Not a Dinner Party

FAQs (not really–no one’s asked me these questions at all, let alone frequently):

Q: Why “Not a Dinner Party”?

A: Because it was the name of my blog during my year in China (actually, it was “A Revolution is not a Dinner Party”), which is the first time I ever had a “blog”, and it just feels right to keep some manifestation of that name. As you may or may not be aware, it derives from a Mao Zedong quote; obviously, I am not a Mao fan, or a communist, or anything that quoting Mao might imply. I do, however, love absurd/ridiculous things, and, when I was packing to go to China, my mom saw me packing a pink and green flowered skirt, and said, “why are you packing that? don’t you know that a revolution is not a tea party?” I laughed, looked up the quote, and it stuck.

Q: Does it have any REAL meaning?

A: OK, it has a little bit of meaning, though I only stumbled across this application recently. The obvious meaning is–my life has not been a dinner party (no picnic, as they say); in fact, it’s been pretty tough. This is one way for me to say: “hey, this isn’t some cutesy, feel-good, put-together blog”. Additionally, the meaning that I stumbled across recently is–which, again, came up in a conversation with my mom (we’re very close)–the actual idea behind the quote, which is that, in order to maintain a movement, or revolutionary fervor, you have to maintain a constant state of revolution. This was a central tenet of Mao’s thought, and led to millions of deaths, so that is clearly not the way that I mean it. When you think about it, though, it’s sort of true in life: in order to keep growing, thinking, etc., you have to keep experiencing things, keep being challenged, keep learning, keep moving in one way or another. Which is a central tenet of MY philosophy–although this is only partly my choice, as external events and pressures, as well as internal ones have meant that there is never a dull moment. Most of the time, this is not very fun, and I can be very angry with God. In retrospect, though, it always becomes clear that something has come out of these difficult times and experiences. Not that I desire or look for them, but I see myself being grown, being refined and being used, and I am thankful.

Q: Why does anyone care what you have to say?

A: Maybe no one does. But I like to rant write, and I do it better on a computer, so why not post it? Also, I am often having strong feelings about one thing or another, so I have decided to put them up on the internets. Hopefully they won’t be used against me someday…

Q: Who are you?

A: I am a person who likes to make lists. So here is a list about who I am:

1. I am a 27-year old student at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, getting an MDiv, which is a Masters Degree in Divinity, which is what people get when they want to go into some kind of ministry. I have long felt called into ministry, but am unsure what form that will take, other than I want to serve God, serve people, and use my gifts to do so.
2. I am originally from Seattle, WA, but have lived in Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Boston, the North Shore of Boston, San Francisco, Beijing, and now Vancouver, Canada.
3. I am a lot of things that may be seen as contradictory, such as: I am an evangelical Christian (that’s right, I’m not ashamed of the title), but I am also politically very liberal. To me, this is not contradictory, because I believe that the liberal vision is one that seeks to promote a just, compassionate, and equal society; to provide health care, education, and other social services to everyone. Should the government do this? Maybe, maybe not, but I don’t see it being guaranteed without the government, and it is that important to me that I think that these safety nets need to be enshrined in our system of government. Yes, there are ways in which there is conflict with the Christian message, particularly the abortion issue, but I think that there is also middle ground in those areas, particularly in reducing abortion, and ways that we can work together. To me, the bottom line is, how would Jesus feel about free-market capitalism? how would He feel about our neglect of the poor? The elderly? How would he feel about our military-industrial complex? preemptive war? racial discrimination?
4. I have a wonderful husband named George. He is an artist, an avid reade, a (Red Sox) baseball fanatic, a music snob, a wonderful cook, and an all around great human. Marriage is hard as hell, but there’s nothing more beautiful than going to bed next to your best friend every night; knowing that you have a partner to face the world with; knowing what makes the other person laugh; knowing when the other person needs you, and knowing that marriage is making you into a better person. George has been through a lot, but he’s one of the most talented, creative, and intelligent people I know. Check out his website, at www.georgefraryiii.com.
5. As you may have gathered above, I am a Christian, and I love Jesus. It’s not always cool or comfortable to talk about, but when someone/something has changed your life, saved your life, and given meaning to your life, you can’t help but talk about it. I’ve always been a bit of an oddball, growing up in a brilliant, intellectual, liberal family and then becoming an evangelical Christian, but I think that I’ve benefited from both environments. One exciting thing to see, though, is the way that evangelical Christianity is increasingly engaging the worlds of art, social justice, culture, and academia. This warms my little heart, as I’m starting to feel like there’s a place for me. This is also why I chose to attend seminary at Regent College, because it is the best example that I have seen of a Christian community engaging the intellect, the political, civil and economic realms, and the world of culture, while maintaining a robust commitment to orthodox faith. I have infinite respect for the people behind the institution.
6. I am kind of obsessed with China. I started studying Chinese when I was very young, going to Chinese school with a Chinese friend and neighbor on Saturdays for 5 years-ish. Not much of the language stuck, except a familiarity with the cadences and tones, and a faint “Southern” accent (meaning less “sh” and more “ss”). Most important, a love of all things China stuck, and I studied here and there in college (a semester at Hamilton, a summer intensive at Harvard, a semester at Gordon), and then taught English in Beijing for a year after graduation (2005-2006), with a great organization called ELIC. When I returned, I found that it the language, culture, and people were in my soul, and I missed China so much it hurt. Since that time, I have made an effort to work with the Chinese immigrant communities in the cities where I’ve lived, including working for over a year at ACCESS, a Chinese Christian social services organization in Boston’s Chinatown. I have less time to invest now that I’m in grad school, but I try to keep up with current events on the mainland, and eat fabulous Vancouver dim sum whenever possible.
7. I love to read. I read books about China, books about history, poetry, theology, politics, and good fiction. Some authors that I like are: Jan Wong and Peter Hessler on China; NT Wright, Tim Keller, Miroslov Volf, Eugene Peterson, and others on faith/theology; and Jhumpa Lahiri, Chaim Potok, Louise Erdrich, Michael Ondaatje, Orhan Pamuk, Willa Cather, et al for fiction. Let me know if there’s something that I should read.
8. I am a political/news junkie. I could not live without: the New Yorker, the New York Times, NPR (esp WBUR Boston), and the Daily Show/Colbert Report.
9. I love music, but am not great at finding it myself. I used to listen to hip-hop alone, such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, the Roots, etc., although I have a soft spot for old Death Row artists and Biggie. I was raised on folk music and 60s and 70s rock, in the hippie vein. In this department, I still love: Bob Dylan, CSNY, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band. Through George and other friends–in China (Lindsey and Val) and on the N. Shore–I finally opened my mind to the “indie” and alt-country scenes (previously eschewed “white” music, despite BEING white). Since then, and most recently I have particularly been into: Patty Griffin, Kathleen Edwards, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Gillian Welch, Death Cab, Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Cat Power, Modest Mouse, Bon Iver, Will Oldham/Bonny “Prince” Billy, et al.
10. I am long-winded.