Friday's here again... 7 quick takes

1

I'm thinking about renaming my blog "7 Quick takes Friday" because that's about all the blogging I seem to be doing these days. But Jennifer might object, and she's gone to all the trouble to put together this nifty logo.

2

The big news (locally) this week is that my father-in-law made it through his surgery with flying colors. He was home the next morning and is resting comfortably at home. He seems to have better color and alertness -- something to do with getting enough circulation to the brain, no doubt. Thanks to those who prayed.

3

It's raining, finally. Hubby worked like a dog last weekend putting in grass seed in the backyard (leaving some edges for the vegetable garden), so at least I don't have to worry about keeping the precious little seeds wet. Hope they don't wash away. They weren't kidding about "when it rains, man it pours" in the old song. (There I go dating myself again...)

4

L.L. contends that Writing a Poem isn't Rocket Science. Maybe not. There are poetry people and there are prose people (I suppose fiction/non-fiction folks, too). Somehow poetry intimidates me. All those memories of high school English, the teacher digging obscure references out of words that sat opaquely on the page in front of me. But maybe I'll gather up my courage and try a haiku.

5

Speaking of intimidation, my first piano teacher had a theory that learning music was easier if you sang the notes you were trying to play. I understood that the spot on the page corresponded to a key on the piano, but to go from there to "do" -- a vibration coming out of my mouth and landing on the correct pitch, not so much. I can carry a tune if I'm standing right next to someone who's singing the same part (hubby has to sing some version of harmony no matter what, and consistently mixes me up!). All of this came to mind trying to follow the closing hymn with my new Episcopal friends on Sunday -- once a month, the organist comes in early and plays a hymn for the early service.

6

I heard the swearing in and Obama's speech on the way to the hospital waiting room Tuesday, then watched the TV coverage after the kids had gone to bed. I found myself wondering about what makes a leader. How does someone like Obama find themselves in possession of such a driving vision of what the country needs and how it must proceed to face the challenges ahead. For my money, he hit the right notes of hope and confidence measured with realism about the problems we face. So much of Obama's gift for leadership takes the form of oratory that comparisons with FDR or Lincoln seem inevitable, but it seems that is what we need these days -- words that will breathe courage into us as a nation.

It makes me wonder about leadership in the church. In the post-modern, emergent conversation, this kind of "man with a vision" leadership is roundly rejected (and yes, the leader in question is nearly always a man). There is talk of preaching, not as the pragmatic how-to teaching that is typical in most evangelical churches, but as proclamation meant to fire our imaginations with the possibilities of the kingdom. The trick, it seems to me, is to be able to articulate the biblical vision without putting oneself in the position of the one who makes it happen -- to share the vision and let it form a community that can put flesh on it.

7

I've been following the conversation around the new administration's choices for key players in Agriculture and related departments. The buzz from the sustainable food community is definitely mixed, with general disappointment at the appointment of friends of big Ag companies (Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak is cozy with Monsanto, for instance). The surprising news is that Laura Bush insisted on having organic, local food served at the White House -- all while her husband's policies were stacking the deck against those sustainable, organic growers putting the food on their table! Let's hope the Obamas can show a bit more teamwork!