Here I am sitting in one of my estermed college’s buildings, looking out the large floor to ceiling windows contemplating the words of Henry David Thoreau while my chemistry homework lays forlorn and decidely not done near by. Out the window I can see the Boston harbor with the little sail boats bobing in the water and further away, some of the islands and pininculas that adorn the coast.

A few weeks ago my dear friend invited me to go see a showing of the directers cut of the new documentry on Henry David Thoreau, upon her first mention of it, I reverted back to my early high school reading of Walden and remembered the hours of mind numbing contemplation of a log covered in moss in the woods, however knowing that my friend was probubly correct in her love of Thoreau’s work and I had just been lazy in my reading of it, I agreed to go. And boy was I wrong in high school…

To be certin Thoreau was no saint and often had moments of cognitive dissonance, and moral failure but he also had times of great perspective that I had never given the man credit for. In one such moment in his book Walden, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind.” The games and amusement of mankind, that hit home. It reminded me how so much of what we spend our days investing in, is really just BS to put it crudely. However this particular qoutation is rather pesimistic in its assessment of what true living is. In another one of his books The Maine Woods, Thoreau is attempting to climb this mountain, craving some sort of experince. Parhaps leading that life of quite desparation. After countless set backs and bad weather he is forced to turn around, not making it to the summet. On his way back down he stumbles upon a meadow and at once it struck with awe, “Talk of mysteries! — Think of our life in nature, — daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, — rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! The actual world! The common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?” Isent that what were are all searching for?

So as one of my favorite authors (Carolyn Weber) comments at the beginning of one of her books; what we are here on earth for is to learn to separate the truth from the BS. Thats what we are given our intalect for, that is what I believe Thoreau meant by Contact! Conact with truth, contact with reality, contact with God.

I have now been in Mexico for over a month and a half and over that time I have been blessed to watch many incredible sunsets. However what I did not expect in coming here was how bright the nights are. Because of the light pollution, during the night there is a perpetual feeling that the sun is always about to rise.

In the past couple weeks the gardens have come into full bloom so with the kids we have gone to pick some of the fruits. We have watermelons, figs, zucchinis and many other fruits and vegetables.

Many people know that Mexico is a poor country and that some regions (including the one I happen to be in) have an unprecedented amount of people living in poverty however for whatever reason among the shacks and makeshift cars there are many coffee shops each unique and tastefully decorated. They open early and often close late at 10 pm. The coffee shops are where people, especially the young people, gather to spend time together.

One of the sister ministries of Saint Innocents Orphanage and Casa Cuna Infant Orphanage is called Project Mexico Homebuilding. In this ministry volunteers come down for a week and in that time they build a house for an impoverished family living in Mexico.

On my days off from the Casa Cuna Orphanage I have been able to join one of the construction teams and assist in building a home. It would take many words to describe the struggles and joys of the days of labor.

Upon beginning the work day, we would gather and say the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish and pray for the Lord’s blessing on our work. The family that we built for would often join us for the prayer. After the long day of hauling rocks, sand, concrete, and lyme, mixing concrete and stucco, and putting in the walls and ceiling would begin. In the afternoon we would break for a lunch of PB and J and even though weary from the morning we stubbornly would finish the days of work. Glory to God for the dignity of man’s labor! Glory to God for the concrete burns and blisters! Glory to God for the strength to serve one another! 

If you feel inclined please consider donating to Project Mexico through their website: https://www.projectmexico.org/donate

It’s 2 am and the ranch is finally still after a long day, the babies are sleeping peacefully in their cribs, the toddlers are splayed out on their beds, some upside down, some sideways, but all fast asleep. The night was filled with typical household chores; cleaning, laundry, dishes, but for what feels like a quick moment, everything is calm, til’ in the blink of an eye the chaos of running after 12 kids will start once again as the sun makes its return. Any minute I will hear little feet patter on the floor proclaiming their need for the “baño” and “agua”. And so the day begins in Tijuana Mexico at the Casa Cuna orphanage. But for now I sit on the couch and enjoy my moment of rest and calm.

It has been a crazy week full of interacting with black widow spiders, walking over the US/Mexico border to go to Walmart, and attending a very patriotic watch party of the soccer game between Mexico and South Africa.

There is always something happening and its constant chaos, however before it all starts there is a calmness that prepares for the storm. And if we prepare wisely for the storm it will pass with little damage. Glory to God for all things; the storms and the calm.

Don’t feel like you belong? Well, that’s probably because you are not of this world… Through all the brokenness, longing, and ravishing, a silent figure approaches but keeps silent, he knocks but does not enter. He too is not of this world even though he entered it. He created it in perfection, and it will one day be refined to perfection but right now we are in a cosmic drama of having the choice of which side to join: life or death.

There is a piece of art that adorns the walls of Keble College, Oxford in their side chapel called The Light of the World. It pictures Christ wearing a crown of thorns, holding a lantern that is shedding light on the dark scene, and knocking on a door. Painted by William Holmen Hunt in 1853, this icon is hauntingly beautiful in its use of light. And while much can be said about the brilliant workmanship of the masterpiece perhaps what is most remarkable about the painting is what is missing; the doorknob. The door on the outside lacks a doorknob. He knocks but we must answer.

Though we resist it, our very being is crying out to answer the one who gives us life. The angels and the saints are praying for us to finally give ourselves wholly to our creator; not just our good parts but the broken, and the hurting parts. “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.” (Revelations 3:20)  

References

“The Light of the World.” Keble College, http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/about/chapel/light-of-the-world/.

Francisco, Don. Adam Where Are You? 1977, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKB2Q7JOIws.