here lies buried treasure

i think this’ll be my favourite piece of writing from this week. i just don’t see how it can be beaten*:

michael chabon, on childhood as a branch of cartography. relish that description and ignore the misleading title when you get there… girls get to be adventurers too. beautifully written and quietly provocative stuff this.

big t’anks go to Joel for sliding this one-of-many-gems across the virtual table.

::

look right and make sure you check out david’s link at ::peer pressure is forever::
for a _great_ cornel west interview. (*serious contender)

right, pj’s are on, hot choc malt is made, time for a book and my duvet.

keep thinking…

LB

ironically longer than main post post-script…

:: i like to stand firmly in the question::

– (the ever-welcoming) jules, over on queermergent. one of my favourite quotes of the week. and maybe ever.

meant to say earlier in week and didn’t get around: if ACNA, FOCA and Anglican Mainstream aren’t your theological cup of tea then there’s some interesting thoughts continuing lately over at Queermergent, (see side bar on right) which encouragingly is building its archive of LGBTQA stories and essays from a range of theological and denominational perspectives (but all beyond homophobia and misogyny).
from the iconoclasts to the more orthodox, i’m liking the diversity, as whatever this thing that gets called the emerging movement might be or not be, to say all are singing from exactly the same hymn sheet would be misrepresentative. the latest 2 posts are exploring aspects of covenant theology and sexuality – from voices within Anglican (UK) and Presbyterian (US) contexts. i’m enjoying seeing the often (very) different paths folks trace that bring them all into the same inclusiver space on the map.

in a not wildly dissimilar vein, i see glaad has a piece on radio and “Godcasts” that are exploring faith from LGBT perspectives.

right, this time i really am for bed.

keep thinking… and stand firmly in the question.

when all your plan As are in one basket

after 7 hours huddled over the keyboard filling out a now submitted application to university i am left with nothing but
(1) tears of relief to have beaten the most !@£$%^& annoying online form i have ever had the despair of encountering,
(2) a smidgen of hope that i might get accepted,
(3) a big dollop of fear in my gut that i won’t and i’ll have to come up with a plan B, and
(4) a burning pain across my shoulder blades that only appear eased if i avoid standing up straight and stay at the laptop typing.

but it’s not all knots of frustration…

i don’t know why the weather report to the right says mostly cloudly because the sun has been shining brilliantly all day with only the wispiest clouds high above flitting by. it’s made for a nice view from my desk.

and my day has been peppered with lovely back ‘n’forth emails with lovely people, and some surprise messages too, all of which have made me smile and feel warm gratitude at knowing the kind of folks that drop you messages for no reason than to say, “hello” and send loving words out of the blue.

oh, and this morning i submitted a piece for the Queermergent blog (linked in the side bar over there —>). so that feels like another little achievement. it’ll be published in a few weeks in two parts. i’d been struggling with it for weeks in belfast, but here at my desk looking out at the trees, my head seems mercifully less cluttered, and so tidying it up today came with refreshing ease.

right, i’m (hobbling like an 80 year old) off to my parentals’ to be fed a fry up for tea and then it’s into a scalding shower for me to try and work out these knots.

oh, and universe, if you should have a plan B in mind for this autumn, make it a good ‘un please. i’ve done the best i can manage with plan A and i sure don’t have an alternative waiting up my sleeve…

LB