wind swing low

Wind swing low
whisper in my ear
wind swing low
Dry these tears

Earth has no sorrow, heaven can't heal.

Funny Fridays Part 1

In honor of Fridays and my fantastically funny friends (say that 3x fast) I have decided to institute Funny Fridays, in which I pay homage to all the funny things I have overheard over the past seven days. Without further adieu, here is Funny Friday Part 1.

-from a conversation between my friend J. and I:

EM: I once stopped dating a guy because he couldn't dance. How shallow and terrible is that?
J: It's OK to judge that, because otherwise watching "So You Think You Can Dance" would be borring.


-quotes from my Crim Pro professor:

PMcC: Anyone who talks to the cops in an idiot.

PMcC: Any lawyer who doesn't tell their clien to "SHUT THE HELL UP" should be disbarred.

Inaugural Poem

Here is the text of the poem, written by Elizabeth Alexander, that was read during the Inauguration Ceremony last week. I really love it, particularly the question asked towards the end: What if love is the mightiest word? What would our nation look like if we believed that was true? What would I look like if I believed that was true?

Praise Song for the Day

Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other’s
eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.

All about us is noise. All about us is
noise and bramble, thorn and din, each
one of our ancestors on our tongues.

Someone is stitching up a hem, darning
a hole in a uniform, patching a tire,
repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere,
with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum,
with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky.
A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin.

We encounter each other in words, words
spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed,
words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark
the will of some one and then others, who said
I need to see what’s on the other side.

I know there’s something better down the road.
We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain: that many have died for this day.
Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,

picked the cotton and the lettuce, built
brick by brick the glittering edifices
they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign,
the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.

Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?

Love beyond marital, filial, national,
love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to pre-empt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,
any thing can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,

praise song for walking forward in that light.

There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America

I am so honored to be able to witness this historic, wonderful day. I can't wait to tell my children about it, and explain the significance of it to them. I can only hope that they will have a difficult time appreciating it because Obama will have broken through the marble ceiling and paved the way for all minorities to achieve any goal they set for themselves. I hope that moments like today will become commonplace and ordinary. Today has shown us that anything is possible.

America, YES WE CAN!!

This is all that I can say right now, and this is all that I can give.

I used to take comfort in the fact that there were things that I couldn't understand or explain. The things that we say are "in God's hands" or are "in His will," these mysteries of life and faith. I felt secure in knowing that I was to small to comprehend why things happen the way they did; smaller than a vast God who's wisdom was so much better than mine. It wasn't until recently that when confronted with the unexplainable I began to find frustration rather than comfort, anger rather than peace and sadness rather than hope.

There are many people close to me who are dealing or have dealt with unimaginable grief this past year, and some who are still in the midst of that emotional chaos that grief brings. Whether it be the loss of a child, the loss of a friend, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a place to call home, the loss of peace, or the loss of a parent, loss has unfortunately been an all to present theme in their lives. My family recently had someone close to us attempt to take their own life, only to be saved without any physical harm done to them. It is a miracle and I should be rejoicing. Instead all I can do is narrow my eyes and question how in God's name it is fair that someone with so little regard for their own being, someone who didn't even desire to live is breathing deeply today, while a beautiful 25 year old woman, and a friend of so many of us is slowly dying, while another friend is dealing with the sudden tragic loss of an entire extended family. I cry out to God as to how this is fair as I see so much pain around me. I question, accuse and harden my heart towards the sovereignty of God.

I know these feelings are all to common, especially in the face of loss. I think we all have moments where we wonder just exactly what the hell is going on around us, particularly as we deal with grief.

The TV show The West Wing is one of my favorite shows. At the end of season two, President Bartlett's longtime secretary Mrs. Landingham is suddenly killed in a car accident. After the funeral, President Bartlett has a moment where he is alone in the National Cathedral and he just launches into this speech that comes from a place of such raw emotion-such anger and hurt. At the very end he starts yells in Latin:

"Gratias tibi ago, domine. Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto, a deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem. Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui. Officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem!"
Translation:
"I give thanks to you, O Lord. Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth. And I spread your word and I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you!"

It is one of my favorite moments in the whole series for some reason. I don't know if it is sacreligous to say these things to God or not. I don't know if it is a sin or not. What I do know is that the honesty of that emotion, the helplessness, the lack of understanding drives us to a place where I begin to wonder if that is all we can say. Would we be lying to try and pretend everything is fine? Would we be attempting to deceive God if we said that we could just accept his plan and joyfully praise Him in the middle of our hardship? Is the offering of my hardened bitter heart better for it's honesty, even when I don't want to give it?

I can only hope so.

I attended a compline service tonight, which is my absolute favorite service in the BCP. And I came to the service bitter, untrusting in God's will. I don't think I left any differently-I am still bitter, still seeking answers to these questions. But regardless, compline is a tremendous service in it's humble simplicity. Anyway, here is a prayer from the service that I will keep praying:

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

An Open Letter to 2008 and 2009

Dear 2008,

You were about 50% bad and 50% good. All in all, I probably won't miss you.

Sincerely,
AKS

Dear 2009,

Lets bring the A-game. You need to step it up from 2k8.

Sincerely,
AKS

Oh no...

I think I have lost my Agnes Scott ring. I think it came off when I took off my gloves at the Steelers game. (surely I would have felt it, though...right? RIGHT?) I feel so naked and distraught without it. I keep trying to play with it, and it isn't there.

This is a sad day.