The Parish Farming Internship 2014
I've only had two out of the five sessions of the internship and my heart has already had more than it can take. When I first arrived at the Oak House in March walking into that place with candles lit and passover waiting to be shared it felt like home.
Last year's interns' potatoes, amazing poems and prayers, vienna sausage candles, hot coffee, long talks, hot days, planting, harvesting, learning, listening, reading, writing, This internship is so much more than I can bare to take.
In May we harvested chickens. I journaled about it in my notebook. Swinging the ax it was a sobering, sanctifying experience. Out of death life is sustained. Only through death can life exist.
The details of each strawberry, the flavor, the juice, the faithfulness of God as sprouts push through soil. The thankfulness as each bite is taken and savored. The servanthood of waiting tables at Moriah Pie. Reclining at the table after a meal listening to the others talk sipping homemade wine. The candles burning low. The sound of laughter filling the room. The tension of both serious somber conversation mixed perfectly with lighthearted joking.
This is the pace of life my heart longs for. This is the community. This is the service. My heart swells in Norwood Ohio. Watching Robert and Erin's marriage, long talks about love with Robert as we prep for the pizza. Learning and asking those who have experienced such different things than me. Cracking black walnuts to make a cake. Digging in compost to expose the rat nest. Washing the dishes. collecting maple sap to make syrup. Reading those perfect literature compilations. Writing so many notes of so much wisdom. My soul agreeing and resting in such a peace.
I want to cry when I walk up the steps of that porch. I want to cry when they all greet me. I want to cry when I listen to our discussions. Why is it so beautiful?!
Why is EVERYTHING so beautiful?!
God you are good. Life is good.
So many many things and thoughts!
Shakey Graves - Roll the Bones