Slow living is a blessing...

Last night we had an all-church cookout and campfire - and it was a little bit of a blessed tradition that we hope to revive.  In our fast-paced, consumer driven culture a few generations have missed out on church picnics and singing together around a campfire.  Such things take time - and there's nothing glitzy or fashionable about a large group of people often singing just mostly on key - and let's not even TALK about the freakin' mosquitoes.

But it is slow living at its best:  a community event well away from the ordinary concerns of mission and ministry that lets people just visit and love one another.  So that's what we did for over three hours - we ate organic corn on the cob and delicious hamburgers and hot dogs cooked over an open fire - we played silly games - got caught up on one an other's summer events - and sang old timey songs as the body of Christ.  By the world's standards, nobody would even notice such an event.  But it was one more small step towards simply being real and present with one another without any agenda.  In a word, living as Christ encouraged us to live.

So here's one hope for the upcoming year:  next year we find a way to recruit and bring MOST of our young families to this cookout.  It will take work - and real planning - given the demands of the day, but before I leave this realm I want our children to experience this old fashion taste of heaven.  It will be fun for the old-timers and a little bit of Christ's alternative culture for the kids.

This morning I am heading off to a community Eid al-Fitr celebration - the first in our small town - to break the Muslim fast of Ramadan.  (check it out at: http:/ / discoverpittsfield.com/events/?event_id=28992)  I will do a little sermon revision, bass practice and take the puppy for a walk, too before fixing dinner for my honey (who has to be at work today.)  I am NOT always good a really slowing down - sitting and savoring - so I am grateful for the slow living events of this weekend to help me stay grounded.

At the feast, I will remember our friends in Turkey who continue to oppose the growing police state in their sweet land.  I will remember, too, our soldiers in Afghanistan - and all those touched by this horrible war - and pray for peace while we eat.  (Here's a gentle blogsite to learn more about this feast and the celebrations of our cousins in faith:  http://dvlprz.blogspot.com/2012/08/eid-ul-fitr.html)