In many ways this has been a year of trials and obstacles. Natalia & I had to move out of the house for a season, Matt spent over half of the year out of town (and country), and with the smallest team we have had in years the guys took on the most ambitious ventures in hospitality that I can remember. 2011 started with a bullet lodged in one of our vehicles. Then within the first two weeks of the year we all had gotten ill from some communal plague, we had three intruders into our back yard, a stolen vehicle, and we got the place ready for the first Lake House wedding for a couple from our home church. And so the year went. We struggled as a community with convictions that lead us to turn off the heat and air conditioning as a way of breaking our addictions to comfort, consume less, and striving for a just lifestyle. As we sweat throughout the year we also faced many personal struggles and convictions that were faced as a family.
This year I had more opportunities to speak out than I ever had before as I pleaded with our city council not to legislate against our poor, challenged a local middle class church that meets in our neighborhood to love our neighbors, and had more speaking engagements than I was aware I could handle. I also had the opportunity to develop and teach an 8 week course on an ecological theology of liberation with the underground institute under the name
Jesus & Urban Gardening. This material really came to me like a gift from God as Erica and I spent 30 days in April eating nothing but food that was sourced from within 100 miles of the Lake House.
Robby really kicked things into gear over the summer and busted out project after project which resulted in a cooler, cleaner house that once again had hot water that is warmed by Brother Sun.
Drew & Phillip both married and moved out and we had a beautiful columbian named Hugo & a Mad Genius named Cliff join our ranks. (Clayton just moved in at the end of the year as well)
We removed the dryer and learned to cook outside, we had many guests and we hosted some really great parties. We have struggled this year with communal disciplines and we are growing increasingly aware of our desperate need for the Spirit of God.
2011 was rough on us all but I am grateful to Jesus for the way he has walked with us and faithfully taught us along the way. When I look at our community today and think back to where we were 12 months ago I know this has formed a depth and unity between us like the effect great battles have on the men who return from them.
We anticipated a growth in community this year as it began. We spoke of other house and additions of people and projects. The anticipation of growth was correct but we were mistaken on what that would look like. Numerically we look very similar to what we did a year ago, as far as projects go we have actually atrophied (or streamlined for the optimists) but I know that growth has taken place in each of us as individuals and as a community as well. We have weathered storms and grown roots. May these roots draw deeply on the Grace and presence of God and may 2012 bear the fruit.
