Status Updates From We Become What We Normalize...

The “lovely and constant task” of responsibility toward one another, our fellow human beings, and “the joy that is the reality of other people and of thinking together” (p. 149-150). Dr. Dark is really great at making our hard human work sound like worthy work. I believe it is, but sometimes it’s overwhelming, so I’m glad for Dr. Dark’s refreshing, mobilizing hope.

“Living humanly has a price attached. Let us pay up, and gladly. Knowing as well that the opposite, living inhumanly, pays huge dividends in a crooked world. Celebrate then, the burden.” -Daniel Berrigan

See also Howl’s Moving Castle for another prime example of robot soft exorcism. It similarly celebrates the heavy burden of a heart, culminating in a glad smile, a big ol’ hug, and a bunch of loving kisses.

“Yes, justice is a form of love. But it might feel like an exorcism at first….Transformative experiences don’t often feel easy or painless all the way through.”(99) I’ve been so struck lately by imagery and acknowledgments of just how hard real love is, but how the true powers of tenderness and curiosity are made clear in that light. Love is a thing forged, but the hands that work should know gentleness.

Petition to have Mikey’s mom at every reading hour!!

I keep catching myself smiling uncontrollably in my Faith and Beauty and Faith and Pop Culture classes, and as I do my readings for them. I’m so amazed by all this stuff and by the fact that I am here to be a part of it with all the people I have come to meet along the way who are just as excited about these things as I am. It’s almost too good to bear. So many big feelings.

“…to consciously involve ourselves in the lives of others, to hold a sacred conception of culture where the evasion of conscience and the avoidance of conflict are never acceptable means to some other end. There are people and persons to think about…. They have so much to show us” (p. 30).

WHOO!! I’m getting excited.

Getting started for Dr. Dark’s Faith and Pop Culture class, and already I’m feeling some interesting stirrings. It’s hard to formulate anything so early on, but I’ve been feeling curious and even courageous lately, so rock on. This will be an interesting semester.