A
Cross
between
Circus
and
Jester
With some additional nuances of "Sir Jester" with 'suggester' and even 'surgEaster'...
In medieval and early modern europe, the fool played a specific role. His foolishness could shine a light, send a message, speak into the darkness. The fool was allowed license to move beyond the conventions of society, but it was a risky job, and a lonely job. He had no wealth, physical or legal power over other citizens, socially he was at the bottom of the rung. But he could use any other tool at his disposal, and he often relied on humour and storytelling which would help new ideas to germinate in the minds of the audience...
Some hated the fool, as Malvolio hated Feste in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Some would plot against him. But nothing could stop his message, because it relied not on indoctrination, but on inspiration. Such a message cannot be stopped by force. Only apathy can bring this kind of inspiration to a halt.
To those who are willing to play the fool to spread a message, is given a similar power of germination.
Today in our staffroom one of the teachers made the throw-away comment that she thought April Fool's Day would fall on Good Friday this year. She thought it would be fairly funny if that was the case. I didn't know what to say. Then I remembered Paul Walker sent us the lyric to a song called, 'The April Fool'. And I remembered that Jesus' conscious choice to die on a cross does look very foolish to many. But it seems to have been the kind of foolish act that still has power today. The message of the April Fool continues to germinate and live in the minds and hearts of his followers millenia after the historical event.
I feel excited and scared about the idea of spending eight days living with this concept. Excited about the ideas that could be germinating, and scared to look foolish :/
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
who's to say where the wind will take me...
One final week before the end of school, and I feel as though there is too much to fit in. Lessons to plan, marking to get on top of, people to hang with!
A little jester is giggling at me from the end of it all as well, daring me to get cold feet and forget to trust something bigger than myself. In reality the problem (if there is one) is that I haven't been diligent about fitting something fairly important in... space and time with and for the Father to hear his voice.
and I begin to sing
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
In summer you can taste the salty sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on a breeze
you wonder what's gonna happen to me
I wonder what has happened to you...
lyrics found at http://www.threechordsandthetruth.net/u2lyrics/atyclb.htm
A little jester is giggling at me from the end of it all as well, daring me to get cold feet and forget to trust something bigger than myself. In reality the problem (if there is one) is that I haven't been diligent about fitting something fairly important in... space and time with and for the Father to hear his voice.
and I begin to sing
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
In summer you can taste the salty sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on a breeze
you wonder what's gonna happen to me
I wonder what has happened to you...
lyrics found at http://www.threechordsandthetruth.net/u2lyrics/atyclb.htm
Monday, March 22, 2010
walkin in a green desert
Many things aren't as bad as you think they will be when you get there. When I was moving to Broken HIll, everyone I spoke to said that I would die in the summer. And yet it has been a beautiful moderate summer with lots of rain.
Our little community went walking in the desert this afternoon. It was a beautiful trek with lots of little trials and wonders. It was green, not red/brown/orange. When you walk out here you feel that you really are standing on an ancient land.
...and then some things are as bad as you think they are going to be, and sometimes they are even worse. In those times I begin to understand the need of being willing to trust in something bigger than ourselves.
Our little community went walking in the desert this afternoon. It was a beautiful trek with lots of little trials and wonders. It was green, not red/brown/orange. When you walk out here you feel that you really are standing on an ancient land.
...and then some things are as bad as you think they are going to be, and sometimes they are even worse. In those times I begin to understand the need of being willing to trust in something bigger than ourselves.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Friday afternoon hope
It's Friday afternoon at the end of my tough week with High School students (I am on a 2 wk cycle and the second week is a LOT more busy than the first)...
... and I still have Hope in my heart- methinks a sign of the goodness at the heart of the Universe.
I just had a Friday last period with my new Year 11s and....
THEY WERE QUIET AND COMPLETED THE WORK I SET THEM.
Amazing.
I go home tonight with my heart singing a little song. I am very grateful to be fighting on this side of the battle. Feeling a little bit more ready for the next one now. Thanks God.
... and I still have Hope in my heart- methinks a sign of the goodness at the heart of the Universe.
I just had a Friday last period with my new Year 11s and....
THEY WERE QUIET AND COMPLETED THE WORK I SET THEM.
Amazing.
I go home tonight with my heart singing a little song. I am very grateful to be fighting on this side of the battle. Feeling a little bit more ready for the next one now. Thanks God.
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