As you know, I have backed away from all work with Echo Resources for the past three weeks. We are trusting God for two months of other work so that the non-profit's account may build a little surplus, allowing us back into what we've been doing for the past nine years with priests like yourself. And He has supplied. Today I will finish a landscaping job where I was able to create a bit of an outdoor sanctuary.
Here's an arbor leading toward an unfinished section of the backyard.
This work is tapping my ever-present creative juices. I love listening to the land and drawing out what is already there in it. And it is doing great work to my land also, that will resend me more deeply back to you. Back into who I am, to who I was born to be.
I mentioned above how I was reminded of my heritage after being with you last night. To be clear, my heritage is not Young Life. I'm a Levite. Like you I was born into a priestly inheritance. I have never been more sure. True, during this Lenten season I have let go of the daily duties of saturating myself with scripture, prayer and Spiritual direction. But there is an inner cultivation occurring that I don't want to miss (eavesdrop in on tomorrow's letter for more).
The way God arranges and orchestrates funding is nothing more than a curiosity for me. The temptation to "raise funds" so I may continue being a priest for priests is quite large. I'm always a Levite, born into the tribe that is peculiar among the rest. I will always (with shovel in hand or leading a small group) be a priest for God's chosen.
Lastly and for the record, I have never known more gratitude to God and our friends who send us to you. God's peace.
