"Desert Transport"

A few months ago I heard this wonderful piece on public radio. Composer Mason Bates explained that he wanted to depict musically the Arizona landscape but also to incorporate the helicopter in which they flew.  (See these program notes: https://www.masonbates.com/desert-transport/)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xho8wvQwpg

My Sunday afternoon music today.

Happy Birthday, Rashi

French rabbi Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki), noted for his influential commentaries on the Tanakh and Talmud that are still central for Jewish study, was born on this day (February 22) in 1040. Here is a good article about his work and legacy.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/who-was-rashi/

"Where Might Trumpism Take Us?"

Here's an interesting NYT op-ed piece, in which author Jamelle Bouie asks us to look for analogies of authoritarianism within American history.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/opinion/trump-authoritarian-jim-crow.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwAR3pbKoRgddvmQPTxAm7Pll2ApU34pPh-gKJRpzL3DDWXtiyL1etDPYFnCg

"Slavery and the Natural World"

I get the newsletter of Rebecca Romney, who was the rare book expert on the show "Pawn Stars." She posted about this research project from several years ago, that makes connections among the natural history, products from nature, and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This looks like a lot of interesting history.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/slavery-and-the-natural-world.html?fbclid=IwAR0ZAp0s8BUoJr1Sx32kwCstpfoI5Xg2K_wt50YU1RqAVVQvltFq7gKjRCU

Beethoven 250: Symphonies

As I explained in the January 24, 2020 post, I purchased the Naxos collection of Beethoven's complete works, which I plan to listen to this year, leading up to Beethoven's 250th birthday on December 16.

This past week, I listened to the rest of the symphonies.

Symphony No. 3, in E flat major, op. 55, the “Eroica” (1804)
Symphony No. 4, in B flat major, op. 60 (1806)
Symphony No. 5, in C minor, op. 67 (1807)
Symphony No. 6, in F major, op. 68, the "Pastoral" (1808)
Symphony No. 7, in A major, op. 92 (1811-1812)
Symphony No. 8, in F major, op. 93 (1812)
Symphony No. 9, in D minor, op. 125, the "Choral" (1822-1825)

Beethoven liked his #8, "my little symphony in F." The Pastoral is a larger symphony in F. But I need to go back and listen to 4 and 8 again, since they tend to be overshadowed by the others--in my own affections, too.

Here is a nice, short guide to the symphonies: https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/guides/beethovens-symphonies-where-start/

We Need to Talk

We Need to Talk
Ephesians 4:1-6, 15b

I teach a course at Webster U called Contemporary Moral Problems. As you can imagine, the topics can be controversial. I love guiding the students through difficult topics, where the disagreements can be substantial. I think I’m good at leading those discussions. Although I don’t like going to meetings, I enjoy leading them and working on consensus if I’m the chair.

Having difficult personal conversations, though, is a different thing. In those cases, I dislike confrontation, and I don’t always trust my own feelings to accurately assess what’s going on. Even as we speak, I need to have a painful conversation with someone (not family, not church), and I’d rather have a root canal.

This passage from Ephesians is a favorite concerning the essential interconnectedness that’s true of the church. Paul speaks of the traits of patience, gentleness, humility, peace, unity, and love that can characterize our relationships with others.

This is not easy. Different kinds of personalities push our buttons. Some people aren’t easy to get along with. Plus, it’s easy to get our feelings hurt in church settings, because we’re emotionally vulnerable in church, where we seek love, acceptance, and support.

In her Sunday sermon, Pastor Linda made an excellent point in discussing Joseph and his brothers. Why was it “easier” for the brothers to violently betray their brother—and then concoct an elaborate lie about his fate—than to talk to father Jacob about their feelings of jealousy? But that’s so human: many of us carry resentment and bitterness for years, instead of placing ourselves in the vulnerable position of an honest conversation. Fear of rejection, fear of seeming foolish, the perverse pleasure of mentally demonizing those who offended us: these and similar feelings get in the way.

Paul has a different vision. We really are united in Christ and the Spirit---God creates that relationship, it’s not something that we create. But we can step up and do the hard work of displaying that unity in the way we treat one another. Paul’s remark about being a prisoner for the Lord isn’t just a side comment. He makes a subtle point that his literal chains are analogous to the “bonds of peace” (vs. 3) that connect us.

A verse that complements this Ephesians passage is Romans 15:7, “Accept [or “welcome”] one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (NIV). To paraphrase: as much as I feel grateful and relieved for Christ’s acceptance of me and all my sins and flaws, then I can welcome others (with their own sins and flaws) as Christ’s beloved, too.

(My February contribution to the series of weekly devotions at our church.)

A Great Poetry Notification!

This came up on my Facebook page this morning. I'm so grateful for this acceptance and encouragement!  Finishing Line Press published this manuscript and three more, and a full-length collection will be published later this year. finishinglinepress.com