People Made of Straw

Phatic messages—those little snippets of communication that bookend normative examples of daily conversation. They’re what we send and receive numerous times each day, yet rarely do we stop to ponder the significance of these “throw-away” phrases. “Hi, how are you?” “Good. How are you?” “Good.” Phatic messages establish predictability in conversation, they acknowledge another person’s existence, signal the beginning and end of conversation and generally assist in framing personal interactions. So frequently do we use these clichéd phrases in fact, that something out of the ordinary must occur in order for us to stop to take notice. Just such a conversational abnormality crossed my path not long ago.

Walking hurriedly across campus, toward a class session already in progress, I passed a fellow seminarian with whom I have had several classes. Though we are not great friends, I proceeded to acknowledge his presence. (For the purpose of illustration we shall call this student Bob). “Hey Bob,” I proceeded to say. “Fine, thanks” came his response. Obviously our communication had gone awry, and as Bob continued on his way, I began to contemplate this phatic faux pas. Countless scenarios would validate such a minor linguistic slip—preoccupations, distress, concern, anxiety, despair. In any case, I thought it most likely that Bob simply insinuated the conclusion of my greeting. He presumed I would ask that ominous three word inquisition, “How are you?” Thus, his assumption led him to a complete natural, yet admittedly flippant response. How often do our assumptions lead us to similarly superficial retorts within this seminary community? How often do our assumptions regarding communication lead us away from genuine conversation and towards superficial retort? Regrettably, I believe the seminary community at Luther does consciously, what Bob did unconsciously, far too often.

A prime example of this behavior is exhibited in the “straw man” critique so rampantly used throughout campus. Students and faculty alike develop caricatures of those with whom we disagree—other Christians, people of other faiths, public figures, and (most distressingly) fellow peers. We develop arguments framed around these assumed caricatures and then take turns kicking the “straw man” around the circle. This Cross-Fire method of discussion that involves anything but listening to the one with whom you speak, is the antithesis of the fellowship to which we claim to be called. As a seedbed for “future leaders” in the Christian church, I find it troubling and deeply disconcerting that this community appears to thrive on such characterizations and a lack of genuine communication. I’ve lost count of the number of students who are simply “biding their time” until ordination, where upon they will let their true feelings and theology be known.

In short, these parochial critiques only serve to discredit your own religious confession. Insular attacks rooted in anxiety, (while popular at the cafeteria table) simply reinforce our own lack of religious comfort. I would contend that “mature” faith should allow and encourage us to listen, dialogue, and disagree in unthreatened and positive ways.

South Dakota Apple Season

I'’m in Sisseton, SD helping Ailsa's parents finish up some outdoor projects before winter. The cool sunny days have exemplified everything wonderful that a prairie fall day can be. The colors, thought stark, maintain an independent monochromatic beauty. Though a late frost last spring damaged the apples blossoms in the lower orchard, those apples which survived in the upper parcel have now been harvested and are available in abundance.

Below I'’ve included a portion of a poem from Farm Ballads by Will Carleton entitled Apple-Blossoms (an American poet born in Hudson, Michigan). Though this poem harkens to a different season, I enjoy contemplating the optimistic attitude of spring, even as winter looms on the western horizon. It will be a long and begrudging trip back to Saint Paul tomorrow morning.

Underneath an apple-tree
Sat a maiden and her lover;
And the thoughts within her he
Yearned, in silence, to discover.
Round them danced the sunbeams bright,
Green the grass-lawn stretched before them
While the apple blossoms white
Hung in rich profusion o'er them.

Apples for Everyone

The Red Delicious is a mutant—the perverted off-spring of a luscious line of produce. To this day my taste buds cringe at the thought of this unnaturally-red, tasteless creation that has come to symbolize the apple industry. As staff writer for the Washington Post Adrian Higgins testifies in her article “Why the Red Delicious No Longer Is”, this once iconic fruit is little but an insipid shell of its former self.

“It emerged from an Iowa orchard in 1880 as a round, blushed yellow fruit of surpassing sweetness. But like a figure in a TV makeover show, it was an apple that its handlers could not leave alone. They altered its shape. They made it firmer and more juicy. They made it so it could be stored in hermetically sealed warehouses for 12 months. Of the two words in the Red Delicious name, one can no longer be believed.”

Yet, there is hope dear friends. We attend classes on the doorsteps of apple country and one of this nations most respected institutions of agricultural development lies just five block from the Olson Campus Center. The apple is alive, well and full of a bouquet of flavorful potential. This apples season, exercise your right to pick and support locally grown produce by choosing from the great variety that is the apple industry.

To help you in your decision making, I’ve included a brief synopsis of some of my favorites provided by the University of Minnesota Extension Service:

Zesta The newest apple from the University of Minnesota. It ripens in late August and has a delightful balance of flavors.

Chestnut Crab One of Minnesota's best-kept secrets. Small and ugly but wonderful flavor.

Sweet 16 One of the most unusual flavored apples in Minnesota. Very sweet with a flavor like cherry candy.

Honeycrisp Perhaps Minnesota's premier eating apple. It has a well-balanced sweet/tart flavor and unusually crisp texture, which has been called explosively crisp. It's also one of the best keeping apples, storing up to seven months in refrigeration.

Haralson One of Minnesota's favorites. Tart flavor, good storage and excellent for cooking.

The rampant abuse of scripture

While in the process of logging in to my blog today, I noticed the following blog title flash as having been update this morning: Millionaires For Jesus. Out of sheer curiosity I clicked on the linked and was taken to what can only be described as the most blatantly abhorrent proclamation of the "health and wealth" gospel I've every read. Granted, anyone and their mom can get a blog if they so desire, free speech is a constitutional right, and this particular theology has more than one proponent. On the other hand, the idea that Jesus "blesses" a minute proportion of the world’s Christians with extravagant wealth, disproportionate resources, and a lavishly wasteful lifestyle is utter nonsense. Not only is the theology of wealth in stark conflict with the teachings of Jesus Christ, it fails to take seriously the entire biblical account—the story of a God who is steadfastly concerned for the lowly, the downcast, the poor, the orphan, the widow, those who are ostracized, neglected and abused. Is this God also concerned for the millionaire? Certainly, but perhaps the Creator of all that exists cares more for the emptiness which their wealth attempts to satisfy, than for the profit margin of their financial portfolio.

Why Christian?

Having not posted since the beginning of our class together, I've realized what a backlog of thoughts and reflections I have yet to share. While this conversation may be a bit dated in terms of class progression, I believe it still holds relevance to our dialogue together.

About two weeks ago, the issue/question of Why Christian was introduced during class discussion. Thanks to the prompting of Ryan Torma after class that day, this issue (which has been on my mind for several years now) began to ruminate again.

The claim at the core of this issue seems to be one of authenticity or authority. Despite arguments to the contrary, several of my peers and I have witnessed a surprising tendency within Christian circles (namely Luther Seminary) to assume an uncontested location of authority for the Christian message within society. Dialogues that have a clearly national or global scope are often inappropriately commented upon from within the confines of a limited Christian paradigm. Intelligent individuals make sweeping generalizations regarding the conditions of a multi-cultural, multi-religious context through the opaque lenses of Midwest Christianity. This is not a defendable or biblically faithful position.

The Christian church no longer possesses the privilege of uncontested authority. Among civilizations of European decent, the certainty with which the larger social community accepts statements of legitimacy from the "Christian church"” has been waning for some time. It is not my intention to develop a timeline of this cultural shift. However, I believe it to be historically and sociologically accurate to claim that even within the last 30 years, the traditionally insular society of the Midwest United States has undergone dramatic changes regarding the role that religion plays within culture and society.

The importance and complexity of this issue demands that Christians take seriously their claims made within society. And that they be will and able to discuss such claims, in hospitable and amicable fashion, when they are inevitably challenged. Only in such a context of mutual love and concern for the other will or society be able to move away from the crude and offensive stereotypes that have come to be associated with religious disagreement.

Realized Happy Places

After some confusion regarding the authenticity of my first picture post, I've decided to post some photos of our most recent trip to the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. While certainly not as majestic or rugged as my first post, these granite peaks were hard earned and carry the authenticity that only a few thousand feet of hiking can bring.

This initial picture, taken during our first day out, shows some of the transition between old and new growth. A forest fire swept through the lower canyon area in September of 1996. While life has returned to the area, the damage is still quite evident.
 

This second photo, taken on our way out, gives an example of what remains in the most heavily impacted forest fire areas. From the valley floor, the damage at higher elevations is often comparable to the "toothpick" arrangement of trees surrounding Mount Saint Helens. In this case however, many of trees have remained standing.
 

Due to the weather and our rigorous first day of hiking, Ailsa and I opted for an extended day hike up the canyon. Despite the low cloud cover, we managed to get some spectacular views of the plentiful alpine lakes.
 

We also had time to pick the plentiful wild raspberries along the trail.
 

This final picture shows Rim Rock Lake, the location of our campsite for two nights. The water adopts a magnificent blue color due to the glacial runoff.