Month: <span>April 2008</span>

Published April 16, 2008 by

People Potential

It sounds such a business term, people potential.

There have been a few people in my life (seperate from my family) who have, I think, seen potential in me and further still – let me know about it.

I have a small hunch that this has influenced who I am more than I realise.

Mrs. Fishwick, was my Year 8 English and Media teacher. She was personable and teacherly but that which met students with mutual respect. She ran a writing group and encouraged me to join. She ran the media team that put together the school magazine and let me play a role in some key decisions despite being one of the youngest there. She gave me a John Marsden book on writing when I left the school. I liked her, I had more than just ‘school work’ conversations with her.

Now here I am writing a lot and studying design. Interesting.

Then there are people like Rohan, Tilla, Warwick and Steve (Whom I know through YITS) and Mr. Youl, Jodi and Roger (High school teachers) and Renee (Youth Leader),  who have either in action or word influenced me greatly and so have propelled me along.

I want to be like these people in that I take the time – small or large, to play a key role in someones life, to encourage or motivate, or celebrate. In skill or mind. They are an incredibly valuable type of individual to have around in a totally outward focussed way.

This is my small thanks.

Life

people potential

Published April 14, 2008 by

Finding holes

I’ve heard a little about the book – only really so much as have ‘seen it around online’.

Why We’re Not Emergent.

They have a chapter free up online. I was genuinely interested so I had a read – now, look I kind of a little bit get what their doing, but it feels rather semantical, and the first chapter was rather flat.

They seem to be still looking at issues of morals as defining imperatives in following Jesus?

And I had to laugh about the whole ’emergent pastors look cool’ thing…

What I want to know, is did they set out to find the holes? Knowing myself, I can usually find or make something exist like that if I’m trying to.

Regardless of the angle you’re coming from, this type of thing pisses me off as much as it pisses me off when my package lecturer slags off other universities.

General

Published April 14, 2008 by

Blessing

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

-John O’Donohue

*Former confusion about this coming from Tom & Christine Sine, it actually was read by Tall Skinny Kiwi. Apologies.

Words

celtic blessing grassroots john o'donohue quote

Published April 14, 2008 by

Base level and back to insight

Apologies for surviving on coffee for the past three or so days – the posting quality indicates that although the good black stuff is a stimulant, it sort of just exists to taste nice and to keep you awake, rather than provide any kind of clarity of thought.

I must rave on about some of the stuff at Forge. I did find the whole deal very different to last year’s gig. Dangerous Stories was this beautiful play of theory and inspiration. Grassroots was more a lovely kind of depth filled encouragement basement that affirmed the heart behind things rather than just ideas.

I say encouragement but in a small way I need to flip that on end again and say I came away with a little lingering sense of hope while staring at a mountain with this bloody big compulsion to change. Erm… I hope you get the gist

My favourite workshop of the whole weekend – and possibly my favourite of the lot (besides Danielle Strickland who was hilarious and just really good, oh, and Tall Skinny Kiwi) – was a workshop by Steve Drinkall – ‘God doesn’t need another Church’.

I was going to explain it through but after a short Google search to find a link, I found the stuff pretty much explained.

Monks, Cheerleaders and Activists.

It was so good to hear about something that’s being lived out and it is stories like these that give me confidence (For a sometimes very young feeling 22 year old) that I can be a part of something similar and that it’s something that I want to be on about.

Christianity Church Coffee

Christianity Forge grassroots mission

Published April 13, 2008 by

Forge Day 2

Day 2 of Forge Grassroots, churned along nicely with a great big breakfast to kick us off. I drank a lot of coffee yesterday.

Sally Morgenthaler in the morning, she took a bit to win me over but once things progressed passed a fairly stock standard call about being okay with self it developed interestingly and got quite personal. People should always, always share stories – they are so much more powerful. Alas my story sharing, although prolific online, is more a ‘tell information’ type of thing in person.

Oh yes, I had a funny little realisation yesterday driving home about how my collecting gene (Once thought to be put to a peaceful and thankful rest), spills over into how I think. I collect information – in a sense, subconciously – and if it’s relevant, I share it. This isn’t always a good thing.

Tom Sine storytelling – he was excellent, so excellent I went and bought his book (After remembering that I already own Mustard Seed vs. McWorld)

Then went to a work-shop and elective on Micro Church (The elective was probably not worth our while, but the workshop was great).

And heard Tall Skinny Kiwi in the evening – which was really helpful (and good) on all kinds of levels. He is a fellow blogger, that I haven’t followed very well at all.

And now I have to run and head off to the city! More elaboration later.

Christianity Church Life