Category Archives: Friends

May 31, 2013 · 9:40 pm

A blessed visit, a blessed day

IMG_1655 (1024x651)Near the end of my visit to the Republic of Korea, the Rev. JC Lee informed me that one of his Doctor of Ministry would come to the United States. The class itself would take place at Columbia Theological Seminary. But they would also do some sightseeing. Their Trail would bring them to New York.

I jumped at the opportunity to share a small portion of hospitality with my friend and guide who had showed me so much on my trip to his country. We began to plan and via email worked out a brief visit to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.

The visit happened yesterday – May 30. It was wonderful.

JC and nine students arrived about 10:30. Our staff greeted them warmly. Ricky, Marissa (who took two of the photos in this post), Brendan, Ryan, Sera, and I told about the work of our ministry and responded to questions.

IMG_1659 (1024x683)Pizza, traditional New York City pizza – we wanted to provide a New York dish, arrived at 11:15 or so. Over lunch, our guests shared about themselves and their ministries.

Our guests expressed interest in the Red Hands on our walls. I explained that the hands were part of the Red Hand Campaign to end the use of children as soldiers. Our Korean brothers and sister indicated a desire to participate and Red Hands were made.

After lunch, Sera and I accompanied the class on a tour of the United Nations. As we had requested, the guide conducted the tour in Korean. The group members had a marvelous, joy-filled time. We had so much fun and laughed so loud and hard with each other that our guide had to quite the group. Twice.

IMG_1739 (1024x683)Following the tour, we returned to our office where we bid each other, not good-bye, but “until the next time.” We walked our brothers and sister to the elevator amid great laughter. The class went to visit Midtown.

The elevator doors closed. With joy in our hearts, well at least with joy in my heart – I suppose I should not speak for anyone else, we went back to work.

A blessed visit. A blessed day.

See you along the Trail.

 

 

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May 29, 2013 · 8:48 pm

2013 Move And Shake Women Work-Life Balance Retreat

This originally was posted by my friend Grace Ji-Sun Kim. It is posted here with her permission and at her request.

MOVE AND SHAKE WORK-LIFE BALANCE RETREAT

move-and-shake-logo-copy

at the University of Chicago,

Chicago, IL August 30 – September 1, 2013

This will be a gathering of high performing women, who want to explore the ways in which they can develop a well-rounded lifestyle. We realize that there is a need for a women’s retreat for women of color to explore the intersection of their professional, personal, and social experiences.
The Move and Shake Women’s Retreat is an event during which facilitators will expose women to solutions on how to navigate their multiple identities such as motherhood or being a first generation academic. This guided retreat will help women to attain their highest and best professional and academic performance.

Move and Shake Retreat Information:

Move and Shake Women are proud recipients of the Innovation Grant from the University of Chicago’s Graduate Student Affairs Office (GSA)! Because of this generous grant we will launch the 2013 Move and Shake Work – Life Balance Retreat. It will be held in Ida Noyes Hall and the Logan Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, August 30 — September 1 2013.
To register or for more information, please visit MoveAndShake.info.

Call For WORKSHOP

FACILITATORS Proposal Due: May 30, 2013

Proposal Acceptance: June 15, 2013

This guided retreat will help women to attain their highest and best professional and academic performance. If you would like to be a presenter, at the MOVE AND SHAKE WORK-LIFE BALANCE RETREAT, fill out this form. Applicants may attach a 1 minute video clip URL, to provide a sample of what participants can expect during their workshop.

[read also:  Living in Full Empowerment]

_________________________________________________________________________

alisha-lola-jones-from-cd-cover-revisedAlisha Lola Jones (@Move_And_Shake) is a PhD candidate in the ethnomusicology program of the Music Department at the University of Chicago. An alumna of Yale Divinity School (M.Div.), Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and Oberlin Conservatory (B.M.), she is the awardee of the 2013 Mellon Dissertation, Tave Teaching, and Martin Marty Junior Fellowships. She is a social entrepreneur with her firm InSight Initiative, Inc. whose ventures are arts based production and empowerment events for high minority and low income communities.

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May 23, 2013 · 8:13 pm

Which happened today

For worse,
for better,
for both,
timing matters.

A great deal.

Serendipity
may unaware
make moments
opportune.

Opportune moments
may pass,
lost to eternity,
rued forever,
for lack of knowledge.

Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn.

Guess which happened to me today.

See you along the Trail.

 

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May 16, 2013 · 10:01 pm

Purple, not flowers

We bid farewell to one of our interns today at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. All the interns gathered for the party; a number of our colleagues attended.

They celebrated greatly, giving thanks for one another, relieved that another academic term had ended.

Balloons played a role in the festivities. At some point, someone or someones decided to create balloon characters.

I believe this one represents me. The color fits. I accept it as a token of appreciation.

Purple Mark

See you along the Trail.

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May 15, 2013 · 9:17 pm

Stay healthy

To everything there is a season.

I have entered a season where my heart hangs heavy and my soul aches for friends who face serious health issues.

In an exchange with one friend, I received the advice, or the challenge, “You better stay healthy.”

I appreciate the sentiment but the reality, as my friend knows, is that I need to get healthy.

For almost two days now, I have tried. I ate well yesterday. I walked on the treadmill last night. I installed a number of health apps to measure food intake, exercise, weight, and other bodily functions, I ate well today.

As I type, I recognize the privileges that I carry: access to good food, access to a gym, access to a smart phone and a computer, financial resources to pay for them, freedom to make use of them, safety to practice them, time to devote to them, and more.

Humbled at having so much, I renew my commitment and head to the gym for a second night.

See you along the Trail.

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May 11, 2013 · 10:38 am

Pre-Mother’s Day surprise

He quietly stepped into the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York‘s hall where the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, his mother’s employer, held their final Regional Conference today.

photo (16)On this day before Mother’s Day, our older son Sean, who lives in New York, decided to surprise his mother. He made plans to attend the conference and told his mother. What he did not tell her, and he did not tell me until just a couple of weeks ago, he also arranged for his brother, Eric, to come from Texas to New York for the weekend. Eric also registered for the conference.

Tricia arrived on Thursday. Yesterday she worked with her colleagues finalizing the plans for today’s event. Brian and Kellie made a hasty adjustment so that Eric’s name did not appear in the list of participants, replacing it with mine.

When Tricia saw the list, a flurry of texts flew among Brian, Sean, Kellie, and me. We made up a story to tell Tricia. A thin story, but the best we could do quickly.

At dinner, Tricia said, “Apparently Sean registered you for the conference.”

“What?” said I. She repeated her words.

“I did talk to him at one point about maybe attending,” I said. “Then I checked and decided that because the theme is about changing church policy, I probably should not go. I guess he went ahead and registered me any how.”

Brian, Pam, and Jon, our dinner companions, backed my play. Brian said, “I will tell Sean that the Covenant Network will refund his money.”

“No worries,” I replied. “He makes enough. Call it a contribution.” Everyone laughed and the moment passed.

When Tricia and I returned to the Shire near the Hudson from seeing Kinky Boots, we talked about today’s schedule. I made up a story about having an early meeting with someone this morning near Columbus Circle for breakfast. Location and purpose of the morning were true. The other person not so much.

Tricia and I boarded the subway together this morning. I got off at Columbus Circle and met Sean and Eric for a bagel. Then we headed to the church.

Eric and Sean got their name tags. I explained the situation. And we moved to the room where participants could find coffee.

Tricia stood, her back to the door, talking to our friend Susan. Sean pushed Eric forward. He stepped to his mother and tapped her shoulder. She knows almost all the conference participants . When she turned, she expected to see one of her colleagues; she saw her son.

Smiles and laughter followed. Susan took some photos. We made some introductions to friends who marveled to see us in one place. I bid farewell and trust they are enjoying the conference. I will rejoin them when it ends and we will do something this evening. Brunch and a show tomorrow. A good weekend.

Happy Mother’s Day!

See you along the Trail.

 

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April 27, 2013 · 11:16 am

The usual mixture

I bask in the Manhattan sun,
warm against my face

and remember Ireland a year ago
with Tricia and with friends,

and rejoice with Joel and Roja
whose promises drew us across the water,

and ache for Joe who joined us there
and today grieves his brother’s death.

Disparate feelings stir, mix, tug,
today, as every day. Life.

27 April 2013
Shire near the Hudson

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April 20, 2013 · 7:52 pm

Staking my claim

Clouds (1024x768)Today brought the easiest, smoothest trip I have had in a long, long time.

I travel quite a bit – not as much as some – but more than most. I write about my travel at times.

I have had some issues when I travel. I admit they pale in comparison to those faced by my friends Nancy and Sung Yeon to whom I extend condolences. But anyone who travels as often as I do will have some issues. They happen.

When they happen, I usually whine. Loudly. Widely. Boldly.

And when things go well, I admit that, too.

I figure saying nice things about good travel grants me the privilege to whine. Loudly. Widely. Boldly. No logic supports that thinking, but it works for me.

Today’s travel began in Louisville. My last meeting was a consultation between the Presbyterian Church of Korea and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

I checked in for my flight, cleared security, and began to search for something to eat. At the restaurant, I met my friends in the Korean delegation at the airport and had another really good conversation with them. We hugged before they boarded their plane. It left first.

Then my flight departed on time. A smooth flight with amazing views. It arrived early – thirty minutes early – at LaGuardia. My bag appeared as the second bag on the carousel at baggage claim. I literally walked out the door and into a cab. The ride home was simple. 

Would that travel could be like that for all of us every time. I know it will not. And now that I have given thanks for today’s trip, I have staked out my claim to whine away when things go wrong.

See you along the Trail.

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April 19, 2013 · 3:59 pm

Photo at last

Hyunju and MarkWe met in Jamaica at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation. The Rev. Dr. Hyunju Bae visited New York on her way back to the Republic of Korea. We had a wonderful conversation at my office. She asked if I would be willing to visit Korea some time and speak about why the church engages in ministry on the public square. After conversations with the appropriate people within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I made a wonderful journey. I spoke in several places, made a number of friends, ate some amazing food, finally learned to eat with chopsticks, and took many photos. I got several photos of myself and the Rev. Dr. JC Lee, Dr. Bae’s husband and my guide. But the only photo I have of myself and Dr. Bae is from one time when she interpreted one of my presentations.

When I left Korea, we talked about Dr. Bae coming to Louisville for a consultation between the Presbyterian Church of Korea and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I mentioned that I would be in Louisville at the same time for another meeting. Perhaps I could find her, I suggested.

Life moved on, as life has a way of doing. And a couple weeks ago, I received an invitation to take part in the consultation. I managed to change my schedule and attend. As a result, with help from my friend, and new work colleague, Shannon Parks Beck, I now have a photo of the Rev. Dr. Hyunju Bae and myself. I look forward to the next time we are together.

See you along the Trail.

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April 10, 2013 · 10:47 pm

A friend prays

Apparently I am not the only one who writes while traveling. On her way home from Ecumenical Advocacy Days, my friend Joann Lee wrote a powerful prayer that addresses her personal situation and expresses universal realities at the same time. Here are some excerpts:

Dear God,
There are so many moments when I am grateful that I am not pregnant and without children:

  • Every time I gorge myself on sushi and beer or enjoy a glass of scotch in the evening, I give you thanks;

…

But God, despite all these blessings, I still really, really want to be pregnant, have a baby, and raise children.

Sometimes, I feel like those formerly barren matriarchs of the Bible:

  • like Hannah who prayed fervently in the temple, asking, as if drunk, for a child, seeking refuge in her faith and bargaining her child’s future profession in exchange for answered prayers – like Hannah, I say, “Me, too, God. I’ll force my child into ministry, too, if that’s what it takes!” [note: Joann is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]

…

Because I just want so much to…

  • to see two lines on that plastic pregnancy test, and since we’ve already experienced that, to then also hear a heartbeat on the ultrasound and witness a healthy baby being born;

…

I want all these things, God. But in the mean time, I’ll continue to eat sushi, drink scotch, travel, and be grateful. Because this, too, is a blessing.

Amen.

Check out Joann’s whole prayer.

I stand in awe of her grace and courage, faith and hope. I hold her and Mike in my prayers in this season of waiting. I pray for all who yearn for a child. I pray that all children experience love. May it be so.

See you along the Trail.

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