Good Turn 2007

Friday night, I got a call from Bruce about the Troop's weekend 'The Good Turn'. Ordinarily, we would go up to our summer camp for the whole weekend and make repairs; the weather, however, was prophesied to be so severe that he had decided the Troop would go up for the day. So we did. The overcast sky provided a cool environment, muting all colors. As yet it was not drizzling. Then at eleven it started. Everybody worked at something; some dug post-holes and put up signs for the nature trail; others fit the boards to the metal frames of the non-wood platforms; yet others repaired the the cabins in Pioneers, where the Troop stays in summertime. Our customary coordinator for this venture, Chuck, had injured himself severely in recent months, but his absence was noticeable. Although it was only a day, an impressive amount of work was accomplished, and, most importantly, the ranger had a better attitude towards the troops who participated.

Boondocks

Last night, which was Thursday, I went to the JCC to hear Aaron McGruder in dialogue with Jeff Chang. Every seat was sold, altough not all were occupied. I sat near one of the JCC preschool teachers (married to a non-Jew) who grew up in San Francisco and learned to swim in the old JCC pool. Perhaps Ruth knows her? McGruder seemed quite pleasant, but he did not delve too deeply into politics and eschewed invective.

Khristos Anesti secundum Marcum

I realize the absurdity of posting twice in such a short period of time, but there are some thoughts which would be expressed too late, were I to delay their expression further. It is true that I did not attend a Good Friday service, but by this omission I mean no disrespect. For many years, dwelling on the service of Good Friday struck me as morbid, whether that of devout Catholics or dour Scottish Calvinists. I was made to understand, however, that this apparent morbidity, when applied in moderation, was an attempt to incorporate into the person of the individual believer that anguish which Luther felt all too keenly.

I still prefer the emphasis on the resurrection, however, for Christ was not the only one who died for the sins of others (for many luckless animals without blemish had done that for lesser numbers 0f individuals) but rather the only one who came to life again for the sins of others.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Heady Days

The last three days have seen much intellectual ferment, and I should put my thoughts to the pixels ere the hot winds of change wipe away the notes on my tabula erasura.

On Wednesday, I attended the SFSU Classical Students Association lecture, the last of the season, at which the topic was 'Religious War in the Ancient World'. Although it was argued that western monotheism allowed the full flowering of religious war, there are certain counterexamples of Buddhist kings no less military and missionary. Sadly, the lecturer omitted for reason of time, a comment on my beloved Donatists.

On Thursday, I went with Joan and Joe Sutton to Stanford that I might hear Patrick Hunt, vir illustris of the archeological world, speak on his expedition to the Alps and his seeking of the pass by which Hannibal, with his men and elephants, crossed the mountains. Hunt suggested that the choice of such an unfavorable route was not only plausible, but likely, for a member of Hannibal's lineage. Hannibal's god was Baal, a god of heights and storms; where better for the general to seek his god's protection than the place where he would choose to dwell?

On Friday, I joined Joan again unexpectedly for the reading of the 'phad' at the Asian Art Museum. The museum not only had borrowed a display of the art of the state of Mewar in Rajasthan, India, but it had also brought a bhopa and bhopi, indigenous storytellers specializing the reading of the phad, a painting and portable temple which aids the bhopa and bhopi in telling the stories of the local god Pabuji and the much more renowned Ramayana. For those who care to know, the bhopa and bhopi will be performing at 2:30 at the museum through the 15th. I strongly encourage those who can to go.