Yesterday was a very full day. After breakfast, I led a workshop on Writing as Prayer. Personally, I love workshops that are more interactive and so I lead my own in that manner, a style the attendees appreciated. We had good discussion and good questions. I really enjoyed the time we got to spend together.
In the afternoon, Angelina, our project coordinator, presented her report to QUIP and then our editorial board left to do some of the hard work this book keeps us coming back to. We know we are asking the people who read the book some very hard questions but please know, we understand how hard these questions are to grapple with because we have asked them of ourselves and each other first. We are hoping our own work together can be a model for what others can do between themselves.
Quite frankly, we are weary. We have walked a long and difficult road to gather these writings and bring them together. We are thankful even as we struggle knowing this book is now no longer ours. It is everyone’s book. Everyone’s spirit is rising. We are looking forward to talking about the book and hearing back people’s reactions to where the words come from. We are looking forward to watching the book take flight and live a life of its own apart from us. It’s kind of like watching a child leave for their first day of school. We hope it goes well, we hope others like our “child” and that our child will grow and work in the world in ways we can only now imagine.
Those are the thoughts that were in my head as I listened to the editorial board and contributors read pieces from the book last night at the release party. I feel like Michaelangelo who has spent the last several years inches from the ceiling. Last night I got to step onto the floor and look up at what we’ve done and for just a few minutes, I could see where this book would go and all the voices that will now be heard. Tears fell from my eyes in knowing what we had just created, what God had spoken through us to do. Stephen read a verse this morning that the grain of wheat must die for the plant to grow. As our editorial board takes our leave and takes the book back to the places from which it grew, we are hoping that in our place grows a beautiful return for the work so many have done.
One thing I want you all to remember, though, is that the words are not enough. Words themselves have no power. The power lies in where the words come from. The power lies in the love in which they are spoken and the love in which they are lived out. May love be our highest goal.
John Lomuria eating leaves.
Green soup, John wants to know if this is food. He doesn’t think so.
The house where we all eat, meet, and the young adults sleep. They figured it was a good idea to keep us all together in one place. I agree. I’ve enjoyed it. We all sleep on the second floor.
The Friends United Meeting offices here on the grounds.
Several of us took a hike yesterday afternoon out to a waterfall. It was nice to be outside.
Angelina giving her report to QUIP.
Our editorial board signing each other’s books.
Spending time together working through the hard places.
Our book release party.
Reading 1 Corinthians 12-13
The coolest cake EVER!!!
May love be our highest goal.