contemplating jesus

Horror of horrors. Why stick with Christianity? No good reason. Okay, because it's sticky. Because it's what I've got to dig with. It's home. It's unfeasible to do the work I have to do primarily from a tradition outside the one I was cultivated in - though, secondarily - thirdly - yes - I pray all the traditions, Kali and Buddha and Rumi and a host of others are doing work on me.

Church space - and I do mean the spaces in churches - seems to be where there is "ground to be broken" as Yvonne Rainier says, in this - my - exact moment." It's where my cross (or "my challenge" as Thomas Merton says it) is. This is the subversive strange practical and back-assed reason I'm doing Jesus-searching - so I can have reason to step back into the forum, the container, the venue that has harrowing narrow walls but undug depth - where dirt can fly up - where shit can happen - where interesting controversy can bloom. Secular art world: dull spent ground. Of course, I'm all for erasing these sacred/secular distinctions.

"Salt is good (and salty) - if salt becomes bland, with what will you renew it? Maintain salt among yourselves..." Mark 9:47-50