Tomatoes in December

Do you know where your food comes from? Sure, we buy our bags of lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, and eggs from the grocery stores. I regret to inform you, however, that lettuce does not grow in bags, tomatoes are not supposed to be "fresh" in Pennsylvania in December, and chicken's breasts are not naturally that large. (Yes, even chickens breasts are augmented)

Recently I watched the movie "Food Inc." This movie attempts to tell us where exactly our food comes from. At one point, the screen filled with hundreds of acres of cattle eating corn in brown desolate land. Cows do not naturally eat corn, but corn is a quick easy food source to give them and boosts production and efficiency. Mad cow disease and other food contamination has come from cows whose diet is solely corn. There is some reaction in the cows stomach with bacteria and corn which scientists describe, but the end reaction is the same, poor food for the consumer. So, is efficiency what our consumption and production should be based on?

I saw chickens kept by the thousands in small coops that could only take a few steps before falling over due to enlarged breasts from hormones and other chemicals in their food. In the end all we see are large pieces of meat neatly packed by the hundreds in the grocery store. But what are we eating, chicken, or chemically enhanced chicken look alike. At what cost to our own bodies and the bodies of chicken do we get our big cheap meat? The system is very efficient, but again, at what cost?

Both the chickens and cows are kept in close quarters, so much so that most of their days are spent walking, sitting, and sleeping in the feces of the animals around them. What are we eating?

Most of the places that these animals are raised look more like factories than farms. Smoke stacks hover over fields while smoke pours into the land. Lush green vegetation can hardly be seen anywhere. What happened to some of our farms? These are not rare occurrences either. A majority of meat is produced by only four (4) companies in the U.S. and all four of these companies handle and prepare their meat this way.

The good news is, we have a choice. We do not need to eat meat look alikes enhanced chemically or fed an unnatural diet. We can benefit our own bodies and the bodies of the animals that we eat by buying food that you know where it comes from.

"Food Inc." ends with a clip showing a farmer Joel Salatin in Virginia (pictured above). The farmer walks around his lush fields where his cattle roam, feeding on their natural diet, stretching their legs, and in return fertilizing the land as their waste goes back to the earth grazing from field to field. Chickens freely walk in and out of their coop eating the grass, bugs, and other feed, growing fully and naturally. The farmer and his family sell fresh meat to customers up to nearly five hours away. While this may be a long drive, these customers not only know exactly where their food is coming from, but they have a relationship with the farmer. A closer example of a farm that grows free range chickens and cattle is in Ohio, where my friends Mel and Steve Montgomery live at Lamppost Farm.

For further information on how to get fresh food around you google CSA (community supported agriculture).

Eat fresh, live well, be informed.

Thanks For Your Time

For the past few days, the Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has been blessed by the presence of David Bailey. While here David played a concert for the scholars and led a workshop on faith and creative writing last night. He was energetic with the high school students, cracked jokes, and played the guitar beautifully picking with his long quick fingernails. David has recently released his 23 album and is leaving directly from the seminary to go to the New Wilmington Mission Conference.

David also had a brain tumor removed just 7 weeks ago. He is learning to balance himself again and was warned by loving family and friends to not come to the seminary to play, saying he was not fit for travel. David, however, wanted to be here and nothing was going to stop him, especially not an ailing body. You see, over 13 years ago David was diagnosed with brain cancer and was told he had six months to live. Ever since then, time has been something very important for him. He has written many songs about time and talks about how he spends his time with family, friends, and especially drinking coffee. David does not dwell on the fact that he has overcome cancer multiple times, but he definitely does not ignore it either. He is very aware of his limitations with vision, being partially blind on the left side, and his balance. These limitations, I believe have only made him more aware of the blessings of life.

Ironic, isn't it how we sometimes only see the blessing in our lives when they are threatened, hindered, or away for a certain amount of time. I hope the take David's life as a lesson, so that I do not need to wait for my freedoms and gifts to be threatened to appreciate what I have. I hope we can all take time to appreciate time. Take time for others, to truly talk to them. Take time for yourself, to sit quietly and listen to yourself and God. Take time to be in awe of the world around you. Time, like so many things in our lives is not a renewable resource, there is a limited time that we will be here. I am not trying to be morbid, but am attempting to spur myself and others to live life, to appreciate the small things, and to forget about the trivial and unimportant things in life.

So, David Bailey, a man who has such precious time, thank you very much for spending the time you do have with us.

Hugaholic

This is the story of how I met Gregory, a self-diagnosed hug-aholic.

Last Wednesday night I had the chance to go and worship at East Liberty Presbyterian Church for their Taize service. The service was in an old stone chapel decorated full of candles, icons, and banners. As we sat in the pews singing and praying, there was no one in front of the congregation leading worship, but instead different members of the congregation would lead prayers from their seat. Having no one up front to focus on only helped our focus on God.

Now East Liberty Presbyterian Church, you must understand, is located in a neighborhood in Pittsburgh that is said to be quite economically and socially depressed. A lot of the commercial building space is vacant and many of the houses are run down. The church itself is a beautiful historic building constructed with money from Andrew Carnegie. If the church wanted to, it could get by on the endowment from Carnegie. However, the church has committed itself to living and serving and not just getting by, and has therefore been quite involved with the community. The church supports local programs that help get community members ready to own homes that have been remodeled, and provide freshly grown food in formerly abandoned lots at a low cost. East Liberty Presbyterian Church is not just getting by, but giving life to a place which is used to desolation and abandonment. The church also warmly welcomes those in the community who many churches may not be as welcoming to.

This brings me to Gregory. I noticed Gregory during the worship service on Wednesday night. He sat towards the front of the sanctuary and sang with all of his heart during the worship service. He had one of those smiles that is contagious and begs you to begin a conversation because you just know there is a story waiting to be told. So, after the service I approached Gregory during a time of refreshments right outside of the chapel. Gregory warmly introduced himself and proceeded to tell me about his button that he made which reads "Hugaholic". He told me about the importance of hugs, how everyone needs hugs, that they are great because they are free, and pretty much that hugs just make the world a better place. Gregory gave me a pamphlet that he drew himself and made photocopies of describing the benefits of hugs with quotes about hugs from various authors. After talking to Gregory for a bit and learning just a small bit about his history I had to join up with my group again. Before I left I asked Gregory if I could give him a hug, and I am confident that us two men hugged the biggest most loving hug two strangers have ever hugged before. We smiled and said our goodbyes, thinking that this could possibly be the last time that we see each other.

Gregory however, had more love to give.

As I gathered some other members of the group that I was with, we headed downstairs to walk to labyrinth. Again, the room was filled with candles, banners of every color of the rainbow, and light instrumental music in the background. When I entered the basement, I found that most of my group, made up of high school students, was already walking the labyrinth, and there in the midst of them was a middle age man, Gregory. Gregory was not walking the labyrinth, he was gracefully dancing and moving with the music, letting the twists and turns of the labyrinth direct his movement. I did not walk the labyrinth, but sat and prayerfully walked the labyrinth through the movements of Gregory.

I saw God that night in the form of a middle aged man named Gregory dancing in and among us. Isn't that how it usually happens? God is right there in front of us, dancing through our lives, so in sync with the movements that we make, that it is hard to recognize at times. I believe that God is always around us in the beauty of music, art, the nature, and people around us, but we need to slow down sometimes to see that it is God. So, may we slow down and join God in the dance he is dancing. Let God wrap his hands around us, pull us tightly towards him and follow God's lead in this dance of life.

Donald Miller

Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.

To Live My Story

In the past year I have read Donald Miller's Million Miles in a Thousand Years, I have talked about it before once or twice. Since then, I have gone to Boston and been involved in a conference with the Fund for Theological Education where I was able to think about my story somewhat. I began thinking about what it meant to live my story, how I could live that story, and what that meant for me and those around me. I have not completely figured out my story, but what good story is the ending known at the beginning? However, I am beginning to know who I am more fully and where I am headed. Hopefully my story will be full of twists, every day adventure and character development. So.... for now, some things I do know about my story.

Next year I will be attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I however will not be living on campus, and this is very intentional. Next year I will be living in the community around the seminary. I have always believed that an education without any application is quite useless. A seminary education, specifically my masters of divinity really truly would mean nothing to me without any application. This intentional living in the community is one reason why I picked to attend Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

The area around the seminary is an amazing and complex area. On one side of the school is East Liberty, a socially and economically depressed area with some new life budding. On the other side of the school is Highland Park, a middle to higher class area full of beautifully renovated old houses, coffee shops, and parks. Both neighborhoods are beautiful and wonderful and are full of amazing people. I want my story to be living in community with these people. I want to know the people that I pass by on the roads and be able to invite others over for dinner or coffee. I hope to know my neighbors and to be intentional about making it known that I will be a true neighbor, available for any needs.

Specific examples of this hope of mine continue to fall into my lap each day I get closer to moving in to my new apartment. First, a friend of mine told me that I should contact an old friend of his who works at a church in East Liberty. This friend of his, is already doing exactly what I want to be doing and I have had the great pleasure of meeting some of his coworkers this week. These young men started a community building, The Union Project, while in seminary that helps family buy and own houses responsibly and affordably so the people that make up the community can continue to live in the community. Shops are not what makes up communities, but it is the people that work at and frequent the shops that make a community. The Union Project also runs a community garden, growing in previously abandoned gardens. Where there used to be ruins, life now grows. Where there used to be depressed houses, life is now living inside. Where there used to be an abandoned community, I want to help bring life and love.

I began this journey of living today actually, while I was at a seminary camp for high school students. I was stopped to get gas in the neighborhood and a homeless man came up and kindly asked if I could spare a few dollars for food. At first I was hesitant because I really did not think I had any money. However, as I was pumping gas I looked through my wallet and found a few dollars. When I called the man over a second time, I took a good look at his face, something I am not sure a lot of people around him do, and it was at that moment that I realized I had met BIll before. Five years ago when I was attending the same seminary program that I am now helping to lead I had met Bill, talked with him, and a group of friends and I had taken him out to McDonald's. I asked Bill if he remembered me and told him that I remembered him. I had a conversation with him for a while and respected him as a person, looking him in the eye. I told him that I was going to the seminary next year and that I will see him around town. He mentioned something about needing a hair cut, exactly what he had said five years ago. If Bill needs something as simple as a hair cut every five years and a friendly face to talk to, I think I can do that. I hope to see Bill again soon and begin frequent conversations with him. I hope to meet others like Bill, and I hope to be other people's Bill as well, living together in a community joined by love.

I am not sure where this story of mine will take me, but I hope it is not comfortable, predictable, or even safe. I hope at times I wonder what I am doing and why I am doing it. I hope that I fail, and that I learn from my failures. But most importantly, through all of these times, I hope to be in a community in which I am interdependent, loving and receiving, bringing love to the broken places and life to the abandoned.

Live Back

A phrase came to me the other night as I was falling asleep, when most good ideas pop into my head. The phrase was, "Live Back." To me, this phrase challenges the idea of people giving back to their communities by donating time or money. Both of those are great things, don't get me wrong, but I want to challenge the idea of giving back into a more permanent and sustainable cycle.

Think about giving. When people give it is usually in fads or trends. For instance, giving to Haiti, the Gulf Coast, giving to charity around Christmas time, or going on week long mission trips. Again, all of these are helpful, but what if we can do more? The giving lasts a day or week, and our investment is rather weak. We may send a check that gives a community a water source, but we are not much more connected with that community or the ongoing project than we were before. We can go and help for a week clean up hurricane relief, but no matter how hard we try, a lot of the relationships we even make on those trips are lost.

So what would it look like, if instead of just giving back, if we lived back. I feel like our idea of "neighbor" in the Church has done a great job of expanding to the entire world. In this process however, I feel like sometimes we forget about our true geographical neighbors living right here next to us. My idea of living back combines your God given gifts and talents and the needs of the community around you. If you are a person who enjoys planning and has a knack for it, maybe you could plan block parties or plan community events where people gather to meet one another and simply enjoy each others presence. If you are savvy with numbers, live back and help others with budgets or taxes. If you are someone who is giving and has plenty, offer your car, spare rooms, extra food, ect. for those who have less. If you love to cook, find those in the community around you who are sick or lost a loved one or just recently moved in and offer a meal. If you are a great teacher help to teach. If quality time is a gift of yours, consider just being a friend or baby sitting.

These are just small easy ideas that are practical and could be easily implemented into our daily lives. Think about people in CEO positions, or actors, musicians, teachers, store owners, mechanics, doctors, whoever, whatever position, living back every day in their lives. Not only would we be living back every day in something that we are naturally good at, but we would be less likely to be burnt out since we would actually enjoy what we were doing.

So my challenge to you: talk with others, spend time praying, brainstorm, and come up with your talents, and what you enjoy doing. Take these talents and use them in your life daily for the glory of God. I have a feeling that not only will you be serving God daily, but you will find greater meaning in your work, and in life. The only way you can prove me wrong is by trying.

Let us Live Back.

Born to Run

I've been reading a book lately titled "Born to Run". The book is written by a Runners World writer and tells the story of a group of runners deep in a the Copper Canyon in Mexico and other ultra marathoners. Each runner the author highlights has an incredible story of how each found their own niche in running. It is not uncommon for the runners talked about to just happen upon running. The author follows a group of runners through ultra marathons, over mountains through canyons and rivers in the middle of the night and through the desert. These runners do not get much money if any for winning their races and are fairly unknown athletes, but they put themselves through hundreds of miles of running at a time. The common thread that holds all of the runners together then, if not the quest for fame or money, is their joy of running. Some of the runners are even said to have smiles on their faces at mile 60 or 70.

While I do love to run, I cannot imagine running hundreds of miles at a time, nor do I think I would want to, especially with a smile on my face. However, I have been running consistently for a few years now and have enjoyed every moment of it. It seems like running has been more of a part of my life than I realized previously. My brother, sister, and mother have all ran before me and continue to do so. When I get a chance I enjoy running with them as well, its a great way to catch up. Each of our running is individual to our point in life and our likes, but it is still something we are all able to share together.

My running is not competitive and I can keep my own pace. If I am feeling fast I open my stride and push myself, when I am feeling slower I ease into the run and usually end up surprising myself at how much I end up running. Running gives me a time to unwind, relax, think, not think at all, or just take in the view around me. Since I have been running I have been able to explore cities I have visited more easily than driving through them. Most recently while in Boston, I was able to wake up early in the morning and tour the city. I ran along the Charles River for some time watching other runners and crew teams rowing down the river. I then crossed over into the city and ran around Fenway Park before I headed back to Boston University. I have had similar experiences in other cities as well, and hope to continue to get to know my way around new places by running.

Whether I'm running to get to know a place, running fast, slow, far or short, by myself or with another person, I always feel better after I'm done than when I started. I also feel more at peace the more that I run, I'm not sure if it's the endorphins or the time I spend in splendor of God's nature, including cows, wooded hills and rising moons. The world is full of so much to see, I urge you to get out there and take it all in one walk, jog, or run at a time, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Birthday Wishes

Today was my grandma Bubba's 76th birthday. We celebrated with dinner at Cozumel and then dessert at her house. My aunt, uncle, and cousins flew in from San Diego and joined my grandparents and me. As we sat around the table, both at dinner and for dessert we were able to catch up and reminisce about our past. Over cake, I asked my grandma to tell me what her favorite year was out of her last 76. She proceeded to tell us a story about a 16th birthday where he was quite bored sky gazing looking at the clouds as they changed shape, she decided to go upstairs take a bath and wash her hair. As she was relaxing in the tub she was surprised by her friends (no boys, she was quick to clarify) standing in the door ready for a dinner party that her mother put together. The rest of the night was loud, full of laughter, and more stories. I hope I will celebrate birthdays now that I will remember years from now.

So that brings me to this next question. Do you remember any presents that you got for your birthday? If so, what kinds of presents were they? The moments that I remember most are times like my Olympic birthday, or my bowling birthday party, or the dinners we would have for my birthday. I vaguely remember presents, but I do remember making a big deal about the presents at the time, putting so much emphasis on the things that I thought would just change my life forever. For instance, I remember wanting a bonsai tree in the worst way, I am not sure how, but I knew that having that bonsai tree would give me special athletic abilities and allow me to beat up any bully that came my way just like the karate kid. One year I did get my wish and got a baby bonsai tree that I had to grow myself. Day after day, week after week I watered my little pot of dirt with a bonsai seed and instead of ninja skills I ended up with a wet pot of dirt. I was very appreciative of the gift. My mom knew that I wanted a bonsai tree and she satisfied my wants. However, the emphasis that I put on the tree did not meet up with my expectations. No ninja, no wax on wax off, no fly catching, but I did gain the great insight to not put so much emphasis on presents.

For presents my grandma got a bib, hand lotion, perfume, a picture, and a book. Other birthdays that i have recently witnessed or attended which did not focus on presents include my friend Jason's 40th birthday. His wife asked his closest 40 friends to give $40 to a charity. So on his birthday, Jason was able to read cards from his friends to see where money was donated on behalf of him. When my sister Laura was younger, very young, she gave away all of her presents. She continues to have the same loving caring heart.

Take a hint from me, whatever your "bonsai tree" is, it won't change your life, it will probably end up letting you down. Think creatively for your next birthday or when you are celebrating with others. Focus on relationships, stories, good food, and memorable moments. The glamour will fade and toys will break, but stories will be passed on forever.

As for me, it's a long ways away, but if you are wondering what to get me for my birthday, start thinking of what you want to eat and you are invited to my house for a meal and we can talk about a charity you donated money to on my behalf. Don't worry, I will remind you when it comes closer. I hope for years to come of birthdays full of dinners with family reminiscing of the past, even if (especially if) the stories are a bit fabricated.

FTE Conference 2010

Today was the first full day of the FTE 2010 Leaders in Ministry Conference. It was a whirl wind of a day. We had events, speakers, worship, and small groups planned from 8am to 10pm. The theme of the conference this year is story. We have explored our personal stories and how there have been transformational moments in each of our journeys. Much of the time we have in groups, even if we are listening to others speak, is concentrated on individual reflection of our calling in our vocation. It is quite interesting to hear others speak and then simultaneously reflect on how that may or may not relate to my life.

Through all of this identity searching and story telling of the self, our true identity in the group became apparent. In our small group discussion tonight, we discussed how it is hard if not impossible to distinguish where the self ends and the community begins. In many cultures, people have no identity if they are not associated with a certain community. As I reflected today, I became more aware of the importance of the Christian communities around me, how they have nourished me, and led me through the past so many years.

Being an ecumenical conference, the community here is quite diverse according to denominational background. It has been great to be in conversation with men and women around my age from numerous different denominations. The men and women that I am sharing my time with are the cream of the crop from there denominations, full of stories, history of faith, and specific practices. What is great to see though, is the effort for all of us to be in one large community of Christ and learn from each other. There are men and women who are constantly in conversation asking questions in a loving manner, truly attempting to learn and understand. Others will sit and listen attentively while someone is sharing a story about what they believe. Most importantly, we are spending time together, eating together, and getting to know each other as people and children of God, not labeling each other as Catholic or Baptist or Lutheran or Episcopal or what have you. Through each of these acts, I am able to see a glimpse of what I hope to be the future, where the body of Christ is open to having loving and honest conversation, with each gaining from another.

A Time For Everything

Ecclesiastes 3 states that there is a time for everything. Thinking about this, my life the past year has taken in a lot of different times. I have been busy with my time for school, my time for working at Apple Castle, my time for the youth group, my time for friends, my time for family, my time for applying for seminary and scholarships, my time for traveling to places like Israel and Boston. I have had a lot of "times" this past year, and each of these different seasons of the past year has brought understanding and benefited my life in some way. I was blessed so much with my time at Apple Castle, getting to know Sandy and Lyle and interacting with the other workers and customers. During my time there I learned so much about not only apples, but life. My time as a student was full of learning, and pushing myself in new ways, undertaking an American Dramatist class. Through this my writing has excelled in areas where I previously failed. My time at the church with the youth group introduced me to Chris and his family, and ended a time of four years working with the youth of New Wilmington. I have been forever changed by my time there and the people I have met. My time with friends has deepened friendships as most of us graduated and are moving on, hoping to keep in touch. My time with family has evolved my relationship with my family members; as I grow older I am in the transition of being on my own, more independent, but always interdependent with the others in my family. My time of travels have so far brought me growth and seem promising to continue to do so.

All in all, I had a busy year with many different "seasons of time". After I returned from Israel this past week I found myself itching anxious to get on to something new, but I also found myself tired. It was after multiple nights of catching up on sleep and finding my days with relatively little to do, that I realized I was being told I need to rest. I am the type of person who needs to be doing something most of the time, whether it is going somewhere, playing a game, planning a trip, working on my car, or just cleaning around my house or apartment. Usually when I find myself without much to do I begin to feel lazy or useless as if I should be doing something productive. With just a week between Israel and Boston this week I returned to a time of much needed rest. Rest for me did not entail watching five hours of Sports Center and sleeping in to noon.

For me, rest is a time of letting my mind free. Some of my most restful time I have is running. While I run I am not distracted by the TV or computer or phone and am able to digest all of the events that have been going on in my life. I can actually feel some of the stress that has building up inside of me shed away with every step I take. Reading is also very relaxing for me. When I read I am relaxing physically while not letting my mind go to mush. This past week I have also enjoyed visiting with family, friends, and recounting my travels with them. Sitting, engaging with others with no agenda and sharing stories is one of my favorite ways to rest. Like I said, for me resting is not just a physical rest (which is needed) but it is a mental and emotional rest as well full of time for reflection.

So as I sit and rest and reflect for one more day before I head to Boston, I ask you to think about what "time" you are in right now. What "seasons" have you encountered in the past year or so? And most importantly, are you too taking time to rest and reflect on these past times, so you are physically, spiritually, and emotionally ready for the next seasons in life?

This blog has been a great time of reflection for me, and a place for me to practice my writing. I am not sure if anyone is still following, but I plan on continuing writing, so if you'd like to know some of my thoughts feel free to keep on reading and comment here and there.

My New Friend

Today was one last big push to fit even more into our tour. While I have seen countless buildings, ruins, and bodies of water, I have also come to encounter the culture and people of Israel. During our four or five miles of walking today we visited the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock is, St. Anne's Church, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the upper room. Each of these sites had its own story and intricacies. The beauty of the Dome and the Church(s) of the Holy Sepulcher are unmatched. However, without the people in these buildings they become just that, buildings. Getting to know the people and see the people of Israel and the people from all over the world come and worship at these places was an experience of its own. I have learned about each of these sites in numerous classes, but did not learn the experience that comes from worshipping at these places. The people are what makes Israel alive and real and important. And it is God living and inspiring these people that makes these people make the places important and alive and real.

By walking through the streets of Jerusalem these past three days I have quickly come to know the personalities of the different quarters. The Jewish quarter is safe, clean, and immediately as you walk into it you feel a peace come over you. The Muslim quarter is full of shops overflowing with brightly colored scarfs and rugs and crowded streets. At times it can be overwhelming, but once I was able to sit back and observe it was quite beautiful. Today we had an hour of free time and after I walked down the street and did some window shopping I stopped and grabbed a cup of coffee. While I was sitting drinking my coffee I was able to look out over the Kidron Valley full of beautiful olive and evergreen trees. Along with the great view I was able to do some eavesdropping and listen to some of the conversations around me. There was a Orthodox Jewish man talking with a woman about his rabbi and what he had learned that day. There was also a couple who were looking at pictures of the man from different times in his life. And at yet another table was a family of women laughing but just out of reach to hear what they were saying. Israel has become real to me. It is no longer a terrifying place I read about in the news paper or a magical place that I read about in the Bible. It now has faces and places to which I have embraced.

As I prepare to leave Israel tomorrow I am lucky enough to have met a few people with whom I hope to keep in touch. The other day I talked about Moshe who spoke to our group at the gift store. He gave me his card and was very welcoming and insistent that I e-mail him if I have any questions. There was a jeweler that I met who also gave me his card and told me I could always be in touch with him as well. And just tonight as I was sitting down to write in the bar of the hotel (its the only sitting area) I met a man named Ari. He founded thelandofisrael.com and is on the talk show Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem. Ari's ministry entails discussing current events in Israel, Judaism, and the world. He and his co-host Jeremy bring different speakers to their show to engage in conversation. Ari was very pleasant and is going to become a rabbi next month. He also invited me to come to his house for Shabbat if I am ever in Jerusalem again. I hope to take him up on that. It is these relationships that I will cherish and hopefully take advantage of when I return to the states. Through traveling and engaging with others it is impossible for my world to maintain small and familiar to me. This opportunity like many others in the past has opened me to new views and will benefit me in the future when I come in contact with others different than me. What an amazing time to live in where so many different cultures are available with relative ease.

So what I pray for you is that you travel to new and exciting places, and when you do, meet new people, engage in conversation, be open to new things, and let God guide you and bless you.

Thanks for this opportunity Bubs and Pops. I love you both.

The Hills Were Alive With the Sound of Music

Today, for the first time on the trip, we entered the walls of Jerusalem. In the early morning we were able to view the city from observation posts only a mile or so away from the old city. The buildings in the old city are so much older than anything in the United States. While we talk about buildings that have been around for one or two hundred years, here they talk about steps and walls and buildings around for over 1000 or 2000 years. I heard it said that something from a few hundred years ago in Israel is not an antique, but just a used item.

So, after we viewed the entire city from afar and were able to get our bearings, we entered the walls of Jerusalem. As we were walking up the side walk to enter the gates I heard loud drumming and singing. As we got closer I realized it was just around the corner from us. I asked our tour guide what all the commotion was about and if we could join the party. Tom, our guide, informed me that we were hearing a bar mitzva. There were two drummers playing leading the procession followed by a crowd of men dancing with the young boy who's bar mitzva it was under a small tent carried by four little boys. They were all singing and would stop periodically and lift the boy into the air, dancing and singing songs, encouraging the bystanders to clap along. As we were in the city we periodically heard this group making its way through the streets with its final destination at the Western Wall. The Western Wall is a Jewish holy place. It is a retaining wall for the land the temple was built on, and since the Muslims occupy the land that the temple once sat upon, this wall is the closest place the Jews can get to the area with ease. It was beautiful and moving to me to see this boy becoming a young man before my eyes. I was a part of his growing up as I clapped along with the music on the side of the road. Seeing the young boy so happy and energetic gave me hope for the being of Israel and the surrounding area. I hope that as generations pass, we become more knowledgeable about other religions, races, and ethnicities, and become more accepting of differences.

As we were in the old city today I met a shop owner named Moshe who lived out the dream of learning about differences. Moshe closed down the shop for abour 45 minutes while we were in the store just so we could all sit down and talk about Judaism and Christianity. He is a very smart Orthodox Jew who was able to intelligently articulate what he believes are misunderstandings between Christians and Jews. He then gave us an opportunity to ask any questions about Judaism that we may have had. Moshe is a very loving man who was willing to close his shop in the middle of the day just to have conversation about the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. What a business model. It was clear that Moshe was not just in the business of selling things, but in the business of doing God's will. Moshe said that he closes the shop up and has discussions multiple times a day when tour groups come in. This meeting with Moshe and the time in his shop also gave me hope for the state of Israel.

Jerusalem is a city that is very much alive and growing. While there may be parts of the city that are dangerous I have yet to see them. I am sure they exist just like dangerous parts of D.C., New York City, and even Pittsburgh exist, maybe not so much New Wilmington. Seeing the bar mitzva today and meeting Moshe was like seeing into the future a little bit. I hope and pray for a time of peace, not because we are all alike, but because we are able to sit down and talk about our differences and be able to learn from each other.

In The Desert Places

I was not able to update the blog yesterday because I was in the desert. It was a place that most people probably think of when they think of Israel. It was barren. I was the tallest non man made object in the desert for miles. No trees or bushes or anything. There is some small undergrowth which the donkeys, camels, and other animals eat (ok, so the camels are taller than me). We spent the night in a Bedouin camp. Bedouins are Muslim Arabs who wander the desert while herding flocks of animals. The Bedouin camp we stayed at was a nice model type of a Bedouin camp.

When we first arrived at the camp we were welcomed and immediately rode camels. The camels were all lying on the ground so we could get on them, but once they stood up they were well over 8ft tall. It was so much fun to ride a camel, although it was more like a pony ride since all of the camels were tethered together with a man leading them by rope. I am glad for that, however, because my camel kept wanting to run. I later found out that they can go faster than 35 miles per hour. After the camel ride we talked in a tent with a man named Mohammed about Bedouins. While he talked another man prepared the customary tea, coffee, and bread for visitors. The coffee is traditionally given first because it is very expensive, showing the Bedouin's hospitality, and very bitter, showing the bitterness of the land. The tea is given second and is very sweet, showing the kindness and hospitality of the Bedouin. After Mohammed was done speaking, he played music for us. Again, as the young man on the trip I was volunteered to play music along with Mohammed. It was a transcendent moment playing percussion with a coffee mortar and pestle as Mohammed played the lute. As the music played, a small fire which had made the bread and heated the tea and coffee was filling the tent with a slight smoke. The others sat on colorful rugs cross legged and clapped along. The taste of the sweet tea was still in my mouth. If I closed my eyes I went back in time and far away....

After dinner I sat on a bench and was able to read for a while. Once the sun went down two other men and I went on a walk into the desert so we could get a good look at the stars away from any light the camp may have given off. Once a few minutes outside of camp I was able to look up and see stars all around. Although it was a little cloudy, the stars were gorgeous. As we were away from the camp, there was no noise from any man made object, but just the songs of dogs, donkeys, and camels. The songs of the animals continued all night long with a finale in the morning with the birds. While it was loud, and at times annoying, it was beautiful. Since we slept in large open tents we were able to hear everything. As I was doing my morning devotions, the noises of the animals all came full circle as I read Psalm 150 as the final verse says, "Let every creature that has breath praise the Lord."

Although I was in a desert, and all of the other nights I was in a city, last night was the first night on the trip that I did not feel alone. I'm not sure if it was the beauty of the landscape or the music of the animals, but being alone in God's wilderness made me not feel alone at all. I hope that each one of you, and I can continue to find times where we can be absolutely alone with God from all man made things, and realize that we are not alone at all.

The Sabbath Begins

The morning started after my first full night of sleep. Breakfast was great with fish and toast, this will be important later. Again, after breakfast we began our day early and immediately got on a boat and took a ride on the Sea of Galilee. While on the boat we read scripture, sang songs and prayed. It was amazing to be on the same sea that Jesus was on and around. The amazing thing about the Sea of Galilee is that it cannot be changed and taken ownership of like so many of the places around Israel. The sea is the sea is the sea. As I was on the boat our tour guide pointed out lots of little villages where Jesus preached and conducted his ministry. The sea was calm and the land was beautifully contrasted between desert and lush green trees. At the end of our boat ride we were able to see a first century fishing boat that was found, which would have been similar to the boats that the disciples traveled on. Jesus was aslo on a boat similar to the one we saw to preach to many by the sea.

We then moved on to another place where Jesus preached, or a place that celebrates Jesus' sermon on the mount. We went to a convent on the Mount of Beatitudes. Here we prayed in a convent garded and read scripture. The convent was beautiful and showed a mountain side where Jesus could have preached from, or something similar to where Jesus could have preached.

Our next stop in the day was at a monastery for St. Peter. It is said to have been the place where Jesus appeared to the disciples the third time after his resurrection. Peter was out on a boat fishing when Jesus told them to throw the nets out to the other side. Jesus then invited the men in to eat the fish. It was at this point that I remembered this story from before, but it had more meaning to me now and the fish that I ate that morning tasted even better.

Our final and my favorite stop for the day is yet another place where Jesus preached. We stopped at Capereum and saw a synagogue from the time of Jesus in the first century. A majority of Jesus' teaching took place in this temple, and it was amazingly still in decent shape. We heard about the stories of where Jesus preached in the temple and I was able to sit where first century Jews would have sat to listen to him preach.

Throughout the entire day we went to places where Jesus was said to have preached. While we cannot tell for sure if he was directly in any of the spots I was standing I am sure I was close. Even though, on our bus ride home I happily realized that I was going to be following closer to Jesus' footsteps than when I was in the synagogue or by the sea or on the water. Tonight begins Sabbath. At our hotel is staying a bunch of Orthodox Jews who will definitely be observing the Sabbath. On the Sabbath a Jew can do no work, which includes pushing a button on the elevator. I am so excited to be living near, and attemping to live out this tradition which is so so old. This makes me think that this is how we stay close to Jesus, not by seeing the sites or touching the rocks necessarily, but by living as he lived and living as he teached. I hope to learn more about Jesus' and Christianity's Jewish roots. We can not understand Jesus fully without understanding the Hebrew Bible and the Jewish tradition.

So, I appologize if this was rushed, but there are many hurried Jewish people around me closing up shop and preparing for the Sabbath. I hope to read tonight relax observing the Sabbath as best as possible. Try and take a Sabbath of your own. Even though you may not have nifty Sabbath elevators you could get on an elevator and push all of the buttons and experience it for yourself. It would be quite a ride but fun for sure haha. Think about your own life and what practices you continue from Jesus' teachings. What practices do we ignore that could bring us closer to him? What practices do you want to know more about and adopt for your life?

Let the Sabbath begin.

You Are Standing on Holy Ground

This morning I woke up very early around 4am, still getting used to the time difference. I was able to sleep a little bit more but decided to go on a walk on the beach. The hotel that I stayed at last night was on the Mediterranean and the walk in the morning was beautiful. There were people all around early in the morning fishing, walking, and doing yoga on the beach. After a quick breakfast at 7am we were ready to begin our day.

Our first stop for the day was at Caesarea. This was a port town which King Herod built up for himself. He had a palace that jetted out into the sea with some of the remains still visible today. I could only imagine what it looked like in its prime. Lush gardens with a constant breeze from the sea and a panoramic view of the water. Herod also built a theater where shows were performed, but more importantly where Paul presented himself before Agrippa. Most of the theater was still standing and only minor renovations had to be done as it is still a functioning theater today, so we acted out Paul's speech before Agrippa. I was chosen as the best suitable person for the job since I could climb steps and was the lone non leader male. It was surreal to stand where Paul stood and read his words out of the Bible. Caesarea was full of more ruins from both Herod's time, the Byzantines, Crusaders, and Turkish Muslims. While the ruins were all beautiful, the area was also surrounded by shops and other modern stores. The modern elements did not however take away from the beauty for me, but it shows that we live in a linear world with a very active God in that world who was and is present on earth. While the land is where figures from the Bible have walked, the people are definitely modern people, something I think we sometimes forget.

After Caesarea we visited Mount Carmel and Mount Arbel. Both had beautiful views and were great to stand and just watch and reflect. Not only was the land beautiful, but it had significance Biblically, what a combination. Have you ever had the feeling when you were looking at a sunset or a great view of the mountains or at the ocean and you felt that God was present? Our tour guide is great at making stops and telling the Bible stories with excitement about the places we go. That is my favorite time, when we stop and listen to our guide Tom while he recounts the stories explaining why people moved to this land thousands of years ago, stories of faith, stories of fighting, and stories of miracles.

It makes sense to me now why people are so intent on keeping their land and why there have been so many struggles in this area. This is where Jesus walked, where Moses and Abraham walked, where all of them preached, and where all of them heard God's voice. I traveled over 6,000 miles to come here on a vacation. There are people that live here all the time. I would highly doubt that they become numb to their surroundings, but I do see garbage strewn across the ruins with water bottles left on pillars and floating in the coves. It makes me sad to see this. But I remember that God has not only been present here, but is present all over the earth. And all over the world we sometimes treat the earth like a frat house. We carelessly throw things all over the place, defile the land, and misuse the resources that God has given us. We are not standing on holy ground just while we are in Israel, but all the time as all of the earth is God's. What would the world be like if we treated our home towns as awestruck visitors treat the holy places we revere and travel to see? Would we always be thankful to God for the beauty of the land and be enraged when we saw garbage on the ground? Would we act to make sure some places were kept without buildings and be careful not to cut down certain trees? Maybe, maybe not. But we don't have to be visitors to stand on holy ground and to thank God for what God has given us. Take a week, or even a day at a time and realize that you are standing on holy ground, you are always standing on holy ground. Hopefully, slowly, we, I, can realize this truth and this style of living can become a way of life, not just a week vacation.

Wednesday in Israel Speaking French

So I left Pittsburgh yesterday morning, which seems like this morning. However; this morning I was in the middle of the Atlantic somewhere. We landed right outside of Tel Aviv tonight, Wednesday, around 6:30 pm. It was a very long and uncomfortable flight, but somehow it managed to pass by with relative ease. When people were making airplanes they were not thinking about my knees or people over 4ft tall.

As we arrived in Israel I was able to see some of the country side from the airplane. It was dry but beautiful with rows of what I think were olive trees. At the airport there was surprisingly little security. I saw no one with guns, and after we checked our passports we went right through the airport. The airport and surrounding area is very nice and built up. We have a tour guide who is very knowledgeable about the area named Tom who is American born but not lives in Israel. He told us that most Israelis live in high rise apartments, which you can see scattered through the skyline.

The hotel I am staying at tonight is called The Seasons. We walked through the door of the hotel, were given pineapple juice and then proceeded to dinner. I think that may have been my fourth dinner today since the airline kept feeding me dinners at midnight, 2am, and 4 this afternoon. The food was a variety of vegetables, hummus dips, rice, and fish. I made sure to try some of the olives since I was guessing they were local. Each morning for breakfast and night for dinner we will be eating buffet style at the hotel we are staying at. Tonight as I was leaving dinner I met two women from Paris. I talked with them in broken French and them to me in broken English for a while. They have some family in Israel and are going to see a show tomorrow. They kept saying how magical Jerusalem is, and that is exactly why I am excited to be here. I can't wait to see places like the Mount of Olives, the Sea of Galilee, but most importantly Jerusalem; places where Jesus, the disciples, and important Jewish figures lived and preached. The two French sisters, Claudia and Monet (kinda like the painter huh?) were so impressed with Jerusalem and how people forget about political or religious affiliations while there and all appreciate the beauty and significance of the city.

Tomorrow begins my journey of site seeing and learning. I hope to take it all in and to be able to attempt to wrap my head around where I am because it is hard to believe that I am typing on my computer with wireless internet in the same area that Jesus stood on a boat to preach. I will leave all of the mind boggling thinking for tomorrow. As for now, I am going to continue to sit on my balcony overlooking the Mediterranean and enjoy the breeze and sharpen up on my french just incase I see Claude Monet tomorrow.

Departure: The Waiting Game

The first day has begun and will not finish until tomorrow night at 5 pm Israel time or 10 am eastern time. It has been a day of waiting. Waiting to get picked up by my grandpa and then waiting in the airport in Pittsburgh, soon it will be waiting two hours of waiting in Atlanta, before the big wait on the airplane to Israel. While I have been waiting, it is definitely not boring. I love traveling and being in airports. You see all different kinds of people coming and going all over the world. There are groups of people, teams, families, and people traveling alone. Seeing all of these people makes me realize how big the world is, and each of the people I see has a story of their own. Sometimes when I look at large groups of people, realizing everyone has their own story, I imagine a little blurb above their head giving a short bio of their name where they are going and where they are from. Each little blurb could be like people's Facebook status or their latest Tweet.

So far I have enjoyed meeting Annette and getting to know Peg better. They have been friends for over twenty five years and to say that they enjoy their company is an understatement. They have an entire lifetime of mine of stories together. I love sitting and listening to their travels. With all of the waiting time that we will have it is time we spend getting to know each other. I am excited to meet up with the group in Atlanta and become one group together. I'm sure we will be busy in Israel, but we will no longer have the distractions of home. Instead of watching tv at night I look forward to playing cards or just sitting up talking over coffee. When I go on vacations I always romanticize about living without tv or cell phones, however when I get back to the "real world" I am right back at watching ESPN every morning and filling any empty night with tv. This time when I get home I am going to try and embrace the stories of those around me instead of filling myself with the stories on tv. Peg, Annette and I just had dinner and talked and talked and talked. I hope the others are the trip are just as interesting and relaxed and fun loving as these two.

My trip has begun and our group continues to grow. Three down eight more to meet. Hopefully the group will continue to grow as we go to Israel, meeting new and interesting people, looking for their stories.

A Rough Itinerary of My Trip

June 1 - Depart the USA
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight.

June 2 - Arrival in the Holy Land
You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy dinner before you rest.

June 3 - The Galilee
With Bible in hand, cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a Kinnereth Sailing Company boat. Along the way, participate in a special on board worship service. Travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee. Visit the synagogue which stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall his teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.4:13, 23). At Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, you’ll learn about the “Ancient Boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to the people (Matt. 5-7). At Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the 5000, you’ll visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves (Luke 9:10-17). You’ll also visit the Chapel of the Primacy where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). At the River Jordan you can remember your baptism in the Yardenit Baptismal Site.

June 4 - Beit Shean, Nazareth, Megiddo and Caesarea
Visit the ruins of Beit Shean which was continuously inhabited for 5000 years and was one of the Roman cities Jesus passed on his way from Galilee to Jerusalem. Visit Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2: 23). Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for Trial.

June 5 - Jericho, Qumran, and Bethlehem
Travel to Jericho and visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6: 1, 2, 20). From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4: 1-11). Even today, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem twists for miles as it climbs from below sea level into the Judean mountains. Jesus traveled the nearby Roman road, the setting of His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-36). Travel to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. In Bethlehem, you’ll visit the cave revered as the place where Jesus was born (Matt. 1: 18 - 25; Luke 2: 1- 7). The church, which was constructed on the site, is the world’s oldest functioning church. Nearby you’ll view Shepherds’ Field where the Good News was first heard.

June 6 - Jerusalem
Visit the Haas Promenade and enjoy a panoramic view from the south of Jerusalem, the Old City walls and the hill called Mount Moriah where Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22: 2, 4). View the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Gehenna. Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 9 - 12). Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed (Matt. 26: 36 - 44). Continue to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas where Jesus was imprisoned for a night (Matt. 26: 57 - 65). Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the place of the Last Supper (Mark 14: 12 - 26). View the site of King David’s Tomb.

June 7 - Jerusalem and the Old City
Visit the Southern Wall Excavations of the ancient Temple, including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Walk the Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City. Once lined with shops it is now partially restored. View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1-11). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

June 8 - Leisure Day with Optional Masada and Dead Sea Tour
Explore on-your-own or visit Masada (additional charge), Herod’s mountaintop fortress which became the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore. Peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. Time permitting, you’ll stop briefly at the Shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt and mineral laden waters.

June 9 - Jerusalem
Travel to Ein Karem, known as the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place where the Virgin Mary visited Elisabeth (Luke 1: 26-40). Time permitting, you will visit Yad Vashem. Visit and worship at the Garden Tomb, possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea and experience the reality of the Resurrection. Your afternoon is free for exploring.

June 10 - Return to USA.

itinerary from www.eo.travelwithus.com

Making My List and Checking it Twenty Times

Tomorrow I leave for Israel. For the past week I have been making lists of things that I need to bring on my trip, going over items I am bringing on my trip with friends and family, and checking my bag over and over again. After all of the checking and rechecking I have decided I am ready to go. Well, I am going whether I am ready or not.

As I write this I am lying in bed with Tucker (my dog) and he brings me comfort. I am anxious, excited, nervous, tired, but I think I am mostly feeling thankful. I am thankful for a loving set of grandparents who are sending me on a trip to Israel. I am thankful for a family that supports me in what I do and travels far distances to not only watch but cheer me on as I finish last in races, and clap loudly for a five minute (if that) appearance in a play. I am thankful for friends who are excited for me and give me encouraging words, who have stayed up late talking, and are always available for a run in the woods or a run to Arbys. I am thankful for two church communities in Greensburg and New Wilmington who have raised me and nourished me. I am thankful for professors who have taught me and cared enough to take time to mentor me. I am thankful for a loving girlfriend and her family who take me in as one of them, even letting me be the grill master. Most importantly, I am thankful for God who has blessed me with all of these people and communities in my life and the countless blessings that have come from them all.

As I have been thinking about this trip, it is not just me who is going to Israel, but all of you are going with me. All of you, the people that I am thankful for, are what brought me to this point in my life. Without the love, encouragement, friendship, and growth, I would not be blessed with the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land. Paul talks about us as the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Not only does this passage celebrate and encourage our differences as we are all different parts of the body, but it also celebrates community and unity showing that we are never alone as we need each other. So while I will physically be the only one flying on a plane tomorrow for many many many hours, you all will be there with me forever interconnected as a community of believers. As I walk the streets of Jerusalem and the surrounding towns I will be thinking of you all. As I eat the highly anticipated Middle Eastern food I will be eating an extra portion for you all. As I smell the sea where Jesus preached and listen to the language that the disciples spoke, I will be thinking of you all. As a community of faithful believers I thank all of you for your love and the opportunities that you have given to me. Please pray for our group for safe travels, and for the surrounding area of Israel for peace. The hotels I will be staying at claim that they have internet access, so I hope to update as I travel.

Peace,
John

The Spirit of Spontaneity

Ever since I read Donald Miller's book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years I have attempted to be more spontaneous. Miller's book discusses the idea that life is a story with God as the creator author. Miller had fairly large success with his book Blue Like Jazz and consequently had movie producers want to make a film about his life. During the process of making the movie and rehashing his personal experiences, Donald Miller realizes that his life is not that great of a story. The book calls us to look at how we are living our lives, who the characters are, what our goals are, and if we are going with or against what God as the author has written for us, and continues to write for us.

With that said, I have come to agree with Donald Miller that one can look at life like a story. Ever since I have read this book (which is not too long ago, so I will see how well I am doing a few months from now) I have tried to go where the spirit was calling me, attempting to live life, not just watch it fade by. Movies are great, I have a huge collection of movies. Don't you think however that living out a story would be much more interesting than watching one unfold on screen? Enter the spirit of spontaneity. I have come to enjoy these past few weeks moments of spirit driven spontaneity with friends and family. Last week I went on a creek hike with my friend and roommate Nathan. We spent the afternoon walking through the creek, looking under rocks, picking flowers, and walking through fields with God's beautiful nature around us. From that spontaneous hike with Nathan, we were able to have one final adventure together, talk about college, our future, and anything else that was on our minds. After that walk I was not worried at all about whether or not Nathan and I would remain friends. Through the past week other moments of spirit driven spontaneity have come up and each one has solidly built upon a relationship of mine. Moments have included visits to grandparents, bike rides with my dad, taking my sister out for desert, dancing with my girlfriend in a parking lot, and late night walks. I feel like since I am embracing my story that God has written for me, I am more fully able to reap the benefits of that story.

So I ask you and myself, who are the characters that we have in our stories, what are our goals, what activities come up most in our stories, what do we fight for? Similarly, who are the characters that God wants in our stories, what are God's goals for us, what activities does God want us to be paying attention to, what does God want us to fight for? Do we spend more time talking about others and what they have done or do we take matters into our own hands? Are we selfish with our gifts and talents that God has given us or do we open our hands and give them to God? Do we actively pray for guidance and intercession in others lives, or do we think that we know best? The list goes on and on. There is no reason to fight the creator author God and attempt to write our own story. God is much better at writing than we are and has greater ideas for us. We don't know what triumph and trials we will go through if we follow God's story for us, but if we attempt to follow God's plan, we will be actively living.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

The other day I sat down to write a few letters to the members of the youth group. Each year on the mission trip the youth group members receive letters to read each night. Ever since I first went on a mission trip with the church to New Orleans four years ago I loved this tradition of receiving letters. On the trips I would receive letters from members of the community and other leaders of the youth group. Since I will not be able to be on the mission trip this year, and it is my last year with the youth group, I wanted to be able to continue to be a part of the tradition of the letter writing. The mission trips with New Wilmington Presbyterian Church are such beneficial and life forming trips, and these letters are a formative part of the trip.

Once I began writing the letters though, I realized how tired I became. Now, part of this was probably due to the fact that I was a week out of school and was not used to writing, but that couldn't have been all of the reason for me being tired. I then realized that it had been a while since I had written a letter. Real letters, letters that you can hold in your hand, put in your pocket, save and read over and over again, use as bookmarks; these letters take work, and I was "out of shape." Real letter writing takes practice, time, and effort. I wouldn't write a letter like I do an e-mail, letters are full of emotion with different hand writing, on different paper, and different formats.

While I did become surprisingly tired from writing about twelve letters, I enjoyed the experience. When writing my letters I was not at a computer, but was sitting at a table, drinking coffee, listening to music. Letter writing was not only a time to share with others, but also a time for me to be silently reflective. I hope to continue this practice more frequently, maybe a few times a month at first and then weekly. I would urge anyone to write letters as well. Is there anyone that you have been wanting to talk to, wanting to catch up with, see how they are doing, or just share with them events of your life? You may be out of shape of letter writing at first, but the only way to get "in shape" is through working out. So when the pulls and tugs of letter writing come, sit down, turn off the tv and computer, cuddle up with a cup of coffee or tea and get out your pen and paper; take time to yourself and just write.

Surprise Conversations

I had a nice conversation today with a friend. Like most good conversations it took me by surprise. I was expecting to sit, drink some cold coffee, and write some letters. However, I was presented with a conversation about beliefs, hell, who is saved, and relating issues.

These are topics which I do think about but rarely discuss with others. What I realized during this conversation is that I know what I know and I know what I believe, but I have very few experiences of vocalizing these ideas. So this discussion was good practice for me. I learned a few things.

First of all, I realized there are times in conversations when I need to speak and times when I need to listen. It is easy to sit back and be apathetic or to be aggressive in the conversation easily making it one sided. Especially in conversations about faith, something so many of us hold dear, it is easy to either not listen to the other person or to dominate discussion if we disagree with whom we are talking to. We need to realize though, we will never learn anything if we do not listen to those with different opinions and beliefs, It does us good sometimes to hear reassuring comments from those who agree with us, but when talking to those with whom we disagree we not only learn another perspective, but are better able state our own beliefs.

Secondly today, I learned that we must address all topics even the ones we do not feel comfortable talking about. I admit that I do not spend too much time discussing who goes to hell and who is saved. I do not know the formula or how it all works out. Jesus does talk about those who are cut off from him, but Jesus also speaks of love. I may be naive in focusing on love, but all I can think of doing is to love others so that they may know Christ. If I obediently obey the Holy Spirit working in me, I believe that the Holy Spirit will also be working in others both outwardly and inwardly. God has set us in a story as the great creator, and I believe that he wills and hopes for all of his creation to be with him. I am not sure what this looks like, but I hope to be a part of it.

What excites me about my conversation today is that I never know where God will be using me or how I will be used to further the kingdom of God. However, I do know that the only way I will be able to accomplish any of this is by obediently listening for God moving in my life, and by having difficult discussions which make me think about my faith, my role in life, and how God is using me. In the end though, through all of this talking and thinking, I believe I need to be silent and attentive to where and to whom God is calling me, engaging all in love.

Created to create

So this morning/afternoon Nathan and I built a trampoline in Lisa Hickman's back yard. We counted all of the nuts, bolts, piping, and springs. We set out the instructions and began our work. The morning started out cloudy like the last four or five days, looking like rain. However, as we began working, the sun came out and the air warmed up. Soon enough Nathan and I had our sweat shirts off and were sweating and grunting. For the past few days Nathan kept reassuring me that building the trampoline would not take too long. Each time he told me that I felt like it was a bad omen and we would be up to our waist in springs tangled in mesh all day long.

As the work continued, we methodically followed the directions one by one and the trampoline began to take shape. There is something to working with your hands that is quite appealing to me. During the building process of anything I look forward to the problem solving, conversation, the tired feeling like I accomplished something, and the tangible product when done. In so much of my course work the past four years I would have reading to do; for hours I would sit and read and at then end of my time studying I would have nothing tangible to account for what I thought was hard work. That is why I find escape in working with my hands. I created something. I took many parts which are useless by themselves and put them together forming a functional jumping device. I think a part of human nature is to create. As God created the earth and all that is in it including us, so too we find ourselves called to create, as we were created in God's image.

After our work putting together the trampoline, we went to the bio field to enjoy not our creation, but some of God's creation. The sun was shining, and the cool waters and lush green underbrush were calling the inner boy in my and Nathan to come and explore. At the bridge we met two furry friends, Juno and Tessa. Immediately we jumped in the water and began to play. The water was cold but refreshing. As Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Nathan and I explored the creek bed, picking flowers, throwing rocks, and poking sticks and potential treasure. I felt free in the bio field, with the sun shining on my face, the water rushing by my legs, surrounded by beautiful flowers and the sound of birds. Again it makes me think about God's role of creating. It took me three hours to put together a trampoline, instructions included. Did God use any instruction book? How long did it take God to create the creek I was walking through? How many people have enjoyed/used God's creation and not even thought of the one who has created it.

As I worked with my hands today it made me think about creation and creators. Most of the time we use something without thinking about who created it, how long it took them, where they were when they created it. But as you observe God's creation it makes me thankful for not only God as creator, but for those around the world who create. Take time to notice where your clothes and food come from, be appreciative for the author of your favorite book, stay until the end of a movie and notice how many people went into the process of creating the film you just watched. Just as you become more aware of the creators around you, find your inner creator and create something of your own to offer to the world whether it be cookies, poetry, a bench, flower bed, or even a trampoline.

The Final Final

For the last four years I have walked the halls of Patterson and the streets of New Wilmington. It is hard to believe that I will be leaving here for Greensburg and then Pittsburgh in just one week. The fact that I am graduating and leaving New Wilmington has not hit me yet. I am not sure if I will ever become sad when I leave New Wilmington, not because I am itching with anticipation to get out of here, but because I have found a new home in New Wilmington and plan on making frequent trips back here. Meeting members of the community and being active in the church have been my "field education" in some sense. I love thinking of the people I have met here and the people who I hope to keep in touch with. I think of Mrs. Moss and at first being intimidated by her, and the relationship we have come to build from many late nights on mission trips. I appreciate all of the loving neighbors in town who have given me countless meals and opened their doors to me. The Hunters will always be a place that I feel welcomed (especially now with the new addition). I have come to feel like a family member there and appreciate all of the family functions that I have been invited to. They have taught me what it means to live out your faith. I am also thankful for Lisa and Jason, they have provided me with snippets of wisdom, encouragement to spread my wings, and food enough for many meals. Although I was Lisa's student and she was also my boss, she always treated me as an equal and a friend. For that I am thankful. As I think about going to Pittsburgh Theological next year, I am excited for the friends I have made in Lisa, Jason, Ralph, and Chris, and hope to continue the community of those in ministry.

Westminster and New Wilmington are not places that I just came to attend college, but where I came to live and invest myself for four years. I hope that I have left a part of myself in town that others will appreciate, and I hope to continue this communal living wherever I go. This town has taught me about community, what it means to be a neighbor, and the benefits of an intimate small town. New Wilmington will always have a place in my heart. I was introduced to how fast "news spreads" in a small town, but also how willing everyone is to lend a helping hand. I am so thankful that I did not stay in the bubble of Westminster, but branched out into the community and was able to meet the people that make up the town. This leads me to one of my favorite compliments anyone has given me (other than being told that I look like Ryan Gosling). For the past few weeks as people began saying their goodbyes and started asking about what my plans were for next year, multiple people have asked me, "Are you staying around here, you are from town right?"

Isn't that what we should be striving for? Living in community with those around you so much that they even think you are one of them? So this has given me motivation for my ministry in life, it has given me hope and encouragement that I will be able to live among others and have God work through me. We will see where this takes me.