Coming Home

I am flying home from CBA.
The prayer room worked really well from my perspective. KP and I (with help from John Raymond) set-up 9 stations of Body Prayer. (which some publisher will come to their senses and realize what a good book this will be).
I know there was at least one complaint about it being Yogaesque. It really wasn’t all that yoga like, but there are some people who have a severe allergy to such things and one had a reaction.

In fact one of the highlights of the time at CBA was a conversation with someone where we were trying to understand one another a little better – he was really trying to “get” me and wanted me to know that he didn’t want to be quite as confrontational as he had come across in other settings. During the conversation I suggested the metaphor of people being allergic to certain ways of thinking, or practices, or attitudes the way some are allergic to food or formaldehyde . During another conversation Jay Howver mentioned how his milk allergy had gone away after going on a two week colon healing fast. It was as if when his body was healthy his allergy went away. I wondered if that ought not be the goal for those of us who have thought/perspective/practice allergies. That we would become healthy so we will not have such a severe reaction. We may not prefer the thing we were allergic to, but we are no longer being controlled by it. Maybe there is a subtle change from pursuing maturity to pursuing health? Maybe we would use different means of attaining health rather than maturity.

To stay with the allergy metaphor I think I might be healthier than I thought I was (which is where the change from maturity to health comes in for those who know me). I hardly had any reactions during my time at CBA (that may have been because I didn’t run into hardcore Calvinist – my version of a sever peanut allergy; like a kid who can’t even be in the classroom when a made at home treat is served on the half-chance there might be peanuts in it).
But the over the top, commercialization thing didn’t bother me at all. And the binary reductionistic thinking (which Focus on the Family does not miss a beat on by the way) was counteracted by wearing my Camping Mocks The Homeless Shirt (although there were times I thought I need to get going on the “Stop Reductionistic Thinking Now” shirt pretty quick - the subtle irony of the “camping” shirt was wasted on most people).

In fact, I found the commitment of the people “on the floor” kind of inspiring. Not that I thought most of the products were necessary or beneficial, but the creativity (which is a relative thing I know) that goes into the booths and the presentations is admirable. The sincerity of the people who believe in their ideas and the hopeful optimism (as misguided as it was at times) that there stuff would make the world better sure beat what happens in so many places in our world.

Rather than wishing the CBA did not do what they do, I wish the people of CBA (and all of us) would be able to see the goodness and God involvement of whatever is going to be in the convention next week and the following weeks.
I don’t know what is scheduled to be there, but I bet there is an equal amount of inspiration, creativity, goodness and human/God congruency in future events (at least some) as to what is in there this week – even without the Body Prayer.

It was a long time to be gone and I really don’t like missing so much of life at home – being with Shelley, nights with the kids, people moving, baseball games, church, theology pub.
I did have a chance to be with some really great people again; KP, Carla, John, Jen, Jay, Lyn, Stan, Dan, Will, Cameron, John, Paul, Terry, Dan, and saw old friends/workmates from Leadership Network – Greg, Dave, Mark.

By the way, so far the flight home has been relatively tear-free.

Sitting on the plane I am reading blog of a review of the RSF book – which is remarkably done –

And listening to my Ipod – I have 5 Meatloaf songs on it. Currently Paradise by Dashboard Lights is on - I am thinking once again, as I have said many times, this is one of the great songs of all time.

Comments

[carla]

Kevin, the key to meatloaf is to sing along. There's something about belting out "So now I'm prayin' for the end of time, so I can end my time with you" at the top of your lungs that is highly therapeutic.

[Kevin]

Over the past 5 or so years I have had the priviledge of being in the company of some people with a musical passion far greater than mine. They have taught me to appreciate artists who I previously disliked very much. However, I still can't stand meatloaf and don't get it. Can you explain the fascination so I won't turn it off everytime it comes on the radio?

[The Exile]

I would do anything for Doug...but I won't do that.

P.S. Has anyone ever quite figured out what "that" is?

[Andrew Jones]

Doug - i wonder if the 9 stations of body prayer could be an online experience served up by your blog?

[tr0y]

doug--enjoying the blog. i'm the worship leader at Mars, we met back in march when you were around. thanks for your thoughts on such a wide range of ideas. i'll definitely be checking in regularly!

[Patrick]

BTW - Meat Loaf... way underrated! Has an amazing voice... much of the greatness goes to Jim Steinman, Meat's lyricist!

[Patrick]

Doug - yep, thanks for putting together RSF! I have recommended it to several people -
Off the subject, we are getting ready to do a "Theology Pub... sorta" and was wondering if you or if you knew of others, who were posting their "notes" (discussion topics, thoughts, doubts, etc...) of what went on at the various pubs that are happening.
Just thought it might be interesting to see what is comming out of these gatherings...?!

[Benjy (groovythpstr)]

Doug, thanks for the help with prayer postures that your assistant sent us a few weeks back,it was a lot of help. I think that the book idea you have for it is great. In fact, when we were discussing this in our worship setting, I talked about the some of the benefits of eastern religions. Man, that really set people off!

[DanD]

Playing with your metaphors of "maturity" and "health" has been fun. I can see how telling someone to 'just grow up' isn't as biblical as saying 'be healed!'

Good Journey