As is often the case life here takes me to the most unexpected places. Today, for etiquette reasons, I checked in with the headquarters of the Mennonite Brethren Church. I have many fond memories of time spent there 45 years ago and I like to reintroduce myself to the church leadership.

 Following that, I spent several hours in a lady’s beauty salon. Yvette was having her hair redone, so I just sat and watched. There were a dozen ladies, either working on a head of hair or being worked on. At times a heated discussion broke out and all work stopped until a resolution was found. I have some excellent videos. The technique is to first braid the relatively short hair into traditional African tight braids and then sew in artificial hair (plants). One can choose any style. Mostly the styles are western long straight hair. My own mother permed her hair most of her life to look more African. The Africans straighten their hair to look more like my mother.

 A friend has written Nouwen a letter questioning the inclusion of inclusive language in worship and rituals. Nouwen responds with significant sympathy with the women who are raising the issue. He acknowledges that women are leaving the Church or at least are uncomfortable with the exclusively male language used. To quote him, ‘I feel we are called to listen carefully to the voice of the women since they want to bring us in touch with the quality of God that we may have overlooked unconsciously and unwillingly’. Not being Catholic, I’m not about to give too much instruction, but I will. Too long we as Christians, Catholic and Protestants have denied the full expression of God’s creation by limiting the roles of women in ministry. Having said that, I also feel that demanding celibacy of their religious orders has been a huge mistake on the part of the Catholics. Amen.