success?

today, i'm reminded that i'm not responsible for the success of outcomes. i'm just here to dream of a better country and to work for that dream as if it can come to be for my family, community, country, and the world. we are the privileged - scheming under the hot star signing hymns and sonnets. i am blessed to be in the teeth of the incinerator. the sun is out, and i'm smiling.

10/14. Salt Lake City, UT

why was i made
to scrape this terrain?
how then shall we live
when it's giving us the bends?
how can we survive
it's a fight to stay alive?
where will go
when home is status quo?

if we were made for more
then why do we need all these cars?
and name tags and jobs and identities
if industry is an adequate god
why are our farmers robbed?
why are our women painted on every t.v. screen
for pleasant scenery

if we're the chosen ones
why is beauty being defined by demons?
sitting in marketing meetings
and why are we eating
all they're feeding ?

you are.

You are good.
and You cannot be otherwise so
in Your hands
we uncomfortably wrestle
with all You are
opposed to what we see
in the psalmist cave
we're on our knees

What is this?
Can you hear the noise from our lips?
It's the only thing left to say
My world is yours to take
take my family, take my job
take the cash deep in my pockets (soul)
take this stone, replace a heart
give me the Spirit to grasp the goodness You are

You are there.
& You cannot be never here
in the womb
in the tomb
in the burning and beautiful
we call out
and often hear nothing
then wake to see
You were the sound
of our calling

10/27/2010

good night, argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina
good night argentina.

We left summer in Guatemala and found spring flirting with Brazil & Argentina. Buenos Aires stole my heart. Spain and Eastern Europe holding hands, trading architecture and pouring Malbec. I sat at a cafe on a street corner and watched students intersect with a cup - cafe con leche. Argentina stole my heart.

Brazil.

Brazil.

right now, i'm on a 7 hour flight to Brazil. instead of sleeping last night, i gave up my hour of z for a sip of the rooster Gallo and the spin cycle. it was worth it. thank you Guatemala City for giving me clean underpants.

Sao Paulo = Lost in Translation
We're now off the grid. Spanish is a second language here. English is further behind third. Portuguese sounds french with a few familiar spanish words. Everyone keeps poking me for attention, because i travel with important people, and they want a shot of a celebrity by one degree of separation. I deny all the requests with a loaded smile. To remedy a grueling work day, we got lost in the streets of Sao Paulo with the courage of a local beverage called Caprinia, and a full belly from a Churrascaria. I ate a chicken heart. it tasted like a mushroom. We were told to avoid Taxi's because they aren't metered and frequent kidnapping's occur. Through a maze of dark streets, we found some good Sao Paulo culture. Joakini's Bakina burger. One of the better burgers in the world with a side of herb mayo and Brahama Black.

3 Hours later we were on a bus driving across Brazil, crossing randomly placed plantain orchards and ancient ruins. Ribeirao Preto and Goiania were a blur. Just a big mess of communication scrabble and culture shock.