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the atlanta skyline
southern sunset
hopefully i will be here in the next two years!
the methodist children's home
yeah-yuh.
So moving to Georgia is kind of random, but I feel a sweet peace and a goodness about it. There is the kind of anxiety that comes before a big swim meet or a play -- you want to do well, but more than anything you want to do it because you love it. That's what I think of when I think of the Methodist Children's Home, of Candler, of Atlanta.
The motto of the Decatur Children's Home is this:
Our
mission is to provide redemptive,
healing
services that bring
meaningful
change to the lives of
children and
families. Grounded by
scripture and
the tradition of the
church, we
seek to bring the wholeness
of God's love
to persons through Christ.
"grounded by scripture & the tradition of the church, we seek to bring wholeness of God's love to persons through Christ." grounded in the very Word of God, which was and is and will be, and by the tradition of the Methodist and catholic church, which historically has fought racism & classism, they seek to bring the wholeness of God's love -- to bring the shalom, the ubiquitous blessing of God -- to the children & parents, all through the only One who could do it truly -- Jesus.
I am excited about that. I am excited to be positioning myself in a place to bring God's love into dark places, and to experience God's love in meaningful, heart-changing ways. I am excited to get a chance to be love, to bring love, and then to watch the response to that love, and the outwardly directed love that I know these kids have in them. I have seen them love each other, and I have seen them get excited to love the world. Rescue is possible. Love is.
Candler's mission is this:
Candler School of Theology is grounded in the Christian faith and
shaped by the Wesleyan tradition of evangelical piety, ecumenical
openness, and social concern. Its mission is to educate—through
scholarship, teaching, and service—faithful and creative leaders for
the church’s ministries in the world.
A boring way of saying that we do good things, we do them like Methodists, like academics, like people of God who love both learning and thinking & serving and doing. I ain't about to argue with that.
I feel like I have been meeting so many people from Atlanta, all who attest to its goodness, sometimes particularly its suitability to me . . . it just fits. It fits like Isaiah prophecies fit Jesus, like Kent School fit into my hand, like Alloy pants fit me, like Liza fits into my arms for good hugs, like good things fit.
It is hard to leave other good things. And it will get harder. That's part of how I know they are so good.
To quote a verse that I used to hate people quoting because I thought it was slightly misusing the Biblical text:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
No, this verse isn't about me. It's about Jeremiah. But it fits. :)
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| | Posted 10/24/2007 10:55 PM - 64 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
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