2009 September » Love is the most excellent way

Courage and Risk

Communitas Collective, My change in faith 2 Responses »

Sep 252009

lily This is a copy of my second post on the Communitas Collective blog.

Two days ago I was sitting in the doctor’s office. The nurse was explaining to me how to give myself a shot of a Crohn’s medication I’m just starting. I was quite afraid it would hurt, then I’d drop the syringe and mess up the injection. I could have had her do it but I really wanted to learn how, so I took some deep breaths and DID IT MYSELF.

In fact I barely felt the needle (thank you superfine insulin needles!) That’s the neat thing about facing up to a fear: the fear is often much worse than the reality. But the only way to find out is to act in spite of the fear.

That shot only involved me; but when we act in spite of fear and take risks on other people, they benefit too. As a Christian I learned how Jesus took risks on other people. He touched a leper, risking his own health and made friends with outcasts, risking his reputation.

I loved those stories and wanted to follow Jesus in this. I hoped Jesus’ followers would do the same for me. But when I experienced mental illness, many didn’t even want to take small risks on me. I was hurt and disillusioned.

I left church for that and other reasons but I still want to take risks on people. Especially because of what mental illness has taught me: someone who seems weird on the outside is still human on the inside, with human needs for compassion and kindness.

Maybe there’s someone in your world who would love to have you take a risk on them today.

OPRF Concerto Competition 2009

General updates, Music No Responses »

Sep 222009

Download Tchaikowsky	Download Mozart
Ben playing Tchaikowsky	Ben and Darcy playing Mozart

The high school concerto competition finals were last night and Ben’s piano performance was one of the three winning ones!

The videos are above (the piano one takes a few moments to start – it’s a 20 minute video). Ben played the first movement of the Tchaikowsky Piano Concerto no. 1 and also the first movement of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with Darcy. Angela Wright is accompanying Ben in the Tchaikowsky and Shirley Trissell is accompanying Ben and Darcy in the Mozart. The Mozart went very well but there were some other excellent musicians competing and two of them (violinists) were selected as the other two winners.

The competition winners get to perform their piece with the school symphony orchestra. Ben was hoping he’d have the opportunity to play the Tchaikowsky with an orchestra and so he’s very pleased.

Violin Recital September 12, 2009

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Sep 122009

Download Mozart	Download Mendelssohn
Ben and Darcy playing Mozart	Esther playing Mendelssohn

Today Ben and Darcy played the first movement of the Sinfonia Concertante by Mozart and Esther played the first movement of the Mendelssohn violin concerto in a violin recital.

Ben and Esther are preparing these pieces for competitions. Ben and Darcy are participating in the high school concerto competition this month and Esther is entering the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest concerto competition later this year. (Ben is also playing the first movement of the Tchaikowsky piano concerto no. 1 for the high school concerto competition)

Happiness, hope and uncertainty

Communitas Collective, My change in faith No Responses »

Sep 042009

lily Today I begin posting twice a month on the Communitas Collective blog. This is a copy of my first post there.

When I began to question my Christian beliefs, one of my biggest fears was: “How can a person be happy without God?”

Interacting with happy atheists on the Internet reassured me. Their enjoyment of life proved it must be possible.

I can’t count on God loving me or directing my life anymore, or eternal happiness after this life. But I can appreciate the kindness of others, beautiful scenery and everything that is going well. They are as wonderful as ever though I no longer think of them as gifts from God.

Two years ago a new level of uncertainty came into my life. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a condition with no cure. Doctors try to control the symptoms with medication but in my case the medications haven’t been very effective.

My counselor attempted to give me hope with “Maybe this medication will work.” I tried to explain “I can’t go there any more than I can hope in a God I don’t know exists. What works for me is accepting the reality that my future health is uncertain, then choosing not to worry about it.” Worry implicitly assumes a bad outcome and is as unrealistic as counting on a good one.

I remember reading “Don’t worry” back in my Bible studying days. That’s ok. Outsiders are allowed to incorporate any good advice they run across, even if it’s attributed to Jesus!