The Witches of Macbeth

Macbeth, Act IV, Scene I [Round about the cauldron go]
William Shakespeare, 1564 - 1616

The three witches, casting a spell

Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison’d entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights hast thirty one
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot. 

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble. 

Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble. 

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches’ mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg’d i’ the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse,
Nose of Turk, and Tartar’s lips,
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-deliver’d by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble. 

While I love this passage from Macbeth, it quite possibly may not have been written by Shakespeare but added after the initial performance. In fact, all of the witches scenes may have been added later. However, with that being said, Macbeth was written during the reign of James I, who had an obsession with witches, even writing a book about them. This means that Shakespeare himself may have included the witches to garner the favor of James. In addition, Banquo from Macbeth is also believed to be a true character as well as an ancestor of King James I of England, who was also James IV of Scotland. Macbeth portrays Banquo as a hero, while in actual history, he was an accomplice of Macbeth. Whether the witches were really written by Shakespeare or not, Macbeth is a homage to King James I.

So, if you have read this far, here is some good news. This afternoon I have an interview for the job in Chicago, and tomorrow afternoon, I have an interview for the job in Florida. Both are preliminary telephone interviews, but it’s a start.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween Is Coming

Halloween is tomorrow. Gay Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday. It’s the one time when you can be someone else. Anyone else. It’s fun. My best friend has a Halloween party every year. When we lived closer to each other, I always attended. Many years, I cohosted. Sadly, she lives in Texas now and I live in Vermont, so it’s kind of hard to make it to the party. We are dressing up at work this year though. That should be fun. I really do love Halloween.

10 Reasons

Here are 10 reasons why God accepts gay Christians.

1. The term "homosexual" didn’t exist until 1892. Some modern Bible translations say that "homosexuals" will not inherit the kingdom of God, but neither the concept nor the word for people with exclusive same-sex attraction existed before the late 19th century. While the Bible rejects lustful same-sex behavior, that’s very different from a condemnation of all gay people and relationships.

2. Sexual orientation is a new concept--one that the Christian tradition hasn’t addressed. Many Christians draw on their faith’s traditions to shape their beliefs, but the concept of sexual orientation is new. Until recent decades, same-sex behavior was placed in the same category with gluttony or drunkenness -- as a vice of excess anyone might be prone to -- not as the expression of a sexual orientation. The Christian tradition has never spoken to the modern issue of LGBT people and their relationships.

3. Celibacy is a gift, not a mandate. The Bible honors celibacy as a good way of living -- Jesus was celibate, after all -- but it also makes clear that celibacy must be a voluntary choice. Requiring that all gay people remain celibate is at odds with the Bible’s teachings on celibacy, which are grounded Scripture’s core affirmation that God’s physical creation is good.

4. Condemning same-sex relationships is harmful to the LGBT community. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that good trees bear good fruit, while bad trees bear bad fruit. The church’s rejection of same-sex relationships has caused tremendous, needless suffering to the LGBT community--bad fruit. Those harmful consequences should make Christians open to reconsidering the church’s traditional teaching.

5. Sodom and Gomorrah involved an attempted gang rape, not a loving relationship. It’s commonly assumed that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah out of his wrath against same-sex relations, but the only form of same-sex behavior described in the story is an attempted gang rape -- nothing like a loving, committed relationship. The Bible explicitly condemns Sodom for its arrogance, inhospitality and apathy toward the poor -- not for same-sex behavior.

6. The prohibitions in Leviticus don’t apply to Christians. Leviticus condemns male same-sex intercourse, but the entire Old Testament law code has never applied to Christians in light of Christ’s death. Leviticus also condemns eating pork, rabbit, or shellfish, cutting hair at the sides of one’s head, and having sex during a woman’s menstrual period -- none of which Christians continue to observe.

7. Paul condemns same-sex lust, not love. Like other ancient writers, Paul described same-sex behavior as the result of excessive sexual desire on the part of people who could be content with opposite-sex relationships. He didn’t have long-term, loving same-sex relationships in view. And while he described same-sex behavior as "unnatural," he also said men having long hair goes against nature, and most Christians read that as a reference to cultural conventions.

8. Marriage is about commitment. Marriage often involves procreation, but according to the New Testament, it’s based on something deeper: a lifelong commitment to a partner. Marriage is even compared to the relationship between Christ and the church, and while the language used is opposite-sex, the core principles apply just as well to same-sex couples.

9. Human beings are relational. From the beginning of Genesis, human beings are described as having a need for relationship, just as God himself is relational. Sexuality is a core part of what it means to be a relational person, and to condemn LGBT people’s sexuality outright damages their ability to be in relationship with all people -- and with God.

10. Faithful Christians are already embracing LGBT brothers and sisters. Mainstream denominations like Presbyterians and Episcopalians now ordain openly gay clergy, and there are seeds of change in evangelical churches as well. This November, the Reformation Project will host a training conference for up to 900 LGBT-affirming Christians in Washington, D.C.--and the movement for change in conservative churches is just getting started.

Matthew Vines is the author of God and the Gay Christian and is the founder of The Reformation Project, a Bible-based non-profit organization that seeks to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. Matthew lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Moment of Zen: The Beach

Sleeping In

I’m sleeping in and staying in bed today. I have today off because I’m working Saturday this week. I don’t have much else to say. It’s been an interesting week, but also an exhausting week. So I’m sleeping in.

My Job

My job is probably more uncertain now than ever. Our interim director doesn’t seem to believe in my job as much as some others. Well, he may, but he doesn’t hold out hope that the job will be renewed. Though, I have the support of some powerful people in the university, I need a director that will fight for me, and I’m not sure that our interim director is a fighter. Maybe the provost is, and hopefully, she will hold more sway. I just don’t know. Things are very uncertain, which is why I applied for two more jobs. One is in Florida, and the other is in Oklahoma.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nothing Gold Can Stay
By Robert Frost, 1874 - 1963

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay. 

Headache

Yesterday, I had a severe headache, and I’m out of my headache medicine. It was a miserable day. I wish the guys above had been there to comfort me.

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

Proverbs 1:3
For receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair.

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Moment of Zen: Nipples

Guilty Pleasure

I have to admit something. I have a new guilty pleasure. I’m really loving the new remake of Dynasty on The CW. It’s just a fun catty show to watch. I never watched the original Dynasty, but I like the new one.

The reboot updates several factors from the 1980s original, including moving the setting from Denver, Colorado to Atlanta, Georgia; making Steven's homosexuality a nonissue to Blake; and changing gold digger Sammy Jo from a woman to a gay man. Patrick said, "We knew in our version—2017—we wanted Steven's conflict with Blake to be not about him being gay, but about him being liberal." Additionally, in the new series, Blake's fiancée is Hispanic, and both chauffeur Michael Culhane and the Colby family are African-American.

Headache

Most of yesterday, I had a bad headache. I even went home early from work, which I never do. After taking my headache medication and getting some sleep, it seemed to go away, but sadly it came back a few hours later. So I went to bed early last night.

The Little Ghost

The Little Ghost
 By Edna St. Vincent Millay

I knew her for a little ghost
     That in my garden walked;
The wall is high—higher than most—
     And the green gate was locked.

And yet I did not think of that
     Till after she was gone—
I knew her by the broad white hat,
     All ruffled, she had on.

By the dear ruffles round her feet,
     By her small hands that hung
In their lace mitts, austere and sweet,
     Her gown’s white folds among.

I watched to see if she would stay,
     What she would do—and oh!
She looked as if she liked the way
     I let my garden grow!

She bent above my favourite mint
     With conscious garden grace,
She smiled and smiled—there was no hint
     Of sadness in her face.

She held her gown on either side
     To let her slippers show,
And up the walk she went with pride,
     The way great ladies go.

And where the wall is built in new
     And is of ivy bare
She paused—then opened and passed through
     A gate that once was there.

Another Monday

By Monday, I’ve mentally planned out what I’m going to wear for the week. By Monday morning I have my week’s wardrobe basically planned out. I may change my mind throughout the week, but I pretty much know what I’m going to wear.

Mondays are always difficult for me. It means the work week begins again and the weekend is over. It means I can’t sleep in, no matter how badly I want to. As you might be able to tell, Mondays are not my favorite day. I just don’t do Mondays well. But, I’ll get up this morning, put on my happy face and head to work. It all gets a little better after I’ve had my first cup of coffee.

5 Psalms about the Future

By Nicholas Hemming

When you fear the future, the struggle often feels all-consuming. “What ifs” seem to run wild in your mind. You strive to focus on the task at hand—but without fail, you surrender to a fear that feels insurmountable. What does tomorrow hold? What if the future feels hopeless?

While submitting your latest rent payment, you may fear living paycheck to paycheck for the rest of your life. As you prepare for another move, you may fear loneliness or isolation. After an unsuccessful dating relationship, you may fear life as a single person, without a spouse to love and cherish.

Regardless of the circumstance, it seems impossible to move away from this fear. The future makes you freeze; thoughts of tomorrow, and the next day, unearth unmanageable anxiety. You want to have a hopeful, confident outlook, though at this point, you only feel grief and uncertainty. You wonder if your anxiety about the future will ever pass.

In these moments, turn to God’s Word for encouragement, comfort and hope. Depend on the Lord as you wrestle with anxiety about the future. And continually seek him through prayer as you work to overcome your fear. These five Psalms will get you started:

Psalm 23:4 (GNTD)

Even if I go through the deepest darkness,

I will not be afraid, Lord,

for you are with me.

Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

Psalm 34:4 (GNTD)

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me;

he freed me from all my fears.

Psalm 55:22 (GNTD)

Leave your troubles with the Lord,

and he will defend you;

he never lets honest people be defeated.

Psalm 94:19 (GNTD)

Whenever I am anxious and worried,

you comfort me and make me glad.

Psalm 121:1-2 (GNTD)

I look to the mountains;

where will my help come from?

My help will come from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Nicholas Hemming serves as a Content Specialist with American Bible Society. As a child of Southern New Hampshire, he grew up exploring hidden towns along the rocky New England coast. Though he now resides in Philadelphia, PA, he continues to curiously explore his home—and the towns, cities and countries that lay beyond his home.

Moment of Zen: Autumn

Tired

I was so tired when I got home. It was a long drive back from southern Connecticut. After eating dinner, Isabella and I basically went to bed. Whenever I am gone overnight, Isabella just can’t get enough of me. She likes to snuggle when I get home, and it’s usually at least a day before she lets me out of her sight. She did leave me long enough to let me watch The Orville last night, but then we turned out the lights and went to bed. She’ll roam around some of the night but she won’t be too far away from me.

Heading Back

First of all, yesterday was quite successful. I accomplished everything in Connecticut that I set out to. That being said, no one ever told me that southern Connecticut was such a sketchy place. While searching for a place for dinner, I didn't want to stop because no where looked safe. At one point, I was even approached by a prostitute, to which I promptly drove off. I finally did decide on a decent looking Mexican place, which had the cutest little Mexican gay waiter with a nice little bubble butt. The food was also delicious. I had sopa de mariscos, which is a seafood soup, and a carne asada steak. both were beyond delicious. This is the best Mexican food I've had since I left the South.

Now, I am headed back to Vermont.

Chicago and Connecticut

The other day, I applied for a job in Chicago. It would be a step up from my current job and would be at a prestigious library and museum. The only thing is that I only know two things about Chicago: I've seen the musical and my mother says it's the murder capital of America. Actually, I know a few more things, such as the gay section is known as Boystown, and Chicago sits on Lake Michigan. Also, I read Boy Culture which takes place in Chicago not that I remember that much about Chicago from the book. I've also never lived in a big city before. So help me out here. What should I know about Chicago?

Also, I'm back in Connecticut today. Travel arrangements were a pain in the ass without a director, but I finally got them finalized. I'll be driving much of tomorrow, but I will be spending the night in Connecticut before I drive home on Thursday. It's going to be a long two days. I don't mind driving, but I really don't like driving by myself, especially early in the morning. I like to have someone to talk to as I drive. But being by myself, I'll probably either listen to an audiobook or listen to NPR.

Fragment: Questions

Fragment: Questions

 By Percy Bysshe Shelley

Is it that in some brighter sphere

We part from friends we meet with here?

Or do we see the Future pass

Over the Present’s dusky glass?

Or what is that that makes us seem

To patch up fragments of a dream,

Part of which comes true, and part

Beats and trembles in the heart?

Prayer for Safety

Our world is filled with events and situations that can cause great fear and anxiety. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and live imprisoned by fear.  We are promised in God’s Word that he is faithful and will protect us (2 Thessalonians 3:3).  God wants us to let go of fear and to live life to the fullest! (John 10:10) My family is in the path of Hurricane Nate, so I offer this prayer for safety.

Lord, I pray Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over my family. Keep evil far from them, and help them to trust You as their refuge and strength. I pray You will guard their minds from harmful instruction, and grant them discernment to recognize truth. I pray You will make them strong and courageous in the presence of danger, recognizing that You have overcome and will set right all injustice and wrong one day. Help them to find rest in Your shadow, as they live in the spiritual shelter You provide for them. Let them know that the only safe place is in Jesus, and that their home on earth is only temporary.

Moment of Zen: Meditation

TGIF

It's been quite a week, and today is going to be a busy day. I have a plumber coming at 9am to fix the leak that I thought was fixed. Hopefully, he won't take long. I have a class at 11. I've been taking a meditation class this week. It's been pretty interesting. Once that s over with, I will probably be at the museum by myself the rest of the day.

Good News

Finally, I heard some good news yesterday. The provost told me yesterday that she'd write a new grant to fund my job, or talk to the CFO about making it part of the Museum budget. This is wonderful news as it means it is quite likely I will keep my job even after my grant is over. I've become an integral part of the Museum and they seem to have realized what an important role I play. I was very happy with the news.

Another Day

Some of your wrote to me yesterday concerned because of my"Judgement Day" post. Well the short answer is that I'm okay. I went into HR, and they asked me about ten questions. Of the ten, I could answer four of them without saying, "No, not that I know of." I was simply just kept out of the loop on whatever went on. I know three things now that I didn't know before, but I had suspected these three things. It has to do with our audit. It has to do with money. And, I was never a part of it. HR may just think that I am a clueless dope now, but I really didn't know anything they asked. I had not observed anything they asked about. Now we are expected to go on with business as usual. Well, without a boss, nothing is business as usual. One person commented that it was like a death in the family. In a way it is, but it's a death no one wants to talk about. So I'm still largely clueless on specifics, but I have a general idea of what happened. Now we wait and see how it will be resolved.

The Wings of Daylight

The Wings of Daylight
by W. S. Merwin

Brightness appears showing us everything
it reveals the splendors it calls everything
but shows it to each of us alone
and only once and only to look at
not to touch or hold in our shadows
what we see is never what we touch
what we take turns out to be something else
what we see that one time departs untouched
while other shadows gather around us
the world’s shadows mingle with our own
we had forgotten them but they know us
they remember us as we always were
they were at home here before the first came
everything will leave us except the shadows
but the shadows carry the whole story
at first daybreak they open their long wings

Judgement Day

At least it feels like the Judgement Day. I have to go before HR today and answer questions. I have no idea what the questions will be because I have no idea what this whole matter is about. I hope I will find out this afternoon during my appointment. I want answers. I need answers. Whether I will get them or not is up to HR. There is too much up in the air for me. I like to know what's going on.

Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

It's been a difficult week. I was scrolling through Facebook and came across a post with these Bible verses. It reminded me that God is with me. He will guide me through the troubled waters ahead. I just have to trust in him. I have to rejoice that he is with me always. Reading these verses brought a certain peace that I haven't felt in a long time. This week has made things tougher, but I hope the week to come brings answers and resolutions to my problems/issues. I pray that the Lord will stand by me in this time of need.