Stormy Weather

A. Unabashed Pacifist
Rainbows don't grow on trees. You only see them in the skies.

B. Unabashed Christian
Holy One,
Like rainfall from the sky, your blessings drop upon us.
Sometimes the clouds disappear for days or weeks. We think all is well, but we begin to notice a dry and parched quality to our lives.
Sometimes, then, the clouds appear and drop a light mist, coating us with the hope of more blessings to come.
Sometimes we receive a steady outpouring of your mercy and goodness through the dark clouds.
And sometimes, when the storms rage, then especially, your blessings pour over us to strengthen, cleanse and forgive us.
Amen

C. Unquoting Jesus:
"Who’s this woman named Trinity? I think I'd like to meet her."
[He didn't say that, or did the movie makers know something?...]

D. Blog: Habitat
Habitat Housing

When we bought our house, our realtor informed us that a Habitat for Humanity development would arise down the hill from us. People on our street had fought mightily to prevent it from happening, and many moved out rather than remain to see the development take place. We probably benefited from the fear that accompanied the building of new affordable houses for low income families. Our very nice, spacious house, for sale at a reasonable price, remained on the market for more than nine months and saw at least one price reduction before we saw it and fell in love with it.

What did people on our street fear? Mostly it seemed to be that the value of their houses would decline. Never mind that nationwide experience indicates that houses around Habitat developments will appreciate in value. Fear of people less well off – perhaps - than we are seemed to lead to an irrational reaction of flight after the fight was lost.

The other question I ask is this: what do we want from a house? Are we looking for monetary return on an investment in a house? Are we looking for a home in which inhabitants enjoy a rewarding quality of life in a pleasant neighborhood/area? I won’t mind seeing an appreciation in the monetary value of our house, but that remains secondary to the pleasure I take in it and the wonderful quality of life it provides, including the new neighbors so pleased with owning their own homes in our neighborhood, too.

When visitors come to us, we point out with pride the 12 new Habitat houses (eventually 54) down the hill from us. They provide a tangible sign of a community at large investing in the future by offering affordable houses to low and middle income families, the kind of community where I want to live for a long time.