I would post another Columbus article but, truth is, I don’t have that much more on him. I have a few bits and pieces and I think I should save those to weave into other posts. I also have a dozen or so posts I am working on that will be posted this winter. They deal with how the Vikings and others moved into the New World, taking it step by step and showing the evidence. It will take a lot of time and time is something I don’t have a lot of right now so… patience, please. The November 2009 issue of Islands magazine is on the stands right now. It is worth buying just for the article on the lost colony of Vikings who lived on Greenland for hundreds of years and then… disappeared. It is called “Greenland’s Ghosts.”

Some who joined us in prayer last spring didn’t get the news so here it is: Kami and I have decided to stay here at Rochester Church for some time to come. The elders asked us to commit to this work and we were touched by their sweet spirits and kind words. We love this church — more than we could ever say. Truth? We wondered if we were the right people for this work and that is why we asked our friends to pray with us. We consider the elders’ request an answer from God. Thank you for being a part of that prayer time.

I am still reeling from my visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in early September. I have been reading Taylor Branch’s trilogy on American during the King years. It runs around 2500 pages of text, not counting the hundreds of pages of bibliography. I’m about 1300 pages in so far and almost every page has been a gut-punch. I am having my attitudes about so many politicians, presidents, government departments, churches, civic leaders, etc. change after having them held up to the light of day. I plan to write a bit about that in the next day or so — here or over at Tentpegs. Some of our African-American members have encouraged me during this, assuring me that they think my heart is pure and good even as I shake my head in disgust at my lack of action to bring about justice and reconciliation among God’s children — in my youth and in my adulthood.

I just got back in last night around midnight. I spent this weekend at Discover, a youth rally in Monroe, Louisiana. Jason Barnard and John Dobbs are there at Forsythe Road and it was wonderful to see them again. I don’t know how many kids were there but they filled every seat in the school auditorium we used. Watershed regrouped for this weekend and sang their hearts out several times a day. It was good to see Sean Algaier post “Biggest Loser” and see how his spirit has just gotten sweeter. He has lost 160 pounds so far. Amazing. The December reunion show should be very cool. Dusty Rush did a fine job delivering a keynote and some classes.

Two girls were baptized at the rally and a young person asked for prayers. The kids were extremely well behaved and went out of their way to come over and introduce themselves to me. Being in the south, I got a lot of “sir’s” tossed my way. Not a bad thing, by the way. The crowd was racially mixed and it seemed like everyone got along just fine…

Which isn’t the case everywhere in Louisiana. That same week, a Justice of the Peace in Louisiana refused a marriage license to an interracial couple. He claimed that he, personally, wasn’t prejudiced… it was for the sake of any children they might have. Ludicrous. Governor Jindal immediately decried the racism inherent in that decision and took steps to correct it. Thing is, I remember that very reason being given in pulpits all through my childhood. Preachers would say “Now the Bible doesn’t say black people can’t marry white people, but I think it would be too hard on any children they might have so I advise against it.” At the time, I bought it. I thought they were acting out of kindness. I know better now and I’m ashamed I didn’t catch it earlier (though, to be fair, I was probably all of ten years old when I last heard that).

It seems there is much to do. If I only had the energy and brain cells to do it! I flew down to Monroe via Atlanta and back via Memphis. Oddly enough, there aren’t direct flights from Detroit. The Monroe airport was… different. No restaurant or bookstore. No, only a waiting area with flat screen TVs tuned to the Saints game, a closed restaurant, some vending machines for drinks, and a tiny security area and waiting area beyond. Post security screening, there was no water fountain or restroom. Hadn’t seen that before. Worn out… weary… I am glad that God allows me to continue to go and work for Him. And I’m glad He is giving me time to learn things I should have known a long time ago.