dangerously close to becoming unswaddled. The congregation was in silence save for the “oohs” and “aahs” as Angelina stomped up the altar steps, approached the manger, and with both hands grabbed the ceramic baby Jesus and threw him into the manger. This hurl of the heaven-sent resulted in a loud clang and echoing thud. I’m sure there was some deeper metaphor that should have come to me, yet, all I had was laughter.

C = Cookies. Other than making cookies for a wedding, this is the season when family and friends gather to make some dough….cookies that is. As a kid, I remember my Aunt Jean coming over and with my Mom making incredible homemade nut rolls and snowballs. I still fondly recall being given a spoonful of the rich nut filling and how the first cookie from the batch always tasted the best. Part of the joy of the season is gathering together to make cookies and then putting together cookie trays to share with friends and family. Trust me, Saint Nick isn’t the only one appeased by a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.

D = Dolls. Say what??? Yep, dolls. When my father’s sister would come by at Christmas time bearing gifts for her three nephews and two nieces, every year I hoped my gift would be something…anything… different. My brothers always got great sports-stuff: footballs, great games that involved baseball cards, etc. I don’t recall what my sister got, yet, every year my aunt got me… a baby doll. I’m talking a big, two-foot tall, dressed in lace and finery baby doll. My parents raised me to be polite, so I always said thank you, sat the still-in-the-box-doll down and went to play with my brothers’ stuff. For all I know, there may still be a never opened doll in the attic.

sj;

Everybody's singing...

For all the holiday music coming from every radio, ipod, and store, to all the cantatas and Christmas concerts, we have to the thank the gospel writer, Luke.

In the first two chapters of Luke's gospel everyone is always singing! Mary sings. Zechariah sings. The angels sing. It's like a broadway musical!

And, what would this season be without the familiar Christmas music --- does every artist feel the need to make a Christmas album?!!? As we gather in worship we look forward to singing the favorite Christmas carols and can't understand why the pastor won't let us sing any until, if we're lucky, the Sunday before Christmas! (Moment of full disclosure: I'm one of those pastors).

Go to any grocery, department, or toy store and you'll hear the same seasonal selections. Do you have a favorite? I'm partial to "Do They Know It's Christmas Over There?" and Eartha Kitt's version of "Santa Baby."

If we're talking carols, my favorite is "O, Come All Ye Faithful" and a great singer doing "O, Holy Night" always gets me misty-eyed. And, you?

Of course, the songs are so familiar and the season so special, we non-professionals love to lift our voices in song and go caroling. I remember walking around Freeport and caroling with a group from the congregation and then returning to the church for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. When the kids in the neighborhood went caroling to collect donations for Children's Hospital, I joined in.

Yes, I loved going caroling even though there is nothing the least bit musical about me. I like to say that I do harmony really well because harmony is any note your neighbor isn't singing and, trust me, there is no way anyone beside me, behind me, or below me is singing anything reasonably close to the notes I'm bellowing out!

Yet, still I sing. We all sing along to our Christmas albums, in worship and to the radio. Why? Because this is a season made for song and celebration and joy. Therefore, whoever you are and wherever you find yourself --- sing! Sing loudly and sing joyously! Just sing!

Subways, Shoes, and Saint Nick

Today, 6 December, is the Feast of Saint Nicholas and I swear on my "Terrible Towel" that this story is true.

I was riding the T into work and at one of the downtown stops a young couple with their two-year-old daughter boarded the train. The little girl was a blond, blue-eyed, dimple-on-the-chin cutie. At the next stop, an older gentleman, round, and short and with white hair and a white beard got on and sat in the aisle across from the little girl. Upon seeing this round, white-haired, white-bearded man the little girl locked her eyes on him intently and with a knowing stare. As I watched this unfold, and I swear this is so, the round, white-hair, white-bearded man winked ever so slightly at the little girl who smiled in return! I want to tell you I heard sleigh bells...yet, that part would not be so.

What are the odds that today, the Feast of St. Nicholas, I would witness such a moment?!?!?

Tradition holds that on the Feast of St. Nicholas children put out their shoes and St. Nick fills them with goodies. One time in the local church when December 6 was on a Sunday, we decided to surprise the kids of the church. At the start of the worship service we asked the kids to remove their shoes and take them to the back of the sanctuary. They trusted us and did so. When it came time for the "little lesson," I talked about St. Nicholas and how he actively cared for the children and especially the children in the village who were in need and were poor.

While I was waxing eloquently on the goodness of St. Nick, my elves-in-training (members of the Children's Ministry team) were in the back of the sanctuary filling each kids' shoes to overflowing with candy and gum and treats. They would have made St. Nick proud.

As the "little lesson" concluded, I told the kids that if they wanted to go and put their shoes back on they could do so or they could wait till after worship was over...their choice.

Of course, when the first kid made the decision to go and get his shoes and found them filled with candy, he loudly exclaimed, "Wow! Check it out!" Naturally, this brought every child running to the back of the sanctuary and also having similar moments of great joy come upon them. It was a huge hit!

The majority of the congregation got a kick out of it and the parents eventually forgave me.

A lesson was also learned: Frank, the awkward, shy, too-big-for-his-age kid who was often the target of the kids' teasing and whom they called "Big Foot Frank".....he was in his glory!

No doubt, St. Nick would have winked!

sj;

Windows and Wishes

I had to do a presentation at an organization downtown and used the occasion to walk from our North Side office, across the 9th Street Bridge, and into town. The presentation went fine and as the office was across the street from "Macy's" I decided to go look at the famous "Macy's Holiday Windows" as it is one of the best things about the city of Pittsburgh during the holidays.

Each holiday season, Macy's decorates some of its storefront windows that face the busy Smithfield Street. The windows are used to tell a story. This year, however, there wasn't a moving narrative but instead, each window offered various perspectives on traditions and familiar events in this festive time.

There was a window depicting people ice-skating at the outdoor rink at PPG Place; another had a scene of a couple meeting underneath the Kaufman's clock; and one of a little child watching on t.v. the film, "Miracle on 34th Street" and in the window the real movie is actually playing! Very cool!

I was completely drawn into this presentation and came very close to pressing my nose up against the glass.

However, it was the last vignette that stopped me. The window scene was divide between a child placing a letter to Santa in a mailbox and the other part of the window had three panels of changing photos and wishes. These wishes were made by real children living with very serious, threatening illnesses. Beyond their sickness, these children had even bigger wishes. "I want to swim with the dolphins." "I want to visit a Dude Ranch." "I want to go on a safari in Africa." "I want to spend a lot of time with Thomas."

'Tis the season for making lists. May it also be the season for helping to make wishes and dreams come true.

sj;

25 Days of Christmas: 2

If you spend anytime having conversation with a child, sooner or later you will be asked the question, "What's your favorite color?"

Great question. It reveals your likes. It reveals a bit about your personality; answer black or white and watch the reaction you get from the kid. If the child thinks your cool and happening, your favorite color will soon become hers or his.

Pay attention to the colors of this season. Which ones work for you?

Of course there are the reds and greens, the gold and white, and purple makes a strong appearance this time of year --- that whole royalty thing.

For me, the color of Advent is midnight blue. Maybe it's because Mary is always portrayed wearing blue, although the shade is more royal than midnight. Yet, deep, dark, midnight blue evokes calmness, coolness, crispness, mystery that draws you in.

Make note of the colors that dominate the season. Where do you notice the colors of the season? What does green symbolize for you? Is too much gold color too much? Why red? Where do you see midnight blue?

As part of paying attention this season, watch the colors and notice how you respond.

sj;

On the "first" day of Christmas....

'Tis the holiday season and time for a blog that resembles more a daily blog than a seasonal one.

Advent is my favorite season in the church year --- I love the preparing, the anticipation, the gatherings, the music, the symbols, the silence, the good will; what better time than this to resume the blog.

This series of blogs will be my own version of the "Twenty-Five Days of Christmas." Because it's now the third of December, on some days I'm going to need to double-up.

Hope this is the foundation of the festivities we prepare for and celebrate. There is the hope of getting what one wants for Christmas.
There is the hope of a new start that the season of Advent brings as with it a new year begins in the life of the church.
There is the hope of gathering the family together.
There is the hope of finding light and life in the places and people that surprise you.

One of my favorite parts of this blog is the section called the "Hope Tracker" along with reading the post, I hope you also scroll down to read the various hope tracks.

I challenge you to look for the tracks of hope within your own life and the places where you live and move and build your being.

In this far too busy season, I encourage you to find time for lots of silent nights and quiet times for reflection. Here's a quote by Cornell West to get you started:

“Hope and optimism are different. Optimism tends to be based on the notion that there's enough evidence out there to believe things are gonna be better, much more rational, deeply secular, whereas hope looks at the evidence and says, "It doesn't look good at all. Doesn't look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds, no guarantee whatsoever." That's hope. I'm a prisoner of hope, though. Gonna die a prisoner of hope.”

Let us journey;

sj;

Great word...better prayer

As I actively answered my call to ordained ministry, I spent a summer as a pastoral intern and was assigned to Saegertown UMC, which is on the outskirts of Meadville. My time there was positive, affirming, and I met wonderful people who taught me lessons in the very best way --- by how they lived their faith in their lives.

One of my favorite people was an older gentleman named Lou. He was short and delightfully stout, had a buzz cut, wore black, square-framed glasses and had lost his right arm in an accident. He loved to garden and to paint. He and his wife Peg were committed and constant members of the congregation; the kind of people who do the work when needed and support the ministry by all the ways one should: by time, talents, and treasure.

Lou was also a baseball fan and I would go there to watch games on the t.v. with Lou and Peg, who provided ice cold lemonade and incredible home-made cookies.

They attended the weekly Bible studies and the prayer groups and each time the group gathered in a circle of shared prayer, Lou always said the same one word prayer, "Thanks."

I doubt that Lou knew the quote from the German mystic, Meister Eckhart who said, "If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thanks, that would be sufficient;" yet, I'm certain he lived the spirit of that quote.

A Thanksgiving assignment for you --- between cooking and eating and cleaning up and putting away and time for play (see yesterday's post) take some time and write a list of 25 things for which you are thankful. For extra credit, write another list of 50 things you savor.

Thanks --- may we live this prayer.

sj;

The new inductees

In the midst of my angst and sadness over the twilight years for Twinkees, another article caught my attention. First, did you know we have a National Toy Hall of Fame??!!?? 'Tis true and it's located in Rochester, New York. Field trip anyone?

The National Toy Museum was started in 1998 and the first toys inducted into this most prestigious hall were some of the biggies in toy-dom including: Crayola Crayons, Frisbee, Etch-a-Sketch (insert 2012 Presidential Campaign memory here), Marbles, Barbie (clearly, I was not on the selection committee), the Teddy Bear, and Play-Doh to name a few.

Anyone can nominate a toy (that has gone on my to-do list) and then a committee of educators, play experts, creative types, etc. select the toys to be nominated for the given year.

This year's inductees are Star Wars figures and Dominoes. The article stated that they beat out the plastic little green army men (a favorite of my childhood), Twister and Lite-Brite (loved that!) among others.

What is fascinating are the toys that are included in the National Toy Museum. Along with Mr. Potato Head, Checkers, Bicycle, Kite, and LEGOS there is also the cardboard box and the stick.

I totally love the fact that some group of folks realized the importance to have a National Toy Musuem! As any childhood expert will tell you, play is essential to childhood! Play is essential to a healthy, whole, energized life!

This Thanksgiving, as you are gathered at table ask folks, "What was your favorite toy?" This will be a great conversation and provide some insight into the family tree. Do make note of what crazy uncle answers "the stick."

After the pie has settled, it may be a good idea to gather the crew together and play....play a board game....throw a ball around...play cards....

I am thankful to be part of family who knows that the "family who plays together, stays together."

sj;

Why I Vote

Once again we are at another "biggest election of our lifetime." While I do believe this one may indeed determine the direction we take as a nation, be it
a primary or a general, the most important thing is that you vote.

Why do you vote?

Me? I vote because it was what I learned and saw practiced in my family. My maternal grandmother was married and raising a family before women had the right to vote in this country. I watched my parents and older siblings vote in each election. I accompanied my mother and sister to go vote. It was what one did on election day ---- you voted. Then, you watched the results and discussed what happened. Truly --- all politics are local...try kitchen table local.

For my oldest nephew, this will be the first time he will vote for a candidate for the presidency. I talked with him yesterday and this is a big deal for him and he does want to choose wisely. It is and he will.

I remember the first time I was old enough to vote happened to be the year of a presidential election. It was quite a rush to cast my first vote for president. The year was 1984 and I voted for the Mondale/Ferraro ticket. It was the whole having a woman on the ticket appeal. In case you've forgotten your history, Mondale won only one state that election. Considering that, I'm pretty sure he was thankful for my vote.

I vote because it has only been 92 years since women were given the right to vote in this country and the fantastic film, IRON-JAWED ANGELS reminds me of the commitment, the labor, the struggle, the jails, the force-feedings, the sacrifice women made to give me that right. For Alice Paul and Lucy Burns I vote.

I vote because it's a right we must not take for granted. Remember the Iragui
women proudly displaying their purple-inked stained fingers? Voting is how we do democracy. It is always disappointing when having 60% of the electorate vote is considered a good turn-out....sigh...

Before you head to the polls, answer the question of why. Then...vote.

sj;

Saints

The first of November is All Saints Day. My favorite definition of a saint comes from Presbyterian minister and author Frederick Buechner who writes, “In God’s ongoing flirtation with the world, God occasionally drops a handkerchief, those handkerchiefs are called saints.”

We each have picked-up the holy dropped handkerchief.

Knowing we remember our saints perhaps every day, today, we make a special effort to remember.

We remember by looking at photos.

We remember by telling the stories about them.

We remember by doing the activities they enjoyed doing.

We remember by eating some of their favorite foods.

We remember by working to fill the vacuum they left in our lives by doing what they did.

Along with the obvious ways, today, I also watched Jeopardy, had a Mounds bar, and promised to be better bringing the family together around the table. One of my saints would understand.

sj;

The choice is yours

Today, 30 October, is the birthday of our second president, John Adams. It was Adams who spoke loudly and persistently on behalf of the American colonies without representation having to pay taxes to England. It was Adams who chose Thomas Jefferson to be the one to write the Declaration of Independence.

Remember the first TOY STORY movie and the little aliens in the arcade exclaiming, “You’ve been chosen” as the claw approached taking up one of the plastic toys? There is a certain respect and honor given to those who are chosen.

Playing sports, there were pats-on-the-back and “you-can-do-it” confidence builders to the teammate chosen to pinch hit with runners on base and the team behind in the late innings.

Being chosen was an affirmation of your talents. Remember in elementary school and choosing the kid who could draw to work on the bulletin board? “You do it, Mike! You’re the best artist!” That encouragement helped Mike to claim his artistic talent and present his first public art display.

No matter how old, there is still a rush and reaffirmation when one is chosen from the group to do something important. I’ve been chosen to write the letter, to design the liturgy, to speak at the rally. Proud? You bet. Wanting to deliver? Absolutely.

To what have you been chosen? What have you been selected to do? Who chose you? Did they see something in you that you knew was there? Did your being chosen help you to find it?

Whom have you chosen and in your selecting affirmed?

We all like to be picked first, to be asked to step-up, to be chosen for an opportunity to be the hero.

Choose wisely.
sj;

Wait for it....

As you read this, I assume you have power (define that however you wish), are warm and safe and being smart. The latest "storm of the century" is walloping the eastern sea board and I confess I am amazed that there are reported 70 mph winds at JFK airport....yowzers!

Living in the 24-hour news cycle of our media-saturated times, the networks will be busy trying to fill the airwaves with any nuance, angle, or human interest story they can find. I'm waiting for some religious zealot to say this unprecedented storm hitting so late in the year, is some divine act of "people pay-up time." Just wait for it, someone will say God has it in for the blue states dotting the northeast and will tie that into the election.

Please.

While perusing my weekly time magazine, I noted one of the best print ads I've seen in quite awhile. The ad is from the Salvation Army and the tag line is: "Combating natural disasters with acts of God."

Perfect.

Keep that in mind and look for evidences of those acts of God as the storm blows out to sea and people respond and re-build. Witness and give thanks for the uitility wokers pulling double and triple shifts; the firefighters and police personel on patrol; those working in shelters and caring for those whose address is the street.

I thought about adding the weather people who stand out in the middle of a raging storm to tell us that, "Hey, it's really nasty outside;" yet, willingly doing that job tells me they need a deeper kind of prayer.

May our actions be ones of light, of grace, of compassion for there is where God is and abides.

sj;

A place at the table

I was raised in a family where central to our being together was a table where we gathered daily, frequently, and with great intention and purpose. One glance, and you can tell that I come from a family of great cooks. My mother was one who held the belief that at our table there was always room for one more. You could stop by her house at any hour of the day or night and one of the first questions you were asked by my Mom was, "Are you hungry?" If you answered yes or even hesitated slightly, she would, in a manner of minutes, present you with a full meal that included a meat, a starch, a vegetable, bread, and, yes, dessert.

I share this reflection, because although we were not a wealthy family, and in the many years she lived as a widow on a very limited income, we never once lacked for food or had to worry about what we would eat. That lead for us to be able to take having a meal for granted.

On this WORLD FOOD DAY, what we took for granted, is not the norm for a majority of persons in our world. A shocking number of American citizens live in what is called a "food desert" which is when persons living in povety do not have easy access to a large grocery store or supermarket.

On this WORLD FOOD DAY, far too many farmers living in third world countries exist in a feudal land state where the majority of the food they grow must be shipped to the other wealthy countries in order to pay off decades of debt. And, we wonder how in a world of such abundance there is still so much hunger and why far, far, too many children in the wealthiest country in the world will go to bed hungry tonight.

On this WORLD FOOD DAY do not wait until Thanksgiving to pack the annual bag of food. Do something today --- deliver a bag of food to your local food bank; make a financial contribution; commit monthly to actively do something that addresses the hunger crisis in our communities, our nation, our world.

We can have a world where everyone has a place at the table and enough to eat. The question is do we want it enough to act justly?

sj;

She who laughs, lasts

Have you laughed today?

I mean have you had a sudden, deep-in-the-belly laugh today?

Do be sure to read the quote for today which is by the poet e.e. cummings, who's birthday is today, 14 October. I agree with his sentiment.

Laugther is healing. Yes, there is the scientific evidence that laughter releases certain hormones that are postiive. However, I know that laughter is simply good for one's soul.

We like to be around people who make us laugh.

We watch television shows and movies that can guarantee a good chuckle, gaffaw, loud and long laughter.

Laughter heals.

I am blessed to be part of a family that knows how to laugh and laughs often. It is one of our best qualities. At the time of our mother's death and preparing the photo boards that would be displayed at the funeral home, the exercise was healing in the memories the photographs brought forth and the amazing gift of our mother they supported. Yet, sorting through the pictures and creating captions for some of the photos was therapeutic because of the humor we used and the laughter that ensued. For example, we inlcuded a photo of one of the birhtday parties our family had for my nephew Nathan. Of course, our mother was central to these family celebrations and in the photo she has just presented Nathan with his cake ablaze with candles. We added that photo to the board with the caption, "Nathan, you blow." Maybe you had to see it....whatever...we laughed and in the laughing there is healing.

Robert Fulghum uses the Greek phrase: ASBESTOS GELOS it means "unquenchable laughter" or "laughter that is invincible."

I like it.

No matter what the road brings, be it smooth stretches or uphill climbs, or sudden turns, or unexpected delays....be sure to do one thing daily...make sure to laugh. Even better, share in laughter with another.

Here's one for you:
Did you hear about the guy who dropped his toothpaste?
Yeah, he was crestfallen

sj;

Eleanor, Gee! I think your "swell-anor!"

Today, 11 October, is the birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt. Let’s celebrate!

Although I won’t go as far as Hillary Clinton and want to channel her, Eleanor is one of my favorite first ladies. I admire her for her lived conviction of peace and for the rights of women and children. Her work in drafting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and efforts for the rights of women makes her, in my opinion, “a top 3” in any listing of first ladies.

What is the role of a first lady? Yes, there is a lot of ceremony and “hostess with the most-ess” duties, yet, each first lady is to have a cause and a focus for which she promotes and labors. Admittedly, in all the wrongs needing righted and the causes needing championed, having a first lady in your corner helps a great deal. It are the women who took a stand and made effective change be it in interior decorating, beautifying the landscape, health, children, or literacy that we remember.

Although it doesn’t seem as if there is one on the near horizon, it would be quite fascinating one day to have a first man. How would that go over? What would be his cause? How would he host a White House dinner party?

In case you’re curious, my top 5 of first ladies includes: Betty Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalyn Carter, Michele Obama, and, as mentioned, Eleanor Roosevelt.There is a clear reason for each. Yes, it leans very strongly to the left of the aisle…..really, no surprise, right?

Who’s in your top 5?

sj;

Pick your frontier

In a phrase that always makes one sound incredibly pompous....today, while reading the New York Times (see it does, doesn't it??) I read that today in 1968 was the first manned flight of the Apollo mission in the USA's quest of the great frontier of space. Cool.

That got me thinking about frontiers. Although, a full moon ranks very high on my list of WOW! sights and I have lost time staring at a night sky stuffed with stars, I've never been one to be overly enthused nor impressed about our exploration of space. Being a toddler sitting on my Mama's lap when we landed on the moon, that whole generational focus on the "final frontier of space" was lost on me. I'm also not one who is a lover of flight. I would be the one who pays attention to every detail of the pre-flight speech, looks to make sure I know where is my closest exit, and makes use of a variety of in-flight sacred talismans during take-off and landing.

For me, the frontier that caught and still catches my attention is the ocean and the depth and vastness of the water. I loved Jacques Cousteau! As a kid, I recieved a toy figure of a scuba diver and I would take my plastic diver, fill up the bath tub and spend hours imagining deep sea exploration!

One of the more amazing moments was being on a cruise ship and late at night going out on the upmost deck to stand in wonder at being surrounded by nothing but lots of deep, deep water in the middle of the big, big ocean.

Personally, I would choose snorkeling over hang-gliding.

Where is it that strikes true to your awe-quotient? Have you spent time in that frontier?

Adventure is needed....

sj;

'Tis the season

I could be mistaken, yet, as a kid I do not remember folks decorating their homes for Halloween in as outlandish and elaborate ways as they do today. I recall the standard pumpkins and corn stalks and some fake tombstones and a few ghosties hanging around.

However, today, people who track these things say that following Christmas, decorating for Halloween ranks a close second. People go all out this time of year. There are orange lights in trees and bushes, fog machines, webs, lifesize ghouls, blownup ghosts and frankensteins, and entire productions of full cemeteries with accompanying hands that rise from the earth and zombies that stalk the lawn.

In case your wondering, and based on zero scientific research, I believe the popular decoration for this Halloween season is a huge spider web neon, slime green in color that features a gigantic purple spider. I have seen this decorative theme featured on several homes.

So, what's up with all this time, money, and effort to decorate ghoulishly and garishly?

I for one don't understand why folks would want a giant, inflated Winnie-the-Pooh in a green and red hat and riding a sled in their front yard; so I am totally clueless as to why people would want to have skulls, creepers, and horrors taking up space on their front yards and porches for several weeks.

To be honest, there are some homes that frighten me so much I pass by on the other side of the street. Maybe, that's part of the fun to go out of our way to shock or scare.

For me, I still like the standard pumpkin (traditional orange) and cornstalks and am alwasy entertained by the decoration that looks as if a witch flew into a tree, pole, post, etc.

sj;

I still believe...

As I write this the Pirates are...wait for it...WINNING....

What has happened to our Buccos and why am I and seemingly every Pirates fan, be they long-suffering or bandwagon, so troubled by it???

I was at the game last Thursday and talk about a major change in ballpark atmosphere. The fan numbers were significantly lower; there is not a lot of the flashing of the Zoltan "Z;" the energy in the stadium was subdued. Yet, during the game (which the Pirates would comeback to take a three run lead only to have the Brewers score 4 runs in the eighth to win...aarrgghhhh...) when our boys had a big inning and went ahead the energy of the loyal supporters was loud and present! I found myself still cheering and chanting "Let's Go Bucs!" even in the bottom of the ninth.....sigh...please don't call me pathetic...I like the word "fanatic."

Of all the sports, baseball is my favorite. Although I have almost come to terms with the fact that the Pirates will not be in the post season, I will watch the baseball playoffs as I do every year; it's one of my most favorite sporting events. One day, the Bucs will be in it....please let it be so....

Baseball is appealing because of the timeless quality of the game. There is no clock and the pace is a slow and easy one. Sometimes one wishes there was a clock to end the misery ---- like the 20-0 loss I sat through a couple of years ago...yes, it was those damn Brewers who pummeled us again and all I recall are fans yelling, "Come on, get Blackjack! Hit 21!"

So, even though the Buccos have to go (if we hold onto win tonight....never a sure thing anymore) 6 and 2 to acheive that winning season (I can't even believe it's in jeopardy) I confess I am still holding out hope and believing we can do it! Maybe it's what 19 years of losing does to a fan...one holds out hope until the bitter...and may this year it be a sweet...end.

By the way, if you have any candles, light them; any chickens, sacrifice them; and any spells, cast them --- whatever it takes.....

sj;

Wasn't me....

Today, I was taking a walk and stopped at a local park to sit awhile on a bench. There was a couple with their young chocolate labrador and they were giving him some exercise by throwing a ball which he energetically and quite impressively retrieved and returned.

The gentlemen threw the ball on the far end of the grassy stretch and the ball bounced down the hill, into the street, and into the yard across the lane. Of course, the dog focused upon and followed the bouncing ball....all the way...down the hill....and across the street....

Fortunately, the driver of the car approaching the park was attentive and stopped while the well-trained, ball-focused, and street-unaware lab pup retrieved the ball, ran back across the street, through the field, and dropped the ball at the man's feet.

Whew....

However, what was fascinating was the comment of the man, the tosser of the ball, who exclaimed, "That stupid ball! Did you see how it bounced?!!?"

Seriously??? He was blaming the ball??!!??!?

My father was a Marine and a steelworker. We were raised to take responsibility. If you screwed up, you owned up to it; you fessed up, you said, "That was my fault."

Once, I had driven the family car to take a group of friends to the movies. While dropping one friend off at her home, I backed the car into a mailbox putting a noticeable dent in the rear of the car. It was dark when I got home so I parked the car, slid into the house, and went to bed.
The next morning, I awoke to my father and brother in the driveway and Dad saying, "Look at this! Someone must have hit the car last night! They probably used our driveway to turn-around and hit the car!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing!! Was it possible that I may actually get away with it??!!?? Brilliant! Go with the "Can you believe someone would hit the car and just drive off" line....it was perfect!

Then, I heard my Dad say, "Wait a minute; Sally had the car out last night..."

Game over.

I lead-footed it downstairs and confessed.
I got yelled at.

It is always better to take responsibility and to admit when you blow it.

It's a character thing and other people respect you. Then again, a ball can have a mind of it's own and there are rude drivers who hit your car in the middle of the night.....hmmmmmm.....

sj;

Words to actions

My spirituality is strengthened and shaped by the words, witness, and women of the Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, PA. During my daily reflection time so many of their writings shape my reading and response.

In regard to the recent violence and the saber rattling of some and our too quick response to hit back, I offer these words from the World Peace Prayer may they be the signposts on our individual and corporate journies:

"Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth,

Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust,

Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace,

Let peace fill my heart, my world, my universe"

Lead on;

sj;

Come together right now

You say the date, 9-11, and it pauses you. Eleven years after that day, if one stops long enough to remember, and I hope you did so today, you are brought silent and there is a somberness, a quiet introspection.

I spent the afternoon facilitating a discussion on the film SICKO and the US Healthcare system to a group of twenty Americorps students who are beginning their placement in a variety of health care settings that serve individuals and communities too often on the margins.

The spirited conversation focused on issues of community and caring for one another and who are we as Americans and what kind of nation it is in which we want to live. I found it appropriate that the students' responses led the conversation to this point especially on this day.

The energy, intelligence, and compassion of these young people gives me hope.

It is the hope that comes from the idealism of the young.
It is the hope that comes from re-membering what we can be as members of the human community.
It is the hope that we can come together and care for each other...for all "the others."
It is the hope that grounds the work we do as teachers, clergy, community organizers, social workers, members of our shared community....build from this.

sj;

Rally

To rally --- to gather together; to create momentum and go forward; to come back. Today in mainline Protestant churches was the celebration of Rally Day, the start of the Christian Education year. While in the local church, this was always a time of great anticipation for me as I looked forward to teaching and learning and the rush of watching people grow in their understanding and faith.

My mother taught Sunday School for over 65 years! On Saturday evenings, Mom would be up late putting the final touches on her lesson, which she had worked on all week. She provided the example of the importance of education and to take seriously the opportunity to teach and to put forth one's best effort.

What are you doing to spark your spirit and strengthen your faith? Where do you find spiritual nourishment?

For me, I am focusing on simplifying. My curriculum are the writings of Sister Joan Chittister, OSB and Robert Fulghum.

And you???

sj;

Lessons from leisure

Tomorrow, we are heading back north; of course, we will stop halfway to watch the Steelers game. It's been wonderful and here are some lessons from my leisure:

* "No-see-um" the best name ever for a tiny insect whose bite itches for a very long time.

* I am drawn to the whole concept of a lighthouse and a lighthouse keeeper.

* Amazing how quickly the storms come in and move out while at the shore -- I think that is true both literally and metaphorically.

* The female loggerhead sea turtle will journey over 800 miles to come back to the place where she was born to lay her eggs.

* Before one swims in the ocean for any long period of time, one should probably have some clue about what one is doing.

* Watching and listening to the steady rhythm of the waves is therapeutic

* A good vacation is one that stays with you and from which you return and live life more simply.

sj;

Power Play

This is the warmest part of the year that I've been at the beach so I've been doing some ocean swimming. Neither metaphorically nor literally would I be considered a lightweight. However, the ocean waves have walloped me time and time again. I am amazed at how much force a wave brings --- the sound is like cracking thunder and getting hit square by a wave knocks me on my soggy butt.

In the pleasant times of bobbing in the waves and riding them into shore and still mindful of the ocean's power, I found cause to reflect on the nature of power. There are similarities between the ocean and humans. Power comes from being connected to a higher source. Power comes from constancy.

Speaking in truly human terms, power is "having a proper sense of self in a universe full of wonders" (Chittister). Power comes from trusting and being open and not clinging. Power is taking responsibility when it was you who blew it. Power is honoring and protecting the dignity of each person.

What say you?
While you think about it, still reeling from the ocean's power, I need to extract sand from my unmentionables.

sj;

Why do it

Today is the birthday of the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Jane Addams. Born into a wealthy family and a Quaker, Jane Addams was a community organizer who founded Hull House. Located on the Southside of Chicago, Hull House was a neighborhood center for the impoverished immigrants living in the community and that offered a communal kitchen, a day care, a library, and a boarding house for women.

Jane is the kind of woman I celebrate, a woman of active compassion who cares for neighbor and in doing builds a strong community.

I take pride in being a community organizer. Why do it?

* My lineage of strong women set the example.

* If we do not actively care for each other we are done.

* It is a real rush to inspire a group of persons, too often on the margins of
society, to come together and work for a more just society.

* Sarah Palin makes fun of me.

* My faith compels me to do this.

Whenever we meet a new person, after the exchange of names, the next question we ask is What do you do? More than that question, I want to ask, Why do you do it?

Well.......

sj;

Bless this

After a few days at the beach amidst sun, ocean, waves, and an easy pace, I'm beginning to think I could do this kind of gig full time. Therefore, I am seriously considering applying (is that how it's done?) for the position of shaman for some island tribal community....hey,I'm ordained. I would be the visible, go-to person in terms of spiritual guidance, a wise word, perfomer of rituals --- when you think about it, isn't that a lot of the role of clergy anyhow?

Spiritual leaders of any community are often sought to pronounce blessings in formal settings. It's one of the favorite opportunities given me and from benedictions to babies to bake sales, I have blessed them all.

One does not need a formal affair to extend a blessing. In the last few days, I have blessed: the car and the drive; meals ranging from grilled burgers and dogs to a bowl of "Lucky Charms;" the breeding ground of sea turtles; the lighthouse; and the doorway as I head-out each morning.

Here's the truth, one does not have to be ordained nor an island shaman to offer a blessing. All that is needed are the awareness of one's surroundings and a willingness to extend light and good energy to people, persons, places, and situations.

As you go about your day....bless and be a blessing.....we all can offer one and, most definitely, we all can use one.

sj;

Sign...sign...everywhere a sign....

Pay attention --- two words of frequent counsel; you hear the words from your parents, your teachers, your coaches. Pay attention is wise spiritual guidance to remind you to be aware of the present moment and to listen, look, and be part of what is happening around you and within you.

Part of my paying attention involves making note of words and messages that individuals write on walls, on sidewalks, on bridges and overpasses, in tunnels, on railroad ties, on rocks and beaches and on playground equipment. I am not condoning graffiti, yet, I am a student of what people choose to write, paint or carve on very public and permanent surfaces. I like when some degree of creativity is expressed other than a too frequent curse word, relationship status, or sketches of body parts. Give me something I can use.

One of the grand inventions of recent years is sidewalk chalk. What a wonderful concept to give kids (and adults) fat pieces of pastel chalk and permission to write, draw, and express all over the giant canvas of a big sidewalk! I make it a point to admire the efforts of sidewalk scribes and artists always looking for some movement away from the standard fare of suns, rainbows, hearts, and one's name.

On the walking bridge in Harrisburg, someone with a caring spirit stenciled at various intervals the words: PLEASE BE OK. What a heartfelt hope! What a wonderful wish! It made me want to connect with my fellow bridge walkers to offer a smile, a way to express in person the wish expressed in purple paint.

As I write this, I am at the beach for a glorious week of vacation. I am debating writing some less-permanent, eco-friendly messages in the sand at the shore. These messages may not last long, yet, many important messages are given to us briefly and to get the message you have to pay attention.

What are the signs you are reading?

sj;

"Dear Heart"

In case you may have forgotten, words matter. Move past that ridiculous and violent rhyme of childhood that referenced the obvious pain inflicted by sticks and stones and the falsehood that words would never hurt.

How we refer to someone has impact. This past weekend, I made a run to the "Strip" to purchase some cheese at Penn Mac. There is one cheese server who I hope will wait on me everytime I order my Welsh Cheddar! She is a legend at the Penn Mac cheese counter! What makes her a classic is she calls everyone, "Dear heart." From when she yells your number, it's "dear heart;" after each cheese order its "anything else, dear heart?" It's enough to make me order five different kinds of cheese just to be called "Dear Heart" over and over!

A kind word, a simple gesture that acknowledges the personhood of another is a gift. When I was living in DC and commuting daily on the METRO, I played a game to see how many stressed, hurried, and self-indulged fellow travelers I could get to smile. I would make eye contact and give a little grin. My average was I could usually get 8 out of 10 folks to smile back. Felt good.

What about you? How do you share a little light to brighten the day of another?

Truth is we all need that smile, that human connection, that acknowledgement that someone sees us. Remember in the film, AVATAR, the expression of love was evidenced in the phrase, "I see you." Indeed.

sj;

You Throw Like a Girl

During the glory days of my Little League this tale was re-told often in the family circle. One particular game I was pitching and was throwing quite well. It was marvelous --- my brother was yelling, "Keep throwing smoke!" My Mom was smiling proud, yet contained. A gentleman fan proclaimed, "Wow! That boy can sure pitch!" To which my father stared at the man and exclaimed, "That's no boy, that's my daughter."

Being raised to be fully who I am and as one who has always enjoyed playing and watching sports (NOTE: I may want to clarify the watching when I think of the Pirates recent efforts...sigh...) I was encouraged to play. As I broke the gender-barrier in Little League my parents were encouraging, supportive, and present. When I pitched and would come to the bench at the inning break and my Dad would come to the bench and place his coat around my pitching arm to keep it warm for the next inning. To any Little Leaguer who dreamed of being like the big-league ballplayers that was just the best! Of course, my 9-year-old arm no more needed warmed up then I needed to be chewing a wad of bubble gum and spitting; it's all the image and the dream!

Following the incredible Summer Olympics that was truly the American Women's show, it is a great opportunity to encourage young girls to play sports and to be competitive. Forty years since the passage of TITLE IX, we are beginning to celebrate the athletic accomplishments of women. Yes, we are still only in the early phase because too often we comment on the attractiveness not the athleticism of the female athlete.

I'm not sure the words, "You throw like a girl" are ever spoken as a jeer or jest in this day and age. In light of current female athletic accomplishments, we should be complimenting each other by saying, "You run like a girl!" "You swim like a girl!" "You hit like a girl!" Claim it ladies and teach your children well!

sj;

Got Soap???

The one word that could never be used to describe me would be "prude." My language is also not that of "traditional" clergy speak....although, I do contend that the band of fishermen disciples were probably quite salty and coarse in their language.

Although an occasional curse word may cross my lips and the frequency does increase when at Pittsburgh sporting events, I rarely, if at all, drop the "F Bomb." Yet, I should be wearing a language flack jacket walking around the streets of Pittsburgh. Does anyone know, consider, or use another adjective or verb? Honestly, it seems that is all I hear and I hear it from men and women, children and adults, in anger and in jest. And, the word is a nasty, cutting, harsh word with all those hard consonants it just sounds ugly. This "F Bomb" explosion has worn me thin and I am to the point of asking the offending cusser if she or he knows any other words? Can they try and be creative in their verbal expression and try something different? Or, can they just go with "frig" or "friggin?"

My mother never swore...ever....never....never....nope. In fact, any time a cuss word was uttered one was greeted with "You know better than that." Truth is, I did and I do. Truth is, once you start the swearing it quickly becomes habit.

Following Biblcal counsel before putting the cake of soap in another's mouth, I first need to scrub my own tongue. I know and can do better. Maybe getting my own language in line will rub off on others.....if that happens the next item on my "peeved list" is does anyone use a turn signal anymore????

sj;

Big Question

With their win today, our Buccos took one out of three. All is well, dear Pirates fan, a good win today and still a lot of baseball to be played.

Yesterday, I was having conversation with a friend and, of course, talk turned to the Pirates. She wanted to know what all the talk was about the Pirates pitchers retaliating on the Reds in response to star, Andrew McCutchen being hit by a 101 mph pitch.

"That doesn't really happen?" my friend asked in regard to pitchers throwing at opposing batters to send a message that the hitting of one of their team was bush league at best. Yes, it does, I explained. It's part of the unwritten code of major league baseball. If they hit one of yours, you hit one of theirs....definitely so if it's your star player that gets hit by the pitch.

My friend was incredulous. "But it's baseball! It's such a calm, non-violent game. Why?"

Good question. Largely because the umpire sent a warning last night when another Pirate got plunked, no Buc hurler hit a Red. And, I'll admit, my rabid-fan response was "Just wait until the next time we play......"

What if we never did retaliate? What if we let it go and chose the higher path, displayed a deeper character? As I write this, I'm thinking, if we did that we would be the biggest team of wusses and pansies in the league.

Yet, it does make me think. When called a name, what if you just ignored it? When cut off in traffic, what if you just smiled? When wronged, what if you didn't retaliate and instead went about your business to the best of your ability? When I really think about it, that behavior is not weak, it's strong and is from a deeper sense of self. With further reflection, peaceful behavior comes from doing the necessary interior work that makes for peace.

Kudos to my friend for getting me to think about the bigger picture. Of course, she does know that football season is about to start and if anyone takes a cheap shot on Ben..........

sj;

Swimming Lessons

As the "Summer ABC's" support, my primary swimming location has been the creek or the river where along with your bathing suit required equipment are a trusting pair of creek shoes. However, the older I am, I have grown to appreciate the local public pool. With the heat of this summer, I have spent a lot of time at the local Dormont Pool; this is a serious public pool that's been around a long time. The pool is HUGE, it's longer than a football field and about 40 yards across; there's a slide, a net for pool volleyball, a diving board, and all kinds of rafts and floatables are allowed!

Spending many hours at the pool I have learned certain lessons. To begin, what is it about we Americans and space? We don't like to be crowded, we need our "elbow room" and this holds even more true in the pool. Part of the charm of the Dormont facility is how big it is --- if you stay in the deeper part of the pool, and that is a substantial piece, you have a lot of room to swim and splash, to dive and diva float. I'm one who likes to have room and space when I swim. I have never understood the allure of going to a public pool packed with people and making the swim akin to amoebas in a petri dish.

Before any little kid ventures to swim in the 6 - 9 feet of water, she or he must take and pass their "deep water test." Wouldn't it be nice if in life we each had the opportunity to pass a "deep water test" before we found ourselves in deep and challenging waters that are a part of living? We would be given a ribbon or a bracelet to wear notifying all that we had passed the test and could handle ourselves in the deep water. The more I think about it, many of us, are walking around with invisible ribbons and bracelets having been through the deep waters of life and some of us still treading to keep ourselves afloat.

sj;

Olympic Moments

As a kid, I remeber Bruce Jenner winning the decathalon and running around the track with the US flag; I recall being astounded wathcing Nadia Comaneci, the big-eyed, pixie, Romanian gymnast receive the elusive perfect score of 10. So many athletes and their accomplishments still stir the spirit --- Mary Lou, Edwin, Flo, Dara, Janet, Michael, Bart and Mitch and Peter, Jackie and Greg. Like many folks, and I've been told women in particular, the Summer Olympics are just great theater and the best of sport.

As we near the end of the first week of "The Games," some reflections:

10. I enjoyed the Opening Ceremony and how quirky it was --- the battalion of Mary Poppins flying in for the rescue was classic. Three Cheers for my homeland and for adding some levity and humor!

9. How they lit the Olympic torch was very impressive with the individual copper pieces lighting and then forming the Olympic flame. The glaring ooops, however, is that I always thought the Olympic flame was to be the centerpiece and visible by all through the duration of the games. Where the frig is it???

8. Watching the parents of the athletes gives a great perspective and is good drama.

7. I could wath Misty May-Traynor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings play beach volleyball all day.

6. OK, he has the record as the most decorated Olympian, yet, Michael Phelps has lost his appeal. Can we please interview anybody else......

5. How do the gymnasts get their bodies to twist, twirl, tuck, turn, and tumble that way? A great team effort for the US Women!

4. Loving the US Women's Volleyball team and local girl, Carla Harmotto from Hopewell and PSU playing well.

3. After watching their video take on "Call Me Maybe," how can you not be pulling for the US Swim Team???

2. Has there ever been that many disciplined, attractive, athletic, talented young people assembled in one place??!!? Oh, yeah, every four years at the Olympics.

1. A few months after the games, Missy Franklin will be smiling on the front of a Wheaties box. Can she be more wholesome and adorable?

sj;

....the abc finish line....

V = Vacation Bible School (VBS) This annual week in the life of a local church is held in summer and is the culmination of a lot of work and preparation. In my experience, it didn't matter whether we scheduled the VBS Week in June or July, in the morning or the evening...whenever...it was always the hottest week of the year. Seriously. For me, VBS was a week of Sweating with Jesus. Yet, the standards of crafts and snacks and themes that ranged from camping to the beach to athletics always provided the basis for a good week with the kids. In my years of doing this, the best comment ever was when I asked 3-year old Karrington what she learned at VBS and she responded, "I learned a whole lotta' love!" Mission accomplished.

W = Weenie Roasts There is something about eating a pork/beef tube of meat that has been roasted to a charcoal-streaked and cracked texture on a raging campfire --- I love it! For me, it's the best way to enjoy a hot dog (of course, a close second is at a baseball game). The Weenie Roast and the accompanying baskets of chips and pretzels and jars of Kool-Aid were a frequent summer meal and I still regard it as fine dining.

X = X-Games: The Snyder Version There are many benefits to being the youngest in the family and to having older brothers. Namely, there is always something going on and some craziness for one to be involved. My brothers were creative sorts and developed entire games and contests to pass the time of our summer season. Two favorites were: "The Hellacious Hill Climb" that involved riding your bike as far as you could up a steep wooded hill without stopping. Of course competitiveness kicks in and one tends to do more than intelligent afterthought would support. My one experience with this sport resulted in a trip to the hospital for stitches.
The other memorable Snyder X-Game Summer Sport was "Hawaiian Creek Jumping" which took place at the local Buffalo Creek (our version of the islands) and involved running full speed down a large rock that sloped directly into the creek and at the opportune time launching one's self into the creek seeking maximum distance. For me, this resulted in a large gash in my knee as I added a tumbling element to my jumping. Come to think of it, the Snyder X-Games could easily add another "x" --- x-ray.

Y = Youth Maybe it's the sun, or, the fact that school is out and the kids are around, yet, summer is the season of youth and feeling young again.

Z = Zucchini THE vegetable of summer, it seems as if anyone is capable of growing this gourd-like veggie as evidenced by the fact that people are always giving you zucchini! Early in my teenage years, my family experienced the "Summer of the Zucchini." Along, with what we grew, we also received many, many, many zucchinis and my mother took it upon herself to use each and every one. We had zucchini at every meal. We had it pickled, we had it in salads, we had it fried, we had it once in lasagna, we had it in cakes, and we had it in bread. Had my mother not been opposed to strong drink, I'm quite sure we would have figured out how to ferment it and then bottle it.