We talk a lot about noticing at More than more. We want to try to find something more to life than just the usual get more, achieve more, buy more, become more of American society. One of the ways we do that is to notice. We see the amazing things about life and make it a point to notice them.
But, the thing about noticing is that we have to see something to notice it...or feel it to notice it...or smell it to notice it... We have to stop long enough to notice - and we stink at this in America. Ever wonder why impoverished people in 3rd world countries seem to be so happy and we have all this money and we can't seem to stay happy with our food, our houses, our spouses, our TV, our entertainment, our family, our ... You see those folks have not choice but to notice - they see what is around them (partly because they don't have enough of anything to distract them) and because they see what is around them, they often times have joy in the most simple and amazing things in life - the things that we miss. Now don't get me wrong - the idea is not to introduce suffering and disease and poverty and poor health. The idea is to get us Americans to stop and notice...
The movie Avatar is relatively recent and is a fun visual-fest for movie watcher, if a bit cheesy when all is said and done. We watched a clip from the movie Thursday night as our jumping off point.
What, you may ask, could be so interesting about this movie that a bunch of people who are trying to find something More about life would find it worthy of the central theme of their time together? Well, I'm glad you asked!
The movie is about these people who live on another planet. They live relatively simple, but full of joy and peace (i know, i said it was cheesy, ok?) But the cool part that i love is the clip we watched - it's the way they greet each other. Now, before i tell you, think about the people yo have greeted today, maybe "Good morning" or "Mornin" or "Hello" or "Hi" - usually something short and not too involved - usually without even seeing the person you are talking to.
Well, these folks greet each other with, "I see you."
This, I love! What if every time we greeted someone we saw them - REALLY saw them?Looked into their eyes and saw who they were, what was troubling them, what they were celebrating, what they were hiding? How would our lives change?
The cool thing about More than more is that even though the group of people who come and hang out there every other week could not be more diverse in their education level, their financial standing, their social status, their age difference and on and on, they SEE each other - and they don't just see, they care - they look into each other's lives and see the hurts and the pains and the joys and the wonders and they care. And it's not just because they know each other well - they do the same thing for new people who come! You see, these people, they are choosing to notice! They are choosing to see.
Now, this has not made their lives easy, or problem free - in fact we struggle with many things, but it has begun to fill their minds and hearts with more hope and more joy and more meaning. They are finding More.
If this sounds like something that you might be interested in, we would love to have you join us!
Our next time together will be 10/8 (this is a major change as it is a Friday night instead of a Thursday)and we will be going to someone's home and helping them with some stuff they need some serious help with. This will be 6:45-about 8:00PM that night and we will be leaving McAllister Center (just off 20th and Schuyler AVE, Lafayette) at 6:50PM. If you want to join us, be there and we will take you to where you need to go! It will be a great time - it is always amazing to see the responses of those who we help and those who are helping!!
The time after this will be back to normal - 10/21 - 6:45-8:00PM at McAllister - as always, there will be free, wonderful, childcare!!
Here are the dates to the end of the year, as well:
October 28-Community Outreach (8AM-5PM roughly at McAllister - we will be giving out shoes/boots to those in our community who need them and giving free medical care and medicines)
November 4
November 18
December 2
December 16
December 30
Here's hoping that you'll SEE...
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
From Last Thursday
Hey! Do you ever get tired of the usual American way - always trying to get ahead, only to find that when you get "ahead" there's not much satisfaction there? Do you feel like there mustbe something More?
This is what we are all about at More than more. We are a group of simple people, no massive organization, no federal funding, just us, trying to find a better way to live this life.
Last time we had a great time talking about, of all things, amusement park rides. It turns out that there are a lot of us that really like them, and a few who don't at all.
Well, we talked most about the really fast rides, like roller coasters and we actually talked about this ride called Disaster Transport, at Cedar Point. This is not just your every day roller coaster, it is completely in the dark! Now, this is totally unacceptable to some of the people in the group, and I must say, it is a big more jerky than your usual roller coaster ride.
Now, here's a question for you: Why is it not something some of the people would want to ride, when they will ride coasters in the light and why is it more jerky than other roller coasters?
The answer is kinda obvious. Even though the roller coaster is going like 60 miles per hours, when we can see, we can anticipate what is coming next and our body naturally compensates for the movements that are coming without even realizing that we are doing it! Literally, our eyes see the upcoming drop, react by telling our brain and our brain tells each muscle group to contract in just the right way to adjust our position and weight so that we react perfectly!
This is amazing! How complex our reactions and yet perfect they are!! Some people would try to convince you that this is all an accident, but let's be real - this is amazing and wonderful and God made us this way!! The amzingness of Him is around us all the time.
So, the next time you go a the fair, or a carnival or to an amusement park, notice now amazing your body and reactions are. Stop in your head just for a second and invite God into the moment. Thank him for how amazing He made you and ask Him to part of your life and your day.
If you begin to live a lifetime of noticing, you can break out of the American trap of empty "get aheads" and on to something More.
If you are curious or want to know more, we would love for you to join us - we meet simply in a community center - the times we share are light and fun and people's lives are changed there!!
Next time will be next Thursday night, 9/23, 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. Hope to see you there!
This is what we are all about at More than more. We are a group of simple people, no massive organization, no federal funding, just us, trying to find a better way to live this life.
Last time we had a great time talking about, of all things, amusement park rides. It turns out that there are a lot of us that really like them, and a few who don't at all.
Well, we talked most about the really fast rides, like roller coasters and we actually talked about this ride called Disaster Transport, at Cedar Point. This is not just your every day roller coaster, it is completely in the dark! Now, this is totally unacceptable to some of the people in the group, and I must say, it is a big more jerky than your usual roller coaster ride.
Now, here's a question for you: Why is it not something some of the people would want to ride, when they will ride coasters in the light and why is it more jerky than other roller coasters?
The answer is kinda obvious. Even though the roller coaster is going like 60 miles per hours, when we can see, we can anticipate what is coming next and our body naturally compensates for the movements that are coming without even realizing that we are doing it! Literally, our eyes see the upcoming drop, react by telling our brain and our brain tells each muscle group to contract in just the right way to adjust our position and weight so that we react perfectly!
This is amazing! How complex our reactions and yet perfect they are!! Some people would try to convince you that this is all an accident, but let's be real - this is amazing and wonderful and God made us this way!! The amzingness of Him is around us all the time.
So, the next time you go a the fair, or a carnival or to an amusement park, notice now amazing your body and reactions are. Stop in your head just for a second and invite God into the moment. Thank him for how amazing He made you and ask Him to part of your life and your day.
If you begin to live a lifetime of noticing, you can break out of the American trap of empty "get aheads" and on to something More.
If you are curious or want to know more, we would love for you to join us - we meet simply in a community center - the times we share are light and fun and people's lives are changed there!!
Next time will be next Thursday night, 9/23, 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. Hope to see you there!
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