Amber's Friends

Molly Maleckar, Ph.D, LFHCfS
Postdoctoral Fellow
Simula School of Research and Innovation AS
Lysaker, Norway

2 cups dry posole (picked over for any dirt or stones)
3 T vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup chopped onions
1 T minced garlic
2-4 T (or more) ground chimayo chile powder
4 cups chicken stock
1-2 tsp of ground coriander seed
salt to taste

place cleaned posole in a large pot and cover with water by 3 inches. cover and cook at a simmer for 2-3 hours, adding water as needed, until kernels are soft and beginning to burst. drain the posole and rinse well. heat oil in a large pot and saute the onions until golden. add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. add the posole, chile powder, stock, salt and the ground coriander and simmer for 30 minutes (or more until posole is tender).

if you would like to add pork to this dish, add boneless pork chops when you add the chicken stock. simmer for 1 hour or more until pork is soft and can be pulled apart by hand (you really can't cook the posole too long). then remove the pork, allow to cool and pull apart. skim any excess oil from the posole. re-add pork to the dish and taste for seasoning.

About a month before my trip to Paris, my friend Marko Gnann, who gives where to eat advice I always take, recommended the Sunday brunch at Le Crillon. He described the amazing buffet, the excellent price, and promised it would be the only meal we would eat for the rest of the day. He was right about all three except that we almost didn’t find out because when Zach called a month ahead he was told that there were no reservations to be had and that it had been filled a whole month before then!

Since Zach was arriving in Paris several days before my arrival I suggested that he go in person and explain how my bloggers all over the world would love to share this experience. They most graciously made a place for us without his having had to get down on his knees and beg which would have been worth it but I’m not sure he would have been willing to go that far!

I had never been to Le Crillon before and it was like stepping into a fairy tale palace. Despite the formality, one was immediately put at ease by the professional but friendly staff.

Friends,
Today a little at loose ends I drove around a bit and came to the
cemetary in Somers New York where an old friend, John McMahon is
buried having died suddenly in 2001, I set on a bench by the small
churchyard burial place and said a prayer and then noticed beside
me on the bench a small black figurine which proved to be of
Hotei Sama one of the 7 Chinese gods of good fortune, accepting it
as being,as it were, a gift I put some wildflowers on the grave
marker from the wood nearby...
Driving on a bit in one of my usual drive courses I came to the
Hudson River above Cold Spring and opposite Mount Storm King,
I have taken enough pictures and shared them here of that small
mountain, or large hill, but did find a couple of things perhaps
new, one an angle from the South looking across , not the Hudson,
which is beyond a narrow spit of land beyond the immediate
water and on that spit is a railroad track running upriver,
and there other is of the Hudson and of a sail boat passing
before the face of Storm King. For these , and Hotei,
please click to the right just here.( Read more... )
As to John McMahon no special sadness just passing by and stopped...
He was a friend for some years after I came back from Japan and
he wrote for the little magazine First Hour which I edited then,
he had not really done published writing but he was gathering
material for a go at a book on Tomasso Campanella the 16th
century philosopher, he cut a grave , priestly sort of figure in
a black turtleneck with a celtic cross typically, a classics master,
he loved bad movies of every sort particularly vampire ones. He
wanted for a future birthday that never came the urn with a boy
leading the drunken hercules home from the Met or if that was too
hard to steal then some 'objects' from the oriental room. I doubt
Hotei was one of them as it says 'made in china' on the bottom and
granted that some fine oriental objets d'art are from china I do
not think they say made in china on the bottom. Our mutual friend
Dr Allison of Godard Laboratory said of John's death in London that like
the old Celtic wanderers he died 'seeking his place of resurrection.'

So that and the photos and as always invite all you have on anything
at all... By the way yesterday's Superman proves to be a young Russian
American who apparently meant no trouble but he and Batman were
taking money and playing music without a permit. I hope he did not
punch the cop. Previously he had been arrested in a Tarzan costume.

yours
+Seraphim

Southwest Trip 116 There is an aspect of the modern use of the word “miracle,” that is more than a little problematic. While it is true that a number of Orthodox hymns in referring to certain dramatic events use the phrase, “the order of nature is overthrown,” this is far from being a complete theological account of what we know as the miraculous. A common understanding in the secular world of the miraculous is that it is somehow a disruption of the natural order – something that does not belong in our world. The classic “proof” of a miracle used in some parts of the Christian world is that it must not have any “natural” or “scientific” explanation. It seems to me that this approach makes an inappropriate and radical distinction between the actions of God and the actions of nature: it is more of the “two-storey universe” about which I have written at length.

The two animal stories I have posted to the site are both explainable by natural means. Thus many, both believers and non-believers, would say, “These are not miracles.” However, in our secularized two-storey universe this is tantamount to saying, “It has nothing to do with God.” And this is problematic.

The redemption for which we await is not a redemption that destroys nature or discards nature. Our redemption is equally a redemption of the material order:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (Romans 8:18-25).

The redemption of the world does not make it into something other than the world – though it raises it to a new manner of existence. So, too, we do not cease to be human in the resurrection, nor do we cease to have bodies: our bodies, however, exist in a new manner.

Miracles as the world understands them are things that prove the existence of God – and thus become points of argumentation with those who do not believe. Such argumentation based on miraculous proofs is not the foundation of true faith. The God who has made Himself known to us in Christ is “everywhere present and filling all things” as is said in the prayer, “O Heavenly King.” Isaiah says that “the whole earth is full of Thy glory” (Is. 6:3). The present age has so constructed its worldview that the glory of God is nowhere to be seen. But this is a perversion of sight – a modern manifestation of the fall.

With such limitations even well-meaning efforts can be misdirected. Thus there is a tendency in our present moment to equate global warming with the apocalypse and imagine that failure to control and manage this phenomenon will bring the judgment of God down on our heads. That we should live rightly with creation and as stewards of what we have been given is true. But our hope is not to be found in a new technology or ecology by which we manage to control the climate. No God is needed for such imaginative projects – though many will use His name to underwrite their efforts.

A more radical transformation (as well as stewardship) is asked of us. That transformation is first made known to us in the incarnation of Christ in which “matter becomes the means of my salvation” (in the writings of St. John of Damascus). It is daily made known to us in the mysteries of the Church in which the simple elements of bread, wine, water, oil, the laying on of hands and other actions are means by which our salvation is made effective within us and made known to us. It is the transformation of Creation that beckons to us and the transformation of our very selves by the mercies of God.

The blessing of objects in this world does not make them to be something other than what they are (I make an exception of the Eucharistic elements which must be reserved for a different discussion). It reveals them to be in a unique position with God and His Divine Energies. But the Great Blessing of the Waters or the blessing of Water at Holy Baptism does not make the water to be something that is not water. This was strongly emphasized in my heart when, standing at the Jordan River last year, I heard the words of the Great Blessing from the Bishop who was presiding, “Send the blessing of Jordan…” Do we pray to make the Jordan River to be the Jordan River? Yes, in an important sense, we do.

Our redemption in the course of this life is, among other things, a recovery of our true humanity. Christ is “fully human” (and “fully Divine”). In the words of Met. Kallistos Ware, and He is the first “fully human.” At the least we may say that in comparison to the humanity of Christ – our humanity is broken. Thus this life is lived in a recovery of the glory that is proper to human beings.

I believe that glory is revealed in many ways – most of which might not be recognized as “miraculous.” Love of enemy, which is probably “miraculous” when it actually occurs, is one of the ways in which that glory is revealed. Love of friend – love of wolf and bird (and all creation) are also revelatory. The icon of the New Creation is made manifest in such moments.

I believe a proper view of our world is to see its iconic character. Creation is a “window” to heaven – the glory that is being made manifest. St. John Chrysostom once said that “he who gives to the poor is greater than he who raises a man from the dead.” It is a simple echo of St. Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 13 (”if I have not love…”).

I do not know the truly full account of St. Seraphim and the Bear or of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio (and similar stories). But they contain more than the story of a circus performance. The friendship of man and nature is a reflection of the God who saw creation and said, “It is good.”

I know that when I see a monk walking with a wolf, friend to friend, something in my heart leaps and says, “It is good.”

Luna is usually a haven of peace. Sometimes it can be loud, as when there are many people and the voices and clashing crockery bounce off the bear brick walls, but that is a sign of life and doesn't disturb me, really. Yesterday afternoon was different. There were only a few folks in the room, most reading or talking quietly with their companions. But there was this one fellow who was loud and aggressive. Perhaps he is a really nice human being. I don't know. I don't want to know. He walked into the place bellowing and that continued for the more than an hour I was there. What made it worse was that he was doing business, apparently dictating to a young women who was doing something at a laptop. Now I usually try to block out other folks' conversations but it was virtually impossible not to hear this guy reading off a list of names of persons and the prescription meds. So it was something like: John Doe - Levitra; Jane Doe: Lunesta. When it got to: Andy Whoever - Viagra, it was way too much information. It struck me as resoundingly unprofessional -or at least unaware. I could not block out his loud, aggressive voice. And it struck me that it would be entirely possible that I could know some of those folks whose names he announced. I did not want to know what drugs they used.

Well, I didn't have to stay (in the long run, I did leave earlier than I would have, I think. I could have said something to the man. Somehow, given his aggressive manner, that not seem a wise approach. It was not the usual pleasant time at Luna. Fortunately, this is by far the exception.

We finally had some rain last night, probably not enough, but it did seem to take the humidity out of the air and today is another perfect summer day. I have the Mass this afternoon and am predicting a small crowd. People tend to find other places to be on wonderful summer weekends.

Next week is my physical. That's on Wednesday. I will be a basket case by then. I like my doctor and all, but it is just a harrowing experience to go through all that medical stuff. There is so much that could be wrong. Or maybe it will be good news, but somehow that seems unlikely. So the stress itself will elevate the blood pressure. It all seems childish. After all most folks go through these annual physicals and they survive.

Since finishing Weakland's book and a romp through Deborah Crombie's latest mystery, I've not been able to settle into a decent book. It's not that there is nothing to read. A friend lent me "Peace Like a River" and it looks good. My mind is just too much of a jumble. Inner demons? Intellectual questions and concerns? Whatever - my mind is not settled enough to relax into anything at the moment. "Glory to God for all things!"
John

Finally, a TV show about philanthropy heroism vigilante-awesome made for mainstream audiences:

bro ephraim mar saba

While we’re at it – here’s a photo of one of the brothers at Mar Saba Monastery in the Judaean Desert. It seems clear that right relationship with God and right relationship with nature are normal. We met this monastic last year when we traveled in the Holy Land. It’s good to know that the stories of St. Seraphim and the bear or St. Francis and various animals are not things of the past.

A buttered toast club sandwich with six slices of bacon, two eggs, topped with cheddar cheese and covered with beef gravy.

As I search for simplicity in my life, I’ve realized that it’s not just about purging Stuff. Stuff is simply the physical representation of an overall pattern of clutter. In order to accomplish what I want to accomplish, I need to sort and purge the mental mess, too.

Over at Unclutterer yesterday, Erin shared her guide to “having it all”. She explains how she’s able to lead a full life without getting bogged down by Stuff — both physical and mental. Her eleven tips are all worth reading, but they basically boil down to:

I often wonder how it’s come to this. How did I — a guy who craves a life with little to do — become bogged down by so many obligations? I think the answer is that I’ve found a fulfilling vocation. I feel like I have a purpose. I’m doing something that matters, and so I’m willing to spend most of my time at it.

But there’s only one J.D., and only so much time in each day. If I want to achieve my personal goals (lose weight! learn French!), I need to follow Erin’s advice. I need to prioritize, minimize, organize, and economize so that I can energize my life.

I am not one who believes that everyone should be an entrepreneur. I think there’s a sort of continuum: Some folks should absolutely work for somebody else, others should definitely work for themselves, and many should do a little of both.

Although I tend toward entrepreneurial endeavors, I don’t consider myself a die-hard entrepreneur. The best job I ever had was actually flipping burgers at McDonald’s when I was in high school. I’m not kidding. I loved that job. My fellow employees were smart and fun. Together, we made serving burgers and fries a game; we tried to do the best job we could. Our manager was great, and she fostered this attitude instead of stifling it with bureaucracy.

Since then, I’ve had jobs I loved and jobs I hated, and many that just paid the bills. I’ve also tried self-employment twice: once as a computer consultant, and now as a professional blogger.

What do I miss from the box factory?
I miss daily interaction with my family. My father began the business almost 25 years ago, and since then there have always been several family members involved with the daily operations. I also miss talking with my customers. As much as I disliked the actual sales portion of my job, I genuinely liked many of the customers I dealt with. I find myself wondering how Robert is doing, and whether Lance finished building his house.

There is almost no social aspect to the life of a professional blogger; I sit here alone in my office typing all day. While this is intellectually challenging, I miss seeing people and being a small part of their lives. This is one reason I’ve struggled with my restaurant spending over the past year. I often go out to lunch simply to be near other people. It’s also one reason I rented office space.

What motivated me to self-employment?
There were a couple of things. First, I did not like my work at the box factory. I did not like sales. I wasn’t good at it, it didn’t interest me, and I found it frustrating.

Meanwhile, I wanted to write. I’ve always wanted to be a writer; I just never knew how to make money from this desire. When I stumbled into personal-finance blogging, I was startled to learn I could make an income from it. It seemed natural to make the leap to professional blogger once that income sustained at a level that could support me.

What have I learned about my decision over the last year-and-a-half?
There’s a difference between blogging as a hobby and blogging as a job. When you’re blogging as a hobby and the income is “extra” income, the process is fun. It’s a lark. But when you throw the switch and it becomes your sole means of making a living, some of that fun vanishes.

I still love what I do — no question — but sometimes I feel as if I’ve lost the spontaneity I used to have. That’s one reason I’m hoping to reduce my workload around here a little. I’d like to pursue other projects: write a book, dabble with other blogs, possibly promote financial literacy education.

There’s a lot of pressure when you are required to generate your own income. Sure, there’s pressure when you work for somebody else, too, but there’s also a sense of freedom. You’re not responsible for the daily decisions. And if you don’t like the job, you can leave. Plus, the actual source of income is not your responsibility.

I often think that working for somebody else is like renting an apartment; working for yourself is like owning your home. Both have their rewards, but they each have drawbacks, too.

Conclusion
As Caitlin mentions, not everyone is cut out to run a business. It just doesn’t interest them. My wife is a perfect example. Kris loves her job. It’s challenging and fulfilling, and she enjoys the interaction with her co-workers. She has no desire to strike out on her own.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever been self-employed? Did you love it, or did you hate it? What prompted you to pursue entrepreneurship? What do you envy about those who work for somebody else? Or, if you work for somebody else, are you content with where you are, or do you envy about the self-employed? What is it that keeps you doing what you’re doing?

Update: Erin from Unclutterer (one of my favorite blogs) has posted an article that seems related to this — at least in my mind. She explains how to have it all.

It’s easy to get overly-heady about exercise. Being a strength/fitness nerd, it’s not only easy for me, it’s fun. For those new to this world, though, I suspect it can be a little overwhelming.

After all, you might just want some simple advice on getting started. If so, this article is for you. This program starts you off with a few basic movements that are guaranteed to increase your overall strength and fitness if you’re a beginner.

Of course, this is just a start. You are encouraged to look around this site, take in all the information and even e-mail questions to Krista or myself. You’re definitely encouraged to learn enough to start putting things together on your own. Unless you’re an iron-pumping savant, however, this will take more than an afternoon.

And you want to get going now! Good. So while you’re learning, may I present a starter program.

Move around. Step deep, reach high and breathe deep. Pay attention to where movement feels restricted by tight muscles and gently (gently!) move through that range of motion. Now start moving faster. Jog, crawl, shuffle from side to side. Up the pace until it’s a challenge to keep your breathing even. This whole process should take about 10 minutes. Good? Good enough!

Take a lunge position, but leave your feet in place as you go up and down. The front heel stays dug in, the rear heel stays up. Get nice and long – long enough for you to feel a real stretch. Your feet should be at hip width and both pointed forward. The rear knee should almost touch the ground with each repetition. Your front hip, knee and ankle should form a straight line. Up and down on one side, then the other. If there is any joint pain, stop.

Exercise 2: Dumbbell row – 12 each side
Weight: 40 lbs. for dudes, 20 to 30 lbs. for chicks

Put one hand on a bench. You can have the same-side foot on the ground or put the shin on the same bench. Whatever. Grab a dumbbell with your other hand and pull it as far away from the floor as possible, control your descent and then repeat. Don’t rotate your torso. If there is any joint pain, stop.

Exercise 3: Dumbbell bench press – 12 each side
Weight: 30 lbs. for dudes, 15 to 20 lbs. for chicks

Lay back on a bench with your feet on the ground. Keep your shoulder blades squeezed together throughout and push those dumbbells (one in each hand) toward the ceiling. Keep your elbows within about 45 degrees of your body. Control your descent and repeat. If there is any joint pain, stop.

Lay face-down, with only your forearms and feet touching the ground. Hold just a slight pike (your ass should just be slightly higher than the rest of your body). Take very short breaks whenever you feel like your spine is trying to bear the weight (as opposed to your abs). If there is any joint pain . . . well, you know.

Now that you’ve been through all four exercises, go through them a second time. Maybe even a third.

Go fast: 30 seconds
Go slow: 2 minutes
Repeat this four times (that’s 10 minutes total).

Towel off, go home and do some more reading. Don’t forget to tip your servers. Thank you and goodnight!

Geoff is also one of my favourite boys in the whole world. He introduced me to the epic joy of Rottblott’s, a hardware surplus store — basically a candy store for people who love old-skool strength training toys. Thanks to Geoff I now own 20 feet of thick rope. And I’m eyeing a heavier sledgehammer…

I've just had a busy week with a team of clergy and students leading a teaching week at Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. There are a number of
people there preparing for baptism, and some of those already baptised wanted a refersher course, so we've been teaching from Monday to Friday.

The course was held in an orphanage run by Fr Frumentius Taubata and Matushka Evgenia, and about half the children were from the orphanage, and about half from nearby shanty towns Brazzaville and Siyahlala. We had about 25 children and 25 adults attending for the week. At the end Deacon Nektarius said that if they rememberd a third of what they had been taught in the week, they would know as much as, if not more than, most cradle Orthodox in this country.

If anyone is intereted in knowing more, there are fuller reports on my Khanya blog, with pictures.