June 2023 - Dialogue - lists.wedgeblade.net

Blue Skies
by Sharon Fisher 18 Dec '23

18 Dec '23

Friends, I thought many of you would be interested in seeing this video clip of Al Jolson singing "Blue Skies" in "The Jazz Singer," one of the first talkie movies. This is a video clip showing him singing a few versions of "Blue Skies." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1XfwDAQs I love this song! It works well in lots of settings. Grace and peace, Sharon -- saf1220(a)gmail.com c: 503.807.7385

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Latest addition to the Global Archives
by Karen Snyder 29 Nov '23

29 Nov '23

In the earliest days of the Ecumenical Institute of the 1960s, teams of people taught the first course of the religious studies series, Religious Studies I (RSI), to thousands across the United States and around the world. Gene Marshall was one of those great teachers - then and now! Michael May now shares his Interior Mythos Journeys series as "a re-packaged 21st Century presentation of the curriculum that took so many of us on a journey so many years ago” (https://interiormythos.com/) Michael gave permission to have Gene Marshall’s presentation on “G-O-D” in Life Journey #6: The Ultimate Love to be added to the RSI section of the Global Archives here: https://icaglobalarchives.org/collections/spiritmovement/rs-i-plc/ (click on the God section to see it). It is on YouTube as well here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNSXVbVLcbs&t=548s Life Journey - The Ultimate Love youtube.com Enjoy!

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Planet Fitness
by Richard Alton 27 Jun '23

27 Jun '23

*Join Planet Fitness* I have been in the Chicago ICA Community about a year and half. When I first arrived, I asked Terry Bergdall about where the closest gym and he recommended the Swedish Hospital and showed me how to get there. Great ride. A little expensive but great service at about $73 a month. Because of inflation they just raised it to $83. Anyway, I was talking to Martin a fellow community member about biking, and he said he biked to his gym. Great ride and only $10/month. $10/month!! So, I go to Planet Fitness and it is great and is a two mile bike ride. Joined. Love the name because I am into PLANET fitness or maybe the lack of it. My Congregation has run a series of sessions on sustainability after worship over the last 6 months. The last session was on Palm Sunday and Dr. Michael Hogue, Professor of Ethics, Philosophy and Theology spoken on Death and the Planet Earth. It turns out he is writing a book on death. He proceeded to lead us in a guided exercise on facing death: · What does facing death (our own, and others) free us to know and conversely, what ignorance does death aversion bind us to? · How does facing death help us to notice what really matters, or what we ultimately value? And conversely, what duties/responsibilities/obligations does death aversion lead us to evade? This was an amazing conversation with about 20 people for an hour and a half Death aversion is big. Especially ecologically. The earth is impermanent and when we discount the future, we externalize the cost of what we are doing to the planet. This is why Dark Ecology wants us to face the abyss. We can’t avoid the uncertainty of life, the world. And then I found myself reading a section of the New York Book Review called “Hastening the End” “We humans, one writes, are an essentially “parasitic” species, our growth and dominance has been a uniquely disastrous process for the planet and for those other species who must live on it”; “that the end of humanity’s reign on Earth is imminent and that we should welcome it” Yes, so what does facing death free us to know and do? Some say we are living the age of death- the great extinction. This is why confronting death is most needed in our time. How is facing our own death and civilizations so needed? First, death helps with our life focus. What do we want to accomplish with this life? As Becker in The Denial of Death points out, “this question gives hope, because it holds open the dimension of the unknown and the unknowable, the fantastic mystery of creation that the human mind cannot even begin to approach” But death also releases the great perplexity of our time: ‘The plain debasing and silly heroics of the acquisition and display of consumer goods, the piling up of money and privileges that now characterizes whole ways of life.”. Second, knowing you will die helps you focus on the now. Death enhances the ability to live in the present. And from being right at all costs. If one thing relatives our anger and conflicts, it is death. You appreciate more fully our wonderful life when you truly know that your time is limited. You don’t want to waste it. Third, dead tends to release us from an inappropriate sense of self-importance. Death avoidance feeds human hubris and our earth- destroying fantasies of conquest and consumption. The antihuman revolt shares the convictions that the page has been turned on the final chapter. Death releases us from the absorption with our life, out to the big picture of life. It releases us from the immediacy of our life to embrace the vastness of existence that we are part of. It is said that death releases love. As one article titled: “Think about your death and live better.” It is like self-emptying, making yourself nothing to make yourself available to all. By leaning into the reality of one’s own death, one finds happiness- one loses the trivial life sucking care of everyday life. In facing death, one finds the marvelous, the absolute mystery of life. Dick Alton ICA GreenRise since 2021 -- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund Methodist Eco-Sustainability T/F T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton(a)gmail.com Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?

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Some more Reflections
by Richard Alton 24 Jun '23

24 Jun '23

Taxi *Philo Thoughts* <https://www.facebook.com/philo.thoughtspage?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUCUfDoCBeR3OPx…>* via David Coffman- thanks David for this great introduction* · “Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes. But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, watching the “normal people” as they go about their automatic existences. For every time you say club passwords like “Have a nice day” and “Weather’s awful today, eh?”, you yearn inside to say forbidden things like “Tell me something that makes you cry” or “What do you think deja vu is for?” Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing? Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on conversation with a stranger? Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts. Do the unexpected. Find the others. ~Timothy Leary (Source: book reference unclear/Consider one of Leary's most famous books: Turn on, Tune in, Drop out https://amzn.to/46aXkG3 <https://amzn.to/46aXkG3?fbclid=IwAR1KNoHKekVOl9s5iF4aI_HKtc-bcjxZHvsEu_XUsW…> )” People kept telling me to not take the train to Minnesota. I keep doing it and it is amazing how many times this Chicago to Minneapolis train is late. But, hey, people have bad days, but they can live through it to some good days. I mean look at the Cubs- losers who became world champs. So, in May I decided to give the train another try. I get a lot of work and reading done on the train, although the promised internet has yet to show up. So go to Chicago Union Station for my Amtrak train. And before I even sit down, they are dropping bad news on me. Amtrak train to Minneapolis is running a little late. Then, I know we are in trouble when they announce they are looking to change equipment. Should I be emailing my friends for train equipment?? So, we start two hours late before we even get out of Chicago. And along the way we add another hour. My daughters are texting me that they love me, but nobody is going to pick me up at 2am in the morning- ‘get a taxi!”. Hummm, the issue is that my credit card was canceled due to some strange activity, so no Lyft or Uber. Google St Paul taxi- finally find one that will give me a ride. Arrive at 230am. Go to street and call taxi- give my address. They say it will take an hour or more for the taxi. BUT AMAZINGLY, the young man standing next immediately says that he just ordered a Lyft and he is going one block away from my address. And you can come free.. and just then his Lyft drives up and I am off. Wow, trains are late but luckily the mystery is out there caring for you. And then there is the Lyft driver- same month- who did give me a drive in Chicago. Hey, where are you from? I am from Somali. Wow, I use to live in Kenya and my daughter was born there. Hey, where was she born? She was born in Nairobi. Actually, the slums of Nairobi above a bar in Kawangware! The driver almost stopped. My daughters were both born in Kawangware and one just arrived in Chicago to start school. Are we both talking about the same slum? Yes, we roamed all over Nairobi making sure we were talking about the same place. Kawangware right here in Chicago. My third tax story is a little bit stranger. Order Lyft, she shows up and jump in. Start my normal taxi driver chatter and quickly notice that she has an accent. Say, where are you from? I am from West Africa- actually Cote d’Ivoire. I told her I had been to Cote d’Ivoire- the capital Abidjan, the President’s crocodile lake built for his opponents and the great huge Catholic Cathedral where the windows are the size of a building, Yes, yes, actually I am from Mali and my parents moved to Cote d'Ivoire to escape the troubles. Then it dawned on me that Mali is Muslim. Does that make you Muslim? Yes! I pray 5 times a day- just pull off the road. And your children? Muslim? Yes, two daughters Muslim but two sons are Christians. They said being a Muslim was too much- 5 prayers a day! The Christians only pray on Sunday. I love it! The world is becoming more and more global right here in Chicago. “Just find the Other” Although I miss Africa. Dick Alton, Kawangware, Kenya, 1980-1986. Daughter, Kay, born there and another, Christina, grew up there- we all consider it our home. -- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund Methodist Eco-Sustainability T/F T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton(a)gmail.com Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?

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Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Elizabeth "Betty" Dyson
by Karen Snyder 22 Jun '23

22 Jun '23

Great photos of the Memorial Service. In the mean time, here is Betty and Burt Dyson on the Memorials page: https://icaglobalarchives.org/burt-and-betty-dyson/ Perhaps you could scan the program to be added to the website and send the PDF to Karen Snyder. Peace, Karen > On Jun 22, 2023, at 4:02 PM, Elsa Batica via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > > Beret Griffith, Paul Noah, Ellen Tichner, Addi and Elsa Batica attended her memorial service. > > > > > Elsa Batica St Paul, MN _______________________________________________ > OE mailing list > OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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Fwd: Elizabeth Dyson Obituary. Paul and Myself will be going to her funeral. Amazing woman.
by Karen Snyder 20 Jun '23

20 Jun '23

> Forwarding Beret’s email about Betty Dyson. If anyone has a photo of her, please email it to me. Karen > > From: Beret Griffith <beretgriffith(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Elizabeth Dyson Obituary. Paul and Myself will be going to her funeral. Amazing woman. > Date: June 19, 2023 at 3:01:00 PM CDT > To: Karen Snyder <karen.snyder10(a)gmail.com> > > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: Jane Keyes <keyes004(a)umn.edu <mailto:keyes004@umn.edu>> > Date: Mon, Jun 19, 2023, 2:04 PM > Subject: Betty Dyson - funeral information this week > To: Wendell Refior <wendellrefior(a)gmail.com <mailto:wendellrefior@gmail.com>>, Beret Griffith <beretgriffith(a)gmail.com <mailto:beretgriffith@gmail.com>> > > Elizabeth "Betty" DYSON Obituary > > Passed away at the age of 99 on June 8, 2023 at Episcopal Homes in St. Paul, Minnesota. Betty was born on March 2, 1924 in Miraj, India, where her parents were Presbyterian missionaries. She attended Kodaikanal International School in Tamal Nadu and Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She received her BA from Bryn Mawr College in 1945. In July 1946, Betty married Burt Dyson in Philadelphia. Together with her family, Betty lived and worked in many places: Iran, Lebanon, Philadelphia, central Wisconsin, Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, Indianapolis and St. Paul. Wherever she was Betty engaged with the community. She was active in the League of Women Voters. Beginning in 1970, she was involved with the Institute of Cultural Affairs, an organization embracing modern Christian theology and focusing on community development. In 1987 Betty became interested in the intersection of Christianity and ecology, and this remained her focus for the rest of her life. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Burt, her parents and siblings. She is survived by her children and their spouses - Peter (Susan) Dyson, David Dyson and Susanne Hollingsworth, Katherine (Robert) Roseth, Frank Dyson, and Deborah Dyson, her grandchildren and their spouses - Will Dyson and Valerie Blassey, Katherine Dyson and Nick Perl, Heather (Matthew) Williamson, Mark Dyson and Edyn Jessup, and Ben (Viviana Venegas) Roseth, six great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many friends around the world. A memorial service for Betty will be held at Episcopal Homes Coventry Chapel, 1840 University Ave. W., St. Paul, MN on June 22 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to the Episcopal Homes Foundation or an environmental organization of your choice. > Nandita Ray: Betty, my India-born friend! I shall miss her tremendously! We became friends 25 years ago, here in St. Paul, when my son was a student at Macalester. Her love for her birth country never left her. She always spoke lovingly and had lovely memories of her childhood in India. She loved visiting India. We considered her a part of our extended family and she would often remind me of Diwali or Holi, two of India's favorite festivals. And would visit us on these days. She loved Khadi (an Indian yogurt dish) and Bhajiyas( vegetable fritters), which I made for her. Her afternoon tea and biscuits were an Indian habit. She was very proud of her kids and grandkids and spoke proudly about their accomplishments. She never spoke about her own academic accomplishments!! Her twinkling eyes, soft smile, her willingness to share her knowledge and experiences, taught me a lot. But most of all her zest for life and never ever giving up easily will forever live with me. I shall miss you, dear Betty. Rest in peace. >

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Celebrating the life of Jonathan Troxel
by Karen Snyder 11 Jun '23

11 Jun '23

Greetings - especially to those of you who knew our son, Jonathan Troxel, Yesterday, June 6, Jonathan suffered a cardiac arrest (triggered by asthma attacks possibly exacerbated by the air pollution from the Canadian wildfires) and died. He has had asthma since he was child. He began having strong problems with his breathing last Thursday, saw a doctor on Saturday, but still continued to have issues. Before going to work Tuesday, he texted us that he had another asthma attack, but was feeling better and proceeded to go to work. After he had walked the one block to work at the Admiral at the Lake Retirement Center, he told his staff colleagues that he was breathless and collapsed. All the nurses from the Admiral, the EMT paramedics and the hospital ER team were not able to revive him. This of course has been a great shock to our lives - Jim and I as well as Jonathan’s wife, Elizabeth. We are in the midst of deciding what are the appropriate ways to celebrate his life. Although we don’t know who is reading this email, you too may have had experiences of death that you have wrestled with how to celebrate the life of your loved one. We thought sharing about Jonathan through the Dialogues was one way to celebrate. If Jonathan knew you, he loved you. Any time someone would visit Jim and I, he wanted to see them too. He loved his experiences as a child in the Order, singing “Try to Remember” in the Student House, and was disappointed when Jim and I left the Order community. He has been pleased that Jim and I have re-engaged with the ICA. In the past couple of years he has enjoyed working with the Phase I files of the Global Archives in order to have them put on its website. And he has kept up with the lives of many who have transitioned from this life. Now he is among them. Jim, Elizabeth and I are grateful for the messages and phone calls we have received. Each and every one is meaningful to us. Thank you. Take good care of yourselves, especially in these days of uncertain air quality or illnesses. Life is precious and mysterious. Peace and love, Karen and Jim Troxel

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5/28/23 PHOTOS—B½ OF ARCHIVE PROJECT
by Frank Knutson 04 Jun '23

04 Jun '23

Colleagues, Today is the last of the PHOTOS—B½ OF ARCHIVE PROJECT until after Labor Day. It’s not because I’m running out of material but it is more difficult finding material that resonates with us old hands. I also need some time off. See you in the fall . . .

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