chasing the sun

Here are the official rules of the interview game:

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
6. I will answer reasonable follow up questions if you leave a comment.

Mary's great questions, my attempts to answer:

1) if you could, what one day of your life would you live over again as is?

…I remember the summer I was 12 or 13, a few families from my church went to these cabins on the bank of this beautiful river in southeast Texas. The cabins were kinda gross with rusted metal-framed beds, tiny showers and no air conditioning, but the surrounding woods were lush and green and made you feel so safe, almost cocooned. Anyway, we spent all day inner-tubing down the river, so by dinner time we were all sunburned and starving. We cleaned up and dressed-up and went to this restaurant that had an open-air dance floor where a live band was playing country-ish music. We ate messy barbecue and sat watching the people dance…and then it happened…a boy who I didn’t know and would never see again came over to where we were sitting and asked me to dance. It was the first time I ever slow-danced with a boy…it was summer, my younger sisters were giggling, there were a million stars and a bright moon, it was magic…

2) what does the term feminism mean to you?

I feel like feminism has gotten a bad reputation in evangelical tradition over the last 40 years or so, especially as a “liberal” movement. Initially, I think it was intended to raise awareness of the unfair and unequal treatment of women.

I think Jesus was a feminist. He encouraged women to join in his ministry, not only did they have a chance to serve his physical needs (some evangelicals seriously think this is the only calling Jesus ever gave to women), but he taught them and ministered to them and with them and through them.

I’ll always say I’m a “pure feminist.” Although, I do think you can go too far, almost to the point of blurring lines of sexuality. I don’t want a world where it doesn’t matter what gender you are. I like having doors opened for me and heavy things moved for me…but then again, I am from the South. I think we’re all a little bit of Elizabeth Bennet, Gloria Steinem, and Jackie Kennedy rolled into one.

3) in your 20-some years on this planet, name three of the best lessons you've learned about life.

In my 26 years I have learned:
a. “always look both ways before crossing the street” – 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Pierce
b. “pretty is as pretty does” – quote from my grandmother
c. “fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need” – Lauryn Hill (see also Ecclesiastes)

4) would you rather wake up one morning and find that your body has been fully and permanently glued to itself (like arms glued to your sides and legs glued to each other) OR discover that you have a third eye on your lower back that cries oceans at sporadic moments? why?

I’d definitely go for the third eye. That could be really useful, except for the crying bit…but I think people would get used to it. Mostly I’m not choosing the eye; I’m rejecting the glued appendages. I’d risk humiliation to be able to still play my guitar and hold my niece!

5) if god gave you a section of the sky and a bunch of form-able clouds with which you could write anything you like and it would stay there for 1 full year, what would you write?

My first thought was, “For a good time, call….” But in an effort to be more holy and serious, I think I’d write:

“I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness, or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries I am beholden to Jesus.” - Malcolm Muggeridge

Or:

Acts 1:10-11 (you’ll have to read it for yourself!!!)