Art

Otyken

I recently stumbled across a band from Siberia that is quite literally rocking my world… Otyken. They seamlessly integrate traditional aboriginal and modern instrumentation and kick ass arrangement. Just to help place Otyken genre-wise, I kinda hear some resonance with

Dwight J. Friesen June 14, 2022June 14, 2022

“The Republic of Tenderness”

The Republic of Tenderness by Nathan Spoon You are living inside the cup of another life. Water is running slowly. Somewhere a hand is overflowing with the abundance and celebration denizens dream of. Meanwhile if there is happiness it hangs

Dwight J. Friesen June 9, 2022June 9, 2022

“Wood Working at the End of the World”

Wood Working at the End of the World by Ocean Vuong In a field at the end of the world: a streetlamp shining on a patch of grass. Having just come back to life, I lay down under its warm

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2022June 6, 2022

“One More Love Poem”

One More Love Poem by Dunya Mikhail If I had one more day I would write a love poem composed of one word repeated like binary code. I’ll multiply it by the number of days that passed without saying it

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

“A Random Act of Kindness”

Not sure exactly why this song calls to me today, but something about it touches a deep place. I hear something of the power of presence, kindness, and relational risk coupled with the real complexities of each new day… and

Dwight J. Friesen May 9, 2022May 9, 2022

“I Feel Good” Jon Batiste

I feel good. I feel free. I feel fine just being me. I feel good today. Oh so good today. Gospel! Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen April 5, 2022April 12, 2022

“The Last Man on Earth” by Wolf Alice

The other night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wolf Alice preformed their new song, “Last Man on Earth.” Damn… if that wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve heard thus far in 2022. They will be in Seattle later

Dwight J. Friesen March 24, 2022April 19, 2022

35 Years of “Joshua Tree”

Thirty-five years ago today U2 released “Joshua Tree.” Few recordings have impacted me as much as this one did. I don’t think I’d be exaggerating in saying that I’ve listen to it hundreds…maybe thousands of times. I was first introduced

Dwight J. Friesen March 9, 2022September 25, 2022

“Miracle of Peace”

I No Longer Pray for Peace by Ann Weems On the edge of war, one foot already in, I no longer pray for peace: I pray for miracles. I pray that stone hearts will turn to tenderheartedness, and evil intentions

Dwight J. Friesen February 25, 2022March 3, 2022

2021 to 2022

Standing at the gateway to a new year – I went back to go forward – I went back to revisit my post at the end of 2020. Here’s the post. Last year my phrase was “Next Year in Jerusalem.”

Dwight J. Friesen December 31, 2021January 1, 2022

“Listening” by William Stafford

Listening by William Stafford My father could hear a little animal step, or a moth in the dark against the screen, and every far sound called the listening out into places where the rest of us had never been. More

Dwight J. Friesen September 29, 2021December 14, 2021

“Did You Think I Was A City” by rupi kaur

Did You Think I Was a City by rupi kaur did you think i was a city big enough for a weekend getaway i am the town surrounding it the one you’ve never heard of but always pass through there

Dwight J. Friesen September 16, 2021November 4, 2021

“Staying Alive” by David Wagoner

Staying Alive by David Wagoner Staying alive in the woods is a matter of calming down At first and deciding whether to wait for rescue, Trusting to others, Or simply to start walking and walking in one direction Till you

Dwight J. Friesen September 7, 2021November 4, 2021

25 Years Ago

This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of the great records of all time – in my opinion – Beck’s Odelay. Lynette and I went to this show when he came to Seattle… amazing. Beck is not only a

Dwight J. Friesen August 20, 2021November 8, 2021

“Lost”

Lost by David Wagoner Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here, And you must treat it as a powerful stranger, Must ask permission to know it and be known.

Dwight J. Friesen July 8, 2021November 8, 2021

Joy Oladokun

Breathe Again by Joy Oladokun The Devils in the basement in my homeA flight of stairs is way too closeHe comes for me when I’m aloneCollecting debts that I don’t oweFollow me down where the waters run deepI’ll let you

Dwight J. Friesen May 23, 2021April 23, 2024

International Jazz Day

Jazz stands for freedom. It’s supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don’t be a perfectionist – leave that to the classical musicians. Dave Brubeck Today is the tenth Annual International

Dwight J. Friesen April 30, 2021November 20, 2021

“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

Where I’m From By George Ella Lyon I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. I am from the dirt under the back porch. (Black, glistening it tasted like beets.) I am from the forsythia bush, the Dutch elm whose

Dwight J. Friesen April 6, 2021November 20, 2021

Poet: Spencer Reece

At Thomas Merton’s Grave by Spencer Reece We can never be with loss too long. Behind the warped door that sticks, the wood thrush calls to the monks, pausing upon the stone crucifix, singing: “I am marvelous alone!” Thrash, thrash

Dwight J. Friesen March 19, 2021November 21, 2021

“It’s My Corner After All”

I love the opening scenes of the 1995 “Smoke” by film makers Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. Among others, the movie features Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Stockard Channing, Harold Perrineau Jr., and very young Forest Whitaker. The story begins as a local business owner is

Dwight J. Friesen February 24, 2021November 22, 2021

“This is My Story”

My love of jazz  began when I was in junior high.  My older sister often let me hang out with her and her high school friends… one of her many generosities.  One of her friends played trumpet in a jazz

Dwight J. Friesen February 15, 2021November 22, 2021

“God Would Kneel Down”

GOD WOULD KNEEL DOWN by St. Francis of Assisi I think God might be a little prejudiced. For once He asked me to join Him on a walk through this world,and we gazed into every heart on this earth, and

Dwight J. Friesen February 14, 2021November 22, 2021

“Penny Rabbit & Summer Bear”

Penny Rabbit & Summer Bear by Kishi Bashi Under the ocean, far from the sun Penny Rabbit, wondering “When will we ever become one? Must I suffer days to come?” Fresh out of wishes, fate wouldn’t dare He had to

Dwight J. Friesen January 3, 2021August 31, 2022

Poet, Natalie Diaz… Wow!

Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Rezervation by Natalie Diaz Angels don’t come to the reservation. Bats, maybe, or owls, boxy mottled things. Coyotes, too. They all mean the same thing— death. And death

Dwight J. Friesen December 20, 2020November 24, 2021

“The Keep Going Song”

I was in a Wabash funded Zoom meeting last week facilitated by Dr. Shelly Rambo of Boston University and Dr. Trace Haythorn from the ACPE and they ended our meeting with “The Keep Going Song” by the Bengsons. I hadn’t

Dwight J. Friesen December 14, 2020September 20, 2022

(Re)Joice

Sunday we light the third candle of Advent… its the pink or rose colored Gaudete candle; from the Latin word meaning, “rejoice.”  Advent is a season of anticipation. Anticipation can be imagined as the necessary, if not complex blending of

Dwight J. Friesen December 11, 2020November 24, 2021

“Singularity (After Stephen Hawking)”

SINGULARITY by Marie Howe           (after Stephen Hawking) Do you sometimes want to wake up to the singularity we once were? so compact nobody needed a bed, or food or money — nobody hiding in the school bathroom or home alone

Dwight J. Friesen November 22, 2020August 31, 2022

“To the Great Unknown”

Recently a friend invited me to take a closer listen to some of the music of Minnesota-based, Cloud Cult. I’m really glad I did. On a peripheral level I was aware of them through KEXP (the world’s greatest independent radio

Dwight J. Friesen June 22, 2020August 31, 2022

“Little Lion Man”

“Little Lion Man” by Mumford & Sons Weep for yourself, my man You’ll never be what is in your heart Weep, little lion man You’re not as brave as you were at the start Rate yourself and rake yourself Take

Dwight J. Friesen June 15, 2020June 15, 2023

“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