recalling

Joe's S's words from a few weeks back, his exuberance about family, and how the word home, that beautiful word home has at it's root the word "therapy"

pondering this, I sit in my apartment this afternoon, doing homework,
window wide open with a cookie sheet propping it up
cuddled alone on the outstanding orange couch
coffee brooke just made me in hand mixed with ORGANIC half and half
which she thinks is very necessary for me to start purchasing

I'm trying to concentrate on homework and at the same time
pray over the neighbors below--there is screaming, doors slamming

Kelly and Josh, our new neighbors are below
Kelly, I only heard her small voice once
his, pregnant with curses as he screams the f word out at her for her lack of respect
for once I am thankful at our thin floors--to know that yes, there exists great need below us in the same way that it exists across the street, down the street, and on African soil

Josh's child knows the f word before even being born

I met Josh, the screamer, a few weeks ago,
he was standing on his porch when I pulled up, hands deep in his pockets talking to our landlord
Mohawk dyed the color burgundy
turning down my invitation for the love feast because there'd be no beer there
inviting us over for real food, under his roof

this is my neighborhood.
these are my neighbors.

love your neighbor as yourself.

the words, "for such a time as this, for such a time as this" ring in my ears, (I pull out my journal and write out a prayer instead of reading on in my homework like i should be... a just distraction, I'd say)

because everyone needs a "HOME, " Joe S says. A place of security and comfort. Ultimately we judge our quality of life, he says, not on temporary things, but how safe and at home and how alive our hearts are. Communion with God roots this. And if that is not found at home, it produces a lost wandering people.

I find security
in the fact that I have in fact been placed here, we have been placed here
for this purpose: even if our only mission is to sit above them daily, on our knees
crying out to God for a little bit of beauty and fresh air and truth to be placed in that home
or to interrupt the yelling with a bright plate full of cookies which Michelle and I plan on stocking up on so that we can do a lot of interrupting
if that was our only mission, we have succeeded

because like brooklyn said in her blog
the small things done well and with much love
in this there is success

if this summer the only thing I accomplish as I throw school out the window for the warm days
is playing baseball with DM in the yard, or making coffee for the guys in the morning or writing I love yous in soap on the mirror in the bathroom to the roommates
if I love well
if all I accomplish is running around with Bea and Lily on my back,
painting in the studio and
spending alone time with the Almighty God--writing Him love songs on my new favorite instrument:the guitar
if all I accomplish is loving the people below us until I am exhausted,
this summer will be
beautiful.

may your mission, my mission be to tie light to them
with the power of the Almighty God
tie light inside the homes of darkness
and despair
this summer


Please pray for Kelly and her boyfriend Josh
Please praise God for the incredible things he will do in them

in a year I pray that the Lord will have beckoned their hearts, a long with Jule's heart
into the circle of His great Kingdom

beautified with His great love