Thursday, October 29, 2009

sing that Sweet Honey in the Rock Song!

Here we go, again, counting down til Sunday morning and hey, it's the real deal. Can't believe that us whitebread choristers at Christ Church Cathedral on 2nd St. in Louisville will be rocking to "We are...". A fitting anthem with three baptisms including Robert and Raj's child, Raphael. I could feel the emotion and anticipation Wednesday at rehearsal. Robert was pumped! and it was infectious for all of us there. Isn't it amazing what two people in the name of love can do and how all of us present can also enjoy and ride those endorphinal uplifting moments.
I can only share the feelings and joy that I feel but I know that this represents the best we can offer as two or three are gathered together!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

walking, dancing, engaging

The Grande Masquerade Damien Center fund-raiser has become a fall tradition and fun event meeting new friends, re-connecting with old friends, and enjoying beautiful sun-splashed weather in downtown Indy once again. The mile plus walk from the Omni to Carl and Jeff's Mass Ave condo began yesterday's event for me. Down Meridian around the East side of Monument Circle and then East on Ohio St to Alabama jagging through the Marsh Market parking lot and finally up Mass Ave to the West Loft Condo. The event this year was at the Marriott just north of Maryland St. Great evening, great fun, mixing with a wonderful group of people and dancing the night away in a mixed group on the dance floor. Shutting the party down at Midnight and returning for short six hour sleep before a 6:00am wakeup and return drive to be back at CCC for Sunday morning's service and singing in the choir, which is the love of my life right now. A good Saturday pm/Sunday am combination any way you reckon it. Watching the sunrise across the southeast sky as I drove south on I-65 was a real treat for me with fall reds, oranges, and a light mist affording me all of the fall color and ambiance that I might desire!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Matthew Shepard, the Laramie Project, and Bob Edwards

Wow, if sensory overload was a possibility it would be here and now. ATL's Laramie Project 10th anniversary performed Monday was a moving and inspirational piece beginning with Matthew's mothers' testimonial. I hope the project continues to be recognized, revised, updated, since ignorance, hate, and insensitivity seem infectious in today's world. The ATL audience was predictably like "singing to the choir", so the task and challenge remain.
Segway to Bob Edwards and "This I believe" session at Bellarmine's Wyatt Hall this past Thursday evening. If Laramie Project left doubts and looked for anwers, the This I Believe segments brought hope and inspiration to the forefront in a world filled with war, ethnic strife, and racism. These issues and more were part of the stories but the overriding theme was one of hope, survival, and looking for a better day. Molly Bingham's opening sentences set the tone for her in person "this I believe" segment when she spoke of sitting in an Abu Gharab prison cubicle and how that experience motivated her initial thoughts.
I am challenged and want to do whatever to facilitate the dialogue and take action when possible. God help us!