Today a friend emailed me expressing disapointment that I had not yet commented on the new pro-life monument that was recently unveiled in Brooklyn. It is a scuplture of Britney Spears. Naked. And giving birth. You can click the title of this post to read an article about the work, and you can keep reading this post to hear my two cents.
Here's what I love about it:
First it's pro-life, which is great. Second it is a very well executed sculpture. The Pro-Life movement is of course linked with the political right, which is not known to be a friend of the arts, so to a see a pro life work that has actual artistic merit is encouraging to me as a pro-lifer and as an artist.
In addition, I especially love that the work is mildly provacative. It would have been so easy for someone to have done a nice safe sculpture of a fully clothed mother cradling her child (ala Mary Cassat or whatever). But what would be the point of that? The fact that this work is mildly provacative removes it somewhat from the sphere of the political right & especially from the "Christian" right. Let's face it. Minature models of this statue are not going to be sold as pewter bookends in any Chrisitian bookstore, with the proceeds going to a pro-life organization. So the very nature of the work cleanses the pro-life message from the ideologue stigma often (unfairly or fairly) attached to it by more liberal opponents. Ralph Reed ain't making naked statues of Britney Spears.
Which is the other thing I love about this piece. The fact that it is Britney Spears works fantastically on a number of levels. First, if the provacative nature of the work removes the accusation of "conservative ideologue", identifying the woman as Britney Spears removes the whole "frou-frou- too-cool-for school-artsy-fartsy-wine-and-cheese-pretense" from a work that could otherwise be seen as merely high culture sophistication. Britney is as low culture, as pop culture as it gets. Even better, Britney is pop culture icon ten minutes past her prime, which is the worst of all possible crimes in our culture.
The fact that the scuplture is Britney Spears also works to make it accessible to folks who aren't artsy fartsy. Everybody knows who she is and everybody knows she had a baby. So the work maintains it's creative integrity while becoming completly accessible at some level to everyone from 12 year old girls to gallery curators in soho. Virtually everyone can engage with the work on some level. So in that sense it is absolutely brilliant as an apologetic for the pro-life position.
The other thing I love about it being Britney Spears is that she has in recent years become the whipping girl of the family values set, who seem to be relieved to have found a replacement for Madonna- ever since she got married and started writing children's books. So for the pro-life movement to honor her for making the surprisingly counter-cultural and potentially costly decision to become a mother rather than aborting, despite the fact that the conservative evangelicals (the Pro-Life movement's primary constituency) have demonized her (for dancing naked with snakes on MTV or whatever it was) is a particularly courageous & admirable choice on the part of whomever commissioned the work.
The last thing I love about this statue being of Britney Spears is that it connects with those whom the pro-life message needs most to connect. Even more so than with voters and law makers. That's girls. We need to contunally lift up examples of women making life decisions for our daughters to see. We need to herald those decisions for our daughters to hear. This statue does that.
A last, slightly more delicate point we could discuss is the way in which child birth and motherhood are shown to be sensual and even sexual in nature >blush<. This is a healthy message as well. Motherhood does not remove sexuality! Healthy images of sexuality should be encouraged and applauded wherever we find them. Here is an image of sexuality that actually demonstrates that conception and child birth are the natural prducts of active sexuality! This is a piece of art that does not live in the land of sexual makebelieve like most sexually charged artwork in our culture does- this piece doesn not divorce sexuality from relationship, from commitment, from parenthood, from personhood, or from the beauty of birth and the costly changes it brings to career and lifestyle. This statue is NOT pornography. Also this work argues that the choice to give birth does not transform a woman into an undesirable, asexual, being. How many girls contemplating abortion, or being pressured into abortion by their boyfriends, need to hear that message? How many mothers need to hear this message? Who else is saying it?
Not the conservatives. Cultural conservatives want to protect the unborn, but give the impression that sex is bad or dirty.
Not the liberals. Cultural liberals promote sexuality, but it is a "liberated" sexuality of radical individualism that refuses to acknolwedge that sex is inherently a communal act with communal repercussions that range from the conception of other human beings to societal issues like an overabundance of fatherless children.
Not the church. We mostly pretend like sex doesn't exist, except for the times we are telling people not to have it.
This statue will have none of it. Sex is relational. It has consequences. Sex and parenthood are necessarily linked. They are beautiful and difficult and expensive and fascinating and invigorating and ought to be celebrated.
Hooray for naked statues of Britney Spears.
23.3.06
Free Live Show From Tim Easton!
Follow the link to a free live show you can download from Tim Easton. Tim is in LA and hangs with the Lucinda Williams set in Nashville from time to time, as well as the M Ward faction.
But he is from Ohio and spends a portion of the year right here in little ol' Columbus and often drinks Coffee at the Cup O Joe in Clintonville which the Funky Presbyter has been known to frequent. Easton's new album is due to be released on May 16th of this year, which is another thing we've got in common. I was "released" on May 16th in 1974. Guess what I'm buying myself for my birthday this year?
If you've not heard Easton I highly recommend him. My friend Nand turned me on to him and one thing I've learned is if a guy named "Nand" tells you to listen to something, then do it especially if the guys named Nand also has a silent "L" in his last name. That is a sure fire sign of good musical taste. It's like genetic or something. He is heads and shoulders above all the other singer songwriter, alt country, pop, folk guys out there. (Tim, not Nand. I've never heard sopng written by Nand, so I can;t speak for his songwriting). I'd put Easton in the same camp as Ryan Adams' best work. At times even better. He's got what SImon Cowell would call the "it" factor. Yes, I've been watching American Idol. shut up.
But he is from Ohio and spends a portion of the year right here in little ol' Columbus and often drinks Coffee at the Cup O Joe in Clintonville which the Funky Presbyter has been known to frequent. Easton's new album is due to be released on May 16th of this year, which is another thing we've got in common. I was "released" on May 16th in 1974. Guess what I'm buying myself for my birthday this year?
If you've not heard Easton I highly recommend him. My friend Nand turned me on to him and one thing I've learned is if a guy named "Nand" tells you to listen to something, then do it especially if the guys named Nand also has a silent "L" in his last name. That is a sure fire sign of good musical taste. It's like genetic or something. He is heads and shoulders above all the other singer songwriter, alt country, pop, folk guys out there. (Tim, not Nand. I've never heard sopng written by Nand, so I can;t speak for his songwriting). I'd put Easton in the same camp as Ryan Adams' best work. At times even better. He's got what SImon Cowell would call the "it" factor. Yes, I've been watching American Idol. shut up.
22.3.06
lyric of the day
From Home Again Garden Grove by The Mountain Goats...
I can remember when we were in highschool
Our dreams were like fugitive warlords
Plotting triumphant returns to the city
Keeping tech nines tucked under the floor boards
Now we are practical men of the world
We tether our dreams to the turf
And cruise down the alleys for honey to feed them
Like jelley fish riding the surf
I can remember when we were in highschool
Our dreams were like fugitive warlords
Plotting triumphant returns to the city
Keeping tech nines tucked under the floor boards
Now we are practical men of the world
We tether our dreams to the turf
And cruise down the alleys for honey to feed them
Like jelley fish riding the surf
21.3.06
Do Not Panic
Those of you in the central Ohio area know that for the last two days, all media reports have been bleeping and screeching their warnings to us: Severe Winter Storm Advisor.
I'm afraid the time is now upon us. News reports are now calling for... (brace yourselves)... one to three inches. Yes, the situation is very grave. Perhaps now would be a good time to say parting words to your loved ones and make peace with your maker.
The WHITE DEATH is upon us.
I'm afraid the time is now upon us. News reports are now calling for... (brace yourselves)... one to three inches. Yes, the situation is very grave. Perhaps now would be a good time to say parting words to your loved ones and make peace with your maker.
The WHITE DEATH is upon us.
15.3.06
14.3.06
Presbyterian Pastor humor:
You might be a TR if...
1. You first quote the Westminster Confession and then say, "Oh yeah, the Bible says this somewhere, too."
2. You refuse to vote for Jesus as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" because you don't want an image of Christ on the front cover.
3. You secretly believe that you have to believe in election to be saved.
4. You think Puritans are really, really, really, REALLY cool.
5. While not being a theonomist, you completely understand them.
6. While officially affirming the "priesthood of all believers," the only people you really trust to interpret Scripture are Calvin and yourself, and you only trust yourself on Thursdays before noon.
7. For you, a Baptist and stupid are the same word.
8. A "Reformed Baptist" and a "square circle" are equally as difficult for you to imagine.
9. You wonder what the Holy Spirit was up to between the times of Paul and Calvin.
10. You think women belong in the home and not in any pulpit, much less a staff position in large churches.
11. At some point in your life, you honestly believed that the only people who are saved are you and your buddy who thinks just like you, and then you kind of have to wonder about him because he DOES think just like you.
12. You think any church that has more than 200 people is probably apostate.
13. You are personally repulsed by Campus Crusade for Christ.
14. It is harder for you to keep the Sabbath than it is to fill out your taxes.
15. You keep telling yourself that Willow Creek has to be a really bad dream.
16. You've considered stoning someone.
17. You've seriously thought about lighting up a cigarette in church.
18. You think "that Pope as the Antichrist thing" should never have been taken out of the Confession.
19. Saying a blessing before the first round of drinks doesn't seem strange to you at all.
20. Your favorite Bible is your "Authorized Bahnsen Version."
21. You're convinced that everyone in your Presbytery is secretly a 33rd degree Mason.
22. You know that the Apocrypha doesn't belong in the canon, but you wonder sometimes whether we should add Van Til's, "The Defense of the Faith."
23. You pray daily for God to release His judgement on para-church ministries.
24. You think no true evangelism has been done without at least 3 lengthy quotes from the Confession.
25. You can't figure out why God didn't take Van Til like He did Enoch.
26. For you, tobacco is its own major food group.
27. You like Sproul Jr. a whole lot better than his father.
28. You think John Gerstner was an Arminian who knows better now.
29. You think the "Concerned Presbyterians" are way too moderate.
30. The only reason you haven't condemned Covenant Seminary is because you went there and you don't want to invalidate your entire theological training.
31. You have no idea what personality type you are, which explains why you are a TR.
You might be a BR if...
1. You changed the name of your church from "Knox Reformed Presbyterian" to "Grace Community Fellowship."
2. You've ever seriously considered going to Pensacola or Toronto to bring back the fire.
3. You think what the church needs is another revival, not another reformation.
4. You've ever done an "infant dedication" service.
5. You own more than one book by C. Peter Wagner, David Wilkerson, James Dobson, or Gary Smalley
6. You don't own anything by Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, or B.B. Warfield.
7. You think it's a good thing that many of your members don't know the church is Presbyterian.
8. The words "relevant, contemporary, and cutting edge" cause you to salivate excessively.
9. You don't trust anyone who doesn't have exceptions to the Confession.
10. You consider it to be in bad taste to ask theological questions of a candidate on the floor of Presbytery.
11. You've ever cut a service short because of "Super Bowl Sunday."
12. You constantly use the word "just" while praying (i.e. We "just" really want to thank you).
13. You switched to using overheads so people would have their hands free to "just really worship God."
14. You believe the greatest work on Apologetics ever written was "More than a Carpenter."
15. You wish there was some way of incorporating an altar call into your service.
16. You have a "worship team."
17. You believe that Republican and Christian are synonyms.
18. The most common logo on your casual clothing is "PK."
19. You nod your head when someone says, "Doctrine divides."
20. You could sell your copy of the Confession in "like new" condition.
21. You think that the PCUSA went Liberal because people just really stopped loving Jesus.
1. You first quote the Westminster Confession and then say, "Oh yeah, the Bible says this somewhere, too."
2. You refuse to vote for Jesus as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" because you don't want an image of Christ on the front cover.
3. You secretly believe that you have to believe in election to be saved.
4. You think Puritans are really, really, really, REALLY cool.
5. While not being a theonomist, you completely understand them.
6. While officially affirming the "priesthood of all believers," the only people you really trust to interpret Scripture are Calvin and yourself, and you only trust yourself on Thursdays before noon.
7. For you, a Baptist and stupid are the same word.
8. A "Reformed Baptist" and a "square circle" are equally as difficult for you to imagine.
9. You wonder what the Holy Spirit was up to between the times of Paul and Calvin.
10. You think women belong in the home and not in any pulpit, much less a staff position in large churches.
11. At some point in your life, you honestly believed that the only people who are saved are you and your buddy who thinks just like you, and then you kind of have to wonder about him because he DOES think just like you.
12. You think any church that has more than 200 people is probably apostate.
13. You are personally repulsed by Campus Crusade for Christ.
14. It is harder for you to keep the Sabbath than it is to fill out your taxes.
15. You keep telling yourself that Willow Creek has to be a really bad dream.
16. You've considered stoning someone.
17. You've seriously thought about lighting up a cigarette in church.
18. You think "that Pope as the Antichrist thing" should never have been taken out of the Confession.
19. Saying a blessing before the first round of drinks doesn't seem strange to you at all.
20. Your favorite Bible is your "Authorized Bahnsen Version."
21. You're convinced that everyone in your Presbytery is secretly a 33rd degree Mason.
22. You know that the Apocrypha doesn't belong in the canon, but you wonder sometimes whether we should add Van Til's, "The Defense of the Faith."
23. You pray daily for God to release His judgement on para-church ministries.
24. You think no true evangelism has been done without at least 3 lengthy quotes from the Confession.
25. You can't figure out why God didn't take Van Til like He did Enoch.
26. For you, tobacco is its own major food group.
27. You like Sproul Jr. a whole lot better than his father.
28. You think John Gerstner was an Arminian who knows better now.
29. You think the "Concerned Presbyterians" are way too moderate.
30. The only reason you haven't condemned Covenant Seminary is because you went there and you don't want to invalidate your entire theological training.
31. You have no idea what personality type you are, which explains why you are a TR.
You might be a BR if...
1. You changed the name of your church from "Knox Reformed Presbyterian" to "Grace Community Fellowship."
2. You've ever seriously considered going to Pensacola or Toronto to bring back the fire.
3. You think what the church needs is another revival, not another reformation.
4. You've ever done an "infant dedication" service.
5. You own more than one book by C. Peter Wagner, David Wilkerson, James Dobson, or Gary Smalley
6. You don't own anything by Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, or B.B. Warfield.
7. You think it's a good thing that many of your members don't know the church is Presbyterian.
8. The words "relevant, contemporary, and cutting edge" cause you to salivate excessively.
9. You don't trust anyone who doesn't have exceptions to the Confession.
10. You consider it to be in bad taste to ask theological questions of a candidate on the floor of Presbytery.
11. You've ever cut a service short because of "Super Bowl Sunday."
12. You constantly use the word "just" while praying (i.e. We "just" really want to thank you).
13. You switched to using overheads so people would have their hands free to "just really worship God."
14. You believe the greatest work on Apologetics ever written was "More than a Carpenter."
15. You wish there was some way of incorporating an altar call into your service.
16. You have a "worship team."
17. You believe that Republican and Christian are synonyms.
18. The most common logo on your casual clothing is "PK."
19. You nod your head when someone says, "Doctrine divides."
20. You could sell your copy of the Confession in "like new" condition.
21. You think that the PCUSA went Liberal because people just really stopped loving Jesus.
13.3.06
Currently Rocking Out To:
Page France, Hello Dear Wind
Click title for a special surprise. Here are some reviews:
Though Hello, Dear Wind's catchy melodies and evocative lyrics will grab your attention from the first spin, there's a lot of depth behind them. It's as deeply revealing and honest an album as you're likely to hear all year. -SPLENDID
Page France is an easy contender for my personal favorite album of the year... Hello Dear Wind sees compelling, poetic, mysterious lyrics set to sweet and gentle melodies sung primarily by Michael Nau, with big beautiful female harmonies by Whitney McGraw, backed up by magnificent production centered around acoustic guitar with nice subtle additions of bells and shakers, easy-breezy kick drums and flower-power tambourines.-LEFT HIP MAGAZINE
Michael Nau and Co. have created a completely charming, endlessly endearing, uniquely understated, and totally immersing sophomore album. I can’t take it out of my stereo, and I don’t think that I’ll have to for a while- it feels new every time I hear it. If you like any type of indie-pop, Hello, Dear Wind will be the best album of the year for you, and that’s not an understatement.-INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Listening to Hello, Dear Wind makes me wish that I had a girlfriend. Not only would it be a perfect soundtrack for a Fall romance, but when our eventual break-up comes around, it would serve as splendid hearbreak music as well! It's great love music and it's great breakup music - that's the kind of duality of the newest album from Maryland natives, Page France.-YOU AIN'T NO PICASSO
The xylophone- and organ-friendly, childlike acoustic folk is the product of kids who sound like they still get a good deal of joy out of producing music, a product that gets a little better with every listen. Here’s hoping Page France will get all the ears they deserve.
-AVERSION
Click title for a special surprise. Here are some reviews:
Though Hello, Dear Wind's catchy melodies and evocative lyrics will grab your attention from the first spin, there's a lot of depth behind them. It's as deeply revealing and honest an album as you're likely to hear all year. -SPLENDID
Page France is an easy contender for my personal favorite album of the year... Hello Dear Wind sees compelling, poetic, mysterious lyrics set to sweet and gentle melodies sung primarily by Michael Nau, with big beautiful female harmonies by Whitney McGraw, backed up by magnificent production centered around acoustic guitar with nice subtle additions of bells and shakers, easy-breezy kick drums and flower-power tambourines.-LEFT HIP MAGAZINE
Michael Nau and Co. have created a completely charming, endlessly endearing, uniquely understated, and totally immersing sophomore album. I can’t take it out of my stereo, and I don’t think that I’ll have to for a while- it feels new every time I hear it. If you like any type of indie-pop, Hello, Dear Wind will be the best album of the year for you, and that’s not an understatement.-INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Listening to Hello, Dear Wind makes me wish that I had a girlfriend. Not only would it be a perfect soundtrack for a Fall romance, but when our eventual break-up comes around, it would serve as splendid hearbreak music as well! It's great love music and it's great breakup music - that's the kind of duality of the newest album from Maryland natives, Page France.-YOU AIN'T NO PICASSO
The xylophone- and organ-friendly, childlike acoustic folk is the product of kids who sound like they still get a good deal of joy out of producing music, a product that gets a little better with every listen. Here’s hoping Page France will get all the ears they deserve.
-AVERSION
Prison vs. Work
[Best thing about church planting? No cubicles.]
Prison vs. Work
IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.
AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.
IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.
AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.
IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.
IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.
IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.
AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.
IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.
IN PRISON...all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK...they are called managers.
Top 10 drawbacks to working in a cubicle..
10. Being told to ‘Think outside the Box’ when you’re in a @#$%?*! box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who’s behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you’ll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, you get lots of peanuts thrown at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can’t slam the door when you quit and walk out.
Prison vs. Work
IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.
AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.
IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.
AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.
IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.
IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.
IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.
AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.
IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.
IN PRISON...all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK...they are called managers.
Top 10 drawbacks to working in a cubicle..
10. Being told to ‘Think outside the Box’ when you’re in a @#$%?*! box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who’s behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you’ll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, you get lots of peanuts thrown at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can’t slam the door when you quit and walk out.
Cubicle Inventor Regrets His Invention.
So you're saying the office cubicle wasn't invented by Satan, afterall?
11.3.06
More Dollars & People: Is Ministry About Numbers?
Three fighter jets are flying along on a mission, having a conversation.
"What a shame!" cries the first jet. "This recent preoccupation in the aeronautical community with increased fuel capacity and higher speeds- it amounts to little more than a gratuitious display of ego and pomposity!"
"Indeed" agrees the second jet. "And not only that, but this lust for fuel and speed has compromised our mission as fighter jets. In fact, one would think from all the talk, that acquiring more speed and fuel has actually BECOME the mission. What is important is the mission. It's not about fuel and speed. It's about the mission!"
"Perhaps, my brothers" said the third jet (whose fuel tank was a bit smaller and whose engine was a bit slower than the other two) "But what these times really call for is not more fuel capacity or greater speeds, but that we jets learn to fly straighter lines, hold the course. That we are sure to run all of our instrument tests in the proper manner and that we follow proper procedures. This rather than fuel and speed will ensure we are true to our mission".
"A good reminder, friend" say the first two jets. "It is agreed, then. The desire for greater fuel capacity and higer rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must see only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. Flight is about the mission"
"and proper procedures" reminded the third jet helpfully.
"Yes, yes" say the first two jets, " and proper procedures". And there was wisdom in their conclusion.
Meanwhile, thousands of feet below the fighter jets, a small single-prop cessna is sputtering down a dirt runway with the engine at full throttle. All afternoon the little plane has been spinning it's propeller and straining it's engine in an attempt to gain flight and join the mission given by the Flight Commander. He looks nervously at his own fuel gage as it's needle drops closer to "E". Occasionally he gets the speed to bounce a few feet off the runway before dropping back down to dirt. And he is growing discouraged and frustrated.
"If I'm ever going to fulfill the mission" the cessna says to himself, "I need to get more fuel and more speed".
Just then the cessna's radio picks up the conversation taking place far above his head. He tunes in just in time to hear the three jets' pronouncement:
"The desire for greater fuel capacity and higher rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must seek only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. "
The cessna thinks over his options. Perhaps the jets are correct. Afterall, they've been quite a bit more successful than he has at attaining lift and flight. Plus think of all their expereince and wisdom. Who can argue with principles like "mission and proper procedure"? Perhaps the cessna's focus on speed and fuel has been wrong all along. Perhaps he should sputter along at his current rate of speed until his fuel tank is empty. Perhaps at that point the great Flight Commander will sweep him into the air on a great gust of wind and carry him through the mission. Surely this is the more faithful course of action.
Then again, maybe the cessna recognizes that the conversation taking place high above his head is one that can only be had between aircrafts who've already attained the speed and lift necessary for flight, and whose tanks have the fuel necessary to get them to their destination. In which case he should be about the business of marshalling his remaining resources to acquire more fuel and more speed, so that lift will produce flight. And through flight he can contribute to the mission.
"What a shame!" cries the first jet. "This recent preoccupation in the aeronautical community with increased fuel capacity and higher speeds- it amounts to little more than a gratuitious display of ego and pomposity!"
"Indeed" agrees the second jet. "And not only that, but this lust for fuel and speed has compromised our mission as fighter jets. In fact, one would think from all the talk, that acquiring more speed and fuel has actually BECOME the mission. What is important is the mission. It's not about fuel and speed. It's about the mission!"
"Perhaps, my brothers" said the third jet (whose fuel tank was a bit smaller and whose engine was a bit slower than the other two) "But what these times really call for is not more fuel capacity or greater speeds, but that we jets learn to fly straighter lines, hold the course. That we are sure to run all of our instrument tests in the proper manner and that we follow proper procedures. This rather than fuel and speed will ensure we are true to our mission".
"A good reminder, friend" say the first two jets. "It is agreed, then. The desire for greater fuel capacity and higer rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must see only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. Flight is about the mission"
"and proper procedures" reminded the third jet helpfully.
"Yes, yes" say the first two jets, " and proper procedures". And there was wisdom in their conclusion.
Meanwhile, thousands of feet below the fighter jets, a small single-prop cessna is sputtering down a dirt runway with the engine at full throttle. All afternoon the little plane has been spinning it's propeller and straining it's engine in an attempt to gain flight and join the mission given by the Flight Commander. He looks nervously at his own fuel gage as it's needle drops closer to "E". Occasionally he gets the speed to bounce a few feet off the runway before dropping back down to dirt. And he is growing discouraged and frustrated.
"If I'm ever going to fulfill the mission" the cessna says to himself, "I need to get more fuel and more speed".
Just then the cessna's radio picks up the conversation taking place far above his head. He tunes in just in time to hear the three jets' pronouncement:
"The desire for greater fuel capacity and higher rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must seek only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. "
The cessna thinks over his options. Perhaps the jets are correct. Afterall, they've been quite a bit more successful than he has at attaining lift and flight. Plus think of all their expereince and wisdom. Who can argue with principles like "mission and proper procedure"? Perhaps the cessna's focus on speed and fuel has been wrong all along. Perhaps he should sputter along at his current rate of speed until his fuel tank is empty. Perhaps at that point the great Flight Commander will sweep him into the air on a great gust of wind and carry him through the mission. Surely this is the more faithful course of action.
Then again, maybe the cessna recognizes that the conversation taking place high above his head is one that can only be had between aircrafts who've already attained the speed and lift necessary for flight, and whose tanks have the fuel necessary to get them to their destination. In which case he should be about the business of marshalling his remaining resources to acquire more fuel and more speed, so that lift will produce flight. And through flight he can contribute to the mission.
9.3.06
8.3.06
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)