Sunday, Sunday

First Sunday of Church Shopping has come and gone. I survived. Two good church experiences ...polar opposites of the evangelical spectrum. The hunt continues.

I had dinner last night with four of the people that I moved to Missoula with to do the church plant in 2007. It is interesting to see how far we have all come since landing here two summers ago. Mostly, the wide-eyed idealism has been replaced with cautious contemplation, causing us to listen more closely and mull things over before we respond to simple questions or outrageous callings.

One couple moved this summer to a small town about 90 minutes away to see what the simple life has to offer, having joined a friend of theirs who is pastoring a church and encouraged them to set up camp and see what God has for them there. It was beautiful to see a new softness, gentleness about my former co-worker and hearing the frequent references to the "work of the Holy Spirit" in his life and decisions was refreshing. My gal friend, his amazing wife, has exchanged a constant franticness for an in-the-process kind of calm. She told me that I would find this side of the transition, as she has, deep connections that I have been longing for in this fenced-off culture where I now live. I am believing this will be one of my 2009 dreams come true. The more willing I am to tear down my fence, the less stands between me and others. In demolishing my barriers, someone may in turn see first that they too have unnecessary walls erected and may just decide to join the demo party.

At the dinner last night, the kids played ring around the rosies ..."ashes, ashes, we all fall down." Remember when we used to just look at each other and in a split second, a game erupted. Maybe when we decide that our fortresses are not all that we first supposed, we will get our brave on, return to the playground and get back into the game. I want to grab somebody's hand and go round and round until "we all fall down." I'll be sure to wear my spinning skirt that goes out when I twirl.