Some Assimilation Required
...batteries not included
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Couldn't Keep It To Myself
Mid April. Spring is sprung in Southwest Louisiana. Socked in with rain. The river runs brown with mud, but the azalea's persist; puddles of color blossom beneath mammoth bushes.
It's been a few months since my last post, and I apologize. Time restraints, plus my inner writer's voice, "Who wants to read what I have to say?" have kept me away. But this past weekend, invigorated by the Jambalaya Writer's Conference in Houma, Louisiana, I have found my voice anew. I want to thank the keynote speaker, Wally Lamb, for part of my recovery, and my good friends of the Bayou Writers Group from Lake Charles, LA who never cease to "Encourage, Educate, and Inspire" me whenever we get together. bayouwritersgroup.com
A fan of faith not fate, I feel it is no accident; I signed up in February for the Jambalaya conference completely oblivious that Wally Lamb, too, shares my passion for women's prison ministry.
A privilege to talk with him, I purchased two anthologies he has edited from the women at York Correctional Institute (Connecticut), where Wally has co-facilitated a writing workshop for the past sixteen years.
In the book, Can't Keep It to Myself, Wally Lamb's acknowledgement, filled with insight and grace, accompanies the true stories of incarcerated women who, as Dr. Lamb states, "are 'tough cookies' not because of their crimes but because they will neither be defeated nor silenced."
Honest with the reader and themselves, the women pour out their private and painful experiences and the poor choices they've made. In this process of healing, they give us the opportunity not to fear the incarcerated, but see them as human beings on a common journey with the rest of us.
Still searching for my place in the universe jigsaw, I just can't keep this book to myself. I will continue to read and share my musings about prison ministry and Wally Lamb, author, educator, and volunteer. wallylamb.net
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Throw Me Something, Mister!
It’s Carnival
Season in Louisiana. The French tradition of Mardi Gras is upon us. Children are
out of school for three days, businesses close to accommodate throngs of parade
goers, and noisy revelers dance in the street.
My cousin, a
snowbird from Indiana, is visiting. I encouraged her to come this week, so we
could “pass a good time”. Sunday we hit the parade route to see the
Children’s Parade. A first time Carnival goer, it was fun to see the foolishness afresh from her perspective.
Hours prior
to the floats arrival, police stand in groups of two or three encouraging the
swell of people to stand behind protective barricades. Their cruisers block the
intersections, flashing a constant blue strobe adding to the organized chaos.
A couple
ride past on bikes, down the empty pavement lined with partiers. They stop to
visit with the police. The woman wears jeans and a t-shirt while the man sports a black
full body cycler’s suit, rainbow wig, and black face. Behind his ten-speed, he
drags a child’s wagon with some serious stereo equipment pumping '80's tunes. Children
wear hats that light up and dogs trot past in tutus. A vendor pushes a cart
selling glow in the dark wands and feather boas. A vibration and cheer snakes
down the street. “It’s coming! The parade’s started!”
Two hours of
floats filled with Boy Scouts and family kewes, alongside organizations devoted
to excess. Interspersed with dance teams are convertibles caring Little Mr.
or Miss Whatever pageant winner. I haven’t been to a parade in years.
Lundi Gras—Monday, rain mixed
with cold breezes licked the area. We took our revelry inside to the local
civic center for the Costume Promenade. I wanted to give my cousin a close-up
view of the sequined gowns, satin, beaded tuxes and huge feathered headdresses.
I’d never been to one of these events, a veritable who’s who of people in the
community. From our perch in the balcony, we spent an hour and a half watching the royalty dance down the
runway while an announcer gave important info on where people graduated from
high school. Slipping out early, we detoured down a hall and walked into the
staging area, getting a glimpse of how the royals sweat. Up close, we oohed and
ogled the participant’s over-the-top evening attire and won the title “feather
groupies”.
Fat Tuesday—this
afternoon, we dined early at a café on the parade route and poised ourselves to
stand in the cold to watch the Krewe of Krewe Parade. “Throw me something,
Mister.” Seasoned now, my cousin hooted and waved, securing two more gallon Ziploc bags of beads to pack in her suitcase.
Tomorrow’s the
beginning of Lent, a time in the church community of reflection and self-denial.
I think I’ll give up parades.
My cousin, a snowbird from Indiana, is visiting. I encouraged her to come this week, so we could “pass a good time”. Sunday we hit the parade route to see the Children’s Parade.
Labels:
Fat Tuesday,
Lent,
Mardi Gras,
Throw me something Mister
Monday, February 9, 2015
Enlarging Our Vision
Along with my
family and writing, prison ministry is my passion. In January I was elected
President of the Board for The Open Door Women’s Prison and Re-Entry Ministry. I
am honored, as I serve alongside some amazing women. Masters in their faith, I have grown to realize the meaning of the church. From differing denominations
and faith backgrounds we come together in holy service. Christ’s hands and feet
on the ground, working with the least of
these who made choices that landed them in jail.
The scope of what’s about to happen
within the Re-Entry mission field is exciting, but frustrating as
well. Within days of accepting my present position, the Board was told the
building where we've had our offices since 2006 is being sold. We have to the end of
February to relocate. Meeting on a weekly basis for the past month,
the volunteers who serve The Open Door have worked enthusiastically as we see
God’s vision unfold in dynamic ways. Enlarging our vision to meet God’s has been the
challenge.
At church yesterday and repeated again in my morning Upper Room devotional was the theme to show God's awesome grace and love to everyone we come into contact: the surly checker at the grocery store, the man who cut me off in traffic, those who have hurt me. Sometimes, I have to be reminded the point of my existence and my passion. I must go, now, one of TOD's Re-entered Citizens is waiting for the Spirit of Christ to drive up with skin on.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
A Good Marriage
My passion
for prison ministry is officially married with my writing. A column I call, Beyond the Wire, is now a feature in a
local magazine, The Voice of Southwest
Louisiana. A brainchild of my early morning muse, writing journal articles
is a stretch from my comfortable fiction where I’m allowed to wax poetic and
lie.
I chose The Voice because it focuses on positive aspects of the
region and people from the southwest area of the state. That seemed a good marriage for my column,
concerning The Open Door Prison and Re-Entry Ministry. This monthly column features volunteers and a few of the clients, whom The Open Door helped find new
beginnings.
Visit The Voice of SWLA, www.thevoiceofsouthwestla.com
and see my January article, “Crime Fighters” under Favorite Columns. Let me know your opinion.
My passion
for prison ministry is officially married with my writing. A column I call, Beyond the Wire, is now a feature in a
local magazine, The Voice of Southwest
Louisiana. A brainchild of my early morning muse, writing journal articles
is a stretch from my comfortable fiction where I’m allowed to wax poetic and
lie.
and see my January article, “Crime Fighters” under Favorite Columns. Let me know your opinion.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Not a Cliché
At the local gym, recently, I ran into a man who lost his
wife over the Christmas Holiday. We had become acquaintances over the years through our
morning exercise ritual. Obviously devoted to each other, the older couple
shared a good-natured sense of humor that always delighted me.
Shirley’s illness arose quickly, but she lingered
near death for several weeks. Never good at funerals, I skipped it. Seeing her husband, George, sitting with a friend after exercise, I said a prayer
that God would be with my mouth and guard
the door to my lips, as I exited the building.
I hate the obvious platitude, “I’m sorry,” that awkward
acknowledgement necessary to move on. I planned to express something simple, but less trite. Rubbing Georges shoulder, I proceeded to
fumble and say exactly the “I’m sorry” I didn’t want.
Quite relaxed and gracious, George relieved my bumbling,
mentioning how Shirley always said she was “ready,” but how none of us really
are. “We’re hardwired to live.” Hand still on his shoulder, I nodded remembering
her words and
took a swig from my water bottle. Then he surprised me by adding, “If they sold tickets to heaven, I doubt anybody would stand in line.”
took a swig from my water bottle. Then he surprised me by adding, “If they sold tickets to heaven, I doubt anybody would stand in line.”
I’m not sure if it was nerves, or the quirky way he came out
with it, but I started to laugh, and promptly squirted a mouthful of water over
my grieving friend. A good sport, he acknowledged my ridiculousness with an amusing
comment. Certainly not a cliché moment, the incident broke the tension, I so
feared.
Strange how God answers prayer.
Labels:
Answered Prayer,
contemplative life,
Not a Cliche
Monday, January 5, 2015
The Battle Begins
Monday—the very
first one of 2015. I’m not into resolutions. The sound of breaking glass comes
to mind, an entire hutch of china overturned. A Hollywood vision includes me
running through a burning woods with my arms overhead to protect from hot falling
promises.
Now GOALS,
that’s another subject. Those are expectations we are reaching for, like the
next rung of the monkey bars. This morning as I returned to last year’s goal to exercise regularly,
I ran into a writer friend on the walking track. We spent thirty
minutes catching up, encouraging each other in our careers.
Once home, over
coffee, I set a schedule, blocked time to write more consistently, submit weekly,
and blog regularly. It looks great. Very neat and orderly on lined paper.
But my
Christmas present lies open next to the DVD. I hear the evil footman calling me. “Come
gorge on season three in the boxed set of Downton Abbey." Ooh, and look at that
stack of novels I received. They’re piled a foot deep on the table next to my rocker.
Those damn
monkey bars. Even as a child, I could never get beyond the third rung. Where’s
Gollum when you need him with that disappearing ring act.
The battle begins.
Bring on the fire.
Labels:
Battle Begins,
Goals and resolutions,
Gollum
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