Resurrection

Resurrection

Sorrow creeping through the back door
Knives bringing all the guilt gore
Lives sand on a quick shore

And isn't it just easy tonight
To trade your dark for light
mystery for sight
intentions for right

Crime making callous hearts break
Mind steeling so you can take
Blind from all the people that you forsake

And isn't it just easy tonight
To trade your dark for light
mystery for sight
intentions for right
history for might
tension to divide

Oh, did the winter wash you out
Did the songbird make you doubt that you were young
Hey, does the wind go through your soul
Will you give up your control and start again

Sunrise breaking expectations
God-like bringing new sensations
Wide-eyed at this transfiguration
in me

-Todd Anderson April 2010

Getting Harder and Harder to Be Social

I have not kept a regular blog. For the three or four (?) of you who actually will get this in your news-feeds, this is not new news. But I was thinking today after reading a NY Times post on the use of the word "socialize" as a transitive verb, that it is becoming harder and harder to be a truly "social" being.

What I mean is that it is difficult to develop relationships that inter-face in a medium other than technology (i.e. in real life). I am making some progress, but I find the internet has a tendency to degrade all social situations because of its all-pervasiveness.

For instance, calling my family or my friends with "news" is often redundant because I have already shared it via Facebook, Twitter, Googlebuzz, email, or something else. You pick up the phone and repeat everything you said in the email you sent two days earlier... Sort of weird.

This does not make the internet bad (though not necessarily neutral), but it does mean I have to work harder at being social, even though I can be potentially "mass-social" in an instant.

Brian Williams and Olympics Filler

So, I'm not sure about anyone else, but I am getting pretty tired of the Brian Williams filler. His latest insight, regarding our Women's Short Track Relay Silver medal ran something like this:

"Well, you've got to feel good for China with the Gold and Canada with the Silver, and you've got to feel bad for those young Koreans who were Disqualified."

Thanks Brian... I feel like my emotions have been seriously manipulated.

Are We Patriotic

This word, strange to the tongues and consciousness of Canadians across our country is being touted as a locus of national identity. Patriotic. That defines us - and not merely because of the 2010 Winter Olympics on home turf. This reality is merely a catalyst for the dormant (but now surfaced) patriotism emanating from Vancouver.
But, are we really patriotic? Or rather, a much more meaningful question, what is patriotism? Love of one’s country? Love of the success of one’s country? Moreover, how much of our perceived patriotism is a fad, and how much will become a defining feature of our country post-Olympics? My inclination is to say that patriotism has less to do with colours, flags and victory than we might think, and more to do with deep roots of conflict over geography.
In the light of this Olympic Winter Games, movements like “Own the Podium” seem to take the discourse of patriotism in a different direction by placing immense expectations and large quantities of money at the centre of discussions of patriotism. Patriotism, in this context, means the ability to bolster national pride and devotion through media and finances.
What do you think about the “rise of patriotism” in Canadians? Is it merely the Olympics, or is it something deeper? What does it mean for us to be patriotic?

New Song for Christmas

Wrapped in Rags

There Jesus lay in the arms of virgin girl
And holds in place all the atoms of the world

The mysteries of your great love are here unfurled
Wrapped in rags the King of Ages rules the earth.

Light from above splits the sky with holy fright
There shepherds see flaming servants banish night

Years come and go, infant grows into a boy
Knocking at the door, ancient men with gifts of joy

They lay down and magnify this toddling child
King of Kings in flesh and bone so soft and mild

Hey feel the glory feel the glory written 'cross the sky

Hey see the harmony, melting harmonies drawing nigh

Then Herod slays all the children in the land
Hoping to erase the one who holds him in his hand

{edit: Thanks to a helpful tip, 'lays' in the first line should be 'lay.' Also, I forgot to include the bridge. Enjoy}

Hold the Light for People...

It?s been a long year, like a sleepless night
Jacob wrestled the angel but I?m too tired to fight
Every Wednesday for two years we?ve met
I?ve showed you all my anger, doubts, and bitterness
There was no judgment in your eyes
Just the silent peace of God that felt so real in you

Will you hold the light for me?
Will you hold the light for me?

And I stay up late, cause I cannot sleep
I don?t wanna face the quiet, it?s just God and me
Cause I?m waiting for the gavel handing me the sentence down
Cause I don?t believe forgiveness or even repentance now
There was no judgment in your eyes
Just the silent peace of God that felt so real in you

Will you hold the light for me?
Will you hold the light for me?

I wanna feel redemption flowing through my veins
I wanna see with clear eyes beyond lust and hate
I want the war to be over and know the good guys won
I want love to hold me and know I?m not alone

Standing round a willow weeping
We?re praying in the backyard
And the chill of the night, the friendship light reminded me
Who we are

words

My life consists very much in words. Speaking, studying, editing, writing, reading, pondering, translating words.

They keep me up at night