Waving or Drowning?

The Year That Was / The Year That Will Be IV

One of the most profound (extended) moments of 2007 for me was our March visit to Gulu, in Northern Uganda. More specifically it was the 16 hours or so spent with some incredible people from Invisible Children. I am quite sure I won't find the words to describe that experience.

David and I in particular had an engrossing evening eating under the stars, and talking with Bobby, James, Adam, Katie, Sarah and others. We even managed to keep the BBQ goat down. Those few hours go on my list of experiences that have changed my life.

IC has put together a year-end video. Check it out here.

Our Job

Most of us seem to think that our job is to answer people's questions and take away their anxiety. Not so with Isaiah. He creates new and deeper questions of conscience and integrity for Israel. He allows God to "leave towns deserted" and "houses untenanted" and to "create a great emptiness in the country" (6:11). What perfect metaphors for the creating of liminal space, where, I believe, all true transformation happens.

It seems that the prophet's job is first to deconstruct current illusions , which is the status quo, and then reconstruct on a new and honest foundation. That is why the prophet is never popular with the comfortable or with those in power. Few except the "holy seed" have any patience with the deconstruction of egos and institutions.

Richard Rohr, Soul Brothers

The Year That Was / The Year That Will Be III, Or...

...Be The Change

My friend Jacques Macaire posted this recently. It definitely belongs here... I have a feeling action is going to be a key word in 2008.

The Year That Was / The Year That Will Be II, Or...

...The Real Work Begins

Stephanie sent this over to me for the LHM blog, but I think it belongs here (Under the category The Year That Will Be) as well. Let this be our prayer as we head into a New Year:

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among brothers,
to make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman The Work of Christmas
A Grateful Heart p 74

Book of the Year

Well, I finally finished reading Everything Must Change on the flight from Toronto to Vancouver today. (Yes, it took me forever. I haven't done any serious reading since the renovations started.)

Simply put, if I had the money I would buy this book for everyone on the planet. Read this book. This book will make a difference.

Read the book.

"There is one great step we can take to dismantle the suicide machine and the framing stories that legitimize it: to stop believing in it, and to believe, in its place, a different story, the story of the kingdom of God."

The Year That Was / The Year That Will Be I, Or...

Robert on What He's Seen This Year

"1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an Annus Horribilis."
Elizabeth II

With all due respect to our Sovereign, Your Majesty, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

I mean, as much as having your kids get divorced and having one of your castles burn down must really suck, I don't think anyone would trade it for not being able to scratch your nose even if you really really want to. I could tell you about a bad year.

I could tell you about an unconscious moment, like those that happen dozens of times a day, which resulted in two lives turned upside down. I could tell you about a bad thing that happened to good people.

I watched someone lose it all this year. Lose it all. Not just a few bucks in the market, or a favourite team eliminated too soon. Lose it all.

Then I watched courage. Courage unlike anything I have seen before. I watched someone brave this year. I learned about bravery this year. I learned because I watched bravery in person this year.

I watched someone get up off the mat more times than you can imagine this year. Watched him try more times than you can imagine. Try so many times you wouldn't believe me if I told you. 

I watched a person while she watched her life change. I watched how she responded with courage, even as she admitted she was afraid. I watched as she learned on the fly because her life's complexity level had just been ratcheted up and there was no time for self-pity or maudliness.

I learned things that I thought I already knew, that life is random and thus is sometimes unfair. I learned that life must be appreciated and savoured. We must enjoy every sandwich.   When misfortune strikes, lament if you must but lament fast and get on with it. Because in the end, lamenting won't get you anywhere but facing adversity with grace, courage and dignity will get you wherever you need to go.

Here's to 2008.

The Year That Was / The Year That Will Be (Prologue)

Now that the Christmas series of posts (off-the-cuff as they were) is over, it's time to allow space to look back at 2007, as well as foward to 2008. Darryl got the ball rolling when he dug up a post of mine from a year ago and resurrected the comment thread.That has prompted a couple of thoughts which will follow over the next few days. Please feel free to comment.

Merry Christmas

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:13,14

Christmas V

Christmas Song
(Dave Matthews Band)

She was his girl; he was her boyfriend
She'd be his wife and make him her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came, three made their way
To shower him with love
While he lay in the hay
Shower him with love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around

Not very much of his childhood was known
Kept his mother Mary worried
Always out on his own
He met another Mary who for a reasonable fee,
less than reputable was known to be.

His heart full of love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around

When Jesus Christ was nailed to his tree
Said "oh, Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I've spilled the blood of my children all around"

The blood of my children all around
The blood of my children's all around

So I'm told, so the story goes
The people he knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and Robbers
Drinkers and Jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me
Like you and me

Rumors insisted he soon would be
For his deviations
Taken into custody
By the authorities less informed than he.
Drinkers and Jokers all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love was all around

Preparations were made
For his celebration day
He said "eat this bread and think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children's all around
The blood of our children all around

Father up above, why in all this hatred do you fill
Me up with love, love, love
Love love love
Love love was all around
Father up above, why in all this hatred do you fill
Me up with love, fill me love love love
Love love love
all you need is love
you can't buy me love
Love love love
Love love
And the blood of our children's all around

People and Words

Speaking of Christmas, Stephanie has written some beautiful thoughts on some recent sacred activities at Linwood House, and Wes has shared a story that you simply must go and read now.