The Virtual Teahouse

putting on the mantle of our mutual longings

Beth Patterson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:10:00 GMT

Not hammer strokes, but dance of the water, sings the pebbles into perfection. --Rabindranath Tagore Today I voiced croaked, if you will, for the first time that I want to step out of the role of supporting cast and take on the role of teacher. I have done this informally. I have done this for years. I have done this for good and poor reasons. My friends have been encouraging me for a long long time. I've been ignoring them with flourish. And yet, with spring playing hide and seek, here's the new...(read more)

It's one mega-umbrella out there.

Kathryn Ruth — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:16:00 GMT

So here I sit with association. And reflection. I am proud to be American. And I am embarrassed to be American. I am proud to be Christian. And I am embarrassed to be Christian. I am proud to be human. And I am embarrassed to be human. I have ideas about the sorts of associations that I want and seek; and a disjunct with the associations that I actually have. The oxymoron of “Christian hate mail” brought this to mind. Someone was talking about having received “Christian hate mail.” And I knew exactly....(read more)

Mush-brain and mindfulness

tania — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:43:46 GMT

Okay….so for as much as I hate to admit it, most of the time, I’m just going through the motions of life on auto-pilot. Yet, what I discover when I remember to pay attention to what I'm doing is grace. Intellectually, at least, I get that when I don't pay attention, I miss the fullness of the experience, the taste of the wine, the tenderness of the touch, the honesty of the words, the tickle of the tooth brush, the tingle of my palm as I pet the pooch. This bringing of the mind to what you're...(read more)

Lenten reflection 5: I’m probably way off base

Beth Patterson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:27:00 GMT

A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That are Transforming the Faith by Brian McLaren A Christian synchroblog that I have written with sometimes in the last few years has sort of gone extinct. Every now and again a theme for a synchronized blog raises its head from the mire of the busy bloggers’ lives. When Steve Hayes suggested that we all write about the 10 questions from Brian McLaren’s new book, at first I harumphed, knowing that McLaren is not my flavor of Christian, but he is admired by...(read more)

Infinite Space

DancesWL — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:57:00 GMT

In that infinite space, The space of one flutter of a hummingbird wing; In that infinite space That defines the difference between one drop of water and another as they join to form a waterfall; In that infinite space Of time from the fire in my brain To the pronouncement from my lips, I find no hesitation To speak the Truth And say “I love You”. Written in response to the prompt “hesitation” from the poetry blog “ One Single Impression ”, thanks to Nathalie for this week’s prompt. Technorati Tags:...(read more)

no worries, it’s just my hesitatin' heart

Beth Patterson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:19:00 GMT

If the car stutters just a fragment immediately I go into diagnostic mode: how long has it been since the oil was changed? how’s about that timing belt? wonder what’s in the gas line? wonder what I should do for better carburetion? And then my heart does the same thing and I brush it off with it’s just a murmur. it’s just that I forgot to take my hormones for a week or two. it’s just that I drink too much caffeine. it’s just that I’m not getting enough rest. Something that’s supposed to purr along...(read more)

Lost and found

DancesWL — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:03:34 GMT

March 4, 2010 A dear friend’s husband died today. I was so honored that she called to tell me herself, since I’ve moved away and was not close to comfort her. In the midst of her grief and sadness she reached out and allowed me to be a part of this holy process upon which she unwillingly embarks. We are such unlikely friends, yet steadfast in our respect and love for one another. It’s been 25 years now that this seed has been growing and flowering. She, a buttoned up Southern, conservative Catholic...(read more)

Guest post by David Santangelo: We are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For

Beth Patterson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:08:00 GMT

I recently met a new friend, who is a friend of several ‘old’ friends (most of them in the 20’s and 30’s!). David has the gravitas of an elder, even though he is young in years. I am sitting with his new book, ‘The Way Home’, soon to be released, and marveling at the message and the messenger. More about David and his journey later, as he will soon be a blogger for the Virtual Tea House. For now, here’s an intro to the message and hence, the book. NOTE: The title of the book caught my breath, as...(read more)

in spite of myself i smile too

Kathryn Ruth — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:57:00 GMT

you offer me stars you offer me houses you offer me flowers you offer me space you offer me wounds you offer me friendships you offer me trials you offer me scones and tea you offer me lightbulbs you offer me kisses you offer me godmothers you offer me cleverness you offer me words dancing on a page you offer me breeze you offer me difficult people you offer me french fries you offer me beaches you watch that i share, but i sulk you watch that i look up, but i stay distracted you watch that i thank...(read more)

Through the looking glass of the Four Worlds: A Kabbalistic response to Beth's dream

krayna — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:20:00 GMT

Hello my dear....here are some thoughts your dream of falling through stained glass ceilings inspired, and it is connected to dreaming in the Four Worlds, from a Kabbalistic Perspective. You fall thorough each successive layer of glass....shattering but not breaking. There is also the Lurianic (early Kabbalist) idea of creation...which I'll need to forward later...but it may speak to you as well. Hope you find this helpful! It is a fabulous dream! Perhaps you are flying? Love, k Dreaming in the Four...(read more)

Adventures of a “not-so” reluctant pie-baker. Take 3.

tania — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:56:20 GMT

All my life, I thought you had to be a member of some-sort of secret society in order to make delicious pies. It just looked so mysterious to me. I mean, really, how on Earth can someone take ingredients as unappealing as vinegar, shortening and flour and make something as delicious as pie crust? I just knew pie-bakers were either alchemists or magicians. Since I took myself as neither, I settled for making pies made out of Marie Calendar frozen crusts and Eagle Brand Milk....(read more)

Lenten reflection 4: Four Words

Beth Patterson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:21:00 GMT

The God Who Only knows Four Words Every child has known God. Not the God of names. Not the God of don’ts. Not the God who ever does anything weird. But the God who only knows four words And keeps repeating them, saying: “Come dance with me.” Come dance. --Hafiz This is my quiet reflection today. How could I miss a beat, a step, a nuance, a glance when I say that what I really want is to fall into the heart of God ? Do I really want to tango? My self-consciousness and fear of exposure for being on...(read more)

Poem of the Month: March 2010 'Diagnosis'

krayna — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:47:00 GMT

Poem of the Month ~ March 2010 If you had (or have) qualities that others could not appreciate, and said qualities, upon being tested, nevertheless grew like untamable wildflowers and weeds, then this poem’s for you! Have a very merry month! --Krayna Diagnosis By the time I was six months old, she knew something was wrong with me. I got looks on my face she had not seen on any child in the family, or the extended family, or the neighborhood. My mother took me in to the pediatrician with the kind...(read more)

falling through ceilings

Beth Patterson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:22:00 GMT

Working with dreams is a little like creating a stained glass window blindfolded. While in Mexico recently I had dream of which I remember only a fragment. In the dream I am falling through layers of glass ceilings. In each of the four layers there are circles of stained glass, and I am falling face down in the middle of each of them, spread eagle like Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man . The first window that I fall through was similar to the Vitruvian Man and that I was matching his wide open stance. As...(read more)

the big slide

Beth Patterson — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:21:00 GMT

what if instead of running we slid gracefully …out of time …out of space …out of patience? Sliding gracefully out of patience. Doesn’t that have a different tonal quality than ‘running out of patience’? 1910 Guy Zinn, New York AL, sliding back into first base against Boston at Hilltop Park, New York City. From the Flickr collection of the Library of Congress. No copyright restrictions known. Submission for One Single Impression’s prompt for the week: running. Thanks to that quirky Jim's Little Photo...(read more)

Running

DancesWL — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:03:00 GMT

If you are lucky, There comes a time when you tire Of the relentless Pursuit of future Moments and choose to be here In this instant, now. This post is in response to One Single Impression’s prompt “running” thanks to Jim's Little Photo & Poem Blog for this week’s prompt....(read more)

Lenten reflection 3: Hell is breaking out in the kingdom of God

Beth Patterson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:54:00 GMT

“The kingdom of God is like a feast where everyone is welcomed with a jubilant divine indiscriminacy, like the prodigal son whose return brings tears to his father’s eyes or the lost sheep that counts more than the ninety-nine that never strayed. “The kingdom of God is like a great party that is thrown for everyone, where even slightly seedy characters who were never invited are compelled to come in and have a drink. “The kingdom of God is opened up by the event of hospitality the way the day is...(read more)

tree love: out of the closet

Beth Patterson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:27:00 GMT

This is a submission for the 45th Festival of the Trees hosted this edition at the very cool The Voltage Gate . Here’s also the link to the Festival of the Trees homepage. I have a few trees in my slightly larger than a breadbox yard here in Bend, Oregon. Two large blue spruce, a crabapple and a dying mountain ash in my front yard. A large weeping birch, also slowly losing the battle to bronze borer beetle in the backyard, along with a couple of plum trees and an encroaching thicket of aspens. AND,...(read more)

I want to write about….

tania — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:51:46 GMT

I want to write about grace: about the invisible hand of Spirit giving a reprieve from suffering; about two nights of honest rest without struggle or pills; of feeling stable for the first time in months of exhales that don’t quite get it all out. I want to write about decadence: about quiet fires with rich red wine and cloudy mornings with hot coffee delivered by a kind, loving, devoted man; of two happy and content pets asleep at my feet as I sweetly and patiently allow the day to come...(read more)

You can never read the same thing twice.

Kathryn Ruth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:43:00 GMT

At church, where on the mornings I relinquish Sunday sleep and make it to early morning choir rehearsal - I spend the service, then, sitting up in the choir loft (so churchy; itchy white robes and all); and there's a great view of the entire sanctuary. Our church (Lutheran, for those who care) heavily involves children of different ages in roles within the liturgy - and the youngest group, those just entering the system, are the 6-7 year olds. They are the "bell ringers". The main job here is to,...(read more)

Lenten reflection 2: Having it my way

Beth Patterson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:32:00 GMT

Ok. So there’s all these words and characters (some noble, some not so much) in the Bible, but for those of us born as buttoned-down Christians, or even as cultural ones, the primary relationship is with Jesus. So I’m going out on a limb here in this post. You don’t have to follow. Maybe you shouldn’t even stand close this week, as inexplicable things may happen to me. If they do, you know who to blame. Don’t you? Duck and dodge. That’s how I’ve related to Jesus. He’s my teacher and I’m afraid of...(read more)

somnambudance

Beth Patterson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:37:00 GMT

somnambudance: a condition of sleep-dancing with such grace, creativity and precision that one appears to be awake; condition may in rare cases imitate insomina. Making up words to describe what I dreamed after watching ‘This is It’, realizing that the profound creativity Michael Jackson manifested was with almost no natural sleep—at least in his adult life. I dreamt that Michael was a rare bird from some exotic jungle not of this world Looking for his mate. Unable to find her/him even though Michael's...(read more)

Exiting the Desert

DancesWL — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:36:37 GMT

Rumi said “break the legs of what I want to happen” And so it is that I find my path to the Source Made more fortunate, Actually enlivened By the losses, And inspired By the despair. Because as a desert traveler, my first glance of the oasis and My parched throat make me crawl in a much straighter line Than she whose lips are wet. This post written in response to Abbey of the Arts Invitation to Poetry: Entering the Desert’s Fire , thank you to Christine for the invitation....(read more)

God in 100 words or less

Beth Patterson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:18:00 GMT

Someone wise said something like: ‘I wouldn’t walk across the street to talk to a God I could understand.’ Not this. Not that. The process of elimination the via negativa these are the most meaningful personal pilgrimages to God. Meanwhile The apricot sapling springs joyfully from the compost pile. And my heart leaps in love. So there you have it. God in and of the compost. Who knew? Written as a response to Christine Valters Paintner’s ‘God in 100 Words or Less’ blog theme for Patheos. I invite...(read more)

Lenten reflection 1: Ashes on my third eye

Beth Patterson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:10:00 GMT

click on picture to visit the story ‘With Mardi Gras over, Lent Begins’ Last night as I lowered my eyes ashes on my forehead marking the spot where heaven meets earth the crucible of the thing heart breaking open teshuvah returning to an earlier state sorrowfulness for having left Eden and gone naked into my life even if for just a moment turning my face away from the Shekinah. Today I put my whole life force into motion all my attention, singularly focused to turn my face my being back towards the...(read more)