Taking Our Church to the Moon

This particular Saturday morning found us up and scurrying around.  It was a break in our routine. Generally we are moving slowly, enjoying breakfast and taking time for conversation.  Not today.  Instead we were headed out to Grandview for a book party. 

We arrive to the frantic activity of wrapping, tying and predestinating the arrival of The Green Ember to selected destinations.  Every room is utilized.  Even the front porch has been converted into a post office of sorts.  Hospitality insists on an abundance of food and cups that never empty of drink.  Laborers partake along with laughter and conversation.  Then it’s back to work.   

This whole book adventure is the endeavor of the Sam and Gina Smith family.  They are imaginers and allies in imagination for other families.  We are happy to be a small support. 

Along about noon a call goes out for someone to run an errand.  I volunteer and Gina sends me out the door with a favorite Sara Groves CD.   Somewhere between Redwing Lane and Midway Road one of the songs intrudes into my thoughts in a positively jarring way.    

To the Moon

It was there in the bulletin
We're leaving soon
After the bake sale to raise funds for fuel
The rocket is ready and we're going to
Take our church to the moon

There'll be no one there to tell us we're odd
No one to change our opinions of God
Just lots of rocks and this dusty sod
Here in our church on the moon

We know our liberties we know our rights
We know how to fight a very good fight
Just grab that last bag there and turn out the light
We're taking our church to the moon
We're taking our church to the moon
We'll be leaving soon

Is Sara right?  Are we separating ourselves to the point of inconsequence?   Are we too tame, just way too tame?  Might we just as well take our church to the moon?  

Click here to hear To the Moon 

Dismiss the Nonsense

Pope John Paul II left explicit instructions in his will that his personal notes be burned (a request that was ignored by the way).  While unsure of his reasoning I often share the same sentiments when reading over previous journal entries. 

“What was I thinking?”  “I don’t quite see things that exact way any longer.”  “Will this become obsolete soon?”  “That statement was immature and arrogant.”  These disturbing questions and comments go off like fireworks in my head.

On the other hand, something therapeutic and insightful happens by entering into the creativity of writing.  As long, that is, as it doesn’t become a relentless slave driver to produce the next post.

So with that in mind please be quick to dismiss any and all nonsense found within these random writings.  I will, after all, probably come around to doing the same thing in the near future.    

Happenings in 2014

1. Maria arrived in New Zealand for a year with Torchbearers and proceeded to have the adventure of a lifetime.  Friends from around the world including France, Germany, and Canada have welcomed her for a visit.  She returned with an insight and depth that occasionally makes us uncomfortable. 

2. Every Friday morning the garbage truck arrives for the weekly collection.  This means that Thursday evenings are spent rounding up the trash, putting it in our old dilapidated container and dragging it to the street for pick-up. 

3. Jacob came to live in the basement bedroom after his graduation from the Bible College.  He is quiet.  We are loud.  Our friendship continues to grow.  He and his fiancé, Emily, have wedding plans for the Spring. 

4. On Easter weekend we learned Diana’s dad had cancer.  Much of the year has been adjusting to our family’s loss.

5. We drove to Branson, Missouri, to spend a week on the lake with Diana’s family before our nephew Josiah’s wedding.

6. Lots of the young adults from our group moved on – Josh to Portland, Jacklyn to Illinois, Nate to Louisville and Anica, too.  We miss them all. 

7. Used hardback books at the Goodwill in Arkansas are at the inflated price of $2, but I found one on our trip that was worth the price and was a mind shaper much like the Ancient-Future Worship one I bought on our October vacation.     

8. Daniel completed his time at Adelphia and moved to Everett, Washington, where he is employed at the Under the Red Umbrella Café, frequents a local gym and is trying his hand at launching a small business. 

9. Christina’s solo in the Messiah was inspiring and led to a request for her to sing at the United Methodist Temple for their Christmas Eve Services. 

10. She and Diana continue their school work with Classical Conversations. 

11.  New Year’s Eve found us at Family Dollar having a blast stretching our $7 for snacks to share at the annual Beckett Bash.  We had way more fun than we should have rounding up microwave popcorn, Ginger Ale, chocolate cookies, potato chips and Fiddle Faddle.