In Praise of Folly

Saving Erasmus Video By Students

2010-08-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Obama, the Nobel Prize and Lutefisk

2009-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of discussion and controversy about the Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarding the 2010 prize to Barack Obama. Questions abound such as, "What has he done? Is it just because he is not George Bush? Is it because he is a person of color? The committee, comprised of people like Thorbjoem Jagland, Aagot Valle, Kaci Kullman Five and Inger Marie Ttterhorn answered that is was for the promise he offers.

I admit I was a bit shocked. Though I don't keep much mind of the committee's movements (or the spelling of their names), I was completely surprised. It was a bit over the top. Like a Simpson's episode. Next I imagine the Vatican will be looking for miracles so they can offer sainthood.

The question of whether he deserves it, is interesting. The award was voted on February 1, a short time after his inauguration. In a sense the guy won it for campaign promises, which seems like a sticky wicket to pin your hopes on, let alone your prize and 1.4 million dollars. If you belief his work deserves it, or the promise, then it might be best to give it to his supporters, or the people who paved the way, the Republicans who nominated a candidate like McCain, or for that matter the voters. I'm not expecting my twenty cent share to show up in the mail soon.

Now, let's be honest, the Nobel Committee can give the award to whomever they want. Ever since Alfred Nobel set the thing up in order to assuage his guilt about creating dynamite the committee has not always been visionary. Le Duc Tho. Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Kissinger. Henry Kissinger? Like giving the prize to Judas for killing Jesus.

I imagine they sat around in discussion.

"How about Angelina Jolie?"
"NO, not yet.
"The Simpson's. Since everyone watches them they have not time to fight.
"Hmmmm"

Maybe Thorbjoem picked up a magazine cover or covers and there was Obama.
"Let's get this over. Let's give it to him" "Now we can go get lutefisk"
(actually they don't like lutefisk that much in Norway but it sounds good)

Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci,Inger and whomever can pick anyone they desire. It's their money. It's their award. It's their choice.

That being said, they might actually want to be visionary. Instead of acting like a high school prom committee, and making a choice within their disconnected group in Norway, they might go out and go speak to people in the middle of conflicts. Both sides. Who do they see making changes? Who brings promise? Hope? Like the All-Star Game, let the public vote. Talk to the people. People in pain. People who are suffering. People who are watching their loved ones die or kill. Don't take away their hope by taking away their voices.

If they are really visionary, Thorbjoem, Aagot, Kaci, Inger and the other judge, then they could use all the Nobel money to acquire dynamite and destroy it. If they own the patent, maybe they stop the production. For this effort, they could award themselves the 2011 Prize, buy up more weapons, destroy them and in doing so model. Set the standard and then go home and eat all the lutefisk they want. Which in my case is none.

Ippy for a Hippie-More News for Saving Erasmus fans

2008-05-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

• Yesterday the awards were announced for the Independent Publishers Book Festival. Saving Erasmus won a Gold Medal in the category of Religious Fiction. Since I work at Omega Institute which was started by “hippies” in the late 70’s one of my co-workers commented that it was an “Ippy for a Hippie”. The link is: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1231

• I will be interviewed on July 8th on the radio talk show, Spiritually Speaking, which airs out of Vassar College. Spiritually Speaking examines the intersections between engagement with the world and living a life of meaning. It airs live from Vassar College on WVKR, 91.3, Tuesdays from 5-6pm (new time starting 5/20). You can listen to previous shows by clicking on the link Spiritually Speaking on www.uucckingston.org. I’ll keep you posted as to when the interview will air. (one would think it would be on the 8th)

• On June 9th, I will be part of the main bill at the Colony Café in Woodstock, NY.
I’ll be reading poetry from as unyet published compilation, Dear God, or Whatever Your Name is Now, from One of Your Carbon Units.

• I continue to facilitate a weekend workshop at Omega for Rest and Relaxation participants. It is called Spiritual Humor. It’s been quite a blessing to be part of the discussions.

• The Laundarette Contest continues. I might have been confusing, but the goal is to name where the picture was taken. So far no one has been correct….

• I have joined AuthorsDen. Check out their website and you can read a little more of my writings on that site (www.authorsden.com).

If greater happiness comes from giving money than spending it on ourselves, then how can I help you to be happy?

2008-03-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

In an article dated March 20, 2008, a group of researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School suggests that greater happiness is achieved in giving money than in getting. Hmmm.

Seems when people were given money to spend on others, they experienced greater happiness than when they were given it to spend on themselves. This brings up a few points.

1) If giving money begats happiness, I am willing to make as many people happy as possible. $5 or $10 sent my way would certainly increase your perception of the world. Don’t be cheap when it comes to your own well being. Remember-you are important. GIVE. GIVE like there’s no tomorrow and then there will be one ..a happy one.

2) If giving money begats happiness, then what does receiving it do? If Bill Gates gives me a cool million, does that make me a cool million down in my feelings? “I don’t want your stanking money, Gates” . Ah…on second thought. Bill. You owe me big time for all those upgrades and changes that just seem to cost me. Vista Premuim, eh? That’s one window that needs cleaning.

So, Please, Please, don’t cheat yourself when it comes to your happiness. Checks, money, orders and cash are all willingly accepted in order for you to be the happiest darn person in the world. Please contact me at savingerasmus@gmail.com to make a donation.

On Movies, blackberries and the relevance of being relevant

2008-01-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

On Movies
1) I received an email the other day from a producer in Hollywood,
well, somewhere in California and that says Hollywood to me. His name
is Stephen Storer (which quite frankly is pretty close to Stephen
Spielberg-which means my affirmations are just a bit off-which also
explains the million collars that I also got sent). Actually, from
what I read on IMDB he has been a Production Designer –The Ultimate
Gift –Meet the Deedles-Yes, Meet the Deedles) but is set to be the
Co-Producer of The Alchemist-according to Wikipedia).

He said he was interested in reading Saving Erasmus to see if it would
make a good movie. I emailed him the manuscript and he read it and he
replied that he didn't resonate with the book as a movie. And of
course that's important, as one can see in the difference between,
say, Lord of the Rings and The Golden Compass. Of course, I wanted to
tell him that he was overlooking a gem and thought of sending him the
old comment about Fred Astaire, "can't sing, can't act, balding, can
dance a little" -but resisted) So, on to the next one, I guess.
Spielberg, you still have a chance.

On Blackberries
The odd part, I found, was not just that most of the communication
from him was sent by Blackberry, but the funny statement, which I have
seen before, at the bottom of a Blackberry message which states that
the message was sent "via Blackberry". I know it probably has
something to do with sending a reply, but I think from now on my
emails will say "sent from my trusty ole Sony Vaio" or "sent via Al
Gore's internet". In the old days they just attached a note to a rock
and threw it through your window-perhaps with a bit that said "sent
via rock" although no doubt that was pretty obvious based on the
broken window and the lump on the head..- I think it's probably
grammatically correct to say those old messages WERE sent via rocks,
while the new ones are really sent via the internet and FROM a
Blackberry.

*Can someone send a message from a Blackberry to an Apple computer? I
know that you're not supposed to mix apples and oranges, but how about
Apples and Blackberries?

On Relevance
2) I recorded the first two chapters of Saving Erasmus last night and
I will be putting them on my website as soon as I update the website.
Yes, I realize that with such up to date event and news listings as
"Wheel Invented-Now what do we do with it? and "Ice Age-Is it here to
stay?", that my website has become somewhat irrelevant. At least from
an event perspective since the last event listed is in August 2007.
So, I'm counting on having a new version up and ready by January 31st.

That's it for now. I hope the new year has been great.

Steve
Sent via some crazy amorphous web thing with the hopes that it
bypasses your spam and you read it.

Saving Erasmus 4

2007-12-04T13:30:00.001-08:00

Saving Erasmus 2

2007-12-04T13:29:00.007-08:00

Saving Erasmus 1

2007-12-04T13:29:00.005-08:00

Saving Erasmus 3

2007-12-04T13:29:00.003-08:00

Saving Erasmus 1-4

2007-12-04T13:29:00.001-08:00

Writing in Faith

2007-11-08T05:27:00.001-08:00

I never expected to be a writer. I dreamed of it maybe Thought about it when I was a child but never really thought that it would happen. As an adult my energies took me into the non-profit world and I did not write very much. At one point, I told a friend that I didn’t have any stories. Eventually, I was called to seminary and to write.

Somehow, now, I find myself in the odd position of stepping into the unknown. The practical side of me says that there is no way that I can make it as a writer. I apply for full time jobs in non-profits, but each time I do, my soul feels pain. Am I lazy? I ask or am I denying a call. Am I lost soul, or just missing the door that is open?

The other morning I felt particularly frustrated. I am facing a great unknown as I leave Omega for the winter and there is anxiety. I want so much to control the future but it refuses to be controlled. I am realizing why I took a class in Yin Yoga late in the season at Omega. I need to learn to trust. To let go. To let God.

I said to God, “Look, if you want me to write , let me know. Otherwise, let me get on about it.” God, being God, was big enough to take all of this in.

That day I got a rejection notice from McDowell Colony. I also got a call from a temporary job. I found a position available at a retreat center. (My vision is to own and manage a small retreat center with a working farm). Yesterday, I found out that Saving Erasmus was named as “One of the Best Books of 2007” by Publishers Weekly.

Did God respond? I’m not so certain whether God answered any more than usual. I was just more open to listen.

The Trailers are Here, The Trailers are Here

2007-11-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

Greeted with even more fanfare than the phone books in the movie, The Jerk, the trailers for Saving Erasmus have finally arrived. They can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbnE5l_61mY.

Breathing in the Spaces Between

2007-09-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

Today the headlines focus on remembrances of September 11th. Tragedy. People argue about the significance but however you view it, it is a day of sadness. Deaths and the nature of human beings that allows us to take lives. On either side of us daily, we are confronted with tragedies of great scope of our own personal ones, and none are diminished by the quantity, the culture of the dead, or the weapon of destruction. A tragedy is a tragedy.

I also find the headlines that refer to the Indiana Jones Movie. It will be called Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 27 years later and Harrison Ford is still Indiana Jones. And the title is important enough to make the newswires. Another news article is about the Black Widow, a woman who won the lobster eating contest and now is entering the burrito contest. I suppose the present burrito champ might find this story to be the most fascinating-and perhaps disconcerting.

It is this dichotomy in life that I struggle with and yet also keeps me sustained. In a world that contains so much that is ugly (violence, hate, prejudice, war), there is also great beauty (humor, love, art).

I breathe in the spaces between the two.

I find myself wondering at my own mortality and choices that have brought me this far. And to what? A job where I make very little money. I look at my friends. Years ago, when we were all struggling, money seemed so unimportant. But now friends make six figures and a few have won awards. If I had stayed in my field, I most certainly would be reaping the rewards but no doubt the nagging of my soul would be reminding me that I was called elsewhere. In my present work, I get an opportunity to mentor young writers, meet spiritual leaders from many groups and lead workshops that focus. Still, I question. Without the usual marks of success, I succumb to doubt more than I wish. Success or failure?

I breathe in the spaces between the two.

I am a Quaker and a Christian. I have lived a life according to what I believe we are called to do in this world. I have mentored children, assisted senior citizens and lived for my morals in spite of material loss in my decision. I have won awards as an Up and Coming Christian Writer and been named a Sparkling Debut. Still, I have been told that because I work at a Holistic learning center such as Omega, where many faiths co-exist, that my work would be deemed “unacceptable.” While I anchor myself as a Quaker and a Christian, I find truth in the languages of other religions and faiths.

I breathe in the spaces between

I look back at one the places I worked for many years. I gave, or felt like I gave, so much time and energy to programs for children in which they could experience the power of the outdoors. I spent long hours counseling homesick children, mentoring staff and collaborating with teachers. I
experienced many personal challenges in order to maintain my integrity. I left when I felt called to pursue my religious roots. 3 year later it closed. The key components of the place live in the souls of those who understood. The strong idealism of my youth is now balanced by a practical faith of a more experienced life.

I breathe in the spaces between

Several years ago I took part in the trapeze activity at Omega Institute. Three tries were what we were given-two to practice with and a third to complete the catch. My first try was fine. I was a bit fatigued from the use of odd muscles as I attempted the second. My second catch was a realization of my morning affirmation to release. I was afraid that I would not let go of the trapeze with my legs and when I was caught I would be stuck in between. On my second attempt I dropped like an arrow and so rapidly that the trapeze man said, “Wow, he has no problem letting go.” I wasn’t sure I’d attempt a third try.

On my third try, I focused on my vision of catching the trapeze and being caught. I could hear the sounds, the commands, and my fears surrounding me, but they were no more than slight breezes. I made the catch easily. It was smooth and easy.

I travel the light between the darkness as I fly. I hear the calls of fear, illusion, temptation –they are either sirens of my destruction or rocks that let me know how to steer my craft in the water. I am encouraged by the humor and beauty, but they are also guides, not the vision or destination. I am surrounded by the noise of the world and I am learning to walk in the silence. I focus on love even though there is great ugliness and beauty all around me.

I breathe in the spaces between.

Being Bergman

2007-08-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is good that Ingmar Bergman is already dead given my recent foray into moviemaking. Sure I made a few movies on my Super 8 camera when I was kid, but this undertaking was going to be a bit more ambitious.

“The filming of trailers for Saving Erasmus”

We gathered our eclectic crew last Thursday with the vision of creating cinematic history. Eric (the filmmaker), Brita, Wendy, Kris, John and of course, the author. Gathering this group was “like herding cats” which is an oft used phrase for mobilizing Quakers.

We congregated in Rosendale, NY which is small town south of Kingston. Eric had selected it for our location because it was a small town like Erasmus, there would be good opportunities for filming, and he had his acting class there Tuesday nights-great decisions are often made for other reasons.

Our first scenes were made at a small local park. I played the Angel of Death initially. My reasons were practical. I hate being photographed and this allowed me anonymity. Eventually I relinquished the role in order to keep all of the actors busy.

Now and then there would be grumblings for food, but I held them to completing scenes. Some of the actors were asking for the caterers ….but of course our budget was slim and potato chips and various food items had to make due.

Scenes were made of the Angel of Death in a park seeking Erasmus, someone with an “End is Near” sign scaring the Angel and someone confusing the Angel for a member of a rock band. Much of the time a small child and her parents played nearby. Oddly I noticed with this shoot (and our previous adventure in Union Square) that small children are not only not scared but they are quite fascinated by the Angel of Death. At one reading a small child made her parents come into the bookstore I was in, in order to see the Angel of Death.

We stopped for lunch. Pizza. Not much to explain there. You’ve seen pizza.

Our last goal was to film Laundromat scenes. I was a bit nervous. Getting a Laundromat owner to allow us to film was going to be hard enough but our scenes required allowed people in the machines.

Rosendale had a Laundromat in pretty vacant shopping center. The two guys managing sported shaved heads, and after a bit of talking, agreed to let us in once business died down. We had a short window of time…and business was …well…sort of busy.

I made a decision to shoot to New Paltz to check the possibilities. It seemed a long shot at best but so were the 1969 Mets. New Paltz offered us a Laundromat (once again near a post office and next to a liquor store-do people drink cocktails and write letters while they wash clothes? Just a question).

Anyway, my choice of actors turned out to be quite advantageous. Kris is a makeup artist and as it happened so was the woman at the counter. A short chat in make up artist language, a call to the manager and we were allowed to shoot what we needed. As luck would have it the large dryers in the back looked like washers and two of the large dryers on the bottom had signs that said “Out of Order”. Perhaps my book is prophetic. Filming progressed and those present in the Laundromat appeared mostly oblivious to the Angel of Death walking around. I have seen scarier sights in Laundromats. In my laundry basket.

Filming was finished ….many minutes of film that need to be whittled down to just a few. That work is happening this weekend. So, soon, you will see some short movie trailers that advertise Saving Erasmus. Hopefully they’re done in time to enter in the DIY Book contest (thanks Bob K.)

I can’t tell exactly what we filmed but suffice it to say that it is of the same ilk that you experienced when reading Saving Erasmus………….you did read it..right?

Blessings,

Steve

*(One must reference Bergman in this situation as his Angel of Death figures in the beginning scene of Saving Erasmus).

Press Release for Saving Erasmus

2007-03-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol Showalter

Tel: (508) 255-4685 x 356

cshowalter@paracletepress.com

This hilarious novel of ideas will challenge

your assumptions about community, love, death,

and what might one day

emerge from your washing machine.

An Original Voices pick at Borders for April and May

__________

Steven Cleaver’s absorbing debut novel, Saving Erasmus (Paraclete Press / Release date April 2, 2007 / Hardcover / 220 pages / $21.95), is It’s a Wonderful Life meets the Angel of Death—and a total romp about a change of heart and a way to faith.

Andrew Benoit, young big-city seminary grad, is herded to a tiny parish in the town of Erasmus. It turns out to be just one week before the Angel of Death threatens to work fierce power in the town, and the flood gates open on Andrew’s life. What ensues is a deadly fun, deadly serious, personal, and sometimes romantic exploration of what it means to be a prophet. Along the way, young Andrew takes forays into the history of American cinema, lives of the medieval saints, the Apocalypse, the Angel of Death, and one curious group of contemporary mystics who meet at the Instant Coffee Cup—Harpo, Curly, Mae, Lucy and Lou—keepers of the secret of the Incorruptible body of the Saint Annie Cotter, whose tomb is guarded by Simon, the Knight Templar.

Saving Erasmus unfolds to reveal a modern Jonah, trying to save a small town and finding out that he himself is the one who needs saving.

“Saving Erasmus had me hooked from the front page. Clever, witty, and profound, everything a good book should be,” praises Philip Gulley, author of the Harmony series.

About the Author

Steven Cleaver combines a writer’s curiosity with a life-long passion for faith. He is a published poet and a graduate of the Earlham School of Religion. His poems have won an Indiana State Award and he has taught at the Omega Institute. Cleaver, who grew up on a farm, lives in New York City where he manages a non-profit, negotiates mass transit, and seeks the best cup of coffee. This is his first novel, and he owns his own washing machine.

Visit www.savingerasmus.com for more information about Steven Cleaver and for details on how Cleaver will be visiting with book clubs across the U.S. from April to October, 2007.

# # #

If possible, please include our 800 number with your mention or review. (800) 451-5006.

Thank you.

An Original Voice

2007-03-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have been included as one of Border’s Books “Original Voices” for April/May 2007. Wow. I suppose it is only natural that an author who writes about the Angel of Death coming out of a washing machine would be a recipient of such an honor. Sure other authors utilize the Angel of Death and certainly washing machines and Laundromats have been the subject of books and even movies,(My Beautiful Laundrette coming to mind), but never before have the two met.

Of course, I am grateful. It means Saving Erasmus gets put out front in the store and that it will gain placement in their ads. This equates to more exposure, better publicity, increased sales, and finally my message reaching more people. But where will this lead?

Will there be an Original Voices tour for 2007? Will I need to compete with the others for final spots? Will I be the Sanjaya Malakar (without the hair) of the group? Or will I rise above? How will I handle the increased scrutiny of my work? Will there be challenges to the credibility of my creativity from authors who have written about similar material? None come to mind, but as the book hits the bestseller lists, I am expecting a few to surface.

And what of my original voice? If the tour is successful will I be expected to repeat with another story about a washing machine? Or will I be forced to search out different appliances and other angels entering from dryers, trash compactors or refrigerators? And if refrigerators are the appliance of choice, will I discover what happens to the light when the door closes? Will the genre of appliance entering angels be overdone to the point that it merely becomes a question in Trivial Pursuit, only randomly having the importance of determining the pie or deciding who wins the game?

Certainly I could select the route that Harper Lee took after writing To Kill A Mockingbird. I could stop writing and disappear from the public eye, leaving my one novel as the soul representation of my writing. Years would go by with talk of some new novel but I would simply rest on my laurels and perhaps, washing machine.

All of this, fortunately, does not keep me up at nights. That honor goes to the municipal trucks out side my window. But still as an author and philosopher, I ponder the meaning of each experience and seek the relevance within. But for now, I will just follow my bliss and hope that my voice follows.

I am an Original Voice. I will savor the moment for what it is.

The Journey Begins

2007-03-08T14:03:00.001-08:00

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Dear Friends Of Erasmus:
The journey has begun.

The Saving Erasmus Tour of 2007 starts Sunday March 11th at the Everything Goes Book Café in Staten Island. There will be a reading and book signing at 3PM with a private reception afterwards. RSVP for the reception to steve@savingerasmus.com

So …the book is finally out. I held my first copy last week. It’s a beautifully done book. The cover design is wonderful and really depicts what goes on in the book. It was designed by Steven Eames and Jean-Francois Martin. Voila! Paraclete Press has been wonderful in their help and guidance. Check out their webpage and my interview at www.paraclete press.com

So many other things to be grateful for:

• The book has been accepted by Borders Books and they have said they will place it out front. Yeah Borders.
• The book has been reviewed in Booklist and Library Journal. In order to be purchased by libraries, a book needs a review here.
• My website is up and running. Thanks to some initial help from Sam Franklin and the ongoing genius and commitment of Alex Grom, I now have a web presence. Check it out at
www.savingerasmus.com.
• About 3500 copies of the book are back ordered from Paraclete. Not sure completely what it means but hey, it sounds good.

And so the journey continues:

The next few months will be occupied with figuring how to market this book to book clubs and stores. I have a plan to have the Angel of Death walk around Union Square with a placard on that says “The End is Near” and “Saving Erasmus, April 2007” I have bought the costume and have someone who will wear it-just now got to get to Barnes and Nobles-who by the way, have yet to buy the book for stores.
So how can you help?

• Request the book at your local bookstore. Throw a tantrum if they don’t
• Supposedly I am “one friend” away from someone who has a radio show or television show. Anyone want to fess up?
• Review the book (positively) at Amazon.com.
• If you’re really courageous I can send you an Angel of Death costume and you can promote the book in your town. Just a thought.
• Speak to Spielberg.

That’s it for now-Steve

“I thank heaven someone’s crazy enough to give me a daisy” ee cummings
Steve