Melissa's World

http://jenanardella.com/2012/09/could-we-still-believe/

“Or perhaps we long for them, in the way Isaiah longed for a New Jerusalem.”  Yes, Isaiah’s New Jerusalem, so beautifully …. whole.  As with true and perfect grace, the vision of New Jerusalem lies on the edge of being so… so…. [there don’t seem to be words, it’s a deeply felt, a knowing].  Try to not enter into the full vision, because…. well, because it hurts…not the vision, but rather than return to this reality acknowledging the the chasm between reality and vision.

“But what would happen if the Thou you were trying to serve, lied to you, hurt you or disappointed you with corruption – or if the I that wanted to serve began to fall short in his or her false sense of capabilities or large promises – could we still believe?“.  Walking through this experience is certainly a trial. But isn’t it the same trial that each of us experiences, at least a tiny bit, in every single relationship we enter into, every interaction in which we allow ourselves to be vulnerable?  We lay ourselves open to being lied to, being hurt, being disappointed.  And there in lies the Christ.  The Christ that says you can kill me, but you can’t take away my life, because my life belongs to God.  My life, the place I live, the place I hope and breathe and wish and dream, lies within the Christ. It is within the Christ that all remains protected, sacred, safe, secure.  And it is the Christ that forgives because the Christ cannot be marred or shaken or changed.

Tough Advice for a Young Idealist: Struggle Less for Ideas, and More for People

Wendy McCaig showed up at the right time today. Thanks Wendy!

http://wendymccaig.com/2012/12/21/helping-without-hurting/

Today, in the 30 seconds or it took to get from my car into the store, I was so cold I ached. The wind gusts were over 30 mph, and the temps went from 60 yesterday to 30 today.  I spent the afternoon distributing food intended for the community meal that got nixed by the here-and-gone Sunday ice storm.  As I packed the leftovers backed to the pantry, I was surprised to almost stumble into a guy wandering through the dark areas downstairs.

He was as surprised as I was and quite disappointed.  I said “Hi!” in a large voice, mostly out of surprise. It wasn’t much of a conversation, but I had the distinct impression he did NOT intend to stumble upon me. The non-verbal “gosh darnit!” was written all over his face.  He offered that he’d come through this way because the kids were up there. What kids? Up where?  As he trucked away, I wondered if he’d just snuck in for the evening, for a place out of the cold, stiff wind. Did I mention it was miserable outside? It was MISERABLE outside.  He headed out the front door and that’s the last I’d seen of him.  An older gentleman, salt & pepper gray hair, reasonably dressed in a winter coat, cell phone in holster on his waist. Out the door, into the fading light on a cold winter.

Was he today’s face of homelessness in the little town in which I live?  Does he play guitar like one of the guys in this article?  http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-917812?hpt=hp_bn1

Did he lose his job when the factory laid folks off?  Did he & his wife get in a fight again?  Do his hands look these guys in the article here?  Where’d he end up for the night?

And why in the world does it matter what some outline on a map says — it’s cold enough to freeze to death tonight (and yes, that REALLY does happen) or at least do some serious frostbite damage (and yes, that REALLY does happen too).

Was that your dad looking for a warm place out of the cold?  Your brother?  Your son?  Was it you?  Tell me again how much the color on the map matters to you now?

http://landonwhitsitt.com/2013/01/19/a-bored-or-anxious-pastor-is-not-a-good-pastor-2/

I truly appreciate the thought provoking posts by this blogger. While his article is written specifically about pastors, I think it is appropriate for any position for which passion and creativity are important components.

“When someone has skills or talents that are overkill for what is being asked of them, they get bored. When what is being asked of them is not achievable through the use of their skills and talents, they get anxious. ….artists of the highest order, and artists will give up almost anything to make art….let her make her art, and she will blow your world wide open. If you don’t, then you’re squandering a precious gift that God has given you.”

http://www.greatboards.org/newsletter/reprints/chait_interview.pdf

These folks get it too.

“We maintain that many board members are ineffectual not because they are confused about their role but because they are dissatisfied with their role.”

I am intrigued by the starfish concepts (as defined by Brafman and Beckstrom). I’d like to present them to a fledging organization that I think could benefit from the concepts.  While I am fascinated by such theories, most folks aren’t interested in the academia and organizational management theory.

My challenge? Locate (or create?) an engaging, easy-to-digest presentation. In 3 days.

Items I’ve located so far:

• The 8 Principles of Desegregation. Nice overview, but don’t think my folks want to read this much.
• Rod Beckstrom. One of the authors. 8.5 min video. Tends toward the academic, though I think Beckstrom will be more accepted by my mainstream audience than Brafman will.
• The Odyssey Book Club. The Los Ranchos Presbytery is progressive. Flipping the Presbytery is a fun video.
• This video holds promise, but needs audio.

Why I think the starfish holds promise for our group:

We want to work WITH people, not FOR people. Why?

WITH implies EQUALITY, every person has value and has a contribution to make and every person is also broken; not a one of us has it all figured out. Not a one. (Asset-based community development)

WITH implies INCLUSION, every person is welcome.  To quote Joe Reggin: “if you have no friend, if you have no home, if you have no place, if you are a stranger, you are hurt or wounded, rich or poor, black or white, no matter who you are, there is a place here for you. And if I need to, I’ll even scoot over and let you sit by me”.

Starfish is “what happens when there’s no one in charge. It’s about what happens when there’s no hierarchy. You’d think there would be disorder, even chaos. But in many arenas, a lack of traditional leadership is giving rise to powerful groups that are turning industry and society upside down.”

But it’s more than decentralized leadership.  It’s also connected to native and eastern ways of being which recognize that everything is connected to the WHOLE. Decisions are made by CONSENSUS.

Does our lack of rules and structure, our unwillingness to elect officers express our desire to remain a starfish?  to maintain decentralized leadership?  Look at how we have operated to date. We are using a just do it model for fundraising: Altrusa, Christmas Ornaments; for projects: Lloyd’s grant, PADS.

The importance of setting the vision. What does the OUTCOME look like?  HOPE. We are selling hope, the promise of a different world. If we can agree on values, and if we can trust each other, we can operate this way. Trust the Spirit, let go of the outcome.

Fiduciary, Strategic, Generative: great video from an inspiring speaker.

H. A. R. D. Goals

• Heartful – deeply felt, impossible to walk away (is it possible to create deep emotional attachment?  Is this the premise of feeding one’s Holy Discontent?)
• Animated – visualized, alive in the brain, able to paint a picture over & over. (That the people may live.)
• Required – death is the alternative to achieving the goal’ urgent, bordering on obsessive
• Difficult – challenge is an absolute requirement, there is no path, no preconceived plan; fearful territory; must learn new skills

“When your brain is humming with a HARD goal, everything you need to run with it will fall into place”.

Barriers:

• Depth of interaction with emotion
• Lack of practice of visualization
• If death is alternative, fear of failure may be magnified -> incorporate Bell’s let go of the outcome
• N/S T/F J/P – alone vs together

Can SMART goals (Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Relevant – Timed) connect with HARD goals?

TED: Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice

…keep your eyes on the prize…the arc of the moral universe is long and it swings toward justice (MLK, Jr).

Marching Upstream: Moving Beyond Re-entry Mania

The Sentencing Project

I found myself this morning once again hoping that today’s News was just a bad dream – that I wasn’t actually awake yet.

Do remember the columns on your first grade report card?  The one entitled “Plays well with others”?  When did failing in the “plays well with others” category  Since when did “not playing well with others” become something to strive for?  A platform on which to succeed in politics? Sen. Richard Lugar, known for his willingness to dialogue, to cross the aisle, to seek common ground, lost his primary bid, BECAUSE of his willingness play well with others.

I guess that explains why there’s a proposal to slash social supports and divert the “savings” to the military.  When you don’t play well with others, you’d best be prepared with the biggest weapon you can find.  Too bad we’re electing people who think fear and intimidation and not playing well with others will save us.  Why not try something different for a change? Perhaps we could find something in Rob Bell’s Love Wins?

“Because sometimes we need to drop what we’re doing, step out of our routine, breathe in some fresh air, and be reminded that we signed up for a revolution.” (Rob Bell, quoted in Bare Feet & Dolphins).

On Day 1, I drove from Macomb to Springfield, MO. I’d hoped to make Joplin, but I’d forgotten a couple of tasks which required another trip to Macomb.

On Day 2, I decided to drive into Joplin on my way west.  I headed up the street where the big box stores had been.  I guess I expected that a magic wand would have been waved over the town. There is new construction and many lots are cleared of debris.  But I was caught off guard by the number that still have dumpsters and boarded up windows.   I drove north, then west, making the same square we drove the last day of the mission trip last year. The hospital structure stands mostly without windows.  The few mangled trees in the large area devoid of trees and buildings still takes my breathe away.   The large cross brings back memories of the stories relayed by church staff in Joplin last year – about community, about miracles, about God’s grace.  How silly stuff we tend to get all tangled up in is so irrelevant.

It was surreal when Jeff texted a couple hours later to say C-U was under a tornado warning…. He didn’t know I’d been in Joplin, and initially didn’t respond to my texts to see how C-U was fairing.

On the way into lunch today, Jeane (volunteer campground host from Michigan) told me Alex (site paleontologist) had rescue kittens that were headed for new homes today.  By the time I got there, two of ’em had been adopted.  I got to play with Ursula and Sally.  Ursala’s feisty and has figured out how to get onto the tables – she was NOT interested in being held. Sally’s a cuddler, happy to lay on her back and purr, although she’s quite excited to play in the paper bag Alex set up with cardboard bracing and peak holes. Ursula went home this afternoon to live with a big kitty (that’ll be interesting!). Sally & mom will be going home soon.

I met Judy, a volunteer in the museum, on the way to the kittens.  She’s from Columbus, and this is her 13th summer at Ghost Ranch.  The museum has a beautiful exhibit of woven creations – rugs, clothing, etc – which think Lloyd and Josiah would enjoy.