Consider

Consider

It takes clouds to make rain. And it takes rain to fall to make lilies grow... so the cloud and the lily have an inter-being relationship. Can you see the cloud in the lily?⁣

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Can you see the ocean in the lily? ⁣

Because the clouds form off of the evaporation of the ocean.... and that home to so many wonderful creatures... whales, sharks, blowfish, seahorses... now resides in this very plant growing before you. Can you see the ocean in the lily?⁣

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Can you see the Sun in the lily? ⁣

The sun, our closest star, shines on the earth and allows the lily to grow. In fact all things grow because of its light. Can you see the Sun in the lily?⁣

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To consider the lilies is to consider the inter-being it has with all of existence. And by doing this exercise... hopefully... we see that we lovingly belong in the exact same way.⁣

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*To practice interbeing more deeply, read Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh) ⁣

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus, Sermon on the Mount

I was invited by my friend Travis to share two stories at his latest Tiniest Party, a storytelling night which takes place in backyards around Portland. The second story of the night was to share a story that “you’ve never told before in public. Here’s my story about meeting one of my heroes and it not going the way I hoped it would.

Outline:

Sacred/Crass

“I want to get to the next level”

Meeting Rob Bell

Inner Voice

“Keep Speaking”

Pilgrimage

Next Level is Descent

Love what you’re doing