Archive for December 28th, 2007

Being ones or being one?

We are especially good at being ones
But have forgotten how to be one

:- Doug.

Published in: Conversations | on December 28th, 2007 | No Comments »

Round bales

Round bales of straw or hay are sitting in puddles in the field.

The trees are are huddled together in a corner of the field, waiting out winter.

A lone bird wings across the highway.

:- Doug.

Published in: Conversations | on December 28th, 2007 | No Comments »

How much time?

How much time do we spend on Christmas shopping, choosing just the right gift, going from store to store, week to week? What if we spent that same amount of time with the person, getting to know each other, giving our life-stuff to him and her?

How would the world change?

What if we counted not things but giving? How could it be good to spend time with people?

What if we asked them? What if we gave our selves? What if spent—our very beings—on them? What if we learned what is on their hearts and heard them?

That of course is something I can do with Nathan today. I can learn what is his favorite thing, the most surprising thing, the happiest thing.

What if Christmas were family time? What if it were about loving people, not showering them with things they may or may not want or even like? What if we made gifts of what is most precious, as we mouth words about G*d giving a baby?

This is not to say Do not give gifts. Rather, give the larger gift.

It is not something we have to do in a radical way. We can sit with one other person and hear them. Today. Christmas day then is any day.

:- Doug.

Published in: Conversations | on December 28th, 2007 | No Comments »

What I can contribute is this

“What I can contribute is this” he said thoughtfully. We all know what he means. It is a large gift to our movement both to receive and give. It is more than money—it is time and contacts and commitment. Yet all of us have it outside in. In eternity we ask “How much can we give?” “To whom can I abandon myself?” There we know we live on what we give away—it is the very bread we eat. That little “What-can” in his offer focused on what he could afford, not on who might be, giving. It focused him on what he kept, not on what he could accomplish. Let us all be present, present all. Eternals count not cost but giving.

:- Doug.

Published in: Conversations | on December 28th, 2007 | No Comments »
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