Where have I been!?

I know, I know....it's been months. But I've been busy figuring things out. Well, perhaps it's less of me figuring out then simply me trodding along doing as best I can to pursue God. Why don't we pick up where we left off (as best as I can remember.) .....

Upon returning from Bangkok I was in a flurry to find out what was going on with prostitutes in my own city, San Francisco. I began walking the Tenderloin and searching for anyone who was doing work with prostitutes. Amidst all this, I knew that the priority for me was to find a group of people who could support me/join with me. For alone, I am but one, and am easily distracted and led off course - among other things :)

It happened that I took a trip to LA and ended up meeting this woman, Jude, who is with an organization called InnerCHANGE. Now, InnerCHANGE also has a team in SF and I had been looking into being part of them - however I had a number of reservations (namely, it wouldn't so much work with me doing medical stuff, and I would have to raise support). InnerCHANGE describes themselves as "an incarnational order among the poor." And they embody much of the ideals that I strive to live out. In talking with Jude I told her a little about myself and my reservations with InnerCHANGE. After hearing my thoughts, she said there is a woman there in LA who I should meet, Kathy. Kathy is a PA (Physician's Assistant...aka - what I'm planning on being) and was one time part of the team, but formally left so she could do more full-time medical work, however she still lives in the neighborhood, works at a free-clinic in the neighborhood, and is very closely involved with the InnerCHANGE folks and the things they do within the neighborhood. Now...for those of you who don't know...this explanation of Kathy's life is exactly how I would describe my ideal living! I was so excited to hear someone else was doing what I'd always wanted to do myself!

Another trip to LA followed, so I could spend some time with Kathy. I followed her around at the free clinic she works at, I checked out the neighborhood more, and met the rest of the InnerCHANGE folks there. It didn't take long for me to decide that this was the right place for me to be. So many peices fit.

I can't say exactly what life will be like there or exactly what I'll be doing. But I will be doing it near some pretty cool people in a super cool neighborhood (Did I talk about the neighborhood? It's completely latino... just west of downtown...I need to seriously brush up on my Spanish...I'll write more about it later) I'm hoping to get an ER job at a hospital nearby. I'm hoping to get to know some prostitutes. I'm hoping to get to know people in the neighborhood. I'm hoping that I'll get to be involved with creating art. I'm hoping to get into PA school for Fall '07. I'm hoping.

In the beginning of July I packed up my stuff and dropped it off in LA storage, accompanied by my fabulous roomate Amy. And I'm at the moment in Las Vegas spending some time with my
family. Kim (my best friend) is also moving to LA to attend Fuller Seminary, and we'll be living together (which is also cool!) So I've been waiting for her to get done with her Oakland commitments before we move together to LA...which will be in just a few weeks now, near Sept.1st. It's been a great opportunity for me to spend some prolonged time at home. Spending lots of time with family...It's been fun getting to know my nephews a little better (I have 3 'new' ones under the age of 2!) Catching up with some friends. And also doing odd jobs around the house and for the metal business. I've been grateful for this interim between two lives. San Francisco was hard to say goodbye to. It's become my home over the past 5 years and there are many people there that are extremely dear to me. I will certainly miss San Fran...but I'm excited for the joys, challenges, and life that await in Los Angeles.

The Foolishness of God…a poem by Luci Shaw

Perform Impossibilities or perish. Thrust out now the unseasonal ripe figs among your leaves. Expect the mountain to be moved. Hate parents, friends, and all materiality. Love every enemy. Forgive more times than seventy-seven. Camel-like, squeeze by into the kingdom through the needle’s eye. All fear quell. Hack off your hand, or else, unbloodied, go to hell.

Thus the divine unreason. Despairing you may cry, with earthy logic –How? And I your God, reply: Leap from your weedy shallows. Dive into the moving water. Eye-less, learn to see truly. Find in my folly your true sanity. Then, Spirit-driven, run on my narrow way, sure as a child. Probe, hold my unhealed hand, and bloody, enter heaven.