Of Gods and Men

One of the most beautiful films I saw last year was the film Of Gods and Men by Xavier Beauvios, which recounts the story of a small group of Cistercian monks in a small Algerian town facing religious intolerance. The small group of men is faced with the dilemma of leaving the community or staying, possibly confronting death by extremists. It is a very human drama; many of the monks declare openly that they did not sign up for suicide. They ultimately decide that it is morally imperative that they stay. They have a communal meal which mirrors the Last Supper and the impending death they face. One night, forces break into the monastery and take the monks across a snowy trek. They are found beheaded. One of the most beautiful quotes by Christophe, the leader of the monks, states his Christian solidarity with the people: his complicity in the evil that may befall them and the Good that embraces them all, even those who may kill them. I wish I can be such a Christian.

Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to his country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion. I've lived enough to know, I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over the world and the evil that will smite me blindly. I could never desire such a death. I could never feel gladdened that these people I love be accused randomly of my murder. I know the contempt felt for the people here, indiscriminately. And I know how Islam is distorted by a certain Islamism. This country, and Islam, for me are something different. They're a body and a soul. My death, of course, will quickly vindicate those who call me naïve or idealistic, but they must know that I will be freed of a burning curiosity and, God willing, will immerse my gaze in the Father's and contemplate with him his children of Islam as he sees them. This thank you which encompasses my entire life includes you, of course, friends of yesterday and today, and you too, friend of last minute, who knew not what you were doing. Yes, to you as well I address this thank you and this farewell which you envisaged. May we meet again, happy thieves in Paradise, if it pleases God the Father of us both. Amen. Insha'Allah

--Brother Christophe, Cisterian Monk

Happy Bday Harini

LINES ballet

A few years ago I was introduced to Alonzo King’s LINES ballet. I am not a ballet fan but when I saw the bodies in motion I was blown away.

Yesterday I attended his Migration and Scheherazade pieces, marvelous works of human form in motion. The Migration had couples who were in congress and in conflict, drawn to and repelled from, tethered and in tension. In one piece, two dancers were actually tied to a piece of rope as they danced. Toward the end of the piece, two dancers did a pas de deux—to gorgeous elegiac music. King calls his works “thought structures,” because they are created by manipulating energies in matter, through the laws that govern the shapes and movements. The shapes and movements, twisted and contorted and graceful, the dancers make are simply beautiful simply because they are human and inspiring. Watching them makes you feel happy to be alive.

Annadel State Park

 Since Jack London State Park was closed in Glen Ellen, I took a hike in Annadel State Park. It was a beautiful isolated park; I met four individuals the entire day. Unfortunately with the State budget crisis, parks like this are in danger of closing.

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

One cannot life the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what was great in the morning will be of little importance in the evening, and what in the morning was true will in the evening become a lie.  –Carl Jung.

Fr. Rohr’s states that there are two parts of life. The first part of life is to define yourself, your ego. In this part you build your strength, claim your successes, delineate your boundaries of what is right and wrong, identify with your tribe and who your tribe is not. It is a dualistic stage of right and wrong, black and white, belonging and not belonging. You create your container, as it were.

The second part of life is holding what your container was made for. It entails breaking down what you built up in the first part of life, for you now contain what is right and wrong, what is black and white, the in-group and the out-group. It is not either-or, it is both-and thinking, the Tredwayean way of looking at life. This comes about through Grace, Mystery, God, Sin, Shadow, or “necessary suffering.” This part of life is not a logical syllogism, but holds the tragic sense of life, which can only be understood with faith, not reason. It creates people who are patient, compassionate, and loving because they have come to be patient, compassionate and loving to themselves that they can respond accordingly. St. Ignatius of Loyola, would say that both parts of life are opportunities to see God in all things, who works all things for good. While one might disagree with parts of it, Rohr says if the book is not helpful, discard it, but it is worth reading and considering.

Learn and obey the rules very well, do you will know how to break them properly. 

–the Dalai Lama