The Grapevine

The new format of The Grapevine. Dedicated to bringing to you what's going on in the campus ministry and what our students are thinking about.

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March 29, 2013: The Word

The Word was brought by Claire:

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Faith to me, has been something I’ve struggled with over the past four years. It’s both universal and incredibly personal. And up until the summer after my freshman year, it was clear as day to me. I grew up as the youngest daughter of two UCC Sunday school teachers, who had both previously defected from the Catholic Church. Faith and deep thinking went hand-in-hand in my childhood home. It seemed obvious to me that God was everywhere at once, yet still kept tabs on my family and our prayers. That being said, my parents made sure to instill a sense of universality in me. My mom taught me that Jesus was a prophet in Islam and a holy man in Judaism. “God, Allah, G-d, same difference,” she shrugged. She was even open-minded towards Mormons; my dad still views Mormonism as a cult, but not my mom. “They do a lot of good service work, and mainstream Protestantism can learn a lot from their youth programs,” she would sigh. I never asked her about Hinduism or Buddhism, but I think she has a similar universal feeling about those religions, too

When I went to Germany for a study-abroad trip the summer after my freshman year, my class took a trip to Berlin. On the way, we stopped at the Bergen-Belsen Nazi work camp. Although I had read numerous books about the atrocities of the Holocaust, and I’d lived through 9-11, Katrina, and the tsunamis in 2004, nothing prepared me for what I experienced there. The tour guide at the memorial site stopped us at a concrete slab that looked like a foundation. It was, in fact, the foundation of a brothel for the officers and Kapos, with the women being provided from other camps. I looked at the slab and told myself, “A loving God would not let this happen.”

I spent the next few months spiritually angry, yet certain that there could not be a God. But as I thought about it more and more, delved deeper into my beliefs and disbeliefs, I realized that life and reality was not as cut and dry to me as “God” or “No God.” My beliefs now are still universal in nature. There’s more than one way to connect with the “an sich,” or great unknown thing. Instead of believing in the big guy up in the sky, I believe in the goodness and spirituality inherent in humankind, and I believe that some phenomenon can’t be explained away. I believe in the power of prayer, and the power of love.

Do my new beliefs invalidate my previous ones? Not at all. At each point in my life, I threw myself into my faith—I’m not good at being agnostic. They were, and are real to me. Who am I to try pinpoint reality and force it onto others, anyway?  Now, I do have a problem with people forcing their beliefs on others, but that’s another sack of fish.

Well, this is probably my last Word, so I’ll wrap up. I’m so grateful to have found a group where spiritual growth and discovery is encouraged, and where people of all beliefs can feel at least acknowledged, if not comfortable. As Yann Martel wrote, “If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?”

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This last Friday we watched Smoke Signals, a film about two Coeur D'Alene boys who roadtrip from Idaho to Arizona to get the ashes of one of their deceased fathers. It is a very funny film but also addresses some very serious issues dealing with Native American identity, tradition, generalizations and stereotypes. 

For more information on this film check out its IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120321/

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A month ago we watched Unmistaken Child, a documentary about one monk's search for the reincarnation of his mentor and friend.  It is a beautiful film that really gives us a glimpse of the deep spiritual journey experienced in Buddhism and how the bonds between people can transcend death.

For more information on this film, check out it's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286798/

The film is also available for instant streaming on Netflix.

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March 1, 2013: The Word

This week's word was brought by Debbie.

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When I think of God, I think of a still, small voice, talking to us in the silences of daily life: the small voice that is always speaking, but is easily drowned out by other voices, inclcuding our own.

I see God in the beauty of nature: that quiet moment of taking a walk through a snowy forest, or the majesty of a lake endlessly sliding across the shore and back toward the depths.

I hear God in the stained-glass silence of sanctuary.

I see God in the sibilant hum of the outer silence.

There is no outer darkness - God is there too, offering a single light to make our little light shine.

God is there, we just have to see and hear.

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The group for Breakaway 2013!! but Tylene wasn't in the photo because she was in the restroom. Had to add her in afterwards!

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The group, back on campus at Theology for Happy Hour!

- Tylene, Harrison, Kenny, Kevin, and Debbie at Legends!

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The group from Winter Retreat 2013!

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December 09, 2012 -

We went to the Wade's for a family-student lunch! We talked about Breakaway, Sweetheart Dinner, and blood types! FUN WAS HAD BY ALL!!!! :D

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December 7, 2012: The Word

The last chapel of the semester (and of 2012) Claire brought in some music:

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Decatur--Sufjan Stevens

The first song I picked because it's indicative of what holiness is to me. Sufjan stevens wrote the song, and at first listen, I thought it was just a bunch of nonsense about Decatur, Illinois. But after listening to it again and again, I've found a new meaning in it. To me, this song indicates the holiness that someone can hold inside his/herself. This holiness comes out when he or she does something incredibly nice and selfless for another person. I'm mostly talking about the stepmother, in this case. The singer goes on to ask, "Why did we hate her?" after seeing all the great and wonderful things the stepmother showed him in Decatur.  

Helplessness Blues--Fleet foxes

This song holds a lot of meaning for me. The lyrics for the first verse are as follows:

 I was raised up believing I was somehow unique

Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

I've struggled a lot with growing into an adult, particularly with the question, "What will I be doing for the rest of my life?" and, more recently, "Will my job actually be fulfilling? Will i be doing something for the greater good? Will it be significant?" All my life I've wanted to do something significant and good for the whole world, and I'm struggling with the realization that my work may not fulfill either of these. This song takes the listener through an existential crisis of sorts, and I definitely identify with that. The one thing the singer holds true is, in his own words, 

it's that everything that i see

Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak

Like "Decatur", the singer here identifies with the mystery and wonder of  the world. When I experience holiness, there's this silencing, inexplicable wonder. If I look around, that beauty is everywhere. I find this song incredibly uplifting. 

  Sleep--Eric Whitacre

The two previous songs hint at the wonder of experiencing a holiness. When I listen to this song, I experience that wonder. I've been uncomfortable with prayer all of my life, but nature, the goodness of others, and music, particularly this song, have allowed me to experience what I think is a glimpse into the divine. 

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November 30, 2012: The Word

This week, Harrison brought some tunes and talked about how they can serve as inspiration.

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When we are approached by faith, we would prefer to believe that every single action has a purpose. But there are horrible things that we purpose but I don’t think they were purposeful in God’s design. A specific verse in this song says, “and I was still… for I must be well” the chorus reads: … The purpose of these mistakes presents itself in a prayer. Keep the earth below my feet, but let me serve and learn.

Mumford & Sons - Below My Feet

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Often we try to make sense of everything, and often we can’t. But sometimes what is so difficult is so simple, and what is so simple can be so difficult.

Regina Spektor - On the Radio

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There is deep power in prayer that I feel we easily forget. Some of us pray constantly, we swerve and don’t hit a squirrel, “Thank you.” We hate our jobs “please help us to persevere” Some of us pray seldomly, but none-the-less powerfully. We pray for big things and little things. In Jonathan Elias’ Prayer Cycle there are many different kinds of prayers with many different kinds of purposes. Movement III is entitled “hope.” A hope for something better, something good.  

Jonathan Elias’ Prayer Cycle - Movement III – Hope  

Lyrics translate to: 

Before my body dies

I pray

that the river I was born to

May again wash over me 

By God’s touch I pray

That I may move from this consecrated Earth Into the next season

A dark season

Beyond the dying religions that seduced us 

My soul will surrender

And give in to grace

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November 9, 2012: The Word

This week Karen (KB) shared with us the four agreements.

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Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

”

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The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz

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These are the group shots from our student-led service on November 11. :D

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On Sunday, November 11, we were in charge of worship! Harrison gave a sermon on how to know love is to know God, you can listen to that sermon on this video! 

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We made pie for a local woman's shelter! FUN WAS HAD BY ALL! :D

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October 19, 2012: The Word

The Word this week was brought by KB!

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“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

1. Share everything.

2. Play fair.

3. Don't hit people.

4. Put things back where you found them.

5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.

6. Don't take things that aren't yours.

7. Say you're SORRY when you HURT somebody.

8. Wash your hands before you eat.

9. Flush.

10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

11. Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.

12. Take a nap every afternoon.

13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Stryrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first workd you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”

― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Questions:

#1 Which kindergarten lessons do you think are the most important for you personally (top 3)?

#2 Which kindergarten lessons are you learning/relearning at this time in your life?

#3 Which kindergarten lessons are you still greatly struggling to live out?

#4 What is a life wisdom you have learned that you can add to this list?

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October 5, 2012: The Word

The Word this week was brought by Claire!

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I know the summer olympics seem like a distant memory, but I’d like to share a story from them with you. There was a hurdler from China named Liu Xiang--he had won gold in 2004 and was injured in 2008. This year was supposed to be his shining moment in hurdles--he had won second place the year before at the World Championships. Only a few seconds into the initial heat, Xiang hit a hurdle. A few minutes later, he finished the race, hobbling down the track. Later, the press found out that Xiang went into the race with a ruptured Achilles tendon--something that should have put him out of any race, much less an Olympic one. Needless to say, a global outpouring of support came to him, and he went back to China undecorated but not forgotten. I was thinking about hurdles a lot this week--not the ones that Liu Xiang faced, but deadlines and milestones and design reviews. I realized that sometimes I set myself up for challenges that I don’t necessarily need to face, but I go ahead and try to face them anyway. For example, when I was scheduling classes this year, I scheduled two engineering design classes, an engineering elective, a 400 level math class, and a gen-ed (for kicks, I guess). I remember distinctly thinking, “I have no idea how this is all going to work.” But then I remember thinking, “Well, I’ve made it this far. I might as well keep going...” As boring as my summer job was, I remember dreading the school year--I honestly didn’t know if I could beat the hurdles the semester would throw at me. When I was a kid, I remember thinking, “Wow, there’s no way I’ll ever have the amount of knowledge that my mum or dad have.” Similarly, when I’m facing a deadline, sometimes I think, “Wow, there’s no way I’ll ever finish this project. If I can finish it, my whole life will change.” I almost tie my identity into it: “Pre-” and “Post-Deadline Claire” live two very different lives. It isn’t a bad thing, but it makes life a little crazy. So the second week into school, I went home for a brief period of time. I shared my concerns with my dad, and he gave me a piece of advice. He said, “When the whale is sitting there, while everyone else is ignoring or avoiding it, you gotta run up and take a bite out of it!” I’m not sure if the whale was beached or at a party or whatever, but I saw his point. When things seem insurmountable, sometimes you have to just start digging in. You can’t finish a whale in an hour, but you can definitely eat a whale over a few weeks (with proper food storage techniques). Liu Xiang probably knew going into the 2012 race that he would not make first. But he did finish. Whatever hurdles you have in school or at work or wherever, eventually you’re going to finish the whale, even if it takes small bites.

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September 28, 2012: The Word

This bonfire edition of the Word was brought by Debbie!

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As most of you know, I'm taking Arabic this semester. I didn't expect to find inspiration for a Word in one of my classes, but life is unexpected.

Recently, we've learned phrases with “Allah” in them. As my teacher explained, Allah is just the Arabic word for God; Jews and Christians use it too. I was a little surprised by how common these expressions are. If someone asks you how you are, it's an acceptable and normal response to say, “Al-Hamdu lillaah,” or “Thank God.” If something is especially awesome, and you spoke Arabic, you would probably say, “Maa shaa' a-llaah!”, which literally means, “What God wants!” but is used more like, “Wow!” Instead of saying, “Hopefully”, you would likely say, “In shaa' a-llaah,” or “God willing.”

We are told to look for God in our everyday lives, yet religion brings up such negative connotations that most people avoid talking about it, or if they do, they tend to lecture others about what they're doing wrong instead of saying something constructive. How are we to grow in our faith if we don't talk about it and make it possible for faith to be in our everyday lives? There has to be a middle ground between being a judgmental evangelist and being a closeted Christian, but where that is comfortable is different for everyone, which is part of why it's so difficult to find. Despite the difficulty, someday we will all find where we stand, in shaa' a-llaah.