Chris Seay is a Native Houstonian, Founder of Ecclesia Houston, Pastor, Teacher, Progressive Thinker, and Storyteller. Author of The Gospel According to Tony Soprano (Penguin Putnam), The Tao of Enron, The Gospel According to LOST, The Gospel According to Jesus and Six other books.
As President of Ecclesia Bible Society Chris is leading a team of literary artist to collaborate with language scholars in a groundbreaking translation of the Christian Scriptures. Chris loves his family, the Astros, and Mexican Food.
I keep my photos in a box
Several boxes stacked in the stairwell (that runs down the secret way )
Bundles & albums of long forgotten, taken when we were other than ourself or young and childless,
newly parented posed or aux natural. Only after some benign errand, years to take the time and have a peek.
I keep my memories hidden, secret not to show but peek and stunned remember.
The hug, or cheeks puffed out silly, innocent and love so strong.
Glance a smile, wink and friend that’s friend no more.
One last time and shame that I am such a fool.
I keep a pile carefully, one for now and maybe this one oh
Who was the boy back when we look so happy? See the playground and old friends.
Time fast & hard enough to break your heart.
I see my loves all in a row posed on the stoop. dated clothing, ice pops melting chalk dust,
big wheels ancient arguments ,long dead aunties.
Rhoda looks so young and Zivey holds his stomach in bare chested
though I cannot remember oh but he must have just finished mowing the lawn.
I see my self slim. Who ever thinks this at the time?
My hair wild and curling, looking at the camera smiling a new brides smile.
I keep my photos in a box.
Proof that in my weakness it was fine and safe and even funny much of the time.
It seems appropriate that a new blog post accompany a new year. There are many formidable bloggers who can make a new member of this fascinating tribe more than mildly intimidated. You know the folks I speak of, who’s multi-syllable insights are the mainstay of the best and most entertaining twitter moments and who can be counted on to respond intelligently about any number of given subjects. To these prolific and brilliant words smiths I salute. And with a nod to superior word craft I push on to a place that is for me both unfamiliar and unexplored.
A New Year , is the obvous and perfect place for new beginnings. Always over thinking even the most mundane of moments I cannot help but examine what I’ve managed to accomplish this past year. The equisite opportunity to work with new and extremely talented people of vision, resulted in unprecidented creative collaboration. That I am meeting at this point in my life so many hard working, awe inspiring, ground breaking individuals is a source of wonder and fascination. I am grateful each and every day for living in this place in time.
And so each week as I reflect on all this wonderful work that is teaming around me I panic for a moment and then respond with a force that I pray is is equal in magnitude or at least in energy.
It is clear to me now that our time is limited and that intentional choices must be made if we are to live life to the fullest. Whether we dare to try and take control of the whirlwind that is life, instead of merely treading water in order to attempt to stay afloat is not a subject I’ve ignored. I suppose up till now I’ve been the kind to tread furiously and in all fairness what has gone on these past several years has required all I’ve had to offer.
My New Years wish for 2011 is to live life with intention and focus. With more than a bit of luck, may this year bring us all new opportunities for collaboration and creativity. Cheers to 2011, and all the wonderful things we’ve yet to learn and create. Cheers to all of us and to the best and brightest of new years!
The incredibly gifted Nils Edenloff of The Rural Alberta Advantage, is soft spoken and thoughtful. His easy going, boy next door manner, is genuine and endearing. This is part one of an interview, recorded on the last day of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, after much effort on his part to meet despite his very hectic schedule.
When Tao Rodriguez-Seeger walked into the Press Tent at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and asked if anyone wanted to interview him, my immediate response was YES!
Tao Rodriguez-Seeger appears to be following closely in his famous Grandfather, Pete Seegers’ footsteps. Not only is his vocal intonation full and warm, Tao is outspoken about many things on his politically engaged mind. Sitting in a forest clearing, behind the communal eating area Tao’s generous spirit is evident as he shares his thoughts on topics ranging from alternative energy & the BP oil spill to what it’s like growing up in revolutionary Nicaragua.
In this first interview segment, Tao tells the story of performing in Lafayette Louisiana at the Festival International with his band the Mammals.
How can I start to explain what the Winnipeg Folk Festival is all about? Maybe I should begin by saying that although I live in Houston Texas and have lived here for over 17 years I am originally from Winnipeg Manitoba. Winnipeg is more than just a place on the map. The love hate dynamic of those who have moved away from Manitoba and are forever drawn back if only for a short while and those young and adventurous longing to leave is a much speculated upon phenomenon.
Like many of my peers, I have been leaving and returning to Winnipeg for decades. It would seem however that this particular trip is especially fraught with emotional flash backs as well as satisfying recollection. Winnipeg Folk Festival 2010 has been a blast. Many thanks to you Tamara Kater Executive Director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and your extremely talented team for such a warm welcome home!
As I slipped off my sandals entering the C2C program today at the Blue Mosque in Houston, my mind was full of questions and I was hopeful that there would be plenty of time to get answers . Not only was the afternoon filled with music and dialogue but I left the program understanding quite a bit more about Islam as well as being given the exquisite gift of first hand knowledge of a different yet similar story that is documented in both the Old Testament & the Quran.
During the wonderful after program repast provided by members of the congregation I found myself standing next to Ali an active member of the community. Feeling comfortable & full of good food I braved asking the question I had hoped to ask earlier . I realize that wondering about the Patriarch Abraham and his two wives Sarah & Hagar is an unusual thing for a woman who considers herself a progressive Feminist to do. But I had heard that there were two very different versions of this tale and where better to find out what the different version of this ancient story might be than at a traditional Muslim setting where we were all encouraged to visit with one another & share our thoughts.
So I ask hesitantly, is it true that the Bible & the Quran have a different yet very similar story about Abraham his two wives and their two sons. Ali’s smile warms me, apparently pleased that I know a bit of Bible he says :”Why yes in fact that is indeed the case ” and proceeds to share with me a remarkable other version of a story I’d learned long ago.
I learn that according to Islamic tradition, Abraham did not send Hagar and her son Ishmael into the dessert. Instead Ali shares with me, that Abraham went together with Hagar ( who’s name was Hajar) and her son to a a place far away , that was later to become Mecca. As Abraham was preparing to leave Hajar & Ishmael in this far away place Hajar calls out to her husband. : ” Tell me. are you leaving us here because you want to or because God has commanded you to? ” Abraham does not even look back as he leaves , (note if my memory serves me correctly, in the Bible it is often best not to look back in most situations ) and replies : ” I am leaving you here because God has instructed me to do so.”
The tale gets increasingly interesting (at least from my point of view) as Abraham returns at least once more to this far off place, in order to bind his son Ishmael and to sacrifice him. Thats right. You may recognize this story but with different participants. So the boy (which boy depends on your religious persuasion) mysteriously changes places with the sacrificial ram. The ram not the boy is sacrificed and the story goes on to be told and retold over many many years.
I’m not sure what this similar yet different story implies. Clearly there is a common history being played out here. Yet what I love the most is the wonderful opportunity to visit in person with Ali, at his house of worship and to have him share a part of his faith and a part of himself. I am fascinated by our commonality and by the many histories & customs our human family shares. It makes the world seem smaller, and reminds me how closely interconnected we all are .
On May 25th Interfaith Ministries & C2C held a second program entitled “What I Believe” The panel discussion included Rev David Garnier Parochial Vicar at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Melvin K Grey, Priest of the Epsicopal Church, Cheryl K Gray a member of the Bahai Faith, Reverend John W Price who serves at the Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, Kevin Sinclair of the Baptist Church, Dr Mehmet Tanis from the Islamic Spirituality Center, Rabbi Ranon Teller from the Conservative Synagogue, Congregation Brith Shalom, & Reverend Kristy Forbs Vits who is currently serving as Interim Associate Pastor at St. Phillip Presbyterian Church. The Panel was moderated by the dynamic & charismatic Ajit Giani,
Unlike the previous C2C program I had attended, which divided the representatives of 40 religious congregations from around Houston into smaller round table discussion groups, the hundred or so participants sat in an audience and listened as each religious representative spoke briefly about the main principles of their faith. A question and answer period followed.
The religious leaders were surprisingly funny at times. In particular the Catholic Priest , who began his five minute presentation with a self deprecating remark indicating he could use up his entire five minute allotted time apologizing. This comment was received with chuckles and sympathy as his religious conviction and sincerity became evident . An ongoing theme with many of the religious leaders through out the night was how their institutions had undergone many necessary changes throughout their history.
I particularly enjoyed listening to Melvin Grey who shared that 3000 of the 9000 members of his congregation were homeless. His church offers drug & HIV counseling and gives away over 100,000 meals a year. I laughed when he invited the attendees to come visit his church & that they “would steal our hearts & our lawnmowers”
When Reverend Kirsty Forbes Vits graced the podium , she spoke of how proud she was of the Presbyterian Seminary’s long history of acceptance of women. However she then described a familiar scenario in both Jewish & Christian religious institutions that has female clergy working primarily in youth oriented positions with a glass ceiling separating them from top paying jobs.
Although it was not as intimate a gathering as the C2C previously held, I did get a chance to visit both before & after the presentation with some of the other attendees . It was particularly pleasant to meet again with Sam Craven an Episcopal Priest who was part of my roundtable discussion from earlier in the year. I also was pleased to meet two very charming women of my parents generation who’s were happy to share with me details of their involvement with Palmer Memorial .
All in all the event was educational and interesting. The religious leaders were adept at speaking publicly and many of their remarks were insightful. The importance of this kind of religious dialogue goes without saying. Religious intolerance is growing at an alarming rate. Clearly it is much more desirable for people of faith to build a community of understanding and mutual respect.
I’ve just returned from an Interfaith Ministries dinner dialogue called congregation to congregation. I’ve been meaning to learn more about Interfaith Ministries ever since Hurricane Katrina landed thousands of stranded victims in our fair city and the Mayor called on IFM to come to the rescue. So when I received an invitation to attend the C2C program I said yes and made my way down to Cathedral Central There were 200 people in a room spread out at tables seating ten people each. At our table there were individuals representing the Bahai Center of Houston, The Islamic Spirituality Center, Christ the King Lutherine Church, The Shrine of the Black Madonna, The Co Cathedral of the Sacred Heart & an Episcopal Priest from Palmer Church.
The people were friendly from the start though a bit nervous. The instructions on the table indicated we were to begin by going round & introducing ourselves. An amusing theme prevailed. The Moslem man used to be Bahai. The Minister from the Shrine of the Black Madonna was raised Catholic, the Catholic woman was raised Episcopal & the Episcopal Bishop used to be a Baptist attorney prior to becoming a priest a decade ago. Upon that realization the table began to relax & everyone had a chance to share their story.
Some of the changes of affiliation had to do with marriage & the desire to pray together as a family under one roof, but the majority of participants were in their new faith because of a genuine search that led them to their new found spiritual home. There was some talk about dissenting opinion and how they felt fine belonging to a religious institution and agreeing to disagree with some of the doctrine. I was happily surprised by that. Everyone then shared some basic information about their religious observances while enjoying a meal together.
Before it was time to go I wanted to pose a question to the gathering of faithful. I asked if their faith was constant in their lives or did their certainty ebb & flo through the years . All but one indicated a lapse of faith at a point in their life journey. Then round the table they agreed that they were able to reconnect by getting involved with the community , providing food & shelter to the poor , giving comfort to the sick & through prayer.
Next there was a speech or two, some more information about upcoming events, & we were asked to share our contact information with those at our table. I found the people I met to be earnest, funny, respectful; and not a bit dogmatic. I didn’t even mind the priest beside me as he squeezed my shoulder gently. Hang in there he whispered.
TEDxHouston 2011 | Karen Aptekar | 
August 13, 2011 6:04 pm | 
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