The Shack

Finally read it. Not sure how much I liked it, though. I'll start with its good points: It's one of the most imaginative and accessible treatments of God as Trinity I've ever read. I especially liked that neither God the Father (a "large beaming African-American woman") nor the Holy Spirit (Asian) nor Jesus (thankfully Middle Eastern, as opposed to the blond Jesus in my childhood picture Bible) were white. Some of it was hokey and over-played, but it had a richness of mood that I found contagious. These images will impact my prayer life in weeks to come, most certainly.

I also liked much of the theology. There was so much of it, in fact, that I imagine each individual reader will zero in on a different morsel. For me, it was the parts about love versus rules. One of my favorite lines: "'Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda' [Jesus]." And: "'Rules cannot bring freedom; they only have the power to accuse' [Sarayu, the Holy Spirit]." This book is highly quotable.

What I didn't like was its cheese. I disagreed with all the liner comments about how literary it was. The writing was not BAD, not at all, but it did not reach any artistic heights. I found it far too heavy-handed for that. It was clever and engaging, but in large part it was a narrative scheme invented to frame apologetic conversations. I'd rather get my narrative theology from the narration. This novel was just far too expository. I skimmed a lot and skipped numerous paragraphs, sometimes entire pages that were mere framing devices or superfluous preaching. For that reason, I couldn't recommend it to too many of my friends -- it had no literary or spiritual subtlety. I give it a C+. For what my opinion is worth.

Dear Mommy

Harper spent the past week and a half at her grandmother's (my mom, "Mimi," in Denver) and we enjoyed, for the first time ever, keeping in touch via email. Here's the summary:

We LOVE you MOMMY! We hope you are having a good time without me. What haveyou been doing lately? + I got a mereinet on Monday. And I went bowling yesterday and I go swimming today! Oh and me anda girl named Braelyn are going to teeny town together! And cookies tonight!
JUNE 24, 2008Your little Harper

Dear Little Harper,
I know you are having a wonderful time!! I sure miss you! While you are gone, I am doing boring stuff like errands, balancing my checkbook, and going to meetings at church. I hope you have a terrific day at Tiny Town! I will be in regular size town. I will see you soon! LOVE YOU!!!
Mommy Wommy Bo Bommy Banana Fana Fo Fommy Fee Fi Mo Mommy -- Mommy!

Harper Warper bo barper Banana fana fo farper Fe Fi Mo Marper. Harper!I hope you are having fun! LOVE YOU!!!
Harper June 25, 2008

Dear Little H,
Today I am going to get the car oil changed (boring!!), return some stuff to Home Depot and the tile store (boring!!), get the car washed (boring!!), and then go see two movies downtown (fun!!). Hope your day is wonderful. Be a good girl. Is this your day of beauty? I know you will be gorgeous! You can have Mimi send me a picture of your new hairdo, or you can surprise me at the airport next week! I will look exactly the same. See you then! Mommy

Dear Caryn,
Harper has had the royal treatment today: painted nails, lunch at Wendy's, hair cut, shopping at Macy's (2 outfits), dollar store (hair barrettes and coloring book). The End. My rest time now after heating leftovers fordinner. Love, Mom

So that was about it. I flew to Denver on Monday to retrieve her, and we got back earlier this evening. We were welcomed by Daddy, who provided pizza and a new Xbox for our homecoming. I think Mimi is exhausted.

Thank You!

A belated THANKS! to all of you who donated to my "Virtual Birthday Party" back in March! I just this evening received the final word on where all the money went, along with some wonderful pictures.

The first project we funded was a new tin roof for a rural school in Uganda. They lost the old one in a severe storm. Our money bought tin sheets, and local labor installed them free of charge.

The second project -- a bonus, since I didn't know we'd raise so much money! -- was a furniture donation for an orphan school, also in Uganda. Here is an excerpt from the email I received tonight:

As always in Africa, things happen slowly. We were able to get the benches for Living Hope Orphan school that we discussed. This is a great ministry helping over 200 vulnerable and orphaned children in a predominantly Muslim slum area of Kampala. I hope the photos give a sense of happiness of this place – its a rowdy but always exuberant group of kids. Actually every time I’ve visited they are more or less like this happy – even if we don’t bring anything. I know however, that the gift of the desks will make a huge difference. Please pass our deepest thanks to the lady who generously gave for this project.

So I extend their thanks and wonderful smiles to you who so lovingly gave! I found this email waiting for me upon my return from seeing a movie about an orphanage in China during the Chinese-Japanese war in the 1930's. I had come home feeling so suburban, so protected from real suffering, so irrelevant. And then... these pictures! Enjoy!!

Believe!

For Fathers Day, Harper and I staged our second annual Family Film Festival (to rival the Seattle International version - SIFF - which sucks up, I'm guessing, around 50 hours of movie time for Jay each June). On this year's line-up: Kung Fu Panda at the theatre and a home screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks. The latter is really not worth much comment at all except that the "Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pie" guy was in it.

Kung Fu Panda, however, gets my attention today. It was not a bad little flick. Several good laughs and quite beautiful with the animated Kung Fu choreography. I've decided to screen it for my 10th grade world lit students next year, nevermind that it's targeted for the elementary school set. The reason is its Eastern theology. If you want a quick course in Taoism, this is the Tao of Disney. I won't go into a detailed worldview analysis of the film (mostly because I'd need to see it again to get it just right), but one particular theme really struck me. A theme that has made its way West. The theme of believing. I can't believe how many movies have these absurdly profound lines about "believing." Believe in what, I ask? Sometimes, it's believing in yourself, as with Po the Kung Fu Panda. I was relieved that, at least, after the adorably obese Panda begins to (foolishly?) believe in himself, at least he goes through some intense Jedi-Master Kung Fu training. But most of the time, the message seems to be that the mere belief itself is the magical ingredient. Nevermind WHAT the person is supposed to believe IN. In the case of Kung Fu Panda, it's Taoism. And if you really think that Taoism is the answer to all the questions of the universe, then so be it. But what irks me is that no one is ever asked to examine the believability of the belief. I get the same feeling when I watch American Idol auditions. These horribly off-key and over-the-top contestants get furious at Simon for telling them the truth. "That's your opinion," they scream at the camera, insisting that they believe in themselves and they're going to take Hollywood by storm on another day in another way. They're doing a fantastic job of believing. But I don't see it getting them anywhere.

CyperPals

I am getting worse and worse at contributing regularly to the blogosphere. However, I spend a lot of time (mostly when there are papers to be graded and dishes to be washed) popping around to friends' blogs. Actually, it's my husband's friends' blogs... my friends by association and long-distance admiration. Sometime's I feel like one of the guys, laughing at the amusing ploys and one-liners of Todd, Rick, Steve, the Hubby James, et al. I especially enjoy the long strings of witty comments, particularly about fat ladies farting in the airport.

I just can't seem to get my gal-pals interested in blogging. What fun it would be to check in on Anne Marie's offbeat humor and Lorri's unique drama on a weekly basis. Now there's two wonderful women who would not shy away from a fart story!

Random Topics That Make Me Smile

Last night when I was tucking Harper in bed, she tells me that if she had to go to a desert island with only four things, she'd take Mommy, Daddy, Polly (the dog) and Lovey (the well-worn much-loved blanket with a teddy head attached). But if she were allowed five things, she'd also bring a backpack. And she'd stuff a pillow in it.

In a couple of weeks, I head to SC for Anne Marie's "40 is Fabulous 80's Prom." My look will be decidedly Suddenly Susanesque. Black lace coctail dress. Looking for fishnets. Satin pumps. Maybe a rad headband. Need some Final Net for my hair. Must transform middle age curly 'do for high-bangs 80's 'do.

Tried on the black prom dress last week. Fits in some areas and not in others. Harper's observation: "Mommy, you look good on top. And you just look a little fat on the bottom." Something I've been trying to come to terms with for years.

The Dance for Democracy

...Otherwise known as the Democratic Caucus, which I attended last Saturday. In fact, for our left-wing entertainment, a 4th grade boy performed a little number entitled "Dance for Democracy," pictured here. Notice in the foreground that the elderly delegate found that Democracy was a little loud for his taste. Surrounding said dance was a two-hour period during which the delegation attendance was tallied, the old fashioned way sans computer, to determine how many alternates should be seated. The rather lengthy tally time was filled with a few informational speeches and inspirational songs played over the loud speaker (i.e. Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'") while delegates chatted and ate lunch. A very cute toddler walked around smiling at everyone with her "Hillary cares about me!" t-shirt on.

I had an interesting conversation over lunch with one woman from my church and some nice folks I met at the table. I confessed to being a lifelong Republican (felt I had to, especially since I've been seriously considering John McCain of late). One person made the comment that in the past, Republicans were more like Libertarians in their call for less government, but that today, they were more interested in controlling everyone's lovelives and uteruses. I mentioned that a lot of Christians had felt disenfranchised by the Democrats in decades past, and thus the Republican party had become a religious right magnet. However, I found it quite interesting that my new Democratic friends supported governmental control over certain aspects of the marketplace, specifically the healthcare industry, so as to reduce the effects of greed on the average working class American. Then in the next sentence, there was loud agreement that the government NOT control any other aspects of morality. Seemed unbalanced to me. But, finally, I could see the difference between Reds and Blues: one says government should not control the marketplace but it should control social norms, whereas the other says the opposite. Given that definition, I think I'm moving more and more to the left. But, still, Republicans seem to have their feet more solidly placed in economic reality. Democrats seem more idealistic. I'm trying to dance around in the middle. Ah, the Dance for Democracy!!