Letter to a Young Activist

This was written by Thomas Merton. I received it from a friend and it has inspired me for future work, even if I am not doing much of anything right now here in Italy =) Steve, especially thought of you for this one. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps the results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, the truth of the work itself. And there, too, a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

You are fed up with words, and I don’t blame you. I am nauseated by them sometimes. I am, also, to tell the truth, nauseate by ideals with causes. This sounds like heresy, but I think you will understand what I mean. It is so easy to get engrossed with ideas and slogans and myths that in the end, no one is left in it. And then the temptation is, with no trace of meaning left, to yell louder than ever in order to make the meaning be there again by magic. Going through this kind of reaction helps you to guard against this. Your system is complaining of too much verbalizing, and it is right.

The big results are not in your hand or mine, but they suddenly happen and we can share in them, but there is no point in building our lives on this personal satisfaction, which may be denied us and which, after and is not that important.

The next step in the process is for you to see that your own thinking about what you are doing is crucially important. You are probably striving to build yourself and identify in your work, out of you work, and your witness. You are using it, so to speak, to protect yourself against nothingness, annihilation. That is not the right use of your work. All the good that you will do will come not from you, but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in the obedience of faith, to be used by God’s love. Think on this more, and gradually you will be free form the needs to prove yourself, and you can be more open to the power that will work through you without your knowing it.

The great thing, after all, is to live, not to our out your life in the service of a myth; and we can turn the best things into myths. If you can get free from the domination of causes and just serve Christ’s truth, you will be able to do more and will be less crushed by the inevitable disappointments. Because I see nothing whatever in sight but much disappointment, frustration and confusion.

The real hope, then, is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good out of it in someway we cannot see. If we can do God’s will, we will be helping in the process. But we will not necessarily know all about it beforehand… enough of this… at least it is a gesture… I will keep you in my prayers. All the best. In Christ, Tom

HERE I AM!

Ahh - words can't describe the last week and a half, but I'll spend just a few minutes trying.

Let's work backwards. At the moment, I am just outside of Milan, Italy. I can't say too much about it yet because it was dark when I landed and has been raining so we've been inside. But! I am excited to be here and also to spend time with Giada, the Italian girl I met at the hostel in Belfast, at whose house I am currently living... (deep breath)

...These past few days have been kind of a whirlwind. I left the monastery on Sunday (more on that in a moment) by taking a bus and a train into Paris. I spent the afternoon on the Eiffel Tower, which was absolutely fantastic, and then spent the night a few blocks down from the Sacre Coeur (yeah, I hadnt heard of it either but it's great) and the Moulin Rouge. Monday... yesterday!... I explored the city a little more, happened to pass MATT DAMON on his way out of the train station, freaked out like a girl but still managed to make it to the airport on time. Then I took a plane from Paris back to Belfast, where I was greeted by a bunch of friends and my roommates at our house and we had a grand old time until I decided I needed to pack. Went to bed at 2am and got up not too early to say a heartwrenching goodbye to my roommates and take a bus to Dublin, the airport at which I took the flight to Italy, where I am right now...

The monastery. Shoot, I really can't... hmm. Can I use adjectives? Peaceful. Quiet. Beautiful. I went there to spend time with God, thinking that in silence and prayer I would find him... but actually was most touched by his love through the people there. Never have been so impacted by the vulnerability and openness of other peoples' hearts. Still absolutely reeling from the experience and not quite sure what to make of it all, just that... it was mystery, and worship, and heart-centered instead of mind-centered. I don't know....

Anyway, I am as confused as you. But it's okay. I think I'll go to bed now because my heart has just worn me out. However, before I leave you.....Thank you for all your prayers! There have been so many small blessings and huge ones these past few weeks and a lot of the financial issues have worked themselves out and everything is okay. I am desperately eager to see you all. I feel like it's been such a long time...

If I don't post again soon, let me echo Charlie's sentiments - Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Taize

Based in the south of France, the Community of Taizé ministers to young people from all over the world. Founded by Brother Roger, a Swiss monk, during the Second World War, the brothers work for reconciliation between Christians.

The meditative music and style of prayer adopted by the community is now used by many groups and churches. More information can be found on the community's web site.

www.taize.fr/en

This is where I'm hoping to be starting November 12. If it works, I'm going to spend a week there with the monks. I'm really excited - but need some prayer:

That all of the travel details will work out, I'll be able to make the necessary preparations online (I'll be spending a little time in Paris before and after), and will be able to navigate my way through France without speaking a word of their language.

Trying to work out some financial issues - I have plenty of money here in cash, but no way to deposit it into my bank account, which means I'm limited on the use of my credit card. It'll turn out okay, but I'm worried and need to get back to trusting God!

That I'd finish up work well this next week, not slacking and still looking for opportunities.

That I'll make good use of my last week here in Belfast, seeing people and saying goodbye - aww, sad.

That God would speak to me during my time at Taize and I'd grow in my faith, for future benefits yet unknown. Yay!

That I'd be safe until I get home to see all of yoooooooooou! :)

Thank you! The countdown has begun. I love all of you very much!

Switzerland!

Ahh, the home of the Swiss Army and off-shore bank accounts. And CHARLIE, for the next few months. I had an incredible time visiting him these past few days. Here's a quick run-down:

Cheese fondue with fresh-ground pepper at the Auberge
The sounds of cowbells in the distance
Stars
QUIET

Good chats with people from all over the world
Bike ride down a mountain with incredible views
Almost sideswiped by awful French drivers :)
Cobwebs
Being warmed by the sun! SUN!
Missing Callie
Ice cream and Swiss chocolate indulgence
Sitting in the yard while the sky got dark, listening to the Postal Service and being serenaded from the 2nd story window
Grape vines shrouding doorways
Fresh cow's milk on my cereal for breakfast
Games of pool, and cards, and Fun with Dick and Jane
WARMTH... ahhhhh....

Can you believe he actually lives here?!

Charlie testing the equipment for our hard-core mountain-biking extravaganza. And his friend Emmanuel who drove us to the top of the mountain.

The photos that should correspond with the last two posts but I couldn't figure out how to do it =)

"The Aged" (They're trying to ban these signs here. A bit discriminatory, you know!)















Harvest at Nicola's church (The little wheelbarrow at the bottom contains turf, or peat. Kids back in the day had to bring a brick of turf to school each day so they could keep the fire going in their one-room national schoolhouses. Quaint, huh? :)

In other news, I'm attempting to visit Charlie in Switzerland tomorrow! Please, please pray for me. I'm REALLY excited. It'll also be nice to have a few extra days off work. I don't think I'm cut out for this full-time malarky! Hmm. We'll see.

I only have 2 more weeks left here in Belfast. Suddenly it seems like there's so much I still want to do! It's hard to believe I won't be calling this place "home" anymore... don't worry. I still know where my true home is. Trying to get details ironed out for France. I'll be in Paris for two nights, and finding a hostel is proving harder than I expected - if they're not nasty, they're expensive. Please pray for me in this, too.

Oh! I was going to say - I'm really sorry for not responding to emails. I thought I'd have more time than I do at the minute. Like I told Jess last night, I read your emails and pray for you and what you tell me. I know it's lame, but even if you don't hear from me please know I really appreciate your email and am thinking about you and loving you from afar.

What else..... Ah! I know, we'll play a little game for some entertainment. How about an Irish version of Two Truths and a Lie? You know this one. It's where you try to distinguish between truths and lies. Ready? Don't scroll down until you know the answer. Here we go...

1. In the Republic of Ireland (in the south), people drive on the right-hand side of the road like they do in the States, which makes crossing the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic a little bit tricky.

2. Britain's government is mostly modernized, except for the fact that while boys can vote from the age of 18, girls can't vote until they turn 21, and then only every second year.

3. The myth of the Leprechan has its roots in a tribe of Celtic people who lived in the south of the Republic and were known for steeping straw (which looked like gold) in large pots of water in order to make thatched roofs for their house.

Okay, now make your decision carefully...which one is the lie? Before you scroll down, be SURE you know! (shoot, i'm sorry this is sounding so much like a lame forward. hang in there)

Now scroll....









































LIES! ALL OF THEM! Well, I threw the last one in for those of you who might have been on the fence. But my sneaky roommates actually convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that those first two stories were true. Hook, like and flippin' sinker. Truths: people in the Republic still drive on the left-hand side like they do up here in the north, and BOTH men and women can vote from age 18. Fine. I was soooo mad when they finally confessed! However, two minutes later I had them believing that we sing the song "Happy Birthday" in Spanish because most of our population is from Mexico.

:)

Stupid is as stupid does, my friend (whatever that means).

Anyway. Enough from me, it's time for bed! I hope you've been thrilled and mystified and are feeling some good old Irish loving. Talk to you later :)

Part 2

Well, I hate to disappoint you Carla, but this one isn't happy-go-lucky either :) But I promise to have some hilarious stories on the way. And I've tried and tried to get pictures to work, but so far in vain. I'll press on. Here we go!

Sundays

I love Sundays here. Maybe it’s just because I’m away from my closest friends and family here, but I really cherish the time I get to spend in church and with believers on Sundays. It feels like an actual Sabbath.

Morning services usually start between 10:30 and 11:30, which means we have time to wake up without feeling frantic, and also don’t have the option of choosing the earlier service in order to “get it out of the way.” After church, we go to someone’s house for Sunday dinner (which is actually lunch, but it’s a lost cause trying to change their vocabulary). It’s usually quite a feast and almost always involves potatoes. Could you imagine having a Thanksgiving dinner EVERY WEEK? It’s amazing! After lunch we sit back and hold our bellies and groan about how stuffed we are until we have tea or coffee a few minutes later, and dessert (which they call “pudding," even though there’s NO PUDDING INVOLVED. I tell ya). To you, this might seem really formal and like a lot of work, but it’s not. Just relaxed and nice. Most of the prep for lunch is done the day before, and big home-cooked meals are so common that it’s really not a big deal. After that we might just talk, or take a walk or play a game or go do something fun. This often lasts up until the evening service, which starts around 6 or 7. This service is quieter, with fewer kids, and more reflective. It’s a really nice way to end the day – it always reminds me of the evening service at Bethany, or the Compline Service at St. Marks. So things turn out great.

This whole plan relies heavily on community, and the fact that others are committed to the same type of day. At home, it would be really hard for me and other busy, efficiency-oriented Americans to do this. I really don’t blame Americans for this, and I won’t romaticize the Irish for the fact that they seem to focus more on relationship and fellowship, although I think it is a beautiful thing. At the end of the day, most of us do what our culture and tradition teach us to do. However, I don’t think I would mind seeing this aspect changed in my own life when I come home. Could you prepare yourself to come over for a meal after church and not rush off? Could I commit to relaxing with you if you stayed for hours just chatting? We’ll see if it works out, but I think it could be nice.

The Aged

I’m not sure why it is, but older people seem to be the best and worst thing for the Church in Ireland. There’s a huge lack of young people involved in and living a faithful life. As Bill and Jean noticed when they visited, it’s often old men in suits trying to do street evangelism to younger people. They stand on the sidewalks handing out tracts, often positioning themselves outside of pubs on Friday and Saturday nights and to give the tracts to students coming in and out. It’s a really, really good thought and I think a lot of the men are genuinely burdened by God for the souls of these young people and trying to be obedient to Him. But I don’t know if it’s the most effective thing to do. It’s just my opinion, but I think that young people would be most effective in reaching out to their peers – which is hard when there aren’t many young people who know Jesus to begin with.

So maybe for Belfast, church ministry isn’t absolutely effective, but I can see that relational evangelism has huge potential. As I mentioned earlier, Protestant Christians here are very community-oriented. I would guess Catholics might be the same. This means that if one person invites a person into their group of friends, and the group accepts them as one of their own, they’re immediately surrounded by a crowd of Christian witnesses trying to live out the Gospel. I don’t know if this is true on a wider scale, but I’ve seen it within my roommate’s group of friends, and it feels really natural and healthy and authentic.

Another interesting thing – non-denominational Christian-run community centers. Some are run by Christians but actually function as non-profits, like by running soccer clubs and support groups. Another type is more one-on-one: The Belfast City Missions, which I talked about a few days ago, are located throughout the city and mostly run by men like the ones described above. They visit and get to know the people in the neighborhood in which they’re located, do their weddings and funerals, take them to the hospital, etc. Nicola opined that the older men in suits image might be beneficial because people would need to trust and respect people in order to let them into their houses and lives, and appearance definitely plays a role in building that type of relationship. Not having been affected by a Missioner in that manner, I can’t say whether or not she’s right. But the general idea of this type of ministry is intriguing– would it be possible for us to be so involved in the lives of our neighbors, but in an unofficial capacity? I’m not sure if it would work without the structure of an organization lending authority to our actions, but hmmm….

When I talk to people like Marie, who is in her 60s and volunteers full-time for The Way In, I can see that her heart is absolutely genuine and how she sacrifices everything to reach out to her community. There are a lot of stunning people like her found amongst tradition-laden religion and outright rebellion against false concepts of God that comprise Northern Ireland’s religious scene. Beautiful cathedrals with absolutely dead congregations, and saints and martyrs in ordinary houses. I’m really lucky to be exposed to stereotype breaking people and experiences.

Catholics

I wish I could give you more of a picture of what the other side of the religious divide looks like here, but the way things have turned out, I’m pretty immersed with a Protestant take on things. I work with people who grew up Catholic, and we have great conversation and banter. In actual practice, the divide between individuals who might be Catholic or Protestant is not nearly as great as the physical divide between church buildings and neighborhoods here in Belfast.

I hope that wasn’t confusing. Feel free to ask me questions that will help me question my environment here in different ways.

Religion and worship in N.I. (part 1)

The lovely Zach McCauley sent me a letter asking about worship and religious practices in Northern Ireland...I promised a blog, and this is it. Well, the first part. It's SO long that I'm giving it to you in two installments and I'm also including pictures to provide a breather for the weak at heart :) There's still a lot I don't know and haven't experienced, but here are some of my observations:

TraaaadiTION!

A heavy emphasis on tradition and history influences why and how people "do" and think about religion here. An obvious reason for this is Ireland’s looooong history that has always been really affected by religion of one form or another. The Irish have had a lot of time to make mistakes and sometimes learn from them. American Christians lack this type of contextualization and background, which I think both helps and hinders us in life, politics and religion. As far as religion here goes, I find that an emphasis on tradition in churches can really frustrate the young people who attend them because they often feel disconnected from the ways older adults do things. Prayer meetings, worship songs and style, pastors and the style and content of their sermons are all affected by this. However, I have found some churches that have retained some of their tradition but thanks to the vision of a new and sometimes younger pastor, are slowly giving children and youth more attention. Churches eventually die if they decide not to bother with their young people.

I think tradition can also be useful in a few ways. The first is doctrinal. I feel like sometimes in America we are so free to innovate and focus so much on independence that we flippantly ignore or marginalize the wisdom of educated people who have studied the Bible and our faith throughout history and might have really useful things to teach. Certain traditions can also be really beautiful and meaningful, especially when accompanied by an explanation or understanding of their origins. Finally, more traditional services might attract those who grew up in that type of church but are coming back to the as adults. However, I really see “tradition” here as being stifling to new movements and works of the Holy Spirit, excluding to youth and those on the “fringe,” and held onto by people often for the sake of comfort and control. This is kind of a new opinion and I’m really open to hearing your thoughts.

Religion and Politics

If you’ve heard news from Northern Ireland, you might know that religion and politics are really closely intertwined. At least, the names of religions … none of it really has much to do with Jesus or faith at all, from my perspective. But someone could get shot for saying that, so I won’t. But here’s an example… I went on a jog through a highly-Protestant/Unionist/loyal to the Queen neighborhood this afternoon. There was a painted wall mural, the text of which read, “For God, For Ulster.” The word “Ulster,” used in this context, connotes loyalty to Britain. This is the motto of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)… kind of like a militia. It’s a paramilitary group deemed terrorist by the government. What the motto means is that the UVF is implicating God in whatever acts of terrorism they might commit. In their heads, I’m sure that they believe most ardently they are involved in seeing God’s will done on earth.

Looking at American politics from overseas, I wonder if Bush is doing the same thing to gain support for involvement in Iraq? I don’t think American troops are over there completely without reason, because even a few weeks ago another terrorist threat was released, right? But what does God and good and evil have to do with this – and our – political decisions? Just a thought. I think we need to be much more careful about how we associate God or Jesus with politics. The God of the Old Testament is another story, but if Jesus wanted to be involved with politics, I’m sure he would have made a point to do so during his lifetime.

Events

This is a less weighty observation. A few weeks ago I went to First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church with Nicola. She was all excited because it was HARVEST. You don’t know what HARVEST is? Ohhhh, silly American. (this is what I have to put up with).. Anyway… Churches choose a Sunday in October to dress up the church building with autumn flowers and vegetables and leaves and all sorts of pretty things and give God thanks for everything He’s provided. They sang lots of songs about plowing fields and hoeing seeds and other farmy-type things. At first I thought, Oh that’s very interesting – the Northern Irish are very connected to the land (which is true to some extent – the amount of countryside and farms here is probably more comparable to the Midwest than our area)… but then I realized that this celebration SUSPICIOUSLY resembles Thanksgiving. So I wonder, were the pilgrims (who were Puritans, right?) who came over and landed on Plymouth Rock and had lunch with the Indians – were they actually celebrating the Protestant tradition of Harvest? And then over time it evolved into our Thanksgiving? Well, the bottom line is I THINK I just saw the roots of our modern-day Thanksgiving celebrated before my very eyes. Wow. I feel very special.