I mentioned in an earlier post that I have stepped back into a world that hasn't changed and even though I can speak with more clarity about what it is that I am doing, people still aren't really getting it. Guess I need to follow my own motto from Survivor Camp: "Don't tell them, show them."
Thus an elder's poem really speaks to me at the moment...
The Way It Is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
- William Stafford
June 29, 2010
June 26, 2010
Check out Ched
I'd heard a bit about Ched Myers when I posted back in December about Feral Christianity and have had a few days to check out some of the stuff he's been saying and I really am liking the message that he is bringing the church today and how so much of it fits what I've been doing and experiencing the past 10 months of my life and faith development. Click on the link or here to go to his web-page.
June 25, 2010
Flying with the Fastest Birds on the Planet
Been doing some great bird language and interpretation studies and came across this video of the Peregrine Falcon and the Northern Goshawk. Absolutely amazed by the speed and grace of these two raptors. Love the camera angles from the birds perspective!
June 24, 2010
Immerse Them
WWJD?
I think he'd start an immersion program. In essence that is what he did when he called his disciples. A full on living immersion experience. I think the church no longer is that immersion experience, it is more like dabbling... When I say immersion program what I'm speaking of is a similar model to that which I experienced while at WAS and that might be harder to explain right now but in my head it makes sense and now it is a matter of fleshing that out. When Jon Young spoke with us a month ago he said that he'd like to see an immersion program in every town.
More thoughts to come as they come to me but this here has a lot that I can work with and expand upon.
I think he'd start an immersion program. In essence that is what he did when he called his disciples. A full on living immersion experience. I think the church no longer is that immersion experience, it is more like dabbling... When I say immersion program what I'm speaking of is a similar model to that which I experienced while at WAS and that might be harder to explain right now but in my head it makes sense and now it is a matter of fleshing that out. When Jon Young spoke with us a month ago he said that he'd like to see an immersion program in every town.
More thoughts to come as they come to me but this here has a lot that I can work with and expand upon.
June 21, 2010
Graduation thoughts
This the short reflection I gave at my graduation from Wilderness Awareness School:
American poet Mary Oliver asks at the end of her poem "The Summer Day"
Tell me, what is it that you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
I know that for those of us who came to the Anake Outdoor School nine months ago we were seeking the answer to that question of what would we do with this wild and precious life? A journey that had many discoveries along the way...
So what did we discover?
1. Tracking isn't just something that happens in substrate or on the trees around us but it also means tracking what is going on inside our hearts, minds and souls.
2. Before coming to WAS we knew that the birds were always speaking but now we know that they have something to say.
3. Fire by bow drill or hand drill is no longer something that we always have to do solo, in fact, it often increases the chance of a coal when we work at it together.
4. And community is often broken up into two words "commune" and "unity", we often tend to emphasize the "unity" aspect of that word but the minister in me is more attracted to the "communion" aspect of that word meaning that it is about being present with one another especially when we don't always have "unity".
I've been asked by family and friends back in the Midwest "What will you do with this schooling?"
I don't think that they are asking the right question when I hear this. There's an implication that the stuff we are learning and have learned is something that we'll do later on. And I think I speak for my 30 Anake classmates when I say that we're already doing this, it isn't something that will happen later on. And in that way of doing and in that way of being... we have become more connected to our one wild and precious life!!
American poet Mary Oliver asks at the end of her poem "The Summer Day"
Tell me, what is it that you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
I know that for those of us who came to the Anake Outdoor School nine months ago we were seeking the answer to that question of what would we do with this wild and precious life? A journey that had many discoveries along the way...
So what did we discover?
1. Tracking isn't just something that happens in substrate or on the trees around us but it also means tracking what is going on inside our hearts, minds and souls.
2. Before coming to WAS we knew that the birds were always speaking but now we know that they have something to say.
3. Fire by bow drill or hand drill is no longer something that we always have to do solo, in fact, it often increases the chance of a coal when we work at it together.
4. And community is often broken up into two words "commune" and "unity", we often tend to emphasize the "unity" aspect of that word but the minister in me is more attracted to the "communion" aspect of that word meaning that it is about being present with one another especially when we don't always have "unity".
I've been asked by family and friends back in the Midwest "What will you do with this schooling?"
I don't think that they are asking the right question when I hear this. There's an implication that the stuff we are learning and have learned is something that we'll do later on. And I think I speak for my 30 Anake classmates when I say that we're already doing this, it isn't something that will happen later on. And in that way of doing and in that way of being... we have become more connected to our one wild and precious life!!
June 11, 2010
Holding On and Letting Go
So much to blog about... so little time in which to do so.
After giving the blog a fresh look and celebrating my 30th birthday yesterday, I'm more centered on the tasks that lie ahead...
Primary thing on my mind is that have transitioned back into a world that has not changed. The past 9 months have been one of true transformation and reawakening to my life's passion and now I step back into a world seeing it with new eyes but knowing that it will be making the same demands of me. What will I hold on to and what will I let go of in this transitional time?
Discerning how I will hold on to my vision: As one who walks the edges of the church (i.e. coyote, scout) and pulls folks out from time to time into a wilderness faith journey.
More to come....
After giving the blog a fresh look and celebrating my 30th birthday yesterday, I'm more centered on the tasks that lie ahead...
Primary thing on my mind is that have transitioned back into a world that has not changed. The past 9 months have been one of true transformation and reawakening to my life's passion and now I step back into a world seeing it with new eyes but knowing that it will be making the same demands of me. What will I hold on to and what will I let go of in this transitional time?
Discerning how I will hold on to my vision: As one who walks the edges of the church (i.e. coyote, scout) and pulls folks out from time to time into a wilderness faith journey.
More to come....