Tonight at class we experienced a little muslim culture. The men and women had separate entries. Upon walking in the door I was told to cover my head with a scarf. I walked into the room which had been divided by a lace veil. The area for the women was rather small and on the floor several women were sitting on pillows, dressed in veils and some in full Arab dress.
I knew this night was coming, but I hadn't expected it to bother me. It's just experiencing another culture, right? But it did affect me. In fact, it bothered me a lot. The speaker addressed the men without a glance at our side of the room. We sat in silence as the men participated in the lesson. After about an hour, the veil was taken off and we proceeded as normal.
I wrote down a few words describing how it felt, disconnected, useless, unwanted, superfluous. The head covering is there (for modesty too) in our Bible as a visible sign of submission. As I watched the men from behind the veil, I thought about what it means for a wife to submit to her husband. I decided I didn't really know what that meant. For his decisions to overrule mine, for my input to be a side note? Is that what it's like sometimes? I'm so used to my input being respected and listened to...
How do women in that culture maintain a feeling of significance? My words imply that I believe in the headship of men, but I'm not sure they are heartfelt. This is an extreme example perhaps, and I know that there are many issues inside this issue, but I'm only addressing the one tonight (sigh of relief). How do I learn what it is to be under submission while maintaining my opinions, thoughts, beliefs? God didn't give me a mind to waste, but where does it come into play?
I am an American, and I have a lot of frames that I've fit life into. One of my professors said that people don't reject those lifelong frames unless there's some sort of crisis. I like being around diversity. It doesn't confuse, like it may sound when I'm on here, but it does make me think. I think that's a good thing. I think it's a bad thing to always be around the same type of people who hold the exact same beliefs as yourself. Trees fall down when there's no wind...
So tonight, I stepped outside one of my frames and took a look. Now God, teach me from that new perspective.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Jim Wallis
I know, two posts in 1 day... Make her stop!!! I'm not making you watch this though. It's kinda interesting.. ever heard of Jim Wallis, author of 'God's Politics' ? The other guy I've never heard of, but the name calling is a bit ridiculous yea? And, I've never heard evangelical democrats arguing. And I've been studying it. hmmm... I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't like name calling and lying, but I could be wrong.... Of course, I did notice that Jim Wallis was kinda putting down right wingers as well, so it's on both sides. AND the sanctity of human life is ver important however it does not stop after birth. Children out of the womb ARE just as important as those still in the womb. Not very consistent are we? well, let me know what you think. there were a bunch more videos of him on YouTube. And God is not on any particular side of politics. What is important is that we try to do what He said to do. AND if God is not on the right OR the left, why is it so wrong for Jim Wallis to say he's in the middle?? SOrry, I just don't like the other guy much. He doesn't make any sense to me. If you're going to care about sanctity for human life, be consistent! and read your bible... my goodness... I need to go to bed.... I do really like what Wallis had to say. We'll see though. Actions speak louder, yea? So what's this guy doing for the poor? Maybe I'll look him up.
I forgot to mention a quote my friend told me. He went to this conference somewhere in the midwest, and the speaker said that the people of the 21st century are going to be listening with their eyes. I guess they're tired of listening with their ears. Speech doesn't mean much these days. They're not going to believe a thing that's said unless they can see it lived out too. Or maybe just lived out, like St. Francis said, "Share the gospel at all times, only use words when necessary."
Orthopraxy
It's as if I'm a binge blogger or something. All at once and then nothing at all. Take in all the ideas, think about them for a while, then spit them out at you. Ok, so maybe that's not a very attractive way of stating it, but, it's what came first to mind...
I'm excited about a couple of things that I wanted to share (and I'll have to keep it short cause I have Perspectives in a minute..)
I heard 2 people talking about orthopraxi today in two completely different settings. How exciting, yea? For those of you who don't know wha orthopraxy is (like me before today..) it's orthodoxy in practice I guess. Walk the talk, you know? I love it when you start hearing about the same thing from different people, it's a neat way to see the work of I AM.
The other exciting thing, I get to witness the strength of the Lord in people. It's incredible, I wasn't there for the beginning, but I get to see it closer to the end (although, technically there's not an end). I get to watch God pour His healing and mercy into a few people's lives, and it's so encouraging to me, I can't tell you. Maybe because the situations I've been around for in the past haven't turned out this way, at least not yet. It's my dream mom. (I'll tell you about my dream some other time if you don't know, no time today..)
Well, it's been a good day. Go put some theology into practice!
I'm excited about a couple of things that I wanted to share (and I'll have to keep it short cause I have Perspectives in a minute..)
I heard 2 people talking about orthopraxi today in two completely different settings. How exciting, yea? For those of you who don't know wha orthopraxy is (like me before today..) it's orthodoxy in practice I guess. Walk the talk, you know? I love it when you start hearing about the same thing from different people, it's a neat way to see the work of I AM.
The other exciting thing, I get to witness the strength of the Lord in people. It's incredible, I wasn't there for the beginning, but I get to see it closer to the end (although, technically there's not an end). I get to watch God pour His healing and mercy into a few people's lives, and it's so encouraging to me, I can't tell you. Maybe because the situations I've been around for in the past haven't turned out this way, at least not yet. It's my dream mom. (I'll tell you about my dream some other time if you don't know, no time today..)
Well, it's been a good day. Go put some theology into practice!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
President's Day? not for us...
*ding* Round one for papers is over!
I live in a garden. It smells nice.. We got flowers for Valentine's Day. Lots o roses and daisies (the friendliest flowers) and lilies!
We're all wondering, here in Flagstaff, just why NAU enjoys torturing us so much. Not only do they overcharge us for every little thing they can (and they do.), they are taking away our holidays. This is starting to get serious.
WHere is Justice when NAU is holding classes on President's Day, and EVERY other place in town gets to enjoy it? CCC doesn't even have classes.
Mercy, President Hager (that's his name yes?), not sacrifice. Here is where I must stop.
We found a little movie rental place that has great selection of indie and foreign films. AND it's close to Little Ceasar's WHICH I found out has $5 large pizzas. No on e told me about this. Why? that's almost as good a deal as the $3 breakfasts at the Place. And Taco Tuesdays. And no, I don't actually eat out a lot. It's just nice to know about these things.
I made beef stew the other night, and it turned out pretty good, but not as good as my mom's. I've heard that this is the curse we all face. My cooking will never be as good as yours, mom.
Well, it's not much, but it's an update I guess. I'm in the middle of a good book, so this is the end.
I live in a garden. It smells nice.. We got flowers for Valentine's Day. Lots o roses and daisies (the friendliest flowers) and lilies!
We're all wondering, here in Flagstaff, just why NAU enjoys torturing us so much. Not only do they overcharge us for every little thing they can (and they do.), they are taking away our holidays. This is starting to get serious.
WHere is Justice when NAU is holding classes on President's Day, and EVERY other place in town gets to enjoy it? CCC doesn't even have classes.
Mercy, President Hager (that's his name yes?), not sacrifice. Here is where I must stop.
We found a little movie rental place that has great selection of indie and foreign films. AND it's close to Little Ceasar's WHICH I found out has $5 large pizzas. No on e told me about this. Why? that's almost as good a deal as the $3 breakfasts at the Place. And Taco Tuesdays. And no, I don't actually eat out a lot. It's just nice to know about these things.
I made beef stew the other night, and it turned out pretty good, but not as good as my mom's. I've heard that this is the curse we all face. My cooking will never be as good as yours, mom.
Well, it's not much, but it's an update I guess. I'm in the middle of a good book, so this is the end.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
oh the days go by
It is so amazing how clean my house gets when I have homework to do. Every time.. My car got clean too! incredible, what I won't do to avoid writing a paper. Don't worry though, I'm almost done with it and it's not due til tomorrow. That, my friends, is what I like to call a miracle.
The snow was coming down yesterday. I went to class in the morning and it was pretty nice out. About an hour later at work I looked out the window and it was all white. That's Flagstaff for ya. It was gorgeous though. Big, big fluffy white flakes. it's pretty in the day, but it's beautiful at night. I played Christmas music and lit the christmasy smelling candles and sat on my couch thinking about christmas past. Michael W. Smith's christmas music is some of the happiest music I know of. Mmm I love it!
It's exciting, you know, to hear about what God is doing in different places. It's so uplifting to hear stories.. incredible stories of love shared, dances being danced..
Recently I've heard people talking a lot about the Year of Jubilee. Wouldn't it be amazing if we experienced a Year of Jubilee? A year of sharing, not necessarily even our material possessions. That would be nice, but it's not most important. Just sharing joy, the hope we share. The year of Jubilee was practiced by the Jewish people. Every 7 years they would let the land rest and split it back into equal shares among the tribes. Debts were forgiven (debts were forgiven!) and it was a year of jubilee! Self-explanatory.
Well, it's something to think about anyways. Or to dream about. Heck, we could do it while we're at it ;).
The snow was coming down yesterday. I went to class in the morning and it was pretty nice out. About an hour later at work I looked out the window and it was all white. That's Flagstaff for ya. It was gorgeous though. Big, big fluffy white flakes. it's pretty in the day, but it's beautiful at night. I played Christmas music and lit the christmasy smelling candles and sat on my couch thinking about christmas past. Michael W. Smith's christmas music is some of the happiest music I know of. Mmm I love it!
It's exciting, you know, to hear about what God is doing in different places. It's so uplifting to hear stories.. incredible stories of love shared, dances being danced..
Recently I've heard people talking a lot about the Year of Jubilee. Wouldn't it be amazing if we experienced a Year of Jubilee? A year of sharing, not necessarily even our material possessions. That would be nice, but it's not most important. Just sharing joy, the hope we share. The year of Jubilee was practiced by the Jewish people. Every 7 years they would let the land rest and split it back into equal shares among the tribes. Debts were forgiven (debts were forgiven!) and it was a year of jubilee! Self-explanatory.
Well, it's something to think about anyways. Or to dream about. Heck, we could do it while we're at it ;).
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