Reports from 1997 La Casa Event Participants

"Transitions as a Spiritual Path," a theme aptly chosen by leaders Peter and Marjory Bankson, got to the heart of turning points, crisis points, goals, hopes and dreams gently but profoundly. Using the relational style of Faith at Work and the Biblical stories of Jesus' wilderness temptations, this weekend community found questions and mirrors to help see personal pathways through. 

"Spirit of the Living God, move afresh in us/me" became a musical thread through a unique look at the six "R's" (steps) through change from status quo to integration of a new life experience. This also included windows of the change itself and the danger threshhold where it's easy to get hung up and just keep looping through the same old starting steps. The image of a traffic light clarified "Stop," "Caution" and "Go" steps. 

I came away better equipped and with captivation sounds of a variety of desert experiences as well as the sounds of living water. A very special bonus to this weekend was the incorporation of a series of feeling quilts that transitioned the quiltmaker through grief, anger, spiritual comfort and joy, offering unique insights into how creativity can be a practical addition to the relational spiritual tools. 
 
 

"Discovering how irrigation can make big green squares out in the desert" 

"Can't believe how hungry I am for this type of experience" 

"This is my fuel stop, a way station" 

"...the courage to be" 

"Little stuff really matters" 

"Gratitude is memory revisited" 

"For the first time I could share good news, not hide my light under a bushel" 

"Space and laughter are important" 

"There is room for the Holy Spirit" 

"The only place Happy Birthday is sung in harmony" 

"I still think it's nice to be old!" 

"Always special, but this one really climbed higher!"