Felecia Sechser

Dorothy Day dropped out of the University of Illimios to write for socialist and pacifist newspapers. In 1917 she was arrested in front of the White House for protest that women could not vote. Day was raised with no affliation to a church, after her daughter was born she joined the Catholic Chuch and her daughter baptized. Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, a French former Christian Brother now dedicated to a Franciscan ideal of poverty, found the Catholic Worker Movement. The movement first involved a newspaper and then a number of homes for otherwise homeless. Day continued to write, protest, and serve the poor until her death in 1980. In the section titled "Selected Writings" Dorothy talks about how her love of God helped her find her calling in helping people.

Dorothy summarizes our love for the poor and God's love for humanity in a few different pieces. She talks about how our love for our family is so immense and humanly that we recognize our love for others. Because we have such a great love for our family and such a want to be loved, we find happiness in loving others. As for God's humanity Dorothy says "when you love people, wou see all the good in them, all the Christ  in them. God see Christ, His Son, in us and loves us. And so we shoudl see Christ in otehrs, and nothing else, and love them" (416). There can never be enough love.

Shane Claibourne and Dorothy Day are very much radicals. Their way of thinking includes going to the most extreme to make a point. Shane used in his speeches and through mission work. Dorothy found the answer in protests and her writings. They have given me a new insight into if one thing doesn't work, try being more vocal and maybe something will come of it.

Howard Thurman was a former slave who grew up in Florida and was raised by his grandmother. He went to school at Morehouse, Columbia, and Rochester Seminary, For many years he served as the pastor of the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco and Dean of Chapel at Boston University. Thurman was committed to non-violence, that commitment deeply influenced Martin Luther King, Jr., and other leaders of the civil rights movement. The reading "What Shall I Do with My Life" focuses on the three temptations that Jesus encounters. To simply live as a Christian means to put others first, like Jesus did in the first temptation. He thought about the hungry people, he made sure there would be enough bread to feed all the hungry people. The reading also focuses around the central question of what shall I do with my life? After working with kids all year, I can't imagine my life without kids in it somewhere. Working at the dance studio brings me joy. I look forward to going to the studio each week, just like I look forward to going to PLUS Time every week.

Thurman describes the third temptation as an attack "at the center of Jesus' dominant passion, to bring society under the acknowledged judgment of God and thereby insure its purification" (387). He goes to explain that Jesus thought of himself as the example of the judgment and of the salvation of God. Jesus' reasoning behind this though is that God created me, God created nature, and all mankind. God is therefore the creator of relationships that exist between all men.

Thurman's view on Christianity in the public square is that the world can be made good if all the men in the world can become good men. After their souls are saved, "the society in which they function will be a good society" (388).

 

Gerrard Winstanley was a tradesmen in London until he went bankrupt during the English Civil War. During 1640 he became a Baptist lay preacher and then, finding out the Baptists were too limiting he set off on his own religious journey. In 1649 at in Surrey, south of London Gerrard and about half a dozen other started digging up and planting crops in the common land of St.George's Hill. The "common land" was available for all people to use, but had been used for the local lord's animals to graze. So the activity of the "Diggers", those who wanted to level out the social classes, was radical and controversial. A warrant was issued for Winstanley's arrest, although it is believed that he was never actually arrested. He continued Digger agitating until the mid-1650s. In "A Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of England" Winstanley helps other Christians find a calling trying to make radical changes in the social order.

Winstanley argues that the diggers have the right to plant and plow the land because they are "made to labor the earth together, with one consent and willing mind; and while we are free, that everyone, friend and foe, shall enjoy the benefit of their creation, that is to have food and raminent from the earth..." (302). Winstanley argues that because they are people of the land they are allowed by the power of righteousness in our hearts and seeking the livelihood of others.

Winstanley's and Claiborne's radical changes of the social order or similar. They are both activists of helping the poor. Winstanley is concerned with helping the poor bear food from the land. Shane is concerned with helping the poor live in society. They are both prominent radical activists.

While studying at Oxford John Wesley and a group of friends became known as "Methodists" because of their methodical approach to religious observance. Him and his friends devoted themselves to systematic prayer and good works. During a mission trip to Georgia, Wesley had a conversion experience which led him to a remarkable career in preaching. After pastors refused to let him preach in their churches, he started preaching in fields to the people that the Church of England generally ignored. By Wesley's death the Methodist movement was already strong and widespread. Wesley was called by God to preach his new approach to his religion. When people did not allow him to preach in their churches he found his own place to preach. I believe that God is calling me to teach dance, and even if someone does not want me to teach at their studio. I will go and find my own place to teach.

Wesley makes four points on what is not forbidden by Matthew 6:19-21. The first thing that is not forbidden is to "provide things honest in the sight of men". Basically, we are not forbidden to owe no man anything. The second thing that is not forbidden is "providing for ourselves such things as are needful for the body". So we are not forbidden to eat wholesome foods to replenish our body. The third thing we are not forbidden is to "provide for out children". The last thing we are not forbidden from is "to lay up, from time to time, what is needful for the carrying on our wordly business". Wesley's says that we are not allowed to lay up on our work. Each of the points that are not forbidden are what Wesley calls our duty. It is our duty to provide for our children, it is our duty to replenish our bodies, and it is our duty to owe no man anything.

After working with PLUS Time and seeing how the children suffer from their language and learning barriers it has made me wonder how they will achieve success in society today. If they do not overcome these barriers they will never achieve full economic success. Economic success is what every American wants, for an American to have economic success means they are more notable. The children and their parents at PLUS Time will earn economic success unless they can overcome their barriers. Working with PLUS Time has caused me to re-evaluate the way I help the children with homework and the activities they do each week.

Dr. Loma Meyer is considered to be Concordia's greatest advocate and ambassador. Earning her doctorates from both the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Minnesota, she earned her certification for the church's teaching ministry by colloquy. In 1967, Dr. Meyer started her career in higher education as an award-winning professor, director of instruction, dean of faculty, vice president of academic affairs, and executive vice president here at Concordia St. Paul. She is one of the most noteworthy leaders and administrators of her time, serving on task forces, local and national boards, and commissions. Her expertise has also been established in the broader academic community, working with the Minnesota State Board of Education, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Her time spent at Concordia is often referred to as "the Loma Meyer era". Her lecture will focus on "Change: Integrating faith and learning".

Her presentation was divided into three main pieces autobiographical, present, and futuristic. In the autobiographical section of the presentation Dr. Meyer told the story of how her and her husband met all the way through until his very last days. The main focus in this section was the relation of life and death together.

Her next focus was the present or historical. Dr. Meyer gave a brief overview of the past and the present President's of Concordia. There has been over 4 decades of change at Concordia starting about the mid-60s. Concordia didn't see a whole lot of change until President Holst became reigning President in 1991. President Holst turned Concordia into a university rather than just a college. We developed the semester system and made organizational changes. Including creating the four colleges (Arts and Sciences, Education, Business and Organization, and Vocation and Ministry). Under the Lutheran view of faith and learning the two worlds are held in creative tension and the Lutheran view requires there to be a distinction. Dr. Meyer said that "integration involves the inclusion of the whole person: heart, soul, and mind".

Her last section focused on the futuristic side of faith and learning. This is the section where I was able to see the most integration of faith and learning. In the world of technological expansions Concordia really needs to focus on maintaining the faith connection to learning. As the saying goes "do not learn so much that faith is lost". We do not want to take steps backwards in our integration of faith and learning, but move forward and act as change agents and embrace the new changes. People say that eventually there will be no need for face to face classes, but that everything can be done online. If this happens the connection of faith and learning will certainly be lost. We see the biggest connection of faith and learning through our professors. They show us that you can be passionate about your job, be a Christian, and still keep your faith.

Dr. Meyer's presentation is a good example of the Honors program. This semester we are working with organizations that help people in need. This is being a Christian (faith), but we are also learning how to incorporate our faith with what we are learning from these organizations. Last year was a little bit more difficult for me to understand where the faith and learning connection was coming from, but this semester I see it in our volunteer work. I know that I have discovered where my gladness meets the world's hunger. Being able to discover where your faith allows to grow as a student is the best discovery I have made in past two years.  
 

Sor Juana is the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish soldier. Her love for learning did not come without many obstacles. She continued her studies at the Victory in Mexico City. She entered a convent while there and started writing plays, essays, and poem. The plays and letters she wrote were disapproved by the Archbishop of Mexico.  She was cast into public repentance and silenced. She writes about her obstacles she encountered during her studies in this letter she wrote in "Reply to Sor Philothea". Sor Juana believed God was calling her to write and to her studies. Her family did not approve of either of these things. I believe that my work with children is what I am suppose to do, but not just working with children in general I believe that I need to look beyond the surface and discover what the kids that I am working with are really asking for. In my own family I spend time with my little cousins and help them understand how to love each other, how to behave, and how to enjoy each other's company.

Sor Juana faced many obstacles while being a student and while writing her plays, poems, and essays. Her biggest and most prominent obstacles came not from people who wished her ill will, but the people who loved and knew her. They said things like "This study is incompatible.... You will lose your way" (259). Those words caused her the most pain. She also became ill and the Doctor instructed her to not study for a few days. She went crazy and eventually asked her Doctor is she could read because her mental activity would not affect her illness. He agreed. The law of Athenians was another obstacle for her. The law stated that "anyone eminent in natural endowments and virtues was to be exiled from their republic so that he might not tyrannize public liberty" (259). Sor Juana was exiled from the public by the Archbishop of Mexico. Sor Juana faced many obstacles but they did not keep her from writing and continuing her studies.

I chose to write about Sor Juana mainly because of the second question. Which is what obstacles do you face at your organization. I heard a quote the other day that was "It's not worth having, if it's not worth fighting for". How true is that? If you don't have to fight for it, it probably isn't worth it. I have had my fair share of obstacles working with PLUS Time. Most of them are mainly annoyances, but some bigger obstacles I have had to face are language barriers, between myself and the students. It's hard to understand them when they don't clearly speak English. Another major obstacle is discipline. While I am a volunteer it is hard for me to discipline the kids because I am not a student worker so I can't do anything about what I see. So sometimes the kids get away with little things. Not major things just little stuff. Like not following directions and not cleaning up. These may seem like little obstacles compared to Sor Juana's obstacles, but the do affect me and the way I conduct myself at PLUS Time.

This week the readings were on the great Martin Luther. Since I am not a Lutheran, but a Catholic instead I don't see the big influence of Martin Luther as the other students. Although I must say that in the past years at Concordia my knowledge on Martin Luther has grown. Martin Luther's sermons almost always relate back to how Christians should act. In the two readings this week "The Gospel for the Early Christmas Service" and "Trade and Usury" Martin Luther writes about just that, the way Christians should act. He also writes about how Christians should live out their callings as normal people. I have learned that my calling is actually a big part of my life. I am very passionate about dance. I have just recently figured out that I am meant to do marvelous things with this passion. I wanna open a dance studio one day, but not only open a dance studio I want to open a community center that provides dance lessons and various other activities to children of the poor and marginalized. Everyone should be able to live out their dream. I have also learned through Luther's writings that I can serve God through my own family life by working as a family and not putting myself first. If a family works as a group things get done a lot better.

In the first reading "The Gospel for the Early Christmas Service" Luther describes a Christian as a person that does not change do to their "external position" (214), but rather they according to their "inner desposition" (214). He says that a Christian should continue on their calling like a normal person so that no one becomes aware of their Christianity. He says that a Christian should not run away from their belief, but return to their life. In the secon reading "Trade and Usury" Luther writes that a Christian should be someone who does not take advantage of their neighbor in business by raising prices and only worrying about how much profit they are making. Now as a Finance major, this is kinda of funny to me because we are taught that in business it is all about competition, but here is Luther writing about how you should not take advantage of the neighboring business and the consumer. I giggled a little bit reading this section. Luther says that a good Christian does not worry about profits, greed, or how to out sell his competition, but rather on his work ethic. Luther wrote the first sermon while hiding out in the Wartburg castle and the second reading was written on Christian business ethics.

These readings pertain to the public square today by not hiding in what you are called to do by God and by business not focusing solely on beating out the competition, but worrying about their work ethics. The "Trade and Usury" writing really pertains top business today. The downward economy really needs to start focusing on work and business ethics rather than raising prices and their competition. These readings peryain to my project at PLUS Time by showing me that I should not be worried about what I am doing with the kids, but how well I am doing it with them. I should focus on how well I am teaching them, not what I am teaching. Also that I should incorporate more of my passion in their lessons.

 

This week's reading focused on Thomas Aquinas and his masterpiece the Summa Theologiae. Thomas Aquinas was born into Italian nobility and his family intended for him to become part of the Benedictines. Aquinas had other plans, he joined the Dominican order. The Dominican order is one of the great orders of mendicant friars. The Dominican order is similar to monastic life in that they focused primarily on poverty. Aquinas has always been inspired by Aristotle and his new theology reflects both Aristotle's philosophy and biblical revelation. In this section Aquinas poses a question, he then gives arguments that do not support his answer. He then gives examples to support his view, and finally he answer with his own argument on the question. The question I am about to answer is whether our active life interferes with our contemplative life.

Q. 182, a.2: Whether the contemplative life is hindered by the active life? Thomas believes that the active life is divided in two parts. The first part is practice and attention to outside objects. In this case the active life does hinder the contemplative life. He states that "in so far possible as it is impossible for one to be busy with external action, and at the same time give oneself to Divine contemplation" (159). Aquinas says that it is not possible to divide one's attention both the contemplative and active life. The second part of the active life is one that can be soul searching. One's active life can be quieting and used to direct "internal passions of the soul" (159). So this active life would actually be helping the contemplative life.

Aqunias's response relates to a Christian's calling to follow Christ in two ways. A Christian can either be active, by volunteering and helping in more active ways. They can also be the quiet one who prays and uses their internal passions to follow God. The Chrisitan can either be outward with their faith or inward.

             I chose to write this blog on Mechthild of Magdebug: The Flowing Light of the Godhead translated by Frank Tobin. The subject of this reading is Mechthild. She is a German spiritualist who joined a Beguine community. She admired St. Dominic and her writings in this section reflect on her admiration for him. The contexts of these readings are her visions and reflections on the Beguine community. Mechthild chose to lead a monastic life by joining the Beguine community. While that may have been her idea of what kind of Christian she should be I think I would rather be a Christian who works. I would want to teach others about God and show others what Christian life is really all about.

                This quote from the section of Concerning Seven Obvious Enemies of Our Happiness That Cause Sevne Kinds of Harm from page 151 stood out to me the most.

                "Enmity in our heart drives out the Holy Spirit. An angry temperament robs us of God's intimacy. False holiness can never win out. Pure love of God can never perish. If we are not willing to leave these enemies, they will take from us more than heaven; for if we live holy lives here, it is a pre-heavenly existence. But if we allow these enemies their deceits and their power over us, they rob is of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they extinguish for us the true light of the genuine love of God."

                This quotation gave me a better insight into my project this semester in more than one way. I have been feeling overwhelmed by how much work has to be done with my project in the next seven to ten weeks. After reading this passage I remembered why at the end of last semester I was so excited to start working with the kids at PLUS Time and watching them progress in their learning achievement. I need to let go of all the anger and hostility and focus on why I love being a part of this organization. These enemies of mine are causing me to overlook the joy and happiness of working with these kids at PLUS Time. So next week when I go back to PLUS Time I am going to embrace being there with the kids and not thinking about how much stress and work I have to do for this service project.

Not much going on this week with finals and such, but as I was doing my final presentation. I started looking at the nest steps and direction I'm going to take with this project. There are so many possibilities I could do with arts integration. I am mainly focusing on dance, but I could also add in some drama, music, and visual arts. Any kind of art in general would be worth studying to see if it actually can improve attention, self confidence, literacy, and learning persistence.

So over Winter break I will be looking some more at art integration in general. Don't worry I won't be going out of my way to make it something I do, but if I happen to come across something interesting about art integration I believe it is worth my time to stop and read it. The achievement is affecting Minneapolis schools hard. Since so many schools do not pass the standardized test and according to the No Child Left Behind act, if schools fail to meet the passing number on the standardized test than students are free to choose where to go to school. So any strategy that has shown a decrease in the achievement gap, I believe is worth it.