Crossing
cultures
Several
years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to live for an extended time
with the Saami (Lapp), the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. One of
the most provocative questions asked of us while we were there was, “Are we
exotic enough for you?”
           It was a powerful query, because we
wondered what living with the Saami would be like. It also made us think about
what stereotypes they had about Americans. Our experience with this Arctic
Circle culture was life-changing.
           Today, when we work with students
and educators, we try to help them learn to respect cultural differences while
understanding the innate similarities among all peoples. To that end, we have
discovered three valuable children’s magazines that introduce multiculturalism
and beg to be shared by families.
           Faces encourages critical
thinking as readers learn to look at other cultures — and their own — from
new perspectives. Cobblestone revives American history and is packed with lively
and compelling articles, historical photographs, and primary documents. It is a
particularly important magazine as it strives to make people aware of their own
history by understanding previous generations. Calliope is a
journalistic passport for young minds to wander into time and bring the spirit
of world history alive.
— Carolyn Schuler
This week for families:
All Is Well in the Kingdom of Nice Sat-Sun, May
8-9. Big Theatre for Little People, Nextstage, Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury
Blvd, Sat 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sun 1 and 4 p.m. Tix: $12, $9 kids. 232-4382
Brighton
Memorial Library Story times: toddlers, Mondays, 10:30 a.m.; preschoolers,
Mondays, 11:30 a.m.; PJ stories, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; toddlers and preschoolers,
Fridays, 10 a.m.; families, Thursdays, 7 p.m. | Friday movie matinee, Fri, May
7, 3:30 p.m. | 2300 Elmwood Ave. 784-5300
Catholic
Family Center’s Lecture Series With Mary Pipher, Ph.D. Fri, May 7:
Rebuilding Our Families in 2004, 7 p.m.; Sat, May 8, Reviving Ophelia: Saving
the Selves of Adolescent Girls, 10 a.m.; Asbury First, 1050 East Ave. Tix:
$25-$30, $15-$20 kids. 262-7129
Henrietta
Public Library Preschool storytime, Tues, May 11, 10:30-11 a.m. | Mother’s
Day Craft, Fri, May 7, ages 4 and up, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
OZ Fri-Sun May 7-9. RIT/NTID Dance Company, NTID’s Panara
Theatre, Thurs-Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. Tix: $7, $5 students, seniors, kids.
475-6254
Phillis
Wheatley Community Library Thurs, May 6. Preschool storytime, 33
Dr. Samuel McCree Way, 10:30 a.m. 428-8212
Preschool
Family Workshop Thurs, May 6. For ages 2.5 to 5, project, story, tour,
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Tix: $15. 473-7720
ext 3056
Science
Exploration Days Wed, May 12. For elementary and secondary students and families,
interactive exhibits, live demos, Student Life Center, St. John Fisher College,
3690 East Ave, 7-9 p.m. Free. 359-5183
Seneca Park
Zoo Our
Fragile World, Fri-Sat, May 7-8, environmental event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Creatures of the Night, Wed, May 12, 6-8 p.m. Tix: $8.75 per person.
Preregister. | 2222 St. Paul St. 467-9453
Strong Museum Mother’s Day,
Sat-Sun, May 8-9, crafts, Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m. | Monday Kicks for
Ages 2-6, learn through feelings, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Wednesdays for Tots, Wed, May
12, puppet show, 9:30 a.m. Tix: $4, $3 kids. | Making American Music, Wed, May
12, best of the big band era, 7:30 p.m. Sold out. | One Manhattan Square,
263-2700, www.strongmuseum.org.
Information on
museum exhibits can be found in the calendar’s Museum section.
Blessed task versus unholy distraction
But Martha was
distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you
care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help
me.” But he answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by
many things; there is need of only one thing…”
— Luke
10:40-42
Irrigators
guide the water. Fletchers bend the arrow shaft. Wood the carpenters bend.
Themselves the wise ones tame.
— The
Dhammapada (6.5)
           My
family will soon enter our second annual no-sport summer. We decided
unanimously last year not to play or coach summer league sports. It was a
difficult decision, but the pace had gotten too frantic — our time together
too compromised.
           I
had turned into a Biblical Martha: banging pots and pans around, tossing
something resembling dinner into my kids’ laps as the minivan careened down the
road. Our “quality time” conversations revolved around the ticking clock and
the whereabouts of shin guards. None of us benefited from the experience.
           Jesus
didn’t discount the importance of Martha’s work, but criticized her cancerous
outlook in doing it: distracted, frenzied, and building resentments. She cooked
dinner for lazy ingrates, cleaned up behind thoughtless slobs, and probably
mowed the lawn because nobody else would do it. She humbly served on the
surface, but hatefully seethed just beneath.
           Maybe
you’ve been there and done that. Maybe you’ve let blessed tasks curdle into
unholy distractions, as have Martha and I.
           Simplify.
There is need of only one thing. Embrace always the holy meaning of mundane
life.
— Rev. Corey Keyes
This article appears in May 5-11, 2004.
