Re: [Dialogue] POPE LEO & IRON BOY: Top-10 Synchronicities
So, as I count, David, yours will be the third biography?, memoir? There was “Hey, White Girl” by Susan Gregory, and “Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by Mary Poole and now yours. There was also a feature article in Chicago(?) magazine by —— Spencer a couple of years ago. Maybe others? Master’s theses— Pat ( was Scott); Brooke Kroeger … Shocked me that you are the same age as the new pope … time does march on Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver
On May 10, 2025, at 12:39 PM, David Marshall via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Order, EI, & ICA former colleagues,
I recently joined Substack to provide more long-form content for my family communication books, including my upcoming memoir IRON BOY, and posted this 2-page article yesterday. I noticed some of you are on Substack as well, but for those who aren't, I'm providing a copy below.
Title: POPE LEO & IRON BOY: Top-10 Synchronicities Subtitle:Bringing Light to World’s “Dark Night”
Growing up ecumenical, I was exposed to a lot more Catholicism than the average Protestant boy in America, even though my family was officially Methodist. I studied Saint Teresa, Saint Augustine, and Saint Francis as a teenager, and attended Catholic mass from different Religious Houses around the world. Our 30-minute Daily Office service each dawn was full of Episcopalian liturgy, which has similarities to Catholic services.
So when Pope Leo was selected by the cardinals in the Vatican this week, I naturally noticed the parallels between Pope Leo and Iron Boy, including our global debuts just weeks a part this spring, although mine pales by comparison.
Connections abound:
1. CHICAGO - Our formative years were both in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s, Pope Leo on the South Side, and Iron Boy on the West Side. 2. ORDERS - We both lived monastic lives, Pope Leo in an Augustine Order for priests and Iron Boy in an Ecumenical Family Order (Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and other faiths). We both practiced our own versions of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 3. CULTS – Some agnostics and atheists say the Catholic Church is one of the largest cults on the planet. Others say the Order Ecumenical I grew up in was a cult as well. People must judge for themselves. What is a “cult” anyway? Cult survivors recount a sense of belonging and intense community, but also of being taught they are holier than others; believing the cult leader is “all knowing;” giving up their own freedom to “group think;” forced to tolerate leader unaccountability for misdeeds; feeling afraid to leave; and ultimately being ostracized by remaining members after departure. I experienced many of these feelings as well. 4. REFORM - We are both committed to Christian renewal, extending the reforms started by Pope Francis in Pope Leo’s case, and in spreading the good news about demythologized theology in Iron Boy’s case. My platform is admittedly quite small compared to Pope Leo’s. 5. GLOBALISTS - We have lived on multiple continents and speak several languages. 6. PERU - We both lived in Peru as adults, arriving in the 1980s, and had family and missional work in this Latin American country. After my mom left the Order, she lived in Peru for six years with her second husband, and they supported the ICA rural development program in Azpitia, Peru. 7. AGE - We are contemporaries, at 69 years old. 8. ABUSE - Both our respective Orders were accused of preying on children, and had to make hard decisions about what to do about it, with not great results. 9. LEO - Pope Leo was known as Robert Prevost until this week, but will go down in history as Pope Leo XIV. The Associated Press reported this week that “In naming himself Leo, the new pope could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Brother Leo was the 13th century friar who was a great companion to St. Francis of Assisi, the late pope’s namesake.” For Iron Boy, Leo was a mythical figure in a study book Journey to the East by Herman Hesse in an Order course called “The Odyssey,” which I recount taking in Malaysia in my upcoming book. 10. SERVANT LEADERSHIP - The “Leo” figure in Journey to the East is often associated with the more secular Servant Leadership movement led by Robert Greenleaf starting in the 1970s and in later years by Ken Blanchard and other exemplars. I had the pleasure of publishing a number of Ken Blanchard’s Servant Leadership books when I worked at Berrett-Koehler Publishers during the last two decades.
From Google AI on the last two points:
“In Hermann Hesse's Journey to the East, Leo is initially presented as a simple, unassuming servant, but his disappearance triggers the group's disintegration. He is revealed to be the President of the League, a figure who embodies the essence of servant leadership and the unifying force of the group. His absence exposes the fragility of the League's ideals and the lack of true commitment among its members.
“Here's a more detailed look at Leo's role:
“Symbol of Servant Leadership: Leo is described as a quiet, supportive, and beloved member of the group, readily helping others and showing a natural affinity with animals. This aligns with the concept of servant leadership, where leaders prioritize the needs of their followers. “Unifying Presence: Leo's presence, though unassuming, provides a sense of stability and purpose for the group. His disappearance leads to confusion, anxiety, and bickering among the members. “Hidden Leadership: It's revealed that Leo is not just a servant but the President of the League. This highlights the paradox that true leadership can manifest in humility and service. “Test of Faithfulness: Leo's disappearance is a deliberate act, a test of the group's commitment to the journey's core values. The group's inability to persevere without him exposes their lack of faith and their internal struggles. “Symbol of Inner Peace: The journey to the East, and Leo's role within it, can be interpreted as a metaphor for the search for inner peace and spiritual enlightenment. Leo's quiet service and the animals' love for him suggest a connection to a higher, more natural order.”
I wish Pope Leo the best in serving as a bridge to warring factions in the world and among his own flock, and in holding himself and other Catholic Church leaders accountable for their past and present failings in not protecting the children.
“Peace be with you,” (Pope Leo to world on first day of papacy) and “Grace and peace,” (Order Ecumenical salutation).
***
I'm probably going to use some version of this for my Sunday Housechuch Countdown #5 post tomorrow. If you want to see the previous five countdown post as part of my IRON BOY book launch, you can find them on my Marshall Books blog <https://marshallbooks.wordpress.com/>.
David Marshall, Moraga, California
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
“Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by CAROL Poole, sister of John & Mary. Peace, Michael Shaw sent from my phone
On May 11, 2025, at 07:43, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
“Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by Mary Poole
Thank you, Michael. Sorry for the mistake. A really great family!! Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel@yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com On Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 08:15:53 AM MST, Michael Shaw <d.michael.shaw@comcast.net> wrote: “Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by CAROL Poole, sister of John & Mary. Peace,Michael Shawsent from my phone On May 11, 2025, at 07:43, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: “Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by Mary Poole
Jim, There is one more that I know of, a fiction novella from Ali Anthony Bell on his youth, from '64 to '77 "From the Rockies to the Windy City"? It's available in print now at Barnes & Noble. https://books2read.com/b/b5aZj6. Also in e-book from Smash Words. Yes, I read both Hey, White Girl! when it first came out in 1969, I was in the New York Religious House that year, and Grits, Green, Beans, and the Holy Ghost, which are both excellent. Susan Gregory comes at it as a North Shore family that interned for one year with the EI/Order on the West Side. In and out fast. Carol Poole approaches it primarily from the Student House perspective in the Kemper Building. She is a contemporary of my younger sister, Teresa, who was also at the Student House. I’ve read parts of From the Rockies to the Windy City, and want to read more. Even though I am a published author of several bestsellers (The Book of Myself, The Book of Us, What I Love About You) by big New York houses Penguin Random House and Hachette, had a good literary agent, and worked in the book publishing business for 16 years at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, I couldn’t get any of the mainstream houses to publish IRON BOY. Many had minimum thresholds of 50,000 units sold to break even, and prospective editors said unless the author is already famous or the book “bleeds” such as Jim Jones, David Koresh or murder and mayhem, that memoirs from ordinary people are not profitable. I decided to self-publish in both paperback and e-book with the Kindle Publishing Program even though I have a love-hate relationship with Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos. This program gives me full control of the design, production, and marketing components. Sent from my iPad David Marshall www.marshallbooks.net
On May 11, 2025, at 7:41 AM, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
So, as I count, David, yours will be the third biography?, memoir? There was “Hey, White Girl” by Susan Gregory, and “Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost” by Mary Poole and now yours. There was also a feature article in Chicago(?) magazine by —— Spencer a couple of years ago.
Maybe others? Master’s theses— Pat ( was Scott); Brooke Kroeger …
Shocked me that you are the same age as the new pope … time does march on Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“.
The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver
On May 10, 2025, at 12:39 PM, David Marshall via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Order, EI, & ICA former colleagues,
I recently joined Substack to provide more long-form content for my family communication books, including my upcoming memoir IRON BOY, and posted this 2-page article yesterday. I noticed some of you are on Substack as well, but for those who aren't, I'm providing a copy below.
Title: POPE LEO & IRON BOY: Top-10 Synchronicities Subtitle:Bringing Light to World’s “Dark Night”
<image.png>
Growing up ecumenical, I was exposed to a lot more Catholicism than the average Protestant boy in America, even though my family was officially Methodist. I studied Saint Teresa, Saint Augustine, and Saint Francis as a teenager, and attended Catholic mass from different Religious Houses around the world. Our 30-minute Daily Office service each dawn was full of Episcopalian liturgy, which has similarities to Catholic services.
So when Pope Leo was selected by the cardinals in the Vatican this week, I naturally noticed the parallels between Pope Leo and Iron Boy, including our global debuts just weeks a part this spring, although mine pales by comparison.
Connections abound:
1. CHICAGO - Our formative years were both in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s, Pope Leo on the South Side, and Iron Boy on the West Side. 2. ORDERS - We both lived monastic lives, Pope Leo in an Augustine Order for priests and Iron Boy in an Ecumenical Family Order (Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and other faiths). We both practiced our own versions of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 3. CULTS – Some agnostics and atheists say the Catholic Church is one of the largest cults on the planet. Others say the Order Ecumenical I grew up in was a cult as well. People must judge for themselves. What is a “cult” anyway? Cult survivors recount a sense of belonging and intense community, but also of being taught they are holier than others; believing the cult leader is “all knowing;” giving up their own freedom to “group think;” forced to tolerate leader unaccountability for misdeeds; feeling afraid to leave; and ultimately being ostracized by remaining members after departure. I experienced many of these feelings as well. 4. REFORM - We are both committed to Christian renewal, extending the reforms started by Pope Francis in Pope Leo’s case, and in spreading the good news about demythologized theology in Iron Boy’s case. My platform is admittedly quite small compared to Pope Leo’s. 5. GLOBALISTS - We have lived on multiple continents and speak several languages. 6. PERU - We both lived in Peru as adults, arriving in the 1980s, and had family and missional work in this Latin American country. After my mom left the Order, she lived in Peru for six years with her second husband, and they supported the ICA rural development program in Azpitia, Peru. 7. AGE - We are contemporaries, at 69 years old. 8. ABUSE - Both our respective Orders were accused of preying on children, and had to make hard decisions about what to do about it, with not great results. 9. LEO - Pope Leo was known as Robert Prevost until this week, but will go down in history as Pope Leo XIV. The Associated Press reported this week that “In naming himself Leo, the new pope could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Brother Leo was the 13th century friar who was a great companion to St. Francis of Assisi, the late pope’s namesake.” For Iron Boy, Leo was a mythical figure in a study book Journey to the East by Herman Hesse in an Order course called “The Odyssey,” which I recount taking in Malaysia in my upcoming book. 10. SERVANT LEADERSHIP - The “Leo” figure in Journey to the East is often associated with the more secular Servant Leadership movement led by Robert Greenleaf starting in the 1970s and in later years by Ken Blanchard and other exemplars. I had the pleasure of publishing a number of Ken Blanchard’s Servant Leadership books when I worked at Berrett-Koehler Publishers during the last two decades.
From Google AI on the last two points:
“In Hermann Hesse's Journey to the East, Leo is initially presented as a simple, unassuming servant, but his disappearance triggers the group's disintegration. He is revealed to be the President of the League, a figure who embodies the essence of servant leadership and the unifying force of the group. His absence exposes the fragility of the League's ideals and the lack of true commitment among its members.
“Here's a more detailed look at Leo's role:
“Symbol of Servant Leadership: Leo is described as a quiet, supportive, and beloved member of the group, readily helping others and showing a natural affinity with animals. This aligns with the concept of servant leadership, where leaders prioritize the needs of their followers. “Unifying Presence: Leo's presence, though unassuming, provides a sense of stability and purpose for the group. His disappearance leads to confusion, anxiety, and bickering among the members. “Hidden Leadership: It's revealed that Leo is not just a servant but the President of the League. This highlights the paradox that true leadership can manifest in humility and service. “Test of Faithfulness: Leo's disappearance is a deliberate act, a test of the group's commitment to the journey's core values. The group's inability to persevere without him exposes their lack of faith and their internal struggles. “Symbol of Inner Peace: The journey to the East, and Leo's role within it, can be interpreted as a metaphor for the search for inner peace and spiritual enlightenment. Leo's quiet service and the animals' love for him suggest a connection to a higher, more natural order.”
I wish Pope Leo the best in serving as a bridge to warring factions in the world and among his own flock, and in holding himself and other Catholic Church leaders accountable for their past and present failings in not protecting the children.
“Peace be with you,” (Pope Leo to world on first day of papacy) and “Grace and peace,” (Order Ecumenical salutation).
***
I'm probably going to use some version of this for my Sunday Housechuch Countdown #5 post tomorrow. If you want to see the previous five countdown post as part of my IRON BOY book launch, you can find them on my Marshall Books blog <https://marshallbooks.wordpress.com/>.
David Marshall, Moraga, California
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
participants (3)
-
David Marshall -
James Wiegel -
Michael Shaw