Lenten Plastics: Part Deux. Nah.
Lenten Plastics: Under the wire. Nah.
Lenten Plastics: The Nipple Shield Diaries. Ha. Maybe.
Awww, I'm just trying to say that it's a new Lent, but I'm returning to a familiar theme--plastic. When I left off blogging about two years ago, it was after a rollicking Lent spent avoiding and cataloging plastics, and a good time was had by all. But I had to admit, a few things went unexplored: what actually happens at my local recycling center (Little Rock AR, to be precise)? HOW do they recycle plastics? And rumors: does the price of oil affect the effectiveness of recycling? IS THERE a way to get milk in a glass bottle around here, and does it cost more than it's worth? CAN you recycle a pizza box clean of debris but still oily? What about those shelf-stable boxes?
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. So, this year I'm adding another aspect into the mix, the fact that walking in the world as a woman has been...well...a bit aggravating of late. And perhaps to explain it to myself as much as anyone, I've decided to explore some themes of modern femininity as well--and I'm sure we'll discover that plastic and women have far more in common than boob jobs. That being said, one thing I'm keen to discover is whether I can recycle this breast pump and all it's breast-pump-accessories when the time is right. I better be, or I'll be making some sort of artistic statement using pump parts, glitter and a glue gun let-me-tell-you.
So for anyone tuning in for the first time, here's the scoop on me: I'm 35 years old, a wife, mother, Presbyterian minister and currently in flux. I basically left my previous (and first) congregation because I realized that mothering three kids was going to be a lot more work than two, but also because the timing was pretty perfect to leave a growing toxic situation. I don't want to throw anyone under the bus, and I can leave a few names out, unless perhaps that person is my former organist extraordinaire, in which case, yeah, that guy. But I'm working on forgiveness, I really am. I'm pretty sure it's mutual, so maybe someday we can say "that didn't go well" and shake hands or something. Frankly, if forgiveness is being able to let it go, I'm getting pretty close to wanting that. I think I do want that. I just kinda still want revenge too, and that's not healthy, so I'm just going to hope time really does heal wounds. I mean, I'm working through the end-chapter actions and reflections of Desmond Tutu's (A-MAZ-ing) work The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and the World and WOW that's an incredible digression from plastic. I wonder if my counselor will be pleased with my openness of if she'll recommend I stay more professional. She is invited to comment if she reads this.
SO, I'd rather talk about the ways in which I'm moving forward in life and ministry, and this Lent felt fruitful on the themes of plastic and womansplaining. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy it too.
- Marie
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