Eugene, OR Cohort

Epinoia Cafe

1. Gatherings?
   

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   Hi, folks. I've been thinking it's time to get together. What do y'all think? I'd also like to invite other folks from around town.

   Here are a bunch of options for getting together. I'd love some feedback on them.

   Two & Three

   One thing we're committed to with the Radical Love Project is the practice of deep empathy (loving your neighbor as yourself), listening to each other, exploring together how God is working in us and in the world. We get together on Tuesday evenings at 7, and you are all invited.

   We haven't settled on a location, so get in touch if you'd like to come.

   Movies

   I have three movies on my desk:

   • The Gods Aren't Angry is one of Rob Bell's tour movies. In it, he talks about where we get our ideas about God, and how we can see God as loving.
   • Everything is Spritual, another of Rob Bell's movies. In this one, he's talking about what the universe is really like, and how God's presence is everywhere.
   • Ordinary Radicals: A conspiracy of faith on the margins of empire is about Shane Claibourne, Tony Campolo and others who call themselves "Red Letter Christians" and are working to live out Jesus' vision with a radical politics of love.

   There are lots more available, including One punk under God with Jay Bakker, and lots of short Nooma videos as well.

   I am not sure where to host a movie night, but it could be fun... maybe Cozmic Pizza? I hear they have a projector. (A place where food is purchased gives us an opportunity to be creative in how we come together as Christians around food and hunger.)

   But the question is, is anybody interested? Which movie? (Or do you have another you like?)

   Dinner in the park

   Of course, there are park nights. You are all very welcome to come and join us. We just get together and spend time with folks we might not encounter otherwise. We bring socks and food, but mostly it's about our loving attention. (Which is good, because some weeks all we can come up with is peanut butter and jelly!)

   Ideas

   What do you think? Comment with your ideas about how we can get together and have some great conversation and community!

2. Saturday in the park
   

   Lately, we've been spending some time at the park downtown. One day, I walked around with R for a while with cookies to share. On another, we were spreading the word about an emergency shelter, because it was to be very cold that night. Most recently, it's been showing up with pizza on Saturday evenings, because Saturday is the one night that dinner is really hard to come by, if you're broke.

   One thing I've learned from this is that helping isn't hard. Showing up isn't half the solution. It's, like, 100% of the solution.

   But the real work we're doing is an experiment in grace. We don't know how to love God, our neighbors, or even our selves. We struggle, are scared, pray for peace in our hearts, all the while working on our own doubts about wealth and poverty. Can we "afford" to give? Will we lose our own home? Sometimes we interrupt our sharing with others to go and hold each other while we cry.

   This experiment, the Radical Love Project, is about turning toward God, toward love, in each moment. There aren't easy answers. Jesus didn't say to be sure all your neighbors have at least three pair of socks, or give only if you have a house, but not if you have a tiny apartment. He said to love, fully and deeply, without reservation. So that's what we are trying to do.

   Learn more

   If you're curious about this idea of radical love, I'd suggest watching Ordinary Radicals, a documentary about some folks who are trying to live out the vision, or reading The Irresistible Revolution, by Shane Claiborne. (We have it, and would love to plan a showing if folks are interested.)

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   You can play too

   We're a disorganized band of ragamuffins, but you can probably find us at Washington/Jefferson park at the stage around 6 on Saturday nights. You are welcome to join us in whatever state you find yourself in. We invite you to come and be loved exactly as you are. What to bring? Whatever you have enough of to share. If you have lots of loving attention, bring that. If you're scared, but you have material resources, bring food or new tube socks. It will all work out.

   (If you think you have nothing at all to offer, then you really should come. Please, come hungry!)

3. The Eye of the Needle
   

   One night recently, I woke up four or five times with anxiety, and I did some combination of meditation and prayer each time. The anxiety began to lift by morning. I am so grateful that, instead of being alone on my zafu (meditation cushion), I am in the loving arms of my Brother. It makes it easier to remember that everything is, in fact, just fine. Just as sparrow is fed and the lilies in the field are clothed, I have all I need.

   Tracy and I have been spending time with folks who live outdoors. We've made a lot of friends, discovered things within ourselves. Kind of strange, though, because forming the intention to walk among this group of people, that in itself paints them as "other", doesn't it?

   It feels almost like cheating to go among people, many of whom really do live like sparrows and lilies, trusting every day to bring what's needed. Some of my friends who live outside have faced what they thought was un-survivable, and discovered that they did, in fact, survive. Losing everything turned out not to be the end of the world. The world keeps turning, and the sun keeps coming up.

   This place of brokenness can — though it doesn't always — wake us up. I remember an evening, years ago, when I in a real panic, realizing that some horrible fate was about to come down on me. The details are gone, but I remember that it was financial: maybe the rent was due, and I didn't know how I was going to pay it. I was freaking out, and then suddenly I realized that I'd had moments like this in the past, and the world hadn't actually come to an end. I knew that this moment would pass, and it was pretty likely that I'd find myself on the other side of it, going on with my life. This was just a moment, an experience. It was like I woke up. Of course, I had much more to learn, but this was a good start. (I've had more freak-outs since then, but — with God's help, if you'll pardon the expression — they get milder and farther apart.)

   I ache more for the people snug in their houses than for the people who are cold. Their fear gets in the way of love; they think they aren't secure enough in this world to be able to afford to give to people with less. I imagine they have that same anxiety that wakes me up at night.

   I've thought sometimes about how the people who stood watching Jesus on the cross (or looked away), or even those taking a more active role in his crucifixion — those were the ones who deserved pity, weren't they? (Aren't they?) Jesus knew what he was doing. He was choosing something beautiful in the face of the not-so-beautiful. The ones who needed the love, the Grace, were the ones on the ground who couldn't "afford" to speak up, couldn't risk starting a riot and putting a stop to the horror. Instead, they did what felt safe.

   I am often able to comfort someone who is "homeless," with a hug, a pair of socks, or a slice of pizza. But how do I bring comfort to someone who looks away in fear? How do I help them — or myself — through the eye of the needle?

4. A Call For Help
   

   A family of five lost everything in a house fire in our hometown of Prineville last Friday night.

   Several of the children are small, and the oldest girl is 13. The family is now staying in a hotel until they can find another place to live. 

   I know many of you who frequent this blog live in the Willamette Valley, or other parts of the Pacific Northwest, so this tragedy doesn't hit as close to home. The mother-in-law of the family works at the Chamber of Commerce, and I know her very well. 

   My wife and I are donating several household items to the family including one of our TV's, and toys. We are also making a cash donation to the family through Bank of the Cascades. 

   If any of you feel led to donate, please contact Bank of the Cascades in Prineville, Oregon: (541) 447-6242. Donations can be made to: "Ambyr Miller - Deedie Court Fire."

   If there's ever a time for God's church to help out those in need, this would be it. 

   Thanks!

5. Desperate Measures
   

   As you may or many not know, Rick and I have started a new project called WiredOregon.com. We were able to take some of the left over money from Rick's campaign to create a website keeping an eye on Oregon politics. This doesn't mean boring old C-SPAN like content though. No, we're interested in talking with people in our community.

   Yesterday, Rick spoke with a woman who is on the verge of losing everything due to the down economy. We wanted to make you aware, as this group has a huge heart for social justice. The full story will be up on Thursday, but for now, here is a tease Rick put together: