Beloved sons and daughters of God,
In my first meeting with Teuvo, I began by asking him for help in learning to love. He answered, “Serve.” It was the perfect answer. Toward the end of our conversation, he invited me to contribute to this blog.
This semester I teach a class in the philosophy of living. This Sunday I launch a parallel inquiry in the study group that Mahtab and I co-lead. The focus for both the class and the study group is truth-coordinated living: integrating science and religion in a beautiful wholeness of righteousness that will attract inquiry from others (155:1). The plan is to cultivate the soil for a harvest to be presented at IC14. The method is experiential and project-centered.
If you want to follow the podcasts of the class or participate otherwise in this truth-coordinated living project, please write me for information at jwattles@kent.edu. In my post next week, I’ll explain the tag, “Growing up with Jesus.”
My love has been heightened by interacting with the YaYA group in Kansas and Yosemite; a fire hydrant opened in the summer heat: water gushes forth.
Jeff
2 thoughts on “Growing Up with Jesus”
I was initially quite piqued by your opening paragraphs, i.e. asking Teuvo how to love, and his subsequent answer, until I realized “who” posed the question…
Were you testing Teuvo, or were you genuinely perplexed and looking for an answer from a young man who also was afraid at one time? 🙂
I’ll most definitely write you for more info on the course you’re going to present. BTW, the INFO on your site has always struck me as most awesome to know…
Dear Arno,
Thank you for your comment.
No, I was not testing Teuvo. My experience is that one powerful way to meet someone is to ask the spiritual question uppermost on my mind. Over the past several months, I became very engaged in getting to know persons in the YaYA group. My dominant purpose in going to the Kansas City conference was to meet you all; the same goal was also high on my agenda for Yosemite. I threw myself into learning to love you people, and I have been richly rewarded. The conversation with Teuvo was a treasure. Not only did his answer to me bring my inquiry to a perfect culmination; it also began a conversation of genuine mutual openness; and it led to my participation in this forum.
I know enough of Teuvo to know that he and I disagree on some things, but I seek to love with “an intelligent and wise affection.”
Now I can’t wait to meet you.
Your brother,
Jeff