I met with a good friend today who is a member of our community. I was sharing with her what I was feeling these days with people who’ve left, who’ve decreased their level of support, and who’ve pulled back in some way or another. I told her I find it hard to be optimistic in the face of such loss. It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try or work, it’s like I’m carrying a leaky pail. She admitted... Read more
It’s one thing to trust God. It’s another to trust how things are going to work out. I don’t equate the two. I would argue from all view points (theological, philosophical, biblical, etc.) and from experience that to trust one is to not trust the other. They are mutually exclusive. Our community has recently paid off its mortgage. For the first time in years there’s no financial emergency. We have money. However, this does not necessarily mean that everything is... Read more
I just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. It is a fascinating read. Basically, his thesis is that what makes a person succeed is not necessarily or only his or her ingenuity, energy, determination, or vision, but a series of events and legacies that this person is given. A great deal depends on chances this person is offered and takes. In other words, Gladwell is talking about the importance of our communities on whether we fail or succeed. The chapter I... Read more
This is Jesse just before his health really plummeted about a week ago. What a frightening experience to see your son, your baby, seem to get better, then suddenly tank. I’ve visited sick people in hospitals for decades and I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen so many people rally, giving their family and friends certain hope that things are improving, only to see their health suddenly erode until they finally die. So when Jesse seemed to rally, then rapidly lose... Read more
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