philipstorer

erics words about being constantly amazed by the people he finds himself surrounded by is haunting me again.. especially when those people create.. when they move and express.. like this:

“…But if you’ll just plant a seed
It wont be for nothing…”

Wait till you hear it.. you won’t be disappointed.

the visible peace meeting was intense last night.

..
I’ll probably be haunted by this for awhile.

Monday morning:

“Phil, we have a meeting at 11:30.. you are supposed to speak to the mt. carmel college of nursing.”

“um, what?” *wry look, open eyes wide, smile*

Now i’m wearing a tie. dang it.

but oh wait.. this isn’t exactly like selling “ketchup popsicles to ladies in white gloves.”

and then.. i just ate soup.

And then tom petty bought me the Tom Petty soundtrack to “she’s the one”.

fri./sat: “umm.. exuse me.. Sir? more days like that one please. thanks.”

sat/sun: wish i was a little more aware. oops.

sun: so.. met with the catholic worker movement starting in the c-bus. They are still in formation. Pretty intense to see older people with similar values. Older middle aged couple: “We still think God wants us to sell our house and by a smaller one so that we can have more money for those who need it”. They are talking about downward mobility and intentional poverty. They talked about the homeless, prisoners, and war. Good to be in a gathering of folks intent on doing something about it. they pushed me to go further.

tonight: *thinking* “doug and molly arive soon. mmmm boy.”

much needed night of solitude and contemplation. it is unfortunate that i felt its pull on a night that we have given so much weight to togetherness. especially unfortunate that it fell on a night of conversations around bonhoeffer and the christian discipline of poverty.

but… this:

“…without prayer, the constant traffic and opinions of people around us will swamp our inner lives and finally drown them. Having lost its relation to God, our life consists merely (to quote nietzche) of ‘constant adjustments to all sorts of different collective influences and societal demands.’

As a protective armor around the quiet flame of the heart, prayer is the best defense in the face of such onslaughts…”

So tonight.. again.. as I have so many days in the past few weeks.. I ride in a fall that has finally eased in the biting of its cold. I will seek peace. I will recenter. I will lay in the darkest corner of our cities parks.. i will pray.. I will sit silently and listen to God.. and hope that he will do the same.

oh.. and here is more of this crap which, if nothing else, has been good for me.

this time the show went on the road.

.
.
hipsters 0 dancers 1
..

does anyone here think this looks like a joke?
..
ok.. maybe.
..

last night i met a real life train engineer.. striped hat and the whole bit.. the real deal. best part? i went out on a limb… she listens to the eels AND loves the song railroad man.

what are the odds?

We don’t get over life.. nor should we.. we exist in it.. we laugh at it.. we weep. We carry our sorrows.. and we share them with each other. Refuse to let any of it go.. Refuse to let the past slip away.. it make us.. forms us. informs us. At the begining we stand up and commit that whatever may come.. we will continue to stand beside. Then we do it.

One of the greatest accomplishments of my life is to achieve friendship so deep with folks to be able to stand beside them. To support and afirm them in their joy and sorrow, their love and loss, commitment and fatigue.

On this day, two years ago, one of those “standing with” moments would allow me to say I am living well. Standing Happy. Honored. Content.

Today that standing means a sympathetic dripping eye.. and will end at a table in celebration of life worth living

Amy.. your love, commitment, joy and sorrow are shared by us all.. may you live well.

peace sister.

..

so much dancing.. so sleepy. worth it.

oh yeah.. and dylan owns this city.

These are beginning to get frequent. It’s time to organize. Here’s the rules:
1. Some people don’t get to dance. Maybe they don’t have legs. So show up excited to be here. Like Jeremy.
..
2. Don’t ask questions. Dance.
..
3.Out of sweet moves? Watch Micah. Do what he does. Unless it would be very very embarrassing.
..
be awesome. like micah.
..
Play at least a few songs that everyone knows.. so you can grab something to sing into. Sing as loud as you can. But don’t stop dancing. You bastard.
..
chastise those who don’t sing. make them feel small.
..
Take frequent smoke breaks. because smoking makes you look cool. No it dosen’t. Yes it does.
..

All the pix can be found here..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandrawensley/sets/72157594359646704/

70% chance of inspiration. 30%, new beginnings.

Currently:
Cold

Feels Like:
Spring. Plant Sequoias.

planting sequoias is an exercise
in trust. Trusting that despite
overwhelming evidence to the contrary
we will someday see our labor
come to fruition.

Practice Resurrection.

take your time. don’t miss a syllable.. don’t miss a word.