"Whether a kitchen or a congregation - or any other organization - when we gather ourselves in groups we move toward codifying the way we do things, creating rituals and recipes to make sure we do things right. Often, I think, the things that become written in stone or scripture on recipe cards began as metaphor of discovery and imagination - statements of faith - but, once passed down, become statements of the status quo, because perpetuating the institution rises higher and higher on the agenda. I'm not sure there's any way around it.
But we don't have to succumb to it."
As I read it, I thought of Mao and the histories related to his rule in China - the desire to keep
revolution alive and the horrors that came out of his attempts.
Today, September 11th helps me think of our place in the world and the wars that have come since 2001. On that day and the day after, I experienced many things including the events in this video.
I heard Jimmy's words and they resonated with me, tapping into the question of the cycle of history. Jimmy was irreverent and poignant in a way that made me record him for over an hour and spend 10 hours with him the next year. That day, his words and the volume of his voice felt like screaming at a funeral. Something rang true nevertheless.
And his words are still very much worthy of consideration as we continue to remember and make meaning of that horrible day.
I remember the lives lost on that day.
I question the cycle of history we are in that is part of such a horrific event.
