Cleaning House

We are in the White House, well okay, right now I'm not at all, I'm at my old house because they have the internet and we haven't quite made it that far at the White House, but that aside after weeks of negotiating and planning we have the keys, most of our rooms have been unpacked, we've had our first house meetings and meals and junior sporting trophies have been placed in far too prominent areas. We're just finding our feet at this stage, actually people have hardly been home. Just quietly it's a little scary when you're there all by yourself. It's been fun though. I like coming home and reading the notes that have been left behind for each other on the kitchen counter.

Already there's a great sense of community, community pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, community that's been shaped by a call to trust God and each other as we ask God to help us to love one another as if our lives depended on it. We hear the call to travel with a deep consciousness of God as he shifts things in us and guides us with his love. And while we're sure that God cares deeply about the house, there's a sense in which God is asking each one of us to clean house, our house, our lives - life that begins now, not when we're done and dusted.

And what is community if it doesn't reach beyond itself? Initially, at least, we will take some time settling before we take some young people in (though there are several waiting and ready). We feel that it is important to develop some rhythms and practices that will guide the house and to continue to form community. It seems right to do some time in the wilderness together before we embark on the next chapter.

We are going to meet on Sunday's from 11-12 to read some scripture and pray followed by lunch at the house, if you'd like to be involved you're more than welcome, drop any of us a line and we'll make sure there's some food for you too!

Also, if you feel strongly, like a flame shut up in your bones to be a part of something like this then let us know, maybe you should be in the house with us, so think, pray, act, but don't let the thinking get in your way too much.

Bless you all,
Jesse on behalf of Obama and the White House