Sounds to me like a pretty good jab at us Minnesotans. He seems to be saying, “Get over it, hippies, sometimes you have to make people feel bad.” Or that you can feel bad about the plight of the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the hungry – you can even empathize and truly understand the difficulties those groups experience – but it’s no good on its own.

This is where my mind wanders off to one of empathy’s close relatives – love. The transition, and critique of Brooks’ slight empathy-bashing, can be given much better than me by the cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter [in his book I Am a Strange Loop], when he claims that empathy is “the most admirable quality of humanity. To ‘be’ someone else in a profound way is not merely to see the world intellectually as they see it and to feel rooted in the places and times that molded them as they grew up; it goes much further than that. It is to adopt their values, to take on their desires, to live their hopes, to feel their yearnings, to share their dreams, to shudder at their dreads, to participate in their life, to merge with their soul.” Not bad from a scientist, right? Now, who does that remind you of? Someone who had a deep desire and commitment to just those things? If you’re having a hard time coming up with the answer, imagine this is a children’s sermon: the answer is Jesus. Here I offer a reading from John: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

Problem solved. It’s as simple as that. We’re supposed to love each other, I get that part. And it seems empathy will lead us in that direction, at least in thought. It lets us see the person in everyone – the complex set of past interactions, memories, reactions, etc. that lead them to do what they do today. We can look at a developing country and understand why its leaders might systematically oppress women, ignore education, and corrupt government. We can look at the homeless here in Washington and understand how we all could have, and could still, end up in that situation. We can look at the “one percent” and understand why they might act the way the protesters say they do. With empathy, our childish anger or frustration is soothed to allow us to behave ourselves.

Here, though, is where I agree with Brooks: it doesn’t seem to be enough. I don’t like such a relativistic approach to the world. Is love truly watching girls go uneducated because it’s what’s best for their family at the time? Is it truly seeing someone amass billions of dollars unstopped because “Well, I might do the same if I had the chance?” Or maybe cheering on a beloved presidential candidate in spite of accusations of sexual harassment because “she was probably leading him on?” Is it even watching someone play in a roofalanche zone while we watch, not saying anything because we don’t want to offend? Is a hunger for justice enough to say we love the world? No! I say, but what does love look like, then?

How about a definition from 1 Corinthians? “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” As C.S. Lewis says, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” In other words, it’s not easy. Which is why we fall into the trap of empathy – we justify our inaction with our feeling. We easily feel for people, but we don’t necessarily do for people; We can have empathy, but we don’t always love. We want to rejoice in the truth, but too easily snub responsibility thinking everything can be the truth. But we’re called to that higher place.

Robert Farrar Capon writes in his book on cooking and theology,Supper of the Lamb, “Love is the widest, choicest door into the Passion. God saved the world not by sitting up in heaven and issuing antiseptic directives, but by becoming man, and vulnerable, in Jesus. He died, not because He despised the earth, but because He loved it as a man loves it- out of all proportion and sense.” Jesus became the most vulnerable of loves to say we are loved. To free us from trying to justify ourselves by action or feeling – to free us to love one another just as he loved us. Out of all proportion and sense, we are called to love those who are just plain bad or misguided, to love those both mired in poverty or mired in wealth, to love those closest to us, because that’s the only way we know that will make things right. How we go about loving is different for each of us – that’s where I’ll allow a little relativism. Maybe it looks like flying halfway around the world to teach a village to respect women, or knitting hats for homeless families, or cooking meals for people who can’t afford them, or giving lots of money away – but the birth and subsequent death on the cross tells us we can try something and still be loved at least by God, but hopefully the rest of the world, too.

By,
Chris Tao

The light of “Radiant Dawn” was still alive as we entered the longest night of the year via the outdoor labyrinth, illuminated by candles that melted into ice-crusted snow.

Even though the candlelit labyrinth has become another cherished Holden tradition, I’d intended to skip it. I knew it would be cold (17 degrees). I’d helped set up the candles in the afternoon and figured one round trip on the icy, one-mile path to the labyrinth was sufficient for the day.

But when I walked out of Koinonia after choir practice and saw the brilliant sky aglow with more stars than I’d witnessed in years, I could not resist. I had the feeling that a night like this promised a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All the world glittered, from the stars overhead to the ice under my boots, sparkling under the beam of my flashlight.

The labyrinth was alive with light and motion as Villagers quietly walked the circuitous paths. Labyrinth walks are usually intended to set one on an inner journey, but circumstances dictated that our labyrinth walk would connect us – not with our inner selves but with each other.

The labyrinth path, stamped into the snow, is just wide enough for one person. People making their way to the center would meet people on their way out with no room to pass. The only solution was to embrace and rotate. Not everyone was comfortable with this routine, including me. Yet over and over, I grabbed shadowy figures, shuffled through a quasi do-si-do, managing to keep my balance solely by depending on another – I knew not who.

Walking the labyrinth was less a mystical experience and more a real-life lesson in the importance of trusting in the embrace of others, even those whom we cannot clearly see.

By,
Mary Koch

Photo by,
Andy Richardson

With guidance from Creative Resident Lisa Dahill, Holden Villagers are exploring and personalizing ancient prayers known as the “O Antiphons” during the final week before Christmas. The seven antiphons traditionally are sung in conjunction with Mary’s song (The Magnificat) at Vespers. They are also familiar to modern worshipers through the beloved hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Each stanza of the hymn articulates the longing of the church and world for the coming of the long-awaited Savior, calling out to Jesus using a different name or image each day.

Pastor Dahill invites Villagers to consider the specific antiphon for each day and apply the prayers to their own laments, longings and expectations by writing prayers on daily posters created by Village Artist Lori Hayes.

Pastor Dahill, associate professor of worship and Christian spirituality at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, will be in residence until Dec. 26.

Here are the daily antiphons for you to use in your own personal devotions:

December 17: O Sapientia (Greek: Sophia) = WISDOM

O Wisdom, who come forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from end to end and ordering all things
mightily and sweetly:
Come, and teach us the way of discernment.

Sirach 24:3; Wisdom 8:1; John 1:1-4; Proverbs 8:22-31; Sirach 6:24-30; Matthew 11:28-30

December 18: O Adonai = DELIVERER

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
and gave him the holy way on Sinai mountain:
Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free!

Exodus 3:2, 4bc-5, 9-10, 12-14; Exodus 6:6-9; Exodus 19:1-6a, 8a

December 19: O Radix = ROOT/FLOWERING

O Root of Jesse,
you stand as a signpost for all nations;
kings fall silent before you whom the peoples
acclaim:
Come to deliver us, and do not delay!

Isaiah 11:1-10, Isaiah 5:15; Psalm 72:8-11; Habakkuk 2:3; Hebrews 10:37; Romans 15:12

December 20: O Clavis = KEY (Opening/Closing)

O Key of David and scepter of Israel,
you open and no one can close again;
you close and no on can open:
Come lead the captive from prison;
free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow
of death.

Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7; Isaiah 42:6b-7; Psalm 107:10-16; Luke 1:79

December 21: O Oriens = DAWN, DAYSPRING

O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of
death!

Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5; 2 Peter 1:19; Malachi 4:2; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 60:1-3, Luke 1:78-79

December 22: O Rex Gentium = RECONCILIATION

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart;
O Cornerstone of the might arch of humankind,
who unites what is divided:
Come save the creature you fashioned out of dust.

Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:11-14; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 118:22; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 1 Peter 2:4-10

December 23: O Emmanuel = GOD WITH US

O Emmanuel,
king and lawgiver,
desire of the nations, Savior of all people:
Come and set us free, Lord our God!

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23; Isaiah 33:22; Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 65:5

Thanksgiving day starts out with brunch and Martins at 10 am. I usually skip breakfast in a normal Thanksgiving, but since Holden has their Thanksgiving at 4 pm I know I am not strong enough to go without food all day.  As I walk from my chalet to the dinning hall, I observe kids screaming with joy and laughter as they sled down Chalet Hill. I start to have nostalgic memories of being a kid and playing in the snow. As I walk into the dinning hall, people are having conversations, smiling, laughing. Who couldn’t be happy here? As I eat with my wife and my mother in law, I begin to think how nice this new Thanksgiving might be.

They announce that the Copper Bowl will begin at 1 pm. I’m excited; here is a fun activity that will allow me to burn calories and eat guilt free tonight during Thanksgiving dinner. Back home, down lake, my Thanksgiving activities were usually playing cards or video games with my family all day long. As kickoff for the Copper Bowl approaches, I am surprised by how organized it is and how many people, villagers and guests, are involved. The young and the old are band members. Jeff Pierce has transformed from the leader of the Fire Brigade to a cymbal player for the band. Holden is even streaming coverage of the game live so people can watch from the comfort of Fireside while enjoying cheese and cracker snacks.

I could go on and on about the Copper Bowl, but to sum it all up: it’s like the Village is on group high. People have tons of energy and are getting involved in all sorts of things. I remember thinking, “Does the person who came to Holden already like this or does coming to Holden allow us all to be ourselves, to have fun, and to foster many different activities so everyone feels like they have a part to play?”  Who knows, but the point is, I was happy that day.  If I missed a couple of passes or underperformed when I got a change to play quarterback, it didn’t matter; I was having fun.

After the game (which we, the Saints, won! I like to brag, since the Sinners were really showing us up until the end, when we came back with a bang!), I watched the commercials that some Villagers produced. They were witty and hilarious. I mean, real football commercials are funny too, but these were better! I knew the kid that was eating the meat (“Meat! It’s what’s for breakfast/coffee break/lunch/dinner at Holden!”), and I knew the Pastor who was marketing the boxed wine.

Thanksgiving Dinner arrived. It was a great dinner and I didn’t even take advantage of my burned calories by stuffing myself beyond reason. But I didn’t need to get more food, great as it was. I was content with myself. I was enjoying sharing my life and talking and listening to other people instead. Later that night, I played cards with a few people who I enjoy very much. As I was sipping my apple cider, ok, gulping my apple cider, and eating the remarkable sour cream apple pie, I realized that I was not disappointed that I was unable to spend my Thanksgiving back home with my family. I had family all around me, and I had met some wonderful people whom I never would have if it hadn’t been for this Thanksgiving here at Holden Village.

By,

Nathan Render

Thanksgiving also brings to mind “home” which has become a very confusing word for me. Where is home, really? Chalet 9 is where we live currently and is very much home, especially after living there for more than a year. We know the idiosyncrasies of the wood stove and how to get it running most efficiently. We have family photos and art on the walls and even a couple pieces of art magneted on the fridge. I have over the course of the past year and three months stocked the kitchen with my favorite gadgets from…home. That’s from the garage of the house in University Place that we own and are renting, where we have most of our “stuff” stored. It’s hard to call that place home since someone else is living there, but what else do I call it? When we leave Holden on an out we go…home…to my parents’ house in Gig Harbor. We have furniture there, a few clothes and most importantly family, so that’s home too, right? Then to really confuse me, when we’re out, we usually attend our…home… church where everyone says, “Welcome home!” It always feels a bit jarring when someone says that. It’s kind of like when some one says they’re leaving Holden and going out into the real world. Does that mean I live in an imaginary world? Sorry, tangent. I think one of the things that has happened for me here at Holden is that the lines are blurred for what is home.

I’ve fought against having multiple homes (hence the irritation when someone says welcome home at church). I suppose what I should do is embrace the confusion of what is home and rejoice in my wealth. I have four homes. I’m rich! Maybe I should come to terms with the blurred lines of home/not home.

Another place where lines have blurred for me is the concept of family, but that started long before I came to Holden. I grew up around aunts and uncles and cousins all of whom we made an effort to stay in contact with. We even made trips to Iowa and Ohio to visit the relatives “back east.” Family was a blood relative. After college, Chris and I move to southern California (his family was in northern California mostly and mine in the Pacific northwest mostly) We made friends there who became very much family. Our weekly bible study shared our struggles and joys and probably knew more about what was going on in our lives than most of our blood relative family.

That is happening again for us here at Holden. Chris and I joke that Tara is our daughter (she was born nearly 9 months to the day after we were married) and sometimes I think Corey’s parents are really the Carpenters – he spends more waking time in Chalet 6 than chalet 9. But it goes deeper than that. Anyone who comes to Holden village, be it for a day, or month, or a year, or more, is part of the Holden community…the Holden family. We eat together. We worship together. We work together. We play together. We share life together. We wave hello and goodbye and say welcome home! When someone is evacuated, we pack their bags. When a baby needs held, and sometimes even when he doesn’t need held, we line up. When someone is grieving, we grieve alongside and when they rejoice, we rejoice. We share stories and listen and laugh even when we’ve heard the story before. We loan each other our cars, and even though it’s a total pain to repair, we worry more about the person than the car when there’s an accident. We run two fire drills in one day to make certain we can keep everyone safe in an emergency. We volunteer for snack bar, wiping tables and an extra dish team to help out. We are family.

And that’s what I am most grateful for this Thanksgiving…the blurry lines of home and family. I am rich beyond measure. I have 4 homes and a family of thousands. Thanks be to God.

I’d like to close with a sort of modified scripture

I Thessalonians 1:1 – 4
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy and Cindy to the churches/communities of Thessalonia and Holden Village in God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Knowing brothers and sisters beloved by God, His choice of you.

I would add — His choice of you to be his child, part of God’s family.

Go in peace and embrace the blurry lines!

By Cindy Schultz

That’s right, longtime Holden Village mechanic Terry Sanderson has written and published a book. After many years of using hops growing near the Jacuzzi and porches of Holden Village for making beer, Terry wrote a book about it: How to Make Good Beer From Scratch

Terry’s book, available in the Holden Village bookstore or online at www.amazon.com, provides step-by-step instructions on how to do all-grain home brewing using raw whole grain barley and homegrown hops.

Brew hearty, Holden Villagers far and wide!

Rev. Renee Splichal Larson, her husband Ben and his cousin Jonathan were in Haiti on January 12 when the earth moved. The building in which they were staying collapsed on all three of them. Jonathan and Renee lived; Ben died.

Remembering the life of her husband and being a victim of the earthquake herself, Renee feels deeply called to continue advocacy and conversation with and for the Haitian people.

In response, Holden Village focused on Haiti June 18-25, 2011. Haiti Focus Week was a time of listening and sharing, remembering and learning, empowering and rebuilding for the future of Haiti one and a half years after the earthquake. Teaching faculty from Haiti, the U.S., and from around the world explored various topics related to Haiti, including: the history of Haiti, Haitian culture (art, dance, and religion), international development, Global Mission and Accompaniment, Theology of the Cross and suffering, creative writing, multi-sensory storytelling, Bible study inspired by the lyrics of Ben Splichal Larson, and global music.

The Haiti Focus Week also included collaborative and creative visioning for the future, with conversations and prayers for empowerment for the people of Haiti in their process of rebuilding as well as a deepened awareness for the people of the United States, in order that we might better accompany one another on the journey.

Teaching Staff included:

• Walnes Cangas – Haitian art, dance and song
• Wanda Deifelt – professor at Luther College
• Corrine Denis – creative writing
• Renee Dietrich – journalist, writer, photographer
• Louis, Mytch, Stephan, Karl, Scott & Soraya Dorvillier – Haitian culture
• Pat Hanson – Co-Chair Haiti Programs, ELCA Global Missions
• April Ulring Larson & Judd Larson – Bible study
• Joseph Livenson Lauvanus – President Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti
• Rafael Malpica Padilla – Exec Director, ELCA Global Mission
• Elizabeth McHan – ELCA missionary
• Phil Moeller, World Bank Representative
• Bill Nathan – Director of St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, Haiti
• Tom Witt & Mary Preus – Village Musicians

Going out from Haiti Focus Week with Good Courage…links that can help our action.

• Blog
• Music of Benjamin Splichal Larson
• St. Joseph’s Family
• Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti
• ELH & ELCA
• LWF Haiti
• ELCA
• Haiti Earthquake Relief
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