Becky Crain: Poem Analysis

Sharon Olds (1942) is best known for her examination of the family. The daughter of an abusive, alcoholic father and complaint mother; her anger at her parents influenced her poetry. The poem addresses issues of suffering from two perspectives, the first coming from a young child and the second an adult. There is no real order to the poem which represents how the speaker is angry and resentful towards their father. The poem reveals how a divorce can tear a family apart and not leave any space for reconciliation within the family.

Dorothy Livesay’s work expresses her identity as both woman and poet. In integrating female experience into her work, Livesay challenges patriarchal views of “the poet” as an archetype and the connection between male and female and nature and culture. Livesay states “I have always been fascinated by the role of woman as writer” (Livesay 2), in examining Livesay’s poetry from 1926-1944 the role of “woman as writer” speaks on women’s issues through connecting the identity of woman to nature and the patriarchy to culture. Livesay’s work holds radical feminist thought, through examination of her nature imagery and the conflicts presented between nature and culture her poetry can be viewed through a radical feminist lens as “ecofeminism”. Ecofeminism links feminist ideology with ecology and suggests that paternal-capitalistic society has “lead to a harmful split between nature and culture”(Cirksena and Cuklanz 29), linking “the treatment of women to the treatment of the environment.(Cirksena and Cuklanz 30). Although Livesay identifies with nature, she still holds a place in culture as a citizen and a writer and through "identifying herself with both nature and poetry she creates for herself a unique female poetic role: that of mediator between culture and nature" (Relke 219). Livesay challenges the patriarchal views of "the poet", the treatment of women in society and the connection between culture and nature. Taking on the role of "poet mediator" between culture and nature,

Charlene Hunter-Gault was being forced (caged) into thinking that she wasn’t good enough to her choice of college. The author of the poem was very often treated much differently than how a person that was not of her color would be in the same situation. “Ordinarily there would not have been anything unusual about such a routine exercise, expect in this instance the officials of the universities have been fighting to keep me out for two and a half years”(19). In other words, Charlene was trying to explain how people treated her differently because of her looks. Everyone was conditioned to think that she had to right to be (free) with the white people. Although Charlene does not say so directly, she is trying to express how challenging it was for her to get into a good school. “And no black student had ever been admitted to the university of Georgia in it’s 176 year history”(19). I

Youth ministry is a lot more then just entertaining kids or keeping them “to busy to sin.” In the first chapter, Mckee and Smith explained the importance of

Why, Dad, I love you the bluest! I love you the color of a waves in it’s ocean. The color of a moon stone gem. The color of a bird soaring the quiet blue sky.

Over 25 years ago, I walked through the doors of a youth conference as a young instructor excited at having the chance to teach and reach young people for Christ. I begin to scan the room looking for the person in charge. To my amazement I was directed to a 92 year old lady who was frantically moving about the room trying to gain some degree of control. As the chaos found some resemblance of order, we begin our adventure of trying to teach the youth about Christ. Unfortunately, there had been no preparation, curriculum, or direction. Our sole instruction was, “teach them whatever you teach at your church”. This is often a predicament that many youth workers face, which leads to teaching without goals, objective, or a clear vision, in other

I wanted to write a piece that dealt with the political drama I have seen going on around me for the last two years. I now live in Boston, Massachusetts, but am originally from a small town in Pennsylvania and when I made visits home in the past few years, I was struck and curious about the Trump campaign signs in the rural area. More so, I was interested in the people who were ashamed of these signs, who wanted them gone, but were either silenced by all the loudness, or chose not to speak. I hope this story gives a voice to those frustrated, quiet people, even if its a strange one.

THE FIRE WITHIN For many years, I have had a desire to pursue a degree in psychology and counseling, and as a Christian I see the need for counselors with not only a worldview but also a biblical one. Ever since my first job as a Day Camp Aid with the Latrobe Parks and Recreation Board, I have been compelled to work with students; to be someone they could go to when they don’t think their parents would understand. The reason I haven’t pursued my desire until now can be summed up with two words; timing and distractions. Sitting here on my back porch, I am reminded of how God can take something so plain and turn it into something great. Throughout my life I have had many jobs but none as fulfilling as the part time youth director position I now

Over the first half of the trimester, I have clocked in thirty hours volunteering at Grace Church. At Grace Church, their mission statement is “We make disciples of Jesus and launch them into the mission of God”. This statement runs true because it is our job as volunteers to help the kids to find the path of God, and to make the experience an enjoyable one. Depending on the weekend, I either worked as an Outloud worship group leader or worked in technical production. Generally, I work with either my own group of Outloud kids or another groups’ if I was working in the technical booth. I also work with an array of adults and directors who manage the youth ministries throughout the service. During my weekends as an Outloud leader, I work with

I am a member of the Women’s Organization, Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Usher’s Board, liaison to the Children’s and Young Adult’s choirs. I am a member of the Homecoming Committee, Chair-person of the In-house Audit Committee and I assist the Pastor sometimes during our morning Worship Service. During the past thirty-three years I have taught generations of children about the Lord and the wonderful things that He is doing for us. The first thing taught is that, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that we might have a chance to the tree of life”. I have taught the Lord’s Prayer, the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Ten Commandments, and the catechism. My goal as a member of the congregation is to teach young children as much as possible and soon as possible about the Lord. I not only teaching our children but also oversee planning trips for them so that they will be exposed to other cultures and environments. I also plan programs for children and youth. We have our Easter Program, Children’s Day Program, Graduation Program, and our Christmas Program. It gives everyone great pleasure in listening and watching our children grow as they recite their speeches

The Drama of Scripture provide helpful stories, especially as a new church plant. As it relates to focus, the writers remind me to keep the main thing the main thing. B&G share how one of the Spirit’s first works was to create a community. This onset of events encourages me as the founding pastor to not be so inwardly focused but to make sure to compel men to come. Although, Peter and Paul both were sent out to feed Jesus’ sheep, the sheep were from different folds. Consequently, this is a great reminder every pastor, every church and every call is unique.

In my last, in process paper I discussed how my pursuit of personal and social holiness developed my calling in ministry. As I reflect on the journey of discovering my call to ministry, I cannot help but to reflect on the mountaintops and valleys the Lord I have walked. It is refreshing and convicting at the same time as I read through the texts for this module, knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work refining me more like Christ, and also affirming the choices and decisions I have made to be where I am today. As you read through this paper my hope is that one will see my personal/social victories and failures, and how God has been at work molding me like a potter.

A: My earliest church experience was in a pentecostal church in Calgary as a child. My parents began attending when I was three and are currently there still. When I was young church was more of a place to play with my friends and eat sugar cubes meant for coffee, than a place to meet with God. I believed in God but I can’t say I had any sort of a relationship with him. In sunday school I memorized bible verses and stories because it was expected of me. I believed all I was being taught, but in the way a child believes anything adults teach them. I never questioned anything.

Ring…, Ring…, Ring…! The phone rings, you see the caller ID, and then you make the choice to answer it, or send it straight to voice mail. A decision that can be made simply by the press of a button. But what if the choice wasn’t so simple? What if the caller ID was different? What if it was God calling? Would you make the choice to answer the call then? A call into ministry is a once in a life time opportunity! But what exactly does that opportunity constitute or consist of? How do you know if you are called into ministry, and if you are called, are you called into a specific vocation that you feel God gifted you in? Before you can answer any of these questions, you must first pick up the phone and begin to discern what could possibly be the call of a lifetime.

Working in children’s ministry presents this very opportunity. The few people who are called to this ministry really work hard to make sure to today’s younger generation are ready spiritually for their lives ahead.