I've Got Peace Like a River!

This may well be my last post on this sabbatical blog, for our time away from our every day lives is about at its end. We are spending a quiet day in Butte, Montana, collecting ourselves and our junk, and preparing for our return home tomorrow. 

This last week has been bittersweet. On our way to Montana we were informed of the death of a beloved long time member of Emmanuel Church, Ted McLean. He was not on our list of people to be concerned about but died quite suddenly from a fall. We are so blessed to have a caring congregation and great pastoral leaders, doing what they do best in our absence - taking care of one another, praying for one another.

Only a couple of days later, we were also informed of the death of our long time brother in Christ, friend and mentor, Bill Jackson. We had some reason to be concerned about him, but we were hoping he would hold out until we could say good-bye one final time. It wasn't to be, however. But I have been thinking about Bill a lot as I traversed and fished the beautiful rivers of Montana, and I am certain that is exactly how he would want me to be celebrating his life and remembering him. He loved such things himself. Ted is similar. He was a great adventurer. He loved to travel and learn and see new places. I know our time away has also been an appropriate celebration of Ted's life - a celebration of life itself.

And our week in Montana, as been a banquet of life - life in so many diverse forms - the waters teaming with bugs and fish and plants, the mountains and meadows, blooming with brilliant colors and forms of wildflowers - amazing animals and birds around every turn - and the big sky above us, forever changing with the winds.

We spent the first two days of the Montana sojourn traveling towards and touring Yellowstone Park. We had never been there before. The scenery of course, is spectacular. Our poor little camera hardly captured it's beauty - but the geothermal formations were just fascinating. Old Faithful was simple sort of interesting compared to the thousands of other formations scattered throughout the park. We did get up close and personal with Old Faithful, however. The crowds were gathering as we arrived and lining up on the many benches to watch the next eruption. We decided to follow that path that circled around the geyser. When we got to the other side, away from the crowds, we sat down, thinking it would be a better place to observe the event. When the eruption finally happened, we realized why everybody else was viewing from the other side. The wind was blowing our way, and so the water also came blowing our way. So you could say we experienced Old Faithful "up close and personal." We got a nice cool shower. (the water was cold) but we dried off quickly.

We were actually more impressed with the Mammoth Hotsprings formations and many of the other geyser areas. Next time we'll plan to spend several days in the park. We only scratched the surface of what there is to see in one full day.

We then drove north and west along beautiful Hebgen Lake and River. The river valley looked like Switzerland, with the towering peaks overlooking the green valley. Fifty years ago there was a huge earthquake in this valley. A mountainside came down into the valley, killing 28 people who were camping there, and blocking the flow of the river, forming a new lake, appropriate named, Earthquake Lake.

Further on we stopped at Virginia City, in the mountains. It is an old gold mining town, which has been pretty much left in tact as it was in the late 1800s. It is now a picturesque little tourist trap with much Montana history to be absorbed.

We found our way to Butte, where my cousin, Bill Good lives. Bill has been fly fishing all his life. He is a biologist who teaches at Mountain Tech in Butte. He knows the rivers and the land and the fish, and the bugs and the plants, and he was generous enough to share two days of it all with us. We couldn't have had a more knowledgeable and patient guide if we'd looked for one!

For two days, Bill drove us on the back roads of Western Montana - all through the Big Hole River area (very famous fishing place) one day, and the Rock Creek wilderness the next. He got us in the rivers, and taught us how to think like fish. He showed us some magnificent scenery - forests, valleys, ranches, waters. We have been intimate with our surroundings, and in awe of God's creation! We have been blessed these last few days of sabbath - we have been blessed!

A brief note about my first attempt at fly fishing. I couldn't have had a better teacher! I had previously told Bill that my biggest concern wasn't catching a fish, but just being in the river, was all I needed. Into the rivers, I went! The first day, I spent attending to my line - practicing putting it together, taking it apart, untangling it (again and again.) unhooking it from trees and shrubs (again and again), tying on my fly  - loosing my fly - tying on again, navigating the water, the rocks, the sand, the mud, looking for fish, learning to think like a fish. I was exhausted, if not successful by the end of that day. My companions, were successful at good catches! The next day, I discovered more skill and confidence in myself. On about my second cast, I was shocked to see a little fish on my hook. I pulled him in, and said to him, "Well, hello! You are my very first fish! Nice to meet you." Then I gently pulled the hook out of his mouth and released my four incher back into the beautiful river. Neither of my companions actually saw my prize, but I'll always remember it. Today I'm feeling excited about keeping this new pursuit up when I return home. We have all this equipment now, and we actually know a bit more about what we are doing. It will be a good thing to do together in the future.

I find that there have been some common themes emerging from this sabbatical of such varying landscapes and peoples. One theme is the earth - knowing God through all the beautiful and diverse forms of nature we have seen and experienced. We have been especially made aware of our need to enjoy it more fully and care for it more passionately.

A second theme is community. We have made wonderful connections with such diverse peoples - native Americans, Quackenbush family adventures, the poor and homeless of Washington D. C. , we have been befriended and welcomed by Christian communities, who nurtured our spirits and shared their faith with us. We have found God speaking in and through these people who in community, care passionately for God, each other and the "least of these." We have learned much from all of them, and we know they will have ongoing influence in the way we live our lives and worship God.

And perhaps the most important theme I've gleaned from this Sabbath time is learning how not to hurry! During this time we done so much and learned so much, but never in a hurried way. On the reservation, we experienced "Indian Time," meaning - things get started whenever everyone gets there and is finally ready. In D. C. our days were full, but not too full. We were never in a hurry to get any place and or do anything. We didn't rush. We had to wait often. Every moment was important and full. And finally, one of the greatest lessons that fishing teaches you is - not to hurry. Wait for the fish. Move slowly or you will slip and fall, or your line will get messed up, or you'll chase the fish away. Yes, I've learned how not to hurry, and I pray that I will carry this skill with me from now on.

 

Christ House

Our days in D. C. among the communities and ministries of the Church of the Savior are coming to a close. The fourth of July weekend is beginning, and there will be much going on in this city, but not much more chance for us to interact with the people of this remarkable group of churches. We were told that we really needed to go to Christ House before we departed, which is only a half a block from where we stay, to attend their weekly Thursday evening Table Fellowship. 

You may remember that Christ House is a rehab facility for homeless people who are recovering from hospitalizations and addictions. We had attended their Sunday morning worship service and had been quite inspired by the quality and enthusiasm of the music and the prayers. The music is in African American style for the most part and very vital. 

We were welcomed to Christ House Thursday evening by Allen Goetcheus , who is the minister there. It turns out he is Methodist in affiliation. He has been at Christ House since before its beginning. The building was purchased in 1983. It was an old apartment building, which had been vacant for many years. It took two years to remodel and transform it into the center that it was to become. Christ House opened in December of 1985. Many of the staff members have been there since then or for many years. Allen's wife, Janelle, is the medical director for Christ House as well as a number of other related health care agencies. They live there at Christ House, along with several other staff members who have apartments in the building.

The second floor is where the patients live and are cared for. There are about 35 men and women (mostly men) who live there. The average stay is about 30 days. On the second floor are their bedrooms, treatment and examination rooms, and offices for case workers and other treatment team folks. It is run much like a hospital...except, it has more of a family feel than any hospital or treatment facility I've experienced.

The first floor has a large community room where meals are shared and worship is held and some meetings are held. There are also offices and smaller meeting rooms on that floor. They have a shower program for the homeless not living there on that floor. Up to ten people per day can come take showers and receive clean clothing, provided they have a case worker and are hooked up with specific programs. AA meetings are held for the patients and neighborhood folks about four times per week. The people under care there suffer from hypertension, diabetes, mental illness, addictions, cancer, AIDs, and often have many more than one problem.

They not only receive treatment, but then receive placement in other facilities, like nearby Karios House. The idea is to help them become self sustaining, or find adequate, sustainable living situations off the streets.

The Table Fellowship started off with a lot of joyful music. We were seated with a group of men who had led the music the previous Sunday. Three of them were singers, and one was the electric bass player. (The main music leader was the blind piano player.)  After the introductory music, Allen began a communion liturgy, saying "God wants you to have this bread." We passed the bread to one another. Then came the main meal. It was perhaps the best meal we'd eaten here in D. C. ..stuffed chicken, vegetables, potatoes, and strawberry chiffon pie! After the meal there was a short scripture reading and a few people were asked to volunteer to respond to it. There was no shortage of responders among all the men.  After that there was a lot more music. They actually gave us a hymnal as a gift to us. 

 The service ended with the passing and sharing of the cup...then all stood hand in hand, singing, "Bind us together, Lord." I felt fortunate to take the hand of Michael, who had just spent two months in the hospital, and nearly died. Many expressed great thankfulness for his presence there that evening. One of the common prayers we've heard around here from so many of the former addicts and homeless men is.."Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning." They truly understand that each day is such a gift!

Christ House depends on the contributions of many individuals and churches to keep doing this ministry. They also utilize a number of volunteers. As a place to volunteer, I find it very appealing, because of the contagious hope and faith found among the people there. As Janelle explained to me, "Each person here is a resurrection story."

The photos above are of Christ House. There is another "Jesus" sculpture in the front of the building, done by the same artist that sculpted the "Servant Christ," in front of the Festival Center and at Wellspring Conference Center. The Jesus at Christ House is looking upward, toward the second floor where those being served live and are being healed. A second sculpture that you see is a metal collage of people shapes, representing the people in the Christ House neighborhood. We were so glad to culminate our stay here in such a joyful and meaningful way.