5/19/2005 12:01:00 AM|||Joel VandenBrink|||

I know you exist, I know you are out there. I can sense you. I can feel you. So why don't you show yourself to me? Why do you choose to remain hidden?

I need to see you tomorrow. I need you to show up. I need for you to exist. You are my only hope.

_______________________
There is this group of people who are on a journey. They know not where they are going, but they feel something yearning them forward. They hear a still small voice that whispers in their ear, "It's ok, I know the way home." This is what keeps these people going. It is not for the glory, it is not for the fame. It is to continue the story that has been told to them, it is to continue the story that they believe in.

These people are messed up, they are not perfect, nor do they pretend to be. They learned years ago that it does'nt work to act perfect. They have learned that authenticity and humility are much better than perfection. They have learned that confession isn't always about stating something bad. They have learned that their call isn't to be an upright moral person, rather their call is to be a person entrenched in forgiveness -- a forgiveness of the other as well as themselves. They realize that their call is to be people led by love and inclusion, not hate and exclusion. They have learned that systemic sin is nearly impossible to break and yet they do their part to not contribute to it. They have learned that life isn't about how well someone can compartmentalize but how well one can integrate. They have learned that language is a tool of communication.

These people are a lovely people. These people are an ugly people.

Spirit -- may I hold these thoughts, may they revuberate in my soul and may I not forget them

peace
joel

|||111648609388534722|||From nashville...5/21/2005 05:46:08 PM|||Mark|||I was good to get a chance to meet you. I am very much looking forward to the change in directions God has me on, and I am looking forward to the path. I hope to talk more with you sometime in Seattle, hear what you are wrestling with and what desires God has kindled in you. Here is my blog site if you are interested www.closson.blogs.com - I am interested to hear more about missionalationship - did you coin this word?