Heartbreak

The Episcopalian Church, Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has put together a great devotional for lent. I started it this week and have really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a devotional I would strongly encourage you to check it out.

The devotional readings this week were really powerful. One in particular was a short scripture from Joel 2:12-13. In verse 13 God commands the children of Israel to commit to a strange practice. He commands them not to rend their clothes (as was their custom), but rather in fasting, weeping, and morning  rend your heart. This reading penetrated my heart. Recently I have done things, such as volunteering to work with the youth at church, to seem as though I am a good person (rending my clothes). When what God wanted from me is my heart, rent and torn to pieces.  He wants to be the mender of my broken heart. I need only allow him to break and put it together again.

Ash Wednesday

First off let me say how embarrassed I am to have not posted at all the entire month of February. Instead of writing a full blog entry I tweeted some of the happenings during black history month. Quick side note I went to the State of Black History Month Forum. The event was moderated by the great Dr. Khalil Muhammed. The discussion lasted about two hours and the conversation keep reverting back to this fundamental issue of Black identity. Dr. Muhammed tried to steer the conversation towards a broader understanding of Black history but no one could discuss at length who are the key history makers that should be lauded during this month. Is the month of honoring Black figures irrelevant in an assumed post-racial United States of America?

Two things I drew from the discussion (1) Even college students don't really know Black History. When he asked for students to share some key leaders (outside of the usual Rosa, Martin & Malcolm) students stammered. So we desperately need to connect all students to the history of Black Americans. (2) College students need a safe space to regularly discuss their racial identity. That was the only issue discussed at length during the forum. Students that commented seemed to be subtly asking the deeper question of "When and where is it ok for me to express (or explore) my blackness?" I am currently working with Eric Love to create a safe space for student to continue the discussion on the issue of race and ethnicity.

So today is Ash Wednesday, and I attended Trinity Episcopal Church for the imposition of ashes. I love the inclusive nature of the service. The homily given today emphasized the loving and merciful nature of Christ. He gently reminded us that the reason for the ashes is "not to remind us of our sinful nature, but it is a reminder of who we belong to." It was a powerful moment for me, a time to remember that my life is not my own. He breathed life into me forming me from the dirt. From ashes I was made and to ashes I will return; God's possession and his beautiful surprise. 

For Lent I have decided to give up facebook and Twitter, they are an addiction for me. Here is the back story. In the library this morning I was explaining the significance of Lent to some of my friends and we all decided to give up some technology. My friend Jasmine has decided to give up her cell phone for one week and twitter for the forty day period. We discussed it and these forms of social media reify pseudo-social connections. Instead of making online friends we are seeking to spend time with real people.

Finally I am looking forward to the next forty days of self-examination and repentance. My hope is that I this season of Lent will help me form habits of critical reflection and self-examination. What are you giving up for lent this year?

P.S.

On the eve of my first days journey into the self imposed wilderness of lent, strangely I am filled with joy. I think it is because I know that around the world my brothers and sisters are preparing their hearts for the resurrection and for the life that will spring from this symbolic journey into death. For me there is comfort in community and redemption in the wilderness.

Thanks be to God!

Mic Check - a year in review

"Hello? Is this thing on?"

What's up friends? I'm embarrassed at my blogging capabilities (or lack thereof). It has been over a month and a half since my last entry. It has been reported that the blogosphere has fallen into a deep state of depression due to my prolonged absence. Well folks I'm back. Not with new years resolutions (because I don't do resolutions I just do stuff), but some reflections on 2010. The past year, quite frankly, was a blur. It was like I went to bed January 1, 2010 and woke up on January 1, 2011. Here are some notable things that happened in the year 2010:

• I was admitted into graduate school (VA Tech & IU)
• Quit my first professional job at Baylor
• Moved to the midwest in an awesome three day trip (shots out to Matt Fulmer and the Henkelmanz)
• Participated in my first Habitat House Build
• My brother Jason got married (and I missed the wedding)
• Threw an impromptu bachelor party for Jason (with the four brothers)
• Spent several hours in the Stay Wired Coffee/Computer Repair Shop
• Experienced an epiphany in an old kitchen on 309 South Jackson Street, in Montgomery, Alabama  
• Watched my best friend and his family move away to Asia
• Attended ASHE for the first time and realized that becoming a scholar is within my reach
• Played in the snow in both TX and IN
• Made new friends in Indiana (Carl, Tomika, Eric and Teanna)
• Discovered I have the best girlfriend in the world

These are just a couple of the major and minor happpenings in 2010. I can't wait to see what's in store for 2011.   

One Month Later...

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. So much to catch up on so little time. So here is the Cliff's Notes version:

• Went attended my first ASHE (post forthcoming)
• Experienced my first heavy snow in Bloomington
• Spent Thanksgiving away from home for the first time ever
• Finished my first semester of grad school relatively unscathed
• Used my ice scraper for the first time.
• Baked my own cookies

Saturday I head back to TX, and I can't wait. This semester has been great, but I have not seen my family in months and I miss them. Will write more later. Peace!

The Anthropology of Scripture

Saint Benedict "The Moor"
Patron Saint of African Americans

For years I have been trying to read the Bible from cover to cover, and all my attempts have been unsuccessful. The pattern is as follows:

Week 1 - I create (find) a schedule to read the Bible in a year. The first day I read not only the first assigned reading, but in order to get a head I will read the next's days reading as well. This pattern of reading and getting ahead will last the first couple days.

Week 2 - I will get distracted by something that must be completed and miss a day or two of readings.

Week 5 - I have scaled back my plan to read only the old testament

Week 6 - Switch to the new testament.

Week 7 - Plan failed! abandon ship!

I am starting again to try and read the Bible in a year. Hopefully at age 28 I have picked up some tricks that will allow me to complete my readings.

Years ago when I tried to accomplish this the goal was much different. In my mind I saw reading the Bible from cover to cover as a mark of piety. In my Evangelical Christian circles I could lay down that badge of honor, "I've read the Bible from cover to cover." This time its different. My focus is not to plow through the book just to say I've done it. My goal this time is to read the text, and try to piece the grand narrative of the scripture together. I am interested to see what themes will emerge as I read with new eyes a very familiar book.

This week in my proseminar class we discussed the role of anthropologist. Dr. Bradley Levinson summed it simply. He said the role of an anthropologist is to study our own distinct cultures in hopes that we can render the familiar as strange. As I read the Bible over the course of this year my hope is that the familiar would become strange,  and this ancient text would produce new thoughts, new questions, and new perspectives on my life under examination.

The Autumn Leaves

Friends here are a couple pictures from my first fall in Bloomington. Enjoy!

Outside of my apartment

On the road to class

Outside the Wendell Wright School of Education

Trees on Campus

Front Steps of the School of Education