redemption, tikkun olam, and folk music

I just briefly want to throw out a couple of things - one that I've been mulling over/reflecting on/kicking around in my brain, and the other something I just found out about last night:

-redemption - at The Simple Way, when Tim was talking (i.e. giving his Hauerwaasian, anarchist-light shpiel) about how corrupt our institutions (government, etc.) are, I just kept thinking, "but the good news is the hope for redemption!" Somehow, I've lately been using terms, both in informal conversation and when thinking through theological stuff, of things being "redeemed." There's something about the creative process of "redeeming" that which is lost, broken, wounded, etc. in our lives, in the world. As my posts from throughout this year have surely reflected, I think I'm becoming more and more a flesh and blood, this-world kind of person - almost in a very theoretical or spiritual way though (maybe I'm actually spiritualizing things too much - who knows). But I'm more and more drawn into this idea that we're all in process, that creation is continually happening - that, as we discover more and more our brokenness, we're capable of more and more wholeness. If there is "a new kingdom," "a new life" beyond what we experience day to day, I think it will still be made of the same dust and ashes remaining from this one.

-tikkun olam - it's a Hebrew term for "repairing the earth" - I think I may make this one of my "flag phrases," those inspirational ideas that we aspire to. I learned it last night in my "Diverse Faith Perspectives on Peacemaking and Servant Leadership" class at the Festival Center. Last night we had a rabbi and a young Jewish woman come share with us, which was nice. The girl (yes, I'm interchanging the terms - she's like a year older than me) is the director of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, so her environmentalism is very much motivated by this idea of "tikkun olam" - and we also talked about this in terms of ways of making peace.

-also: the rabbi led us in some music with his guitar, which was lovely and makes me miss coffeehouses at Hendrix and at Peace Lutheran Church in Conway. I hope we find places to listen to folk music this summer.