2024 Was Wonderful for This Poet/Writer!

 2024 was an excellent year for this poet/writer. AlienBuddha Press released my first short story collection, "Epiphanies," in March and yesterday included it among their bestsellers for the year! Several poems were published in the Lothlorien Poetry Journal and the New Rotvrier Review, and elsewhere. Started a second novel after a conference in Charlotte, also several successful signings/appearances at The Coffee Shelf and Barnes & Noble. Page Jenkins set up something for next month at All Good Books for me, and a few other irons are in the fire. I am very grateful for what I have and for those who help me, especially readers!

My books:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

ref=d

How One Decision Can Lead to So Much- Or Was it Part of Something Larger?

      I spent most of 1975 at the University of California Berkeley in graduate school for German. I also spent most of 1975 searching for something beyond that.

     Berkeley, the flagship of the UC system, had settled down from the turbulent 1960s. While I enjoyed much about the Bay Area, I had a growing suspicion that something was not quite right. While I liked what I was studying, my approach and interests conflicted with what others expected.  There was a growing expectation to stick solely to the text, not to anything else in the writer's experience. Sometimes that was legitimate, but not always. 

     The campus was about the size of Penn State, where I had done my undergraduate work. It was harder to connect, partially because Berkeley was part of a major metropolitan area with an entirely different vibe. 

     Instead of semesters, there were 10-week quarters, as Penn State had at the time. By the end of the second quarter, I realized that my chances of a teaching assistant were very low. the department offered 1 each year, and people would split them at times. I was eighth on the alternate list. 

     Desperation set in; I worked part-time at the Main Library and even thought about going to library school. Someone in the department said a professor from UC Irvine was recruiting, so I spoke with him and received a teaching assistantship. 

    That summer I took some classes as a part-time student, audited an English course, and worked in the library. One of the courses I took was on Martin Luther, who reformed the German language as well as the Church. The seminar was taught by a rather staid but approachable professor, Reinhard Henning, who was born in what used to be Danzig.

     For a few years before this, my participation in any religious community was minimal to non-existent. As I read Luther, I was impressed by his ability to keep what was good and to transform or abandon what was not. I was a confirmed Protestant but wondered where I should turn. My previous orientation was Presbyterian. I resolved to find a community of faith before I went to what was then ultra-conservative Orange County.

     Two options were available. I had lived a block from St. Joseph of Arimathea Episcopal Chapel. That was interesting, but my previous experience with Episcopalians is that they were all WASPs. I was not of Anglo-Saxon ancestry. The other option was the University Lutheran Chapel, very close to where I lived then. I decided to go there first.

     The pastor had a bear, wore sandals without socks, and had what I later came to know were full eucharistic vestments. Music was a guitarist, who played a Bob Marley song for an offertory. I felt at ease the few times I went there, and never went tot St. Joseph's.

     A few weeks after I moved to Irvine I started attending St. Matthew's a mission of the Lutheran Chruch-Missouri Synod, and joined a few months later. A year or so later I realized that I enjoyed teaching but wondered about graduate school. It was the insistence of considering only the text. That's when I felt the tug to seminary.

     Because of the Luther course and University Lutheran Chapel, I entered seminary in 1977 and was ordained in 1981 in the Lutheran Church of America. Fifteen years later I was licensed in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, PA, to be followed by two others. I realized that the Episcopal Church was different from what I had thought earlier. 

     I also went back to teaching, being bi-vocational long before the need was recognized. by ecclesiastical higher-ups. Now I realize that God subtly and consistently guided me through all this (and there is much more to tell) to make full use of the gifts given to me. 

     From one decision so much has come. I have been blessed, and hope to have done more good than harm over the decades. 

     ---

My books:  There is a poem about Berkeley in one of them!

    https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur%2BTurfa

     

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

Why I Will Never Be South Carolina's Poet Laureate- But It's Fine

https://www.facebook.com/aturfa/videos/2271188909920055 

     South Carolina has not had a Poet Laureate since 2017, when Governor Henry McMaster took office. Marjory Wentworth was the Poet Laurecgcate under Governor Mikki Haley. Espn

     My friend  sand fellow poet, Dr. Len Lawson of Newberry College, organized yesterday's SC Rtead-A-Thon for SC Poet Laureate. A gxood number of fellw peers ad friends read for half an hour, making sure that we explained why Iwe were readinwg.

     I likely ooʻĺowas ßnot the only readmner to say that oour psnloarticipation took us out of the running for the office, if indeedjoßn̈sqwnsooʻohhw there was a running in the first place. That is perfectly fine. More important is that a Poet Laureate be selected; there are many fine poets here. The triumphs and tragedies, the joys and sorrows of the Palmetto State need to be expressed in poetic form.

    This is not a partisan appsointment. In my opinion (I will speak herwe only for myself) the Poet Laureate should create poetry to describe, reflect, and while pointing out an issue, should not advocate a particular policy.

     For example, if a poem laments the under-funded schools in the infaamous Corridor of Shame, there should be no bashing of people or specific proposals on how to rectify the situation. I believe that a poet can highlight a certain issue, and I also believe that no one in their right mind would want a child to attend a school that swas in poor condition and susing inadequate materials. Exactly how that situation is improved is up to the politicians and the community as a whole.

     We had a successful event yesterday, and the feeling is that it will not be the last one. Previously there was a petition and a public gathering. There is some momentum, and all I can say is stay tuned!

Ĺsn

     That's me reading at an earlier event.

     My books:

     https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur+Turfa

     https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

Something New: English Translation of Pastor Mirima Groß' Blog

     My good friend and colleague Pastor Miriam Groß (Gross) writes winningly about her work as a police chaplain in Germany, matters about religion, Germany, and much more. She usually writes in German, as here, and I use Reverso to bring her words to a wider audience. The link below leads to the original, with pictures and in this case a video.

     You can leave comments on the original by using the link, or by contacting her at  germanpastornyc@gmail.com  Ignore the Not Found; simply send her an email.

     

https://miriamgross.blog/2024/12/27/von-jahreswechseln-und-segenswunschen-fur-2025/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2luag6qKscJX0P3Ql4WDSYXPpFy-Oau40U6KfR_xGzt5Y7M2AlEsiPGGQ_aem_7bLbTlfrfEkilDkDKPYkSA

 Of changes of the year and blessings for 2025

on 27 December 2024 by German Pastor General

     The calendar year 2024 is approaching and this year seems to be racing past me in a special density and intensity. Maybe you feel the same way? 2024 was a busy year politically, socially and socially.

     In many ways this year, which is nearing its end, seems to be marked by two themes: great pain and exnovation.

     The pain and suffering of war in Ukraine, in the Holy Land, in Lebanon and in so many places around the world. By terrorist attacks like in Magdeburg as well as in our own country, when will war and killing finally stop? When do we understand that we are brothers and sisters to each other, since we have a Creator and Lord of the world? The abuse study and the exposure of abuse cases in my own church make me angry and speechless. Why do people inflict so much suffering on others and then even where they should be safe?

     The term "exnovation" describes the opposite of innovation, that is, the withdrawal of systems, processes, practices or technologies that have been abolished, dissolved or withdrawn. A normal step in the recurring cycle of creation, establishment and eventual dissolution before new things can be established. Much of the usual political and social orders has been abolished, dissolved or withdrawn this year. Now we hold our breath, because we do not know how the conditions will redevelop in 2025, be it the new government in the USA, the reorganization of Syria and the upcoming new elections in Germany.

     What’s 25 gonna do?

The 25 is mathematically an odd number, but also a square number and it is the sum of five odd single digits: (1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25).

     The number 25 stands for the chemical element manganese, a silver-white, hard, very brittle transition metal that resembles iron. Manganese is mined in nature in large quantities and used mainly in the steel industry.

     As a police chaplain, my curious eye also goes to the Criminal Code (StGB).In §25 it is about the perpetrator":

     (1) The offender is punished if he commits the offence himself or through another person.

     (2) If several persons commit the offence jointly, each shall be punished as a perpetrator (accomplice).

    It is particularly interesting to me to look at the Holy Scriptures and the numerology contained therein. The number 25 stands for "overflowing grace" - this is the sum of 20, which means salvation, and 5, which means grace. One can also translate 5 5 as grace upon grace. This number is associated with various events in the Bible: King Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years, while Ezekiel in 25. The year of his imprisonment he had his vision of the temple.

     Besides these interesting biblical aspects of the number 25, the social and social connotations are also instructive. In our society, the 25th anniversary plays an important role. Silver weddings, anniversaries and many other events spanning a quarter of a century are celebrated as special milestones.

     The Catholic Church celebrates its 27th anniversary, since 1300 with Pope Boniface VIII. these celebrated celebrations in the Catholic Church began. Biblically speaking, a year of decree or jubilee takes place every fifty years (see Lev 25,8-55) and was originally referred to as the so-called year of the Lord.  "debt slaves" and their exemption from compulsory labour. The central theme of the Catholic Jubilee is for believers to have a chance at a complete absolution of their sins and thus a new beginning. But this is only on condition that they make a pilgrimage to Rome to receive the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist, and to pass through the holy gate of the Church of the Apostles until 6 January 2026. The city of Rome will therefore be able to cheer in 2025 not only on this encouragement for Catholic Christians, but also on the influx of pilgrims.

     Many church publications take the respective annual slogan into consideration in their publications - such as the protestant Sonntagsblatt.

    But check everything and keep the good.

     Thess 5.21

     Analogous to th last turn of the year (2023 and 2024) I will instead base my blessings for the coming new year on Psalm 25.

     I thank all readers of my blog for giving space and time to my words and thoughts. May God’s blessing accompany you in 2025!

     Your / Your Miriam Groß

 

"Priestdaddy" by Patricia Lockwood

     

   I know some authors who write memoirs. In my opinion, it's a tricky genre unless the author is gifted, because unless the reader has some connection to the author's experience, the reader may not get too far into the text.

   That is not the problem here. I explain a little about that in my Amazon review, which follows my remarks. I wonder what my son would write about growing up in a Lutheran parsonage/family home.

   The concept of simul iustus et peccator- being both saint and sinner- permeates the memoir even if Lockwood does not use the term herself. Her father by all appearances is a dedicated priest but spends money on things like electric guitars instead of his daughters' college educations. Her mother obsesses and rants about all sorts of things yet will move heaven and earth to help her children no matter what.

    At times Lockwood's writing made me laugh out loud, and at times I shook my head in sadness. Several sections, especially about the charismatic teenagers' group she attended, were riveting. Her character descriptions made me feel that I knew them.

 Full disclosure from the outset:  I am a Lutheran pastor who was in the same denomination as Fr. Lockwood. He swam the Tiber; I swam the Mississippi (i.e. he converted to Roman Catholicism, I went to another branch of Lutheranism.) I know St. Louis well, so the author's descriptions of life in and around that city resonated with me. In addition, I know and know of colleagues who have swum the Tiber. Most of them did not have families.

Lockwood paints a realistic picture of her upbringing, especially of family life. She does not hesitate to depict the negative sides, which in time led to her abandoning religion. However, her love for her family is quite evident, even when they disagree and lack understanding of their actions, especially her life decisions.

Those looking for a scandal within the family will be disappointed. Lockwood mentioned scandals involving others. Her writing is sharp, often funny, and pulls no punches. Most of all, it is honest and engages the reader.

---

Lately, I notice more hits than usual on the blog. That's wonderful! some are bots, but not everyone. How about leaving a comment? some do, and I welcome others to do so! Thanks.

---

My books:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur+Turfa

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county