Loving the world as it is and searching for beauty...

From time to time I am asked to comment - or act - in an overtly politically partisan way.  Mostly I ignore these requests because at this point in time, the way I live my life by faith, the way I spend my time and money and the way I share my energy reflects my deepest values. I have come to a place where my peace-making is highly personal - caring and being present with people in need is where I have found I can do the most good - so I don't have much time or interest in making vague or even ideological statements in support of this or that cause. I guess being noticed for my politics has no appeal for me at this stage in my life and ministry.  

+ Don't get me wrong, I contributed time and energy - personally - to the re-election of President Obama. And I gave resources to Elizabeth Warren, too although she strikes me as both too abrasive and arrogant to want to spend any time with and I like Scott Brown more as a person - I just couldn't stomach the thought of a right-wing majority appointing the next Supreme Court justices.

+ I am a passionate supporter of Churches for Middle East Peace (http://www.cmep.org/) and encourage their work as reasoned and compassionate. Same is true for Faithful America (http://www.faithfulamerica.org/index.html) and ONE (http://www.one.org/us/). I pray for Church World Service and help them raise funds for international self-help projects (http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main) and still believe in the work of Three Cups of Tea (http://www.threecupsoftea.com/) who were acquitted of any and all alleged financial impropriety.

+ Locally I give time and support to BEAT (http://www.thebeatnews.org/)  and PACC (http://www.pittsfieldcongregations.org/).  My hope is that over the next year a local congregation-based community organization will come to fruition as I resonate with their grass-roots perspective.

But traditional politics no longer brings me life - and I'm not interested in spending much time with traditional politicians any more - even though I follow their actions intensely. For the fact is my soul is nourished by collaborating with artists who are grounded in compassion and beauty.  And more and more I realize this is where God has called me to share my time, resources, energy and prayers. (Here's an OLD clip from and early Thanksgiving Eve show...)