Date: Wed Aug 20, 2003 12:01:57 AM Europe/London
To: pip Wilson
Subject: blog 1
It is great to work with people who have had tough lives and have learned so much. There is hurt there. There is experience there. The face shows it as the words struggle out in the context of a group. This is what I do now. It is pulling people together and building a climate of trust and........ letting the group open up on an issue which they are stretched with. Not comfortable, but something which stretches their mind and the very depth of their soul.
When you have been hurt it is difficult to trust again. More-so to love again. My push is to stretch to love. The theory is that if we separate from people, not liking one or another or slagging off others, that destroys the 'community' (the principle methodology of growth and development) and also hinders the growth of the person themselves. To write someone off is to damage me too. It is old fashioned 'love your enemies' because.... anyone can love their friends. It is wonderful to hear affirmation flying over the group. One corner to another. "I used to think you were an idiot, a loud mouth idiot with no care and sensibility to yourself or anyone else. Now I have got to know you, you are a really good guy. "
Love it, love it, love it.
That very issue of getting to level 5 communication makes my heart sing and I believe God rejoices in heaven 'because such is the kingdom of heaven'.
There are people in the group who really add some great stuff and sometimes sit back and think .......... something of God is being made here.
"Shalom' ........ right relationships
right community
right sensitivity
right openness
right direction toward the kingdom coming in rich and broken lives.
What I really admire is the staff who enter into the group life and really share their own vulnerability, brokenness, hurts, faltering ...... it is so beautiful that the staff do not have to pretend to be 'beautiful perfection' but like us all in the group ...... 'beautiful imperfection'.
Several of the people I work with will be going to Greenbelt and they will not automatically fit in. They will feel different. They will feel that everyone seems to know how to enjoy the festival and they don't. Then the famous Greenbelt vibe will touch deep in their souls. They will feel that atmosphere that is, in my experience, the nearest we will get to heaven ........ on earth.
If you see them.
Talk
say hello
acknowledge
smile
love with your eyes
love with your smile
of such is the Greenbelt kingdom of heaven
bhp
