Archive for the ‘community’ Category

STACY - If you really knew me

Monday, November 8th, 2010

So there is this new show on MTV called “If you really knew me”, and I have grown to really appreciate the mission of the program. The idea is that different high schools host a “Challenge Day”, where a team of speakers comes in to facilitate an intervention, of sorts. Each episode starts with a background of the high school, including issues of cyber-bullying, discrimination problems, and/or the concerns that come with the demographics of the area. The specific kids that are highlighted state the specific clique that he or she identifies with, ranging from jock, loner, emo, student council member, etc..

The Challenge Day starts with super fun physical activities at first, and then one of the facilitators talks to the teens about his/her life. The talk usually centers around the idea that at times in his/her life, they were in great pain, and what they showed the outside world was not congruent with what was really going on. The kids are then led into groups, with the directive to finish the sentence ” If you really knew me”……

The bottom line that they each learn (believe it or not) , that everyone has some level or inner pain.

Each time I watch this show, I think how much of life at the Refuge looks like Challenge Day in action. We are such a nutty and diverse group of people, try hard to be open, and deep down, we all really want to be known. Really and truly known, accepted, and deeply loved. I know I do.

Part of me wants to say, um,  my community knows quite a bit about each other, and there would be no real surprises if we did this type of sharing session. However, since life is not linear, and it can look like a process of unraveling and creating, I thought that I would try to answer the question myself. Here goes.

If you really knew me, you would know that my mom died almost 9 ½ years ago, and I think about her every.single.day. You would know that I facilitate grief groups for kids, and that I learn more and more each week how deeply the death of a special person can impact us at our core.

If you really knew me, you would know that I have felt so sad about the parts of my life that my mom can’t be a part of, and that I almost didn’t go to my college graduation because I was so sad. You would know that  my mom’s last wish was that I would have a picture of her at my wedding, and that the idea of the milestones involved with dating trigger the vulnerabilities of being without her once again.

If you really knew me, you would know that I am starting to push back against not only my fear of leaving my guard down, but also of starting a process foreign to me. You would know that I stopped dating in high school, when my mom was sick and dying. You would know that since that time, I have structured my life around busy-ness and activity and friends and protection.  You would know that I am scared to share my life, and that I am so so bummed that my mom can’t be here to see the process unfold.  You would know that I am starting to date, and that I have hoped hoped hoped that my mom is watching from afar. You would know, however, that I am really trying to let my real live community in, and let, in big and small ways, our refuge community be my family.

If you really knew me, you would know that I think that it is so beautiful how God heals our hearts in ways that are unseen. For me, this is one way that I am choosing to surrender, in hopes that the walls around my heart are permeable. If you really knew me, you would know that I am still pretty excited to see the next part of my life unfold.

Like in the show, my hope for our community is that we continue to know each other on a deeper level. Our appreciation for where we have been, where we are at, as well as where we are headed has the power to expand our love for one another. That, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful parts of redemptive community life. And I am learning so much through being a part.  I am learning, in scary and new ways, what it’s like to try to be known.

I wonder how you would finish the sentence “If you really knew me”…….?

RICHARD - Hello. My Name Is …

Monday, October 25th, 2010

My parents named me Richard. They liked that name, but they also said that they wanted to be sure I had a name that other kids wouldn’ t make fun of. So from early childhood I was called Dick. Go figure. They led sheltered lives.

When I was about three, a babysitter came in to get me after a nap. She found me in my crib, saying over and over, “ Dickie’ s a baaaad boy.” We laughed about it in the family – and I hasten to add that family life was good, stable, loving, affirming – but somehow negative self-talk has always been a part of my life.

On June 23 I had a devastating personal crisis and attempted suicide. I spent almost two weeks in a psych hospital, trying to deal with a jumble of powerful emotions: remorse, guilt, shame and fear. My prayers were more like screams and sobs. But God was there, trying to get through to me. Over the next several days, with baby steps and setbacks, fear began to yield to hope, and shame subsided a little bit as I experienced grace. I have a long, long way to go.

During intake at the psych hospital, I had told staff that I wanted to be called Dick. But two days later I asked them to call me Richard, and I introduced myself to fellow patients with my birth name. I came to the Refuge as Richard. My old name is becoming my new name.

There are many change-of-name accounts in the Bible. Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Jacob becomes Israel. Joseph becomes Zaphnathpaaneah (look it up! Genesis 41:45). Simon becomes Peter. Saul becomes Paul. Names carry meaning.

I looked up the meaning of my names. “ Richard” means “ powerful ruler.” (My fellow patients started calling me “ King Richard,” which was weird and wonderful and embarrassing.) “ Dick” is listed simply as a nickname for Richard. But you know it has other meanings.

I don’ t mind if people call me Dick; my family and some of my dearest friends call me that. But it’ s also associated with some painful stuff. “ Dickie’ s a baaad boy.” A scared, awkward, timid little boy and a shamefully addicted adult. I want to re-claim my birth name, Richard. I’ m not sure about “ powerful ruler” – but I know this: I can claim no power except God’ s power, and no authority other than Christ ruling in me. It’ s astounding to me to think that God – knowing me through and through, knowing what I’ ve done, knowing my ugliest secrets, still says to me (and to you!) “ I have written your name on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

Adrienne Rich wrote this:

Either you will go through this door
or you will not go through.
If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.

For decades I’ve called myself names: slimeball, disgusting, evil – even while pretending to have it all together. I’ m about four months in recovery. Sometimes it feels like no recovery at all, with the negative self-talk crowding out all other thoughts, with remorse, fear, and self-loathing engulfing my mind, body and spirit. But a little bit more each day I get glimpses of grace. It hurts like crazy, but it’ s starting to feel more like healing. I want to reclaim the name that God has for me.

This isn’ t really about “ proper names.” How you and I introduce ourselves, what it says on a birth certificate or a driver’ s license, what a nickname means to us – none of that is important compared to the name that is written on the palm of God’ s hand. Whether my name is Dick, or Richard, or Zaphnathpaaneah, is not important compared to God’ s dream for me. My name, at best, is a metaphor for who I am, or rather, who I am becoming, in God’ s grace.

D. J. Butler wrote a lovely worship song that speaks to me on this journey:

I will change your name:
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid.

I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one,
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks My face.

Thank you, God, for the Refuge, where people whose lives have been shredded by what has been done to them and by what they have done, are claiming the new life that you have for them. Thank you, God – for knowing everything there is to know about me, and yet calling me Beloved.

KATHY - friendship vs. mission

Monday, October 11th, 2010

what a wild and beautiful night at the refuge this past saturday night, focused on our upcoming trip to kenya in january 2011. 10 refuge-ees will be heading over to luanda, a remote village outside of kisumu, on the western side of kenya for a friendship-love-mission-adventure. the purpose of this trip isn’t about dropping money & resource into their community for a week and flying back home. it’s about forging new relationships, encouraging our friends in the work that they do (which in different ways, so parallels the refuge), and finding ways to love each other from afar.

when we traveled there as a family in january of this year we saw up close and personal how far a little love and hope goes. as you all know, the refuge doesn’t have a lot of resource, either. but what we do have are huge hearts & love for the marginalized, the oppressed, the forgotten. our friends in kenya do not have a lot of consistent western support. they run an orphanage, school, mission center, and bible college on a shoe-string budget, with no power & no running water. and they do just fine. they don’t need our money to make their world go round. but what they do long for are friends who care for them, encourage them, pray for them. and they long to do the same for us. so that’s what this upcoming trip is all about–forging friendship. getting to know each other, hanging out and learning more about each other’s faith, life, hopes and dreams.

bed-blankets2josh-africa2

and while we are there we do hope to infuse some tangible help in some areas that they need. that’s what friends sometimes do for each other.

some of the things we’ll be focusing on are:

  • contracting the building of bunk beds to get the kids up off the floor
  • building a simple, sturdy children’s library stocked with all kinds of good books (you can see the current one)
  • lots of fun stuff for the kids that will give relief to the teachers.
  • trying to restore a broken well to working capacity (thanks to dave reierson and hope2others).
  • bringing dresses & uniforms for the kids
  • very basic medical education & support (we have 2 nurses going).
  • our gathering this past saturday eve was a huge blessing & we raised money to cover most of these projects. thanks for everyone’s love! if you still want to be part in any way, shape or form, any extra money we raise will go toward food for the orphanage. another way you can help is by bringing small school supplies (stickers, markers, pencils, etc.) to the refuge on saturday eves. but the best way you can help, really, is just to pray for our friends, this trip, for the ethos of the refuge community to be extended; and most of all, pray for us to be so open to learning all we can learn & bring that back here to share.

    on saturday night sage led us in an african song. the words meant: “the spark of community flies from our place to your place.” i have no doubt that the sparks will fly both ways.

    DEBBIE - Ordinary Time?

    Monday, September 27th, 2010

    a blog post from arkansas….oh how we miss debbie and steve massey! happy birthday, deb!

    The saying “time is money” had always implied to me that I’d be foolish not to spend my time in the pursuit of financial gain. Maybe now that I’ve passed the half-way mark and make my way down the other side of the hill, I’m more likely to interpret the old saying as, “time is precious.”

    Today is my birthday, and to me the day has always held some magic. It is the 24 hour window from which I count all other days. It is my own personal New Year’s Day, and even though I share it with millions of others, it’s mine to spend as I wish. What shall I do with the 1,440 precious minutes that make up my extra-ordinary day?

    As our little church has been walking through the liturgical calendar this year, we’ve learned that we are in the midst of what is called Ordinary Time. Yes, I suppose compared to the Christmas or Lenten seasons it could be called ordinary, but I see it as an oxymoron if ever there was one.

    As the second hand ticks off one moment after another, I’m more conscious of what I can “spend” my precious moments on. Looking back on the times of my life, the occasions that have created little MeTube videos in my mind to replay as I wish, those most cherished are moments shared with people I love.

    Gold, diamonds, oil, and good old cash, all have great value in this world, but none can buy us another day, let alone another trip around the sun.

    So today I’m celebrating my birthday, this ordinary day in the middle of ordinary time, replaying so many little videos that include you. Those moments when we “went dutch” in the purchase of a shared memory; talking, camping, bowling, praying, eating, laughing, crying, singing, hugging, loving, learning, packing, moving, and yet more crying, and I am so grateful for all the “ordinary time” we’ve spent together.

    Actually I really like how Sarah McLachlan puts it, and would love to share a bit more time just quietly listening with you. XO ~Deb

    MARY - Sheep Notes

    Monday, September 20th, 2010

    Somewhere around the age of 15 I fell in love with sheep. I’m not exactly sure why, although I think it may have something to do with receiving a pair of knitting needles from my sister on my birthday. The whole sheep/fleece/wool carding/spinning/knitting-SWEATER process fascinated me. I dreamt of being a sheep rancher in the mountains. I still carry the picture around in my head—the meadow, the mountain, the sheep, my cowboy boots lined up in the entry way of my ranch house.

    Well, my life has taken a major detour, but along the way I’ve collected some notes about sheep behavior which have given me a glimpse into what living in a community of faith might be like.

    1) Sheep love being in a herd. They need to keep a visual link to at least 4 or 5 sheep at all times. It’s the banding together of sheep that protects them from predators. This also enables the guardian dog to protect the sheep. A dog can’t protect the sheep if they all go off in different directions.

    2) Sheep have excellent sight although their depth perception is poor. They’re reluctant to go where they can’t see.

    3) Touch is important to the interaction between sheep. Groups of sheep that have this kind of contact are calmer.

    4) Sheep have a flight zone. This is the distance they will put between humans or other animals that they need to feel safe. This distance can be reduced by humans or the guardian dog walking through the herd until they feel safe.

    “The Lord is my Shepherd, He leads me beside quiet waters, he renews my life” Ps 23

    Knowing what I know about sheep and their need to stay with the flock, this verse seems truer if it says “The Lord is OUR Shepherd, He leads US beside quiet waters, He renews OUR life.” It’s truer to sheep characteristics that the renewal of our lives happens more often within the herd than alone with the Shepherd.

    So in a nutshell, the main thing I learn from sheep behavior is:

    STAY WITH THE GROUP!

    Baa.

    KATHY - heavy & light, harder & better, complicated & simple

    Monday, September 6th, 2010

    we are kicking off a new series of conversations at our saturday evening gatherings over september & october focused on the ways of Jesus, using the scriptures from the church calendar.  this past saturday eve we started with this very tricky passage from luke 14 where Jesus tells the disciples to really count the cost, what it means to follow him.  here’s what part of it says:


    A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.  - verses 25-27

    many of our first reactions to this passage are “ouch.”  that is rough.  hate our parents?  isn’t Jesus supposed to be about love?  and what happens if we can’t pick up our cross all the way, does that mean we don’t get to play?  there are so many different angles that this scripture can go, but the direction that we went on saturday eve was toward the crazy, paradoxical ways of Jesus and how what seems so heavy, so hard, is actually lighter than we think, better than we think.  and that is what the kingdom of God is like.

    so many of us are waiting and hoping for an easier path, a smoother road, a way-to-escape-the-pain-and-suffering-of-this-real-life-we’re-living.  i am in this club.  i have this crazy idea in my head that “once i’m done with this, once this happens, once that happens, then everything’s going to be easier.” and the reality is that every time i turn the next corner, a new corner appears.  because life here on earth is not about smooth, easy, pain-free, or prosperous.

    i think that’s what Jesus is saying in this passage, what he’s reminding us of–the cross is a powerful symbol because it is the place where Jesus, the one who was supposed to conquer the oppressors and set all things right in a practical sense, actually ends up dying (temporarily).  it is the wild paradox of Jesus.  instead of redeeming everyone in the practical sense, he ends up redeeming everyone in the spiritual instead, in the places of our heart and experience that have nothing to do with money, power, or ease. and when he tells us to pick up our cross, i think he’s telling us that this means a life of paradox, too. that in the midst of the hard stuff, it will somehow be better.  that even though our crosses seem heavy, somehow in-a-supernatural-Jesus-way, they are also lighter.  that the gospel is complicated when it’s contrasted with the ways of the world, yet it is also profoundly simple–love God, love our neighbor as ourselves.

    i personally am not crazy about paradoxes because i like all good, all easy, all my-way.  yet, something that i am continuing to learn is just how powerful it is to embrace that both exist at the same time.

    i believe that living the ways of Jesus means leaning into this idea not just in words or intellectual conversation, but in the deep parts of our experience–individually and as a community.  sometimes every part of me screams “yes, this is what i want!” and then another part of me is stomping up and down saying “but, i can’t, i won’t, it’s just too hard.” i think that’s why we need to keep seeking God’s strength & hope and why we need each other so much.  to encourage each other to pick up our crosses.  to share the load, to look in each other’s eyes and say “yes, this is hard.  but it’s better.” this is a good path to walk.  and even though sometimes it feels like we’ll die along the way, somehow these crazy ways of Jesus actually bring more life.

    KARL - Faith Shelter

    Monday, August 30th, 2010

    I like to build things. But I have this weird obsession to use as much reclaimed material as possible. I loathe going to the store and just buying something new or shiny. I wish I had some deep environmental ethic, but I confess my true motivation is I love the forced creativity, only using what is on hand. I have this image that is what God intended when we build faith communities.

    I have never been lost in the woods, or stranded on a tropical island, or survived an arctic plane crash. But if I did, I like to think I am the sort of person who could build a shelter, something to survive in. I would not be interested in fancy, lifetime structures, just something to keep me safe and warm. I think that is what God was thinking when He talked about church. I think He thought we would use the resources we find at hand, small broken pieces of people to build a temporary and safe place.

    Sadly, faith communities seem intent on building cathedrals. Super structures that inspire awe and require lots of imported materials–a great preacher (or as great as the budget allows) from the north, young and talented musicians from the east and a comfortable, suburban or cool and hip urban location.

    A shelter in the woods is completely different from one in the jungle or arctic. The materials and needs are unique only to each environment. Yet churches seem to be sadly almost identical. The same awesome worship, inspired preaching and comfortable “seeker friendly” auditoriums are found in Alabama and Oregon.

    What if we limited ourselves to the resources that God has placed at hand? Something unique will always emerge. The gospel has a unique and irritating characteristic: it seems more attractive to the socially awkward, the economically deprived and the meek. That is why if want to build something cool, we have to import that resource, because cool, together, even emotionally healthy is a scarce resource in the kingdom of God.

    I love the unique “building” God is making at The Refuge. I love that forced creativity that happens when we find in our own friends everything we need to find community. It is not fancy, but it is fully functional and will keep you safe.

    TAMI - So???

    Monday, July 5th, 2010

    So….I’m sitting here on an average day–no shocking headlines or famous dead guys to quote today. I do, however, have a few ponderings rolling around in my head….I’ve prepared for you a special something straight from my heart of Tami-ness (smirk). And just to make it more special (ahem), I write to you from a psychiatric ward in CO, as a patient. Yes, from a hospital. Yes, I’m broken.

    Some may wonder why in the world I’m writing here: What authority do I have?

    What special insight or knowledge do I have? I, of all people, should have
    less margin to say much of anything about faith, life or spirituality since I’m obviously poor in all aforementioned areas, correct? I’m too sick to speak!

    Well, so???

    I have plenty to say, and I’ll let you decide if it’s worth reading–I’m on a journey, and whew, is it a handful. I can attest to ONE SURE THING as a result of my travels thus far:

    We need each other!

    This crazy, sweet thing I call “my healing community” is not an optional
    accessory for the trip. I stand and give the screechy battle cry: “brother, sister–I NEED you! You NEED me! let’s both admit we’re busted at least a little and get together on it!”

    Healing community is not for the faint-hearted (Bible-ese for “sissies”). Can we not all hang out with each other, us who are hurt, tattered, tired, and just “do life” together? Jesus does it with us every day….And nobody can claim to be anything other than imperfect. Whiners, cheaters, abusers, the dirty, impoverished…?

    If the Church is a hospital (and it is), and we are broken (and we are), then each of us is a PERFECTLY well-suited match for Jesus! Welcome to the fam! Come in. Speak. We want to hear about what he’s doing in your broken corner of the world…

    So???

    KATHY - camping is the best form of church!

    Monday, June 21st, 2010

    group at camp 2010

    this past weekend was the refuge’s 5th annual camping trip.   for all kinds of reasons, it is one of my favorites.  i think that camping is the highest form of church.

    it draws us together as a community in a unique way that our regular gathering can’t always do.

    it’s natural & unplugged. just a lot of friends hanging out together, with plenty of time on our hands to just hang out, eat, laugh, talk, nap, be together with no hurry to get home or to the next place.

    we share easily. coffee passed around, marshmallows and graham crackers busted out. wood tossed into the pile.  tents and sleeping bags spread around to those who need them.

    kids & grownups all mixed up together. everyone’s looking out for each other’s kids.  the kids form new bonds (capturing frogs definitely bonded a big chunk of them together this year, ha ha).  we get to share the load of love and support together.

    baptisms, yeah! to me, there’s nothing better than seeing friends take the step that says “i am choosing to follow Jesus and i want you to be part of it with me.”  it’s a reminder to me that God is at work, stirring hearts and moving us in our faith.

    there’s no agenda except for being together. that’s one of my favorite parts.  there’s no program, no huge plan, nothing contrived.  just friends together, learning the ways of love.

    what’s your favorite part?

    transition colorado - our grange neighbors!

    Monday, February 1st, 2010

    we are thankful to have new neighbors at the grange: transition westminster/arvada/broomfield. we have mentioned the work that they are doing at different times over the past few months, but we thought it would be good for you to hear from them directly and know more about the work that they are doing in our community. the refuge is thankful for their spirit and dedication to community and look forward to sharing space and ideas in the months and years to come. you can learn more about upcoming events at www.transitioncolorado.ning.com

    this article was written by don studinski (thanks don!) & hopefully will give all of us a greater sense of their vision and passion.

    Transition Westminster / Arvada / Broomfield (TWAB for short) is  a social network group with its roots in Transition Colorado which, in turn, is a part of the international Transition movement started in England by Rob Hopkins.  Transition is about moving from our current unsustainable way of life (key issues include Peak Oil, which means we will have less energy in our future, environmental depletion, which means we are exceeding sustainable use of natural resources, and economic collapse, which means we are living beyond our means) toward a more sustainable and pleasant way of life which can include an endless list of possibilities limited only by our imaginations.  Wow, that’s a mouth full!

    Hopefully, I haven’t lost you already.  Those of us in TWAB want very much to be a positive force within our community, not a doom and gloom group.  Specifically, we describe ourselves with this statement:  “A community of citizens that believes we have the power to build community resilience and self-reliance such that all species, now and in the future, will be able to meet their basic needs while maintaining a healthy planet.”  Anyone is welcome to join.  It’s free.  As of this writing, 1/11/2010, we have 49 members in our online group and about 10 to 20 actively involved with our events.  Our members are as close as walking-distance to the grange and as far away as Thailand.

    Transition initiatives, like TWAB, exist to “unleash the collective genius of their own people to find the answers to this big question: for all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how are we going to:
    significantly rebuild resilience (in response to peak oil)?
    drastically reduce carbon emissions (in response to climate change)?

    Typically, self-determined solutions will involve some flavor of relocalisation.”
    Everything TWAB does relates back to rebuilding community resilience and self-reliance, but beyond that there are no limits.  Examples of our 2009 events include:
    Building the Broomfield Community Permaculture Garden at the Presbyterian Church of Broomfield,
    Hosting a community seed exchange,
    Hosting several pot-luck dinners,
    Showing several documentary films (we call this awareness raising),
    Attending a “listening session” with some state senators,
    Hosting a Northwest Earth Institute class called Voluntary Simplicity,
    Hosting a canning class,
    Hosting a composting class.
    Hosting a Pachamama Alliance class called Awakening The Dreamer

    We started in January, 2009, with 7 people in a coffee shop.  It didn’t take long for TWAB members to realize that we needed a place, beyond our member homes, to hold our events.  Therefore, a few TWAB members joined the Crescent Grange.  As members of the grange community, we have the good fortune to be able to use the building for significant events, and, beyond that, to create a community garden at the grange.  We call it Crescent Grange Community Permaculture Garden which we will be building in 2010.  This gives our group a sense of “place” much like the Broomfield Community Permaculture Garden did in 2009 (this will continue in 2010 as well).  We now have a bulletin board in the Southwest corner of the building where we will post flyers about community events.  This will include all the community events we learn about, not just TWAB sponsored events.  For example, there are Broomfield Auditorium Cultural events posted over there right now.

    We have visions of all sorts of community-building events and activities we hope to do in 2010 and beyond.  Examples include growing an abundance of food, building a hoop house on the grange property, holding a clothing exchange, holding periodic book exchanges, creating a community “resilience” library, helping with grange maintenance and improvement, planting an orchard of fruit and nut trees, teaching classes in composting, permaculture gardening, canning and drying herbs and vegetables, sewing, beekeeping and others, holding monthly community dances, game nights and drum circles.  We are limited only by the time, energy and ideas our members bring.  We whole-heartedly invite everyone to participate.  If you like one of these ideas, or have your own, please, feel free to make it happen!  Clearly, no one of us can do all this alone.

    Our community resilience is completely dependent upon the web of relationships we build among ourselves.  Everyone has value to bring and we all benefit from our combined cooperation and effort.  We look forward to an exciting 2010 in community at the Crescent Grange.  If you have any questions or comments for TWAB please feel free to contact us on-line or call Don Studinski at 303-248-6677.

    The garden at the grange is coming soon, so if you are interested contact Don!

    http://transitioncolorado.ning.com/group/transitionwestminster
    http://transitioncolorado.ning.com
    http://transitionculture.org/
    http://www.postcarbon.org/
    http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionNetwork
    http://www.nwei.org/
    http://pachamama.org/
    http://awakeningthedreamer.org/