Tired of it

I often think of this sound bite I heard about 2 years ago from David Wilkerson....take a listen, seriously...

I don't agree with David on everything, which is fine, neither of us knows it all...but anguish...having an emotion that leads towards movement, that causes us to act through the power of the Spirit, I always come back to this.  I feel like I need more of this, but I often fill every ounce of the day with noise so that I don't have time to really get to that place.  I love reading Nehemiah and his anguish fueled action is inspiring and challenging.  So I think this morning, I'll make a list, I'll be quiet and make a list of things I'm tired of...

1. I'm tired of violence.  Period.
2. Especially Gang Violence.
3. Stupid Violence.  (Isn't it all?)
4. Domestic Violence.   (Am I making that clear?)
5. I'm tired of young girls and women being treated like objects and less than others.
6. I'm tired of our desire to remain disconnected/seperate/isolated for 'self-preservation'. Read: racism, classism, denominationalism, sexism, any other -ism that causes us to stay seperate.
7. Being unhealthy.
8. An L for the Steelers. (Can't all be serious, can they?)
9. A lack of hope.
10. Selfishness.
11. Illusions of satisfaction that create more discontent.

I'm sure there are more...but that's a good start.  So tell me, what are yours...

Read More

summer is coming

As the summer draws near I am anticipating a few things...
- a sprinkler soaked back yard. The boys have been asking since that one sunny day back in February.
- a wonderfully earned farmer's tan.
- lots more trash to pick up
- the smell of the grill permanently coating my back yard, and maybe my skin...
- camping; maybe

But of the things anticipated every summer, there is one that i wished would never come. Summer violence.

We've been talking about it since Spring Break. The anticipation of bored, out of school, outside youth...and by youth I mean ages 10-25...with nothing better to do that mess around and care deeply about things that don't really matter. Which inevitably leads to someone pushing someone, which turns into fists raised and sometimes someone reaches the level of needing to 'prove' something and out comes the heat (gun).
We've already heard of rallys and demonstrations being planned to stand for peace and stop the violence; we are probably going to be a part of one in New Columbia ourselves.
But here's the thing...and I'm thinking out loud here, which I'm not a huge fan of; I mean seriously, I have such a hard time knowing if I'm supposed to engage or just keep my mouth shut. Please feel free to engage...anyway, here's the thing....

I wonder how effective those events actually are? Hear me out....

1) They aren't enough.
They are a great rallying point for the community, a place we can gather together and say we don't want anymore young men dying. But if all we do is rally and yell for a few hours and the go back home to life as usual, what have we done? It's like speaking for justice on Facebook and Twitter, and if after you hit send, your life doesn't change, what have you really done? Getting together at the beginning of the summer of after someone is shot is just not enough...
2. They aren't there.
Who comes to these events? Gang Members? Doubtful, cops are usually there. Drug Dealers? See above. Of those in attendence, I'm willing to wager that 99% of those there are not directly involved in any kind of gang-related violence. So, who's minds are we changing? Anyone's? Or are we really just preaching to the choir? Again, we need encouraged to continue to stand for peace, we need those rallying moments, but if those in attendance are not committing violent acts...has the event actually decreased the likelihood of violence?

Alright, on to my proposal...what if 'peace', these specific expressions of 'peace' aren't actually the anti-thesis to the expressions of violence? what if its play? what if the thing that is the anti-thesis of violence is peace being expressed through play? and play that not only is safe for those who don't commit violence but actually include and invite those who are committing those acts of violence to lay down their guns and join in on the fun. this is how we see change, this is how things begin to become transofrmed...when we find ways to stand with, and invite them into relationships that disarm those things that divide or incite anger or hatred.
those are my thoughts, stay tuned for more on this, but until then i'd love some feedback, some engaging, whats your thoughts?

Read More

impending...

so, the economy is doin its thing...leavin pretty much no one untouched.  not too sure about politics/economics and whatever, i'm not sure how much the stimulus package will help...but anyway, we are faced with an interesting situation up here.  The Portland Police Dept. is contemplating closing the North Precinct...that's in my neighborhood.  This is after they cut the size of the precinct in the last year or so.  as i began contemplating what could be the consequences of this action (one which seems rather silly to me), I began to wonder what would happen to the fragile neighborhood I live in and near.  An area that is full of about every economic, social, and racial group.  An area that has sections going through gentrification, and some that probably never will...within a 2 minute drive of each other.  Portland's got quite the drug culture...i'm not talking about weed...that's just like cigarettes up here, I'm not even sure if the police care much about that...i'm talkin Meth and Crack...then I thought about the gang culture up here, its become far more organized and revolves more around drugs than anything else...i think...the power that drugs and the threat of violence can have is amazing on a community seeking to improve and survive...  

All these thoughts come shortly after reading an article about MLK's journey to learn from Ghandi's non-violent resistance.  As I began thinking about what a community can do to survive in the midst of a struggling economy, in the midst of a decreasing 'police presence', i began to wonder what it would be like if there existed a strength of community, where people could begin to police themselves in such a way, where non-violence was the standard, where hope was shared between neighbors, and we all sought to lift each other up.  would that type of community be what was effectively needed to squash violence being used as coercion? how can we begin to see that type of community be formed when we are still so much outsiders to our new home?  i haven't even come close to being in a situation yet where non-violence was a choice I was going to have to make...how can i get to the point to encourage others?

anyway, bunch of questions...not really seeking answers...just thinking out loud. strength of community...strength of community in Christ is what is going to get us through this...

Read More