2012
Parables
This weekend, I saw God in one of the last places I would have expected. It wasn’t at the shopping mall, or in STSS. I saw God while I was at work! Crazy, right?
Maybe I should begin by explaining where I work. I am an usher at Ted Mann Concert Hall, and I work at a lot of performances though the school of music as well as private renters. This weekend, the U of M music theater put on a performance of the Opera “Parables”. Parables is geared toward addressing the issues of racial and religious intolerance, and working to shed light on how we can be more tolerant of those around us. The three main religions that were targeted in this opera were Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
One of the key ideas that was brought forward through this musical masterpiece was that religious tolerance can only be achieved when we take the “triumph” out of faith. I was trying to decide what this meant exactly, because it was the first time I had heard it. Herschel Garfein explained in a Q&A session after the performance that people often believe that their religion is right and everyone else is wrong. In this regard, everyone believes that the whole world will be proven that their God is the “right” God and that everyone will convert to their faith. Through this belief, it is hard to see another religion as equal, thus exemplifying intolerance.
There was also a powerful moment in the opera when the choirs representing each religion all said the name of “God” in their language, in unison. This, along with many other pieces of symbolism went to show that we all believe in the same God, but told through a different story (or in this case, song).
I was fortunate enough to work during 3 performances of this production, and each time I saw it I took something new from it. It is clear to me that religious intolerance exists everywhere, but it takes everyone to put an end to it. God was most definitely present through the mouths of all of the performers, just as God was present in all the audience members who the message was passed on to. I hope that the message this opera conveys continues to resonate on this campus long after the melodies can no longer be heard.
Joe Carlson
2012
Relationships and new beginnings
Throughout this season of Lent, I have taken on the practice of relationship building whether it be with existing friends or getting to know new friends in an intentional way. Although outwardly, I may not portray my feelings of insecurity around these conversations, it truly does cause me much anxiety internally. These types of encounters, especially with people I don’t know very well, make me overanalyze my actions and words to a point where they don’t flow with conversation creating awkward pauses (which I dread!!!). After intentionally practicing this for the last forty-some-odd days, I have come to the conclusion that after the initial conversation the flow of subsequent talks is much smoother and even more enjoyable. This has led to the beginning of some great new friendships already and growth in a lot of previous ones.
I can honestly say that since starting this practice I have become more confident in my conversational abilities and no longer dread them as much. What used to be my biggest fear has turned into something that I know will be a benefit in the long run. So I encourage you to embrace whatever is most challenging for you and go out and practice whatever that may be. You never know what great things can come from trying to overcome your fears and anxieties.
Also, go out and enjoy the beautiful weather!!!! Christ has risen indeed!
Laura
2012
Falling out of tree pose
I never thought I’d be a person that would be into yoga. For starters, I’m terribly inflexible (the sit and reach in gym class was the bane of my existence) and on top of that, my brain doesn’t have a mute button. Great combination for yoga, right? Prior to finding my current studio, I’d go to classes, expect to feel enlightened, and then spend the class feeling frustrated with myself for my lack of yoga skill…and for getting frustrated with myself in a yoga class.
After almost a year of 60-minute classes in a 105* room, I finally get why so many people adore yoga. In the past month though, my practice morphed from something physical into a practice that is physical, mental, and emotional. All of this is because of one pose—tree pose—done in a dark room with my eyes closed.
Tree pose is a standing posture in which you balance on one leg, put the sole of your other foot on your lower calf or inner thigh, and then hold your hands with palms touching either at heart center or raised above your head. With your eyes open, tree pose is a posture that involves some balance but is pretty easy to do. When you close your eyes, however, everything changes. No matter how steady you think you are, you will begin to lose your balance and fall out of the posture within a few seconds. That, my friends, is really frustrating. It also is the reason why the teacher does it.
Off the mat, frustration happens all the time in our lives. We go in to situations with expectations for ourselves or others and then when those expectations aren’t met, we feel one of two things: surprise (when the outcome is better than our expectations) or more commonly, disappointment.
We can’t stop frustration from happening, but we can change our reaction to it. Much like falling out of tree pose with your eyes closed in a yoga class, we can choose to fall more gently in our everyday lives. We can choose to accept the fact that we fell as just that—a fact—instead of as a judgment against ourselves or against others. We can also choose to try again, knowing that we will fall again, but that next time, we will balance a little bit longer and fall a little more gently.
By bringing a peaceful response to our frustration, we free up space to be more loving of ourselves and those around us. As we enter Holy Week, remember Jesus’ ultimate peaceful response to frustration—giving his life for our sins—and look for ways that you can respond more peacefully in your own life.
Thoughts, comments, and discussion are always welcome.
-Lisa