Outreach details

Sorry this is so late, but this is first chance i have had to sit down today - boy do i ever miss Melissa!  We have an exciting outreach tomorrow night!  We will be working in a yard - so wear work clothes, and bring shovels, rakes, loppers, pruners, work gloves, anything that might be helpful in getting a yard in shape (no mowers necessary).  We will meet at McAllister, just off 20th and schuyler ave,  at 645 as usual and will leave at 655, so dont be too late. we plan to be finished by 830ish - i look forward to joining with you in sharing God's love!

it is gonna be a great time so dont miss it

A "moment"

This morning we (me and my oldest daughter) were driving down the road outside our house.  It goes over a bridge where a creek flows.  This bridge has always been called the"bump bridge" because it has provided us with many "airborne" moments because of the steepness of it and the size of our truck.

Well, a while back we had some flooding and a massive number of trees were stuck on the side of the bottom of the bridge - blocking a lot of the flow of the creek until they could be removed with lots of heavy equipment.  Within a few days of that, there was a crew working on the bridge - limiting it to 1 lane and then with 24hrs, there was a traffic light.  Now, we cannot go straight over the "bump bridge" but must wait for the traffic light to signal that we can safely cross in the 1 remaining lane.  This light can be frustrating, because although we were told that there was a sensor in the ground, it appears the light is on a timer - meaning even in the middle of the night or whenever, if there is no other traffic and the light is red, you still have to wait for the light to change.  Sitting there, grinding our teeth, tapping our fingers, complaining about the light and its waste of our time.  No work has been done on this bridge in weeks so we don't know exactly what is happening, but eventually i would guess someone is going to work on it or something.

All that to say this morning we were driving down the road and the red light at the "bump bridge" was on again and so, in spite of the fact that there was no one around us for miles on the road, we stopped.

But when we stopped, windows down, i heard something...birds.  They were singing their lungs out - it was beautiful.  I heard and felt the coolness of the morning air, damp after the recent rain.  It is that time of year that cool wind is like a cold drink of water on the beach - it is so wonderful.  The trees were so green, the leaves waving gently in the breeze.  The grass was so beautiful, striking in its color.  There was a peace and joy and simplicity there that called to me.  It reminded me that the things that are really important in my life often get drowned out by the rushing, even rushing over the bump bridge.  Were these colors always like this here?  Were the leaves waving?  Were the birds singing?  Have i missed them so many times?

Then something terrible happened.  The light changed to green.  Wait, wait, i can't go on, i can't cross the bridge and hurry off.  I want to stay - turn back to red again!  I want to take in the sights and smells longer.

Strange how that happens - the very thing that has antagonized me, that has frustrated me, that has dogged me - the epitome of the government disrespecting our time with this silly light - it became the thing that reminded me that all this loveliness and wonder and beauty is right there in front of me so much of the time - it would only notice.  I began to just thank the fantastic God who made not just the beauty of the world, but my ability to see, smell, hear and appreciate it - i invited Him into the moment...and my day has not been the same ever since!

If life as usual in this crazy American world of get, get, get, buy, buy, buy - always more and more and more, is bugging you - if you are looking to notice more - to see more, to smell more, to find more peace, joy, goodness - we would love to have you join us this coming Thursday.

We will be getting together at McAllister Recreation center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, at about 6:45 and then around 6:55 we will be driving to an outreach night - on these nights we do something to help someone else in our community.  We will be finished typically around 8:30.  All your family is welcome!  It is a great thing to get out of life as usual!

Hope to see you there!

Where do you go?

On a regular basis, because of my work, i come across people whose lives have been devastated.  The source of the devastation comes from many places:  death of those they love, physical pain from bad backs or bodies that just won't cooperate, the destruction of their own choices and the consequences of those choices or the equally destructive choices of people who were supposed to help and nurture them that instead have hurt and beaten them down, pasts that scream the hurts and defeats and agonies into their minds every day, shattering their hopes for peace and joy, habits of thought and feeling put in place years ago in order to survive the war-zone of their lives that they now just can't seem to shed because they are so deeply engrained.

We talk, and many times we talk to God, and i do all i can to share some potential, some hope.  For these people are not hopeless.  They may feel that way, but they are not.  And one of the things i tell them almost every time is, "You need to find some people who you can hang around with who will just love you for you, some people who you can laugh with and be cared about with."  "What's your support system like?"

So many times, more than many of you can imagine, they look at me with these despairing eyes and say something like this, "That would be nice, but i have never had anything like that before."  So, i talk to them about opening their minds and hearts to where they might be able to find someone, or someones like that in their world and ask them to pay attention, to notice, and to see if they can find someone.  And sometimes, when the time is just right, i invite them to join me/us at More than more.  For here is a place where people can be loved, cared about, supported, just for who they are.  And they can laugh and live life and just be.  Many of them over the years have come to More than more and have found it true - this is a safe and good place.

So, if you are struggling, in pain, hurting.  If you could use some people who will care for you, for who you are.  If you need a place where you can laugh.  I would love to invite you to join us - we will be together next time in 1 week - on the 13th of June.  We will be together at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler, in Lafayette, from 645-800.  Of course, there will be excellent child care.  Would love to see you there.

For the love of people - we hang in the trees

Hey everyone!  If you missed our outreach last Thursday, you missed an awesome time!  After all, we climbed trees (and trimmed some), got a good workout (and laughed more than anyone ought to while exercising), put out a huge pile of trash by the road (sure doesn't take much effort when it's done by this many people), had great snacks (that had to be protected from falling branches from the roof), even did some first aid (with tissues and ice), but mostly we spent some time living life together, loving each other, and helping someone get some things done that they couldn't do on their own.  And, at the end of the night someone who had been so lonely only a short time ago got the chance to see that life could have love and life and goodness again.  That there really are people in this world who live like people matter.  That there really are people who believe in something more than just more stuff, more success, more money, more selfishness, more, more, more - and that actually live like it.  Not a bad way to spend an evening!

                Check out the pix!

                You won't want to miss our next outreach time together.  It is a blast and in these times, we find again a piece of what More than more is all about! 

                In the meantime, if you are interested in hanging out with a group of people who do things like this, we would love to have you join us next Thursday, May 16th, from 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.  As always there will be free activities for all ages.

                                                                

                Hope to see you there!

Another quick note, for those of you who eat dinner

Just wanted to let you know that a friend of More than more, Kelsey, will be having a special fundraising night to help her family with medical bills related to her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment on May 8th - next Wednesday evening - 4-10PM, at Texas Roadhouse in Lafayette.  It would be a great thing if many of us were able to go - maybe even sit together.  You must have a voucher to get the $ to Kelsey and her family - we are happy to give you one.

Hope to see you there

Get Ready to Get Dirty

Now don't let your mind go wandering in the wrong way!  Our More than more time this Thursday night, May 2nd, is going to be quite a bit different than usual. 

You see, at Mtm, we are focused on noticing - we notice the amazingness of God in everyday life and soak up the wonder of life around us.  And we notice people - we notice how amazing they are and also how broken they are...and we look for chances to reach into their world and support them, to love them, in practical ways.  It's fine to say, "How's it goin?" but it is better to be ready to do something if it is not going well.

So, every so often we like to put out noticing to work.  And, we have noticed someone who needs our help!

So, what we hope is that you will put on your work clothes, your dirty old shoes, and your smile, and meet us a McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, at 6:45 this Thursday.  We will be gathering in the parking lot and driving to the outreach location together.  There we will hang out and work and if it is like the many before it, laugh and enjoy the evening!

No excuse to not come if you have no work skills, if you are old or weak or anything like that - consider yourself a cheerleader then and come cheer us on - hang out with us and enjoy some time together - there is just almost nothing better than giving of your time and energy to help someone!

Hope to see you there!

Oh the Rain

Rain.

Lots of it.

Soggy, squishy, sloppy earth.

Dark clouds
           rumbling thunder
                 flashing lightening.

Dreary indoors, cloudy skies, heavy air.


Typically i like rainy days.  I like the smell of dampness and the feel of the rain on my skin.  I like the sound of the pitter patter on the roof and the look of the mini-splashes each drop makes in the puddles.

But lately my life has been filled with storms.  Too much darkness and not enough light.  Too much pain and not enough joy.  Too much sogginess and not enough warm sunshine.  Too much indoors and not enough outdoors.

And i find, as i try to drag my scraggly butt out of bed on another rainy morning, that i am longing for some light.  I am craving some warmth.  I am dying for some positivity, some joy.

I grapple with the rain, the circumstances of life that weigh, that darken, that cover me.  I fight against them, rage against, wrestle with them.  Never seems to help very much. 

then the idea occurs to me...talk to God - he understands darkness - so i do - i talk, He listens - and the more humbly i come, the more open handed and open hearted to whatever is best for me and those i love, the more the answers come..

But the answer is not always sunshine...

Many, maybe even most, of the times, the rain keeps coming down - the circumstances don't change - there is not suddenly more money, less pain, resolved conflicts, less stress.  Seems the rain keeps falling a lot of the time.

Thing is...

I see it differently.  Instead of musty, it smells sweet.  Instead of drowning, it seems like maybe i should swim.  Instead of mud puddles to run from, i see the perfect place to splash and play.  Instead of destroying my day, i see rejuvenation of plants and birds playing in the puddles.  Instead of pain, i see God changing people's lives.  Instead of lack of money, i see a new focus on all the things money can't buy that are the most important.  Instead of conflicts, i see a chance to forgive & to ask forgiveness and to see trust grow.  Instead of stress, i see God providing what we need and i find myself resting in the simplicity of life that is right in front of me.


So many times seems we go to God hoping, even expecting, that He'll change our circumstances - that our rain will go away - no more pain, no more problems - but seems like maybe the best thing that can happen is that He helps us see what was there all along - to help us notice.

Or, as my sweet Emily has written on her wall:  "Life is less about waiting for the storm clouds to pass than it is learning how to dance in the rain."

So, here's hoping for some sunnier days, but in the meantime, i will be giving all i can to notice the beauty of the rain.

If you are looking for a change in perspective - sick of the "life as usual" American way, we would love to have you join us this Thursday night, April 18th, 6:45-8:00PM, McAllister Recreation Center, just off Schuyler and 20th, Lafayette.  As always there will be free, fantastic activities for all ages.

Hope to see you there - better bring your umbrella!