Reflections on the Everything Must Change Tour, Part 2
I really have only one regret about the tour - well, make that two, no actually three.
First and most significant, I wish we had kept the gatherings smaller and had a lot more time for personal interaction. I did my best to be available during breaks, meals, etc., but I still wish I had more chances to talk to people in more depth on an individual basis. The people I had a chance to meet were so interesting and their stories were so compelling - but I know I missed the chance to meet probably half of the people or more in each city.
I told Linnea last week that if I we do another tour, instead of working for large groups in each city, I would seriously consider limiting each gathering to maybe 75 or so, and emphasize even more that this would not be a "learning event" as much as a "training trainers" event. I don't now how the finances would work for something like that, and in the end I'm glad that everyone who wanted to come was able to come this time, but that's my only significant regret.
Second, I wish we had more high school kids present. Maybe if we do another tour, we should do one just for high school students. My feeling is that the emerging generations have a natural "get-it factor" in regard to the EMC message ... and it would be a delight to encourage and network them.
And third ...
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Reflections on the Everything Must Change Tour, Part 1
I'm down to my last few hours before leaving for a trip to Africa to be part of the Amahoro-Africa gathering in Kigali, Rwanda. Before I finish (actually, start) packing, I want to thank everyone who participated in our recent eleven-city Everything Must Change tour. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life, and I believe that the ripples from our eleven gatherings will spread with good effect for many years to come.
As you can imagine, I'm unspeakably grateful to Linnea Nilsen Capshaw, founding partner of Deepshift.org, and colleague in this tour. Wise, sensitive to the Holy Spirit, gifted, highly competent, cheerful, fun-loving, and prone to erupt into laughter ... she's been a pleasure to work with.
Add to that pleasure the joy of working with Tracy Howe - our worship leader and co-producer of the tour CD, and Eric Haines - a man with many super-powers which include technical wizardry and old-fashioned helpfulness, and Jo and Will Burgess - newlyweds who helped us with all sorts of logistics before and during the tour.
Then I'm so grateful to all our sponsors - Emergent Village, the Sierra Club, Sojourners Faith and Justice Churches, the One Campaign, Mars Hill Graduate School, and Faith at Work.
To our official sponsors, I'd have to add my friend Ian Morgan Cron and the good people of Trinity Church in Greenwhich, CT, who generously covered basic expenses for one of our events.
We truly were partners in this tour, and we've truly become friends as well. If you don't know about these organizations, I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out their websites - and maybe get involved.
I'm equally grateful to two other groups of people ...
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This book made me think & laugh
The first Amazon review of Finding Our Way Again is up ... the reviewer said the book made her think and laugh, which is, from an author's point of view, a pretty good combination.
If you've read the book, I'd be grateful if you could take a couple minutes to post your review ...
The Publisher's Weekly review is here ...
By the way, three books that have made me think and laugh this year are Doug Pagitt's A Christianity Worth Believing and Tony Jones' The New Christians and Shane Claiborne's Jesus for President.
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wonderful world – human rights
Earlier this year, I met South African filmmaker Anant Singh. You're probably familiar with his work - powerful movies like Sarafina!, Cry the Beloved Country, and Red Dust.
Here's a powerful short video that he produced - for all of us who believe that everything must change, it's worth watching and linking to.
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Speaking of the environment …
There's a song on the Songs for A Revolution of Hope CD called "Hymn of Remorse." It begins, "We covered over your colorful earth with grey cement. We cut down trees and stripped the soil wherever we went ... Lord, have mercy."
Another song, "Let Your Kingdom Come," says, "Let your kingdom come, and let cool streams flow. Let fields flourish and fresh winds blow. Let your children save instead of destroy, so every creature can thrive, free in health and joy ... let your kingdom come."
We need songs like this, I believe, that acknowledge the beauty and goodness of creation, and face the truth that failing to care for God's beautiful creation is a sin for which we must repent. You can listen and download the songs here.
If you'd like to learn your environmental address, start here ... just plug in your zip code and start learning about the watershed in which you live.
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