Silence in the New Year

Hi. Here is the devotion I gave in language class on Friday.

After great deliberation I have decided that the topic of silence is appropriate for today’s devotion. You see I like to listen but lately people keep telling me I need to speak – I just can’t seem to figure out why. You see the Bible is full of passages that talk about silence. We hear the story of Elijah and God’s voice being in the stillness and in the silence. In Isaiah 32:17 we learn that the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Later in the prophets I read “In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” In 1 Timothy 2 Paul urges that we should lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness because this is good and pleases God our Savior. There are numerous other places that talk about and urge us to live quiet lives. So I am left asking, “why can’t I too be silent.”

In my nightly readings I came across a section of writing by Henri Nouwen that address the damage of noise. He writes….

Recently I was driving through Los Angeles, and suddenly I had the strange sensation of driving through a huge dictionary. Wherever I looked there were words trying to take my eyes from the road. They said, “Use me, take me, buy me, drink me, smell me, touch me, kiss me, sleep with me.” In such a world, who can maintain respect for words?

All this is to suggest that words, my own included, have lost their creative power. Their limitless multiplication has made us lose confidence in words caused us to think, more often than not, “They are just words.”

Teachers speak to students for six, twelve, eighteen, and sometimes twenty-four years. But the students often emerge from the experience with the feeling: “They were just words.” Preachers preach their sermons week after week and year after year. But their parishioners remain the same and often think: “They are just words.” Politicians, businessmen, ayatollahs, and popes give speeches and make statements “in season and out of season,” but those who listen say: “They are just words… just another distraction.”

The result of this is that the main function of the word, which is communication, is no longer realized. The word no longer communicates, no longer fosters communion, no longer creates community, and therefore no longer gives life. The word no longer offers trustworthy ground on which people can meet each other and build society.

Henri Nouwen The Way of The Heart

Silence is to be regarded as good and sacred or words become useless. But there is also a time to speak. Throughout the Old Testament the prophets are given words from God to speak. In Ezekiel we learn that it is the role of the watchman to cry out and that if the watchman does not come and disaster falls on the city he is to blame. Jesus spoke to the crowds. Paul wrote letters. Words can be good and communication is very helpful. Although I understand a great deal by watching hand gestures and facial expressions I miss much of the abstract when words are not used. I am a writer, after all, without words where would I be. When used correctly language is a positive powerful tool that allows for the quietness to be sacred.

In conclusion I guess I better start speaking.

Blessings in the New Year (we celebrate the coming of 2001 on Thursday September 11)

Peace and Communication

Today begins a new school year at Anderson University. For all my friends attending classes this fall I hope you have a good semester. I began my class for the fall just over two weeks ago. Though only one class it is one of the harder ones I have ever taken. Learning Amharic is not easy. I sit in class three hours a day and listen, trying to understand what the teacher is telling us by watching his body motion and the objects he is using. Yesterday we began to speak. Not only saying what an object is but using complete sentences to give commands and to answer questions. I must say my Amharic skills leave much to be desired, but I am learning. The more I listen and the more I try to talk the better I will become. I am finding that in order to learn I have to mess up time and time again. I do not like being wrong, I would much rather stay quiet but if I do I will not learn. Think of a small child learning to talk – for the first year or so they are very difficult to understand. I am that small child right now.

As I learn Amharic and spend my afternoons in cultural orientation I am thinking about peace. How do my actions right now work towards peace and conflict transformation? I find they do at the most basic level. Though peace can be achieved without speaking the same language, peace is not possible without communication and understanding. For these first six weeks I may not resolve any conflicts or transform others but I am working towards peace. As I learn the language and the culture of those I will live and work among I begin to respect and value them for who they are and when I see they too are part of God's creation I begin to work towards peace.

Remember the Traveler

Tomorrow we board the airplane that will begin our two day journey to Ethiopia. Today marked the end of training in Akron, PA. It has been a good week filled with information and the building of relationships. Last night we headed to the MCC material resource center to put our hands to work helping prepare kits that will be sent overseas perhaps to some of our locations. As I checked the school kits ans walked past the brightly colored comforters my steps quickened with anticipation for soon I would be on my way, soon I would be in Ethiopia.
Today that soon feels within grasp. I received my box of encouragement from friends and as I hold that box tears spring to my eyes. Tears that fall when I truely know I am loved beyond imagination, tears that express the excitement for tomorrow, tears the spill with nervous anticipation, tears that say I love you and miss you my friends. I am happy.
I leave tomorrow, I know that tomorrow many of you will be celebrating as two wonderful people begin their new life together. My prayers are with you. May it be a time of great joy and celebration.
As you celebrate remember the travelers. Remember our friends as they go on their honeymoon, as friends and family travel from all over to the wedding. Remember those of us who will board planes to fly to many different countries. Remember those who are physically stationary but whose lives are changing faster than they can process. Remember those who seem to be going nowhere fast. Remember, we are all travelers on a journey. All travelers who need to be reminded of who we are now, where we have been, and where we are going. Perhaps there was part of that this week as we were challenged to write our goals and preapre for our assignments. In the coming year we will be challenged to learn who we truly are as the familiarity we know will dissipate.
Remember the travelers may they find their ways safely home.

peace

We will go together

A few more hours and I leave Marion, Ohio and begin the drive to orientation. I am excited, nervous, and humbled. It is hard to believe this summer is over. It has passed swiftly despite my efforts to cherish each day. I am thankful for the amount of time I was able to spend with friends, family, and with God. I am learning to live life with no regrets and though I did not enjoy every moment of the summer I regret none - life is beautiful.
My mind scrolls like a new movie real, it knows what scenes must be played next but as the operator I am always wary of a skipped scene. But if I skip a scene will I really notice it has been skipped or will life go on despite the error. I think it is safe to say I have all the major themes in place the rest is extra added to enliven the plot.
I am packed and cautious that my bags are right at the fifty pound mark - I'm not sure how the light packer that I am managed to pack that much but I've never packed for a year before.
I am ready. Ready to hit the road finalize the goodbyes and fly into the distance.
I pray that I may continue to see God at work in each moment of my day that I may look back and say life is a beautiful gift from God and I have nothing to regret.
Goodbye my family. Goodbye my friends. Though miles may part may we travel together and may God go before.
Blessings on the journey.

My Fire


Last Tuesday was a day of firsts. It was the first time I had gone on vacation without my family. It was the first time I had hiked for three hours without any idea where I was going. It was the first time I found over six ticks on my legs and had to pull them out. It was the first time I started a fire. It was the first time I attempted and failed to cook baked potatoes on camp fire. It was the first and only time I turned twenty three. It was a day filled with adventure. It was a great day spent with a very dear friend.
The lesson we learned from the day is we need to go camping without guys more often we learn more cause they won't do it for us - now I will argue that its not really guys but anyone who is more knowledgeable who can hinder you from learning new skills. To truly become proficient in something I must do it with my own two hands.
Here is my new first done with my own two hands. Enjoy the pictures from camping :).
Sunset

A poet cries for peace

I recently finished a book entitled "Notes From the Hyena's Belly" by Nega Mezlekia. It is his autobiography of growing up in Ethiopia. He writes about Ethiopian poetry.
"In Ethiopia, poetry is second only to the achievements of kings. Poets are sought after and treasured with great reverence by the ruling class. In ancient times , poets were invited to read to the king's palace and light up the festivities at a feudal lord's manor by composing odes that both celebrated triumphs over adversaries and advised the lord of the condition of his serfs" page 39-40
Mezlekia goes on to say that the poet could speak of the true plight of the peasant and plead on his behalf because the lord would do him no harm as he was only fulfilling his duty.
Following those lines I post here a poem many of you have heard me recite and which I wrote.

Let there be peace on Earth

“By violence I mean any way you have of violating the identity and integrity of another person” -Parker Palmer

To Christianize the nations

we require you look like us,

talk like us, and act like us.

You must embrace capitalism

and a democratic government.

This is the Christian thing to do.

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be the moment now

I come to the Christian nation.

You wear our clothes, an old

T-shirt from a school

over here. You stare at us

amazed. We are who you want

to be. Well fed and clean.

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be my solemn vow

You stare at us with yellow eyes

and rotting teeth. Your belly protruding

like a latex balloon. Your eyes

are empty like the bowl you

use for food. Let me help

you look like me.

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me

You fled from the country

to escape famine and war.

Your people’s lands were

taken that they may be used

to better your nation, with

tall buildings and roads.

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be the moment now

Now your cattle have nowhere to roam.

Your crops cannot grow. Come to the city.

To pursue the great dream and escape

the madness of your home. Enter the city

to be stripped of everything – that you may be me.

Start a roadside stand selling “authentic” Kenyan art.

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be my solemn vow

Kenya was a nation of many tribes

but now it’s best if you forget

that. You should have

one language and one name.

Come we will put you next to

this tribe. No, don’t tell me the history.

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me

Dream of brick houses and running water.

A car or two. Work hard and they will be

provided for you. It’s been four generations

and here you sit poorer than before. Get up

stop being lazy, get out of the muck. Be proud

of your heritage. But, wait who am I?

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be the moment now.

Let there be peace on earth

Let this be my solemn vow.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.

- peace

Hello,
I just realized that there are two email addresses in my support letter and one of them is incorrect. They both have the same name but different addresses. The correct @ is @gmail.com. So, if you have been unable to email me or have not had a reply to your email, simply use the same name and put @gmail.com not anderson.com and I should reply in a day or two.
thanks