1. A couple of personal notes:
I'll let you in on a little secret: moving
sucks. It's more work than you expect in the best of circumstances. For us, this move included a herculean effort to simplify, streamline, and minimize (as I've talked about in previous newsletters).
I have to keep emphasizing one point, because so many people
don't seem to get it: They assume somehow that our move (and downsizing) must be a sad thing, or the result of a demotion or something:
NO!
We chose this.
We WANT this.
We WANT to have fewer possessions.
We WANT to live in a smaller home.
So many people absolutely cannot get their head around this. We would rather have more freedom, simplicity, and experiences; and
fewer things to keep track of, store, clean, and repair. Yes, of course it is possible that we might regret this a few years from now, and make a beeline for a big house in the suburbs with a yard and a garden and a garage full of tools, skis, potting soil, snowblowers, lawn mowers, bikes, croquet sets, etc., etc, etc, ... but somehow I doubt it.
It's going to be awesome living here. In fact, it's already awesome, but we're still living out of boxes, recovering from the stress of moving, and trying to get our dogs to not be freaked out about riding in an elevator.
2. New audio program: "Eight Keys to Lasting Recovery"
If you recently got a separate email about this, forgive the repetition, but I'm excited about this new resource, and want to make it available to everyone. It's 13 audios, each ranging from about 10 to 60 minutes, and it outlines Eight Core Issues That You MUST Deal With, if you want long term recovery.
This is a great course for people in recovery, and also for those who help others, and need help understanding the big picture, and key issues related to addiction
(people like spiritual leaders, counselors, sponsors, teachers, and parents and family members of addicts.)
Check it out here:
3. Spiritual growth is the result of facing
life "head on," and not tuning out or trying to distract ourselves:
One of the books I'm reading right now is by Catherine Dowling, called "Radical Awareness." (Please keep in mind that anytime I reference a book, I'm not saying I agree with everything in it, or recommend it to others.) But I did like this:
"Living fully is not about acquiring, shedding, or even changing anything in our lives. Living fully is fundamentally a deep, vibrant engagement with the rich texture of every moment. It's about being fully present, fully awake as we go through our days, deeply connected to
both ourselves and our surroundings. [I would add that in this way, we are also deeply connected to God].
'Living fully brings a joy that transcends our circumstances. It unlocks within us an intense love of
life and, at the same time, a sense of being loved and held by that life. It offers us a sense of security that is not dependent on our relationships or possessions. ... We come to know the meaning of the biblical phrase, "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16).
"Embracing life is a spiritual experience, an inner exploration. The outer circumstances of our lives can act as a catalyst and a teacher, but spiritual growth happens when we face inward toward our deepest feelings, when we challenge our most cherished beliefs, and when we recognize the significance of the experiences that have shaped our lives. There may be painful confrontations with ourselves and our past, but
ultimately the journey inward leads us into joyful union with God, with life, and with ourselves."
- Catherine
Dowling
4. Feature: 5.5 Things I've learned in 5.5 Years of Ministry in Recovery
Last Sunday was my last Sunday as pastor at Jacob's Well Church. After serving two churches in a kind of shared partnership, I've now transitioned to full-time at Loop Church in Chicago.
My last Sunday at Jacob's Well caused me to reflect on my experience as a pastor on this side of recovery. After having left ministry to focus on my own recovery (and then help others in recovery), I came to Jacob's Well in 2011, resolving to "do ministry differently." How can I be a spiritual leader in a context where there is so much projection, expectations, image-management, and conflict
(ie. in the 21st century North American church)?
Click on the link below to listen to -- or download -- the 30 minute message, and also download a pdf file of the sermon notes page:
5. Quote of the
week:
“Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby:
awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess."
- Lemony Snicket
