The wan plea Why can’t we all just get along? seems trivial and stupid, but it’s actually a good question, one humans have been asking since forever. Maybe the rock-bottom answer is always the same: the primordial sin plaguing us since Cain and Abel. Kin-conflict, kin-hatred, kin-violence.
The cinematography is amazing! The production design incredible! The acting top-notch! The directing visionary! Eh. I was bored.
Distant from my parents’ and their parents’ worlds, scrambling to understand my children’s world, I feel a kind of chronological loneliness. That’s the term I came up with to describe this feeling of floating between.
Chronological Loneliness Read More »
cultural commentary, memoir
We’re not talking about a language, or a dialect, or even current slang, but rather those little ways of speaking that are idiosyncratic to a particular person or family unit. In other words, the weird little turns of phrase that only you and maybe your family use. Surely you have some of your own.
A Passel of Idiolectical Delights Read More »
cultural commentary, memoir
But you, especially, young women, should go see this movie. Will it tell you everything you need to know about women’s history and feminism and the experience of being women today? No, it will not. But there are a couple moments in it where you really, really need to feel your feelings. This is entry-level stuff, but it’s important.
The Barbie Movie: A Note to Young Women Read More »
cultural commentary, review
I wonder: Would knowing when people are lying be a gift? Or would it just make life worse?
I’ll be processing this experience for a long time, but for now I’ll share just a few key words that focused my thoughts during and after the trip.
Truth Listening in the American South Read More »
Calvin events, cultural commentary, memoir, politics
I want to focus on the power of meaning-making narratives. In the wearying events of the last few years, we’ve seen two tiny little denominations struggle to figure out (once again) what narrative we are living into. Is the future of our denominations a game where one side wins and the other side loses? Is it a war? Is it a detox operation? And what story-ending are we aiming for?
The Best Story Wins Read More »
cultural commentary, politics, theology
It’s a modern day Cinderella trope, isn’t it? The long-suffering, virtuous-and-talented high schooler is visited by a talent agent/scout/special teacher/fairy godperson who provides them with the means to zing through the Dress Ball of Admissions and be whisked off to Handsome Prince University, which of course ensures them a rich and fulfilling future although we remain fuzzy on the details.
Lies We Tell Young People Read More »
Calvin events, college life, cultural commentary
And so we pray. Or try to. Our prayers—well, mine anyway—seem awfully puny against the grand machinations of world events. Actually, my prayers also seem puny and ineffective against the small machinations of my own personal troubles. So I keep thinking about that line in the old hymn, “Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart.” You know the one?
Unanswered Prayers Read More »
climate change, cultural commentary, spirituality