Advent Day 1: Preparation

I think that most folks' exposure to Advent is in seeing Advent calendars filled with chocolate as an impulse purchase in the checkout line of a grocery store. You might have even opened them yourselves as children, with the understanding of it as a way of counting down the 24 days until the real big party: Christmas. In a sense, that is true, but there is also so much more to the season that makes it even more vital. 

In terms of the calendar for those in a liturgical church tradition, Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas. It is a season of preparation. A time to do some spiritual housecleaning in preparation for the new guest. It is a time of gestation, where something new grows within you, fertilized from all those around you. It is meant to be quiet, reflective, and peaceful--sometimes a difficult status to achieve in the flurry of shopping, parties, football bowl games, travel, end-of-year business, parades, light-hanging, decorating, wrapping, eating, and general stressing-out which fills December for most of us anymore. 

In that frenzy, a simple Advent calendar can be a fantastic method of remembering to take a moment, daily, to open a door to another reality. To that end, I have decided to make a daily entry of spiritual nature as a way of opening my internal Advent calendar. If you decide to read along with me, I hope that you will find the exercise helpful as well.  Blessed Advent! Sarah

Lent Day 30 "30 Days to make a habit"

I have heard that it takes 30 days to make a new habit and make it stick.  I have done well for the first two weeks or so, but sort of fell off the wagon fell off about halfway here.  Not that I haven't thought about it or forgotten to do it on days, but have at least made a thought or an attempt--which is not writing, but is part of the futile effort of that thing called writer's block.  It is either lack of ideas, lack of gumption, or abject fear.  And the greatest of these is fear.  

There are only two weeks to go, and I feel the need to finish strong.  Consider me recommitting myself.  

Thank you!

Lent Day 27 "Discourse not Discord"

I am a bit of a news junkie.  I like being up on the goings-on of the world around me, and having issues presented for me to decide how to interpret and react to them.  


Unfortunately, my joy at the news has been tempered over the last few years by the increasingly shrill and sensationalized nonsense which passes for journalistic genius.  Either the drivel has gotten worse, I have gotten more mature and more highly exacting of the information I consume, or (and most likely) a combination of both.  Somewhere between work, theatre, church, friends, and other concerns and obligations I have less time to devote to keeping up with the world around me.  Compounding the unimpressive content, the commercial interruptions simply make the entire effort less and less worth undertaking.  l simply cannot stomach the continued lies, told at louder and louder volume--either in the show or the commercials--and told with such sincerity that you almost want to believe the teller, even though you know that they are telling only what they think people want to hear so that they can keep their job.  Discussion has devolved into the soundbyte and pandering, rather than addressing one another, and arguments, with respect.  No one can reach a deeper level, toward discourse, because the entire 2-minute exercise devolves into ad hominem attacks (again pandering to those who already agree with the speaker).  


I can barely take the local news long enough to get the weather report, and worry that my mute button or alternate channel button will wear out!  

Lent Day 23 "I'm too freaking tired"

Been a couple of crazybusy days.  I'll be back tomorrow with something scintillating.

Lent Day 21 "Back in the saddle"

I fell off the wagon for a couple of days (or took a hiatus for my birthday), whichever....

I just found out today that a college classmate of mine died today.  She was less than a year older than me.  I didn't know her well, and had only superficially reconnected with her via Facebook recently.  It was through that same network that I heard about her passing, and left a condolence note on her wall for her friends and family to see.

I often see recriminations of the inappropriateness of online communication: that it is insufficient and puerile, that it cheapens friendships, or that it does not foster deeper connections and understanding.  In many ways, those criticisms do hold truth, but they forget the benefit of collected communication, however superficial it may be.  Through that forum, there can be a collective wake in geographic diversity.  I will continue to value online connections, no matter how pale they seem in comparison to in-face interactions.

Lent Day 18 "Brainstorming II"

 Scene 1: (Indifference)

Hostess gift from a visiting friend.

I have no more brain power.  Story to continue at a later date.

Lent Day 17 "Four Gifts"

Brainstorming for the play idea that I have in my head:

Working title (pretty firm): Four Gifts

Premise: Exploring the reactions to gifts.  The same gift gets given to four different people, causing disparate reactions.  The gift is abstract, not known to the audience (though small enough to fit into a box), audience should not see it.  The object is not important, and would only distract from the greater themes and story being explored.

Reason for telling story: Explore the difference between a gift that enhances the recipient's life and something that is of more use to the giver.  The purpose of gift/ parable of gift.

Structure:  Four scenes--interconnected vignettes.  The gift processes through several regifting scenarios, with various reactions.  Possibly returns to the original giver?  Reaction genres: 1. disappointment/ sadness, 2. wonder/ joy, 3. indifference, 4. anger.  Should be refrains or similar lines throughout to highlight various reactions.  Gift comes across as Grand Gesture, inappropriate, ideal, amusing, useless, or overthought.

References or sources: Othello, 4 gospels (bible), 4 noble truths of buddhism, magi, birthdays, housewarming, wedding, Christmas/ Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa, baby shower.

Characters: Each scene will have at least 3, actors will play multiple roles.  Each scene will have someone from the previous scene to give it connectedness and continuity.

Much more writing to follow.