Activism

Activism is one of the key features of urban culture, I think. There's a strong optimism about the future, about our ability to deal with the problems facing us, a confidence about voicing opinions, and engaging with large social problems. Our society constantly tells us that humans are incredibly competent, able to achieve just about everything, is hugely confident about our innate goodness, applauds self-sufficiency and sometimes sees it as taboo (sin?) not to 'believe in yourself'.

I see a strong degree of activism in myself as well - I feel a responsibility for those around me, to speak about issues of justice. I often feel competent and able to influence and change the world around me. This year, I'm struggling with this, because I'm having such a passive year (for me). It's all about watching, observing, reflecting, learning for the future.

When I think Biblically about activism, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, humans are commanded at creation to rule over the earth – we are given responsibility for it, and expected to influence our surroundings in a way that reflects God’s character. 

Humans are called throughout both Old and New Testaments to be active in many ways: praising God, calling others to praise him, seeking justice – especially for those who are unable to speak for themselves. We are not to be passive or disengaged members of his people or of society.  

The New Testament particularly presents the church with a compelling mission – to proclaim the good news of Jesus. We are to speak about him and teach each other – all of Jesus' followers are given gifts that are to be used for the building up of the church. We're not to be lazy or selfish with our time or resources.

However - and it is a big however, sin has impacted every part of life, and we often seek things for our own sakes rather than others. Even when we think we are active on behalf of others, we often deceive ourselves and are seeking our own glory or benefit (altruism makes me feel good, fits my picture of who I want to be, brings the approval of others).  

One of the significant characteristics of Christians, and a key factor in following Jesus, is that we recognise God - revealed in Jesus - as the supreme power of the universe. Ultimately, it's God who controls the future and influences world and local events, not humans. This is a basic part of Christian teaching and the practical experience of following Jesus.

God may well have plans that are larger or just different from what we plan. He may frustrate human plans for his own purposes and glory, or bring about things that we would never have chosen. (Biblical examples include the Tower of Babel, Joseph's experience in Egypt, the Israelites being exiled to Assyria and Babylon or persecution of Christians in the New Testament - in fact, just about every page of the Bible. Examples from my own life also abound.)

Christians aren't to be shaped by the culture around us, we're to be defined by what God has revealed - although that takes on different shapes in each culture. Urban, progressive culture highly values self-sufficiency and speaks as though humans are almost limitless. We don't like to think about things like death, which speak powerfully of human limitation and inability. Human self-sufficiency and  confidence can easily become proud - unrealistic and over-inflated. 

Ultimately, it is God who will build his church, transform individual lives and societies, establish justice throughout the earth, bring healing to the countries of the world. We need to work towards these things, and doing that reflects God's character, but if we as humanity take that on as our sole responsibility, we will exhaust ourselves and distract from the one who is actually able to achieve all these things - and has promised that he will.

History of street names

Recently, lots of these green signs have been appearing next to street signs around Brunswick, providing a few historical details about the streets the people were named after.

It's interesting to read about which people and positions were considered important, and when the streets around here were mapped out (or named, anyway). There seems to be a desire in Brunswick to remain connected to the history of the place - it's part of the identity.

I'm not sure this is something that all suburbs value - sometimes it seems like the 'new' steamrolls over the 'old' and after a few years, you can't even tell what used to be there. There's plenty of Brunswick's history that has been lost, but I like this move to retain at least some connection to the past.

Brunswick photos: Free speech monument

Outside the Mechanics Institute on Sydney Road. Historically a significant site for freedom of speech protests.

The resurgence of craft

Craft seems to be experiencing a new wave of popularity, especially around my area. I've been pondering why this is.

I think there's a number of features of craft that align with urban culture. Craft is:

• Unique - moving away from mass-produced items to hand-made, one-of-a-kind, with all the associated quirks;
• Creative - art and self-expression are so highly valued in this culture;
• Self-sufficient - being able to sew, knit, crochet, mend clothes, etc, means that you're not as reliant on others;
• Eco-friendly - if you are crafty, there's so much more potential to re-fashion old items of clothes, or recycle vintage bedsheets or op-shop finds;
• Genuine - that is, a hand-crafted present takes a lot more thought and time than a purchased one - it reflects an added level of investment;
• Productive - a way of resting that is still useful and has something to show - this can be problematic, if we think that rest is only justified by what is produces - but also fun and can bring a nice satisfaction in completing something;
• Fostering of community - lots of my craft enthusiasm has been inspired by others. Friends have taught me to knit and crochet, given me hand-crafted presents, shown bags, talked about sewing projects, and I've spent many enjoyable hours sitting around casually with friends while crafting. It facilitates casual, low intensity time together.

There's probably other things, too, but that's what I thought of while hanging out the washing. This scarf is my latest craft project, which I finished this morning.

The Story of Mary Maclane by Herself

Tim and I were very generously offered tickets to see The Story of Mary Maclane by Herself last weekend. (Warning - if you're planning to go see it, you might not want to read below.)

I've been dwelling on it for a few days. Here's a brief description:

More than one hundred years ago, The Story of Mary MacLane set America aflame. A shocking confessional from a 19-year old girl who refused to succumb to the corset-bound prudery of her age, Mary’s scandalous memoir broke all the rules – and sold over 100,000 copies.

In some ways, it's a character study: self-expression from a passionate, desperate, lonely, intense, self-absorbed, honest, raw and ground-breaking woman. She's been described as 100 years before her time, and the parallels between her personality and what is now common in our society were distinctly highlighted. She was incredibly scandalous in her time, but today her sexual exploits and self-indulgence aren't particularly shocking.

I found myself resonating with some aspects of her personality - at least myself before I started following Jesus. I think now the same longings and desires are there, they're just met differently (and far more happily than hers). Here's a few thoughts - in a series of posts, to keep them short-ish:

1) I was sad to hear her repeatedly dismiss Christians, and especially Christian women.* She felt they were uptight, boring, mundane things and completely different to her passionate, honest and self-aware genius.

I wish the Christian women in her day had expressed their faith differently - although I acknowledge that it was a different culture and I don't want to judge my sisters! I think Christians, and Christian women, often have this reputation - prudish, boring, etc. I'm fortunate to know lots of funny, passionate, joyful, insightful, deep, real Christian women - but I think there's a danger of conforming and hiding honest, real experiences of life under a facade of what is 'proper' and 'right'.  I don't want to pretend to have it all together when the whole point of my faith is that I don't and I need help.

I love it when Christians are expressively passionate, without being loopy. When there's a depth of honesty and rawness that is obviously genuine and reflects their actual experience. I think we need more of this, and we need to communicate that following Jesus doesn't involve losing our personalities and individuality.

I'm also aware that sometimes the reason I'm not completely open and honest about things is to protect others (myself too, but I'm not focussing on that now!). There are things I just need to shut up about because they're not my secrets to tell, or it wouldn't be loving/loyal to speak. I find that hard because my preference is to share. Mary Maclane admits quite freely that she doesn't think of anyone but herself, so she isn't constrained at all by the desire to not slander others.


* I'll speak about the things the actress said as though Mary Maclane said them - it's based on her writing, and for the sake of these thoughts I'll assume it's a faithful representation!