Snow. . .

What is it about snow?

I don't know about you, but I'm fascinated by it every time it comes! 

I suppose it goes back to my childhood.  Nothing was better than an unexpected, "snow day" in Texas that put an end to school and turned everyone out into the white wonderland. 

I also expect that somehow I'm "hard-wired" to appreciate the white stuff.  I'm told that the afternoon I was born, Spokane, Washington took the assault of the worst snow storm the city had seen in about 25 years!  So, I got here in the snow, and I've always loved it.  The more the better. 

As I've grown older though, snow has pushed me down and along a more contemplative path every time it shows up.  Over the past few years my experience with snow prompted more time with a camera in hand, as if the magic and mystery of the snow would somehow escape me before I could savor it adequately. 

And the amazing, deep, unexpected snows of the last 2-3 years have brought amazing experiences of appreciation, celebration and self-reflection, as if snow signals my way farther down a very important pathway I'm meant to take. 

Call me crazy, but there is something about the snow. 

I caught the image above earlier this month when I was in Colorado speaking to and working with about 150 business majors from Abilene Christian University and Lubbock Christian University.  The corner post on the porch of the cabin where I slept found itself adorned with the beautiful stuff on the morning my trip came to a close.  Dare I say a special blessing to point me in the right direction once again?

Focus

"We need a focus. A main thing. Something bigger than skin cream or tennis shoes that reminds us of the purpose of it all. If we expect to regain a more simple heart, a more centered pace for our day, we need to order our lives in specific ways."

David and Barbara Sorensen

Life that's lived up

Do you get weary of the continual, almost unrelenting emphasis on and attention to external appearances? I know I do.

I learned recently that one of the little girls from China who "sang" during opening ceremonies of the summer Olympics was actually lip-syncing the voice of another young girl. The girl who sang was not considered "cute enough" to appear in public, so a surrogate was recruited to stand in and pretend to sing. The "cute factor" seldom gets us anywhere of much value or substance.

Here's a motto for life that my wife handed me not long ago:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!"

While I expect my doctor would cringe a bit and while I recognize that this adage doesn't tell it all, I love the spirit of these words! How about you?

I think I might add something like this: "totally worn out, completely broke from investing in life and in people. . . ."

Got any mottoes for life that would be encouraging to others inside and outside your community? Let's hear them.

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An unsettling blessing. . .

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace

May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
to turn their pain into joy

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in the world
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done
to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

--a Franciscan Benediction

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DontAlmostGive.org

If you haven't been to the site, drop what you're doing--as in stop reading my page right now!--and take a look at http://www.dontalmostgive.org/.

I think you'll find your visit a moving experience.

Once you've been there, give something. . .somewhere. . .today.

You can make a difference in a life that needs what you have to offer.

birthday

Strange, this game,
Riding the blue-green spinning orb
Around a giant globe of fire;
No problem staying aboard,
But the meaning, that's another matter!

Much has happened here,
Long before my turn;
Preserved bits and pieces
Of the curious story remain for reflection,
Only adding to the mystery.

My place in it all
Seems so amusing, small,
At times devoid of meaning,
Purpose darts about and flees, leading me
To the here and now of things.

Strange, familiar aloneness
Covers the days, not the only choice,
For all seek meaning like that
Uncovered in another's
Voice and pain and hope.

We ride on,
Spinning around the fire,
On the way toward deeper mystery,
Counting days and learning names,
Holding on to love.

The importance of solitude for community

Years ago, a good friend commented to me that "our children live in a very noisy world." He was speaking of the life environment of inner city families and children.

Of course, he was correct.

Here is a paradox we would do well not to ignore: communities of health and strength are built and maintained by individuals who understand the importance of the "inner life." The ability to go inward, to find times for quiet reflection, to pray and to meditate--this is essential to the growth of authentic, life-sustaining groups.

Community development depends on the "soul-development" of each member of the community.

I read Heron Dance as a tool for journeying inward. The latest on-line edition contains the water color I've posted here, along with these words:

Writing at its best must come from deep within, for often that is where truth and originality lie; none comes entirely from the upper tenth of gray matter. It is when one reaches down into the dark realms of the past that great ideas surge forth.
—Sigurd F. Olson from Reflections From The North Country


When we follow the symbolic discipline of moving into the well of our Self, we find that we develop an increased capacity of inward perception. This capacity seems to be inherent in human beings and is a natural mode of awareness. Since it is inward, however, it tends to be little used in cultural situations where the individual’s attention is constantly being pressured by the outer environment. When, on the other hand, we establish an atmosphere that makes is possible for the attention to be turned inward in a quiet way, this capacity shows itself to be very actively and strongly present in persons who would have thought they did not possess it at all.
—Ira Progoff, from At a Journal Workshop

Retreat reading. . .

Want a feel for and a visual narrative on everything Vietnam?

Read Nelson Demille's Up Country.

I read it during my recent "retreat time" away from the city.

Demille's main character, Paul Brenner, a retiree from the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, accepts an unusual assignment that takes him back to Vietnam for the first time in over 30 years.

His purpose: to investigate a murder allegedly committed by a U. S. Army Captain during the midst of a bloody siege. The identity of this officer turns out to be quite a surprise.

It's a great read, especially if you're looking for insights into the Vietnam War and its horror and humanity.

The last paragraph of the book says a lot that draws me back to the city:

"The journey home is never a direct route; it is, in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way, we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination, and that the people we meet along the way will be the traveling companions of our memories forever."

Time to retreat

Vacation has been a long time coming this year. No time away in the summer--just too much going on and too much uncertainty caught me in several traps of confusion about my schedule.

Ever been there?

But, I'm holding out hope for November.

My good friend, James Walters has offered up his cabin in Wells River, Vermont. James teaches at Boston University. Brilliant scholar working in the early Christian era to understand the social dynamics of the period.

James is also a skilled urban practitioner on several levels. While at Heartbeat, James helped create the Personal and Community Empowerment (PACE) materials that we are using to train leaders and organize community groups in several inner-city neighborhoods here in Dallas.

I love James. Wish I could find more ways to spend time with him.

The thought of his cabin leads me to share what's below from the latest Heron Dance email message I received on Friday.

Enjoy!

_____________________________

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made

Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace

Comes dropping slow.

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the Linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep hear’s core.

—W.B. Yeats, 1890

Merton on atheism

Do not be too quick to condemn the man who no longer believes in God: for it is perhaps your own coldness and avarice and mediocrity and materialism and selfishness that have chilled his faith.

Thomas Merton
(1915-1968)

Worth watching

I'm not much on linking to devotional material, but this one is worth watching--the photography is wonderful:

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Hope your day is a good one.

Church of "the back on track"

Sunday, June 24, was a special day at the Central Dallas Church.

The men of the congregation organized what turned out to be a day-long "extravaganza."

Beginning in the morning with the church's regularly scheduled activities, continuing on through a great meal at noon and concluding with a time of celebration outside on the parking lot under the tents and in two giant "bounce houses" for the children, the day was something very special.

The Central Dallas Church (located at 1950 N. Washington Avenue) celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Planted alongside Central Dallas Ministries in 1992, thanks to the support and commitment of the Preston Road Church of Christ and the hard work of Carey Dowl, the organizing minister, the church has continued to grow and to serve its community.

Two-and- a-half years ago, the church moved into its new "home" in what had been the home of the Washington Street Presbyterian Mission for over 30 years. CDM purchased the building from the Mission and the church leases the space for its various services, activities and community outreach.

The location has the benefit of being directly across the street from the Roseland Homes Housing Development where CDM has enjoyed an active partnership with the community since 1996. The church has made the Roseland community its focus of service and care since relocating to the new building.

Several things impress me about the church and its recent growth and maturity.

Preston Weaver serves as its minister. Preston is an amazing man, to say the least! Having worked in Human Resources for over 25 years with Brinker International, Perot Systems, Fox Meyer Drug Company and Dallas Market Center, he returned to seminary at Perkins School of Theology at SMU and embarked on his "second career" in ministry as a pastoral counselor at CDM in our Community Health Services division. He touches, cares for, listens to and assists so many people every day in our clinic and across the entire organization. He has been serving the Central Dallas Church for the last two years as its minister and leader. He is an inspiration to all of us.

The men of the Central Dallas Church have really "stepped up" over the past several years. Lorenzo Brown, Randle Bailey, Robert Grigsby, Don Williams and many other leaders have been so committed to serving others and to influencing young men in the community to join in the process of improving the health and well-being of the entire neighborhood.

On this very special Sunday, it was very clear that their efforts are paying off, as so many young men and older teens were involved in the day.

The church is thoroughly non-denominational today. It is a community church, and more, a church of the community from inside out. The people involved set the course for the life of the church and everyone is welcomed without exception!

This church engages in all sorts of community service, outreach and caring.

A few years ago during Spring Break, a group of students from the University of Kentucky spent the week with us. During their stay, members of the Central Dallas Church accompanied the students into the Roseland Homes community where we knocked on every door.

We asked our neighbors two important questions.

First, "Are you registered to vote?"

Second, "Is there anything about which you would like us to pray?"

To say the least, we learned a lot about the community, shared many prayers and registered a few new voters!

It is that kind of church.

I am especially impressed with the church's music and with how the church uses music to plug folks into its life and mission. A children's choir, an adult praise team, a teen choir and a men's group are all very active in the church's worship and inspiration.

As I looked across the crowd on Sunday, I was moved simply by the stories of the people there whom I know, and there were so many I don't know. It struck me that the Central Dallas Church is quite unique.

It wouldn't be at all inaccurate to say that the Central Dallas Church is a church of "the back on track!" So many of its members have been through so much and have come so far--it is amazing and inspirational!

You may want to check it out some Sunday morning. I can promise you this, everyone would be very, very glad to see you!

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Thoreau's wisdom

For years I've been a fan of Heron Dance, a little journal of art, poetry and reflection, and I've pointed readers here to it as a resource for reflection and beauty.

In Issue 52, Roderick MacIver, artist and founder of the journal, publishes a number of quotes and selections from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Interlacing the quotes with beautiful water color drawings, MacIver has discovered the art of inspiration and reflection that employs the printed page. I really enjoy every issue.

Having read Thoreau for years, MacIver offers the following summation of his main themes and ideas:

Everything worthwhile in life requires love, faith and imagination. Friendship, love, imagination, a spiritual life, a close connection to the natural world--all are mysterious and difficult to put into words.

Art emerges out of our inner life.

The processes of life co-exist with the processes of death. Good health, and life itself, are temporary.

Society and its institutions are contrived realities. Expediency is valued; truth is not.

Elements of a quality life: live simply, do quality work that is not rushed, avoid waste, live below your means, and keep a reserve. Set aside a substantial portion of your time for leisure.

A close relationship with nature contributes joy and peace to human life.

Simple living enhances our awareness of, and openness to, the beauty of the natural world.

A spiritual life is a life of calmness, of openness to mystery, beauty, and infinity.

Long, frequent walks in the woods bring peace and serenity to a human life.

Wisdom and simplicity are closely related.

The path of joy is one of knowing who you are and living it. It requires befriending yourself.

Make time for silence. Adopt a thoughtful rhythm to your work and life.

As I reflect on these observations, my mind moves to concerns of the city and its people.

The longer I work and live here, the more convinced I am of the importance and power of beauty for everyone, including the poorest among us.

In the world. . .

A good "just for fun read" is Brother Odd by Dean Koontz.

Odd Thomas is a Koontz character introduced to readers a few novels back.

In this book, "Oddie" finds himself in retreat at St. Bartholomew's Abbey on the California side of the Sierra Nevada range. It is here, inside the Abbey, that the really strange story unfolds. Koontz ends his tale in a way that makes it clear that we haven't heard the last of Brother Odd!

Surprisingly, I found some fairly amazing quotes buried in the science fiction. I'll share one now and then in coming posts.

Listen in to the conversation Brother Odd has with his beloved "Brother Knuckles."
_____________________

"Though if I was your dad," Brother Knuckles continued, "you'd probably be shorter and thicker, with your head set closer to your shoulders."

"I don't need a neck anyway," I said. "I never wear ties."

"No, son, you need a neck so you can stick it out. That's what you do. That's who you are."

"Lately, I've been thinking I might get myself measured for a habit, become a novice."

He returned to his chair but only sat on the arm of it, studying me. After consideration, he said, "Maybe someday you'll hear the call, but not anytime soon. You're of the world, and need to be."

I shook my head. "I don't think I need to be of the world."

"The world needs you to be out there in it. You got things to do, son."

"That's what I'm afraid of. The things I'll have to do."

"The monastery ain't a hideout. A mug wants to come in here, take the vows, he should come because he wants to open himself to somethin' bigger than the world, not because he wants to close himself up in a little ball like a pill bug."

Depressed and Lifted

When I worked in the church as a minister and preacher, I battled cycles of despondency that became almost predictable in their timing.

At times, my emotional life felt like a roller coaster.

I can recall feeling as if it would be easier to extract eye teeth than to come up with even one more word to speak to my church!

Those feelings were difficult and, at times, scary.

Over the past 13 years I have experienced this sort of episodic depression only rarely.

My most recent awareness of these feelings surfaced about a month ago.

I don't know all of the reasons. I expect the press of our unrelenting need for funding, the growing pains of our expanding organization, the number of fairly high intensity projects now on the drawing boards and the dramatic increase in the need in our community all combine in a way that wears me out!

While I have never been certain about all the causes behind such experiences and feelings, I am clear about their remedy:

People and the energy flowing from them.

Tuesday of this week turned out to be a "break through" day for me. I found my life for my work again--a literal surge of new energy, but even more a sort of clearing away the fog from my soul.

How?

I sat and listened, really listened to five guys who live on the street.

Earlier that same day I reconnected with a fellow I hadn't seen in about 8 years. He had been locked up in prison until just about a month ago. Our reunion was invigorating. He was so glad to be home.

It is the connection to this reality, the reality and beauty of people--the human enterprise--that lifts me when I struggle with my work.

People always provide that for me.

How about you?