In the Punchbowl

Went for a hike on Saturday with my friend David.  We had planned on going on Friday, but I wasn't feeling well.  This time we hiked in and around Devil's Punchbowl, an area of bizarre rock formations near the San Andreas fault.  Along the trail we crossed many thin snow patches, but the sun was bright and kept us warm.

Happy Thanksgiving

We are enjoying some pumpkin bread as the kids (ours and a few others) are waking up.  Later, we will join relatives for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Changing Rocks

Last weekend, I went with my son's boy scout troop on a camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I knew that I'd have some free time, so I packed some reading material, but I couldn't take my eyes off the rocks and cliffs, which seemed to change moment by moment. The view, from my tent:

Saturday, early morning

Saturday, midday; climbers can be seen on the rock.

Saturday, early afternoon

Saturday, two minutes later

Saturday, late afternoon

Saturday evening

Sunday, before sunrise

Sunday, after sunrise

Sunday, mid-morning

Relationships Leading to Understanding

I recently spent a day with approximately 70 other pastors in a day-long "sacred conversation" regarding homosexuality and the church.  We were all pastors of the same denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I'm pretty sure we were all from southern California, although there may have been one or two from neighboring states. We were not, however, of one mind when it came to the topic at hand.

Generally speaking, ours is a progressive denomination - well, more progressive than some, anyway - but it is also one that grants a great deal of freedom to clergy and congregations. This results in a great deal of diversity in theological viewpoints, which we do our best to embrace.

Our "sacred conversation" was not intended to promote a particular viewpoint. Rather, its goal was to bring clergy together in conversation, allow them to listen to one another, and affirm that, despite our differences, we are still one body in Christ; a body that, in all its diversity, can still gather together at the Lord's Table.

Perhaps it should not be surprising that a few pastors had a hard time with this. Some left early, unable to remain in conversation with those of differing views. Most, however, remained.

The most significant (and challenging) conversation of the day for me came when I was seated at a table with a person who, like me, considered himself open and affirming in regards to homosexuality. He candidly admitted that while he finds it easy to welcome gays and lesbians in the church, he would be uncomfortable if, one day, a transgendered person showed up to worship.

His honest admission forced me to do some self-reflection, and I quickly realized that I, too, would experience some discomfort. I asked out loud (even though the question was directed at me), "Why is that?"
After thinking about it for a moment, I realized that the discomfort would be due to a lack of familiarity. In my life I have significant relationships with a number of people who are gay or lesbian. However, I don't think I've ever had so much as a conversation with a person who is transgendered.

I then began to think of people I know who are so distrustful and prejudiced against people of other religions in general, and Islam in particular. In my life, and especially through my work on the South Coast Interfaith Council, I've come to know people of different religions, and thus have gained a greater understanding of and appreciation for the different religions of the world. That understanding and appreciation came about through the relationships that have developed.

In order to build a world of peace and understanding, we must build relationships. I'm thankful for the relationships I have with people of different religions and different sexual orientations. I'm also thankful for relationships and conversations with people whose theological viewpoints are different than mine.

Anyone want to start a conversation?

Autumn Walk

I don't have any new pictures to post this week, so here's one that I took three years ago, on the day before Thanksgiving, 2007.

Cyclists and Motorists Sharing the Road

It's been interesting in Long Beach for cyclists lately.  Long Beach touts itself as the most bicycle-friendly large urban city in the U.S., but last week, dozens of cyclists were cited, and some of their bikes were impounded, because they allegedly broke minor traffic laws.  They were taking part in a "critical mass" ride, and when police showed up, the cyclists at first thought they were their to escort and/or help with traffic flow; but instead, they began pulling cyclists over and ticketing them.

The cyclists contend that they were following all laws.  I wasn't there, so I don't know.  I do know that it is common for cyclists to break laws by not stopping at stop signs or riding on the wrong (left) side of the road.  Many cyclists are either ignorant of such laws or choose to disobey them.  I have also observed many times cyclists riding on the sidewalk and darting out into streets.  Riding on sidewalks is permitted in many areas of Long Beach, but it is extremely dangerous to go from sidewalk to street without even slowing down.

By the way, I write this as a cyclist.  I ride my bike most places I need to go, including to work every day.  I ride to hospitals when visiting church members.  On days off from work, I ride for fun and exercise.

There are, of course, multiple sides to the issue.  Even cyclists who obey all traffic regulations are put at risk by motorists who ignore cyclists' rights or are unaware of those rights.  And clearly, for a city that touts itself as being bicycle-friendly, the incident with the critical mass riders last week could have been handled better.  It has now become a black eye for the supposedly bicycle-friendly city.

Hey, cyclists:  Let's respect those with whom we share the road.  Let's follow the law.  Let's be safe, not weaving in and out of traffic.  Let's ride single-file.  And, for our own sake, let's please remember to wear our helmets.

Hey, motorists:  Please respect the rights of cyclists.  Do not pass us on the road unless you are able to leave at least three feet between us and your vehicle.  If we slow you down, keep in mind that by riding a bike, we are keeping cars off the road, and more cars on the road would, in the long run, slow you down even more.  So just take a deep breath (you won't get any toxic exhaust fumes by following us) and relax.

Hey, parents:  Please educate your children on the safe and legal way to ride a bike.  If you don't know what the rules are, find out.  Although I've seen cyclists of all ages breaking the law, most of the riskiest behavior, such as darting in and out of streets, is by children and teenagers.  And please make sure that your kids wear their helmets!

Hey, city:  Yes, it's important to make sure that ALL who use our roads respect the law.  However, you still need to work on your bicycle-friendly image.  Citing cyclists en masse and impounding bikes (some of which are their owners' only mode of transportation) is not the way to do this.

Night Lights

Walking to School

Most mornings, I walk my sons to school.  It's slightly more than a half mile, which gives us time to talk.  Indeed, it's about the only time we have real conversations, since they easily find other distractions at home.  In fact, at home I often find other distractions as well.

I look forward to these walks.  In the afternoon, I can ask (as I often do), "How was your day?"  I consider myself lucky to get a one-word answer.

But in the mornings, walking that half mile...

Here's a snippet of yesterday's conversation.

Ethan: "School doesn't teach anything important."
Me:  "Really?"
Ethan: "I learn more from TV shows than I do from school."
Me:  "What do you learn from TV?"
Ethan: "At school they only teach you meaningless stuff like 2+2, or what year was Jonathan Edwards born..."
Me:  "You're learning about Jonathan Edwards at school?"
Ethan:  "... but every TV show has a moral that helps you be a better person."
Tristan:  "Except Mad TV."
Ethan:  "Well, every TV show with a plot."
Tristan:  "Part of Mad TV has a plot that's about five minutes long..."
Me: "So, you're learning about Jonathan Edwards at school?"
Ethan:  "Yeah.  And the Great Awakening."
Me:  "Don't you think learning about the life of someone like Jonathan Edwards could help you learn how to be a better person?"
Ethan:  "I don't know."  (At this point we are almost at school)  "Well, I got my physical education for the day.  Can you write me a note so I don't have to do P.E.?"
Me:  "No.  It never hurts to have extra P.E.  Especially when a large percentage of your diet consists of Halloween candy."
Ethan:  "But I already walked, I got my physical education.  Besides, I hate football."
Me:  "You're doing football?"
Ethan:  "Yeah.  Flag football."
Me:  "I'm sorry.  I hated playing football when I was in school.  It was almost as bad as having to climb the rope.  Does your teacher tell you how to play, what the positions are?"
Ethan:  "No, he just tells us to go play, and to ask our teammates to explain it to us.  But no one really knows how to play, so we just run around trying to grab each other's flags...."

It's pretty much only when we're walking that we have conversations like this.  At this point our conversation for the morning was over.  As I watch him enter the school grounds, I think to myself that, at least when it comes to physical education, he has a point.

That's it for today's post.  Time for me to dust off that book on American Christianity, and re-read the chapter on the Great Awakening....

Morning Mist and Glow Sticks

It rained during the night, but by sunrise, all that was left was a mist that quickly disappeared and gave way to a beautiful day.  It was an overnight for 400 cub scouts and parents at Will J. Reid scout park in Long Beach.... The night before, at the campfire, it was all about the glow sticks...