Elliott Bay Books street party

It's real; adios Pioneer Square, hello Capital Hill.

Easter Sunday, lead by women

Man is man; and it often stops there.

Our full realization is beyond this arresting moment, where
limitations don't lead to full spiritual surrender. I need a woman's
voice - and loving guidance - to get on the surrender path. For this I
am fully blessed this Easter,

con paz,
frank

Bi-lingual chants

The children lead us in the Passion presentation; to a vision of
sacrifice, giving up to the will of God.

Father Tony lead us to kneel and kiss the Cross from which our slain
Saviour was hung; but not forever.

What was journey to hell my Jesus; what did you say to them knowing
they would stay and you would leave?

con paz,
frank

Stations of the Cross made from found driftwood

Walked the internal edge of St. James to view the stations of the
Cross. Vivid imagery as Christ surrenders to His fate, for me. You
bled for me Jesus; what have I done for you?

Julee is in town from NYC; she nibbled on locks while I devoured
pesto. Her green tea was not my espresso.

con paz,
frank

Holy Thursday bread

Mass at St. Marys; loud in voice, quiet in reflection. Father Tony
leads us by lowering his head in prayer, kneeling.

We wash each other's feet; share the Passover mysteries in Spanish and
English. We break holy bread then share community bread.

At home just after midnite, the moon is dull red setting into the
southeast horizon. It is Good Friday.

The rain now falls steady.

con paz,
frank

Art Walk salvation

In the barren streets, found God's beauty in the alley behind the
closed Elliott Bay Books.

Tridium raindrops

Art Walk before Holy Thursday mass.
Unspectacular thus far.

Glass studio was bright colored; nothing revolutionary in design.

Patrons look bored, where's Jesus?

Street musician plays someone else' material, bleh.

People still smoke cigarettes.

frank

Teach Us to Give Less

I'm listening to Maria Callas; while the rain continues to darken the end of a Sunday evening. It's a beautiful day because love filled the air [and my heart] from the moment I awoke this morning until now [and beyond]. Maria is my cantor, and she could probably sing anything and I would find it soothing to this beast.

What isn't soothing? Each week there seems to be a new voice of conflict, raising up a loud clamor for a side against another side. Healthcare, economy, domestic violence; name it from the headlines of a favorite newspaper [online or in print].

Heading into Holy Week, wonder if we should learn to give less time and energy to conflict. Instead, how about a week of deferring whatever conflict wants our attention - even if the provocation is irresistible - until a later time, if ever. Let the conflict pass, see if it was meant to be a part of who we are and stand for. Conflict and emotion are great friends; perhaps not giving into both at the same time means conflict doesn't get a chance to become part of who we are.

I'll try to muse more on this during Holy Week.

con paz,
frank

Recovering from salt

The salt scrub treatment hurts at first, like scratching combined with
stinging combined with pressure on the skin. She pushed very hard -
imagine this is how it's done if done right - and didn't let up
despite any noise I made.

When she poured hot water on my body to rinse off the salt and oil
debris, thought it was odd to have water at all, poured on the massage
table.

Where does this lead us, during Lent? It lead to mixed feelings about
saying "no" to Holy Week in New Mexico.

More on that later.

White Center fed us their fullness, starting with a 'ha, ha, ha' view
of the Olympics at sunset. The powerlines and a few planks in my eye
got in the way. I was inspired by the dyed yarn on canvas; super close
photos of leaves and similar elements in nature.

Need to hear children laughing, running outside today.

con paz,
frank

Reflections on Lent 2010

We joined parishioners for early Ash Wednesday mass this week. The homily centered on prayer, alms giving and fasting. The vitamin D is a nice setting to continue meditating on these focus areas for the season of Lent.

con paz,
frank

Living the Easter life

Sometimes it takes a jarring moment of truth to realize how good life is. A dear friend of ours recently lost her Mama. It hurt me to the core to hear this news, like a knife cutting through a chakra; but the days go on.

Perhaps it's about losing an elder - she lived a very long life - or maybe it was about knowing a daughter had lost her Mother. This has been a mystery I've observed through most of my adult life with admiration and curiosity; not knowing what makes it such a special bond, at times jealous that I couldn't experience this bond in my own child-Mother relationship. Nonetheless I believe we are a better species for this magical union; even when there is fussing and squirming, the love women share with each other is what I aspire to [as part of my faith journey].

Supposed to be a nice day in Seattle; more blooms and more children laughing and screaming with joy. We have a young scientist in the house; eager to achieve but struggling to do the paperwork [we all struggle at this :} ], prodded with love from Mama she'll get it done.

con paz,
frank

Frijoga

Since Frijole knows how to stretch; then let him extend this skill to
daily yoga practice.

We can use all the prayers - from all God's creatures - to see us
toward the light.

con paz,,
frank

Bunny pose

>

Christ asked us to get behind Him but stay ahead of our ego. The self
is alone when there is only it's desire to be followed.

I watched the day glide to a calm end, yet we remember the many who
groan in fear. We are your comfort children; we are you.

Thinking peace is not an act of love, but a decision to breathe a full
air.

gracias,
frank martinez
Microsoft Research
{sent from a Touch}

Reflections on Lent 2009: Week Two

Having Father Joseph McGowan give the homily at mass yesterday; was a blessing on many levels. He was the warm and nurturing voice my heart needed; after being untouched by a louder voice of conviction.

And what was Father McGowan sharing with us? To love, to be open to be loved; to listen for the emotions of another person but also what we feel as we connect with that person.

I've had kind of a rough second week of Lent; not anything personal or specific, just felt like a lot of yuk was going on and I couldn't do anything about it. Loss of control, but who's in control? Not I, nor do I need to be. Just listen, and love.

con paz,
frank

Let's speak to each other

I'm testing the Windows Live Translator plugin; see it below to get started.



Please send me feedback on whether you think this works for a blog [or not].

con paz,
frank

Strength in love

Today was a weird energy day. Not sure what the source of this weirdness is from; my calling is to ask Christ for cleansing from it; to be free to serve. Deborah noticed it more than I. And our partnership leans into each other, we pray, we love through all challenges - even during weird energy days.

Prayer list:
Carb
Evonne
Sarita
Eric
Fran
Ana's Family

con paz,
frank

Reflections on Lent 2009: Week One

Hi.  Decided to reflect/blog on Lent this year.  Perhaps it's due to all the mini [and at times major] crises in my life, and that of our family and extended love network.  Or perhaps it's about the times we live in, which seem scarier each day.  

Or perhaps the will of God is tugging me so hard right now; and my response is deeper meditation on His word, His intentions for my life that reflection during Lent is in complete alignment with what I've been doing lately.  

The theme for this Lent reflection is suffering and love.  

Campbell talks often about the need to embrace suffering; as he says "joyfully participate in the suffering of the world".   Both Hindu and Buddhist teaching talk about there being neither suffering or non-suffering; that it's all one or from a common source, to achieve enlightenment is to understand this.  My Christ faith journey leads me toward a similar path; but not without a struggle to recognize the self, the desire for comfort [if not pleasure] in my life and thus the conflict with anything that is not comfort [or pleasure].  Yet in moving away from self as the orientation for faith and it's perfection of my life; there comes an instant connection with the souls of all who suffer - atONEment - with Christ.  

Love is the support network for any suffering; can't tolerate or endure suffering without love.  And yet love isn't an antidote to suffering; wouldn't expect love to take suffering away.  Love is a healer in that it helps [at least me] get to atONEment with Christ and with all who suffer.  And this is where healing finds it's perfection in my faith journey; to reconnect.

Catholics have a tradition of denial during Lent; to remove a temptation as we walk through the 40 day desert of the Lenten journey.  I will try to remove dis-connection during this Lent; instead I want to reach out and joyfully participate.  My Christ asks this of me; and thus far He has opened doors to take action [meditation is nice, but get out there and help someone].

con paz,

frank   

La semana pasada

There were a few moments of joy; when the sun rose, made the eyes squint; then went on to blanket us with brightness. But this is early February in Seattle; it's cold and rain or clouds are not far away.

Memphis is settling into first grade overachiever mode; trying to be ready for second grade curriculum with all the eagerness of a young bird after the first few long flights away from the Mother tree. She excels at many things [are they really 'things'] which is like saying she is panoramic in her curiosities. I often sit back and wonder what source she draws from: is it my blood, Deborah's or her own identity - free from ancestry - emerging?

Like some parents of children in Seattle Public Schools; we're learning to manage expectations for world class education. We want excellence for all children [Deborah has made a personal commitment to this - at least in our time together as partners - see Atrium and PTSA investments as proof] but not at the expense of our own child's immediate experience. The district is blessed with passionate; determined adults who want the same. But they [perhaps] have a longer view of the outcomes; given their children are either past K12 education or carefully monitored to stay on track.

What do we want from our public schools? Integration. What does this mean? It's not about race. I believe it's about the blend of gifts brought forward from each child; each family connected to the child. When this blend works; it's God blessed magic. And [unfortunately] when it does not work; we're all frustrated and thus retreat to taking care of our own; and only our own child. It seems to work most often in the arts; where choreography [as one example] is an integral part of the process of creating a sum from children working together. Perhaps the academic classroom needs a sum; which then prompts a need for more choreography.

Met an old carpool amigo for lunch Wednesday. He's in a new biz; with a new speedy car. I like the guy [and his family, values - do we still talk about these?]. What's odd [maybe sad] is that we don't hook up often; even infrequently, yet we live like a mile apart. He had to drive to Redmond to see me [when we could have walked to each other's home]. Anyway; we'll help each other make our families stronger and the neighborhood brighter.

Later in the week Sarita and Ken met us for 'Spaghetti Factory' dinner. Wasn't good; actually made my tummy rumble all night. But I'll take the company anytime. It is a HUGE blessing to have my sister in the same city. It's like we're catching up after all these years [which never existed because we slept in different houses]. But as I was sharing with Deborah; makes me miss my brother Eric even more.

I'm hunting for hom bow; see ya.

frank