Reflection from DC

Lord, I am amazed at the diversity you’ve placed around us. I walk down the street in NYC and hear more languages than I can understand or name. Everywhere is a sea of faces no two of whom are alike. Even in suburban DC, a Korean woman is studying Chemistry at a table next to me. People outside greet by kissing each other’s cheeks three times. There is so much diversity in this world. So much I do not know or understand.

It is amazing to think of where we have been; from Rochester to Boston to New Haven to NYC. Each seminary we visited has its own distinct character, as does each individual on the street outside. Here we are people as different as can be and trying to make meaning out of our lives. Searching, loving, and crying along the way.

Kent and I have done a lot of reflection over these last ten days. I guess living next to someone for virtually every moment naturally leads to conversation and questions. I’ve realized (or had it pointed out to me) that I have a hard time admitting my mistakes. I have made a few I suppose. Seems human enough.

Yet admitting I was wrong is hard, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. We have this free gift called Grace. I find it easy to admit having stepped off the path in a global sense. Yet, when someone calls me out on a specific event, I shuffle my feet a bit. I feel like I’m not alone in this. My challenge is to really level with God, and to grab Grace with both hands.

Grace and Peace to you, Eric :p

It’s tragic that extremists co-opt the notion of God, and that hipsters and artists reject spirituality out of hand. I don’t have a fixed idea of God. But I feel that it’s us – the messed up, the half-crazy, the burning, the questioning – that need God, a lot more than the goody-two-shoes do. – Mike Doughty (from a Starbucks coffee cup – ironic huh?)

Staying In Touch

Before Eric and I left we met a woman who was flabbergasted that we were leaving for nearly a year. She seemed shocked that two boys would want to use my silver painted, lightly dented Honda Civic as a low mileage U-Haul. But even more stunned than she was with our reckless adventure she seemed astonished that our parents were allowing our departure.

“How are you okay with this?” she asked my mom pretending it was still the 1950’s. “I mean how are you going to stay in touch with them?”

“Well they do have cell phones,” my mom answered still behind the times herself but aware that her son was not.

But what my mom said is right; we are connected. We have cell phones. In fact we have cell phones with internet and text messaging. And then of course we have computers with wireless internet, e-mail which can be sent individually or in mass form, a Myspace account that includes links to our favorite sites, a Website featuring “new” photo albums, and of course, as you know from reading this, two blogs saturated with the finest travel journalism known to society. To say we are connected is a cosmic understatement.

But what does all this technology mean? I mean sure it helps me call my parents or tell Amber goodnight. But does is it really create a deeper form of communication?

I’ve decided this week that I am going back to the basics in communication. Rather than try and answer my 37 daily e-mails, I am simply going to spend more time praying. Don’t worry; I won’t cut you off completely. But rather than describing daily how good my Smooth Jiffy and Strawberry Smuckers sandwich was, I will pray for God’s peace and love in your life. I hope you understand. I assure you I am not doing this because I am tired of our friendship. Rather I am doing this because I feel like it is time we took our friendship to the next level. I believe it is time we became the type of friends who actually pray for each other.

So what do you say? Are you in? Let’s stop writing the quote and start living the words.

“I am praying for you,”

Kent

Rainy Day in Boston

Today it rained in Boston. As I sit in a Pete’s Coffee in Newton and cradle my cup of Black Currant tea in my hands, I’m reminded of my friend Katy Van de Putte from Albion. She likes it when it rains, rain for her is God’s way of washing everything clean, as a reminder that we are forgiven and that we can start again.

In some ways I feel a need to start again, to try in whatever ways are possible to set aside my lenses and paradigms as we begin our Pilgrimage. In visiting divinity and theological schools this week, it has been fascinating to see what preconceived notions about a school we arrive with. As we meet with students and toured campuses our ideas have either been affirmed or rejected by our experiences there. America is an amazingly diverse place in terms of religious traditions and I pray that our eyes can be opened to see and experience that on this journey.

We visited the Pluralism Project in Cambridge for example, and learned about the work they are doing there to provide resources for people of different faiths. These traditions are at times struggling to come together, often after issues of ignorance and fear had driven a wedge into a community. The InterFaith Conference in D.C. is really one of the organizations on the edge in helping people to build relationships and understanding among differing faith communities. Kent and I are both looking forward to our time there and to being able to serve.

Traveling as we are now is a wonderful opportunity, as is visiting with family and investigation potential schools. However, both of us at heart are eager to arrive at our first location and to begin the work of helping others. I learned when I first moved to LA that while the contemplative life may be the philosophical ideal, I’m always convicted after a time that I have been given so much I need to be involved in some endeavor that allows me to give back.

Peace, Eric :p

And so the journey begins

 

One day of driving and I am already exhausted!

Eric and I have successfully driven through Canada and arrived in Rochester, New York.  It was a long, full day filled with difficult goodbyes, 500 plus miles of driving and packing, packing and repacking. 

To put it simply the day was a blended tornado of emotions on the rocks.  At times I felt scared, afraid, and heartbroken to be moving on and then within five minutes I was speechless with anticipation. To think that Eric and I have been planning this day for more than two years now and that it has finally come true is surreal.  God is good!

Well it is only 10 o’clock but my eyes are heavy.  Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Blessings,

Kent

PS. Tomorrow is Eric’s birthday.  If you want to send him well wishes his e-mail is emkrieger@gmail.com.

Welcome

Hey, welcome to A New Kind of Pilgrimage. It seems like we’re down to the wire as we head off on Monday morning around 8 AM. The first day should be 10 hours in the car or so to Rochester, NY where I have family. I think a trip like this is good at least once in everyone’s life. First you have to realize how much stuff you really do not need. (Kent and I have it down to about 6 Rubbermaid totes and that includes camping gear.) Secondly, you have to have faith that things will work themselves out. God is a lot bigger than we are and we can’t think of everything (though our parents have tried for us).

All told, we’re both really excited. I know that we will meet God in some unlikely places and as long as we can walk into every situation with an open mind our time will be fruitful. Doesn’t make the idea of living out of a car for 10 months rosier but I think that will be part of the fun as well. The next two days are going to be spent with family, our girlfriends, and doing the little last minutes before hitting the road. Check back here often and we’ll keep you updated on where and how we are.

God’s Peace, Eric :p