THE COWGIRL CONVERSATION
Three years ago a group of us sat down at the COW
GIRL Saloon in Santa Fe and banged out some ideas on an order we proposed to
start together. While there was plenty of energy for this effort, it proved to
be difficult to execute due to the great geographical distance between us and
the space between gatherings. For historical purposes, here is a summary of what
we dreamed of
together:
PART 1
PERSPECTIVE
WE BELIEVE THAT A MORE
BEAUTIFUL AND GENERATIVE LIFE IS POSSIBLE
WE ARE A PEOPLE LONGING
FOR A MORE INTEGRATED LIFE WITH GOD.
WE WANT OUR KIDS AND OTHER
PEOPLE WE INFLUENCE TO EXPERIENCE A BETTER WAY OF LIFE, A BETTER WAY OF BEING
CHRISTIAN
IN A WORLD THAT NO LONGER TRUSTS EMPTY GOD WORDS, .WE
WANT TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE REALITY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AMONG US
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM AND THE LIFE OF
JESUS IS: (1) HOLISTIC (relates to every dimension of our lives) & (2)
INTEGRATIVE (that the various dimensions of our lives are contingent upon each
other, like a web).
SIMILARLY, WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE MESSAGE
OF THE KINGDOM IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING TO BELIEVE COGNITIVELY, BUT SOMETHING TO
RESPOND TO WITH OUR VERY LIVES.
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF JESUS IS AN INVITATION INTO THE QUALITY OF
LIFE THE CREATOR IMAGINES FOR US: LOVE FOR GOD EXPRESSED THROUGH LOVE FOR ALL
THAT GOD HAS MADE.
SO WE KEEP ASKING OURSELVES, "WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO LOVE THE CREATOR AND THE CREATION?" or "HOW DO WE SPECIFICALLY BECOME PEOPLE
FORMED IN THE WAY OF JESUS?"
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT A WAY OF LIFE,
CERTAIN PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PRACTICES, ARE THE NECESSARY MEANS OF BEING
FORMED IN THE WAY OF JESUS.
WE DESIRE TO COMMIT OURSELVES,
PERSONALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, TO A RHYTHM OF LIFE AND A SET OF PRACTICES THAT
HELP US TO BE FORMED IN THE WAY OF JESUS.
VARIOUS COMMUNITIES OF
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE DEVELOPED PECULIAR AND PROPHETIC WAYS OF LIFE IN
PURSUIT OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR DEVELOPING SUCH A
PATTERN IS NOT IN ITS INHERENT UNIQUENESS OR IMPROVEMENT UPON PAST EFFORTS, BUT
IN OUR INTENTION, AS A LIVING LOCAL & GLOBAL COMMUNITY, TO LIVE OUT THESE
PRACTICES AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER'S FORMATION & TRANSFORMATION IN THE
TIMES & PLACES WHERE WE LIVE.
WE SEEK A SUSTAINABLE RHYTHM OF
LIFE THAT
INCLUDES:
PART 2:
PRACTICES
RELATIONSHIPS:
HOSPITALITY
CELEBRATION
PROXIMAL
CONNECTEDNESS (nuclear family, extended family, neighbors, friends,
etc.)
LISTENING WITH THE POSTURE OF "I Don't
Know."
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE OPPRESSED
cOMPASSIONATE
SOLIDARITY & SERVICE AMONG THE
FORGOTTEN
BODY:
HEALTHY
NUTRITION & EXERCISE
SABBATH KEEPING & REGULAR PERIODS OF
REST
SLEEP
PERIODIC ABSTINENCE FROM PHYSICAL, MATERIAL
& MENTAL COMFORTS
TIME
& MONEY:
SIMPLICITY
(Focused use of energy & resources)
EXISTENTIAL
EXUBERANCE--BEING PRESENT IN THE MOMENT & OPEN TO THE VOICE OF
GOD
WE SEE EVERY MOMENT AND EVENT OF DAILY LIFE AS
SACRAMENTAL
FINANCIAL SIMPLICITY &
SUSTAINABILITY
HEALTHY RHYTHMS OF WORK, RELATIONSHIPS &
REST
FRUGALITY
GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT: LIVING WITHIN THE
LIMITS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE RESTFULLY
GENEROSITY
ABUNDANCE
SOUL&
MIND:
SILENCE &
SOLITUDE
LISTENING TO SCRIPTURE IN
COMMUNITY
PILGRIMAGE
CREATIVITY & BEAUTY
(celebrate, honor, pursue)
STORY TELLING
RISK
TAKING
Posted: Sat
- June 17, 2006 at 09:44 AM