Mhaolain's Child, a Renaissance Thinker in a Post-Modern Culture

Generational Succession: A Heritage of Poets

One of my favorite seasons of life has been the era of educator. Not only did I have the joy of homeschooling my son, but I also had the joy of teaching Rhetoric and also Theater at Franklin Classical School. Even though I am "retired" from the day-in and day-out classroom experience, I am privileged to be invited as Professor Emeritus to serve as guest lecturer from time to time, whether it's to help motivate the students in their travails of thesis paper composition or in the use of rhetorical devices to create poetry. Every once in a while I even get invited to direct a skit or produce an event. For me, it's the perfect job.

Last January, I returned to FCS for what has become something of an annual event -- the assembly in which I teach the Celtic Prayer for Snow. (And snow it did during that week!) I use this poetical prayer as the "fun" element for teaching rhetorical devices, those schemes of arrangement and tropes of wording that bring beauty to otherwise ordinary speech. The students loved the lesson and participated enthusiastically. They enjoyed it so much they memorialized the day in their yearbook, for which I extend my thanks.

Imagine my surprise when, at graduation last weekend, one of the seniors, Logan Davis, composed a poetical prayer based on the lessons I offered in that January assembly. It is a beautiful prayer, and it made my heart swell with excitement. For what is my purpose as a writer, thinker, enabler, if not to instill my own abilities and knowledge in the successive generations? My abilities will be of no use when I lie moldering in my grave -- unless I have imbued the next generations with these bits of ability and knowledge from my years in this age. Thanks, Logan, for taking my thoughts and giving them new life. Godspeed as you take up our mantle and build your own legacy.

Commencement Prayer 

O’ Lord, the God of all justice,

Risen hast thou beyond the grave,

Mightily hast thou defeated death,

And for that we do praise thee.

 

O’ Lord, the God of all might,

Your enemies do shake in the palm of your hand,

And, like Autumn’s leaves, they crumble and fall.

And for that, O’ Lord, we do praise thee.

 

Now, Lord of all wisdom,

We praise thee and we beseech thee.

To light upon our lives and bless our goings;

To light upon our lives and bless our doings;

To light upon our lives and bless our struggles,

And our scrapes,

And our bruises.

And for that, our God, we do praise thee.

 

O’ Lord, the God of all love,

Bless us, we now beg of you, with the love that you exude;

Let it fill us, Lord,

Let us show it, Lord,

Let us become extensions of it, O’ great God.

And Lord, with our friends, with our families,

Let us always deal with joyful forbearance.

 

Now, Lord of the broken, Lord of us,

Bless us on this day of commencement,

That our fine regalia may not draw eyes to us,

But that our blessed lives would draw eyes to you.

Bless us on this day of endings,

That our hearts may not be sad.

And, sweet Lord, bless us on this day of beginnings,

That we may realize it as such,

And worship you accordingly.

 

In the most glorious, holy, and precious name

In the name of the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb that was slain,

Christ Jesus,

We pray these things.

Amen.

--by Logan Davis

Aldermen Assert Columbia Pike Doesn't Merit the Streetscape Investment

 "You don't put $1000 tires on a car that's only worth $1200," Dana McLendon.

Last night I witnessed the passionate discussions about the City of Franklin's Streetscape project for Columbia Pike. For those of you who do not know Franklin, Columbia Pike is one of the major corridors into historic downtown Franklin. Columbia Pike is our name for U.S. Highway 31, a major artery that in pre-interstate highway days, linked Nashville, Franklin, Columbia, Pulaski, and points south into Alabama. This thoroughfare saw more than its fair share of military movement during the American Civil War, as Union occupation forces tramped into Middle Tennessee as early in the conflict as late 1862. Even more tragically, Columbia Pike saw one of the bloodiest single timespans of the entire conflict as the Battle of Franklin found its epicenter along this road.

At last night's meeting, I felt as though the ghosts of those soldiers had returned to fight yet again along Columbia Pike as the Aldermen took passionately divergent positions of support or opposition to forging ahead with the improvements to this major downtown street. Dan Klatt and Beverly Burger spoke about the benefits to all citizens of Franklin achieved by the infrastructural improvements to the streets, sidewalks, and lighting along the blocks of Columbia Pike that link Main Street with the historic Lotz House and the Carter House. Pearl Bransford spoke of possessing the vision to see the economic progress that will come to this, one of the poorest neighborhoods of Franklin. Indeed, Columbia Pike and its pinwheeled sidestreets serve as home to the closest thing one could call "affordable housing" in Franklin. Additionally, Columbia Pike is the corridor that links to the other sites of "affordable housing" in Williamson County, that being in Thompson's Station and Spring Hill. The city's investment in the infrastructural rehabilitation of Columbia Pike offers the opportunity for economic rehabilitation of the businesses in that district, an opportunity to expand the markets and services to locals and tourists alike. The president of the Downtown Franklin Homeowner's Association spoke to this need as did one of the owner's of a Columbia Pike business.

Conversely, this very quagmire of the economic state of the Columbia Pike businesses and neighborhoods served as Ann Petersen's focal argument. Mrs. Petersen continually asserted that the businesses along Columbia Pike did not have enough value to merit the city's investment in the street on which they are situated. She insisted that the current businesses along Columbia and the adjacent neighborhoods aren't affluent enough to provide any of the funding for the project. Mrs. Petersen seemed to assert that city projects should be funded in large measure by the neighborhoods that benefit from those projects, though I noticed that the other projects brought before the board last night seemed to be exempt from providing their own funding. Following Mrs. Petersen, Dana McLendon strongly voiced his desire to scrap the Columbia Pike project in order to begin the Streetscape work on Hillsboro Pike. Mr. McLendon summed up his opposition to investing in the infrastructure of Columbia Pike with the following analogy, "You don't put $1000 tires on a car that's only worth $1200." I find Mr. McLendon's analogy to be a faulty one, as I assert that I see a car like my uncle's 1960-era Mustang that has become a valuable collector's item. All because my uncle could see beyond the rust and invest in the infrastructure.  But my uncle is a visionary.

Mr. Skinner asked questions relating to both sides of the discussion. Mr. Barnhill refrained from expressing opinion, and Mr. Moore was absent.

Personally, I find it very disappointing that one of the neighborhoods that truly needs the investment of government assistance and infrastructure is the very neighborhood of Franklin that may be denied that assistance. Why would government officials decline to provide the funding for rehabilitation of the city streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and other elements to one of the poorest neighborhoods and offer as a rationale the fact that these lower income businesses don't have enough value to merit the influx of government funds?

As Mr. McLendon asserted, "You don't put $1000 tires on a car that's only worth $1200." So, if Mr. McLendon, Mrs. Petersen, and other like-minded aldermen carry the vote, once again the Columbia Pike neighborhood is destined to remain the ScrapYard of Downtown Franklin.

Compassion Fills the Hole in Our Gospel

My parents modeled charity and care in our family when I was growing up. Whenever any of our neighbors needed any kind of help, my parents were always among the first to show up with help. It didn't matter if we knew those in need well or not at all; my parents simply recognized an opportunity to live out the love of Christ. Even today as they are retired and living on a fixed income, they are still aware of people in their community who experience tragedy, and they reach out to help.

I love having that compassionate nature embedded within my character, even though it means I have to leave the room when commercials come on the television that seek aid for children around the world or even the local animal shelter. My parents' efforts created a soft heart within me, and, for that, I give them thanks. In addition to local, usually anonymous, work and contributions, I've been a strong advocate of the work of Compassion International. Many of my friends and colleagues here in Franklin are also involved in the work of Compassion, and they blog and twitter about the great opportunities to help others trapped in poverty.

Earlier this week, I received a twitter with a link to a blog by Chris Giovagnoni, Alexander Needs Heart Surgery. In this blog post, Chris shared the exceptional need for a little boy in Africa. Chris challenged his readers to forego lunch that day and contribute the saved funds to help pay for Alexander's surgery. Chris also challenged his followers to retweet his message to their followers. You can follow Chris's updates related to his challenge at his blog post. But, the bottom line is that within 3 days, mostly in increments of $5 - $25, over $10,000 was raised to provide for Alexander's surgery as well as to add the overage to the general medical emergency funds of Compassion. By fasting from one lunch, multiplied by hundreds of people across the globe, a little boy's life was saved.

My friends Michael and Gail Hyatt recently returned from a visit to the Ethiopian workings of WorldVision. WorldVision, like Compassion, rescues the poverty-stricken, the orphans, the children living with HIV/AIDS, by providing them and their families the opportunity to grow where they are planted. WorldVision helps provide clean water and sanitation, farm plants and animals, and educational opportunities.

I'm deciding to fast from my Starbucks, a lunch or two each week, that new scented candle, so that I can be more like my parents and help more people in desperate need. All these items cost me about $5 each and, thankfully, don't radically impact my weekly budget. But these $5 bills can radically improve the lives of families through the works of Compassion and WorldVision. I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue the legacy given me by my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Franklin Streetscape for Columbia Pike May Be Cast Aside

I grew up in a small rural town in middle Tennessee where the only restaurants were hamburger joints, barbecue shops, or a catfish fry. So it was a real treat to be invited to participate in a Mother/Daughter lunch road trip. Most of the time we headed south to Huntsville, but in the late 1970s we began to make the drive to another Southern town that was trying to capitalize on its history instead of bulldozing it under for a strip mall. That little town has since become my hometown of Franklin. Back then, the hot spot in Franklin for Southern ladies out for the day was Miss Daisy’s Tea Room at Carter’s Court. Her location seemed perfect as it was directly across the street from the historic Carter House. But as time went by, the Carter’s Court location couldn’t hold its own against the “strip mall” atmosphere of its neighbors. Miss Daisy moved out, and the Columbia Pike historic trail slumped further into its aura of orphaned neighborhood. In 1986 when my husband told me we were headed to settle in Franklin, all I could envision was that tribute to 1960s expansion that is Columbia Pike. I wept.

Fortunately, as early as the 1980s the Downtown Franklin Association, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and the Heritage Foundation recognized the need to preserve the historic flavor of Franklin and to provide the foundations that would draw businesses, locals, and visitors back to the historic heart of town. These far-sighted individuals sought the advice of many historians and economists, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Richard Moe and economic policy advisor Carter Wilkie.  A major component in their battle against unrestricted urbanization and the accompanying loss of individuality and history is the project we now know as the Streetscape Project.

According to Streetscape documents presented to the aldermen, “as recently as 1990, Franklin’s historic downtown district had a 35% vacancy rate, and its deteriorated condition was having an adverse impact on the value of adjacent neighborhoods. Economic development in the core area of the city was at a standstill due to the negative image stemming from the deteriorated condition of the downtown district.” Now, in 2009 we who call Franklin home see a beautiful, welcoming downtown coming into existence, one that invites locals and visitors to park their cars and walk on the brick sidewalks under the soft shade of the trees. For Streetscape brought level sidewalks, shade trees, smooth streets, curbs, and gutters, level paths for ingress and egress from the streets – in short, Streetscape provided a Yellow-Brick Road of continuity that leads locals and visitors into the heart of Franklin. Those very sidewalks, smoothly surfaced streets and openings, sheltering trees and walls offer a tacit, “You are safe and welcome here in this part of Franklin.”

Yet, imagine my disappointment when I read Mindy Tate’s article in the local paper that, after all the work in the immediate downtown area, the very corridor that left such a blighted impression on my mind 30 years ago is to be shunned by the aldermen once again. Even though the Streetscape project for Columbia Pike stands ready to commence, I read that the aldermen are considering “delaying” this facet of the Streetscape Project in favor of the Hillsboro Road arm of the project, even though absolutely none of the preparatory work has been done for that phase of Streetscape. All preparations have been completed for the Columbia Pike phase, and the project is immediately ready to bid. The Columbia Pike project could be completed while the paperwork is being organized for the Hillsboro Road facet. The estimated cost for these infrastructural improvements to the roads, the curbs and gutters, the uniformity of ingress/egress, the addition of safe sidewalks, and the remaining elements of Columbia Pike Streetscape is somewhere around $4 million – that is, for 2009. Can you imagine how that figure will balloon if the project is cast aside for the 10 years it will take to complete the Hillsboro Road facet of Streetscape? Alderman Ann Petersen is quoted in the Williamson Herald as noting, “I … realize we are spending $4 million on something that has an appraised value of $10 million.” A wise economics professor once told my class, “Never handle any project more than once. The additional costs of laying it aside and returning to it will be cost prohibitive.” Alderman Petersen must understand this economic truth.

When friends and family come to visit me, they always ask me to show them our historic sights. I usually devote a couple of hours to a Battle of Franklin overview. We go to Winstead Hill and look over the land that once felt the footfall of tens of thousands of men on that bloody November day. Then, I drive them over to Carnton and subsequently follow the back roads along Lewisburg Pike over to the Carter House, strategically avoiding Columbia Pike as long as possible. Inevitably, these visitors ask why Columbia Pike languishes in its state while the other corridors into Franklin have benefited from infrastructural improvements. They ask what’s so wrong with this neighborhood that it is cast aside.

Next Tuesday, May 26, the Board of Aldermen will meet to vote to stay the course and proceed with the Columbia Pike facet of Streetscape or to cast Columbia Pike aside. I entreat the aldermen to extend the Yellow Brick Road (of sidewalks, of curbs and gutters, of trees and level roads) down the historic corridor of Columbia Pike. Connect the historic downtown with the Carter House. Imbue economic confidence into the infrastructure of this thoroughfare. Continue the thoughtful vision of the aldermen of the past. Give this neighborhood the infrastructure it needs to become a viable facet of Downtown Franklin.

Man Who Shot Pope Wants to be Baptized at Vatican

I've followed with great interest this story as it has made its way through the blogosphere. I followed Gene Veith's links back to the posting at Strange Herring, a blog, may I add, I really enjoy. I particularly love Sacramone's ending and concur:

Lord. Works. Mysterious. Ways.

That about sums things up.

Killing the Alien Within

For months now I've been battling an alien. It lives in my abdomen and gnaws like mad -- think Sigourney Weaver in the film Alien. My health-care team named this alien "Ulcer" based purely on its personality and characteristics. But convincing my alien to leave my body has been a more difficult task than any of us could manage.

Today, we called in the heavy-hitters at Franklin Endoscopy Center. Dr. Wilmot Burch is a Gastroenterologist who practices in the Cool Springs area of Franklin. He has a ready smile and quick wit. His bedside manner is top notch, exuding confidence but not cockiness in his speciality as well as offering his patients a genuine sense of compassion and concern. Today, he sent his film crew down into my esophagus and stomach to catch my alien in action.

From the moment I walked in the front door, I met smiling care givers who seemed to enjoy their roles in the health care of their patients. The business and administrative staff shuffled all the necessary paperwork expediently and graciously, offering assurances about my care and comfort even from their relative remove from the operatory. A smiling nurse escorted me back to my cubicle and introduced me to my nurse and my anesthetist, as well as introducing me to the nurse who would care for me in recovery. Each person on Dr. Burch's team treated me with individual concern and friendliness. Though they were consummate professionals, they never treated me as though I was just another body to work through. When I woke up, my recovery nurse even made me my favorite cup of hot tea. They all joined in my happy dance when Dr. Burch told me he'd identified my alien and shared the battle plan to kick Old Ulcer's nasty booty out of my belly. I go back in a couple of weeks to assess this plan's effectiveness.

I've heard all the awful stories about having scopes stuck down your throat and -- well, you know. If I ever have any other health issues with my Gastro track, you can believe that this picky little Southern woman will head straight back to Dr. Wilmot Burch and his fabulous team of health care providers.

Flying into the Future

I’m not really a greetings card kind of person. Oh, I will grab some of those funny cards at Barnes and Noble for birthdays and always a Hallmark card on Mother’s Day. But most of the time I dig out my old-fashioned fountain pen and stationery to pen my own thoughts and sentiments.  I especially like to write my own exhortation over family and friends who invite me to participate in their graduation.  I muse over just the right words to congratulate them on their current achievement and to encourage them to seek the dreams that slumber within them.

 

This year's graduating class is particularly dear to my heart as my son completes his studies and earns his BA in Religion. He's worked hard and continues to work hard to become the man God created him to be and to fulfill the calling God designed for him.

 

One of my teaching colleagues, Dr. George Grant of Franklin Classical School, often uses an interesting analogy when he exhorts his fellow teachers at FCS.  George urges his faculty metaphorically to pick up each student and stand him or her on our shoulders through all the ideas that we have taught and the character that we have mentored.  Finally, at the end of this season of life with them, we catapult these young men and women in whom we’ve poured our souls into the middle of their own river of life.  As I write all my letters to the graduates of 2009, I’m hoping they will remember the somersault they flipped as they zoom over my head into Destiny.  Fly high, my friends.  Make a big splash according to your talents and giftings and, most importantly, according to God’s unique plan for you.

Of Poets, Painters, Musicians, and Life

 St. Luke, writer, painter, doctor, patron saint of artists

My son completes his college studies this week, and he's going out with a bang. As a Religion and Writing major, he's written a plethora of deeply introspective papers. However, his final paper of this season of life offers his challenge both to himself and to other young artists who seek to serve their Creator through the Arts.

With his permission, I share with my readers some of his closing thoughts from his senior writing symposium:

As artists we are filled with the need to assemble innovative creations or to reproduce in physical form the thoughts in our minds and the emotions in our hearts.  For every creative mind, the reasons behind our inspiration, creative processes, and execution differ, and no artist approaches work the exact same way another creative does.  Despite diversity, we follow similar structures, paradigms, and beliefs that guide vast numbers of humans in movements.  Our similar movement is Christianity, and we can both agree that every creation is Christ’s alone and that all worthwhile inspiration stems from the Mercy Seat.  Just like the centuries old Japanese belief in the sacredness of everything, of nature, humanity, and the divine, similarly all creativity flows from the sacred creation of God.  Furthermore, our works are not so much depictions of Christ, his teachings, and the Gospel as much as they point to Christ, providing a window through which we can witness the Truth.  This very concept is the driving force behind Icons within the Orthodox Church, for these images, like our creative works, are not depictions or objects of worship and praise but open doors into the spiritual.

 

However, there is a fine line to be walked with Icons, for there must be a distinction made between them and Idols.  Artists often times take pride over their works, fulfilling their egos and placing their names haughtily upon the face of their work.  Similarly, the viewer or consumer will absorb the emotional and intrinsic worth of art with or without the guidance necessary to comprehend the piece.  I agree in believing that the Creator and Christ have already laid the fusion of form and content before us, but we must grow stronger still in our resolve that our stories flow from God and belong to God....

 

As Gregory Wolfe stated, the arts are central to understanding and communicating with contemporary cultures, and the Church has been too concerned with picking sides for the past century.  Now, with the need of cultural identity and the spread of spiritual hunger, Christian art is steadily filtering into the mainstream, mostly by avoiding the “Christian Categories.” While Christian Music, Christian Self-Help Books, and Christian Food still awkwardly raise barriers between the secular, artists are breaking the mold right in front of our eyes.  I am proud to watch my peers contribute to our culture in ways that are genuinely artistic and naturally Christian.  Perhaps the future of Christianity within our culture isn’t as dire as we had once thought.

Rhonda's Recipe for Garlic Cheese Grits

I'm a competent cook and have a few tried and true recipes. However, my garlic cheese grits seem to get rave reviews from all who taste them, even my friends who live north of the Mason/Dixon line. Not being one to hoard information, I share below my recipe for this dish. Enjoy!

Rhonda’s Creamy Garlic Cheese Grits

 

In a double-boiler, boil:

 

1 qt. of cream (or half-and-half)

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. black pepper

 

Stir in:

 

1 c. grits (quick cooking but not instant)

 

Return to simmer and cook until thick, about 5 minutes, stirring almost constantly.

 

Then add:

4 oz. cream cheese, cubed

6 oz. shredded sharp cheddar (I usually add more than this so it is really cheesy)

½ tsp. Tabasco

 

Stir until cheeses blend.  Serve hot.  Serves 8-10 for dinner portions. This dish is a great accompaniment to grilled steaks.

The Marketplace at Brentwood Baptist Church

I've been working with the children's ministry at Brentwood Baptist Church for around three years now. I'm one of the official substitute Sunday School teachers, so I get to float from class to class and make friends with so many wonderful children. I also have helped to produce and direct BBC's amazing KidzPraise worship service targeted for children and their families. It's singing, moving, learning about the Word in a way that children suck up like little sponges. Over the past two years, I've met with our Minister to Children, Ken Hindman, about a dream project of his, The Marketplace. Last week, after years of planning and months of building, KidzPraise ended and Marketplace became a reality at our church.

One large suite of rooms was converted to resemble the Marketplace of ancient Jerusalem, including the Temple.

 

The other 2 walls find tents and booths covering the 21st-century wallpaper. During the Marketplace worship service, the children sample fruits and breads, and they sometimes cook food. They weave baskets and rugs. The Roman soldiers patrol; the priests and rabbis mingle with the townspeople. After about 20 minutes of these activities, the Bible story of the day is presented in a theater-in-the-round manner. After this realistic telling of the story, Mr. Hindman ("Mr. Ken" to the children) spends about 3-4 minutes recapping the central truth of the lesson. The children return to their activities until time to sing and dance. Marketplace takes place at both the 9:15 hour and the 11:00 hour, alternating with the children's Sunday School hour, which teaches the same Bible story. At last week's inaugural services, 391 children participated in the activities and heard the stories.

I'm particularly enthusiastic about the project because I'm writing the scripts that bring these lessons into real-life action. Yesterday, when John the Baptist immersed Jesus in the Jordan (yep -- we brought in the portable baptismal pool) and the dove flew to the dripping wet Jesus (yep -- a real dove), the children ooo-ed and ah-ed for several moments. I doubt any of them will ever read that chapter in the Bible again without remembering the morning they saw the white bird flying onto Jesus at Marketplace.

If you live near the Nashville suburbs and have children and/or grandchildren, you will want to experience Marketplace with them and see the Bible stories come to life for you and for them.