Yesterday it rained almost all day.  When it wasn't raining the gray clouds diffused the sun's light so that everywhere you looked the general tint of life was gray. 

Most people dread gray days.  They feel listless - the people and the days. 
But not me. 

I came home from work, put on the tea kettle and made myself a pot of tea. 
I got a blue onion teacup down from the shelf. 
I drank tea to my heart's content. 

My heart cannot be anything but content with a wonderful cuppa to sip. 

Today, fall came all of a sudden. 
Two days ago it was summer - hot and sunny and bright and long and hot. 
Yesterday it rained and rained until the clouds held nothing more than blue sky. 
Today, it is fall.  The length of the day.  The light.  The smell.  The temperature.  The length of the shadows. 
The sun seems to be at half mast all along is long path. 
It's cool enough in the shadows that I want to act like a cat and lay warm in the sun. 

Fall has come back to me. 

(this is for andy ford.) 

thoughts about life thanks for Dr. Phil Kenneson

If we are called to take part of the cocreation of the world as Chittister says, if we are called to be a part of the cocreation of God's plan to mend the universe, then how does supporting war, specifically the War in Iraq, fit into that mending of the universe?  Does it fit there?  Is there a place for war in the mending of the universe? 

What about World War II?  Did that not need to happen?  What about the atrocities which were happening?  I mean, I've there, I've seen Dachau.  Was there any way of stopping Hitler without war? 

Well, what atrocities are we supposedly stopping in Iraq?  Muslims in charge of a country whose oil we want?  Is that the problem here? 

"fight for an ideal I know nothing about"

I wonder how much that is actually happening.  Has Uncle Sam called us to fight a fight that only Uncle Sam knows the reason for?  Because I don't know why "we're" there.  I haven't heard anyone who knows the real reason anyway. 

intentional

Lately, I've been learning quite a bit about intentional communities which include both monastic communities and lay communities. This style of life makes so much sense in the context of life as a Christian. Yes, even monastic communities are incredibly attractive to me, even with the whole vow to celibacy. But considering I would like to have sex one day, intentional communities such as Reba Place Fellowship in Chicago seem like the way to go. 

Grete Scott came to the Creative Responses to Poverty house course on Wednesday and talked to us about Reba Place and what it's all about. 
In a nutshell, those involved in the community contribute their incomes to a common purse, and then each person/family is given a certain "allowance" off of which to live. They live in a geographically close community in which they share money, meals, work, responsibilities, cars. They share their lives, they share their joys and sorrows. And they share this all with the poor community in which they live. 

Maybe I'm glamorizing this whole intentional community thing. 

Or maybe the simplicity of life which it holds for those immersed is exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe that level of community of Christians is exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe not worrying about my finances or the finances of my fellow Christians is exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe the type of Christianity which would both intentionally and unintentionally spill out into the world because of its revolutionary manifestation is exactly what I'm looking for. 

What if we started that kind of intentional community here in Johnson City or Elizabethton? What would it look like? How many would be willing to give up their selfish individualistic capitalism to become a part of a Christ-centered community which might slightly resemble the church in Acts 2? 

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." 

slow by slow

Here's the thing, I'm not sure anymore.  I mean, this has been coming on for a long time, but now it's here, and I'm not so sure anymore.  I'm not so sure that the life I live is in accordance with the Gospel I say I believe.  Maybe the problem is I don't believe THE Gospel, but another lesser gospel which allows me to have what I want to have when I want to have it. 

I don't know.  I mean, at what point do I have to start taking Jesus seriously and actually live what he lived/said/was/is/etc? 

Do I actually have to sell all of my possessions and give the money to the poor?  Do I actually have to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me?  Do I actually have to take up my cross and follow?