the one and only August post.

Well, life has been crazy. I moved back to Cranbrook - "Cranberries or bust as some may put it" (They know who they are :)
I lived with some friends for 3 weeks who had no internet and since I am no longer a paper pushing junkie I no had no access to a computer with the net for a while. Defiantly a liberating experience once I realized what a junkie I really was "Death by e-mail" as another unidentified group may put it.
Then the craziness of the new job which involved an encounter between a grizzly and my dog 3 days ago.... More information to those that request it.

My new project now is to try to get some local control of local land. Why should some people have exclusive right to land and to having the life that they want simple because they have the cash to make the rest of us their "labour market"??
Seriously: what is that??

My time is not a commodity to be traded by some person that I don't even know. I just realized in the last few day (listening to the early business show on CBC) that the middle class person is regarded as simply an input into the economic well being of those better off than themselves.
Anyways, enough ranting.

I was thinking lately, upon reading Dorothy Day, that maybe I should just become an Journalist exposing the evils of today's societal norms rather than having some job that is simple a random input into something that doesn't even matter in the scheme of things and selling my time to some company for a messily $20/hr. I know that may sound like a lot to some people but really think about it: is your life really worth only $20/hr?? If it isn't then why do you work for so little. Why can't we make business work for the people instead of people being sold to corporate entities for the whole of their life (minus when they are old)??

Must go, I am in the middle of a double move. Talk to you all more in September.

Fullness of Life vs. Personal Security

"The most extreme example, perhaps, of closed groups, are what we call sects. Sects are initially seductive and attractive to very lonely and insecure people but, once they surrender their personal freedom and conscience, such people suffer the terrible fear of leaving the group. Outside, they could fall into even greater loneliness, insecurity, and anguish.

I bring up sects because, while most of us abhor the more extreme and obvious manifestations of sects, we can be blind to the innocuous sects that are a part of society. Our places of work, for example, can become like sects, where we have to sacrifice our personal consciences in order to keep our jobs, have a good salary, gain a measure of security. We need to be vigilant of any situation where it is necessary to obey blindly. Rigidity, a demand for ideological conformity within a group, is rarely necessary; it is not, I think, the sign of a healthy group. Not only that, but the price that we pay, as a society, in the repression of individual growth and the denigration of individual creativity, it too high."

- Jean Vanier in his book "Becoming Human"

(Jean Vanier is the found of L'Arche communities around the world that embrace the intellectually handicapped persons of society that are all to often marginalized by our society.)

I highly recommend his book to all Homo sapiens who want to become human.

A Rocha - Creation Groaning

A Rocha - "Christians in Conservation" held a seminar at Regent College in November 2003. All the lectures are on A Rocha's website at http://en.arocha.org/bible/index2.html

Sir Ghillean Prance, the director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew England gave a wonderful lecture titled "Creation Groaning" in which he explores the declining state of the environment all around the world.

Then if you don't want to listen to all of the lectures Peter and Miranda Harris (the directors of the first A Rocha center in Portugal) in their lectures "Creation and Community" - Miranda Harris and "Creation and Gospel" - Peter Harris, give a wonderful summary on what A Rocha does and how God calls us to live as Christians. Peter also explores the idea of "Natural Resource Management" and what kind of relationship we as Christians, and indeed as people, are called to foster with the environment.

A Rocha has field study centers in 20 countries all over the world. There are two centers in Canada one of which is in South Surrey (the other is in Manitoba). I have visited the South Surrey center and strongly encourage all of you to visit if you get a chance. It is a wonderful place.

God is Green

What does the scripture say about creation care??
Check out Mars Hill's latest teachings. They are currently in a series called "God is Green"

http://marshill.org/teaching/index.php

post your comments :)

North Coast near Prince Rupert

Here are some pictures from those few days that remind me why I took this job.

On the ground as the helicopter comes in to pick us up.

Looking out the front window of the Helicopter.

Steep Bedrock is the trademark of the North Coast.

Slides often leave only bare glacier smoothed bedrock in their wake.

Beautiful Wilderness Basin.

Shores of the Skeena at its mouth.

The grain port out at Port Edward

What's Happened to the Church??

One of my favorite bands, Po' Girl, a folksy band from Vancouver recently put out a new album "Home to You". One of the songs on the disk is called "To the Angry Evangelist" I'll share some of the lyrics with you, the full song lyrics can be found on their website (http://www.pogirl.net)

"Don't sing to me of turning my cheek
Don't sing to me the virtues of meek"

"I'm sick of someday soon things will be better
That creed kept slaves, slaves of my ancestors
Faith it has beauty but not when it blinds us
Blinds us and folds us to crimes of excess
Never to lead but always to follow
Follow sad mad men to shame worse than death"

"Don't sing to me of joy on the other side
Don't sing to me of waiting to die"

(russel - Po' Girl)

as I was listening to it and reading the lyrics I was disturbed at how these women see the modern church, what has happened to us?! Towards the end of the song they talk about what they want out of life - their gospel.

"I want joy in this life, my joy loves company
Don't sing to me that war is our destiny
This is my gospel i hope you'll share it
Stand for each other don't let greed be our measure
Put down your gun and put down your bible
Hold out your hand, we'll build a new temple"

Those things are exactly what I, a card carrying Christian, want in life too!! (except that for me the teachings in the bible have reconfirmed those desires in me)

All of those things (minus the putting down the Bible) is exactly what the bible teaches! That fullness of life is what Jesus came to bring us. Those things are at the heart of Jesus.

Obviously they don't see joy, loving community, caring, and peace in the church. How do we change that? (Quite frankly neither do I a lot of the time, have we lost the heart of Jesus?!)

What has gone wrong in our churches? Where do we go from here?

Laodicea, Pharisee or Sinner?

Ok, here is something to think about. If your church has a decision to make and there are 2 options. One option is going to get a lot of people in your church really mad and the other option is going to cause people outside of the church to be totally turned off church.

Which do you choose? I am not talking about preaching down damnation on people, but just your simple actions will cause people to be offended; I am sure a lot of "church goers" can empathise, as well unfortunatly some recent church protagles that I know (and empatheise with). God loves people, all people both "sinners" and "pharisees". Which do you choose?

It may be possiable to just make everyone comfortable but often that is at the risk of becoming the church of Laodicea. Is that the right option?? If not, you need to decide between either the "pharisee" or the "sinner"

Life is HUGE!!

How do you foster a deep and real connection with your spouse to the fullest extent of what God intended that to be (since that is something we can't really make up for after the redemption of creation) and still maintain a level of caring and loving others to the fullness that God calls us to? Do you need to compromise one to live out the fullness of the other? is this what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35?

I for one don't see how I could possibly do one much less both in all their fullness and still have time to watch the latest movie, surf the net, and continue battling the ever growing reading list (it's all about priorities)... jk.

Seriously though life is extremely overwhelming. Just the idea of studying the bible to the extent that I now long too is over whelming me with the realization that it would take lifetime upon lifetime to do as much as skim the surface. So now that I have dedicated my next two life times to skimming the surface of the scripture how am I possibly going to find the time to implement what God is calling me to do?? Now add on top of those untold centuries the idea of having to love and care for a spouse, (an opportunity that is only available in this life time I might add), in a relationship that mirrors Christ and his church!! Just to top it all off your marriage might just probably lead to children who you are then charger to love and care for in the same way that God as Father cares and loves us his children... talk about overwhelming.

Oh and the final thing, be a tent maker to earn a living while you are up to all this God stuff. Ok God seriously who do you think I am?!?! Elastigirl?!.....

Life is one very seriously high demanding yet utterly rewarding journey. Is it possible?? has the fall reduced us to just wallowing in overwhelmededness the majority of the time, whilst covering our head with a blanket and staring out blindly at the task that God has laid before us, brought to tears just thinking about the countless failing's that I know are inevitable??

Feeling overwhelmed here God!!!

The Depth of "One Flesh"

After returning from church this morning I began reading "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken. The first 2 chapters brought me to tears. The literary display of this couples building of their love is some remarkable. Their love was made complete and full by a dying to self and a becoming more like the other that both of them under took and were very focused on during their short time together. It is a story of profound and true marriage love lived out by a couple who interestingly enough was initially set firmly against Christianity. I recommend it to anyone especially those married or engaged, or just those craving such a profound connection with another person (like me).

The light at the end of the tunnel

I'm going, or coming (depending on who and where you are), home today. Actually that is not entirely true. I am leaving this evening and have to overnight in Van. Lots of time for knitting and reading.

I believe that I am nearing the end of my time in Rupert. I'm not running away from anything (just to get that clear). I have had lots of time to read and reflect and contemplate where I am and where I want to go with my life. Now that I have done that re-evaluation and
learned a lot ad read a lot. I am ready to go back home and define my community and become rooted for the long term.... aka COMMITMENT (the continuously unpopular idea of our modern age).

More Must Read Book by Wendell Berry

Just to add to the list of absolutely amazing books by the very talented Wendell Berry. Here are some more you can read if you can't find "Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community" or if you just really liked that one and are looking for more.

"Another turn of the crank is all about forestry and agriculture and people's right and wrong relationships to the land.... I know someone who that might apply to in a very practical sense!

Promised and Long Overdue

Ok, here goes:The Machine we flew down: a Bell 206L Long Ranger.

Full body shot....

Waiting for the pilot in Prince Rupert (while the weather was still good).

Featuring the full surround visibility. Despite popular opinion smaller aircraft especially helicopters are not particularly water proof and water leaks in when you are flying through heavy rain, hence the drain hole at my feet... to avoid a puddle.

In bad weather east of Port Hardy.

One of the Atlantic Salmon fish farms in a small bay.

This fish farm is especially full. We could see the fish jumping from the helicopter. If you look at the picture in a larger view you will see small white spots in the squares which are the splashes from the very active salmon.

Approaching Vancouver.

Thats it! Unfortunately the weather was not exactly conducive to picture taking.

The Lot of Land Stewardship

Another must read book if you care at all about the lot of the remaining natural spaces on earth. To peak your interest

"If in order to protect our forest land we designate it a commons or commonwealth separate from private ownership (side note by Marta: this is the current model that we have in BC), then who will care for it? The absentee timber companies who see no reason to care about local consequences? The same government agencies and agents who are failing at present to take good care of our public forests? It is credible that people inadequately skilled and inadequately motivated to care well for the land can be made to care well for it by public insistence that they do so? The answer is obvious: you cannot get good care in the use of land by demanding it from public officials. That you have the legal right to demand it does not at all improve the case.... Our present idea of conservation and of public stewardship are not enough. Duty is not enough. Sentiment is not enough. No mere law, divine or human, could conceivably be enough to protect the land while we are using it."

- Taken from an "Private Property and the Common Wealth" an essay by Wendell Berry from the collection "Another Turn of the Crank"

Please note: I am not intending for this to become a book review blog... I wanted to share this because Wendell Berry is much more articulate than I am.

Careers are Overrated

Think about it. Unless you love what you do and are seriously passionate about it. Do you really want to sell your life to some company for $20/hour, and a one night retirement party after which they all promptly forget about you and you are replaced in 3 weeks time.

Most people work the standard 5 days a week during daylight hours, that is 71% of your days for your whole of your working life (which also often are the years of the most abundant health, raising a family and self discovery and development.

I for one think that is stupid. (Please don't miss understand, that doesn't mean that I just want to sit on my butt all day doing nothing). I want to live, live a full life and find ways to provide for myself doing meaning things that I care about. I want my life and my work to become one, not because I am forced to work evenings and weekends, but because my work is my existence within and experience of my community.

A Night at Logging Camp

The North Coast Forest.









Well I had an awesome sleep last night after spending 2 hard bush days and one night in logging camp. My body is bruised and aching. The bush hiking is a definite workout. Slopes are 100% and covered in mossy and slimy logs.

You can kind of get an idea of what the hillside is like from this picture. You are usually hanging onto branches, roots, or saplings to pull yourself up. It is basically full body hiking. I had a few instances yesterday where I reached out to grab a branch to stable me only to discover that is was actually a leafless stock of devils club. It is beautiful hiking and the forest is full of birds.

Yesterday I even saw a humming bird stick his head out around the side of a tree to see what we were up to and then scoot off.

At the end of the day the helicopter picked us us from the top of the ridge. The view up there was incredible!

Must Read Book...

ok, I got this book out of the library yesterday, I have been meaning to read it for a while. Anyways, I got it yesterday on my lunch break and I am already 100pgs through. That says something! I do ready but not usually that fast. Here it is:



It is a collection of essays:

• The Joy of Sales Resistance
• Conservation and Local Economy
• Out of your Car, Off your Horse
• Conservation is Good Work
• A Big Bad Idea
• The Problem of Tobacco
• Peaceableness towards Enemies
• Christianity and the Survival of Creation
• Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community

They are all very readable and not too long. I am already on the second last one, "Christianity and the Survival of Creation," and like I said I am only 100 pgs in.

If you have already read this book please post any comments you may have. If not head down to your local library!

Kingdom of Heaven (NOT the movie)

I have been thinking about life and thought I would share a thought with you all (and maybe even get some feedback...)

I really want land. I want to live a simple life: grow my own food, build a sustainable home, live in community, care for the people and plant/animal communities around me and teach others about making peace with creation.

Yesterday I was listening to a Mars Hill Sermon (April 22, 07) Rob Bell drove home the point that I have heard Rikk Watts say again and again. Heaven is not some place else, heaven is a redeeming of the earth. Heaven is coming here.

This got me thinking about my desires of caring for creation, living simply and living in community. If heaven is a restored and redeemed creation don't my current desires fit into that. Is is possible that dream is not a dream for my life right now, but rather an inner longing and dim reflection of a life that will be realized in all its fullness in heaven (i.e. a redeemed creation). And, that any sort of manifestation of that dream in this life is not a fulfilling of my desires, but rather a sign of the kingdom of heaven; obviously not perfect, but a dim reflection.

If this is the case, where does that leave me? What do I pursue? what do I strive for? How do I live my life in light of that?

My Exciting Thrift Store Find

Hurray, I have found a cheap sewing machine!! Time to perfect some of those skills I learned as a little girl.

Art from the Street

Painting #3 by Ronnie
(homeless artist from Boston)

Here is a painting that I found at a art sale, featuring homeless artists, in a downtown Boston in the community hall of a church.

Science Nerd meets Art in......

Erythronium gradiflorum in April

Here it is, how I spent my long weekend. When I looked at the final product I had to chuckle to myself; only a science/math/forestry tech would paint a picture of a flower and include in it the associated underground life.