The Dream of a Wall

I had a dream about wandering in the desert. In my dream, I came upon a huge wall. This wall was built on the foundation of the world, and supported the sky and heavens above. It was built out of massive stones, either 66 or 73 or 77 of them - the exact number was unclear in the dream. The wall stretched from horizon to horizon, and I new that I could not go around it, under it, or over it.

I took a closer look at one of the stones in the wall - I studied it, I felt all over it, I came to know this massive block of stone. In my dream, a strange thing happened – the stone began to fade into thin air, and eventually to vanish completely. Now this massive wall had a great big hole in it.

I ignored the hole for the moment, and concentrated on the adjacent block. Because of the hole, I could examine not only the face of this block, but also the side where the hole was. Just as before, this block too began to fade from sight. The more blocks I studied, the more blocks vanished, and the wall began to look like Swiss cheese. There were as many holes as there were blocks and I began to worry that the whole wall might collapse.

The wall did not collapse however - but, I did not stop studying. Eventually, I was left with a truly amazing sight. Every stone that touched the ground had vanished, and the wall was floating in mid-air. It hung there, rock solid as ever, and yet completely suspended. Unfortunately, I woke up from my dream about this time.

Church Is In My Blood

Church is in my blood. I need the people. I need the time for meditation and contemplation. I need it for my family. What I do not need is the doctrine. I often ask myself if I should be a part of the Christian church where every week I am to state the creed of all those things we believe. I don't believe. So I do what any good student of literature does: I search for the deeper meaning, the symbols, the metaphors. I deconstruct until I am left with something palatable. But sometimes I tire of pretending, of trying so hard to fit into that size 3 dress, when I am a hefty 10. Sometimes I want to shout from the rooftops I do not fit, I do not fit! So let me GO!! But she does not. I cannot let her go. So, I wander the desert each Sunday from the moment I walk through the church doors.

-aliza lane (joyful path)

The Prayer to Our Father

Wandering the desert, I came across a new translation of an old prayer...

(from the original Aramaic)

"Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,
who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Let Your will come true - in the universe (all that vibrates)
just as on earth (that is material and dense).
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,
detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma)
like we let go the guilt of others.
Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act,
the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth.
(I confirm with my entire being)

from http://www.thenazareneway.com/lords_prayer.htm

The End Is Near

New Liturgies

As I wander the desert, I occasionally come across new liturgies. Some of them worth noting are the NewZealand Prayer Book and St. Augustine's Prayer Book. Unfortunately, these texts are not online - you will have to grab copies off Amazon or eBay or someplace.

One set of liturgies I did come across online was created by The Order of Christian Workers in Tyler, TX who wrote 'Liturgies, Learnings and Pastoral Rites' and has made it available on their website in PDF format. The book includes four Eucharist celebrations, plus rites for Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Union, Healing, Godparenting and many others. My only critique is that it does not include the daily office.

Not to beat on ECUSA, but why do we have to go fifty years or more between BCPs ? Variety is the spice of life. Today's twenty-somethings have never known any other book. No wonder they are leaving in droves. What else in their life has remained the same since 1979 ? Technology doubles every 18 months. Their cars change every few years, their jobs, their spouses (but that's another issue) - everything changes. But not the BCP.

Church Youth Groups Are A Cop-Out

Cop-out, also cop·out (kŏp'out')
n (slang)
1. A failure to fulfill a commitment or responsibility or to face a difficulty squarely.
2. A person who fails to fulfill a commitment or responsibility.
3. An excuse for inaction or evasion.

I know, since the church doesn't offer anything for anyone under 25, let's form a group just for kids. We'll give them one room to call their own (out of more than two dozen in the church) and they can paint the walls themselves and take some ownership in the place. We'll also give them a few hundred dollars for pizza (out of a budget of a few hundred thousand). We'll call it a youth group, or some acronym like EYC. They can go do their stuff, hidden away (out of sight - out of mind) in the youth room, and they'll appreciate us (the rest of the 'Adult' church) more for it. If they're nice about it, we'll even give them a seat on the vestry (as long as they are quiet).

Instead, what about a church for kids and by kids ? Meaningful liturgy that actually meets these peope where they are in their lives ? Sermons (if that is even part of the liturgy) that speak to the problems and challenges they are facing ?Facilities and member organizations that are useful to them ? After all, these are the next bishops, the next clergy, the nxt lay leaders. There are the people that are going to stick your sorry ashes in an urn and lock them behind a columbarium door.

Often I think the most important thing the Apostles did was to turn the church over to the next generation. The churh of today has completely lost that - and is paying for it dearly.

"Trust no one over the age of 30."
-Bob Dylan (who turned 65 in 2006)

Brian McLaren - A New Kind of Christian

Brian McLaren's book 'A New Kind of Christian' (ISBN:078795599X) is still the best book out there that I have read on the emerging church, which is kind of unfortunate in one way. It is the account of a mainline preacher's disatisfaction with his ministry, and his encounter with another desert wanderer. I haven't read the sequal, 'The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian' but will be keeping an eye out for it. Anyone already read it ?

It is unfortunate in that this emerging church is so nebulous that a fictional account - a story, a tale, a fable - is the best description out there. In another way, maybe it is appropriate that the best book out there is just a story. After all, the Bible itself is full of the same...

There Is No Road

Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.
Traveller, there is no road, the way is made by walking.
-Antonio Machado

Quite a different philosophy that what is currently being passed out. Today, we would be led to believe that there is not just a road (or multiple roads for the ecumenical minded out there :-) but that the road is straight and wide, well paved and maintained, with center stripes, wide shoulders, large reflective signs and those little blue telephone boxes every mile or so.

Oh, not so. At best, we can occasionally see the footsteps of those who have gone before us. More often, the winds of sand and time have erased them entirely, blowing huge dunes as far as the eyes can see. Yet, even in the desert, there are occasional oasis - a quick drink and a brief respite from wandering. Best of all, there are an uncounted number of other travellers who are also wandering this same desert.

Mark 9:43

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter heaven maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your congregation causes you to sin, leave. It is better for you to enter into eternal life a desert wanderer than to have a good attendance award and be thrown into hell." Mark 9:43 (Slightly Altered Version)

Welcome

Welcome to the Wandering the Desert blog. I hope you can find something of use here. We are a small group of wanderers, fellow travellers along The Way. If you need a cool breeze, drop in regularly.

Wandering the desert has a long and fruitful tradition in the church: see David, Moses, the Exodus, St. John the Baptist, Jesus, St. Anthony, St. Athanasius, St. Augustine and others. This blog will discuss some of these topics, especially the deserts outside of the ECUSA.

Guest posts are welcome, co-editors are welcome, I'd be glad to share this blog with others - just send email to DesertWanderer@Terrapins.com