Culture Creating

“Prayer for the Untranslated Testimony”

Prayer for the Untranslated Testimony by Franny Choi At midnight, I am sitting on my back steps, looking at the leaves and listening to the sound a boy is making into the night with the peak of his lungs somewhere

Dwight J. Friesen June 11, 2020August 31, 2022

Webinar: Shalom in a Time of Pandemic

URBAN SHALOM SOCIETY WEBINAR SERIES: Shalom in a Time of Pandemic: Glimpses of Regeneration In just a few short months the global novel coronavirus pandemic has racked the world with tragic human loss. Hundreds of thousands of people are dead

Dwight J. Friesen June 9, 2020May 12, 2022

“Begin” by Human Cargo

Music is vital to surviving this shelter in place era.  One bright spot for me was receiving my vinyl copy of the final recording in the 11 year trilogy by Seattle’s Human Cargo, “Begin.” If you don’t know Human Cargo,

Dwight J. Friesen May 7, 2020December 11, 2020

Some Good News!

I’ve been loving John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” broadcasts, during the pandemic. I’ve posted a link to the first episode, but he’s posting at least one per week so there are more popping up all the time. Remember you’re not

Dwight J. Friesen May 5, 2020September 20, 2022

“Everything is Waiting for You”

Everything is Waiting for You by David Whyte Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. As if life were a progressive and cunning crime with no witness to the tiny hidden transgressions. To feel

Dwight J. Friesen May 4, 2020August 24, 2022

“Weird Ways”

Today Strand of Oaks feels like a welcome companion in this lockdown. Please be safe, take care of yourself, care for those you can, try to check in on those who are especially vulnerable near you. Remember, that you are

Dwight J. Friesen March 29, 2020September 8, 2022

“Has the Moon Been Up There”

Has the Moon Been Up There by Gregory Orr Has the moon been up there All these nights And I never noticed? A whole week with my nose To the ground, to the grind. And the beloved faithfully Returning each

Dwight J. Friesen March 2, 2020May 6, 2022

And so it begins…

As we know, or are being reminded everywhere in the media, “Impeachment” at least in the USAmerica is the process by which the House of Representatives (Congress) brings charges against a civil federal officer, the vice president, or the president for misconduct alleged to have been committed. Today

Dwight J. Friesen January 16, 2020September 24, 2022

Having Difficult Conversations

I recently came across this insightful, and immediately helpful TEDx talk by Adar Cohen, PhD, titled, “How to Lead Tough Conversations.” Here’s a link to a short article about his TED talk summarized by Daryl Chen. Dr. Cohen highlights three

Dwight J. Friesen December 21, 2019November 2, 2022

“Indigo”

Indigo by Ellen Bass As I’m walking on West Cliff Drive, a man runs toward me pushing one of those jogging strollers with shock absorbers so the baby can keep sleeping, which this baby is. I can just get a

Dwight J. Friesen December 14, 2019September 9, 2022

Cote, Tim & Resistencia on King5

Cote and Tim Soerens and Resistencia Coffee were featured last night on King5’s “Evening” take a look. “You’re able to love others when you feel loved. So if you feel a little bruised in the heart, we hope that this

Dwight J. Friesen December 11, 2019December 14, 2022

“Enjoy Your Pint”

Enjoy Your Pint by Pádraig Ó Tuama At the bar, in an unknown part of Birmingham I bought two pints and paid with paper money from the northern part of Ireland. That’s not British money, the publican said. And I

Dwight J. Friesen December 6, 2019November 6, 2022

“Daily Battles”

Last week Thom Yorke (Radiohead), performed a haunting and beautiful song titled “Daily Battles”, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I just had to post is as I gone back to listen to it multiple times. The song is

Dwight J. Friesen November 20, 2019May 6, 2022

Our Precarious Joy

Our Precarious Joy by Alok [support the author] feeling is dangerous because it requires us to dwell in anguish, rather than anesthetize it (as if it never happened). so many fear joy because they fear losing it. they hate us

Dwight J. Friesen November 20, 2019November 21, 2022

The Singing Bowl

The Singing Bowl by Malcolm Guite Begin the song exactly where you are, Remain within the world of which you’re made. Call nothing common in the earth or air, Accept it all and let it be for good. Start with

Dwight J. Friesen October 17, 2019November 2, 2022

Thriving Cities Framework

One of the most vital conversations at the intersection of: cities, humans, environment, design, and faith is happening at Thriving Cities. As their website says, “Thriving Cities Group uses a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together decades of research, training, community

Dwight J. Friesen September 29, 2019November 29, 2022

“Wild Horses” by Noah Gundersen

Wild Horses by Noah Gundersen Always got a lot on my mind Feels like the net just gets bigger with time Stretching out behind me Trawling the open sea Waste a lot of breath on the bullshit I breathe a

Dwight J. Friesen August 30, 2019May 6, 2022

“Weird Al” Yankovic

Later this week Pascal and I are heading to the Paramount Theater to see the legendary funny man, Weird Al Yankovic. Pascal has been a fan ever since his “Manitoba cousins” introduced him to Weird Al via DVD on a

Dwight J. Friesen August 13, 2019May 6, 2022

Words Could Not make it More True

Words Could Not make it More True by Sarah Ellen Snyder Steinke We map the globe you’ve madeof my bellythe fullness of my breaststhe eagernessyou’ve grown in my coreand herewhere we love and eat and sleep and fighthereyou descendand every

Dwight J. Friesen May 17, 2019May 12, 2022

“I Loved You Before I was Born”

I Loved You Before I Was Born by Li-Young Lee I loved you before I was born. It doesn’t make sense, I know. I saw your eyes before I had eyes to see. And I’ve lived longing for your ever

Dwight J. Friesen May 12, 2019June 7, 2022

“The Boxer” Turns 50

The Boxer by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel I am just a poor boy Though my story’s seldom told I have squandered my resistance For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises All lies and jest Still a man hears

Dwight J. Friesen March 21, 2019September 5, 2022

Jack White Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow night I’m going to see the great Jack White. He’s playing Seattle’s WaMu Theater. I’ve never seen him live before. Can’t wait. Not only do I love his music, and his musicianship, I also love his love of music.

Dwight J. Friesen August 12, 2018May 6, 2022

Skylight Festival

Just got home after an amazing time at Canada’s Skylight Festival. Special thanks to Russell Mitchell-Walker and the entire organizing team for curating a truly beautiful event. The artists, facilitators, & presenters included: Anna Golladay, Mike McHargue (aka Science Mike),

Dwight J. Friesen July 31, 2018November 14, 2022

My Bloody Valentine @ The Paramount

Tomorrow night Lynette, Pascal, and I are going to see My Bloody Valentine at the Paramount Theater. No doubt it’s going to be a full on sensory event. My ears are ringing just thinking about it… and it’s gonna be

Dwight J. Friesen July 16, 2018May 6, 2022

“Last Night As I Was Sleeping”

Last Night As I Was Sleeping by Antonio Machado Last Night As I Was Sleeping, I dreamt–a marvelous error!– that a spring was breaking out in my heart. I said: Along which secret aqueduct, Oh water, are you coming to

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2018May 1, 2023

“My Life Is a Memory”

My Life Is a Memory by Rafael Arévalo Martínez, translated from Spanish by William George William When I met her I loved myself. It was she who had my best singing, she who set flame to my obscure youth, she

Dwight J. Friesen May 12, 2018October 10, 2022

“The Mother” by Brandi Carlile

“The Mother” (Evangeline) by Brandi Carlile Welcome to the end of being alone inside your mind Tethered to another and you’re worried all the time You always knew the melody but you never heard it rhyme She’s fair and she

Dwight J. Friesen April 23, 2018May 6, 2022

“I Can’t Breathe”

I first heard this song a couple of days ago and I haven’t been able to get it out of my heart. Some deep parts of me resonate with the feelings Bea Miller gives voice to… I’m guessing that maybe

Dwight J. Friesen March 20, 2018September 23, 2022

“Happy to Be Here”

Happy to Be Here by Julien Baker If I could do what I want I’d become an electrician I’d climb inside my head And I’d rearrange the wires in my brain A different me would be inhabiting this body Have

Dwight J. Friesen January 5, 2018October 5, 2022

“Everybody Hurts”

This year marks the 25th anniversary or the release of R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People, which contained, “Everybody Hurts.” I must be getting old. Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. When your day is long And the night, the night is yours

Dwight J. Friesen October 3, 2017May 6, 2022