Twisted

Sometimes I think I run as an excuse for being so bad at yoga. Those tight hamstrings come in oh so handy when explaining why I can't bend, have an awful time arching, and really am a clod when attempting to curl into a cannonball.

I know-there is no such thing as being "bad" at getting into yoga postures. There's no competition-even when you notice the woman in front of you sweeping her head gracefully to the floor while yours is stubbornly hanging near your kneecaps. No self-criticism if your back refuses to form a graceful arch and if you put your hands anywhere near those ankles, you would just topple over.

Aside from having a back that sometimes reminds me that I have a few herniated discs, I tend to trust my body's ability to hike a state forest, or run up a tough hill, do rows and lat pulldowns. No one would confuse me with graceful, but fortunately I'm at the age now where that kind of grace isn't always required.

But when I do yoga, I am back in the body of the awkward teenage girl who fled into modern dance because ballet required you conform those pesky arms and legs into the proper alignment, and maintain classic form-while making it look easy.

As humiliating as it sometimes can feel, I will continue to pursue yoga (well, not pursue it, just practice it)-and work on my 'tude as well as my hamstrings. Who knows-both may become more flexible!!!

A very hectic day in which I attended a parent-teacher conference, went to the gym, did laundry, started an article, and wrote one editorial-and returned to it early this evening to find that parts of it were very confusing. In fact, I had no clue what I was talking out. Well, when you write about civil war in the Episcopal Church, what can you expect?

I hear that my old boss is at the meeting in Pittsburgh at which the dissidents are figuring out what to do next. I can't imagine he would take Good Samaritan out of the Episcopal Church, because the church has just had a large building campaign. But he might get try to get as close to it as he can.

Hiring the sons of two very prominent ex-Episcopalians was brilliant-I've never seen anyone walk that fine line between obedience and insubordination as adeptly as he does. That being said, I'm glad I'm not in his shoes. They must feel very tight sometimes. It hurts enough being on the sidelines.

But then, I'm not into politics. Or power, like those men grabbing for purple shirts.

Except maybe the power to shape public opinon a little. OK, I, too am a bit of a hypocrite.

We went outside to see the harvest moon tonight. Standing on our walk, with the trees outlined in the slightly eerie light, Colin slipped his arm around me. Resting his head against my ribs, he talked...about werewolves. Typical boy stuff. I stared at the moon, and imagined that someone had actually walked on it. How humbling. How can we humans, able to go so far, be so backward when it comes to dealing with ordinary life on earth?

I wonder if the Archbishop of Nigeria would consider sending some of those bishops to other planets-new mission fields?

The Monks of Myanmar (Burma)

As our country recoils from the pride of those on the religious right who believed they could make America a "Christian" country by using the politics of piety, there seems to be a widespread skepticism about the role of religion in general among the so-called elite.

It's no wonder we've seen books decrying the horrors of a crusading theism skip to the top of the bestsller list...and stay there.

I thought about this when I heard about the monks of Burma. As they walk through the streets of Yangon and Mandalay, these holy men peacefully witness to the power of faith to change the world. They may be crushed by the military, but their nonviolent power will eventually threaten the underpinnings of the junta that rules by fear.

What is is about certain believers, Christian or not, that allows them to light our world with their conviction and bravery?

Their protest brings to mind the activity of laypeople and priests in so many places in South and Central America in the days when many of those nations shook under the mailed fist of illegimate rulers.

The Civil Rights movement in this country in the 60's, the abolitionist move,ent 100 years before, was fueled by the ardent belief on the part of faithful Christians that the there was no room in the Good News for bigotry.

There have been many times when violence has been justified by perverting the Gospel. But surely we know the difference between the ugliness of sin disguised as holiness and witness driven by God's spirit?

One imprisons us-the other opens our eyes, and impels us to hope, and newfound faith, and action.