Friday, July 31, 2009

My mind is still full of Montreal. I loved it's busy but distracted energy, its distain for functionalism and the way I could make friends with people with out them saying "What the hex happened to your hair?". Currently I'm in Toronto which right now feels like a smarter version of Calgary. I'm not trying to be pretentious (remember I live in Tbay-o (which is as good a place as any))but I really enjoy history, art and interesting people and there seemed to be an eclectic gathering of each of these in this city. However, now with my head a muddle from ....

conversations with A Guinean fashion designer, a developmental graduate from Kentucky/Sweden, a young native activist/artist and an Iranian human rights lobbyist

Great literature from.....

C.S. Lewis, 'Che' Guevara and an anarchist bookstore I stumbled upon

as well as a thousand thousand words given through works in .......

the Montreal museum of fine art and museum of modern art

I think I'm ready to sit in a quiet place and process the many ways, words and images I've had the pleasure of experienc.


When I first realized the caliber of the art that I would be seeing in one of the museums (Monet, van Gogh) I decide I would spend some good time with a piece of art and soak. I also decided that it wasn't going to be a Crucifix (I felt I'd been move more than enough by the old image of death on a cross) but I guess I'm just stubbornly in love with that old deity of Christ.


.... following from my journal....


I saw the most powerful crucifix of my life. I was caught between a respectful sigh and a half smile at this unrealistic but all too familiar image. It had a cartoonish face and figure but held all the vulnerability and sorrow a dieing man is due. There was no clenched bloody fists or aungstful gaze at heaven or earth. It was exactly what the crucifixion was..... unrealistic

Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Why are you still so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"




Hitchhiking

Slightly strange form of travel for those that might be slightly strange.
Dangerous ........? maybe
Death wish.........? unlikely

A prophet for modern times and a dear person, I'd like to think could be my friend said.....
...... After I was done with Seminary and "studying" the Bible my class mates and me came to understanding that we didn't actually have to risk our lives for GODs causes we only needed to be "willing" to.
-Heavily paraphrased by me but idea from a lecture by Tony Campolo

I'm into week two of my eastern/greatlakes tour. My travels being due to an exceptionally slow mid summer at the youth centre (I work at) and an insisting itching in my feet. I left last week monday for Montreal with very little belongings and a open plan. Why Montreal.....? mostly because I have two friends summering there and it's as nice a place as any to spend some time in. I had some tentative ideas on how I was going to get to Montreal but also an underling hope for adventure that a three hour flight wouldn't quite complete.

After receiving the personal affirmation I needed from GOD I decided to hitch, believing that.......

What's the point in having an All Powerful GOD if you don't live like you believe it?


So lets raise our communion glasses and risk our lives to the word that ............................when faced with a storm shouted to us the church.....
"Why are you still so afraid!!!!!!? Do you STILL have no faith!!!!!?
-Jesus Mark 4:40