Blue Sky Living

The Grenade Down the Center Aisle

I don't always set out to provoke.  Honestly, I really don't.  Sometimes it just happens, and I promise, there's no malicious intent involved.

I recently stated in a public, church setting that I struggle with the idea of a 'Personal God.'  I got an email the next day that I might as well have thrown a grenade down the center aisle. The e-mailer was probably right.  You would have needed a host of angelic medevacs to cut through the theological tension in the room.

Now, I know that my existential struggle may sound ridiculous as I work with people on a daily basis on discovering the God of their understanding.  I help people discover their spirituality. That's what I do for a living.  How could Mr. Spiritual be so completely unspiritual?  And in church no less!

But I just don't understand God.

Checking In and Change

I've been away from my blog for a few weeks, and that's because I've embarked on a new endeavor.

On October 1, I started as chaplain at The Hanley Center.  I'm working in spiritual care, primarily in the Center for Men's Recovery. 

I feel very blessed to be working in this fine organization.  It's a great team of intelligent and caring people, some of whom I've known for years.

Essentially, I'm helping patients on their spiritual journey and recovery.  The work involves the best of my professional background, combining my ministry, interfaith, counseling, and coaching experience.

So this is what has been consuming my time the past month.  The good news is that I'm still fairly flexible and available for private coaching and consulting appointments, should you need. 

After months of finding the place where I feel I'm supposed to be, I feel like I've landed on a patch of solid ground amidst the economic chaos of the past couple of years. 

Thanks for your prayers and friendship and good thoughts and checking in. More details to follow, I'm sure.

Farm and Agricultural Project in Pointe des Mangles, Haiti

We are working on a farm and agricultural project with Food for the Poor in Pointe des Mangles, about 26 kilometres north of Gonaives.  We cross several mountains on a dirt road to get to the fishing village by the sea.

A couple of hundred people were waiting for us when we arrived.

 

I am astounded by the lack in this village.  We were told that in the census three years ago the population was 6000 but since the storms there are now about 7000 - 8000 people in this area that rely on the village for their needs.  What makes things worse is that there is no fresh water for this area, only water from the ocean.

Feeding the People of Pont Quenepe, Gonaives

As part of our development program at the community center and school this week, we fed several hundred people. 

There are many hungry men, women and children in this area. One old woman said she hadn`t eaten in a long while and could only stare at the plate of beans, rice, and chicken.

Day 2 Leadership Development and Teaching in Pont Quenepe

A wonderful, full and eventful day today!  Other than a black out for about five hours this afternoon, everything went smoothly.  We even had clouds come over head which cooled things down when we lost the electricity. 

The project at Pont Quenepe is nothing short of miraculous.  What was once barren ground is now developped with a community centre and school, thanks to the cooperative efforts of a Palm Beach donor, Food for the Poor and Covenant Centre International.

Without a Hitch in Haiti (ca c`est bon)

We arrived in Port-au-Prince today with out a hitch!  This is probably the smoothest trip I`ve ever had to Haiti.  No delays, no flat tires, no fees for excess baggage, no bribing to get our bags through customs!  I woke up this morning with a strange sense of grace that everything was going to work fine.