Embracing Mystery

Mysticism - Belief in a reality surpassing normal human understanding or experience.  - The Free Dictionary


As some of you know, my faith can be defined as much by what I don't know as what I know.  Years ago, with the help of loving spiritual friends, I became comfortable with the concept of embracing mystery.  I'm very comfortable answering questions with "I don't know."  Because I don't.   To me, that's why it's called "faith" and "belief."

The last few days I've been reading about mystics.  Specifically Hildegard of Bingen and other women of her ilk who lived around the 11th century.  They spent their lives searching for spiritual truths. 

Unlike the guy who says, "I know what I know.  End of discussion!"

The word mystic comes from the Greek word mystes.  It's the same root that gives us mystery.

As Jan Richardson says, "It means shutting up long enough to notice God shuffling around in the daily events that make up our lives...But this path requires us not only to know god but also to be willing to live with our not-knowing of God."


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"Super 8" Home Movies

Did you ever, when you were young or your kids were young, make a scripted movie?  Did you ever put an old chenille bedspread over four or five neighborhood kids crawling around on the floor to make them look like a monster?

We've all seen old Super 8 family movie reels.  But the ones that were the most fun were those that had a script.  Our own personal adventure movies!

With that in mind, Dave and I saw the new movie "Super 8" yesterday.  It's about 6 kids who make a Super 8 horror movie.  It's about more than that - but I didn't react much to the overriding plot. 

The movie opened this weekend and was # one at the box office.  We probably wouldn't have chosen to go but we're in a holding pattern with the house so we were killing time. 

This film was produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by J. J. Abrams, both home Super 8 movie kids who grew up to change the face of movie story telling. "Super 8" works for me as a wonderful feel good film.  It's a small town adventure full of passion and heart.  It's sweet, funny and scary. The kid actors are terrific, especially Joel Courtney, an unknown from Idaho. 

If you see it, be sure to stay through the credits to the end.  You'll be rewarded by getting to see the kids' home movie.  And it will make you want to make your own.

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In Case There's a Change in the Weather

Being a long time resident of Florida, I could be a good meteorologist.  For instance, here's the forecast for Florida, every day, May through September:

High - 92 with afternoon thunderstorms.  That's it.  Count on it.

Here in Minnesota it's a different story.  Today, June 10th, the high temperature is supposed to be 57 degrees.  What's up with that?  But wait.  On Tuesday it was 103 degrees.  The streets were buckling, cars were on fire, air conditioners went kaflooey, etc.  I could say "all hell broke loose" because that's what it felt like.  There was a real tragedy when a caretaker left an old man outside in his wheelchair for three hours and he died.

But, of course, Dave and his buddies played golf on Tuesday just like they have for 30 years.  Their only concession was they wore their cute shorts instead of  long pants. 

These Minnesotans know how to go with the flow - weather wise.


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Trouble is Dead

Such sad news to hear that Leona Helmsley's little doggie "Trouble" died in December.  He was twelve years old.  That would make him about 84 human years old.  So he had a long life.

And a good one, apparently.  Remember that when Leona died in 2003 she left Trouble 12 million dollars in her will.  A judge later dropped that to 2 million.  But still....

Trouble was able to hire his own full time security guard and spent 8 thousand dollars a year on grooming.  Carl Lekic, the general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle hotel in Sarasota was paid 60 thousand dollars for being Trouble's companion.

So, all in all, I would say that most of the people on the planet would feel very grateful to have this dog's life.


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Midnight in Paris

I love Woody Allen movies.  I love everything Woody Allen writes.  I think I've read everything he's ever written.  Yesterday we saw his latest movie.  About three minutes into it I said to Dave, "I love this movie."

Will you love it?  Here's a little test: 

Are you afraid of death?
Do you love Paris?
Do you love Cole Porter lyrics?
Do you love art and literature?
Do you love subtle, intellectual humor?
Are you a romantic?

If so you'll love this movie.  Owen Wilson plays a writer named Gil. (But we know, as always, he's a Woody Allen surrogate.)  He's frustrated and unhappy - then falls down the rabbit hole - actually, he's invited into a great car by Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald - and he's off to the 1920s,where he immediately begins to pal  around with expatriates like the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and on and on. 

Here's an example of the humor:  Gil,  chatting with T.S. Eliot,  says something like, "Where I come from (California) they've measured out their lives with coke spoons."  If you don't get this, you may not be thrilled with the humor.  But still...

This movie is a total treat for the eyes and ears.


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Would You Like Me to Take Your Picture?

When Dave sees families taking photos he usually walks right up and says, "Would you like me to take the picture so you can all be in it?"  He especially enjoys offering his photo skills to young couples. 

Last Sunday we were with friends at the Mississippi Rive Lock and Dam in Minneapolis.  Interesting spot.  There's a public observation deck for watching the big water fall and the lock itself. 

While we were wondering around we saw a young middle eastern couple.  She was in a full burka.  We all smiled and he smiled back.  Not sure about the woman because her mouth was covered but she had beautiful, expressive eyes.

A few minutes later we saw the young man taking her picture.  I was wondering about the protocol.  I wasn't sure if women in burkas were even allowed to have their photos taken.  I wasn't sure if we should be watching. 

But then Dave walked right up to the young man and said, "Would you like me to take the picture so you can both be in it?"  Now I'm thinking, Yikes!  But the man handed Dave his camera. 

Afterwards they were sitting on a bench and Dave walked over and plopped right down beside the young woman and started chatting away.  She said nothing!  I'm thinking "Now, Dave you've gone too far."

But the young man who'd been on his cell phone leaned over, smiled, and told Dave two things.  They were on their honeymoon - and she didn't speak English. 

Whee!  An international incident was averted.


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Summer Reading

I traditionally read a boat load of books in the summer.  Some dificult, some important, some mysteries, some silly.  I am usually sorry when I try to read "women's novels."  Last week I read one by Karen White and I was sorry.  Then read Never Change by Elizabeth Berg.  It was good - and dealt with the serious issue of euthanasia  in a sensitive and realistic way: 

As you know, I'm currently reading a meditation book called In the Sanctuary of Women by my friend, Jan Richardson.  Extremely meaningful.  Also rereading the New Testament. 

And I've just started a John Sanford novel, Shadow Prey.  His second in a long list of "Prey" mysteries.  They're set in the Twin Cities.  I've read most of them since I started spending summers here in 2006.

But the most interesting and different books are a series of graphic novels I stumbled on to by accident.  Many of you may be familiar with Art Spiegleman and his Pulitzer Prize winning Maus series but I was not. 

They are brutally moving works of art.  Art Spiegleman tells the terrifying story - in cartoon form - of his parents' life in Nazi Germany.   I'm moved by the drawings themselves and the stark honesty.  The Nazis are cats, the Jews mice.  Spiegleman, who was born after the war, has a tortured relationship with his father.  But I can understand his father's actions after what he's been through.

I found the first volume in Dave's house as we were cleaning out boxes.  I searched for the second in a used bookstore close by and was thrilled to find it.  I think, when I finish the second, I'll donate them to the Holocaust Center close to my house in Florida.  The Center is dedicated to help all of us ... not forget.

The first Maus book opens with this quote:

The Jews are undoubtedly a race, but they are not human - Adolf Hitler   Scary and upsetting.  But we need to remember.


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