Mark Scandrette

THis morning I am being interviewed by Michelle Mendoza on am 630 in the Seattle area.

How long can we keep on running around
Spending time like paper dollars in a monopoly game?
I used to think that I could do it all,
when my ambitions were small,
and I wasn’t so strong.

In my mind, and with your words, we can create worlds
that come into being through the work of our hands
and the shear power of will.

Our dreams, they are bound, by the limits of time.
There are things that I do only for today,
eating, praying, exercise
Other things are done for next week or next month
appointments, planning, reservations for camping

But I wonder about the paths I might open for future generations
through the choices I make
Land bought for my grand-children
words written on a page that may only be understood by strangers in a future decade
I chafe at the reality that we are time bound– the pressure to make our lives count
when we don’t know which of the ways we spend our days will matter
in two years, twenty or two hundred.
In history, a whole life collapses into two or three events or artifacts
and the lives of entire peoples are reduced to the caricatures of a few great men.

We have such a small window into each other’s lives
Act with the future in mind
What can we leave behind to guide those who go on
after we have passed away?

My friend Nathan George has developed a very practical approach to addressing human trafficking and global poverty. Nathan is one of the most articulate, devout, hard-working and earnest people I have ever met. The work of TRADE AS ONE is worth your attention and patronage.

In a conversation at the book party for SOUL GRAFFITI on Saturday night I tried to explain my general approach to spirituality by suggesting that we try to live into our questions– about God and ourselves. The important thing is that we keep asking, searching and seeking. In previous generations people tended to rely more on external authorities and institutions for their religious answers. The remix of spiritual authority in our culture provides us with the opportunity to be more engaged in wrestling with our questions about how to love God and one another. The story of an authentic search and the conversation carries increasing authority in our society. I would even suggest that this is what Augustine is most remembered for (His Confessions more than his theology). And the warrior/poet/king David of Israel is the quenticential example of one who lived in the questions.

My friend Ryan Sharp is a contemporary example of one who bravely wrestles with the larger questions in a way that is soulful, honest and articulate. He teamed up this time with his wife, Holly Sharp and friend Dan Dixon to produce a wonderful new album called “In Search of a Unified Theory.” Less angry and more constructive than his previous Cobalt Season albums birthed out of an era of deconstruction, “In Search of a Unified Theory” is, I believe, a coming of age album for Ryan, in which he settles into a more mature voice musically and spiritually. The addition of Dan Dixon’s Eno-esque arrangements and instrumentation add sonic complexity,nuance and added intrique to Ryan’s singer-song writing and near tearful croonings. It is also more of a piano album than previous releases– with banjo and chimes added by Dixon. “In Search of a Unified Theory” is a hopeful audio companion for anyone striving to live with greater intentionality, conscience courage within the ambiguities of human fraility.

You can hear The Cobalt Season perform live at Goat Hall at the end of May. See details below. I will also be doing a reading from SOUL GRAFFITI as part of the festivities. (Ryan and I will be doing several dates together over the next few months).

I did a taped interview earlier this week with Pat Williams for WTLN – 950 AM radio in Orlando, Florida. The interview will play this Saturday in the morning. So, if you live in Florida, enjoy hearing me feel my way through my first radio interview.