Summer school.

Week one has been a stressful, draining time.  So, some words I've been living in:

"We confess you to be the God who calls,

who wills,

who summons,

who has concrete intentions

for your creation,

and addresses human agents who do your will.

We imagine ourselves called by you...

Yet a strange lot:

called but cowardly, 

obedient but self-indulgent, 

devoted to you, but otherwise preoccupied.

In our strange mix an answering and refusing,

We give thanks for your call.

We pray this day, 

for ourselves, fresh vision;

for our friends, great courage,

for those who search for you

in places more dangerous than ours,

deep freedom.

As we seek to answer your call, may we be haunted

by your large purposes,

We pray in the name of the utterly called Jesus. Amen."

- Walter Brueggeman

I have also spent a little relaxation time listening to Krista Tippet (who I have written about previously). I love her.  And her voice is possibly the most soothing thing I've ever heard. 

She recently did an interview about the history of torture, along with it's long-term effects socially and politcally. It was enlightening, so if that's your kind of thing, you should give it a listen!