Have You Seen Me?

Jennifer calls me Mr. Fantastic because the strands of silver on my temples get thicker and more noticeable all the time (know of any copper rich foods, anyone?)


But the most frustrating thing about aging is the slipping tendrils of memory that I grasp at. (that sounds horrible!--like something you'd call the people in white coats over...."they're coming to take me away ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, hee, ha, ha! to the funny farm!"...but it's not an early onset of dementia--well maybe, cuz I've always been a bit demented--or anything like that...I know who I am and what day it is and where I live so don't worry about the pilgrimm wandering away never to be found again...but I hope Jennifer picks a decent picture for the milk carton if it does happen...)


Here's what I mean--I had this really wonderful thought last night that I knew you'd want to read--it was positive, too. So I said to myself, "Write about that tomorrow." Well, it's tomorrow now and I have no idea what that wonderful, postive thought was anymore; I don't even remember what room I was in when I had it, so I can't even go chase it down.


So if you happen to find a wonderful, happy thought cross your path today--maybe it's mine? If so, send it my way, but smile at it first because it was supposed to be my gift to you.

just for fun or ticking away the moments that make up my Saturday

Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Brain?

Saw this link on another person's blog and was a bit curious as to what color my brain would be--go figure, it's green!

insert smarmy title of your choice here

Reading my local newspaper this morning (on-line, so maybe newspaper isn't exactly accurate) and came across an article about a company that's considering my town for a natural gas pipeline compressor station location.

Wasn't feeling good about the idea and then I came across this comment:

"Allen Fore, a spokesman for Rockies Express Pipeline, said the final site decision for the compressor station will be decided based on what is best for the project and what's best suited for construction of this facility in relation to the pipeline...

Monroe residents are concerned about the project's proximity to residential subdivisions and a nursing home and the potential risks of gas leaks and explosions.

"We appreciate the concerns of citizens and we want to address those, but ultimately where we go will be dependent upon what's best for the project in cooperation with the elected officials and folks that will be working with us on a day-to-day basis throughout this project," he said." ("Middletown Site May be Best of Four for Pipeline Location" by Denise Miller, The Middletown Journal, Wednesday September 19, 2007)

We appreciate the concerns of the citizens but ultimately we'll do what's best for our pocketbooks, you mean? Captialism at it's worst. Forget the needs of the citizens; focus on the needs of the shareholders and the bottom line.

We'll stick the pipeline on the south side of town, where there's already a ton of industrial waste and a bunch of poor folks, so nobody will really care if we do it--and it will probably cost us less than asking for a zoning variation in a different community, so Middletown will probably suit us just fine!

Guess, I'll be letting the council know how I feel about this...

Fast for Peace--October 8

This is from my local conference's website--endorsed by our bishop--it's about time!

Invitation to an Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq - from Dawn to Dusk on October 8

From leaders¹ of religious communities across the United States comes a call on all Americans to join in fasting from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8, to call for an end to the Iraq War. On this day, known as Columbus Day, people of faith in local communities across our nation will act as catalysts to transform the meaning of the day from one of conquest to community and from violence to reverence.

Each one of us and our families are invited to share in the fast during the day in ways appropriate to our own situation. United Methodists are also encouraged to gather with others in their churches, and/or also with members of other religious communities on the evening of October 7 or after dusk on October 8 for common meals.

We must end the shattering of Iraqi and American lives by offering American generosity and support - but not control - for international and non-governmental efforts to assist Iraqis in making peace and rebuilding their country, while swiftly and safely bringing home all American troops. We likewise call on persons of faith in all other nations to do their part in reducing violence and hatred.

Just as Isaiah called the People Israel to hear the Yom Kippur fast as God's call to feed the hungry, just as Jesus fasted in the wilderness, just as Christians through Lenten fasting and Muslims through Ramadan fasting have focused on spiritual transformation, just as Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez and others drew on fasting to change the course of history, so we call on all our communities of faith to draw now on fasting as a path toward inner spiritual transformation and outward social transformation.

Ending this war can become the first step toward a policy that embodies a deeper, broader sense of generosity and community at home and in the world.

Because he believed fasting was a means of grace, John Wesley fasted at least one day a week and encouraged his followers to fast as well. For Wesley, accountable discipleship is about obedience to the teachings of Jesus summarized in Mark 12:30-31, "... you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

1 Among those signing on to the call: Rev. Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Church; Rev. Robert Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA; Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center ; Rabbi Howard A. Cohen, American Hebrew Academy; Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, National Director, Islamic Society of North America; Nihad Awad, Executive Director, Council on American Islamic Relations; Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement, et al.

sharing a beautiful thing

I came across this video on youtube--through AWIP's website (another world is possible).
Enjoy!

loss for words

words cannot express the last few weeks...

but you know I have to try...

much of what I have been dreaming has practically been placed right in front of me...

I've said it myself and I heard something very similar to it said it in a sermon podcast today--being open to the Holy Spirit, asking God to be revealed to you, can be a terrifying thing..."if a part of you isn't about to pee in your pants when you encounter God, something's wrong" (mercy street podcast, 8/4/07)

a building, a big huge building, smack downtown offered up for ministry by someone needing partners in the ministry--not asking for money, not asking for us to pay rent, not asking for anything except people who care about kids and the arts...well that and a little bit of sweat equity...

then we heard about the old library that the city wants to tear down, and we've mobilized to save it so we can put a performing and visual and other creative arts school in it for the kids in the community who can't afford to pay for it...and if I've ever looked a God-sized dream in the face, this is it...lots n lots n lots n lots (ad infinitum, ad nauseum, ad infinitum, etc, etc, etc) of work...

and then, today, I was talking to this young man who hangs out and works in the building, who said to me, "I don't know if you're religious or not, but I'm a God-fearing person, and I trust you and your 'old lady' and I hate to burden you with this but would you offer up some words for my pain?" and then he spoke about the shame he feels for treating his chronic pain with alcohol because "I don't have insurance, and I hate it, but I can't walk around crying all the time, so I drink...but I got Jesus in my heart, so I know I can make it one more day"

and it all feels "home"--know what I mean? It feels more "home" than committee meetings and administrative duties and congregational carry-ins with more food than 100 over-weight people could possibly eat and that the hungry can't get to...

I've heard the desert call my name...and this desert is the city...buildings that look like they belong in a war zone...people living in shell-shock...and yet I see the Reign of God glimmering on the edges...and I feel home...

so here we are...on the cusp of the whirlwind, on the edge of the cliff...and all I said was, "Father, reveal yourself."

dangerous words...and I think I might need to change my shorts...

pacem,
the pilgrimm