Kelsie and I connected with an old friend who teaches the Bible (walks really slowly through the teachings of Jesus) in a church basement in Ironton. Eric seems to have studied heavily, the historical context, and teaches quite creatively (utilizing powerpoint). He and his brother Ty (who are my brother's age and his good friends as well) were one of the original influences in my life (christianity, pulp fiction, jimmy hendrix) and I looked up to them like I did my brother. They were supposed to be teaching me basketball skills, but they became the first glimpses as to what it looked like to be holistic through their action and contemplation.

Eric and Ty both could have given their life to basketball, but they have chosen instead to give it to this poor/godforsaken community here in Ironton. I had to go to Columbus, then to Boston, to seek and learn that idea.

I still don't know that I could give my life to this community, but we do want to be apart of his small gathering/teaching on Sundays, trying to learn, connect, and encourage the best we can while we are here.

I am also trying to become a substitute teacher in order to reconnect a bit.

I really don't want to despise this place anymore...we have to be the grass/weeds that come up through the cracks of the concrete.

The factories still loom over us here...they created and destroyed this place.

We must replant, and nourish the soil that is left.

There must be something in this town more important than football.

God, we pray that you lift the darkness, the pollution, the sorrow, the fog, the lifelessness, the discouragement...allow your kingdom to be seen...people don't smile here...give us something to smile about...peace begins with a smile...illuminate and reveal yourself.

do it