Reflections on the Un-Celebration

Anne of Green Gables, by Peter Swan, found here

A month ago, on October 31, I said that I would be Un-Celebrating NaNoWriMo by doing my own writing project. That project was to post something every day in connection to a holiday on that date, whether it was a widely-accepted holiday or one person's brainstorm. I predicted that I might not be able to post every day of the month, but that I'd do my best.Well. My best apparently did the trick, because I have indeed posted every day in the past month.

I have written about things as mundane as common sense and sandwiches, and as lofty as literacy and love. I have held forth about toilets, talents, teddy bears, tongue twisters and tolerance. I've shared favorite books and recipes. Sometimes the posts have practically written themselves, and other times I've had to sweat it out, writing and deleting, changing topics or swapping out anecdotes. This is the stuff of writing, the stuff that is deeply satisfying, stuff I love.

Frankly, I can't keep up the pace on top of a more-than-full-time job. But the richness of the past month has spurred me to post more frequently again. So stay tuned; for better or worse, there will be more.

Cyber Monday -- Not

Today, the Monday after Thanksgiving, has become known as Cyber Monday.

We've been talking here at our home about the upcoming Christmas visit of our kids and grandkids. The older we get, the less we are interested in caving in to the commercialism of Christmas as it's celebrated in north America.

I still remember the Christmas, when my brother and I were young adults, when we got a gift that was clearly more appropriate for kids than for us. That's when we realized that we really ought to release the older folk in our lives from giving us gifts. Not long after that we said to our parents, "Let's go out as a family to Barnes & Noble, each of us buy a book to read over the break, and call it Christmas."  That's when Christmas started feeling pleasant and sane again.

And yet there are pressures, such as the impending arrival of family in a few weeks. The other grandparents will likely shower the grandkids with toys and gifts, in some cases at quite an expense. If the grandkids arrive here and we give only the gifts of time, game-playing, sledding, story-reading, cooking and eating together, goofing off and so on, will that make us "the not-fun grandparents?" Unfortunately, our grandkids live a thousand miles or so away from us, so we don't know them well enough to predict whether our preferred kind of celebration would be a hit or a disappointment.

In a past year I came across the "Advent Conspiracy." As I wrote this post I again viewed a promo video on the topic.  Here it is:



Yet again, I'm convicted. It's time to "take back Christmas," whether it makes us popular or not. Cyber Monday, you will not have me. So there.

Come, Lord Jesus

Advent calendar found here

The first time I saw an Advent calendar, as I recall, was when I was a teenager and my German friend's mother sent her one. Aila explained to me that each day she would open a little door on the calendar, and there would be some emblem of Christmas to be seen behind the door. I was fascinated by how the little doors could be popped open. It was a fun way to count down the days from December 1 until Christmas.

I didn't grow up in a family that used advent calendars, nor a church that celebrated with advent candles. We didn't count down from four weeks before Christmas, and there were no Christmas trees in the church (although that was probably more a function of being situated in the tropics, far from any coniferous trees). My church was very wary of any ritual that was similar to those of other denominations, and thus the symbols were sparse. Rather puritan-like, we avoided candles, clerical robes (choir robes were okay), and artwork in the sanctuary.

I did, however, spend many happy church hours as a child looking at the huge painting up front of Jesus knocking on a door. I knew it was the door of my heart. "Come in," I would hear myself saying in my head to Him.  "Come in! My door is open to You."

This is not the picture, but it was a similar idea

And that's what Advent is all about, as we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent today. "Come in." Come into our world. Come into my heart. Come in and bring forgiveness, peace, love and joy. Come in and make me new. My door is open to You.

And at the same time, as we look back at the first advent, and as we look inward at the advent that invites Him in, here in the present, we can't help but look forward to a coming Advent. It's the coming advent where He makes all things new, where he wipes all tears from our eyes, where there is no more darkness, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, for all things have been made new. I love that hopeful word: "Advent."

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

~Rev. 22:20

A Crucial Literacy

A week or two ago I watched an episode of the TV show "House" on the airplane as I traveled back from meetings on the East Coast. I was expecting some kind of TV rubbish that would be forgotten by the time the front wheels of the plane touched down on the tarmac. I know, I know. I'm woefully out of touch with current TV programs, even the good ones.

The reason I've not forgotten this episode is because my attention was caught by all the biblical references in the episode. Not only was the theme about near-death experiences--a question that was not answered in the episode--but there were phrases sprinkled here and there throughout the episode that you would only fully catch if you had a reasonable degree of biblical literacy.

I believe that people who lack literacy in two specific areas--the Bible, and Greek mythology--are hobbled in terms of understanding Eurocentric culture, and therefore are hampered in fully appreciating the vast history and literature and culture that serves as a setting for mainstream western-based civilization. (For purposes of this post, I am focusing on Biblical literacy, although I'd have somewhat similar things to say about mythological literacy.) The problem is, these partially or poorly literate people to whom I refer comprise an ever-growing chunk of our population. It's not their fault. It's the fault of our families, our churches and our schools.

In my opinion, our churches have focused for quite some time on a literacy of feelings and simplistic doctrine, rather than on biblical literacy. Families have depended on churches or Veggie Tales (horrors!) to teach Bible stories, letting go of the old-fashioned custom of daily family time with a parent reading the Bible to the children. And our schools, mostly governmentally regulated, have shied away from anything smacking of religion, therefore shortchanging students who will never understand their own culture without a knowledge of the stories, sayings and teachings on which that culture grew its original values.

Don't get me wrong; I am not in the least suggesting that we teach our students in public schools to be religious. That is not the domain of the government. But I am suggesting that public schools have a responsibility to teach them about great works of literature, the literature that birthed the ideas of our culture, and that includes the Bible stories and sayings. Biblical literacy, in north America, anyhow, should be taught alongside American history, World history, Greek mythology, Native American folk tales, children's fairy tales, and perhaps a few other literatures that have not come to mind as I write.

So what's up with biblical literacy in this country? Here's the state of things now (and I doubt they're much better in any other country):

• Only 40% of Americans know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
• Only half of American adults can name any one of the four gospels.
• Only 42% of Americans could name as many as five of the Ten Commandments correctly.
• Twelve percent of adults agreed that Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.
• Seventy-five percent believe that the Bible teaches that "God helps those who help themselves."
• Sixty-eight percent of teens couldn't identify who asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
• Fifty-three percent of teens couldn't name what Biblical event happened at the village of Cana.

Here's another interesting list, this one showing many phrases used in literature and everyday language, phrases that come directly from the Bible:

• "Apple of my eye" – Deuteronomy 32:10 
• "At wits' end" – Psalm 107:27
• "Blind leading the blind" – Matthew 15:14
• "Can a leopard change its spots?" – Jeremiah 13:23
• "Drop in a bucket" – Isaiah 40:15
• "Eat and drink for tomorrow we die" – Isaiah 22:12-13
• "Fat of the land" – Genesis 45:18
• "Fight the good fight" – 1 Timothy 6:12
• "Fly in the ointment" – Ecclesiastes 10:1
• "Give up the ghost" – Acts 12:23
• "How the mighty have fallen" – 2 Samuel 1:19
• "Many are called but few are chosen" – Matthew 22:13-14
• "No rest for the wicked" – Isaiah 57:20
• "Physician, heal thyself" – Luke 4:23
• "Rise and shine" – Isaiah 60:1
• "Skin of my teeth" – Job 19:20
• "Sour grapes" – Ezekiel 18:2
• "Woe is me" – Job 10:15
• "Writing on the wall" – Daniel 5:4-6

I'll admit, while I knew most of those and could tell you the context in which they were uttered, there were several I didn't know.

So back to my original point about biblical literacy being crucial. Biblical literacy has its benefits for understanding the art, music, history, culture, film and written literature of our time and place. This has been observed in one researcher's meta-analysis of the effects of biblical literacy on school performance. Here's a paragraph on the results of that study:

The meta-analysis, which involves statistically synthesizing all the research that has been done on a given topic, indicated that students who possessed high levels of Bible knowledge achieved at higher academic levels and were more likely to demonstrate positive behavior patterns than those with lower levels of Bible knowledge. The other two studies also showed dramatic differences between students between students who possessed high and low levels of Bible knowledge. In the second study, the difference in GPA between students high versus low in Bible literacy was 3.60 vs. 2.47. In the third study the difference in GPA between the two groups was 3.31 versus 2.91.

For those of us who read these kinds of studies all the time, these are huge differences. William Jeynes, the researcher, goes on to say,

"One cannot thoroughly understand Shakespeare, Dickens, Dostoevsky, or Tolstoy without a solid knowledge of the Bible. Furthermore, to comprehend the effect of the life saving miracle of George Washington, the abolition of slavery, the women's suffrage movement, and the civil rights movement, one needs a sufficient knowledge of biblical principles. Students that possess such knowledge will indubitably have an academic advantage."

A crucial literacy? I believe so. And that's why I'm writing about it now. It's National Bible Week (per the National Bible Association). I, for one, think it's worth speaking up and reminding all of us--including me--to pick up that Book daily, read it and know it well.

National Day of Listening

 "By listening closely to one another, we can help illuminate the true character of this nation reminding us all just how precious each day can be and how great it is to be alive." ~Dave Isay, Founder and president of StoryCorps

Today, November 26, is the National Day of Listening. The idea is to interview people you care about, and to record those interviews. You can put your name and the name of the person you interviewed on the "Wall of Listening." If you'd like to listen to some interesting interviews, this is a good place to visit. But the most important part of participating in the National Day of Listening will be what you have learned through interviewing someone.

My dad, Dutch navy

When I was younger I took some time one summer to record as many stories as my dad could remember from his childhood through young adulthood and even further. I recorded all the stories, which are now on CDs and also stored in digital format on our home computer. There were stories from his childhood in Holland, his teenage years there during the Nazi occupation, his adventures once he joined the Dutch navy after the war, his experiences in Australia, and his journey to the United States.

The best thing about recording interviews with someone you care about is that you learn more about them than you thought was there. Listening to someone else's experiences and thoughts gives you a window into their heart, and prevents you from objectifying or ignoring them. Thus listening always changes your view of yourself and of the world around you.

My dad is on the far left

I thought for a long time that I'd write up my dad's stories into a book. It hasn't happened yet, but that doesn't mean it won't. If and when the time is right, it will gel for me and I'll know what I need to do to get it done.

So I ask: Have you collected the interviews you should? Have you heard the stories that you need to hear from people you care about? Do you need to be listening to a particular person today, before they are no longer available?

I'd be interested to hear if you've done a "Listening Project," and who it was with and what you did with the results.

Eliminating Violence Against Women

Women visiting the Taj Mahal, March 2010

In 1994 the United Nations proclaimed November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It has galled me as I've grown older and become more wide-read, how much violence has been and continues to be perpetrated against women. I don't know if a day dedicated to the issue makes a difference or not, nor whether the declaration on the elimination of violence against women has been effective in accomplishing at least some change. I hope so.

I read the declaration in preparing to write this post, and was particularly impressed by (a) the forthrightness of the declaration, and (b) the readability of its language. If you're going to try to change the world, you've got to begin by making yourself clear.

In celebration of the day, then, I will paste bits and pieces of the declaration here, to remind us that it's worth making a statement together, as many nations, as to what is right and wrong and what must change among us. I am using my own photography to illustrate this post.

Masai women, Kenya 1999

"Affirming that violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and impairs or nullifies their enjoyment of those rights and freedoms, and concerned about the long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women,

"Recognizing that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men,

"Concerned that some groups of women, such as women belonging to minority groups, indigenous women, refugee women, migrant women, women living in rural or remote communities, destitute women, women in institutions or in detention, female children, women with disabilities, elderly women and women in situations of armed conflict, are especially vulnerable to violence...."

Chinese woman in Shanghai house church receives her first Bible, June 2010

"For the purposes of this Declaration, the term 'violence against women' means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

 Native American girls dance at their mother's graduation, Missoula 2003 (Photo by Husband)

Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following:

• Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation;

• Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;

• Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.

Polish girls, 1984

Women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. These rights include, inter alia:

• The right to life

• The right to equality

• The right to liberty and security of person

• The right to equal protection under the law

• The right to be free from all forms of discrimination

• The right to the highest standard attainable of physical and mental health

• The right to just and favourable conditions of work

• The right not to be subjected to torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Tour guide, Turku Castle, Finland 2007

As I consider the above statements and list of rights, it amazes me that we have to state these things. Should they not be considered "self-evident truths?" I consider the list of violent offenses against women: rape, trafficking, psychological abuse, female genital mutilation, battery... and it just makes me angry.

Why? Why is this world so full of senseless violence against those who are seen as weaker? What is it that makes human beings such bullies, such abusers of power? And how, dear Lord, HOW can we make some headway against it all?

Yes, I do think a declaration was in order, back there in 1994.  It continues to be in order today, not just at international levels, but in our communities, in our homes, in our churches and various other places of worship. The word "eliminating" is a strong and idealistic one. But it's precisely what we need to strive for. Today I celebrate International Elimination of Violence Against Women. I'm celebrating by making a donation to the EndItNow campaign to end violence against women and girls, and I'm choosing to give that to make a difference in my own birth country of Thailand.

How about you?

Women lighting joss sticks, Hong Kong temple, 2002

Your Unique Talent?

According to the holiday calendar, today is "Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day." Harrumph. I started immediately to work up my "Bah, Humbug" response. As I began considering the philosophy behind celebrating such a day, it initially seemed to me that no one on the face of the earth has a unique talent.

But then I considered it further, and Anne Geddes came to mind. She does indeed have a unique talent for imagining babies and children in unique settings, with concepts and colors that delight the eye and the mind. There are plenty of copycats now, but Geddes has always remained the best, the brightest, the signature creative expert at the concept that she developed. Like the art of Van Gogh or Rembrandt, you can spot her work at fifty paces.

A few creative geniuses out there through the centuries have displayed unique talent. We know that. Isn't it a bit of hubris to name a day, though, devoted to celebrating each person's unique talent? While I believe that every person in the world is unique, I don't believe that every person in the world has a unique talent. I play the piano and organ (and a couple other instruments), but so do many others. I have a talent for leadership, but so do many others. I have done a lot of writing, talented or otherwise, and so have many other who aspire to write deeply and well. Let's face it: I do not possess a unique talent. That is not a negative thing to admit. I'm being realistic. No one else that I know personally in the world has a unique talent, either.

What I find myself being thankful for is that I have talents, period. I believe that each person in this world has at least one talent, unique or otherwise. And a talent brings joy. It is not the number of talents that is important; it's the fact that we use them and grow them to bless others. And that, my valued readers, is what I intend to celebrate and be grateful for today.

So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ~Matthew 25:20-21 (NKJV)

Fibonacci

Today is Fibonacci Day. I'm excited about that, because some of the most beautiful things I know of in nature--my all-time favorite one being the design of the chambered nautilus shell--are based on the mathematical phenomenon of Fibonacci numbers.

Fibonacci numbers start with 0 and 1, and each following number is the sum of the two previous ones.  So the sequence of Fibonacci numbers goes like this: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and so on. If you graph that out on block paper, that looks like this:

Do you see the similarity in that growing spiral to the chambered nautilus design?

It's amazing to me to see all the places where this sequence of numbers shows up in the design of nature.  So, in celebration of Fibonacci Day, here are some lovely examples of natural Fibonacci numbers (and not every spiral is a Fibonacci spiral, for the record):

A rose...

A gathering hurricane ...

A fiddlehead fern ... 

Some galaxies...

And, surprisingly, a budgie!

Any more you can think of?

St. Cecilia

"St. Cecilia," by artist John William Waterhouse, 1895

Today I'm not choosing a world holiday to write about in this month-long project of mine. Instead, I'm going a different direction, since it's my project and my blog, and I can write about whatever I want to write about!

Today is the feast day of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, who lived and was martyred in the 3rd century. I have seen differing stories about why Cecilia was named the patron saint of musicians, but they seem to hold in common that she either heard or sang music at her wedding.  It's also clear that she made a confession of faith and was intended by nefarious folk to be killed by being closed up with a very hot steam bath, essentially steamed to death. She survived that, so the attempt was made to behead her. It didn't immediately work despite the sword dropping three times. She lived another three days with the mortal wound before succumbing.

I can understand why Cecilia loved music. Music has been hugely important to my family, and important in my own life. My growing up years were spent in music lessons and music ensembles, all the way through a music minor in college. I'm happy living life with music playing in the background, as it is while I write this. I intend to be involved with music one way or another as long as I can do so, and I love the image in Revelation of God's redeemed singing on the sea of glass someday. I can't wait!

When Husband and I got married, we chose the theme of thankfulness for our wedding. We had the congregation sing the hymn with us early in the service. Much of the organ music revolved around this theme as well, with three of the pieces being various arrangements of "Now Thank We All Our God."  St. Cecilia, I'm sure, would have loved it. Here, for your enjoyment, is the Karg-Elert version, played by Diane Bish.  It was our recessional music.

Hello Walk

Photo by me

At the university where I work, we have a section of sidewalk in front of the fine arts center called the "Hello Walk."  There are plaques set into the sidewalk to remind people that this is a section to be friendly, to say "Hello" to those who pass by. I'm always intrigued, walking that stretch of sidewalk, to see who actually says hello, and who avoids eye contact. I realize cognitively that I look to the students like a rather rotund middle-aged woman, despite the fact that the eyes looking out at them haven't yet emotionally adjusted to the reality that I no longer look like a young adult. So I'm always glad when someone gives me a bit of eye contact, a "Hello" and a smile.

Today is "World Hello Day."  The idea today is for you to celebrate by greeting ten people. According to the website, "this demonstrates the importance of interpersonal communication for preserving peace." It won't bring peace on earth if you greet ten people today, but as one who has experienced the effects of our "Hello Walk," I can tell you that it will lift your spirits, and the spirits of those you greet. So...

Hello!

On Children's Day

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.’

There's been plenty of speculation by readers of these verses about how we are to "become like children." It recently occurred to me that the main thing about children is that they’re willing to believe. Everything is new to them. Every day is a discovery, and life is all about fun and learning. It’s not a stupid naiveté, it’s an openness, a willingness to live life wholly and whole-heartedly. Hurts are hurts, but they are also easily let go.

Kids typically don’t hold grudges. The children who have lived and learned in my classrooms over the years try and try again to establish relationships. They’re more resilient, I think, than adults. They are willing to believe that some time, someone will be their friend. Some time, someone who has treated them badly will change and treat them well. Some time, they will be accepted and liked. Children are willing to believe. Oddly, they're willing also to believe that they can treat another child badly and still be liked and accepted.

There's not a lot of logic to belief.

When children do pick up "baggage," in my opinion much of that baggage is created by the way the adults around them react, not necessarily by how children process the events for themselves. I've watched kids fall down and bump themselves, then look up at the adults to see how they should react. If we laugh, they laugh. If we show alarm, they cry. If a parent gets upset at someone else because of their child's story, the child sees that this is a situation in which it is appropriate to get upset. They believe in reacting in the ways their parents react.

Interestingly, I think that there are also some adults who, although grown up, react based on how others around them are reacting. Like children, they get upset if others seem upset. Like children, they hold grudges if someone else indicates that holding grudges is the way to deal with a given circumstance. Like children, if they see someone else dealing calmly and nonreactively to a situation, they are also more likely to calm down.

People are funny like that.

I wonder if Jesus was thinking of these qualities in children when he suggested that one must become humble like a child to enter the kingdom? Was He thinking wistfully of those who easily believe? Was He wishing that in looking His direction when hurt or puzzled, we would take on His cues as to how to react?

These are my thoughts on Children's Day.  It's a good day to consider childlikeness as a highly valued quality in the kingdom of God.

An Ode to... Toilets

Well.  What do you know? There's a World Toilet Day sponsored by the World Toilet Association, and it's today, November 19.  This post, then, is written in high humor to celebrate.

One of the first toilets I used in my life would have been the "squat pot" in Thailand. A squat pot can be a very hygienic way to go to the bathroom, because you don't sit on anything. It also maximizes the force of gravity on your digestive system, something that at least Asians have known for a long time to be very useful. I leave the mechanics of that to your intuition.

The one drawback of a squat pot is that some people don't know how to diversify their toilet skills. I learned the dangers of this as a young child. My amahs had taught me to squat, Thai style, and I transferred that skill to a western-style toilet. The problem was, my parents one time heard a wail and ran into the bathroom to find that I (at a younger age than that pictured) had slipped and fallen in. I will be merciful to myself and not post a photo, although I assure you they took one, once they quit laughing so hard that the camera shook.

Apparently others have had trouble making the transition as well.  Someone eventually gave up trying to train people, and designed a toilet that could work both ways--squatting or sitting.  I think it looks dangerous. It can be ordered with a traditional toilet seat that flips down when you don't wish to squat.

Apparently training is generally needed in places where people are unsure, and for that, those crafty Japanese people have added signs that tell the story no matter what language you read:

Don't EVEN ask me to explain some of those.

Speaking of the Japanese, Husband and I spent our first Christmas, after getting married, in Japan, having taken his younger two offspring with us to visit the oldest one, who was teaching English there for a year. One of our fascinations in Japan was with the toilets, which really ought to be exported more widely. The one in Older Daughter's house had controls for heating the toilet seat, washing your bum, drying your bum, playing a tune (if I remember correctly), and a few other fancies.  In addition, the top of the tank at the back was actually a little sink so that you could wash your hands right there when you were done.  How convenient.

Here's another look at how fancy the Japanese can get. It really is a wondrous thing.

Let me continue this ode--or was that a comm-ode?--with a few examples of international design, some of which might be--ahem--over the top.  Here's a nice stylish Indian toilet, fit for a rajah:

And here's a nice one with art that looks particularly like imported flowerpots from central America:

Pretty busy-looking, eh?

If you really want "busy"...and expensive, you might consider this one:

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but I really, really don't think I could accomplish a thing on this $75,000 masterpiece. All I would be able to do is stand there, look at it, and ask, "WHY????"

Another "why?" design would be this gold-plated version found in Moscow, reputed to cost 250,000 euros.

I find myself speechless, except that two phrases cross my mind: "Russian mafia" and "starving children."  I leave the rest with you.

To wrap it up, I observe that there are few places we go to frequently, all of us, in any given 24-hour period. Toilets are one of those must-goes, for all but the most back-to-nature ones of us. Seems to me they're worth and ode or two.

And if you got that pun without reading further, we might want to investigate if you're a long-lost relative on Husband's side of the family. Just sayin'!

And that, folks, is my ode to toilets for World Toilet Day. Enjoy.

Use Less Stuff

The Thursday before Thanksgiving has been named as "Use Less Stuff Day." According to the information I've found, the purpose of this day is to raise awareness and to counteract Americans' penchant for producing 25% more garbage between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, than they do the rest of the year. That's 25 million extra tons of garbage! Not good.

If you want to know some tips for counteracting that obscene production of waste, you can find some here. What kinds of tips? For example, go electronic with your holiday greetings, turn down the thermostat, give gift certificates and second-hand gifts, and don't wrap anything. The idea is to live "greener" than you normally would.

While I think it's a worthy cause to draw attention to using less stuff during the holidays, I would like to make a pitch for using less stuff year-round, not because of worrying over landfills or any similar green impulses. We all simply have too much stuff. Well, almost all. I do have a friend or two who actually live sanely in this regard.

Sometimes I look around my house, which I consider to be cluttered (to be honest, many people wouldn't agree), and think, "What percent of this stuff do I really need to live a good life?" The answer: very little. I don't need all the souvenirs, all the books I've collected, the crafty stuff in storage, nor the extra appliances like the grilled sandwich maker. I don't need all the clothes or shoes I have (one outfit per day should suffice), nor all the little bars of hotel soap, nor all the linens, nor every dish I own. Our garage doesn't need to collect my old buckets or vases or boots. And on it goes. TOO MUCH STUFF!!!

The truth is, when the idea of moving to a new domicile wears you out just thinking of it, you have acquired too much stuff.  (Either that, or you've moved too often.) I have always been proud of being able to pick up and move without much packing up. Now for the first time, living in this house for nine years, I can no longer brag on my mobility.  Not only do I need to "use less stuff," I need to keep less stuff.

So maybe I'll let that be my goal for the holiday season. I will harbor less stuff in my house by the time the holiday season is over.

I'm sure that Husband is quaking in his boots, reading this.

Or would those boots be on the shelf in the garage?  Well, there you go.

Bread, Homemade and Warm

It was the first day of school this fall, and as I walked up the steps to the sidewalk leading to the administration building, I spotted this basket. In it were freshly-made little whole wheat bread loaves. The sign, in case you can't read it, says, "There's no better way to start your morning off right than by enjoying a FREE healthy snack brought to you by your very own Collegiate Advocates for Better Living."

It looked mighty good, but I didn't help myself. I left it for the students, as I suspected it was meant for them.

I remember my mother making bread all through my childhood, teenage and young adult years. It was good whole wheat bread kneaded in a couple of sessions between risings in the well-used bread pans under a light linen kitchen towel. Mama tried to teach me to make bread, and I did it two or three times under her watchful tutelage. But the habit never really set in, especially after a flopped effort or two once I was living on my own. Mama now buys her bread, as the stores carry healthier versions than they used to, but my aunt still makes bread at home, and oh my, it's delicious!

Today is Homemade Bread Day. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water. Why don't I take the time to mix the ingredients, to pound and knead the dough, to wait through the time it takes to get my nice, hot fresh bread from the oven, and to savor it fresh and warm with butter melting on it? I can see why "bread of life" was used to convey an important concept in the New Testament. There really is not much that is better for the nourishment of body and soul than fresh, hot bread.

So I think I'll ponder another swing through the bread-making territory. If not today, sometime soon!