Sock Puppet Church June 27, 2007

One of the things of the many things I have been thinking about lately is the role of the church in communities. One reason I keep thinking about this is that the church I attend is 35 minutes away in a different town. I’ve struggled off and on during the three almost four years that I’ve been part of the congregation with going to church outside my immediate community. I began attending this church because I agreed with the ministry philosophy of the church, “building a community to reach a community.” I have continued to make that 35 minute drive every Sunday because of the close ties and relationships that have been formed there, something that was missing in the church I attended in my local community.

This blog post expresses I think what we all look for in a church whether big or small, near or far. Local community and close connections.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/06/diana-butler-bass-sock-puppet.html

My Visual DNA June 26, 2007

Read my VisualDNA™     Get your own VisualDNA™

Sweet Bliss June 23, 2007

After four years, the hammock chair is finally hung. Thanks to my dad for being willing to climb into the attic to find the 2×4 over the porch so that while I’m sitting here, I won’t go crashing into the deck.

I have certainly been missing out. This is going to be my new favorite spot. Maybe even better than the back table by the window at the Frozen Stone. As I’m sitting here, it is dark. Crickets are chirping. Every now and then I hear a car pass on Old Jonesborough Road. I am curled up in the cocoon of my hammock swaying gently with my laptop. Fireflies are darting around the yard. The night air is the perfect mixture of warmth and cool. Welcome sweet summer.

Lament on Neglected Things June 21, 2007

This blog is dedicated to remembering the forgotten, neglected things in life.   Last week, I went downtown to a toy store to buy a special present for my cousin’s second birthday.  To my surprise, the store is no longer there.  I drive down State St. through downtown at least once a week.  How did I miss that the store isn’t there anymore?

Monday I kept having that feeling that I was forgetting something.  It took me until lunchtime to figure out what there feeling was coming from.  I had forgotten to wear my watch.

This summer, I hope to finally fix up my deck (also known as the back porch).  I want to hang that hammock chair that has sat in the corner of my bedroom for the last four years.  I hope to make my deck a place that will be a retreat and a place that I can invite friends.

Neglected things.  Those things that we’ll do on that very special day that we get around to it.  Not all neglected things are bad.  For example, I haven’t worn my watch the rest of the week.  I like the feeling of not being so time bound all the time.  There’s something freeing about forgetting my watch.

Neglecting other things like not hanging a hamock or just not noticing when my favorite toy store closes leaves me feeling that I have wasted time and missed opportunities.  Maybe I should have gone to the toy store more often.  I probably missed out on some great chance to play.  And just think of all the relaxing times I have missed over the last four years in that hammock.  There are some things that are not good to never get around to.

Writing is another neglected thing in my life.  Ten years ago, I wrote all the time.  In fact, that was my dream–to be a writer.  In the past ten years, the busyness of life and work has taken over and writing has become another thing that I keep meaning to get around to.  I hope this blog will help me get around to it.  And not just become another neglected thing in a long line of neglected things.