Our Beautiful World

No theology today... just wanted to share a little beauty

Great Compline

Goodnight everyone!

Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me

I don't generally review books that aren't strictly theological, but I recently read the book "Same Kind of Different as Me" after I was sent a complementary copy. I thought I would share a little bit about it.

The book takes a look at the lives of two men.One is a successful art dealer, the other is a homeless man. It tracks both of their lives from childhood until they meet, and then begins to share the story of how the met and grew to love and trust one another.

This book is unique among many books like this. It's not a book about how to save the poor, but rather a book about how people need one another.

In it the rich white guy learns from the poor black guy. That was nice to see. Most books of this sort seem to turn the white man into the savior.

I really enjoyed reading it for the most part because it was easy to read and entertaining. It's the kind of book you can read when you just want to relax and read something nice, and the book was nice.

I can't say it was all great though. It's a little over the top at times, and the spirituality sometimes seems forced. There is a way that the poor black man is still turned into the other. He is portrayed as a bit of a mystical prophet in a way that bothered me a little. It seemed forced, and it made him seem like a different "kind" of person. If anyone else has read this book I'd love to hear what they thought of it.

All Saints Day Reflection

This morning I decided to go to the daily liturgy at a local Ukrainian Catholic church.

It was interesting, beautiful, and difficult

I often take pride in my ability to feel at home in almost any worship context. I grew up in an ecumenical community and grew up going to just about every kind of church you can imagine.

It's good for me to be UNCOMFORTABLE sometimes...

This church make it difficult to feel comfortable. The whole service was in Ukrainian, and there were no worship materials available.

I have been to liturgy many times, I have even been to liturgy in Ukrainian many times, but this was different. This was the first time I didn't have a translation to follow.

Although I knew generally what was going on I was forced to worship with my eyes much more then my ears and mind.

I began to simply pray the Jesus Prayer over and over to myself and watch the movements of the congregation around me. The liturgy in this new context took on a new character and life.

In the midst of my confusion it was still clear to me that these people deeply loved and honored Jesus. Even though I didn't know a single word to pray I was able to worship with my whole heart.

It really brought home the reality of All Saints Day.

We are not united with the saints through a common language or culture. We are not united by a location or time. We are not united by a single liturgy or polity.

We are united by a Single Lord

Glory to Jesus Christ

Have a blessed All Saints Day