He Dreamed About Space

Posted on March 19th, 2008 by Neal Locke

Arthur C. ClarkeThis morning, when my three-year-old son, Grady, came stumbling sleep-eyed into our bedroom, he said something interesting: “Dad, I dreamed about space last night.” How could he have possibly known that while he slept, Arthur C. Clarke, the man who taught the world to dream about space, passed away?

If you’re not into science fiction, then you probably at least know him as the guy who wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you are into science fiction, then you just know him. Period. Along with probably Isaac Asimov and Robert Hienlein (and maybe Ray Bradbury), Clarke is the backbone of that genre, and a few others as well.

If you use GPS in your car today, watch satellite TV, or listen to XM Radio, say thanks to Sir Arthur, who first came up with the ideas that made these technologies possible.

Clarke was a hardcore scientist, a champion of undersea exploration, and a peacemaker. But above all he was a writer, and one who inspired much of my own writing and ideas about science fiction. I’m compelled to offer a summary of my indebtedness to him in my own writing:

  • Space Academy: My young-adult novel (unfinished) uses Clarke’s brilliant (and quite possibly prophetic) idea of a space elevator to transport people off the planet.
  • Twelve: My short-story involving human memory backup/restore — Clark explored this idea as far back as in 1948 with his novel The City and the Stars.
  • Catching Christopher: My attempt at a children’s short-story in a sub-genre that Clarke helped pioneer with his work for the British science fiction comic, Dan Dare.

And here’s Arthur C. Clarke in some of his own profound words:

  1. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
  2. If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run — and often in the short one — the most daring prophecies seem laughably conservative
  3. As our own species is in the process of proving, one cannot have superior science and inferior morals. The combination is unstable and self-destroying.
  4. I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.
  5. I don’t believe in God but I’m very interested in her.
  6. I want to see lasting and meaningful peace achieved in Sri Lanka as early as possible. But I am aware that peace cannot just be wished; it involves hard work, courage and persistence.
  7. Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.

But perhaps the best words to end with are those I began with — the words of my son, who will grow up in the world Clarke helped to create: “Dad, I dreamed about space last night.”

Posted in Current Events, Grady, Literature, Superheroes, Writing | 3 Comments

Folk Song#6: Man of God

Posted on March 7th, 2008 by Neal Locke

This is the sixth and final song for what I hope will soon become my “Hymns and Heresies” folk album. This other five songs will be arrangements of hymns. Guess that makes this one a “heresy” then…

This song centers around a man who has been a mentor, pastor, friend, and inspiration to me for most of the past decade: Philip Lotspeich. It’s a true story (but aren’t all folk songs?) about some of the crazy things he put his neck on the line for as both a minister and as someone just trying to live up to the radical, counter-intuitive, and often dangerous example set by that Jesus guy we talk so much about.

I think the song lives up to my emerging philosophy of folk music, especially principle #4. As with all my songs (and everything I write) this is published under a Creative Commons license. Anyone is free to download it, copy it, share it, re-mix it, re-record it, change it, sell it, mash it…whatever. Music is a gift. Share it. But most of all, enjoy it.


You can also find it (and my other songs) in these places:

Posted in Folk, Friends, Music, Superheroes | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

11th Hour in TX and I’m still Undecided

Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by Neal Locke

It’s the eleventh hour — literally it’s 11:25pm — and I have no idea who I’m voting for in the primaries tomorrow. Ironically, it’s the first time my vote will actually mean anything here in Bushland. Across the room from me the television is on, and between Hillary commercials, Obama commercials, and Mike Huckabee commercials, I’ve counted 15 in the past hour. Crazy. At least I know I’m not voting for Huckabee in a million years. Here’s some of my tortured convoluted thinking on the other candidates, though:

  • Barack Obama. All of my facebook friends like Obama. A lot of people my age like Obama. My conservative Republican wife is even intrigued enough to consider voting for Obama, to the shock and dismay of her parents (she’s still mostly undecided as well, though, but for different reasons). Five years ago, I would have been absolutely crazy about Obama. But if I vote for him tomorrow, it will be reluctantly, and largely because of a few YouTube videos Lawrence Lessig made in support of Obama. But Obama’s stance on immigration (build a fence) doesn’t inspire me. And I can’t shake the vibe that he’s just another one of the “popular kids” from high school days who has little time, patience, or love for the nerdy kids.
  • Hillary Clinton. I don’t trust her. I don’t particularly like her. I don’t buy her “experience” argument. But she does seem to have a lot of support in the Latino community, and that means something to me. I asked one of my former students (who will probably vote for Hillary) why that is, and she said “because she’s had decades of reaching out to Latinos, while Obama just started, and the only Spanish he knows is “Si Se Puede.” Still, she represents everything that is the establishment, the status quo, the powers and principalities. And like Obama, her positions are not radical (not by my radical standards at least), and not impressive. She’s not “cool” like Obama, but she doesn’t exactly qualify as nerd material, either.
  • John McCain. I was crazy about the man who wielded a light-saber to the tune of the Imperial Death March at political rallies in 2004. I was floored with respect for his maverick stance on campaign finance reform, immigration reform, the environment (for a Republican, that is), and by his authentic bi-partisanship over the course of his Senate career. But where did that John McCain go? I can’t find him in 2008. And then there’s the issue of the war in Iraq. Honestly, if it weren’t for that, I’d be on board with McCain — but of all the issues, that’s a pretty gigantic pill to have to swallow. Still, he’s the only candidate I actually believe has the balls to go against the establishment, because he’s the only candidate who’s been doing it for the past two decades. Right up until he became the front-runner and ditched his inner nerd, that is.

It may sound like I’m ripping on all the candidates, but in truth this election is a dream: any of the three candidates — and by now we know it WILL be one of these three (sorry Mike Huckabee, go fly a kite) — would be progressive, a total change from the Bush administration, and I take great delight in the fact that all three signal the total collapse of the Evangelical stranglehold on the political system. Of course, none of that brings me any closer to figuring out what to do come ballot time tomorrow…

Posted in Current Events, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sermon Controversy?

Posted on March 1st, 2008 by Neal Locke

I didn’t think my sermon last Sunday was really that controversial (for once). So imagine my surprise when David, one of the elders of our church pulls me aside in the middle of the week to ask me, “Just what were your intentions with that Sermon?” It sounded like an innocent enough question, so I answered.

In the course of our conversation, he pointed out to me that two people had been so offended by my sermon that they got up and walked out. I knew (and saw) one of them — but he’s done that before, so I wasn’t too surprised. And then David went on to tell me that if it had been the first sermon he’d ever heard at our church, he wouldn’t have come back. Gee, thanks.

Actually, I really have a lot of respect for David — because he did something that to date, no one else at my church has done when they have a problem with something I’ve said: He confronted me face to face about it. I’d take that any day over the rumor mill.

One irony is that the sermon probably wasn’t nearly as controversial as it would have been if I’d gone with my original impulse — talking about the lack of clean water in developing countries in contrast to our own western rejection of tap water as “inferior” to pricey bottled water. Oh well. If I follow the Revised Common Lectionary, this passage will come up again in another three years.

If you want, you can read the full text of my sermon over on the wiki, and judge for yourself. But if you get up and walk out halfway through, at least drop me a comment, OK?

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Preaching and Presenting

Posted on February 21st, 2008 by Neal Locke

Busy week. I’m preaching at my church this Sunday morning, and then presenting a writer’s workshop at Barnes & Noble this Monday evening. I know I’m late in asking this, but any input you have on either topic (or resources) would be appreciated…

SERMON: The text is Exodus 17:1-7, and is the story of Moses striking a rock to provide water for thirsty Israelites wandering around in the desert. I think I’m going to talk about the sometimes foolish and counterintuitive things (like hitting a rock with a stick) that God calls us to do in order to grow (both in spirit & body). I might equate “striking rocks” to “taking risks” or stepping out in faith. I might digress to talk about biblical literalism vs. myth & metaphor, or another digression to talk about needs (like water) vs. wants. Annie & John, if you’re reading, I was also wondering if there’s any tie-in I could make about water in the desert and sustainability in developing countries today.

WORKSHOP: Here’s the “official” title and description: Copyright, copyleft, and the Future of the Publishing Industry. We’ll take a brief look at the origins of copyright law, its present state, and recent developments in the concept of “intellectual property.” We’ll explore some dangers, pitfalls, and misconceptions, but also ways writers can use emerging copyright tools and technologies to their advantage. Finally, we’ll step back and consider the larger trends and shifts in the publishing industry that have the potential to leave established institutions in obscurity, while elevating to prominence writers who are prepared for publishing in the 21st century.

Anyone in the Dallas area is welcome to come to either event — the church is located at 10930 College Parkway, Frisco 75035, worship @10:45 Sunday mornings. The writer’s workshop will be at Barnes & Noble in the Frisco Stonebriar Mall, 2601 Preston Rd. Frisco, 75034 and will be this Monday night @ 7:00pm.

Posted in Christianity, copyright, Writing | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

She Likes Flowers

Posted on February 19th, 2008 by Neal Locke

For the past few weeks, every time I would hold Abby (who is now almost 3 months old) she would fuss and complain until I turned her to face a certain direction in our living room — always the same direction. Then she would smile and make happy gurgly noises and start to get excited. So I had the idea last week to narrow things down. I picked her up, held her in her “favorite direction” and we basically played the equivalent of the game “hot or cold.” When she fussed, I was cold. When she laughed, I was moving in the right direction.

It was flowers. An arrangement of cloth flowers that Amy actually made several years ago, that was sitting high up on top of our china cabinet. But whenever I hold Abby high up in the air in front of the flowers, she gets excited, starts flailing her arms and legs, laughing and smiling and gurgling and babbling and laughing.

I just hope she’ll always be this pleased with the simple beauty in the world around her.

Posted in Abby, Baby, Fatherhood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Father Dies, A Father is Born

Posted on February 9th, 2008 by Neal Locke

Still here in Tulsa at Grady Walker’s house with my son (also Grady). Usually when we come up here to visit, we stay in the guest bedroom by the kitchen. As fate would have it, another guest is staying in that room, so little Grady and I are sleeping in the large bed in the basement apartment.

The last time I slept in this bed was almost ten years ago, the night I received a phone call telling me my father had passed away. It was two weeks after my college graduation, and four days after my 23rd birthday. Grady Walker came out to my apartment, picked me up and brought me here. I was grateful for his company.

I’ve heard it said that you become a man the day your father dies. There is some truth to that, but it doesn’t happen instantly. The first night after your father dies – no matter how old you are – you’re a little boy, alone and uncertain in the void that was your father’s world.

I cried my young 23-year-old eyes to sleep that night, in this very bed. But ten years later, as I type this tonight, my own little boy is sleeping peacefully beside me, blissfully unaware of how fragile and temporary our time together in this world can be.

I still miss my father, and often feel like I missed out on some time with him (he was 48 when he died). But what I’m feeling right at this moment is how much I love being a father. How much I love my son, and sharing with him so many of the things my father *did* have the time to share with me. This bed, this night, are reminders of things I couldn’t possibly have known ten years ago: Life goes on. It repeats itself, even. Sometimes love is something you cant pay back, so you pay it forward.

Goodnight Grady Jeremiah Locke.

Goodnight Michael William Locke.

Sweet dreams.

Posted in Fatherhood, Grady, Reflection | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments