Karen's Journey

Here once again is my weekly Lenten round-up of Facebook postings on what the Bible has to say about how we're supposed to treat the least among us. In my tradition, Lent ends on Thursday night --Maundy Thursday in my upbringing -- "Maundy" being derived from the Latin word mandatum , the first word in Latin in the phrase Jesus spoke when washing the apostle's feet: "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you." Good to know the etiology of that word -- I've always wondered, and just now finally bothered to look it up. I plan to spend Monday through Thursday presenting the last of the verses -- the scripture I am personally most drawn to -- splitting it into daily installments, as it's a long one. So this means I'm down to my last verse. I'm kind of bummed. This has been an interesting exercise. I'm sure there are verses and parables I've left out. Perhaps for next year I will search other religi...

South Congregational Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Where I  saw my sister and brother baptized,  was taught how to read the Bible and sing in a choir, and learned that it's not a good thing to walk  into a church and exclaim, "It's raining like HELL out there."    It's already week five of Lent. One more week to go, and then we're into Holy week. And I have not yet run out of scripture verses that exhort us to serve the poor. This week's round-up: 1 John 3:17.  But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Mt. 6:2-4.  "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your alms may be in secret; an...

I'm compiling here some links to helpful articles about what to teach our children about staying safe as black men in America: From NPR From TIME magazine From CNN From the Washington Post Tell this child not to run? It's the only gear he has.

Hoodie Danger My son is six years old. He looks nothing but cute as a button in a hoodie. Give him ten more years and he could be another Trayvon Martin. How many eyes will look at him and judge him guilty of blackmaleness, and at what age will that start? I'm not sure you quite get this sense of dread, horror, fear if you are not parenting a young black male. I see the world differently now -- I see it through the eyes of a mother of a black child..Yes, white mothers have to teach their white sons to avoid the dangerous park after dark.  But I have to teach my son how to deal with drivingwhileblack. Walkingwhileblack. Whatnottowearifyou'reblack. There is a whole set of rules that white parents just don't ever need to learn...or teach their children. I have to teach my son the usual stranger danger lessons -- plus how not to get shot for being a black male in America. And where is the manual for this? Can I check a book out of the library: How to Stay Alive In This Cou...

My son's brother doesn't own a pair of shoes.  I leave you this week, after week four of Lenten daily Facebook postings of directives from the Bible to serve the poor, with  this video about One Day Without Shoes 2012 . And the question: what would Jesus be doing? Proclaiming war against pornography or putting shoes on the feet of people without? Another week, another politician hauling out the Bible to grub for votes, while continuing to promise to pull the rug out from under the poor, the downtrodden, and the oppressed. Do these people actually  read  the Bible, or just thump it? Perhaps those who would be President ought to heed the Gospel according to Luke: "He hath brought down rulers from their thrones..."  Jer. 22:3 . Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jer. 2...

I'm going to try not to turn this into a running blog, but feel inspired to post about last Saturday's Tipperary Hill Shamrock Run -- because it's just about the most fun you can have running a race named after a hill. It's a four mile run up and down -- and up and down and up and down and up and down -- a hill big enough to have its own name -- which as one person's t-shirt proclaimed, "A Hill Big Enough to Have Its Own Name Is a Tough One." I think half the fun of this race -- the first being the hills -- is the roulette we play with race day weather. Back when they first started running it, and I was still crippled with foot issues so had to opt out, they ran it once in a race-long downpour -- we were home shop-vacuuming our basement that day, I think -- and once in a complete blizzard. The year S ran it, it was overcast but warmish for March -- probably mid to high 40s. I was not at all uncomfortable as a spectator, and then hanging out with new frie...

Is. 25:4 . For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress. Ps. 10:14.  The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan... O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed. Is 41:17.  The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them Prov. 31:8ff.  [Commandment to kings.] Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. Jer. 22:3 . Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this pla...

Note that the cattle herders are children. They should be in school. But they are needed for the farm work. Every day, twice a day, they must drive their herd of cattle across the main road between Addis Ababa and Awassa -- because they live on one side of the road and the water is on the other side. They must do this dodging cars, trucks, and buses -- that are cruising at highway speed -- without losing any of the herd or their own lives. We saw children as young as three and four herding sheep and goats, with toddlers in tow -- caring for both their siblings and the animals that provide their families with their livelihood.  Lev. 19:19ff.  Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God. Prov. 19:17...

Last year at this time, the snow pack was up to the top of the pool. This was February's last feeble attempt at a real snowfall. I love the black squirrel between the tree and the gazebo. He wasn't sure whether to stick around to grab few more seeds or scamper off into the shrubberies. He opted for the latter. But he was back later.

Two diametrically opposed videos, as I reminisce today, for different reasons. First of all, third grade. The Monkees. I was so jealous not to have a Monkees lunchbox. Davy Jones was the dreamiest. And that cute accent too! I was going to marry him when I grew up, even if it meant arm wrestling a million or so other girls for that right. So here's to Davy, for being fun and having fun. Wherever you are, all the female angels are swooning right now: Davy Jones and the Monkees: Daydream Believer Secondly, the Syracuse New Times , our local weekly arts and entertainment newspaper, featured a story recently on a radio program called "Wax Museum." A bunch of guys show up each week with their old vinyl in hand and program the show from those records. One of the records featured in the accompanying photo was none other than a STARZ album! Ahhh, Richie Ranno, lead guitarist. My second favorite guitar player in the world -- for the reason described below, S being first of...