11/14
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| yes there is.... |
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| and we voted... |
Going to the framer’s market, it’s hard to believe it was just a week ago the announcement can that Biden was declared president. A weekly visit here one more marker I’ve created to give structure to the week. And something about food right from the farms that is comforting.
I spend the afternoon trying to learn new songs for the (now_) open mic at Bar 9. The summer show case is over. Much as I dislike it, I’m taking the directive tofocus on upbeat covers seriously. And actually enjoying it. Learning a Rubber Soul era Beatles song and discovering many of these songs are more complex than meets the eye.
In the gathering darkness, I meet my friend Beppe with craft spirits from the farmers’ market. It’s getting colder. We’re beginning to wonder how we are going handle these outdoor meetings now that the virus is spiking again. Beppe and I share the same feeling. That March feels like yesterday and last week a year ago. He too had been pulled out into the streets by the surging wave of joyous people as the news spread. We know we are close to it being over. But thousands of Trump supporters rallied in DC today. Including Qanons and Proud Boys and who knows who else. And I realize although it’s not objectively true, in Trunpland’s alternate universe it's Black Lives Matter and Antifa striking fear in the hearts of the faithful. And we continue to be anxious about what happens next.
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| We the Whole People |
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| Time Square vendor |
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| Times Square |
I join my classical music friends for a concert in a rehearsal studio, safely distanced of course. A concert with the timely theme of We the Whole People. (Inspired by a quote from Susan B Anthony: It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. )And only 10 live audience members. To get the subway home, I walk through Times Square, again amazed at how full of life it is…without tourists …apart from the ‘B&T (bridge and tunnel) visitors from the outer boros and Jersey. City people have made this their own playground. Young women striking sexy poses for their boyfriends with the Times Square lights behind them.
11/15
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| in my neighborhood |
My Sunday morning routine…when I wake early enough…is a Sunday Times and coffee and a pastry at the Venezuelan Monkey Cup cafe. Early morning.
My friend Run leads West Park’s virtual service. Moved that he uses my song”Listen” from my new release. (
He takes the story of the talents and servant in a different direction than we went last Monday in Bible Study. His focus is more on the side of risks we need to take for the sake of the kingdom. And not hiding what you’ve got. It’a small but good group.
My son in Berlin is frustrated by the German spike and its impact on his students. They had worked for weeks preparing for a concert performance. Families would be allowed to come. But that was canceled and only live streaming allowed. He wonders at the logic of it. These students are much less likely to get sick. Why are commercial stores allowed to remain open? And school events canceled? What is essential about headphones or North Face jackets or lamps? Choices. Not always data driven.
At Stony Point, New York, a tea is being held to honor Rick and Kitty Ufford-Chase, co-directors. As I watch on ZOOM, I can feel the coolness of the air 40 miles up the Hudson from the city.. That deep fall feel under overcast skies. I can almost taste it as I watch it, having been there. Eleven yeast of creative, groundbreaking ministry brought to a halt by Covid 19. (And a limited institutional creativity…as I’ve said vision and institution are incompatible realties…) The air is heavy with sadness. And yes, for sure, thanksgiving. And even hope. But what we have loved is gone. As the camera zooms around the circle, I catch sights of places that have meant so much to me. Locked down. I count the groups I’ve been here with:
the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing
The Interfaith Center of New York City Marshall Meyer social justice retreats
the International Sanctuary Declaration project took shape and form here
My own congregation, West Park
The Presbyterian Church USA Central American Task Force initial meeting
Presbyteiran Health Eucation and Welfare Association
That all May Freely Serve’s gathering of 4 decades of friends engaged in the struggle for full inclusion of lgbtq people in the church, to make sure the history was preserved
My friend Zeljko bringing his film about the Serbian Colonel who shot down an American stealth fighter pilot…and both pilots …to speak to a national women’s group..
Second meeting
I mean I wrote my doctoral dissertation here….many of the meetings were to reimagine and envision a ministry, often with Rick’s help…Rick and Kitty are of course gracious…but as the testimonies die down, the pain cuts really deep. Much grief here.
I try my new song out at Bar 9. The whole night goes fast because they’ve now declared bars must close by 10. I mean we’re done playing by 8:30. As I play, I keep thinking about watching the Linda Ronstadt movie last night. Realizing her value as perhaps the greatest interpreter of American music of all kinds. And ho when you do it well, the song becomes yours.
As we finish, the wind picks up, the rain comes down in torrents. My friend texts me: tornado warning! We meet at the Gate anyways as it all dies down. The more we talk about it, the more the 10’oclock rule appears to be a cosmetic compromise gesture with no scientific data informing it. Bars and churches, struggling to hold on.
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