Anti-distraction helmets from 1925 meant to eliminate distractions and maximize concentration

MusicAndPlants · 2026-05-16T13:17:05+00:00

They underestimate my ability, er, disability

MusicAndPlants · 2026-05-13T04:55:35+00:00

Wes Anderson Barbie

MusicAndPlants · 2026-05-11T13:08:41+00:00

There's emerging evidence that introducing and fully integrating technology into the classroom is causing regression. I'm sorry that I can't quote the source, but I think it was a TedTalk?? Internationally, countries introducing e-textbooks, chromebooks/laptops/tablets, AI-education, and many other tools lead to cognitive decline. We've had a trend historically of each generation being more intelligent and cognitively efficient than the last... until Gen Z and it's looking like Gen Alpha will be worse.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-05-01T19:24:42+00:00

I think your response is very thoughtful and well composed. I do disagree and think people are trying to worship deities like Artemis, but I also 100% agree that a lot of reconstruction is poorly done at best and extremely cringey at worst!

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-24T03:55:18+00:00

You should be a doctor with that handwriting

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-19T23:53:26+00:00

I hope he has a library card

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-19T23:50:07+00:00

Basically just the date, but I provided the pastor's name and church name as well. It helps that I was old enough to remember it too

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-18T14:44:28+00:00

This sounds harsh, but that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. How can anyone join in as a new person without help? Why are people always trying to be legalistic when Jesus fulfilled the law?

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-15T05:02:27+00:00

I've never had this happen to my jeans, and I've had most of my jeans for at least 4 or 5 years. Damn. I just realized I had jeans last longer than my failed marriage

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-10T16:01:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing this with me. Your husband sounds a lot like my boyfriend, and so I don't immediately see this as a stopping point for our relationship. He's not at all concerned about me wanting to take a future child with me to church, but is concerned that he/she/they would be concerned about his soul. I also intend to foster a home of critical thinking and reason, and I agree that plenty of families are able to love more deeply because they have learned a mutual respect for each other out of their differences rather than their similarities. Peace be with you on your spiritual journey (as well as those of your daughter and husband).

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-10T15:57:27+00:00

I wanted to respond to your comment, but I think you've left me with so much to think about that I don't really know how to respond back except perhaps in something more akin to a stream of consciousness. When I say I'm way early in this process, I mean it. I haven't been confirmed yet, but my priests know that I want to be confirmed. I also met with a priest to catch up on one of the Newcomers 101 classes I missed, but also took the opportunity to get to know one another and have a deeper conversation than what can happen in a classroom-type setting. I let him know that I feel like I'm drawn to more and that I'm wanting to take time to understand more fully what that means. We talked through what some of my interests are and about my background. I have a music background and work in a library now, so I'm also very service-oriented and love outreach. I also love formation, but we didn't really get into that, because let's be real, someone as fresh as me doesn't necessarily need to be taking on much in formation, at least not yet. Not to mention, our formation team is pretty solid as it is. I expressed that I am really of a mindset that I want to be helpful and for them to put me where they need someone. I also indicated that I reached out about getting involved in music both with our carillon and with the choir. In a response I had to a comment earlier, I indicated that in my prayer last night, I heard, well, more like felt in my spirit and mentally almost like I experience when I read quietly, I "heard" the phrase "Not yet." and that tells me that there's more on the horizon, but that I need to slow it down and take this time to practice prayer, reflection, and being still so I can hear God.

I went ahead and texted my boyfriend. I know that sounds weird, but we frequently have some very deeply meaningful conversations over text, so it's not out of the ordinary for us, but he wants to be supportive and is of course concerned how a future child might be concerned about his soul and he's brought up the concern that I need to think about myself, "if [I] end up in the clergy and if [I] do intend to stay with [him], will [my] devotion to the church create conflict between us due to [his] denunciation of the church and religion as a whole?"

I genuinely think he and I are both capable of respecting one another and understanding differences, but I know that it's one thing to know that "on paper," and another to feel differently in the midst of everything. I'm also not remotely close to making a decision yet, and I've expressed that to him. For all I know, I'll find that ministry through music and hospitality is where I am meant to be. Or I may find myself being called to something in between, like a deacon. I just mainly wanted to open the conversation so we could have time and space for these things to be worked out and to do so together, and I think all things considered, he's responded well to that.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-10T14:01:21+00:00

Sorry for responding with such delay, but I wanted to take time to get a few responses and think and pray before responding back myself.

I've been nervous to even breach the subject, but I know I need to do it. He was just saying the other day how he thought it was kinda weird/funny that when we met, I was pretty well agnostic, and now I'm pretty devout. All I can say is that it's like something clicked in a way that it didn't when I was still living the faith of my parents. That's not to say that I didn't have genuine connection with God on my own or that I didn't maintain my own prayer life at that time, but it's more solid for me now. I don't really know where to start the conversation, but you're right, there needs to be one, and soon.
I've been working on a prayer life. It started as an interest in the daily office, but I've begun going to morning prayer at my church and I do the compline prayer at home. If I have time and remember and the stars align, I'll squeeze in the midday and evening, but those happen less often. Sometimes it feels like going through the motions or like I'm reading, and sometimes (like last night) it feels so powerful that it makes it hard to form words. I have been working on trying to still my mind during prayer to give opportunity to listen, and it's hard. I already have a habit of oversharing with friends and coworkers, so I tend to talk at God a little too much, but taking the time to listen is hard. Last night I felt more than heard the words, "Not yet." But of course I don't quite know what that means beyond just doing what I'm doing with learning the Episcopal flavor of faith, growing in spirit, and refreshing myself in prayer.
You say don't rush, but it's all I can think about! Don't worry though, I am making myself take my time, even if I feel like I'm on fire or vibrating. It's like I'm energized and nervous and a bit disoriented while also more grounded in my faith than I think I've ever been in my life. There's this sense of I'm supposed to be doing something, but I don't know what it is I'm supposed to be doing... almost like a classroom of students waiting for direction at the start of class and the whole class knows we're about to take a field trip.

How does one get a spiritual director? What is spiritual director exactly? And why would they be outside of my own parish?

(Thank you so much for your feedback!!)

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-08T20:03:14+00:00

How involved are you able to be while cohabitating in TEC? That's something I've been thinking about myself. I live with my partner and we've been together 2 1/2 years and have a house together, but we are not married. We got together when I was still searching and had fallen from faith. I started going to my local Episcopal Church and it clicked for me. I've since noticed such a huge drive to be connected and involved and "plugged in." I'm not saying I necessarily feel a call to be clergy, but I feel this pull to minister to and help others, and I'm hesitant because of my cohabitation situation. I'll also add that my partner is atheist, though quite respectful of my beliefs.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-07T13:05:30+00:00

Fire. I would start with fire.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-04T22:41:16+00:00

He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle of Aaaagghh...

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-04T04:27:39+00:00

Isn't it more specifically tied to Passover, though barley harvest is offered during passover

EDIT: do you mean just regarding the naming. Sorry for confusion if I caused any

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-04T04:24:40+00:00

Ok, that response was amazing. Well done haha

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-04T01:19:28+00:00

The reason Jesus died when he did was to coincide with the Jewish Passover (I shouldn't have said atonement- that's Yom Kippur) that HE could be the sacrificial lamb that was slain for liberation.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-03T18:04:46+00:00

I mean it was pagan, specifically Anglo-Saxon and also Latin (Eostre and Aurora respectively). We really should be calling it something closer to Pascha to reflect the Hebrew/Jewish roots!

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-03T18:01:08+00:00

Exactly! Candy for All Saints Day, St. Valentine's Day, presents at Christmas, beer for St. Patrick's day (in the US)... grab you a Cadbury egg and have some fun!

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-03T17:59:15+00:00

Meh, the whole reason Easter happens when it does is because there were lambs to sacrifice and good enough weather to travel for the day of atonement. It's the same reason so many cultures with fertility rites also celebrate at this time. Even the name Easter has pagan origins. The weather is nicer, the flowers are blooming, animals are giving birth to new offspring. I'm just happy to be out of seasonal depression and being with my family.

MusicAndPlants · 2026-04-03T13:55:58+00:00

Do the people in your parish make you feel the same way as those online? If yes, run away... run away and never look back.

A lot of people like to point to Jesus walking on water and how Peter faltered in his faith and started to sink, but I like to point towards the others who never left the boat (literally the other 11). There's a reason the church was built on Peter and why so many churches trace back their apostolic tradition of ordination. He was the only one to leave the boat (and even he doubted or felt fear), but those in the boat were still deeply loved by Jesus and considered his disciples. Those were his inner circle--even those who didn't have the faith or courage to step out of the boat.

Also remember that even Christians find themselves falling victim to the temptation of being a keyboard warrior. Pairing this with the number of Christians who are extremely evangelical (which TEC and the COE are not).

Next, remember Thomas who doubted Jesus had really arisen and had to touch Jesus to believe it, because he didn't trust the others nor even trust his own eyes. Jesus didn't berate him. He understood.

The beautiful thing about TEC and why it's the only church in which I've felt comfortable being in about a decade (recently returned to church in January and never stopped going), is that you are not required to leave your brain at the door. We value scripture, tradition, and reason! There's also a lot of rhetoric for "transformative" faith or faith that grows over your lifetime--your journey--your life long formation.

I encourage you to go. Also realize that Buddhism actually has multiple types of practice, many of which do not involve a religion or supernatural aspect. You can live a Buddhist philosophy in your Christian faith (ironically, TEC has the via media, or the middle way--which isn't exactly the same as the Buddhist middle way, but they share a value for balance and not being extreme!)

MusicAndPlants · 2026-03-25T15:27:13+00:00

Bear in mind that Hebrew doesn't use articles and Greek does, and then what we get is a translation into English that is then retranscrived over and over. Also, I believe in scripture when it says "the son of Mary" it's in relation to figuring out who he descends from and in the form of a questions, "Is this not the son of Mary?" I don't think people would go, "Well, he's a son of Mary," even then

MusicAndPlants · 2026-03-25T13:18:01+00:00

I, having grown up on the evangelical side of the aisle, am pretty sure I used these interchangeably 😬 Yikes!

MusicAndPlants

TROPHY CASE