My (Josh’s) good friend Ryan came by to see what is happening in our lives. He spent an extended weekend helping me with some work and touring the neighborhood. I don’t have very many friends who’ve stayed with me over the years, and Ryan has for about ten years. I am thankful for his fortitude. It is important to me for people who know us get a good feeling for this place – this place we have chosen for our spiritual formation.
Place and time… Place is somewhat permanent while time implies change. Changing or transforming while the world looks on. Friends and family are noticing things happening in us over time. They are watching the tide crash against us again and again, seeing how our shorelines shift and which ones stay in place. This community is grounded by location, by faith, and history. There are a lot of faces changing and the ministries are always changing. The old timers are getting older and babies are being born. The collective has a reputation that is beyond any one or two people. This collective is still progressive. “Living things grow, and growing things change,” says my friend Jim.
We do not know all the effects that time will have on us. We are submitting to its mystery believing that God will be faithful to complete work in each of us. That baby is growing in Candace at the hand of one wiser than us. We are thankful.
It’s Lent now. Repentance, an increase in spiritual disciplines, less chaff, more wheat.
2 comments:
I wish I could put my words together as intelligently as you and Candace. Y'all continually inspire me with the way you take your thoughts on your experiences, struggles, hopes, etc. and string them together in such thought-provoking ways. Y'all have pure hearts, and I just wanted to say thanks for sharing. :)
Congratulations! She's a beautiful baby with a beautiful name! ( much prettier than "Lasagna" )
Aunt Pat
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