Stuff I’m Thankful for

Being able to fly home for Thanksgiving, my dad’s artichoke stuffing, My dad and the hugs he gives, Harry Potter, Father Vincent, Amy, Megan, Brittany, Tatiana and Mark, my Sunday at Forefront, that I get to see my brother and Lulu and how happy she makes him, Joel Burns, for the ability to spy via facebook, John Dehlin and Mormon Stories Podcast for giving me an online religious community, pie,  doubt, warm blankets, the history of Texas, that my mom bought me Going Rogue, that I’m lucky enough to have my mom for a mother, for outrageously uncomfortable shoes and crocs, Carol Lynn Pearson and all her books that make me cry and think, my nephew and his laugh, Caleb and how much he inspires me, Joanna Brooks for writing about this instillation, Jesus, George Carlin and the fact I get to write about him for a grade, Netflix, Marek Bozek, Jennifer Sleeman, my dear sister (I just love her!) my laptop and my new power adaptor, praying in the closet (literally), photographs, San Antonio, being ahead of schedule, the fact someone out there thinks I’m “thoughtful and fair-minded” with the “makings of a great teacher,” New York City, tall glasses of milk, making people smile,

those people who say thank you when you hold open a door for them, potato skins, swiffers, dishes I don’t have to wash, people who see abundant events and believe they’re real, my bobble head Jesus, The Rally to Restore Sanity, my brother-in-law for becoming just a brother, Rev. James Martin and everything he writes, my iPod touch, the fact that I’m a daughter of a Heavenly Father, waking up with enough time to make breakfast, movie theatres and the sounds right before the lights are dimmed, opening the door of my apartment after a long day, Henry Clay, Trader Joes, 1 Corinthians 12, the fact I have a Heavenly Mother named Mary, Reasoning with Vampires, ranch dressing and my brother’s explanation of it, The Eucharist,  The Chrysler Building, Killing the Buddha, The Trevor Project, Minnie Mouse, crocheting, heavy books that make me think,

having parents that make me believe I’m just great, The Rosary, tamales, Led Zeppelin, watches, The Power of One, sign language, good grades I worked hard for, good grades that just happened, Nuns Having Fun, that in one year I’ll be a student teacher, clean bathrooms, the phrases “my heart is so full” and “pleased as punch,” , Why do Catholic’s Do That?, Emma Hale Smith, the study lounge at Waverly, Silver Spurs, servicemen and women, that I don’t have to work at HEB for Thanksgiving, Rite Aid and their cheap milk, blogs, thinking before acting and…

the knowledge and hope that there are still a lot of compassionate people out there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Glee, Jesus and talking religion

I have to admit last night I was worried when Cory Monteith, of the hit FOX show Glee, announced he saw the face of God on his grilled cheese sandwich. Not to worry, I have a sense of humor but I had spent the previous six hours of my day crafting an essay on millennialism and evangelicalism and history and education…blah, blah, blah. By the time I tuned into Glee all I wanted was a good time.

I got even more worried when Monteith said,

“…in return Chessy Lord, I promise we’ll honor you this week in glee club.”

The glee club’s assignment was to sing about spirituality. I wanted the episode to be beautiful. I think it might have fallen short. I guess I can’t expect too much from a bunch of high school kids when it comes to religious discourse.

Just once I’d like to see a thoughtful discussion about the Divine.

Actually I’d like to see a thoughtful discussion about religion in real life that doesn’t involve me at Starbucks with a close friend. Though, those chats are amazing and fulfilling I want them to happen with more people and more often. I’m actually due for another one of these chats they feed the soul. Remember what my favorite writer said, “supplement, supplement, supplement.”

Anyway, I understand Chris Colfer’s disbelief. I even sympathize with it. I just think the entire premise of praying to a grilled cheese is absurd. Yes, I know it’s suppose to be funny, and it is until you look at how Glee is mocking prayer.

I know it’s funny.

I even laughed throughout the program but I somewhat naively want religious discourse to have an ounce of respect. That my belief is just as valid as the next person’s disbelief. Sure, Kurt gains appreciation for his friend’s spirituality I just wish they had gone about it differently.

I guess I should concede that the overall message was beautiful: empathy for those in pain, faith in something, anything bigger than yourself. I especially liked the sentiment of Kurt’s friends taking turns singing and praying, because they are from “different denominations and religions so one of [them] is bound to be right.” Too bad they didn’t show them taking turns.

Highlights:

Chris Colfer’s rendition of “I want to hold your hand”

And how could I forget Mark Salling’s prelude to belting out Billy Joel’s “Only the Good Die Young”: “I’ve got no problem with the guy. I’m a total Jew for Jesus…What I don’t like seeing is people using J-Money to cramp everybody else’s style. Because it seems to me that true spirituality, or whatever you want to call it, is about enjoying the life you’ve been given.”

You’re right Mark Salling (well, the writer’s who craft your dialogue are). People shouldn’t use Jesus to “cramp everybody else’s style.”