This is Kiersten. She holds wisdom. I know, because I asked her. Several weeks ago I realized how much wisdom is carried in the people my life intersects with... but I fail to notice. I want to be more present. The Wisdom Project comes from that desire.

I knew I wanted to start this project with Kiersten. She seems to be the kind of person who would do well at whatever she put her hand to. At the moment, she spends part of her life waiting tables. She does it in a way that elevates the job. Her quiet calm sets the tone for the dining room, even in the lunch-time rush. "Coffee? Black? The usual? No mayo, no pickle?" Kiesten has that great gift of memory that makes you feel like her favourite customer. We can't all be her favourites, but she sure makes it appear that way.

She doesn't know this, but it took three tries to work up enough courage to ask her. Perhaps that's why the photo is blurry. Perhaps that's why every photo I took shows tell-tale signs of hand-shake. When I asked if I could take her picture, she was at the very end of her shift. Tired in the way that wait staff get after tending other's needs and wants for hours. She did not hesitate to say yes. I was thrilled, but it unnerved me a little. She shoots too, and said yes despite feeling more comfortable on the other side of the camera. I hope that I'm so generous one day.

"If there was only one thing you could tell me... one thing you wanted me to know... what would it be?"

"That our Town Council sucks... it's all about the money..." That is where it started. Kiersten went on to speak of development, and of the need to save local natural areas and habitats. She was passionate. She spoke of being bitter just now... hers were the words of someone who has not been heard. What I took from what she said (and I hope I'm not bending your intent, Kiersten) was that local communities should be for the people, not just developers with money. We should preserve natural areas, for ourselves and for the animals who have no voice at all.

If Kiersten ever decided to run for Town Council, I'd volunteer for her.



*****

The List:
1. Write to my sponsor child.
2. Eat what's already in the cupboards.
3. Explore my neighbourhood.
4. Explore a little farther afield.
5. Do that thing that brings you life.
6. Spend time with old friends.
7. Seek out the wisdom around me.

The Pastor Walter Story from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo. via Seth Barnes

"As Followers of Jesus we know what we need to do, but we're afraid to do it. So, we create new language, new systems, new programs, so that we can talk longer and more intelligently about what we have no intention of actually doing." Mike Todd (Canadian) & Tom Smith (South African) hammered this out. I find it to be so true.

But Pastor Walter? He's just about God's business. Ushering in Kingdom. I've met him, I know he's the real deal. He is one of the reasons why I continue to have hope for the church.

Reading Mary Oliver.

Listening to . (thanks James)

Watching lettuce grow.

Eating cookies baked in my car. No, not really, but I really wish I was :)

Admiring folks living in tiny houses.

"All of us had best find out what we really want to do and start doing it, with whatever it involves. If you have to give up your responsibility, give it up; if the church goes to pieces, so be it. But we must find out what we really want to do because nothing else is going to help anybody."

By Gordon Cosby, quoted by Peter Renner in “Good Is a Timely Word”. via Inward/Outward

There is something so powerful and freeing in spending time with an old friend. Someone who has either seen you at your worst or heard the tale and chooses to love you anyway. Sometimes I forget how important this is. Do this more.



The List:
1. Write to my sponsor child.
2. Eat what's already in the cupboards.
3. Explore my neighbourhood.
4. Explore a little farther afield.
5. Do that thing that brings you life.
6. Spend time with old friends.

At the end of the week I'm headed a ways west to visit some folks I love. I'm curious about your favourite road trip tunes. If you had 12 hours on the road, what music would you take along?

It was hard to believe that I was so close to the city. So close to asphalt, and in just a few meters up the drive all sound of traffic disappeared. Tall trees on each side, shade and the sound of birds. Finally an opening. A parking lot. I left my car behind, made my way up another winding path and soon found myself. I was going to say that I soon "found myself immersed", but that doesn't even describe it. For a little while as I made my way through an amazing art gallery, I was full in every sense of the word. My senses were full to bursting. My heart was full. My spirit was full. For the first hour I didn't even try to hold back the tears slipping down my face. I mean... what kind of sap cries over paintings of rocks and trees?!? Me. I am that kind of sap. And it was so incredible not to have to apologize or explain. I stood before the works of Tom Thomson, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris and marveled at their ability to translate the Canadian landscape to canvas. It was just so amazing. And it was just so life-giving.

What about you? What was that thing you used to love to do? You know... before you got too busy. Or before the house or kids. You know, that think that used to bring you life... do that thing.




The List:
1. Write to my sponsor child.
2. Eat what's already in the cupboards.
3. Explore my neighbourhood.
4. Explore a little farther afield.
5. Do that thing that brings you life.