Put this in that category.

Today marked the passing of the judge, Sylvia Pressler, who forced Little League to allow girls the opportunity to play baseball with boys. Apparently in 1973, little girls were not seen fit to play baseball, with or without little boys.

I’m reminded that this seemingly common sense thing—that we assume has always been—had to be fought hard for…and it (like all changes) was seen as both radical and deeply subversive at the time. I love the quote from the Little League on the court’s ruling (yes…Little league fought this tooth and nail…even appealing the ruling)

The ruling was decried by Little League as “conceived in vindictive and prejudicial fashion of the worst kind”

Amazing.

The story really puts change in perfect perspective. Change is never easy—even for something Read more...

as a child i was steeped in school system during the school year, language and math

for the summer it was dreams i was steeped in as i played outside from dawn to dusk

as a new wife it was making him better and being the woman i should be

as a mom it was my boys, steeped in discovering they are and how to help them be all they are to be

in the suburbs it is: our home.

when i had less it was surviving, when i had more it was thriving.

in spiritual life it is sacrifice and service.

i suppose this is life, in part: to create a place within this big bad world for people to be steeped in the breathing in and out of love. one where people act out as they seem to be made to be. where they focus on what to give, not to get. where they love without an agenda. where help is given to one in need. one where emotions are as physical, both in need, both feel pain, both heal and give life.

there are so many causes Read more...

I was instantly overcome by the feeling, vibe or ETHOS in the room. I had never felt or seen anything like it in a competition based group setting. As a disclaimer I will say that I directed youth groups and camps for years and am no stranger to the world of kids, teams and to the “how to compete” discussion.

Instantly while standing in the room of robotics students, I was aware of JOY. calm joy. not zany and chaotic kids vying for attention. CREATIVITY. not wacky emo stuff where kids strive to be different and yet are just like the other dressed in black purple haired kids they hang with. The kids dressed with creative self expression. non-emotionally expressive engineer types did the macarena. they named their own teams: exploding bacon, thunder chickens , chipenguineers, cheesy poofs and the like. INTELLIGENT Read more...

As i have progressed from being a staff ministry leader in an organized church setting, to its structurally opposite: organic community, I have discovered that there is indeed a “COMMUNITY QUOTIENT”.

A community quotient is a measure of ability to live in community.

It is a powerful life skill.

Taken from the simple observation of folks who have learned to live in community along with me I can look back and assess Community Quotient Characters:

1. Humility-understanding oneself as an vital part of a whole. Humility ultimately leads to all of the proceeding C.Q’s. Humility naturally kills competition and consumption mindsets, replacing them with collaboration and giving. A community mindset is the antithesis of a consumption mindset-the 2 cannot coexist. It is the soil in which another can Read more...

-community

to relinquish

the trinkets i cling to
a leader often feels alone

while i lay still
i fight my to give parts of myself to others
the deployment that i have chosen
is so real, so good, so scary to me
it is clear
but i fear
the enemies that i face every day
i want to run, hope takes my hand
and stays with me as i decide to walk the good way

the first enemy is inside of me
i hear it
it tells me i cannot
i am a loser
ez pickins
i see it
i am so average
not a beauty to man
so nothing
except for hope

standing now
i fight round two
the peopwho say they are family
the ones who love me
they are so accustomed to me
they cant even see
the great thing happening
they trip me
negatively speak
dont carry their share

dont worry
a man cant get in the way
Read more...

He is ready to leave home in the summer.

this is what we raise them to do, to be ready to go out on their own.

as i saw the moment come where i realized that he is beyond ready
for he will do better outside of my home

i guess i did not expect this moment but i now see
that real readiness is when his growth is possibly inhibited by my constant Read more...