(a non-) coastal fox that was (not) in the garden

on my coastal-redwood retreat last week, who knew that my eyes would be opened so as i read a little paperback book?!  the beauty of the week, was somewhat diminished as i read 'not just a one night stand; ministry with the homeless' by john flowers and karen vannoy.

i was visually seeing the information in this book, and wondering how we change the system; what would it take to get people 'off the streets' and also willing to change their lifestyle.  i can speak about how difficult it is to continually address the changes i need to make in my lifestyle...how does one change a nation?  health care, mental health, food scarcity, standard of living, dependency, loss, spiraling downward....how do we care and make a difference and not keep the cycle going?

ironic, how the beauty is also the environment in which change is the most difficult to address.  no simple solutions, and stopping all forms of programing to address the needs is not a solution either.

 

but here in merced, we have a group that is forming to address some form of community garden at the church.  if nothing else, it has been a conversation starter -- one that seems to continue to be on the minds of the community.  for instance, leave it to a group of united methodist women from merced to travel to a meeting in oakdale where there is, of all things, a church garden.  and, on top of everything else, they have a conversation about it, and take pictures, and solicit examples of crops that could be grown in this area. 

what an example of being faithful stewards...and they thoughtfully brought a 'care package' to the pastor.  awesome!  what a treat!

we've talked about how we can utilize this community garden, still just an idea being kicked around...including students across the street at our neighborhood elementary school...growing crops to be included in our food pantry...using this as a demonstration of how to extend healthy habits...

what a remarkable experience this past week has been for me.  so, as i was thinking about all of this on my early morning walk on monday, what should exit stage left toward (what i presume was a den) but a beautiful fox...right there on van guard; crossing a vacant lot in the area where i am now walking, "van" -- could be male or female; i didn't stop to check -- was this huge flowing tale.  i've never seen a fox up close and personal before; beautiful flowing tale.  i may never see 'van' again, but i won't stop looking every time i am on that street.

what could possibly bring a fox so close to a neighborhood?  food or water?  perhaps all animals are alike after all; we need safety and protection; shelter and food; space and adventure.

and so, as i reflect upon a non-coastal fox that was not in the garden, i am mindful of what an impact this week made in my life; the homeless who are my sisters and brothers; the sisters who were so missionally minded that their meeting became an opportunity to learn about a community garden and what they could do in their/(our) community; and a fox just seeking to live without danger.  we, none of us, are really all that different.

on my bed at retreat, a tangerine (ok, and some hard candy!) greeted me with these words from hildegard of bingen...good people....  i leave them with you to ponder:

. . . rooted in the sun,

you shine with radiant light.

in this circle of

earthly existence

you shine so finely,

it surpasses understanding.

god hugs you.

you are encircled

in the arms of

the mystery of god.

the living water lives in us.  how will you be the living water for someone today . . . .