August 07, 2006

Community Death and Caring

And so I sit to write… I have done this many times with the intent to post but what comes out usually sits in my blog file to be edited later and thus never leaves its cozy little home. I want to write though. I long to get out the thoughts that plague my brain and scream for expression. As of late many of my thoughts have centered around the death of a friend’s brother. He, the friend, is a member of my community and this is the first time our community has been faced with caring for a member who has lost someone so close. Death is a wretched thing! It is an enemy that our culture often makes light of! Death has a ripple effect, affecting not only the victim who dies but each person close to him and the communities surrounding those individuals. It is sad for us not only because of the death of my friend’s brother, but because of the suffering my friend and his family now go through.

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December 24, 2005

The Best Traditional Christmas Brunch Ever!

About three and a half years ago some friends and I made a commitment to live in deliberate and authentic community together. It has been a wonderful experience that has consistently dispelled our naively romantic ideals of relationships, and forced us to live and love each other as authentically as possible. Obviously this is an ongoing process of learning, communication, and helping each other struggle through life. Any way, about three times a year we try to spend time together where it is just us and not some of our other close friends. One of these times is at Christmas so this past Saturday we had our Traditional Community Christmas Brunch and it was the best Traditional Christmas Brunch ever!… Then again, this was the only Traditional Christmas Brunch we have ever had. Usually we try to spend an evening together and, if possible, even celebrate Christmas day together too. It is a very relaxing time that incorporates most of our individual traditions and involves naps, food, stockings, and games.

This year, by necessity, was different though. This year, because of schedules with work, travel, buying houses, getting engaged, and being sick, we had to hunt for a time when we could all get together. It was a little hectic but glorious nonetheless. We met at my house at noon to cook and instead of an elaborate dinner we opted for an elaborate breakfast. The meal consisted of an egg casserole, bacon, sausage, bacon, potatoes, bacon, pancakes, bacon, mixed fruit, bacon, coffee, biscuits, bacon, cinnamon roles, and more bacon! Wow, talk about a feast! The pancakes even had each person's first initial baked into them.

The only people who were not able to join us were the ones who now live out of town. There absence was sad and we miss them terribly. They came up constantly in conversation though and we delighted in talking about their currant lives that now take place in far off cities and towns. Their moving does not mean that they are no longer part of community.

When the food was consumed we moved into the living room where we, napped, made fun of each other, and talked about everything from art to family Christmas traditions. The tree was lit and it made the room smell like pine while the fireplace candles added a slight hint of vanilla. It would have fit well as a Norman Rockwell painting.

Though folks had to leave after a couple of hours, it was still a wonderful time. I did miss being able to spend the day together and it was sad that it took so much effort for us all to get together but what was important was the time that we had. It is often hard not to focus so much on making an event special that we miss the significance of the event its self. Being able to be together is point, traditions simply accent the time, they do not make it. Any way, it was wonderful to celebrate Jesus’ birthday together and below are some pictures of the time.

Enjoy & Merry Christmas! :)

LJ

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December 13, 2005

Low End Living

My friend Ed recently got a gig as a regular contributor for the new online magazine Low End Living. He describes it as being “based on the idea that our culture is too focused on a consumerist mindset-- we spend too much, work too much, and focus on money too much. Low End Living wants to highlight ways that we can avoid the prevailing consumerism and regain focus on what is truly important.”

This sounded good so I surfed on over to peruse the sight. I found it to be both fun and informative. It basically offers articles that will challenge our cultural habits while providing practical and environmentally conscious advice on how to live within our means and make the most of time and life.

Ed’s article is a self explanatory two parter entitled Making Time for Your Family. I really could not think of a better person to write about this than Ed. He and his wife began seminary with me 4 ½ years ago and since then he has added to this a 50 + hour a week job, 2 kids, and photography gigs. Yet, he, his wife, and the kids share an extremely stable and nurturing home life that is both encouraging and exciting. From his real life experience, Ed addresses the problem busyness has on family relationships and offers practical advice that is grounded in reality rather than trying to motivate by guilt. Though the article is geared toward married folk, I think those of us who are single and live in communal relationships can find benefit in reading it too. Click on the link above to get the article and let me know what you think.

Merry Christmas,

LJ

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November 16, 2005

Wedgie

Confusion… It’s like a wedgie in my mind! I have thoughts and feelings I long to express, but today, like others, it just is not happening. I can get by in ways so that those around me can not pick up on it. But those closest to me know and are patient.

I wish I could be patient too. I get frustrated! The frustration makes it worse. It becomes more difficult! The words, though somewhat complete in the back of my mind, dissipate as they reach the front and escape through my mouth. At this point they more describe than explain.

I am thankful for close friends. They encourage me and remember who I am and what I am like. They remind me of that when I forget and become frustrated. They know what I mean and lovingly and warmly ask questions to help me clarify. Best of all, they get excited with me over the things they and I delight in. :) That’s what community does isn’t it. God loves us and shows us grace. He fixes our brokenness. Therefore we are able to strive to not only live together in love and grace, but also remind each other that these things are true. Even when they don’t feel that way and even when we can’t articulate them.

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