Krista Tippet on wrestling with biblical texts.

"True biblical faith expands and deepens as it incorporates mistakes, questions, catastrophes, and changes of mind and heart. Like Moses who "quarreled with God" Jacob embodies the intense interplay of devotion and struggle at the heart of Jewish tradition. I've come to find in Jacob's story a model for grappling honestly and productively with sacred text itself. It is true of the entire Bible - and perhaps of any sacred text for its believers - that if you sit with these bare-bones stories, pick over them, retell them, they begin to grow - take on nuance and possibility - before your eyes. One layer of meaning is lifted and another reveals itself. You sense that the text would respond to every conceivable question. In other words, if I stick with these texts - if I wrestle with them and insist on a blessing - a blessing will come. The only limitation is my time, my powers of imaginative concentration, and my capacity to listen to the interpretations of others."

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying her book, Speaking of Faith.

And she's got me wondering if in a couple of decades, or when I'm retired, I might go to divinity school, just for fun.

Defying Gravity.

Hi friends. Remember when I wanted you to watch Pushing Daisies because it is the best show ever ever, and you didn't, and it got cancelled? Well, I'm still in mourning, and seriously lacking some decent television programming.

Buuut, there is a little bit of potential in a show called Defying Gravity...or at least I think there is. One would think that I would be so traumatized by astronomy that I couldn't bear a show about astronauts, but it's more like Grey's Anatomy than Star Trek, I swear. (Not that I've ever seen Star Trek...). Here's a little peek:

Of course my judgment might be a bit biased by the presence of this fella, who I love:

Anyway, the first three episodes are free downloads on iTunes (that's how I found it), or all 5 are on abc.com. And it comes on Sunday nights. And I would like to keep watching it. So at least set your TiVo for me, yes? Thanks.

Early success.

I am attempting to grow some basil.

It should say something about my "gardening" skills that I am seeing this progress as a huge success on my part:

I also just made some super healthy super easy lentil vegetable soup. You should try it!

So, so funny.

While trying to sort through the disaster that is currently my inbox, I came to this video, sent to me by my friend Sarah.

It never fails to make me laugh.

Soup, and belief.

I went to see Julie & Julia with my parents, and I am inspired to cook more...I'm planning on starting with one new recipe a week.

This week: tomato basil soup from scratch, while listening to This I Believe essays. If you haven't checked them out...you should. They are incredibly varied and inspiring.

I'll share some favorites later.

Modern art.

Modern art is not normally my thing.  It's the section of a museum that I breeze past on my way to what I consider more significant (or at least identifiable) works of art.  

On my trip to D.C. I spent a little time in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and while looking for a restroom, I ended up on the modern art floor.  

One piece I came to was in it's own (rather dark) room, with a cushy bench, which after a long day of walking was it's entire appeal for me.

But as I sat on the bench, watching the changing lights bring out new and different parts of the giant canvas, I became a believer.  I sat there for over 20 minutes, just soaking it in.  I wish I could describe what I felt, but I think the artist is much more eloquent than I am.  This is taken from the description plaque:

"The installation unfolds as a kind of silent performance that envokes Hockney's experience of designing sets and costumes for operas even as he lost his hearing.  In the absence of sound, pure visual experience compensates and suggests a different narrative to every viewer. ..To sit in this installation through the entire cycle of light shifts is to take time for what Hockney called the "pleasure of looking" that leads us to understand "how beautiful the world is."

{Snails Space with Vari-Lites, "Painting as Performance", by David Hockney}

Instead of words...

The following are some pictures of my latest adventure..

More to come..