There was a whole lot of singing in my sleep Friday night… and no, it wasn’t me! Instead, it was Tevye, from Fiddler on the Roof. And you can probably guess the rest.
Dancing on the roof, undone about new things in his world. Bearded face. Deep voice. TRADITION…
And I suspect that, if Tevye were with us in this moment, he’d be even more perplexed than he was, back in the day. Let’s talk traditions…
Friday, trick-or-treat, and high school football, about two blocks down the street. With huge thanks, we delivered our candy to our dear neighbors for door answering help, even in the midst of their Shabbat observance.
Samhain, too… though I’m still learning that!
Saturday, my knee surgeon’s birthday. And All Saint’s Day. (We’ll be back to this in a couple minutes!)
Today, the observance of Reformation Day on the church calendar I know best . You know… Martin Luther “vandalizing” a church door, October 31, 1517. (That story turns out to be way more complicated, too!)
And, yes… tradition is a perspective thing, which is, quite possibly, another definition for the word, heresy. You’ve heard my favorite definition of that one, before… able to choose!
Welcome to the world of MetaModern!
For this moment, a story… the “old” chapel at Columbia Theological Seminary. November 1, sometime in the late 1990’s when I was on campus for one of my last DMin classes. Walter Brueggemann preaching. About All Saints Day! (Really!!!)
If you’re new around here, let me explain that Saints were NOT a big topic back then, in that bastion of Reformed Theology!
Walter said a lot, which was no surprise. I remember, all these years later, one sentence:
Saints are all those who believe for us, on days when we can’t quite believe for ourselves.
And, just between us, I think that is even more important, in the context of these days, than it was a quarter of a century ago.
Just this year, Walter walked on to the place where I suspect all the beings are “saints” of that sort. And, he teaches me, still…
Many things are true and they don’t all get along very well.
I’m not sure whether this is more real than ever before, or whether it’s simply more in our faces. In either case, it is a huge part of the reality of our lives.
Here’s another thing that’s true… a glimpse from my family tree!
On your left is my Gramma Begga, aka Saint Begga. An advocate for women when that was even more dangerous than it is in these days. And, to the right, her daughter, Saint Clotilde, known to some as the patron saint of the lame.
Then there are two great aunts insisting on being included in this moment. Alice and Mary Parker. Sisters. Hanged as witches with six other women, in Salem, on September 22, 1692. The last of the Salem Witch Trials.
It’s well worth mentioning that a big part of the reason I have access to these stories is that these women, and many of their generations, had the radical notion that women should be able to read and write!
I am consciously choosing to claim, even though other things are no doubt true as well, that we are, ALL of us, as Linda Hogan wrote, despite the tragedies, the result of the love of thousands. And, we are capable of choosing what to live!
I am also sure, that we have choices to make! Like voting, if you haven’t, already. And learning new things!
I’m learning new things, too – amidst my recent mobility challenges – which is why the upcoming journey formerly known as #Filters has a new nickname… #Magic!!! There will be lots more details, soon. Let’s just say that things got way more fun and I’m really excited!!! Here’s a hint…
ps… want to be ahead??? Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards are in stock now, and sure to get you on the road! Could be huge fun for family holidays!
