Luke the Drifter: Hank Williams' altar ego



(Montgomery, Alabama Statue)



From the get-go, Hank Williams, Sr. was unique.  His birth name, Hiram, means “highborn” in Hebrew.  According to Wikipedia, he was named after King Hiram I of Tyre.  This Phoenician king reigned from 980 to 947 BCE, and was an ally of Israel’s Kings David and Solomon.  In fact, Hiram I helped to build the First Temple of Jerusalem by sending Solomon “architects, workmen, and cedar wood.”  

Unfortunately, Williams was also born with another unique characteristic – one that would cause him pain and suffering for the rest of his short life.  This condition was spina bifida occulta, which some studies suggest can lead to prolonged back pain.  Williams complained of back pain throughout much of his life, and was prescribed powerful drugs such as chloral hydrate and morphine to help ease it.  These sedatives, plus Williams’ habit of self-medicating with alcohol, may have eventually led to his early demise at age 29.

As he slipped further and further into alcoholism, Williams was well aware of the dichotomy between spiritual ideals expressed in songs such as “I Saw the Light” and the life he was often actually leading.  Poetspath.com explains how this dichotomy spawned Williams’ "Luke the Drifter"

persona:  Early in his career, he developed the habit of singing preaching type songs under the name of “Luke the Drifter,” a nom de plume for an idealized character who went across the country preaching the gospel, and doing good deeds while Hank Williams, the drunkard, cheated on women, and was cheated on by them in return…

Poetspath.com also reports that these “Luke the Drifter” songs were considered to be “recitative morality fables.”  One such song, The Funeral, was especially popular with black audiences because it depicted the church funeral of a black child.  The ending of that song reflects the theme of many a “Luke the Drifter” admonition:  So my poor detached mourners let your hearts with Jesus rest, And don’t go to criticizin’ the one that knows the best, He has give us many comforts, he has the right to take away, To the Lord be praised in glory forever let us pray.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams

http://www.poetspath.com/exhibits/troubadours_hank.html

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/hank-williams/funeral.html

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-SAW-THE-LIGHT-lyrics-Hank-Williams/48E075750A5FA2394825698100090D64

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spina_bifida

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hiram_I

Copyright September 17, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Lucifer rising: Can fallen angels bounce back?



(Lucifer in Paradise Lost) 

The original association with the name “Lucifer” was the planet Venus.  When Venus appeared at dawn, it was called

Lucifer (shortened from the Latin words lucem ferre, meaning “light-bearer”).  These days, Venus is more often called “Day Star” or “Morning Star,” due to a later association of the name “Lucifer” with the fallen angel, Satan-Sataniel (aka the Devil, Satan, the Adversary, the Enemy).

Eons after Lucifer’s alleged fall from the heavenly realms, a

psychologist on planet Earth wrote a book called The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil.  This psychologist, Philip Zimbardo, was himself quite notorious for a good long while.  That’s because he conducted the “experiment from hell” back in 1971.  In this experiment at Stanford University, Zimbardo created a simulated prison in which those who played the guards became so sadistic and violent that the experiment had to be

stopped.  This Stanford Prison Experiment showed that otherwise-good people tend to conform, even when that means doing horrible things.

Now, forty years later, Zimbardo is embarking on a whole new project.  Rather than settle for a legacy based upon horror, Zimbardo is now probing (and hoping to enhance) the goodness of human nature.  He is basing this Heroic Imagination Project on the upbeat premise that “heroes are not extraordinary people,” but rather “ordinary people who do an extraordinary thing, step out of themselves, put their best self forward in service to humanity.”  He believes that what prompts “ordinary” heroics is the "internalizing of heroic imagination” (telling oneself “I could do it”).  He has therefore (heroically) set forth to teach heroics at a charter school in one of Oakland, California’s tougher neighborhoods.

Hopefully, Zimbardo’s latest project will have a happier ending than many of Lucifer’s.  And yet, even Satan’s journey “ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”  If Zimbardo’s latest theory is correct, then perhaps there’s hope for even this most rock-bottom of angels.  Perhaps it could work like this:  The harder the fall, the higher the bounce…

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Zimbardo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/04/137531649/evil-scientist-wants-to-teach-people-to-do-good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan

Copyright September 16, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Amish traditions: Can man-made be God-inspired?



(Photo by Nils Fretwurst)

Sunday evening of the 2011 Labor Day weekend found me heading back east through the Mohawk Valley of New York State.  Because a storm was brewing, I took the shortest cuts possible.  These led me straight through “Amish country.”

The darkness was growing thicker and thicker as the wind and rain whipped through.  Suddenly before me, looming up from the eerie mist, was a glowing reddish triangle.  It took me but a moment to adjust, and that adjustment made all the difference.  Had I not seen that bright-colored safety symbol, there is every chance that my vehicle would have slammed into that darker-

colored, slower-moving, horse-drawn buggy.

I thanked my lucky stars, and the Creator who made them, as I continued driving for miles behind the Amish

buggy.  The storm grew fiercer and fiercer, and I later was told that a tornado had hit the region just east of

there.  When I arrived home, I explained to my husband how that glowing triangle had probably saved lives.

Now, a mere two-and-a-half weeks later, I’m reading headlines like this one from Reuters:  Amish men jailed for not displaying buggy safety signs.  Further reading revealed that “the defendants contend that paying the fines would amount to complying with a law that violates their religious restrictions against wearing

or displaying bright colors or relying upon man-made symbols for their safety.”

This has led to some questions on my part.  Are the restrictions against displaying bright colors because of modesty?  If so, would a strictly safety-oriented symbol be immodest?  Is such a safety-oriented symbol completely man-made?  Is it possible that God sometimes works through man in order to protect Creation?

It is often quite difficult to discern where “man-made” ends and “God-inspired” begins.  Erring on the side of preserving life seems particularly pertinent in a case like this.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_life_in_the_modern_world

http://www.wtvr.com/news/sns-rt-us-kentucky-amish-jailedtre78c7k6-20110913,0,827825.story

http://www.amishnews.com/amisharticles/religioustraditions.htm

http://amishamerica.com/why-do-the-amish-wear-plain-clothing/     

http://books.google.com/books?id=_9WTtr8EL74C&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=amish+manmade+symbols&source=bl&ots=hninjzgi-j&sig=fjFPcvRZEErRqyL1zqdMX7ftRt4&hl=en&ei=vRBxTqzrGIfW0QHIhJ2oCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false  

Copyright September 15, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Holy Cross Day: The Tau of Christianity

Although the crucifix has become a commonly accepted symbol of Christianity, some still debate whether or not Jesus actually died upon a cross.  Some insist that Jesus “was nailed to a single upright beam, with his hands directly over his head” – and that the Tau is therefore a misleading, and even heretical, symbol.

The ancient Semitic letter Taw (aka Tav or Taf) gave rise to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Phoenician Taws.  The Phoenician Taw then gave rise to the Greek letter Tau (T) - which in turn gave rise to the Latin and Cyrillic Ts.  Christianity’s T-shaped Cross of Tau (aka Tau Cross, Anticipatory Cross, Saint Francis’ Cross, St. Anthony’s Cross, Advent Cross, Crux Commissa, Croce traumata, Egyptian Cross, and Old Testament Cross) came to symbolize not only the cross and crucifixion of Jesus, but also “life, resurrection, reincarnation, and blood sacrifice.”  Wikipedia also reports that some Catholic Church Fathers such as St. Jerome believed that the quote from Ezekiel 9:4 (“Mark Thau upon the foreheads of the men that sigh”) refers to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Others would prefer to disassociate Christianity from the Tau symbolism.  According to James Kiefer, they

contend that the Tau is much more associated with pre-Christian practices than it is with Christian ones.

These dissenters link the Tau with the Canaanite god, Tammuz.  They go so far as to believe that Christians

who “wear a cross, or make any religious use of a cross” are worshipping Tammuz rather than Jesus.

Wikipedia reports that the Tau was also the symbol for the astrological sign of Taurus, as well as for the

Roman god Mithras and the Greek god Attis.

The Tau of Christianity question is this:  Should anything pre-Christian be rooted out from the Christian faith?  If so, would that include Christmas, Easter, and a host of other salient associations?

Resources

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Holy_Cross.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Tau

Copyright September 14, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Dementia: Strength-based spirituality

According to The Free Dictionary, “Dementia is a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting more than six months, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss or alteration of consciousness.” The Free Dictionary defines “consciousness” as “a sense of one’s personal or collective identity…” or “alertness to or concern for a particular issue or situation.”

I would dare argue (With a dictionary?  Why that’s like debating Daniel Webster…) that every situation in life is at least somewhat associated with an “alteration of consciousness.”  Medically speaking, “alterations of

consciousness” are often associated with comatose states.  Spiritually speaking, “alterations of consciousness” are often associated with awareness levels.

I would therefore argue (cordially) that dementia is not so much a loss of overall mental ability (since we’re really not sure what most of the brain is about) as it is a loss of specific-type memories.  These lost memories are often strongly tied to “a sense of one’s personal or collective identity” (names, faces, family histories) - and just as often entail a marked change in the state of “alertness to or concern for a particular issue or situation” (safety, hygiene, social appropriateness).  It seems as though dementia would therefore be strongly associated with an “alteration” of consciousness – but that this alteration need not be strictly defined in terms of “loss.”

There are many spiritual traditions that urge adherents to “Be Here Now.”  Some call it “mindfulness” –others “Sabbath.”  “It” is the ability to be fully present to the moment at hand.  If you’re chewing, just chew.  Actually taste each morsel as it releases its crushed flavors onto your tongue.  If you’re breathing, just breathe.  Actually follow the whoosh of air as it sweeps through your nasal passages.  If you’re praying, just pray.  Actually notice the abundance of what is, rather than yearn for past and future projections.

It seems that what most gets in the way of Being Here Now is a continual stream of memory-induced thoughts like these:  “I can’t Be Here Now because so-and-so is expecting me to Be There Soon with him/her…  If I let her/him down by Being Here Now instead of Being There Then, the compendium of memories called “the relationship” might be jeopardized.  Then all that I’d have is this moment, and that is Not Enough.  Why just look at what happened in The Grasshopper and the Ants…”

Fortunately, spirituality does not necessarily depend upon memory – nor does it necessarily depend upon a state of everyday consciousness.  The “Be Here Now” aspect of dementia could lend itself to an exploration of spiritual possibilities.  When former definitions of “self” begin to fade, there may be openings for new definitions of “Self” to emerge.  The “monkey mind” – which meditation practitioners spend years trying to quiet – may now be just calm enough for spiritual awareness to flourish.

Holistic dementia programs are becoming wonderfully inclusive of the emotions and capabilities of memory-

challenged individuals.  Increased emphasis upon interspirituality could round out these programs even more.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dementia

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consciousness

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/alzheimers.aspx

http://www.thehearth.org/theway.html

http://www.topia.net/interspirituality.html

http://www.ramdass.org/

http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/mstory.htm

Copyright September 13, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

Resources

Adam's dirt: Do we still need it?



Elohim creating Adam (by William Blake)

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the word “Adam” comes from the Hebrew word adamah, meaning “ground.”  This seems right in sync with Genesis 2:7 (KJV):  Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 3:19 further elaborates upon the connection of Adam (referring to generic “mankind,” as well as to the very first “man”) with the earth’s substance.  The KJV passage states:  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.  The Jewish Encyclopedia also points out the similarity between the Latin term humanus, meaning “pertaining to man” - and the English word “humus,” meaning “the organic portion of soil.”  An ancient Semitic notion was that “men not only came from and returned to the earth, but actually partook of its substance.”

It is therefore no wonder that the human condition is deteriorating as humans move farther and farther from their earthen roots.  Dennis Thompson of MSN Health points out that “strict adherence to good hygiene,”

which often entails a literal avoidance of dirt, may have actually “impaired the immune system’s ability to

properly respond to environmental changes.”

Dr. Graham A. W. Rook, a microbiology professor at the University College London, identifies this “reduced exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites” as a possible cause for an increase in gastrointestinal disorders, severe allergic reactions, and autoimmune diseases.  He states that those who live on a farm, have a dog, or are younger siblings from large families are therefore less likely to have a compromised immune system.  He also adds:  The bottom line is organisms that were present in mud, untreated water and feces were with us right from the start of humanity…

This last quote almost sounds as if it could be a scientific addendum to Genesis – minus the poetry – and plus the lab analysis…

Resources

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=758&letter=A

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cold-and-flu/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100280181&gt1=31036

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus

http://www.latinwordlist.com/latin-word-for/latin-word-for-humane-33511266.htm

Copyright September 12, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved

National Grandparents Day: Listening to The Elders



(Photo by Diego Grez)

In the cosmic scheme of things, it is probably no accident that National Grandparents Day falls on September 11 this year.  After all, if we can truly learn from the spiritual wisdom of our elders, there may never have to be another September 11 type tragedy.

There is an international group called The Elders that is bent

upon transmitting such wisdom.  The seeds of this group were

planted when entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel asked this crucial question:  Could a small dedicated group of independent elders help to resolve global problems and ease world suffering?  In order to answer this question, they studied traditional societies in which “elders often help to share wisdom and resolve disputes within communities.”  They then elicited support from Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and Desmond Tutu in order to begin.

The organization’s website reports that prospective members of The Elders were invited to join on the basis of this criteria:  Firstly, and most importantly, they should be independent.  They should have earned international trust, demonstrated integrity and built a reputation for inclusive, progressive leadership.  Current members include Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Kofi Annan.

Other members are Ela Bhatt (a “gentle revolutionary” who has improved the lives of India’s poorest women by sharing Gandhian ideals with them), Lakhdar Brahimi (known for his peacemaking in Lebanon, and for his

overall efforts in Algeria, Afghanistan and Iraq), Martii Ahtisaari (Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2008), Mary Robinson (the first female President of Ireland), Fernando Cardoso (acclaimed former President of Brazil), Gro Brundtland (the first female Prime Minister of Norway), and Graca Machel (former Minister of Culture and Education in Mozambique).  There are two “Honorary Elders”:  Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi (who has led the struggle for freedom and nonviolence in Burma/Myanmar).  Muhammad Yunus (a Nobel Peace Prize winner from Bangladesh) has also been one of The Elders.

The Elders are speaking.  Are we listening?

Resources

http://www.grandparents.net/grandparentstributes.htm

http://www.theelders.org/elders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grandparents_Day

http://advantahomecare.net/east-vs-west-how-we-treat-our-elderly

Copyright September 11, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved