Talking about God is so hard because it carries so many layers, especially as a queer Christian. If I talk about God with Christians, especially straight people, there are a lot of assumptions we have to work through to communicate clearly. If I talk about God in secular queer spaces, there is a lot of trauma to acknowledge, delicate things to nuance perfectly and carefully, perhaps hostility to navigate or questions that try to put me on the defensive when I don't want to be there. There's whiplash in the range from "The Bible is clear; how can you be both" to "How can you still believe [read: excuse, justify, support, ignore] when they hurt so many" that almost circles back around to "explain yourself!" And as much as I love explaining things :D my faith doesn't fit neatly into explanations and simplicity and certainty. My story doesn't work well in either context that wants a testimony or a debate. (And it's funny how often both are shields for vulnerability and empathy.) I think it takes what you have experienced here: humility and curiosity and an invitation to authentic connection.
You know my story doesn't fit well in those boxes either! And one thing I have been working on for some years now is that, while I do feel a responsibility to choose my words wisely and with empathy for the hearer, I also don't need to take on all their emotional baggage nor is it my job to manage their feelings. It's a tricky thing!
I thought this might be about how to be Christian in the public square of an urban school board meeting, so I almost skipped this "note" when I discovered it was theologians of different stripes meeting together at Princeton Seminary. Then you used the word "Theologizing," and it hit me hard! I first heard it in 1970s, from my spiritual mentor, Robert St.Clair, an early adopter of experiential theology! What does Theologizing look like in our encounters in the public square? I think its what I try to do at every school board meeting, when we try to balance the needs of struggling families with the needs of privileged families. Bob would say to me, when I was a young teacher, Don't look to God to tell you what to do; just know that God will be there helping you in the decisions you must make.
Recently, having suddenly grown from just my wife and me pre-pandemic to now a family of five with a 6, 4, and 1-year old (foster parents), I found myself succumbing to the wiles of a Costco membership. With the black hole of snacks that my home has turned into, it’s been a necessity. But an unexpected joy has been finding that Costco sold plenty of large head-on fresh shrimp! I have long lamented the sad fact that most groceries only sold headless shrimp, and I am my Filipino mother’s son and she taught me the joy of sucking the fatty brains off just-cooked shrimp heads. So what I’ve been joyfully cooking this summer is simply every weekend evening, some head-on Argentinian shrimp, sautéed in very high heat with butter, olive oil, and lots and lots of garlic. Nothing about the preparation is fancy or highly involved, and the consumption is, shall we say, quite savage-looking and sounds even worse, but it has given me so much weekend joy. The kids, who all love the shrimp as well, don’t much care for the head (yet) and dutifully stack their shrimp heads and place it on my plate like an offering. I taught them well. :)
"Tell me more." To be curious and genuinely interested feels like a good way to begin. We moved in the spring, so we did not plant a garden this year. Sadly, we just discovered broken pipes in the irrigation system, and we will have to repair that before trying to water things, so we may not plant a fall/winter garden like we'd hoped to. Living vicariously through friends and neighbors willing to share their garden bounty. We are working a lot of overtime this summer. Saturday brunch is the one meal we can really spend time on, so we often pull out all the stops. But even a simple summer salad, a few perfectly ripe nectarines, some scrambled eggs, and champagne under the tree in the backyard with friends feels like heaven these days.
What I am cooking this summer: I discovered that adding ricotta to scrambled eggs results in something that tastes much like a cheese soufflé- adding fresh herbs or za’atar or pesto provides appealing variations. Also had a fabulous salad of Persian cucumber, spinach, avocado, green onion, hot smoked salmon, and nectarines dressed with lime juice and olive oil. One of the most satisfying things I have thrown together in some time.
It was a revelation! The sweetness of the nectarines paired really nicely with the oily, slightly briny taste of the salmon. I used the hot smoked variety - a filet that flakes into chunks - not the cold smoked style similar to lox. I don't think the latter would work. Additionally, the salmon came with togarashi seasoning so the blend of chili pepper, lime, brine, and nectarine made for a great flavor combination. Salt, fat, acid, heat...and sweet.
What an extraordinary lovely piece this is. And how wise and wonderful G-D is, in His perfect timing for seeds to be planted and watered.
I was just sharing with a guest, how I made a commitment when I was 12 years old to discover G-D or if there was a god. Born and raised catholic, I was an early inquisitive, separating dogma form tradition and Truth.
Now at 72 years old, it has been a long and bumpy road. I have tested and retested, and I suppose continue to do so.
As a poet, I am forever searching the specific word to convey or paint the picture of my experience, for in the end, I believe experience is more accurate than to say "my truth", experience allows access to a person, whereas, to say my truth, adds at the least if not more so, an element of judgement. This I am testing. As to how do I discuss G-D in public or my poetry. Note I do follow a jewish tradition of leaving lout the "O" in the word god, having once converted to Judaism , it allows humility and recognition of the unnamable. I like that. To experience G-D is to be so full that one is beyond expression and yet longs for expression, because this experience that is given so freely automatically longs for others to also experience it. This thing we can call Ultimate and unconditional LOVE. When speaking to a small group, ( I like you, prefer one on one or up to 4), I explain, the should I use the term GOD, I am referring to That Which Made Me, The Unnameable, The All Encompassing. The Alpha and The Omega.
We are indeed in a time of hunger for knowing who we are. And I believe one way is by removing all the titles we see ourself as. Sitting silently, until by the the Grace Of G-D we are infused with awareness beyond measure.
Speaking of G-D publicly is allowing one's awareness to shine, not proselytize.
As a poet, I have been gifted with clear conversations with The On e Who CreatedMe, and I simply write down the messages as dictated. I am learning to let go of any concerns I have of how I am received, but rather trust, that my words will fall on the ears they are meant for. Which isn't to say that I must be diligent in choosing those words.
Talking about G-D in public?? It's time, Let's let His Love Shine Abundantly
Thank you for sharing about the workshop -- intentional gatherings like this give me hope that we can right this ship and be part of making the world a better place. Is this the first time you've met Casper ter Kuile? I admit I know him more from his former podcast Harry Potter and Sacred Text. His relentless veering toward inclusion, empathy, and grace was inspiring and I miss him on there, even though Matt Potts is a good replacement. It is wonderful to hear about the peacemaking work Caspar is now doing. What a special person he is.
And I noticed Nadia Bolz Weber in the group photo -- Hi Nadia!
So much I want to say! Maybe I’ll start with “thank you!” Your writing speaks to me — across so many levels. I’m a grateful reader.
P.S. All that seems to be growing in this suburban garden of mine is herbs! I planted a community herb garden near the street and wow! is my basil prolific this year! I just found out about a local nonprofit that allows growers like me to share our extras with area food pantries. The thought of so many cooks being able to include my herbs into healthy and delicious home-cooked meals with the other fresh produce they are able to receive gives me great joy. (I think I have found a way to plant seeds of hope not discord!
Talking about God is so hard because it carries so many layers, especially as a queer Christian. If I talk about God with Christians, especially straight people, there are a lot of assumptions we have to work through to communicate clearly. If I talk about God in secular queer spaces, there is a lot of trauma to acknowledge, delicate things to nuance perfectly and carefully, perhaps hostility to navigate or questions that try to put me on the defensive when I don't want to be there. There's whiplash in the range from "The Bible is clear; how can you be both" to "How can you still believe [read: excuse, justify, support, ignore] when they hurt so many" that almost circles back around to "explain yourself!" And as much as I love explaining things :D my faith doesn't fit neatly into explanations and simplicity and certainty. My story doesn't work well in either context that wants a testimony or a debate. (And it's funny how often both are shields for vulnerability and empathy.) I think it takes what you have experienced here: humility and curiosity and an invitation to authentic connection.
You know my story doesn't fit well in those boxes either! And one thing I have been working on for some years now is that, while I do feel a responsibility to choose my words wisely and with empathy for the hearer, I also don't need to take on all their emotional baggage nor is it my job to manage their feelings. It's a tricky thing!
Ooo yes, so true.
I thought this might be about how to be Christian in the public square of an urban school board meeting, so I almost skipped this "note" when I discovered it was theologians of different stripes meeting together at Princeton Seminary. Then you used the word "Theologizing," and it hit me hard! I first heard it in 1970s, from my spiritual mentor, Robert St.Clair, an early adopter of experiential theology! What does Theologizing look like in our encounters in the public square? I think its what I try to do at every school board meeting, when we try to balance the needs of struggling families with the needs of privileged families. Bob would say to me, when I was a young teacher, Don't look to God to tell you what to do; just know that God will be there helping you in the decisions you must make.
Recently, having suddenly grown from just my wife and me pre-pandemic to now a family of five with a 6, 4, and 1-year old (foster parents), I found myself succumbing to the wiles of a Costco membership. With the black hole of snacks that my home has turned into, it’s been a necessity. But an unexpected joy has been finding that Costco sold plenty of large head-on fresh shrimp! I have long lamented the sad fact that most groceries only sold headless shrimp, and I am my Filipino mother’s son and she taught me the joy of sucking the fatty brains off just-cooked shrimp heads. So what I’ve been joyfully cooking this summer is simply every weekend evening, some head-on Argentinian shrimp, sautéed in very high heat with butter, olive oil, and lots and lots of garlic. Nothing about the preparation is fancy or highly involved, and the consumption is, shall we say, quite savage-looking and sounds even worse, but it has given me so much weekend joy. The kids, who all love the shrimp as well, don’t much care for the head (yet) and dutifully stack their shrimp heads and place it on my plate like an offering. I taught them well. :)
I would deep-fry those shrimp heads....
"Tell me more." To be curious and genuinely interested feels like a good way to begin. We moved in the spring, so we did not plant a garden this year. Sadly, we just discovered broken pipes in the irrigation system, and we will have to repair that before trying to water things, so we may not plant a fall/winter garden like we'd hoped to. Living vicariously through friends and neighbors willing to share their garden bounty. We are working a lot of overtime this summer. Saturday brunch is the one meal we can really spend time on, so we often pull out all the stops. But even a simple summer salad, a few perfectly ripe nectarines, some scrambled eggs, and champagne under the tree in the backyard with friends feels like heaven these days.
What I am cooking this summer: I discovered that adding ricotta to scrambled eggs results in something that tastes much like a cheese soufflé- adding fresh herbs or za’atar or pesto provides appealing variations. Also had a fabulous salad of Persian cucumber, spinach, avocado, green onion, hot smoked salmon, and nectarines dressed with lime juice and olive oil. One of the most satisfying things I have thrown together in some time.
Tell me more about how the nectarines and salmon work together! I am very curious about this.
It was a revelation! The sweetness of the nectarines paired really nicely with the oily, slightly briny taste of the salmon. I used the hot smoked variety - a filet that flakes into chunks - not the cold smoked style similar to lox. I don't think the latter would work. Additionally, the salmon came with togarashi seasoning so the blend of chili pepper, lime, brine, and nectarine made for a great flavor combination. Salt, fat, acid, heat...and sweet.
What an extraordinary lovely piece this is. And how wise and wonderful G-D is, in His perfect timing for seeds to be planted and watered.
I was just sharing with a guest, how I made a commitment when I was 12 years old to discover G-D or if there was a god. Born and raised catholic, I was an early inquisitive, separating dogma form tradition and Truth.
Now at 72 years old, it has been a long and bumpy road. I have tested and retested, and I suppose continue to do so.
As a poet, I am forever searching the specific word to convey or paint the picture of my experience, for in the end, I believe experience is more accurate than to say "my truth", experience allows access to a person, whereas, to say my truth, adds at the least if not more so, an element of judgement. This I am testing. As to how do I discuss G-D in public or my poetry. Note I do follow a jewish tradition of leaving lout the "O" in the word god, having once converted to Judaism , it allows humility and recognition of the unnamable. I like that. To experience G-D is to be so full that one is beyond expression and yet longs for expression, because this experience that is given so freely automatically longs for others to also experience it. This thing we can call Ultimate and unconditional LOVE. When speaking to a small group, ( I like you, prefer one on one or up to 4), I explain, the should I use the term GOD, I am referring to That Which Made Me, The Unnameable, The All Encompassing. The Alpha and The Omega.
We are indeed in a time of hunger for knowing who we are. And I believe one way is by removing all the titles we see ourself as. Sitting silently, until by the the Grace Of G-D we are infused with awareness beyond measure.
Speaking of G-D publicly is allowing one's awareness to shine, not proselytize.
As a poet, I have been gifted with clear conversations with The On e Who CreatedMe, and I simply write down the messages as dictated. I am learning to let go of any concerns I have of how I am received, but rather trust, that my words will fall on the ears they are meant for. Which isn't to say that I must be diligent in choosing those words.
Talking about G-D in public?? It's time, Let's let His Love Shine Abundantly
Thank you for sharing about the workshop -- intentional gatherings like this give me hope that we can right this ship and be part of making the world a better place. Is this the first time you've met Casper ter Kuile? I admit I know him more from his former podcast Harry Potter and Sacred Text. His relentless veering toward inclusion, empathy, and grace was inspiring and I miss him on there, even though Matt Potts is a good replacement. It is wonderful to hear about the peacemaking work Caspar is now doing. What a special person he is.
And I noticed Nadia Bolz Weber in the group photo -- Hi Nadia!
I thoroughly enjoyed your reflections about being a theologian. The gathering seemed extraordinarily Catholic as in universal.
So much I want to say! Maybe I’ll start with “thank you!” Your writing speaks to me — across so many levels. I’m a grateful reader.
P.S. All that seems to be growing in this suburban garden of mine is herbs! I planted a community herb garden near the street and wow! is my basil prolific this year! I just found out about a local nonprofit that allows growers like me to share our extras with area food pantries. The thought of so many cooks being able to include my herbs into healthy and delicious home-cooked meals with the other fresh produce they are able to receive gives me great joy. (I think I have found a way to plant seeds of hope not discord!