Tall Monastic Guy

remembering character

The feature article in last weeks Westword exposed a sad story of a local pastor's tragic history of character deprivation. It's difficult to describe just how deeply disturbed I became after reading that. (Here's the full article) I was disturbed because the article was not simply an indictment upon that individual but rather upon myself. Actually, the article was a crass exposure of all of us wrapped up in a system which grossly undervalues character and the development of an inner life. 

Is God a God of confusion? Part 2

Last week I sat down with two good men named Bill and Alan.

Bill served in special forces in the first Gulf War and Alan served in the Navy in El Salvador in the late 70’s. Both now fall under the category of chronically homeless, survivors working each day to avoid the variety of trials and tribulations that come with street life.

I asked them, “Do you have any regrets?”

Bill enthusiastically agreed with Alan’s response, “We were conditioned, brain washed to be a certain way as soldiers serving our country. Now were spending the rest of our lives trying to recover. There is no ‘back to normal’ for us.”

Ugh! I grieve for these men. As of today, Bill was finally placed into housing by the VA, but who knows what the future holds.

My previous post was a response to the college student’s question, “Is God a God of confusion?” Ever since last week’s conversation with Bill and Alan I’ve noticed the similarities between that college student and the two homeless veterans.